It has been some time since my Selenia Sky story. @leeart nudged me the other day by asking when the next segment would come out. He was willing to sacrifice some mosquitoes for my writing inspiration! 😁

I know some of you want to journey on the adventure with Selenia Sky and Adelaine, the Dragon Queen, but my creative mind wants to introduce another character to the story. Remember, I don't dictate how the story evolves. Blame it on my creative mind. Meet General Caleon! There is a part two for Caleon's story which will come out in a few days. It will pick up with that memory from the tavern...might not be rated PG....

Many of you know that music is my inspiration. I came across this piano piece from @drewley, a talented musician here on Steemit when writing this story. Please stop by a recent post of @drewley to show your support!

Storyline Thus Far:

Selenia Sky was found abandoned as a baby on the sandy shores of Asherah, and adopted by a Lord family into the kingdom. She was beloved by all, especially by Prince Allanthe and Princess Adelaine. The people of Asherah has the magical ability to shapeshift from human to winged-form through a gift given from a spirit called the Flame of Life. As a result, dragons once again roamed the sky above. Before them, dragons had gone missing for over a thousand years and were only lore of legend.

The Kingdom of Asherah was brought to devastation when a Dark Summoner, Chromatic Dragon, and a legion of dragons laid siege to their land. Prince Allanthe sacrificed his life to save Selenia Sky. The sole survivors are Selenia Sky and Princess Adelaine, who by all rights, is now Queen of the Kingdom. The flame of life has been extinguished and Princess Adelaine can no longer shapeshift into human form. Selenia Sky and Queen Adelaine the Dragon, must now travel to the West to seek revenge and for the return of the flame of life.

Caleon, General of Asherah

The wind caressed his feathers with gentle currents. Invisible kisses trailed down his body with whispery breaths tickling his ear. The cool exhalation of air journeying down to his leathery tail. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The sound of wing beats sang harmoniously in the air. Almost home, Caleon thought. His dragon form purred contently. He could see the peak of Mount Zioneous in the far distance. Twenty thousand wingbeats, he estimated. It would take twenty thousand wing beats before the coastline of their island would be in view.

Caleon’s dragon form roared at the thought of returning home. A thundering escapade of dragon roars filled the quiet sky. Small birds scrambled to fly away from the dragons, who but a minute ago, were docile creatures such as they.

It was a fortnight ago when Allanthe sent Caleon on a mission of obscurity. It was the time of year to visit the Northmen, a tradition of gathering and a celebration of friendship and alliance during the Solstice celebration. Allanthe, Prince of the Kingdom of Asherah, made this journey in past years. Allanthe had asked Caleon to journey in his stead on this one occasion.

“There are whispers of darkness approaching our sand. I fear there may be truth in these words of dark omen. As Prince of the realm, I dare not leave our people in this time of uncertainty. Your legion you will leave in Asherah. As my General and most trusted friend, and one day brother, there is no one I trust more with this task.”

Allanthe says the latter with laughter in his voice. Allanthe knew Caleon’s deepest desire for his sister, Adelaine. Caleon would not admit such feelings, but he could see the yearning in his friend’s eyes when Adelaine was near. A man has to be blind not to see, Allanthe thought. Afterall, his own eyes yearned with passion for his dear Selenia Sky.

"I want you to select five scores of your most trusted men. Join the celebration and be merry. Tell the men to keep their eyes and ears open. Listen for news of trouble from the West. Who is this Dark Summoner and legion of dragons he is leading? Learn of the truth, my friend. Rumors travel to us from merchants and traveling bards. We are too isolated to know what is true and what is a lie. The North is a corridor for merchants across the seas. I have hope it is there you will find the answers we seek. We need to know what dark omen is heading our way and prepare ourselves with what is to come.”

Allanthe stared across his serene countryside. Our folks know naught of war, he thought. He would do all in his power to keep it so. His voice brimming with trust and determination, Allanthe relayed his private thoughts to his General.

“We will not let destruction reign on our land, Caleon. We must protect our people at all cost. The most trusted telling of events say the Dark Summoner is by the Burnt Lands, which is over a sidereal month’s journey from us. I dare not take the chance of being ill-prepared if the rumors are true. Upon your return in a fortnight, we will inform our people of the news you gather. We will prepare our people for battle, if must. Asherah has been a realm of peace and prosperity. Our people know naught of war; not in two hundred years. Not since the Alliance with the Northmen.”

Caleon studied his childhood friend. His green eyes were the color of the serene grasslands on most days. They were now the the color of the stormy sea off the coastlands; an area the young ones were forbidden to swim.

“I will return in a fortnight with news. If Sky is on our side, we will return in time for the celebration of the Skies”, Caleon assured his friend, his Prince. Allanthe had not once treated Caleon as an inferior, but he dared not call Prince Allanthe his brother out loud. They were of different ranks. In his heart, Allanthe was his brother in all but name. He would travel to the ends of the ocean to protect the Kingdom of Asherah. It was his home, as much as the kingdom which Prince Allanthe would one day inherit. He would protect this kingdom for his childhood friend and brother.

Thunderclaps in the far distance interrupted his thought. If it hadn’t been for the unexpected storm blowing from the South, we would have been home thrice days past, Caleon thought. They would not have missed the yearly celebration where all souls on the island shapeshifted into their wing-formed and took flight across the sky. He regret having missed the sight of the beautiful Princess Adelaine in her dragon beauty.

As another thunder boomed across the heavens, Caleon’s thoughts drifted to a different memory of the past. A memory less ominous but just as dark and dangerous. A memory of a dark corner of a tavern, filled with the musky smell of tuberose flowers and heated with passionate kisses from a certain princess...

Image sources: Dragon, Dragon Helm,Dove Divider

Previous Posts:
Selenia Sky - Part 1
Adelaine, the Dragon Queen - Part 2