𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗

Her body and mind felt numb, as if her nervous system had completely shut down. Both her parents were dead.

Guilt tugged at her heart, weighing the organ down. Grey-silver eyes burned, white lashes fluttering as she blinked... and blinked. A third blink sent hot tears down her face, a shuddering breath leaving her.

Her parents are dead.

Gods, her mom. Her sweet mom, who had comforted her when she cried, smiled when she learned the little things like how to read and write. Her mother had been everything to her, a light in the dark that was their world. It was hard to believe that she would never see her mom again, never see her cry or laugh. Never feel her hugs, or her fingers in her hair on the days she would fix it up.

Her mother wouldn't get to see her first date, or comfort her when, if, they would break up. She'd never see her get married, or see her have her first kid. She would never get the chance to be a grandma.

A grief-stricken sob expelled from her mouth, hot tears dripping down her chin. Her mom. Her mom. Her mom. She just wants her mom.

______

Codagh grinned, teeth shining under the sun's rays. His rider stood tall among the other generals and commander, standing beside his dragon that easily dwarfed them all.

Except for Leughadair, Xaden thought bitterly. Other than the other children and his father's safety, all that was on his mind was Danielle.

Before they were escorted from Aretia, Melgren had made a show of the dead bodies littered across the plains. One of them being the very familiar blue daggertail that belonged to her mother. The head of white hair had his eyes watering, the woman he had spent months at the side of just at the age of four lied lifeless at the side of her dragon. They both looked peaceful, like they had known they were going to die.

His fathers words echoed in his head, Be strong. Hold your head high and act like the king you are to be. So Xaden did as his father had said, holding his head high in false confidence. He had a few tricks up his sleeve, but hopefully he wouldn't need to use them.

So here Xaden stood, two guards at his side, forced to his knees before the general and his dragon. The man made his stomach churn, the sickening grin mirrored by his malicious dragon. Codagh's fiery pits scanned the crowd of children, each of varying age, with a sinister gaze - swordtail twitching at his side. Xaden could tell both parties took pleasure in what they had done, and it made him sick.

Parents had been dragged before the bloodlusted general, executed left and right. Each time they were, different children would cry out - fighting against the arms that held them to try and save their parents. But now it was Xaden's turn to watch.

When they dragged out Fen Riorson, Xaden could tell he had been through hell and back. His father's usual well kept visage was the complete opposite. Skin dirtied, dark bags under his eyes, dried blood on his skin, dark hair tangled. Xaden inhaled sharply, fighting the instinct to try and run to him. It would be useless. Fen's dark eyes met his as they dragged him before the general, forcing him to his knees.

Megren's grin widened, teeth flashing in the sunlight. The grin alone had Xaden's eyes narrowing into a sharp glare.

Melgren stepped forward, stopping at Fen's side, his dragon right behind him. Codagh snarled, tail swaying from side to side.

"Fen Riorson, you led a rebellion, went against our customs, and rallied our enemies. But here you kneel, before your people, as nothing. Do you have any last words?"

Fen lifted his gaze, meeting the eyes of each and every one of his followers, including their children.

"Remember the cause we fought for." His gaze met Xaden's, his words a week ago echoing in the seventeen-year-old's head.

"If anything were to happen to me, look after them. They are your people. Take care of them, and remain strong."

Xaden gave a subtle nod, a nod going unnoticed by everyone but Fen Riorson.

General Melgren grinned, stepping to the side as Codagh stepped forward, the sheer size of the black swordtail causing the ground to rumble under the weight of his feet.

Codagh's mouth opened, flames licking at the back of his tongue and shooting out in a macabre blaze, swallowing Fen Riorson whole.

______

Hours later, with a bloodied shirt, Xaden and all the 107 knelt before the general and his dragon, except this time it was time for their punishment.

An hour prior, Xaden had made a deal to take responsibility for the rebellion kids, receiving 107 lashes on the back. Because of Melgren's generosity, each rebellion kid would be conscripted on their twentieth birthday.

Melgren once again stood tall before the rebellion children, Codagh at his side. The large dragon seemed less-than thrilled with the outcome, probably wanting to burn them all. In a twisted way, Xaden was glad the general and his lizard didn't get their way.

Codagh stepped forward, dark eyes pinned against each of the 107. His sinister gaze scanned them all, maw parting to reveal sharp teeth longer than even the tallest of them. His swordtail swung behind him, the black glinting in the dying sun.

Pain like no other swallowed each of them, the feeling of flames licking at their skin an illusion. Screams filled his ears, but Xaden remained silent. Strong.

When the pain finally stopped, Xaden, along with the other 106, slumped forward. Black brandings ran down their arms, varying in size. Some were from mid arm down to wrist, while Xaden could tell his was larger - ranging from his wrist all the way up to his neck in twists and slashes that screamed dangerous.

"With the sins of your parents come the brand on your skin, forever a warning of my generosity. Each of you, upon your twentieth, will be conscripted into Basgiath. There, we will find out how many of you will live."