Born of Fire: The Dawn of Legend (21 page)

“So is that how VayRonx became alpha?”

DiNiya nodded as she finished the contents of her chalice, and set it down on the table. “VayRonx became the alpha of KaNar one hundred and ninety-eight years ago, back when his mother, ZinKya, stepped down.”

“A female was in charge of KaNar before VayRonx?”

“Yes,” she replied, sitting up straight and giving him a pressing look. “What’s so surprising about that?”

“Oh, nothing,” Rex stammered. “I just meant, well, I thought that it actually makes more sense.”

“Good answer,” she replied, giving him a telling look.

Rex chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. “What I mean is that I recognize VayRonx’s species, believe it or not. Or rather, who they’re descended from.”

“Oh?”

“Back on Earth they were called Tyrannosaurus rex. The thing with them was that the females were the larger, more aggressive of the species, and ruled the roost. I thought it would have been the same with the…what is his kind called again?”

“They’re called TarBoranx, and yes, like these Tyrannosaurus rex, the females are generally larger. VayRonx was the very rare exception to the rule, being the largest male TarBoranx in over two hundred years.”

“Well, it’s no wonder everyone falls in line behind him. He’s even bigger than the biggest tyrannosaur ever found.”

“True as that may be, it wasn’t his size that earned him the rank of alpha. VayRonx had to prove himself skilled, confident, and highly adaptive to have made it through the various challenges one is confronted with in the trials. Still, to appease your curiosity, he was indeed a mighty combatant in the exhibition matches, although he only narrowly triumphed over MoraDay’s current alpha, TorMarr.”

“Was he strong?” Rex asked, leaning forward, enthralled in the tale of epic battle between EeNara’s mightiest DyVorian warriors. “I mean, he must have been if someone as big and strong as VayRonx had trouble beating him.”

“That he was, but size and brute force are not everything. TorMarr is a VeNole, only half the size of a TarBoranx, but his skill as a fighter was beyond exceptional, as was his ability to effectively strategize decisive victories over combatants who were larger and stronger.”

“But VayRonx beat him in the end.”

“Yes, but not because of his superior brawn, but because of his mind. In the end, VayRonx had to outthink TorMarr to get around his combative skill.”

Rex imagined what such a battle must have been like. Two colossal beasts unleashing monstrous amounts of power as they battled for supremacy in a gladiator-type spectacle with the air filled with the roar of a crowd made up of all manner of creatures. It was a sight he could imagine as clearly as a memory and found himself longing to be part of. He wanted to see the descendent of his favorite dinosaur reign victorious over all others in what he envisioned as the greatest battle he would ever see in his life. Aside from his obvious size, VayRonx had a certain air of intensity about him. As if he was hiding his true strength. Still, looking at how big some of the sauropods grew, it was a wonder they did not dominate everyone else. After all, even VayRonx was smaller than many of the medium-sized ones here in the tavern alone. Then again, he was sure that like with everything else in this world, there was far more to them than meets the eye.

“Can I ask you something now?” she said, interrupting the grand spectacle he was playing out in his head.

“It’s only fair,” he replied.

“You called the ancestor of the TarBoranx a Tyrannosaurus rex. I noticed the second word in the name is your name.”

“I know what you’re thinking, but Rex is actually a real name for humans, too. It means king.”

“So why was it given to this extinct race of DyVorian?”

“Because they were the fiercest and most fearless of all the ancient DyVorians. Built to kill and evolved to fight, they would even cannibalize each other. They feared almost nothing, except maybe another tyrannosaur. Everything in the land they stalked lived in their shadow. They lived for the fight and were brutal, ruthless, and highly intelligent. The king of dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus rex.”

DiNiya sat quietly for a moment before leaning forward in her seat. “They sound less like the TarBoranx and more like the TyRanx to me.”

Rex stopped and looked at her as he digested her words. In truth, he knew nothing of these mythical and feared TyRanx, what they looked like not being any exception. Who knew how the most famous dinosaur of Earth evolved in EeNara beyond the point where their counterparts became extinct? Perhaps he could ask KyGahl when he returned. Maybe he could make his dreams of being a paleontologist a reality in this world? After all, EeNara seemed to be a place where almost anything was possible, so why not his hopes and dreams?

They continued to talk about all things they could think to pick each other’s brains about regarding Earth and EeNara, when the two huge doors suddenly opened and VayRonx and BaRone, along with the female TarBoranx that Rex had seen him with days earlier, walked through.

“Come on,” DiNiya said, grabbing his hand. “Let’s go say hello.”

They made their way back down to the main floor where VayRonx and BaRone had already reached the back of the tavern and were talking to TemBol and TarFor.

“DiNiya, Rex,” BaRone said with a big smile when he saw them approaching. “Come to unwind after a long day?”

“Yes, indeed,” she replied happily.

“So, Rex, my boy, what do you think of our little watering hole?” BaRone asked as he surveyed the boisterous scene around them.

“Pretty unreal,” Rex replied.

“Oh…you think so?” BaRone asked, stroking his beard.

“Well, yeah. I mean, just look at everyone. They’re all so different but still they get along without any problems. You’d think it would be the other way around.”

“I would not,” said VayRonx in a towering voice. “The more diverse a tribe is, the stronger it is.”

“It is our differences that make us shine and contribute the most to a tribe—a family,” said the other TarBoranx as she lowered her head down to him. “Hello, Rex, my name is KyVina, beta of KaNar and mate to Alpha VayRonx, but do not let his title fool you. He does not command the final say in the roost.” She gave Rex a wink before rising back to her full height. “For appearance’s sake, though, please continue treating my handsome mate as if he is lord and master of all he surveys.”

Everyone laughed while VayRonx merely rolled his eyes. Then, setting his gaze down upon the young man, he spoke. “I know this period of adjustment has been anything but easy on you. Still, in time I hope you come to realize that who you are can and will shine through here in KaNar and the whole of EeNara.”

“Well, I know there’s nothing special about me. Even if I am originally from here, my flame still sets me apart from everyone else.”

“Trust me, Rex,” KyVina said, giving him a gentle nudge with her snout. “You carry within you a uniqueness that is all your own, born of who you are rather than just what you are and regardless of where you go. Always remember that.”

Rex nodded but was not sure he fully understood. He did not have time to ponder it much, for no sooner had she raised her immense head back up than they heard the rolling rumble of thunder outside.

“Sounds like that storm moved our way after all,” said TarFor.

People were now coming in faster, trying to get out of the rain. Rex watched them wring out their fur and clothes as they laughed about being caught in the sudden downpour. Flashes of lightning could be seen every time the doors opened. Still, the tavern was warm and comforting. Everyone around them was happy and seemed, for the most part, indifferent to the weather outside. That was of course until DiNiya suddenly felt a pull in her stomach. She knew what this feeling was and it unsettled her, even went as far as making her angry. Rex saw her look towards the doors where she stared, transfixed.

“Hey, DiNiya,” he said, leaning in close. “You all right?” It was then that he noticed her jaw muscles tightening and heard her teeth grinding. “DiNiya?”

The twin doors opened again just as thunder crackled and lightning flashed, illuminating the whole sky and silhouetting two figures, a small hooded SaVarian and a larger two-legged DyVorian behind. Despite what seemed to Rex a dramatic entrance, the rest of the tavern seemed to hardly notice.

In a low tone filled with malice and disdain, DiNiya spoke a name: “LyCora.”

“Who?” Rex asked as a girl about their age wearing a dark blue hooded cloak walked into the tavern with what to Rex looked like an saurophanax covered in a dense coat of dark blue and grey feathers of varying shades, captivating him as she carried herself with a kind of ferocity and elegance which she held complete mastery over. While looking completely different, they seemed to move in much the same way: graceful and with undeniable confidence. DiNiya look livid now as her eyes widened and fixed themselves on the approaching duo.

“I’m glad you two were able to come,” BaRone said as he greeted them. Thank you so much for helping us out.”

“Always a pleasure, BaRone,” said the blue DyVorian in a smooth yet strong female voice.

Turning to Rex he said, “This is VoRenna and her daughter LyCora.

Rex cocked his head.  “Adopted?”

“Well she certainly did not hatch from an egg,” VoRenna mused, before regarding the two larger DyVorians and speaking more respectfully. “Hello, VayRonx, KyVina.” She bowed her head to the alpha and beta. “I trust you and your tribe have been well?”

“Indeed we have,” replied VayRonx. “Thank you.” He shifted his gaze over to the young girl who had been silent this entire time, fixated on Rex, who did his best to pretend not to notice. “Hello, LyCora.”

The girl pulled back her hood revealing smooth dark skin and shook free long, dark, elegantly braided fur all the while keeping her eyes locked on Rex. He found himself entranced. Her eyes were the most brilliant blue he had ever seen, like twin pools of ambient light and elegant enticement. He felt all his muscles relax as if he was slipping into a warm bath. His mind felt like fingers were slowly massaging it.
What’s happening to me?
he thought.
Why do I feel this way
?
Her eyes
…

“You must be Rex,” she said in a voice that sounded, he imagined, as cool velvet would feel on bare skin.

“You…you know my name?” he stammered.

“But of course,” she said. “You have managed to arouse my interest…so to speak,” she added, deliberately putting emphasis on certain words, which seemed to act as magic, for Rex was a mere step away from being a drooling idiot.  “The boy from another world.”

So much for keeping that a secret
, Rex thought,
this girl is…so
—

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted as a pair of red eyes seething with anger blocked LyCora’s deep blue ones. Rex jumped back, startled. “I…uh…uh.”

“You might be able to speak better if you picked your tongue up off the floor,” DiNiya said, clearly irritated.

“Hello, DiNiya,” said LyCora with a bit more liveliness in her voice. “It’s been a while.”

“Not long enough,” DiNiya replied, turning to face her.

“Still haven’t changed, I see.”

“No, that was you, as I recall,” she said, fixing her with warning glare that if given a voice of its own would have proven deafening to all around them. “Why are you even here? Weren’t you the one who said KaNar holds nothing of interest to you?”

“Nothing of interest to me
anymore
, I believe were my exact words,” LyCora added, as if the words themselves were a knife she was pushing deeper into DiNiya, who looked noticeably wounded as a result despite her best efforts to hide it.

“Your father sent word to us that he needed someone versed in the ancient dialects to translate a scroll he recently came into possession of,” VoRenna explained, giving LyCora a warning look before turning to DiNiya with more sympathetic eyes.

“Oh, he did, did he?” DiNiya said as she slowly turned her head towards her father, who buried his face in his tankard and downed its contents to avoid her gaze. “I assume you knew about this, too?” she said as she shifted her eyes upward to VayRonx, who turned and looked away awkwardly.

“I assure you, DiNiya, your father contacted us as a last resort,” VoRenna explained, trying to defuse the situation. “We are the only two linguists outside of ClyVen. I promise we will not be in your way for very long.”

LyCora had been keeping one eye on Rex, studying him carefully. Now she turned her full attention on him. “I never thought I would see eyes like those on anyone else. So what dark corner of the world did you crawl out from?”

“LyCora…” VoRenna scolded.

“You probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Rex replied.

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

“I’m rather surprised they let you walk around like this, free and clear,” she said as she began circling him.

“Why wouldn’t they?”

“Your flame, of course.”

“Everyone around here has one.”

“Not everyone,” she said, glancing at DiNiya. “Nor one like yours,” she continued, moving slowly and methodically.

“As far as I can see, the only difference is that mine’s red. Might be a little strange to all of you, but it’s not like it’s dangerous.”

LyCora stopped circling him and moved in close. “Of that, I would have to disagree.”

“That’s enough, LyCora,” DiNiya said at last, stepping forward and putting herself between the girl and Rex.

“My, my,” LyCora said in a cool, detached voice. “Aren’t we the brave one?”

“Bravery is born of fear,” replied DiNiya with a stern look. “And I’ve never been afraid of you.”

A ball of blue flame appeared in LyCora’s right hand as she held it up in front of DiNiya. “Maybe it’s time you learn to be.”

DiNiya trembled with rage. She could feel her anger for the girl in front of her climbing to new heights as her smug expression triggered every biological directive to lash out violently.

“Still can’t ignite your flame, I see,” LyCora said condescendingly.

“I don’t need it to hurt you,” DiNiya replied with a look of pure malice.