The Spark

Part 3: Sephas Chapter 10

Sephas was sick of jail, though it wasn't the prison itself that he hated. His cell was more like a one-room house, with one wall replaced with bars. Not to mention, of all his friends, he had spent the least amount of time in prison.

No, what made him so upset was this weakness. Knowing he was powerless to help his friends, and himself. And being forced to wait for the end, whatever happened. Sephas had already made up his mind that he would never help the Wind Nation, no matter what happened. Surely Uden couldn't afford to kill him. At least, not yet.

But even if I make it out of this, what then? he thought. A lifetime of service to the Wild Nation doesn't sound much better. And I have a feeling that would end up being a pretty short lifetime anyway.

"Hello!" A dragon around his age walked over to the bars and slid a plate of food through a slot. Her scales were a matte white, with a tint of pink that grew more apparent in her wings and belly. Sephas instantly hated her.

He turned his head so as not to look at her.

"I said hello!" she said.

Can't she take a hint?!

"I brought you some food. I'm sure you're hungry. You don't need to be scared."

"I'm not scared!" Sephas said, whirling around into a crouch, trying to look menacing.

The girl didn't even flinch. "Ok, well, you need to eat. Look, it's duck! I love duck!"

"You do, huh?" Sephas picked up the plate and threw it against the bars, splattering food all over her. "Then don't let me stop you!"

"HEY!!" the girl shrieked. "Don't DO that!! Do you know what my parents will do if I come home looking like this!!? Geez, I was trying to be nice to you!"

She did her best to shake off the residue, but there was still plenty on her. As she turned to leave, Sephas noticed her back right leg was missing, a small stump in its place.

That's odd. She's no soldier. Is it a birth defect?

"DON'T EVEN TRY TO APOLOGIZE TO ME!!" She shouted from the door, though she hesitated, as if waiting for him to say something. With a scoff, she slammed the door and left.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that. It's not like I can trust anyone else here. But I can't trust her! She's a Windspark! She wants to use me as a weapon, just like everyone else! But... Uden tricked Ayrahl... Could he be deceiving his own people too?

A few hours later, a dozen guards walked in. They placed Sephas in heavy chains and walked him through the castle. They prodded him with spears, but they were all afraid to touch him.

Well, if they think I'm some kind of super-powerful monster, I can use that to my advantage.

Eventually, they arrived in Uden's office. The room was pretty large, but it was an entire tower, reaching almost a hundred feet in the air. Uden flew down from one of the upper levels and landed before them as one of the guards unchained Sephas's mouth.

"Hello, Sephas," Uden said. "Have you enjoyed your stay so far? As long as you insisted not to cooperate, I had to put you in prison, but I tried to make it as cozy as possible. And the food is delicious, isn't it? Oh, but you haven't eaten, have you?"

Sephas glared at the councillor, but said nothing.

"Yes, I spoke to that poor girl. You really turned her day for the worse. Her family was quite upset to find she had barbecued duck all over her. Not to worry, I vouched for her. But she is rather cross with you."