Touch of Flame

Richard went back to the village that was recently destroyed by the dragons and where he had seen Corinna. She had been dressed like a cabin boy, and her hair was cut short to her shoulder, so he went to the shore to find her. He took his time to look everywhere, asking a few people if they knew of a white-haired boy or girl. His daughters looked very distinct so people should be able to tell who he was looking for.

At last, he found her, helping a few men load some things on a ship. He stood at a distance watching her, unable to believe that he finally found her after so many years. His heart which was getting worse, tightened. At least he found her before he could die.

He walked over, every step feeling like a thousand years as if he was traveling around the world. Finally, he came to her and she paused to look his way. He took off his cloak with a pounding heart.

Her eyes narrowed, looking at him as if she didn't know who he was. "May I help you, sir?"

His heart stopped. His body froze.

She waited for him and then raised her brows when he said nothing. What was happening? He knew this was Corinna. His daughter. He could never be mistaken. His eyes and chest burned and finally he had a hard time breathing. He had already walked too much despite his heart condition.

"Oh…" she hurried to his side as he couldn't keep standing and took his arm. "Come," she told him leading him up to the deck.

"Finn!" She called. "Bring a chair."

A younger boy came outside with a chair. "Sit down, Sir." She told him, helping him to sit.

His heart was still in pain. "Bring water," she told the boy.

"Thank you," Richard gasped holding his chest.

Breathing was becoming very difficult, his vision began to fade and the world turned sideways as he fell from the chair and lost consciousness.

When he woke up, he found himself in a small bed, inside a cabin.

"You are awake," a female voice spoke.

He turned his head and found Corinna seated in a chair nearby. Richard sat up, his chest still feeling heavy.

"How are you feeling?" She asked throwing one leg over the other in a male fashion.

"Better. Thank you for your help and I am sorry for the disturbance," he said.

"Have we met before?" She tilted her head. "You look familiar and we almost look alike," she smiled. "The white hair."

He nodded, smiling. He didn't know what to say since she didn't recognize him. "What is your name?" he asked.

"Darcy."

Her voice had a male tone to it as if she had trained to speak that way. And also behave.

"Do you live here, Darcy?"

"No. I was only here to trade before the bloody dragons destroyed the village."

"Yes. The King is doing what he can to stop them," he said just to see how she would respond.

"Well, the only king protecting his people it seems. In the other kingdoms, people are still suffering." She said scratching her neck. "Anyway, I hope your home wasn't destroyed."

He looked at her then remembered his wife and Ravina and lastly, his brother. The one who died in his place. "It is." He said.

She sighed with a sad frown. She really didn't recognize him.

"Well, you can stay here for the night." She said.

"Won't you get in trouble?" He asked.

"Don't worry. We are like a family here. We will have dinner soon. I shall introduce you to the crew members."

Richard later learned that Corinna was a second in command. The captain, Joseph was a stern middle-aged and the rest were men as well. She was the only woman. They all noted how they looked similar as he joined them for dinner.

"Hey, Darcy. This might be where you came from if there are people who look like you," one of them told her.

"You don't know where you came from?" Richard asked.

She shook her head. "No. I don't have much memory of my childhood."

"Why? What happened?"

She shrugged. "I am not sure." There was something she wasn't telling.

As he spent the rest of the night on the ship, he slowly noticed small things. The fine craftsmanship of the ship. It was in the details. He noticed the ropes looking different, awakening suspicion in him he couldn't quite understand yet. Not to speak of the captain, who gave him an odd feeling.

Corinna provided him with the room from previously to sleep during the night but Richard remained awake. He could not stop thinking of how she lost her memory or was there something else? Why would she pretend not to know him?

As he kept turning back and forth, his heart paining him again he decided to get up and leave the room. He left his shoes behind to not make a sound.

He followed where voices came from in the hall. As he got closer he could hear Corinna and the captain.

"Please. Just a few days. If this is where I come from, I might find out more." She said.

"We can't be stuck here. The dragons will find another village to destroy soon and we should be nearby the safe villages. That is our job."

Their job? Now he understood why he had felt suspicious.

"I know. I just…"

He heard footsteps and then the captain's voice softened. "I understand Darcy and I want to help you. I will. I promise once we are less busy."

Richard retreated, his heart hammering in his chest. His daughter… she was one of those… the ones fighting dragons. Hunters or slayers. How did she end up here? He knew if she was part of that group, they were bigger than this. There was someone above this captain. Richard had also been looking for them as well. Now he found his daughter and them.