Over the last few months, Ashley had worked very hard to improve her sorcery. She had a lot of knowledge that Snowden had imprinted in her head, but much of it she didn’t fully understand. Only Snowden could help her to comprehend all the knowledge about sorcery he had imprinted in her mind. She hoped she would be able to make it up to the dragon’s lair. That all depended on how deep the snow was between where she was now and the cave up on the side of the mountain.
Reaching up behind her saddle, Ashley pulled down a heavier coat and a thick scarf to wrap around her face. She also untied a small pack that had a few necessary supplies in case she became stranded on the mountain. She picked out a tree a short distance from the clearing and tied Spirit to a limb that would allow the horse some freedom of movement. There were also enough trees around to provide Spirit with some protection if she didn’t make it back before dark. She didn’t know how long she might be gone.
Ashley turned around and eyed the mountain. “Well, Spirit; wish me luck and let’s hope that Snowden is awake.” Wrapping the scarf loosely around her face, she started up the mountain.
At first, the climbing was easy. There was very little snow, and the slope wasn’t too steep. But the higher she ascended she began to see more pockets of snow until finally she reached the point where the ground was completely covered. Ashley estimated she had come only about half the distance she needed to in order to reach Snowden’s cave. In some places, the slope was muddy and slippery. Several times she had nearly fallen.
For a moment, Ashley hesitated as she eyed the snow. She knew it would only get deeper and colder as she hiked higher. Ashley wondered if she had made the right decision. There was no turning back; she had to speak to the dragon. Fortifying herself, she began climbing again. Taking one cautious step after another, she walked through the steadily deepening snow. Soon the snow was over her ankles and continued to get deeper. The slope was becoming steeper, and she had to be careful not to fall and tumble back down the slope.
The growing cold began to penetrate through her heavy coat, and she pulled the scarf tighter over her face. Her feet were beginning to feel cold through her hiking boots. For a moment, she was tempted to stop and build a fire to warm back up. With her command of the fire spell, a warming fire wouldn’t be a problem. However, there could be no delay. It was important that she reach Snowden’s cave as soon as possible. Once there she could warm up.
Moving forward, Ashley kept a close watch on the snow in front of her. There were pockets of deeper snow, and she wanted to stay out of those. Ashley estimated she still had about an hour of hiking to reach Snowden’s cave.
As she struggled through the snow, Ashley thought about Todd. She wasn’t too surprised that she hadn’t heard from him. She suspected his father and brother were keeping a very close watch on him. Ashley missed the talks that Todd and she had shared during his time on the farm.
Ashley had nearly decided to turn back due to the deepening snow and cold when she spotted the entrance to Snowden’s cave. With renewed effort, she forced herself through nearly knee-deep snow the last few feet until she stood safely inside the cave entrance. It felt a little warmer since she was no longer in the snow and there was no wind. She brushed the clinging snow off her jeans and, using her sorcery, built a small fire from some small limbs that were piled next to the entrance. She didn’t know who had put them there, but she was glad they were available.
The small, warming fire made Ashley feel much better. In only a few minutes, the effects of the cold began to vanish and she started to feel almost normal again. She took off her gloves and held her hands out above the small fire. Once she felt warm, she made a quick gesture and the small fire went out.
The large amulet on the wall was glowing faintly, and Ashley gazed at it for a long moment. She hoped she would be able to rouse Snowden from his sleep. She hated to think that she had come all this way through the cold and the snow for nothing.
Opening her pack, Ashley removed a light globe and, using her sorcery, caused it to light up brightly. At least now, she would be able to see as she went down the dark tunnel. Holding the globe before her, she began walking. The globe furnished enough light for her to see easily. She also noticed that it put out a small amount of heat. After a few minutes, she came to the adjoining tunnel that linked Snowden’s lair to the larger one. Stepping through, she raised the light globe up high and gazed at the sleeping dragon. Snowden slept with his wings folded about him.
“Snowden?” asked Ashley, hoping the dragon would awake. There was no response and Ashley asked again, but this time she focused with her mind. “Snowden?”
“Cathy?” a sleepy voice asked in confusion. Then, as the dragon became more awake, a clearer thought penetrated Ashley’s mind. “Ashley?”
“Yes, Snowden,” Ashley replied, relieved that the dragon was awake. “It’s me.”
Snowden raised his head and gazed sleepily at Ashley. It took the dragon several minutes to fight off the effects of the deep sleep he had been in. The spell controlled by the amulet at the cave entrance allowed Snowden to fall into a deep, nearly dreamless slumber for long periods of time.
Ashley walked over and stood beneath the now awakened dragon. “Cathy must have been an amazing person,” she said, gazing into Snowden’s glowing yellow eyes. His eyes were beautiful, and seemed almost magical.
“She was my friend,” Snowden replied with a hint of sadness. “Why have you come? It is still cold outside the cave. This was not a safe journey to make.”
Ashley still marveled about how she could understand the dragon’s thoughts. She wasn’t sure that Snowden actually spoke real words at times. It was the symbols and pictures the dragon projected, which seemed to form coherent words in Ashley’s mind.
“You gave me a lot of knowledge about sorcery the last time I was here,” spoke Ashley, trying to speak clearly and project her thoughts at the same time so Snowden would understand them.
“It was Cathy’s knowledge,” Snowden replied with fondness.
“There is much knowledge in my mind about sorcery,” continued Ashley, wondering how she was going to make Snowden understand her problem. “But some of it is very difficult for me to understand.”
Snowden looked at Ashley curiously. From her mind, the dragon felt that this young human woman wanted to become his friend. This pleased the dragon immensely. He was also having a hard time understanding just what the problem was with the knowledge he had given her. Sometimes human concepts were beyond the dragon’s ability to understand.
Ashley knew that Snowden didn’t understand her problem. “Snowden, is there anything else in your mind from Cathy that might help me to understand better?” Ashley tried to project to Snowden how she was having trouble understanding the meaning of some of the spells he had put into her mind.
For several minutes, Snowden thought about what Ashley was trying to tell him. It seemed as if she was trying to say she didn’t know how to do some of the things that Cathy could do so easily.
Looking up at the dragon, Ashley wondered if Snowden understood what she was trying to tell him. Basic concepts the dragon seemed to understand, but anything more complex was difficult to communicate.
Snowden searched his memory for something that might help Ashley. For the first time in many long years, he examined his full memories of his time with Cathy beneath the great mountain. In the distant recesses of his mind, he found more memories from Cathy’s mind. He didn’t understand these, but they might be what Ashley was seeking.
“Lay down and close your eyes,” Snowden spoke into Ashley’s mind.
Ashley took off her pack and, finding a smooth spot on the cool floor of the cave, she lay down. It was surprisingly warm in Snowden’s lair. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and waited. She suddenly found herself feeling faint, almost as if she was spinning. When she opened her eyes, she was in another place and another time.
-
“Hello, class,” the male instructor i
n front of the classroom spoke.
Ashley found she couldn’t move; she was trapped inside someone else’s body. For a moment she panicked, then realized that Snowden had caused this. Where was she? This classroom was unlike anything she had ever seen before. There were brilliant lights recessed into the even, white ceiling. The desks seemed to be made of a smooth light brown wood, and the other kids she could see were all dressed strangely. Even more surprising, they all seemed to be wearing variously colored amulets hanging from their necks. What was this place?
“Today we’re going to discuss focusing and how important it is to your sorcery,” the instructor continued as he turned on a strange machine that he was standing next to. Instantly, a spell was projected on a white screen on the front wall of the room.
“In front of each of you there is a bowl of water,” the instructor began as he looked at each student. “This spell will allow you to levitate the water and form it into a ball. The point is not to spill any of the water.”
The instructor went on in careful detail, describing the spell, how it worked, and what the students must concentrate on. Ashley saw her hand reach for her amulet. She was startled when she saw the amulet was a different color than hers. It was still blue, but a much darker and deeper blue. The amulet seemed flawless and a thing of beauty.
As Ashley watched as a bystander in this person’s mind, she saw the water slowly rise into the air without spilling a drop. It formed into a smooth ball and slowly began to spin. Ashley watched, fascinated, realizing the concentration it must take to make the water react this way.
“Very good, Cathy,” the instructor spoke, coming over to stand in front of Ashley.
Ashley felt startled as she realized just whose mind she was in. This was the Cathy that Snowden spoke about! She felt awed realizing where she was.
For the next several hours, the instructor went over numerous spells. He would explain them in detail and how to focus your mind to make them work as they should. Ashley listened intently. There was so much information here; information she never dreamed existed. As they went through each spell, she paid special attention to all the details. Some of the students in the class, like Cathy, had no problem at all with the spells. Other children, particularly the younger ones, had to work one on one with the instructor. The instructor was extremely patient and took his time with each student when necessary.
A bell sounded, indicating the class was over. The students all rose and left the room. Ashley found herself in a brightly lit corridor full of other students and adults. As she was walking down the corridor, a young, handsome dark haired man suddenly stepped in front of her.
“Hello, Cathy,” he spoke in an unfriendly voice. “Still sheepherding the younger kids I see.”
“Hello, Adam,” Ashley heard Cathy reply. “I understand you’re still up to your same old games.”
“You should join me,” Adam spoke sharply, his eyes flashing with anger. “Someday you might be as powerful as me. Between the two of us, we could accomplish anything.”
“You mean force our will upon others?” replied Cathy, shaking her head in disagreement. “Jason will not allow that. You still have time to follow Jason’s path; there doesn’t have to be trouble.”
“Jason is a fool!” spat Adam disgustedly. “He wants to appease the government. He doesn’t understand the danger we’re in.”
“And I suppose you do,” replied Cathy, gazing at Adam unflinchingly.
“Some of us do,” Adam responded as two younger men approached and stopped just behind him. “You should join us before it’s too late.”
“I’ll pass, Adam. Now move out of my way; I’m late for my next class.”
Adam hesitated for a moment, then Ashley noticed Cathy’s hand move down to grasp her amulet. Was she about to use her sorcery against this young man?
Adam gestured to the two young men behind him, and they all moved out of Cathy’s path. Ashley realized Cathy must already be very powerful in her sorcery skills if these ruffians didn’t want to get into a fight with her.
For the rest of the day, Cathy went from class to class, listening to various instructors and practicing different types of sorcery. Ashley was astounded at all of the knowledge available to these young sorcerers and the effort being put into training them.
In the back of her mind, she wondered if the conflict she had seen between Cathy and this Adam could have eventually led to the Worldfire, which had destroyed the Golden Age. It was worrisome to think that sorcery had been the culprit that had destroyed that amazing time. Ancient history and what she had just witnessed pointed to sorcery as the primary cause.
They finished their final class and were going down another brightly lit corridor. Ashley noticed a lot of the younger students seemed to stick close to Cathy. They entered a softly lit corridor with some type of covering on the floor. Cathy turned to the younger students and spoke. “Go to your rooms and work on your studies. Adam and his friends are not allowed in our section. Meet me in the common room at the usual time and we will all go to the cafeteria together to eat.”
Ashley felt impressed by this Cathy. She had obviously taken over the role as protector of the younger kids. Some in the group seemed to be very young teenagers. She could well understand why Snowden liked and respected this young woman so much.
Cathy turned and walked back down the corridor. She went down several different corridors until she came to some massive metal doors that were open. Stepping through, Ashley could see they were in a large, brightly lighted cavern. In the center of the cavern were what looked like giant pens. Ashley wondered what was in them.
Cathy strolled past several of the large pens before she stopped before one. Looking up, Ashley saw a name in large letters written on the side of the pen. SNOWDEN. These were the dragon pens, Ashley realized. So the dragons had lived beneath Firestorm Mountain at one time! She was surprised at the sheer number of pens; there must be over a dozen dragons.
Cathy opened a small door and stepped inside the pen. Ashley looked on in amazement as a small white dragon raised its head and gazed expectantly at Cathy. This was a smaller and much younger Snowden. It was at that moment that Ashley felt that sickening spinning sensation again. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on the floor back in Snowden’s lair.
“Ashley?” Snowden’s worried question entered her mind. “Are you okay?”
Ashley sat up and felt her head spin. She closed her eyes and fought to clear her mind. After a moment, the spinning stopped, but her throat felt parched. Reaching into her backpack, she took out a small canteen of water. After taking several long refreshing drinks, she felt ready to stand up. Bracing herself, she slowly rose to her feet. She stood there unsteadily for a few moments.
Ashley realized that she understood so much more about sorcery. Many of the spells she had been having trouble with she now understood. “That was just what I wanted. It helped to explain so much.”
“There is more,” Snowden replied, almost reluctantly. He could tell that Ashley was still feeling unsteady. He didn’t want to harm his new friend.
Ashley wondered how much time had passed. But did she dare stop learning what Snowden had to offer? How much longer would it be until the Sorensons began causing trouble on the southern side of the valley? Her family was about to be caught between a rock and a hard place. If her sorcery was truly going to be as powerful as Snowden once hinted, it was her duty to her family to learn all that she could. Ashley took a deep breath; she knew there was no choice but to continue.
“Show me more, Snowden,” spoke Ashley, looking up at the dragon. “I want to know more about Cathy and how she was taught to do sorcery.”
“Very well,” Snowden replied. If Ashley became too tired, she could always spend the night in the lair. He would also watch her very closely. If she appeared to be getting too weak, he could always awaken her.
Ashley lay back down, closed her eyes, and the spinning sensation returned. When she
opened them, she was back with Cathy. Ashley felt excited; there was so much here to learn!
-
After spending what seemed like a week or more with Cathy going through all the different training classes and meeting hundreds of fabulous people, Ashley awoke to find herself in the lair with Snowden. She felt as if her skull was about to explode. Putting her hand to her head, she moaned quietly; she hadn’t expected to awaken with a severe headache. She tried to sit up, but collapsed back on the floor as weakness overwhelmed her. Her body refused to obey her commands.
Snowden looked on with a worried look in his yellow eyes. Had he inadvertently harmed his new friend?
“Ashley?” Snowden asked with concern in his thoughts.
“I’ll be fine, Snowden,” replied Ashley reassuringly and managing to sit up. “I just need to rest for a moment and clear my mind. Ashley fumbled for her pack and found her canteen. She took a long sip of water and ate some dried fruit she had packed just in case she got hungry.
She knew so much more now about Cathy Matheson and her archenemy, Adam. There was no longer any doubt in Ashley’s mind that the conflict between Adam’s close-knit group of troublemakers and Jason Sylvar was what must have eventually led to the Worldfire. She also knew Cathy and her circle of friends would have supported Jason.
After a moment, Ashley stood up on wobbly legs and walked over to the dragon. Snowden lowered his head until his eyes were almost level with Ashley’s eyes. Ashley reached out and touched him on his head. She was surprised at how soft the dragon’s skin felt.
“I need to go,” she said softly. “My parents will be worried.”
“It’s nearly dark,” Snowden spoke. “It is not safe to travel down the mountain now. You are not strong enough.”
“I must,” Ashley replied with a deep sigh of resignation. “If I don’t, my father will be out looking for me again.”
“Very well,” replied Snowden, reaching a monumental decision. “I will go with you and fly you down to the foot of the mountain.”
Snowden the White Dragon Page 12
