by Mike Shelton
Breelyn’s voice strengthened as she said, “It was right, Bakari. You are the master of the dragon riders, the Dragon King. You have all the right to command us in anything you wish, and we have vowed to obey.”
Bakari wondered how they could all treat him with such respect. He was only a sixteen-year-old boy, a weak scholar wizard, who had hardly left the library until six months earlier. He shook his head with wonder.
Breelyn’s voice softened as she said, “It is true, Bakari.” Then she put her soft hand on his arm. It looked paler against his dark skin. “I know what you are thinking,” Breelyn continued. “You are young, Bakari, but you are the prophesied one. The Dragon King.”
“I don’t feel much like a king today.”
That brought a smile to Breelyn’s lips. She peered over at Lan. “Kings are not always invincible, Bakari. You did what you could do. You brought me back.”
Bakari nodded his head toward Lan. “Let’s see what we can do about your king.”
Breelyn raised her eyebrows at Bakari. Then they moved back over next to Lan. Roland, Jaimon, and Alli were gathered around him, watching Kharlia at work.
“I have given him yarrow and peppermint for the fever,” Kharlia said. “Garlic may help against the infection, but the injury is caused by magic, so I’m not sure.”
Breelyn came to Lan’s side and he moved his hand over and grasped Breelyn’s, saying, “Garlic, huh?” His voice was weak and hoarse. “Still going to kiss me?” he asked Breelyn.
Bakari smiled. From the first moment he had met Lan, he had been surprised by the man’s sense of humor.
Breelyn leaned down and, with tears in her eyes, gave him a kiss on the lips.
“I see you have grown bolder among the dragon riders.” Lan laughed.
“I will stay and take care of him,” Breelyn voiced. “My healing magic is already returning.”
Bakari hadn’t noticed. But, once he checked, he too felt a little of his magic once again. He looked at Roland and Alli, but they shook their heads.
“It must be due to the dragon bond,” Bakari said. “But I am sure it will return.”
“I hope so,” Roland grumbled. “I would be the shortest reigning High Wizard in history.”
“I have never read anything about a wizard’s magic disappearing totally,” Bakari said. He scrunched his face up and then mumbled off a few instances where magic had been only temporarily immobilized. As long as he could remember, Bakari had had the amazing ability for remembering everything he had ever read. This skill had come in handy many times.
“I trust your memory, Bak,” Roland said, seeming to relax with Bakari’s words. “And I’ll hold you to it.”
Breelyn placed her hands on the spreading blackness on Lan’s arm and tried to heal him.
But Lan batted her hand away and shouted out in terror, “What are you doing?” Lan’s voice sounded gruff. “I thought you were going to heal me, not kill me.”
Breelyn’s lips went tight. “What do you mean? I was pushing my healing power into you, you stubborn man.”
“That wasn’t healing power, Breelyn.” Lan glared at her. “I have been healed before. So I know what it is, and that’s not it! You were pushing more of that wretched evil into me.”
Breelyn opened her eyes wide and turned to Bakari.
But before he could say anything, Alli spoke up.
“The Chameleon did try to get you to use the power of the object that Roland had given you.” Alli glared pointedly at Roland, who only shrugged. “I have told him to stay away from the dark powers and artifacts in the basement of the Citadel—they are locked away for a reason.”
“Power is not good or evil, only the user or intention of it is,” Roland stated firmly. “That is what we have always been taught.”
Bakari held his hand up. “But,” he said and then paused, “maybe the magical items held in the Citadel were kept there because they were infused with black magic—something evil. Or, if not the magic itself, then the intention of whoever infused them was for an evil purpose.”
“So I’m infected now with this evil magic?” Breelyn asked, raising her voice as she added, “I can’t use my own magic anymore?”
Just then, a few of the elderly elves returned to check on the progress of their king’s healing. One elf stepped forward.
“There doesn’t seem to be any other damage to the city, sir,” the elf said as he looked back and forth between Lan and Bakari, as if he were not sure whom he answered to.
“And the magic?” Bakari asked the elf.
“The removal of magic was limited to only this room. We have healers that can now see to our king.” Behind the man came a group of Elvyn healers, their white robes trimmed in red, signifying their occupations.
“I will stay with him also,” Kharlia offered. “Like I said, not everything can be cured with magic.”
Bakari nodded and pulled the rest of their group away from Lan. Breelyn reluctantly followed as they moved out to a deck area overlooking the considerable tree city. A slight breeze blew across their faces, the tangy scent of the Blue Sea hanging in the air. Bakari could even see Abylar, who stood ready with the two other dragons below, next to the sea.
“We need to find out more about this dark magic and the Chameleon—” Bakari started to say, but he was interrupted by Jaimon.
“Dragon Master,” the young dragon rider said, then looked hesitant to speak. “I have something that might help.”
Bakari motioned for Jaimon to proceed.
“At the end, when I sent the magic of the dragons into the Chameleon,” Jaimon said, “I think some of it went with him.”
“You’re not making any sense,” Roland said, resting his hand on a wooden railing.
Bakari glared at his old friend, but his look was only met with a look of stubborn annoyance.
Then Roland waved his hand at Jaimon, for him to continue. It seemed like such a kingly gesture that Bakari almost laughed despite the precarious situation they were all in.
“As you know,” Jaimon began, “I do not have magic like the rest of you.” Jaimon seemed to shrink in front of them, and then he rushed his words out. “But I do have the bond with my dragon, Cholena. Since using the dragon power against that man—or whatever he is—I have felt something in my mind. It is faint, but I think I can tell where he is or, at least, in what direction he may be.”
Bakari smiled, the first real smile, it seemed, since the Chameleon had shown up. “That’s great, Jaimon,” Bakari said. “That’s a start at least.” A plan was now forming in his mind. “Jaimon, I want you and Alli to try and follow the Chameleon. Keep an eye on him, and try to limit any damage that he may be doing. Until we figure out how to defeat him, we need to know where he is.”
Alli looked to Roland for confirmation.
“Gonna miss me, sweetheart?” Roland quipped.
“Errr,” Alli growled. “You are insufferable, Roland Tyre.”
The two had met in Alaris six months earlier, just prior to being taken with the Chief Judge to the Citadel, to meet the former High Wizard, Kanzar Centari. At that time, both were powerful apprentices who were disgruntled to be given such low ranks. Since then, Roland had risen to a level four wizard, had proclaimed himself High Wizard, and had granted Alli her wizard test. Now she stood as the Battlemaster of the Citadel.
The whole group laughed now at Alli’s remark. Roland had indeed been insufferable at times. His arrogance had angered many wizards. But the one thing that was different about Roland’s arrogance was that it wasn’t egotism: he truly was the most powerful wizard around.
“Roland,” Bakari continued, “you will return to the Citadel. Send word out to all the other wizard schools. We need more information about this Chameleon’s magic and how to beat it.”
Roland opened his mouth but then closed it again and just nodded. Bakari knew that it was hard for Roland to not be in charge.
“What about me?” Breelyn asked with an uncharacteristic
frown. “I don’t trust my magic.”
Bakari sighed. “Hopefully we can find a cure for it along with banishing the Chameleon. For now, you are still a dragon rider. Fly west, to Raleez, and warn the kings of North and South Solshi of the Chameleon.”
“What about Lan?” Breelyn asked.
“He’s in good hands here with the healers. There is nothing else you can do here, Breelyn.”
“And you, Bak? Where are you going?”
“I feel pulled to the north. There is another dragon rider and dragon egg somewhere up there,” Bakari explained, pointing in that direction. “I will go there.”
Everyone nodded and then stood quietly for a moment. Then, one by one, they bowed to Bakari and left on their missions.
Once they were gone, Bakari stood quietly on a platform, looking out over the tops of the trees toward the Blue Sea.
After a short time, Kharlia came out from the room and put her hand on Bakari’s arm. So he turned toward her.
“Kharlia, I really don’t know what I am doing,” Bakari whispered.
“But they follow you, Bak,” she said. “They trust you.”
Bakari nodded his head. “I know. And it frightens me terribly.”
Kharlia leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. He turned his head, looking down toward her.
“You did great today with the king in there,” Bakari said. “I wish I could take charge like that.”
“The man was dying, and Roland and Breelyn’s magic wasn’t working,” Kharlia stated. “I just did what I had to do.”
“You are a talented healer,” Bakari said.
Kharlia moved back a few inches away from him and peered down at her feet. “But I don’t have any magic, Bak. All of you are so powerful: Roland, Alli, Breelyn, and even Jaimon, who has the power of his dragon.”
Bakari put his hand under her chin and brought her face up so that her brown eyes met his. “Kharlia, you don’t need magic. You are wonderful without it. I…I—” Bakari faltered for a moment and then said, “I liked you from the moment we first met—before all the dragon riders and before the barrier came down. You don’t need magic.”
Kharlia put her hand on the side of his face and said, “Thank you, Bak.” She paused, then moved her fingers with a gentle touch over his eyelids. “Your eyes are beautiful. The whites turn blue now when you use your magic. Quite exotic.”
He laughed and took her hands in his. “I don’t know what I am becoming, but I want you next to me as I do.” Then he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.
Her full lips molded to his perfectly, and her fingers tightened around his. But Kharlia gazed back at him with tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Bakari asked.
“I want to be with you too, Bak. I really do.” Kharlia struggled to hold back more tears and then added, “But I need to stay here with Lan—to learn from the healers. That is my magic.”
Bakari nodded and let out a brief sigh. He would feel better knowing that she was safe with the elves while he flew north. They stood in a comfortable silence, looking over the trees to the Blue Sea.
A moment later, a few of the healers emerged from Lan’s room. One healer nodded in respect to Kharlia.
“Thanks to the quick actions of you, Healer,” he said to Kharlia, “his fever has broken.”
Bakari squeezed Kharlia’s hand to remind her again of how special she was, even without magic.
“I will be staying here to learn from you,” Kharlia said.
The healer smiled at them both. “Our knowledge is open to any healer that is a friend of the master dragon rider. However, the blackness stills spreads on the king’s arm. We have slowed it but cannot stop it yet.”
“We will find a cure,” Bakari said, trying to reassure them. “The High Wizard and all the dragon riders will continue to reach out to all the lands until a cure is found.”
The healer bowed to both Bakari and Kharlia and left.
Bakari put his arm around Kharlia as much for his own comfort as for hers and said, “I will return as soon as I can.”
Kharlia didn’t say goodbye but only stood up on tiptoe and gave him one more kiss on the lips.
Then with one last hug, Bakari left, calling out in his mind for Abylar to ready himself to fly north. Bakari took the lift back down to the ground, gathered some supplies, and met Abylar back out on the flat land.
Mounting his blue dragon, Bakari then held on tight as Abylar lifted up into the sky. As they glided over the trees, Bakari could see Kharlia growing smaller down below. Bakari waved down to her, then turned Abylar northward. There was one more dragon rider to gather in.
CHAPTER FOUR
After a brief break later that night, Bakari continued northward on the back of Abylar. Soon the spring morning dawned, bright and clear over the Blue Sea, bringing with it the promise of better things ahead.
Abylar dipped closer to the water, dragging his right wing along the top of the rolling waves, causing a light spray to cover Bakari.
Hey, you’re getting me wet! Bakari thought through the bond.
Abylar roared in delight and flew faster.
Bakari laughed and then said out loud, “You’re playing like a child!”
I am not a child! Abylar said to Bakari’s mind. But I do like to play!
The giant blue dragon turned his head back toward Bakari, his yellow eyes flashing playfully. Then, without warning, he rose straight up in the air. As a few seagulls scattered in front of him, Bakari grabbed the leather strap in front of himself and hung on for dear life.
As they flew on, Bakari was amazed by all of the water. Having grown up in Alaris—landlocked and behind a magical barrier—Bakari had only recently seen any body of water larger than the Dunn River.
Looking westward, Bakari could see all of Elvyn, covered with a canopy of green. Looking northward, Bakari saw the ring of mountains that separated Mahli from the other northern kingdoms. The mountains were approaching swiftly, with the city of Jar—the capital of Khazer—spreading out from the bay.
“Abylar!” Bakari screamed out loud and said through the bond to Abylar’s mind. The dragon had reached his apex, high in the sky, and then began his dive back toward the sea. Wind rushed against Bakari’s face, and his growing braids flew around his head like out of control snakes.
Don’t wear yourself out, Bakari told Abylar. We have a ways to go.
Can you sense it, Dragon Rider?
Sense what?
The other dragon egg. Abylar’s mind was filled with glee.
I feel the pull northward, but it is unclear whether the egg and the rider are together or not.
As Bakari opened himself up more to the power of the dragon, the power of the spirit, he felt his soul fill with sweet delight. This made him laugh out loud with joy. He was so excited to find another dragon rider. After Kolo and the Chameleon had turned the last dragon evil, they’d had to kill it. The Chameleon had taken its form, for a brief time, before continuing to cause havoc in Elvyn.
Passing by Jor, Bakari could see the people below, looking up in the air and running with loud shouts to tell others what they had seen high up in the blue sky. Spring flowers bloomed along the coast of Khazer, its meadows leading right up to the sandy shore of the Blue Sea. Yellow daffodils filled acres and acres; their contrast to the bright Blue Sea was amazing.
I can’t believe how fast we can travel, Bakari said.
Do you want to go faster? Abylar asked.
Oh, no, no, no, my friend. Bakari laughed. This is fast enough. I am not as strong as you are.
That is true. Abylar shook with what Bakari felt was laughter. You are a weak and puny race.
We may be small, but remember who your master is, Bakari teased his dragon.
Abylar leveled out and roared, spitting flames of blue fire in front of himself, the edges bringing warmth back to Bakari’s face.
So Bakari patted Abylar and reassured him of his love through the bond. Then he
asked, Can you slow down a bit?
Later that day, they landed somewhere near the border between Gildan and the Realm, where a picturesque river ran through meadows of new grass and then splashed hard into the sea.
Bakari dismounted, stretched his arms over his head, and tried to walk off the stiffness of his legs. The day was warm, so he removed the light cloak he had been wearing. Underneath, he wore dark leather pants and a green shirt. His wizard robes were in one of the pouches on the sides of his dragon saddle, along with a few of the wooden discs, should he meet with any danger.
His thoughts went immediately to Kharlia, and he missed her already. He even picked a few colorful flowers and thought about how they would look in her dark hair.
Then Abylar flew off, in search of big game, while Bakari opened up his pack and pulled out some bread and meat. The broad meadows made him feel so small, and he shook his head at the wonderment of it all.
He was amazed that he now stood in yet another kingdom. Growing up in Alaris and spending most of his time in the library—either at the Citadel or in Cassian—Bakari had read many of the old records and books about the rest of the world. But he had never thought he would actually see them himself.
It had been one hundred and fifty years since any new information or books about these lands had made their way into Alaris. What if the facts that he knew about these lands had changed? A few books in Mahli and in Elvyn had updated him on some of the more recent events outside Alaris. One of those events was the acceptance of wizards and magic in the Realm, beginning about fifteen years earlier with the rise of their wizard king.
Bakari wondered where the closest library might be from here. Clearing his mind, he brought up the most recent map that he could recall. Just to the north of here was the ancient city of Belor. He grinned, thinking about what treasures a library there might hold.
Soon Abylar came back with his belly full. And Bakari climbed up on his bulky, blue back and instructed him to fly north to Belor.
We need to find the other dragon egg, Abylar reminded him.
