“Yes, an innocent dragon, sentenced to a life of magical servitude. You act as if that is a surprise. Don’t tell me you don’t think the spiritual realm is capable of such darkness? You have no idea what the Dragon Elders, the Unseen Ones, the spiritually elected… you have no idea what evils they are capable of. You are scared of what exists on land, but I am scared of what exists when I breathe my last. On the other side,” he said meaningfully.
“What is your name, dragon beast?” Astrid asked, struggling with everything that he told her. Wondering how much of it was true, and how much was exaggerated. Surely, the elders who existed beyond this realm couldn’t be evil? Could they?
No! Of course not, because only that which is just can exist, and if they are evil then they would have been cast out and sent to the darkness. He’s not telling you everything, I’m trying to recall, but my mind is blocking the information, Aronus warned.
How can your mind be blocked? You’re a dragon, can’t you magically recall them? She could sense Aronus shaking his head. What’s the point of being magic, if you can’t even use it for something simple like that?
“Hmmm, interesting development,” the dragon said, not answering her question, as his silvery black lips upturned into a dark smile. “I knew I sensed something different about you, but I would have never thought that to be the case. I guess it’s been too long since I’ve been in the presence of another dragon.” His seemingly aged, and kindly voice had taken on an edge and Astrid could feel the hairs on her arms standing erect.
“What? What are you talking about?” She feigned innocence, knowing very well he was speaking of Aronus, and suddenly worried that the beast may have something sinister in store for her guide. She couldn’t allow anything to happen to him.
“Are you playing coy with me, human?” he asked, beginning to pace back and forth, standing on all feet, he practically took up the entirety of the cave with very little wiggle room for them.
“Not in the slightest,” she answered honestly. Cayden’s warm hand on her arm, gripped her tightly, and he pulled her away.
“You asked, and I’ll answer. My name is Xolderan. A long time ago, I was supposed to be an Elder, but the dragon council decided I wasn’t good enough. I was cast out of the dragon realm and sent here. So, when you say you don’t think they are capable of such things, I’m here to tell you that they are. They carry on with their lives, those who you have with you, and are clearly hiding from everyone else, would rather see me die than help me, so why don’t the lot of you leave me to die in peace?”
The darkness she had sensed momentarily, dissipated, and his voice was once again heavy with age. He circled around, and laid down on the dirt, a puff of dust whirling up in the air as he settled back down.
“Astrid, what is he talking about? What is different about you? What are you carrying?” Cayden pulled her around to face him, but she couldn’t make eye contact. She looked to the dark earthen floor. “Not too long ago, you asked me to be honest with you. You asked me to tell you the truth, and I did. Even though I knew it cost me your trust. I did it, so I could build your faith in me, and now I find that you have been hiding something from me this entire time?”
Astrid jerked her arm away. “It’s not my secret to tell. What I carry, it’s not normal. I was given a task, and I’m just trying to fulfill my duties the best that I can.” Her hand reached around to grab the bow at her back.
Don’t be so quick to pull an arrow, Aronus urged her.
“This has to do with what the Grand Vizier, and what he sensed the first time we met. He said you had been in the presence of a dragon, but it’s much more than that isn’t it?” Quimby asked.
Astrid shook her head, unable to answer.
“Ah, so I’m not the only privy to your secret friend?” Xolderan mocked her.
What should I do? Astrid asked Aronus.
Do not reveal the truth, it could be catastrophic.
“Astrid! You demand truth, and yet you continue to hold onto lies. I need the truth,” Cayden pressed her. As she looked into his eyes, she knew that she couldn’t keep it from him, no matter what the cost.
“I carry a dragon. It is what gives me the strength I need when I fight.” There, the truth, but not every detail. He didn’t need to know that Aronus was her very arrows. Though, she didn’t doubt that he would figure that out on his own in time.
“Reveal yourself, little beast,” Xolderan taunted.
Not in a million years.
“He won’t do it. He won’t reveal himself, it’s not allowed. Not really. He is here to guide me, and when I have accomplished what I am supposed to do, he will return to the dragon realm.”
Cayden and Quimby didn’t speak a word, and Xolderan looked on smugly. “Well, if I were you, I would ask that little beastie of yours to figure out a way to save Caelestis, because I’ve only a few weeks left until my magic runs out, and I breathe my last.”
The emerald haired beauty sighed deeply. “How can that be possible, and now… after all this time? I thought dragons could live forever?”
“Is that something your passenger told you?” The dragon asked. “Can you not see by my aging body, my inability to carry my full weight, and the flaking of my scales that I am dying? Why don’t you call your precious Unseen Ones to come save the sky kingdom, since I believe that is all you care about--since my life means nothing to you. You’re just like them,” Xolderan said with menace.
“Don’t listen to him, Astrid, he’s just looking out for himself,” Cayden said, only she found herself unable to move. Her thoughts ran rampant, as she struggled with what she believed. Was he evil? Were the Unseen Ones not what they seemed?
She thought about everything she had gone through, and Svana at the edge of death. So many innocent lives lost to war. For what cause? So that she and her sisters could take the thrones, if they even made it through everything alive? Perhaps the dragon wasn’t lying.
I know the things in your head, Astrid! Don’t even think it! The Unseen Ones have only the best interests of the people at heart. You know this! It was part of your mission--the reason you and your sisters were chosen from the very beginning. You just have to trust them and trust me.
But you are a dragon, are you not? Astrid argued back. What makes you more worthy of my trust than he? she asked.
Aronus went silent, as she paced back and forth.
“It’s time for us to go,” she finally responded. Unsure of what she believed. Unsure of what to say and knowing that she couldn’t make any decisions until she knew the truth.
“Go ahead, and when Caelestis falls, they will know exactly who to blame,” the beast responded, his nostrils flaring with the exhale of breath as a plume of smoke emitted.
Astrid turned her back on him, Cayden and Quimby close behind.
“Wait!” the beast called after her. “Please… fine. So, perhaps I wasn’t entirely honest about why I’m here.”
See what I mean? Aronus replied in her head.
She turned around, watching Xolderan with renewed interest. “All right, so just why are you here?” she asked, the sound of his chains clanging as he shifted again.
“Fine, I’ll tell you everything, just don’t leave until I’ve had a chance to finish, please. I don’t want to die here.” The look of sorrow in the glint of his yellowed eyes, was more than she could bear. She already carried the weight of the death of men on her hands. To know that a dragon, a magical creature had died when she could have done something to stop it, was too much.
Not to mention, she couldn’t handle the idea of knowing that it was his magic keeping Caelestis in the sky. Without it, the kingdom would fall and all who lived here would perish. Time was running out for all of them, and the only way through it was to find out the truth from Xolderan--the real truth.
Astrid stepped closer to the dragon and sat in the dirt.
“Tell me everything you know and remember,” she urged him.
24
Svana
One cannot change the way the currents flow, but they can change which direction they choose to swim. True strength lies not in how cruel one can be to the deserving, but how merciful one can be to the undeserving. Every ship can change course with the right wind.
King Thomasett the Kind, Second King of Aequoris, 328 A.V.
They made their way to Telluris as quickly as possible, cutting through the woods to avoid being found by raiders. The destruction that had been brought upon the land kingdom was devastating for Svana to see. Houses burned and destroyed, buildings knocked to the ground. As they got closer, and she saw everything that had occurred, she couldn’t fight off the tears.
“How long have I been gone?” she spoke, a lump forming in her throat.
“You were out for a couple days before I took you to Palladin, most of this happened during that time,” Jakobe said quietly.
“And the tavern?” Svana dared to ask.
Eloise shook her head. “It’s there, but it’s in desperate need of repairs. Percival tried, but there was just too many. They were too angry. Do you want to see?”
Svana shook her head. “I can’t. We have to put a stop to this.” They paused for a moment and she buried her face in her right palm, trying to figure out what to do.
“Whatever you’re planning, Svana, you can’t do it by yourself. You don’t have your strength back completely.” Cayden reached for her, resting his hand lightly on her back.
“I feel fine, and besides, you have no idea what I’m planning.” She looked around, her eyes studying the depth of the damage that had been caused as she thought about what to do next. Lingaria was dying, and they were running out of time.
“So?” Eloise stepped forward, her eyes hopeful. “What do you have planned?”
“My dragon guide needs help, there’s only one person I know that can help him and that’s my sister and her dragon guide. The sooner we get to her, the better chance we have of rescuing Lingaria, and we have to rescue him. He’s been my only friend for a long time. I can’t lose him.”
“Where do you think she is?” Eloise asked.
“I don’t know, I can only guess that she has returned to the water kingdom. It was Palladin’s will that she restores it and help reunite the Aequorans with Telluris and Caelestis.”
“Fine, then I will journey with you,” Jakobe said, stance steady, eyes focused on her, daring that she should say anything to negate his presence with her on the road.
“I appreciate that, but it’s not necessary. Telluris needs you. There has been much damage here. The people are going to need a strong leader to help restore what has been taken.”
“Svana, darling,” Eloise stepped closer to the woman, gently tucking hair away from her face in a motherly way. “You need to find help for Lingaria, and your body has been through much. Allow Jakobe to accompany you, he is strong, protective. He’ll care for you like no other. Telluris will be here, broken, waiting for the two of you to return and help bring healing. In the meantime, Tellurians have a way of banding together when it’s most important. We’ll be all right until you come back.” She stepped away, and made a shooing motion with her hand, “please, go, get help. Come back as soon as you can.”
Jakobe stepped forward to wrap his arms around the woman in a friendly hug. “You can come with us you know,” he offered.
“No, I’ve slowed you down enough. Take Svana and find her sister. Get help for her dragon, then get back as soon as you can.” The woman patted Jakobe’s back, smiling her approval.
“I promise you; we will be back as soon as we can, please stay safe, Eloise. I don’t want to lose you too,” Svana said.
“I’ll be fine, I can hold my own, now get on with it, your dragon needs you.”
As they walked away, Svana glanced back briefly to see the kind woman looking on, her eyes glistening with tears, and her mouth turned in a slight frown. The fiery-haired woman vowed that the moment Lingaria had been restored, she would hurry back to Eloise’s side to help her restore the tavern.
“She’s going to be all right,” Jakobe said in low tone, and she knew he said it to comfort her, but she wasn’t sure.
“I hope so.” It was a day’s journey to the water’s edge, and as they hurried on, Svana wondered how they would find Hekla and if it would even be possible for them to traverse the water kingdom. Traveling at night proved to be more difficult, especially as they came into the wooded area that ran along the shore, separating it from Telluris.
“Care to rest?”
“I feel like sleep is a waste of time,” she answered.
“You went to the brink of death, and came back, sleep is never a waste of time. Just sleep for a few hours, and then I’ll wake you. Then I’ll sleep for a few hours. We don’t know what we are going to deal with when we reach Aequoris, and I want to be rested.”
Svana nodded, wanting to tend to her dragon, and feeling the heavy weight of sleep creeping on her.
“I suppose now is as good a time as any.” She slid the makeshift satchel from her back that carried the small dragon guide. Gingerly laying him on the ground, she lightly pressed her fingers to his chest to feel his heart. A light, but steady beat pulsated against her fingertips, and she took a deep breath.
“Hang in there, Lingaria, I promise I’m going to get you help.” She kissed the top of his head, curling up in the brush and dirt that littered the ground and watching the gentle fluttering of his eyes as he rested. Please, Unseen Ones, keep watch over him until I can find help. She reached out her hand, and rested it on his cheek, finally falling asleep as she felt the silken feel of his scales against her fingertips.
In her dreams, she was floating above the ground, watching a younger Melifera chase after a youthful version of Lingaria. Like a dog, she threw things for him, and he went to retrieve them, though he never brought them back. Then Svana realized that Melifera was tossing him bits of goat meat, his favorite food. In the dream, she watched happily, giggling as the little beast fluttered quickly back and forth, and then just as she was letting her guard down, something was shaking her.
“Svana, time to wake up… Svana?” A strong hand shook her shoulder, willing her to wake up, and as her body internalized what her mind could not, her eyes slowly fluttered open. Lingaria still lay nearly lifeless in his satchel on the ground next to her.
“Need more sleep?” Jakobe asked.
“No, it’s fine, you sleep, and then we can hurry up and be on our way,” she yawned wide, knowing that all she wanted to do was sleep longer. She could have slept for days if allowed, but there was too much riding on her getting to Hekla. Just get to Hekla.
He didn’t need any coercing, and just like she, Jakobe quickly curled up on the hard ground, and immediately fell asleep. The gentle sound of his snoring filling the silence just moments later. Svana realized he probably hadn’t slept for days, and she knew it had to do with his willingness to sacrifice that sleep for her. He wanted to save her life and had. Svana had so much to thank him for. Perhaps allowing him to sleep would be good. Quietly, she gathered up Lingaria in his satchel, and shifted him carefully onto her back.
Svana would go on alone. Jakobe knew where she was headed, and in the morning, he could meet up with her, if he so wished. Treading lightly, so as not to make too much noise, her feet carefully feeling their way along the ground to avoid stepping on broken branches or tripping over bits of rocks, she found her way through the woods. The shoreline was in sight and peeking through the trees she could see the reflection of the moonlight off the water’s surface.
The closer she got, the clearer everything became. Aequoran soldiers marched back and forth near it, and as she stepped out to meet them, they turned on her heatedly. Their eyes alight with a fierce anger.
“Soldiers! I need your help, please, have you seen the blue-haired woman, she is my sister,” she called to them, hoping that they knew Hekla and would not attack her once they realized the relation.
“
Yes, we know her! She is destroying our kingdom and turning our people against our own king! She needs to die, and so do you!” They charged at her with their swords drawn, and Svana realized that without Lingaria, her sword skills were average at best. It didn’t matter, they wouldn’t take her down without a fight, and in the dark under the moon, she withdrew her sword and waited for them to come after her. The two on the outside were much shorter, and she didn’t see them posing much of a threat.
The main soldier who ran toward her, looked more well-built, and his strong jaw was only highlighted by the nighttime reflecting off of it. He held up a shield, with the Aequoran symbol on it, and Svana mapped in her head, how she would strike at them. With any luck, she would knock them back before they had a chance to cause her or Lingaria any harm, she would have to take extra care not to turn her back for fear they would strike her there.
“Your king is polluted, if she turned any of your people against him, it was to save your kingdom,” Svana tried to reason with them.
“How dare you! Another witch and heretic! We will kill you and when she resurfaces, then we will kill her too!” The tall one was at her front already, bringing his sword down to strike. All she could do was swing her blade as swiftly as possible to deflect. His metal hit hers with great impact, that she felt through her body, and then they were locked in a song and dance. He pulled back, and swung to her left, and she echoed his movements, meeting his blade again as the sound of metal clanging reverberated in the air.
The other two were gaining distance, with Lingaria on her back, she couldn’t throw herself into a roll on the ground to get out of the way. With her resolve set, she threw all her strength into fighting as hard and as fiercely as she could. Finally landing a blow to the Aequoran soldier’s side, he let out a long grunt of pain, and stumbled back a little. The shorter two immediately took his place, coming after her in a fury of blades and angered faces.
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