by Karine Green
He flew up over the waterfall edge, before swooping down close to let his hind paws skim the surface of the lake. “I remember doing this with my dad.” He felt a pat on his neck, smiling as he realized she probably couldn’t talk that easily. He slowed down. “Better.”
“Yes- but I am good.” She patted his neck once. “We’ll need to come up with some hand signals. That was much faster than the flight here.”
“Yes, I am an Air Dragon. I didn’t want to lose Méi, so I flew at the same speed as her.”
He felt a pat as he took off back toward the village.
The four Guardian barns were the tallest structures. From the size of the village, he guessed about five or six thousand people lived here. Then it hit him, they had flown over what could best be described as suburbs. They had been burned out and appeared to be abandoned. This village was a fraction of the city it had once been.
That was when Mack realized everyone had lost everything here- not just him. He refocused, not wanting to think about what happened.
The saddle was still comfortable. He could feel her pulling on the bridle as she suggested they fly left or right. It differed greatly from when she flew with them to the village. This confirmed to him she had been honest with him back at the cave about not making presumptions based on him allowing the bridle.
He smiled and let his tongue hang out in the wind as he flew low over the lower lake. He felt her lean forward in the saddle to keep the weight balanced as he banked back up and away from the lake. He had made the right choice in a rider. Now he just needed to visit his libraries, and hope Misty could teach him how to read in this language. He could hardly wait to meet Romayo at the Inscrollium tomorrow afternoon.
Upon their return, Suki was securing her leg braces.
"What's this?" Mack stared in disbelief as Méi secured the under strapping of a saddle, announcing that Suki was her rider and she was her dragon.
"What? You can't have all the fun. Besides, no fat bully boy is going to sneak a saddle on me. I am a Noble dragon; I choose my own rider. Did you know Seculars killed her family too?" Méi pointed with her tail at Suki, who nodded, climbed into the saddle securing her braces, then grabbed the bridle.
"Woo hoo, I have a fire-breathing dragon," Suki yelled, holding up the reigns.
Méi reared and blew flames harmlessly into the sky causing the villagers to cheer like mad. "I am invincible with a competent rider."
Romayo put a hand up. "Not even close." He smiled. "You two are cut from the same cloth, and will require a completely separate training program than Mack and Misty. We can't have you burning everything in your path." He smiled a wide, toothy grin.
Fabian elbowed him. "Are you sure you are up for this, Rom?"
"Oh yes, I am ready for the challenge," Romayo said, still smiling like an excited child.
Méi reared up. "Let's go!" She took off at a full run and jumped into the air with Suki crouched low into the saddle, like she had been born there. Mack and Misty took off after them.
Méi smiled. "The saddle isn't that bad. It's kind of comfortable. I have never met a human I didn't want to eat, let alone one I liked.”
They flew along the edge of the forest. Méi burned underbrush using a continuous flame that stopped just as Mack wondered if she would run out of fuel.
"What are you doing?" Mack asked, "You aren't really going to burn everything? Are you?"
Suki yelled over her shoulder, "It's in a Fire Dragon's nature to do this. It stops the lightning from causing forest fires from getting too big by removing the underbrush."
She also flew back in the other direction and put the fire out. "I am so happy. I can hardly believe I can't wait to get back to the barn and check out what remains of the training gear."
“Well, let’s go then.” Mack banked toward his barn.
~~~
Once back at Mack's barn, dragon servants from the village insisted on bathing both Mack, and a very apprehensive Méi. They had cleared out the dragon baths on the first floor and readied their scale polishers. Misty and Suki were taken to the bath spas for humans and issued new rider uniforms that camouflaged them when in the saddle.
Méi frowned deeply and looked miserable for the entire bath. Her bathers used heavy scrubbing brushes to wash the caked dirt away using boiling water she’d heated for them. The other water was too cold according to her constant complaining. But, Mack noticed she didn’t nip at them as they scrubbed.
Mack wasn't that bad, he had only lived in the woods overnight.
"What's that?" Méi asked when the bathers walked up carrying a can of some goopy stuff.
"Gold-flecked scale polish for lady dragons," The woman said, smiling, "You'll like this part. Most Fire dragons do. There is no water involved, and with your gold striping, you'll shine like a princess."
"Do you have polish for male dragons?"
The servant smiled and nodded, holding up a second jar of the goopy stuff.
Both Mack and Méi enjoyed the scale polishing. They walked out into the back courtyard of Mack's barn to rest in the remaining light of the sunset.
"Wow! Méi, you look beautiful."
The bather's nodded with satisfaction, and their supervisor spoke up, "Yes, you can see all the red and orange hues of her coloring and striping. Shall we put your saddles back on for you? We are dragon servants, so it will not violate rules regarding rider contracts."
"Not yet," Mack said, lying down like a Sphinx. The backyard had a decent view of the road from the North. "I just want to relax here for a moment under this shady palm tree cluster." He looked up at the trees sniffing the air. There was a definite excitement with an undertone of relief in the air. “The dragons are home.”
That evening there was a festival like nothing Mack had ever seen. It reminded him of the celebrations he saw on T.V. for New Year's Eve; he watched a few naked people run by: or perhaps it was more like Mardi Gras. The only thing missing was the fireworks. The village didn't want to draw the attention of a Secular village called Yellow Hollow by shooting them off. So Méi entertained them in the village square by blowing fire rings she had learned as a pup.
"And, this is one I have been working on recently.” She flew low, her fire following her like a rhythmic gymnast's ribbon. The villagers were mesmerized by her fire display, and Suki looked like a natural in the saddle as Méi made the complicated low-flight patterns that would make even a seasoned rider air sick.
Mack, Misty, Romayo, and Fabian sat at the head table with several of the village council members in the center of the village square. Méi and Suki's places were vacant while they flew.
Romayo leaned over to Mack, "Now our impulsive young Scholar Don can see for himself that one needs to know how to fly. Strength and agility are of paramount importance. Station in life has nothing to do with it." He pointed to Méi as she spiraled in with Suki looking wide-eyed but perfectly centered, despite the look on her face.
Misty nodded, "Indeed. I am glad the hunters forced me to go out with them as often as they did. There is no way I could have built up the muscle and agility to hang on to Mack without the extra food and training from the hunting program."
Romayo frowned. "You are aware that you were to be killed while hunting? The Seculars of Dragons Lance do not treat their women well. Especially ones that are your age and are childless. Most women have at least three children by the time they are twenty."
"I know, but every time I went, I out hunted them. They would go out on more dangerous hunts in more dangerous terrain,” Misty said. “I out tracked and trapped them. Eventually, they brought me on the hunts because I was an asset."
"Oh, you must be an expert with the bow,” Fabian said, impressed.
Misty smiled, but Mack noticed her smile dipped fast as she stirred her dragonberry drink. He smiled, Misty's story indicated she was a tracker and trapper, not a bow hunter.
Later, they did a dragon dance that was more like a run. Normally he didn't like dancing, b
ut that was probably because he had been a lanky human, and danced awkwardly. As a dragon, he seemed to move much easier.
He smiled. "I am home, never to be forgotten again."
After the dance, the villagers gave him and Méi a half of a cow for them to split. She smiled at him. “It’s a feast like nothing I have ever had before.” They both ate until they thought their stomachs would burst.
"I am just glad they brought this out after the dance," Méi said, head-butting him. “I would have been too full to dance.”
Mack wasn't sure how to handle it, so he head-butted her back. A cheer erupted through the village. "The ministries are united." When the celebration finally settled down, they flew up to their new home.
Suki and Misty were put up in the village lodge until the rider quarters in Mack's barn could be restored. Mack had offered his personal quarters since they were spacious enough, but Romayo had been worried about them sleeping with two dragons who were so close to the change into adulthood. He warned that they could be easily startled and accidentally do something impulsive that they didn't mean.
Mack was too tired to argue about it. He was about as un-impulsive as one could get. He walked into his parent's den, now his room, and climbed onto his granite slab which was far too big for one dragon. He turned three times to trample his fresh palm leaves, and plopped down.
He didn't understand the big deal. Romayo had cited the hormonal changes into adulthood, and then again when dragons have pups. Dragon parents are overprotective. Mack had been confused at first by Romayo’s comment, but Méi set the record straight for the villagers. She wasn't having any pups anytime soon, and one head-butt didn't mean the two were mates.
"What an awkward conversation that was," he said closing his eyes.
"I can't sleep," Méi said, cautiously entering and pausing by the door. "I'll wait here. Forgottenness curse or not, you are still a male dragon, not even a familiar female may just walk into your den."
Mack lifted his head off the bed and fought off the instinct to growl at her. What was he thinking? He didn't need to go around growling at someone who had saved his life, more than once over the last two days. "Would you like to talk?" He didn't want to talk. He wanted to sleep off this bulging belly.
"May I come in?" She looked down at her claws, "I don't want to...I am not sure about entering a male dragon's space. I would prefer not to be bitten, but I do not want to be in the guest dragon room," she said, referring to the room at the rear of the barn, overlooking the overgrown private training grounds. It was the same size as Mack's room, and meant to be guest quarters for visiting dragon dignitaries. Once the back grounds were tended to, the guest room would offer the best view in the barn.
"Why would I bite you?" He paused, again fighting off the urge to growl and chase her out. What is wrong with you, Mack? A girl wants to come into your room. "Please come in."
She entered quickly, and put a paw on the slab, glancing up at him. He made no motion toward her so she climbed in and lay behind him. "I was alone so long that I forgot how much I don't like to be alone," she said, leaning her head on his front paw. She fell asleep almost instantly.
For reasons unknown to him, he nipped her paw with his front teeth between his fangs.
She opened an eye to look at him, and then closed it again, putting her head down on the slab and nudging closer to him. "Thanks, I like you too," she whispered, sleepily nipping his paw back, and then she fell back to sleep stretching her legs out. He could see the light red-orange hue of her under scales. He stared at her. She was beautiful and certainly got over being shy about sleeping next to him.
He was awake now. She wasn't a hideous dragon. There was something about the incredible definition in her striping he found to be profoundly attractive. He could stare at it for hours, and probably would have enjoyed doing just that if it weren't well after midnight.
Blue’s Decision
Dunia awoke to a loud clank. "Blue?" It was still dark outside.
She got up and wandered into the main room. Blue was cleaning up a mess on the little potbelly stove.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he said, bending over. He appeared to be in pain.
"Are you alright?"
"Just a bit of joint pain flaring up." He smiled, then he set his little teacup on the shelf that acted as a counter top. "I am just happy I didn't break my tea set."
"You're a Water wizard. Don't they specialize in healing?" Dunia asked, confused.
Why isn't he healing himself? All my research shows the water element heals.
Blue smiled and stirred a powder into his tea. "Yes, I am a wizard, but I had to turn in my wand to work so closely with an Earth Dragon. Our magic compliments each other, pairing us would give us a power that would be overwhelming in terms of temptation. Therefore, magical humans may not become teachers or riders to dragons. Not without a price." He pointed to his knees.
"But in the past, they worked together."
"Together, yes, never as one over the other." He held up his finger as if to put an invisible period on that statement. “A student is under her teacher.”
"Blue, you and I could..." It came to her. Water and Earth were complimentary. They would be nearly all powerful. They could take out the Mad King.
"Do nothing. We cannot allow ourselves to become the Mad King, in order to defeat him. That was why I willingly gave my wand up to teach you." He sipped his tea, "Ah, that is better. I think we should start on some more updated history lessons in the morning. The sooner you come to understand why you cannot defeat him with his own methods, the better."
"I read what I could understand so far. The non-magical side of your family were the dragon riders to my mother and father."
"Yes, dear Lady. It was my sister-in-law who betrayed your father's Great Barn." He took another sip, smiled, and then frowned looking hard into the tea cup before looking up again. "I thought about it, but ultimately I had no idea she would do that. I felt duped, like perhaps I should have known, but she was a good liar." He sat down, with his tea. "Ultimately, Lady, I am the only one who can teach you these things. The Earth Witch and Wizard are at the root of the Great Losing, so I could not let you be turned over to them for team training. So, if a shred of guilt exists in my soul, then I pay the debt to your parents by teaching you."
"Blue, without your wand, you can't do your full range of magic. How will you heal yourself?" At his age, he would be committing suicide by helping her.
"You do not worry about the decisions that someone else makes for the course of their own life. You have no control over it. Besides. I still have my potions. Now if you don't mind this tea will make for a good night's sleep. Beyond that, you will just have to trust that an old man can hold on long enough to help you learn what you need to." He finished his tea and set the teacup on the little table next to him.
Dunia stared at him, frowning with her lips pursed, which allowed the tip of her fangs to hang over her bottom lip.
He smiled, "Fear not, I keep a personal scroll, and write things down that I think you might need to know. Then I can still help you once I finally pass on. For the record, I do not plan on passing anytime soon." He smiled, "Now, goodnight, Lady Dunia." He headed back up the narrow staircase.
She shook her head. "That's not what I was afraid of.”
She headed back into her room. She curled up in her bed, but sleep would not come easily to her tonight, terrified of what would happen to her without Blue’s guidance. She had been alone and forgotten growing up, she did not want that to happen again.
Arlen’s Great Escape
Arlen's stomach rumbled, loud. I am so hungry I can't stand it. I need food
The clanging of armor came from down the hall.
The guards are coming. He made no reaction to them. His energy level was nil. He knew humans could die from dehydration within three days, but what about dragons? So far, it didn't seem to be an issue for him. The water seemed to come to him on its
own.
But, how long can I go without food?
As soon as the men spoke, he realized it wasn't the usual guards. Someone else was with them. Someone wearing robes that softly brushed the floor as he walked.
"How is he supposed to mate when he is half starved?" It was an authoritative and disapproving voice, despite the calm tone. The voice reminded him of his English teacher, who could command the entire class simply by whispering from the front of the room. Something about him suggested one really did not have a choice but to listen to and obey the instructions given.
Is he using magic? Rini and Sarnia said the Mad King is using illegal magic. Is he mesmerizing the guards?
He heard groveling on the floor, armor clanking.
"Forgive us, Majesty, but if we remove his belt he will use his dragon's breath to freeze us to death."
"Let me assure you, that as long as the dragon's heart beats, so will the hearts of your family," the voice remained calm and steady. "Belinda, bring his family here. They can stay in the palace as my guests."
Arlen heard someone walking away quickly.
"No, Majesty, please. We can get the dragon fed." It was the voice of the guard who had been afraid of feeding him earlier.
"Let us hope so, because your family will not eat until the dragon does."
The guards had stayed away from him since he’d removed the belt, so he hadn't been able to act against them. What if they got more help?
If I move around now, I would reveal that I am untied. Perhaps they aren't as idiotic as I thought they were? Still, I can't wait to see how far I can sink my fangs into them.
He had been remembering things in flashes. It happened every time he drank the water. His mother had taught him how to go after humans -- hunt them, but her hunts had been in the name of justice, not as an escape, and not for a snack. She would have been appalled by the fact that he was considering eating them. Sorry Mom, I am just too hungry, and they killed you. I'll make them pay. I'll grind their bones to powder. He smiled as a plan came together in his mind. The Mad King ordered them to feed me. When they bring dinner in, I'll start with them as the appetizer.
