A Dragon's Awakening

by Aya Knight

  Upon arriving at the blacksmith’s, Kale briskly made his way through the forge and toward Illadar’s small room. He shoved the cloth to the side and pushed open the wooden door.

  “Illadar, we—” Kale’s words stopped short as he glanced around the empty room.

  He left already—I can’t believe it. Kale turned to leave, his shoulders drooped as he began to sulk. He feared Illadar had left without him after their confrontation.

  “It will be fine, Kale.” Thomas put a firm hand on his back.

  Before any further assurances could be given, they heard sudden movement from outside a small, squared window.

  Kale was certain he heard the sound of Illadar grunting. His blue eyes immediately lit up. Kale turned to follow the noise, without hesitation or second thought of the circumstances.

  “We should take caution.” Thomas gripped Kale’s arm. “You do not know if this is a trap.”

  “I know it is him, Thomas.” Kale pulled his arm free.

  As they rounded the corner to the side alley, Kale abruptly halted, causing Thomas to stumble into his back. Kale raised a finger to his lips as he pointed toward Illadar who held a large claymore up in the air—unaware of their presence. Even at a distance, they could hear his heavy panting and see the thick beads of sweat which rolled down his dark muscular arms. He maneuvered his body flawlessly within the limited space of the alley, thrusting and swiping the broad blade in clean, swift motions.

  As Kale continued to watch in awe, Illadar paused, momentarily resting the blade upon his shoulder as he approached a barrel topped with a single apple. Without hesitation, he lifted the apple, tossing it into the air. He took a swift stride back before gripping the claymore with both hands, preparing his body to swing. As the apple descended to the level of Illadar’s chest, he swung at full force, slicing the fruit into two halves.

  Though his back was turned to them, Kale could see Illadar’s cheek muscles flex and knew he smiled at his accomplishment. He then watched as Illadar knelt to retrieve one of the apple pieces. The loud crunching could be heard as he indulged in the reward from his victorious strike. Thunder roared loudly above as the night sky became covered in grey, distracting Illadar from his snack.

  “You never told me you were so good,” Kale finally broke the silence. Time was of the essence.

  Illadar started in surprise. “What are you doin’ here, kid? I figured you’d be long gone by now.” He glanced toward the dark clouds which were nearly above them. “I’d better get goin’ myself. I just needed to ensure that I’ve packed the proper weaponry—you’ve gotta’ be prepared in a world filled with chaos. I pity the man in black, should I meet him again.”

  “I want you to come with us.” Kale didn’t waste any time getting to the point. “We both have the same goals—and, I’m sorry…” He glanced down. “I’m sorry for my behavior last night. I want to learn from you. Your skill is amazing.”

  Illadar stared forward suspiciously, unsure why Kale could possibly have such a strong hatred for Jedah. He knew there must be a reason behind Kale’s passion to fight. Another rumble of thunder filled the sky and Illadar decided now was not the time to delay the situation with his stubborn pride. His priority was to leave Braxle and find a place to safely camp before the downpour.

  “I suppose we can go together—for now, anyway. But run off like you did last night and next time I won’t be around when you come lookin’. Comrades stand together.” He smiled, as though relieved by the situation.

  This was the first time Kale had ever seen Illadar smile, which in turn made his lips curl upward with satisfaction.

  “Let’s go, kid.” Illadar continued, lowering his voice, “I know a place just outside of town where we can go. I’ve been there before and can assure you, we won’t be found tonight.” He slung a grey bag over his shoulder as he approached the two. “Nice to finally meet you—Kale talks about you often.”

  Thomas bowed his head, “Likewise.”

  Although Thomas and Illadar had worked so close in the town square, up until this point they had only exchanged a courteous wave in the morning and even that was a rarity.

  A bright flash illuminated the sky, followed by a mighty boom of thunder.

  “We need to leave,” Kale spoke as a strong gust of wind blew through his hair.

  As they made their way to the opening entrance of the town wall, a light drizzle began to fall. A crow flew overhead, releasing abnormally irritating sounds. Kale couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same bird from the windowsill.

  Good riddance, Kale thought as the noisy bird soon became a black speck in the distance.

  By the time they reached the exit, their clothes were damp and cold from the wind chill. Despite the need to press on, Kale paused, glancing over his shoulder toward the quaint town. The people of Braxle were so kind and caring. They had opened his heart to a whole new way of life and taught him not all humans were cruel. He would even miss Theresa, despite her persistent annoyance and clever sleight of hand. Throughout his time in Braxle, he learned to not judge others so hastily. Although, he still longed to return to being a dragon, he now held no regrets for his time spent as a human.

  “Farewell, Braxle,” Kale whispered as he turned to join his friends, setting off toward their new destination.

  Chapter 13: Broken Trust

  They arrived at the forest border, chilled from the intermittent rainfall steadily growing worse. Kale shook himself, which caused a copious amount of water to scatter in all directions. He was thankful for the momentary relief the sky offered.

  “It’s just ahead.” Illadar pointed forward. “Hopefully everything is as it was when I first prepared the site in case of an emergency.” He glanced toward the threatening sky. “Either way, we’d better get movin’; it looks like things are about to get much worse.” Illadar took the first steps into the dreary forest, weaving through the sagging foliage weighted down by water droplets.

  Kale had anticipated that they would travel along another trail; not shove their way through wet vegetation in the darkness of night. He grunted, miserably pressing forward as mud seeped into his shoes. It was amazing how many puddles were hidden beneath the leaves, and soon his feet squished loudly with every step.

  After what felt like hours of discomfort, they finally arrived at a clearing where Kale saw a small, wooden structure consisting of four short posts and a log rooftop coated in dead leaves. It obviously had been created for no more than sitting and sleeping purposes.

  Illadar chuckled. “I can’t believe the thing is still standin’. It’s no castle, but at least we’ll be dry when it rains.”

  Kale exhaled, knowing time was going to drag on slowly as they huddled under the low roof, awaiting dawn’s first light. The rain, as expected, increased and the thought of a warm fire pressed upon their minds as the chilling wind slapped against their flesh. They were grateful for the barrier of trees which surrounded them, aiding to block some of the rain that poured in at an angle.

  “We owe great thanks to Mortimer; had it not been for his kind parting gift, we would not have a delicious meal in such weather.” Thomas reached into the red sack, retrieving the thoughtfully wrapped bundle.

  The three enjoyed the feast of roasted pulled pork, cheese, and bread. The late-night meal was incredibly satisfying and left each fully content. They laid back, listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops against the rooftop.

  Kale rolled onto his side, admiring the hilt of the claymore Illadar had secured snugly in a hilt which only covered the tip of the blade. “Will you teach me?” Kale questioned hopefully to Illadar. “I’m never going to stand a chance in battle, let alone against Jedah, if I don’t learn the proper techniques.”

  “Are you hardheaded, or just plain stupid?” Illadar replied as he lowered his eyebrows. “Do you honestly assu
me you’ll be able to master swordsmanship, and then stroll up to General Jedah for a one-on-one confrontation?” He laughed in amusement at Kale’s ignorance. “It’s apparent you don’t know that sly cur after all. You won’t find him without his pawns around, so if you think you’re gonna’ have safe passage past a hundred knights—you’ve got another think comin’.”

  “I’m no fool, I’ve already thought of such things.” Kale replied hastily. In all reality, he had not given much attention to the details of the situation. He hadn’t a clue of how he would handle fighting against such a powerful adversary. “I’d still like to learn.” He finally continued, “Things are not going to fall into place all at once; I cannot begin to plan my next steps if I can’t even swing a weapon properly. Besides, you can’t expect to fight against him alone either—you need me.” Kale smirked, knowing by the expression upon Illadar’s face, he had won the argument.

  “Fine, kid.” Illadar grunted, annoyed by Kale’s persistence, yet equally flattered someone would desire his guidance. “We begin first thing in the morning after we eat. I suggest you get some rest now. You won’t be sleepin’ for long.”

  The morning air was warm and humid. Each gentle breeze sent water droplets trickling from foliage after the night’s rain. A few scattered clouds lingered across the sky, but the day appeared to be pleasant and filled with sunshine.

  Kale awoke after an uncomfortable and brief amount of broken sleep. He stretched his limbs as he opened his mouth to release a loud yawn. His eyes shot open, filled with sudden excitement—this was the day he was going to train. He shoveled down a filling portion of leftovers before emerging from the small covering.

  “You have got to be joking.” Kale ran a hand through his hair, frustrated by the sight before him.

  The black crow caught sight of Kale as it began squawking loudly before swiftly flying away.

  “Stupid bird,” Kale muttered.

  Illadar, already awake, was gathering wood to lay out for drying so they could later enjoy a fire. “Mornin’, kid.”

  “Good morning.” Kale rubbed his eyes. “I’m ready to learn.”

  Illadar laughed, smiling at Kale’s eager attitude. “All right, kid, come stand here.” He motioned his hand toward the location.

  Kale hustled obediently. This is it, he thought, I’m finally going to be a warrior. I’m going to avenge those who have fallen to Jedah’s wrath.

  “Here you go.” Illadar extended his arms, allowing a bundle of short logs to roll into Kale’s bent elbows.

  Kale’s eyes met Illadar’s with confusion. “I don’t understand, do you need me to put these somewhere?”

  “No.” Illadar walked back to the wood covering, taking a seat as he picked up an apple and began eating. “I want you to stand there and hold ’em until I say otherwise. If you drop the logs or move, your trainin’ ends.” Pieces of fruit spat out onto his chin as he spoke.

  “What is this? I thought you said we would begin training today.” Kale felt furious.

  “This is your trainin’, kid. How can you expect to withstand a battle of endurance if you can’t even hold a few logs for a little while? When swords clash there are no breaks. You can’t expect your opponent to politely stand back and wait while you regain composure. Sword fighting will test your endurance to the limits. If you get tired and can no longer hold your blade—you can count yourself dead. All it takes is one second with your guard down to lose your head; don’t ever forget that.”

  Kale sighed unhappily, grunting as he better positioned his body. The hours passed and he finally saw Thomas emerge from the wooden shelter.

  Illadar immediately began to explain the situation and soon he and Thomas were engaged in conversation while Kale miserably looked on. The logs were surprisingly light and easy to hold; it was the continuity of standing in the same position for a prolonged period of time eating away at his nerves.

  “Can I stop now? This is ridiculous. I find it highly doubtful a battle of swords would go on this long.”

  “The answer is no. You have to prepare for the unexpected—physically and mentally. Now don’t ask again, kid.”

  Kale understood Illadar meant well, and when it came down to things, Illadar’s strong personality was just what he needed. He smirked as he began to hum loudly as if to spite Illadar with annoyance for such a horrible task. Kale knew Illadar expected him to fail and quit the menial task, begging for the daunting challenge to stop.

  There is no way I’m going to show Illadar any weakness, Kale thought as he grew even more determined to move forward with his training. He was anxious to put this petty task behind him.

  Then, as if to mock Illadar even further, he began to lift the logs as though they were weights. He flashed a childish smile toward both Thomas and Illadar, who pretended as though they were unimpressed by his boasting.

  As the day wore on and the sun began to set, beads of sweat continued to roll down Kale’s body and absorb into his clothing. The feeling grew uncomfortable. The mental strain was now taking its toll on his mind and, although the weight of the logs was still easily tolerated, the flow of blood within his arms had slowed and his fingers felt numb—he didn’t know how much more he could endure.

  Illadar, who had enjoyed a day of recuperation and relaxation, glanced toward Kale. He could not believe such a thin, young man had held the heavy logs for an entire day. Even he would have collapsed by this time. “You know, kid—I don’t think you’re human.”

  Kale’s eyes grew wide. Did Thomas say something? How could he possibly know?

  His thoughts were broken by Illadar’s laughter. “Your face is too much, kid.” He smacked his knee as more laughter followed. “Learn to take a joke. After months of workin’ with you, I know better than most there’s no way you have any amazin’ abilities— Well, aside from bein’ surprisingly strong— But I’d hardly call it inhuman.” He lightly touched his neck. “Plus, you’re clumsy and complain a lot—let’s not forget the fact you don’t even know how to fight. Even the dull-witted giants from the northern mountains aren’t that bad.” His infectious laughter soon had Thomas gripping his stomach as they both enjoyed the comic relief.

  Kale scrunched his face; he wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or insulted.

  “Go ahead and set the wood over here.” Illadar motioned past Kale. “Those puny arms of yours are pretty strong, I’ll give ya’ that.”

  Kale hadn’t realized the strain his body endured until taking his first step. His knee joints locked which nearly caused him to fall.

  Thomas quickly rushed to his aid, helping him walk toward a pit Illadar had dug for the fire. As the logs rolled from his arms, Kale could see deep indentations on his skin where the logs had pressed. He balled a firm fist, flexing his forearm which immediately began to throb as the blood rushed through, circulating to his fingertips. Kale moaned as he lowered his aching body to a seated position.

  Thomas followed, patting Kale gently on the back. “I’m very proud of you.” He smiled warmly. “Now, eat this to regain your energy.” Thomas handed Kale a bread roll stuffed with pulled pork strips. “Enjoy, for this will be our last meal on Mortimer.”

  “That’s right, kid, tomorrow you’ll be providing us with food so I suggest you sleep soon.” Illadar began to pile twigs and leaves into the bottom of the pit as he spoke. He then withdrew a piece of flint from his pocket, striking it many times until he finally grew too frustrated with himself to continue. “Curses, it’s still too damp to catch fire. I’ll be back.” He sighed, leaving in search of dry foliage to use.

  After a few minutes passed, Thomas glanced around to ensure they were truly alone before turning toward Kale. “Your strength is remarkable! Though I must say, it is not a normal human characteristic to endure such a tedious task without years of training. I presume you’ve inherited some of your forme
r traits. Have you noticed anything else aside from your exceptional strength? It’s important you tell me if so; this is all new to both of us and we cannot risk something going wrong.”

  “Well,” Kale thought of his unexplained ability to heat things with the touch of his palms, “there is one thing.” He lowered his voice, looking around cautiously. “I’d really rather speak about this later though—when it’s safe.”

  Thomas nodded. “Well,” he winked “since he isn’t back just yet, I suppose I could assist the situation.” Thomas pointed a finger toward the pit and whispered, “Eraton avoria.” The twigs immediately ignited, creating a crackling fire that quickly fed off the pile of logs. “I think a little magic will be all right this time. It’s getting late and we’ve all had a stressful past couple of days.” Thomas pulled the flint close to him and Kale so it would not draw suspicion as to how the fire had started.

  Upon Illadar’s return to camp, he appeared to be full of enthusiasm—this, however, lasted only moments as he quickly took note of the crackling fire. He let the small bundle of dried sticks fall to the floor. “I see you were able to start the fire,” He mumbled as he sat near the pit, enjoying the comforting warmth.

  Not much later, Kale grew too tired to hold his eyes open. His strength was nearly depleted and he was ready to sleep. He crawled his way under the covering and instantly drifted into a deep slumber.

  The next morning, Kale awoke to a firm hand nudging against his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Illadar kneeling outside the structure with a long pointed stick in his grasp. “Rise n’ shine, kid. I’m hungry, which means it’s time for you to go hunt for us.”

  Kale slowly achieved an upright position, dusting off his tunic as he emerged from the sleeping area. Hunting was something he was fond of, though he had not attempted it since his excursion with Neelan;even then, he hadn’t actually made the kill. As a dragon it seemed so simple to hunt for food—he towered over all animals with no threats to himself. Kale took a deep breath and reached toward the sky to limber his body before taking the spear from Illadar’s grasp.