Hayden told Raena everything that had happened. He tried his best not to be too detailed but word had already spread about most of the facts. Raena remained quiet through most of Hayden’s recanting of the story but when he made it to the part of Kraten’s death she made him tell her all the details.
“Then he and his dragon turned to stone and it was finished. They were all dead.” Hayden felt like a great weight had just been lifted off his shoulders.
“Thank you.” Raena replied, drying her eyes with the palms of her hands. “Thank you for telling me and thank you for fighting for us.”
Hayden was unsure how to respond so he just nodded. He finally stood up and stretched his cramped legs. He made his way to where his bag was and threw his helmet onto the pile.
“What’s this?” Raena asked as she grabbed something from under Hayden’s helmet. “It looks dwarvish.” Raena pulled out the little bundle that housed Fendrel’s dagger and the hammer necklace.
Raena had pulled out the necklace and was examining it while she spoke. Hayden found himself at a loss for words for the second time since talking with her. When Hayden did not respond she looked up quizzically from the tiny hammer.
“I know what this is, either you have a dwarvish wife somewhere or something close to it. Either way I think you have another story to tell.” Hayden sat on the bed next to her and grabbed the small hammer from her grasp.
He gently looked the hammer over and admired the subtle details in the hammer that proved even a simple trinket among the dwarves was a master piece. Hayden took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“It all started with Fendrel.” He began and for the first time Hayden told his entire story. He told about his struggles becoming a dragon rider and the difficulties him and Draek faced along the way.
Hayden even spoke of his first encounter with Bureg and the dwarves. He told her about the Festival of Games and how proud he was every time he won an event and how devastated he had been at the ceremony. Hayden spoke about the late nights at Fendrel’s house and all the advice he had gotten from the wise man.
Then it came time to tell of the gory fight that had taken place north of Celestial City. He told her how scared Elizabeth had been at how close the dwarves had gotten to Celestial City. Hayden closed his eyes as he began to recall the last night he was in Celestial City, the night that Fendrel had died.
When he finished recanting his story he was no longer the only one with tears in his eyes. Raena gently wrapped the dagger and hammer back up like she had found it and she handed it back to Hayden.
“Thank you for sharing your story with me.” She spoke somberly.
“Thanks’ for listening.” Hayden responded.
“What are you going to do now?” She inquired.
“I have no idea. The Metallic Riders were furious that we had run away but they were willing to take us back. Now that we’ve killed some of their riders I am sure that they will never take us back.” Hayden placed the bundle back in his bag and covered it up.
“They won’t kill you.” Raena spoke softly.
“How can you know that?” Hayden asked.
“Because they won’t destroy something that they can still use. As long as you three are still alive they have a use for you. Whether or not you want to admit it you three are Metallic Riders. Not only Metallic Riders but you have a silver dragon and Cass has a golden dragon. They won’t let you three go but they also won’t kill you.” Hayden did not know how Raena could possibly know that but something deep in his stomach told him that what she said was true.
“Then what do you think they will do with us?” He nervously asked, already having an idea about what the answer was.
“They will use you, for whatever they want.” Raena stood up and made her way out of Hayden’s hut. When the flaps opened up a blinding light forced Hayden to cover his eyes. He did not realize how hot and stuffy his hut had become until the fresh air poured in.
Hayden rushed out after her but before he could say anything a figure stood in his way. Hayden’s eyes still had not adjusted to the light. He had to shield his eyes from the bright sun while he tried to figure out who the figure in front of him was.
“Hayden.” The figure spoke. The moment he heard the figure’s voice he no longer had to guess who was in front of him, it was Kirin.
“Hello Kirin, I mean your highness.” Hayden fumbled with his words, trying his best to know the right thing to say but failing.
“I am not the queen yet Hayden.” Kirin sounded strong but it was obvious that she was putting on a face for her people. They had all lost a king today but only Kirin had lost a father.
“Hayden I wanted to have a talk with you but we need to go somewhere private.” Kirin was dressed in all black silk morning clothes but Hayden was still dressed in his armor.
“I need to change out of my armor and then we can go.” Hayden started to turn back into his hut but Kirin grabbed his arm.
“There is no time Hayden. They are preparing a place for my father as we speak and tonight we will have his funeral. Tomorrow they will crown me queen and I will begin ruling over my people. All the while Elizabeth will be awaiting the return of her riders with the three of you and when they do not come it will begin.” Kirin turned and walked back to where all the dragons had landed.
“What will begin?” Hayden asked as he began to walk behind her.
Kirin looked over her shoulder and smiled with her eyes full of tears. “War.”
Hayden made his way to get Cass and Shane out of their tents but Kirin stopped him. “I have already spoken to them there is no need to disturb them now. What I have to say to you is for you to hear and only you.”
Kirin and Hayden made their way to the dragons and as they neared, the elves that were tending to their dragons stopped and fell to their knees. Most began to weep when they saw their future queen. Hayden knew that they were pressed for time but still Kirin stopped and thanked each one of the elves and helped them to their feet.
Hayden and Kirin mounted their dragons and took to the sky.
Where are we going? Draek asked as he took his time climbing higher into the sky. There was no need to hurry because Draek would out fly Nignra without even meaning to. He let Kirin and her green dragon get some distance in front of them.
I have no idea. Hayden looked out over the forest as they slowly made their way after Nignra. For the first time Hayden could see evidence of the elves from above the tree line. All across the horizon smoke climbed its way out from amongst the trees and reached for the heavens above. Elves everywhere had lit fires as a symbol of morning for the passing of their king.
Kirin did not fly towards any of smoke columns. She led her dragon away from the elves and in a direction Hayden and Draek had never been.
How are you? Hayden asked his silver friend. He knew that Draek had not sustained any life threatening injuries but that did not mean that he wasn’t hurting.
I am sore but I will live, and you? Hayden knew the question was not about his physical wellbeing. Even though Hayden hadn’t directly contacted Draek while he spoke with Raena, Draek was always in his mind.
I will be fine. Hayden and Draek were beginning to feel their muscles loosen up when they came upon one of the most beautiful sights Hayden had ever seen.
It was a crater in the middle of the forest, as if a giant had punched the ground and left the indention. Hayden guessed it had to be over two miles long in any direction. The crater was not exactly a perfect circle, but it was close to it.
Trees grew right up to the edge of the crater and then just stopped as if the cliff had just suddenly appeared. From Hayden’s vantage point he estimated that the drop off from the cliff was close to fifty feet, enough to kill a man if he fell over the edge.
Streams and rivers tumbled right over the edge of the cliff and crashed down to the ground bellow, causing both a large river to flow around the outside of the crater and a constant mist to hover just above it. In th
e center of the crater there grew a single giant tree. The tree was just as large as the giant trees Hayden and Draek had seen when they had first flown into Eytherka but the constant moving water had worn away the soil around the roots.
This caused the giant snake like roots to create makeshift bridges and caves all over the base of the crater with the water constantly flowing into the caves and disappearing from view.
Hayden knew that this was where Kirin had intended for them to meet but Hayden had no idea why this place. As their dragons began to descend into the crater, the mist hit Hayden and immediately he was soaked through his armor.
The moisture quickly beaded up and rolled off of Draek’s scales. The smell reminded Hayden of wet grass after a heavy rain. Nignra touched down first and Draek landed near by her only seconds later.
I am sinking. Draek protested as his talons dug into the ground below. Hayden slipped off of Draek’s saddle only to sink a few inches into the mossy ground when he landed beside his dragon. Hayden looked up at Draek and saw that when he picked up one of his mighty paws the imprint in the ground quickly filled up with water.
It is fine it’s just the ground here. Everything is soaked by the water. Hayden tried to walk over to Kirin. Every few steps he would just about loose his balance as he stepped into a deep water pocket and sunk up to his knees.
“Where are we?” Hayden asked once he got beside Kirin. He noticed she was having no trouble walking on the water logged ground.
“We are in the heart of the Summer Woods.” Kirin looked around the giant crater as water came crashing down all around them.
“The Summer Woods, isn’t this where the green dragon eggs are?” Hayden asked, looking back to make sure that Draek was still ok. His dragon had decided the squishy ground was not to his liking so Draek had jumped onto one of the giant roots and had dug his talons deeply into the wood.
“Yes they are, them and so much more. Please, if you will, follow me.” Kirin moved swiftly over the wet ground and worked her way through the maze of roots.
I will wait here for you. Draek stated as he watched Kirin slip past roots with almost no room to spare.
I think that would be wise my large friend. Draek nodded and then glared at Hayden as he realized his rider’s sarcasm.
Before Draek could respond to his gibe Hayden struck out after Kirin, stumbling the entire way.
Kirin obviously knew the way she was going as she navigated through the labyrinth of roots and caves, some so full with water they would have had to swim to go through. Hayden was sure they had to be lost until Kirin stood before the largest cave they had come across thus far.
The cave was right up against the trunk of the tree and had vines growing down over the entrance, almost completely masking the entrance. Above the cave was clear open sky but from the air the cave would have appeared to be overgrown vegetation.
“What’s in there?” Hayden asked when Kirin stopped in front of the entrance. When Kirin did not answer right away Hayden looked in the same direction as Kirin and saw what had caught her attention. It was a giant stone dragon standing over the entrance of the cave, as if guarding it.
Hayden was amazed at the sight of the dragon until it dawned on him who the dragon was.
“Is that?” Hayden started. Kirin nodded her head before he could finish the sentence.
“Here lies Alger the Emerald Giant, dragon of the late king Aelfrie and true Guardian of the Woods.” Kirin spoke while tears ran freely down her cheeks.
“To be honest, with everything happening so fast I had forgotten about him.” Hayden had been so focused on Aelfrie dying that he had forgotten that when one dies the other dies also.
Kirin stepped through the cave and into the heart of the tree; Hayden gave one last look at Alger and followed close behind her. Hayden expected the cave to get darker as they went further in but as it turned out it was the exact opposite.
The cave was covered in tiny glowing lights that shimmered as they passed by. The lights were all different shades of green, glowing like tiny stars. They did not light up in front of them or behind them but only around where they were walking.
“What..?” Hayden started but Kirin put her finger over her mouth. Hayden followed in wonder and amazement as they continued further into the cave. Hayden heard water rushing by as their path led them straight into a waterfall.
Hayden slowed down, thinking that Kirin had gotten lost and led them the wrong way until Kirin walked straight through the waterfall without even slowing down. Hayden looked over the edge of their path and watched as the water fell away into the darkness beneath them, he could not remember where he had last seen walls around them.
Hayden took a deep breath and pressed through the waterfall after Kirin, closing his eyes and hoping for the best.
When he came through he was staring into a huge cavern filled with glowing sparks beyond number, lighting up the entire cavern, and green dragon eggs glowing in crevasses all around him.
Hayden did his best to shake the water off of him and this time he could not help himself.
“WOW!” His voice echoed off the walls.
Chapter 9
Hayden was still in shock at what he was seeing as Kirin made her way to the nearest green glowing egg and stroked it with the love and care of a mother. Hayden took his first steps and realized that the ground was covered in moss so every step he took made a squishy sound.
The air inside the cavern was warm and humid, sticking to his hair and armor. Draek you’re not going to believe where I am. Hayden could feel that Draek had dozed off on his root but the images of the green eggs woke him up immediately.
How many are there? Draek quickly asked. Hayden tried his best to count but in the dimly lit cave it was nearly impossible. Kirin noticed Hayden trying to get a better look at how many eggs there were and decided to help him out.
“The number does not matter Hayden.” Kirin stated as she moved on to another, darker green, egg. “Every year new riders are chosen and hatch their dragons inside this cavern and every year the mature dragons breed and lay their eggs near an opening at the base of the trunk. The eggs sink through the moss and eventually end up here.”
“As long as the mature dragons produce as many healthy eggs as we hatch each year we will never run out.” Kirin smiled as she observed the eggs all around the cavern.
“Why are you showing me all this?” Hayden asked as he moved to the closest green egg and gently rubbed his hand across it. Hayden noticed that the eggs were not all identical to the one green egg the Metallic Riders had in their care. Some were slightly larger while others were smaller. Their colors varied from light, almost yellow, green all the way to a deep emerald green close to Alger.
“No human has ever seen this, except Fendrel, or the Summer Woods for that matter. It is a secret we have kept for as long as we have had dragons. Everything is about to change Hayden. We are going to war and we are going to need help.” Kirin made her way back over to Hayden.
“I still don’t understand.” Hayden responded.
“You have seen the full force of Metallic Rider’s army. You talked about what they did to the dwarves. What will happen if they attack us, can we win?” Kirin asked the question that she already knew the answer to.
Hayden remembered how perfectly executed the Metallic Rider’s army had been against the dwarves. How, even when surprised, they were able to quickly overcome the enemy. Draek’s voice resonated in Hayden’s head.
You know they cannot win against them. Hayden knew Draek was right.
“No, you will not win.” Hayden expected Kirin to look distraught as if her last light of hope was flickering out, but instead she was smiling.
“Now we are on the same page.” Kirin turned away from Hayden and faced the green eggs again. “I brought you here for two reasons. Number one was to show you our trust in you. You and your friends proved yourselves on top of Outpost. If you intended to or not no longer matter, you three have joine
d our cause and we have become joined with yours. So now I have shown you our greatest kept secret to prove to you that not only do we completely trust you but that we will remain trusting you.”
Hayden began understanding her point. Hayden and the others had no were to go except join the elves in their fight against the Metallic Riders, a fate that had only one outcome.
“And what’s the second thing you wanted to tell me?” Hayden asked. Kirin turned her head so that she could see Hayden without completely turning around.
“The second thing is my plan.” She smiled as she spoke. Hayden didn’t know why but he felt uneasy after she said that.
Hayden and Draek flew back to their hut, leaving the Summer Woods and its hidden secret back on the horizon. After hearing Kirin’s plan, Hayden was unsure what their future had in store for them. Draek had heard everything Kirin had said but he was just as lost as Hayden was.
Kirin had assured him that she had already spoken to both Cass and Shane and that they both had already agreed with her. She had restrained from showing either of them the Summer Woods though, that was a secret only Hayden had been allowed to see.
What do you think? Hayden asked for the fifth time since they had left the Summer Woods.
Do we have a choice? Draek replied. Hayden and Draek had done some dangerous things before but nothing compared to what Kirin was suggesting. As Hayden and Draek landed they noticed that all the elves that had greeted them earlier were all gone. Hayden knew the reason without having to ask it. It was time to bury their king.
Hayden ran as fast as he could to his hut to change into his clothes that the elves had given them. They were not the nicest clothes he had ever worn but they were the best he had. When Hayden made it back to Draek they were still alone and the sun was quickly fading, the earliest of the stars just beginning to shine in the sky.
I don’t know where we are supposed to go. Hayden realized once he had strapped himself into his saddle.
Draek stopped moving and raised his head, as if listening to the wind. Shaylin and Rilora are at the Throne Tree, the place where we first met Aelfrie, and they want us to meet them there.
The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain Page 10
