The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain

by Nicholas Clausen

  Do you remember how to get there? Hayden had walked the whole way to the Throne Tree so making it my air was going to be difficult. Draek laughed as he jumped into the air.

  Have you ever heard of a dragon getting lost? Hayden couldn’t argue with Draek.

  They had arrived at the Throne Tree before the funeral rites could begin. Hayden found Cass and Shane standing close to the throne and deep in conversation when he arrived. Draek had landed in the same clearing that he had picked him up from the first time they had come to the Throne Tree.

  “Hey.” Cass said, Shane nodded his hello. Hayden returned the nod and looked around.

  “So what happens now?” Hayden had not been a part of a funeral before, let alone an elvish king’s.

  “This is only the first part of the ceremony; the second part only the families will whiteness. The elves said that they are going to bring his body through here and Kirin will speak then she will take his body to their families burial ground.” Cass spoke quickly and quietly, as if talking was somehow out of place at the ceremony.

  Hayden looked around the open area under the giant tree and tried to see if he recognized any of the elves. Some he had seen around the training are and others he had seen around Out Post but he could not recall the names of any of them.

  Hayden was about to ask about the plan Kirin had told him when a low, deep THUMP echoed from within the darkness, the sound of a large drum slowly beating out a marching tune.

  Boom……..Boom………Boom. Each strike of the drum sent a chill up Hayden’s spine. All talk fell silent as the sound grew near, getting louder with each thundering boom. Hayden and the others listened to the drum for a few seconds before they finally saw the torches glowing in the distance.

  The line of elves leading the way through the darkness were cloaked in shining black robes that reflected the light of the torches. Their heads were covered with their hoods so only the flesh of their arm holding up the torches was showing.

  Hayden watched as, from the back of the line, emerged two giant white stags that were pulling a sleek wagon that was carrying the body of Aelfrie and the drummer. The elf beating the drum was shirtless and only wore loose fitting black pants. His muscles tightened with every blow that the elf rained down on the drum.

  The elves marched underneath the tree and brought Aelfrie’s body up to his throne. The cart had animal hides draped over Aelfrie so it was hard to see his stone body. When the elves stopped marching the drum beat stopped and the forest became silent all over again.

  Hayden waited in silence and watched the bugs fly around the torches until Kirin finally made her way from directly in front of the wagon to the throne that her father had sat upon. All eyes fell on Kirin as she turned to face all the people who had come to mourn the death of her father.

  “Brave people.” Kirin started off, her voice wavering on the first word. “My people. I come before you not as your queen, your princess or even a dragon rider. Tonight I come before you as a daughter who has lost her father. I wish I could tell you that I am strong and brave and that I am ready to take my father’s place on this very throne. Instead I am scared, hurt and alone. I don’t understand why this happened, all I know is that it did.” As Kirin spoke her voice got stronger and louder.

  “I want to tell you that this has happened for a reason and that we will be better because of this loss, but I cannot tell you that. I can tell you that my father’s murderers have been brought to justice. I can tell you that I will get strong and that I will live up to my father’s memory. And I will tell you one other thing; this is not over.” Hayden watched as Kirin’s words washed upon the crowd around them and was met with nods of approval.

  “The Metallic Riders have taken from us all that we held dear. They have robbed, raped and killed us for the last time. Brothers and sisters, my people, my family tonight we will mourn our father, our king. But tomorrow we will fight.” Kirin covered her face with her hood as she said the last words. No one cheered or made any noise but Hayden had no doubt that everyone there supported Kirin whole heartily.

  She turned and the funeral march continued and Hayden watched as the torch lights disappeared in the woods, just like they had first come in. The elves that remained dissolved into the darkness in a subtle way that Hayden almost missed it. Within seconds Hayden, Cass and Shane were standing alone in front of what had become Kirin’s throne.

  “Kirin told me she spoke with each of you today.” Hayden made it more of a statement than a question.

  “She did.” Shane replied.

  “She told us her plan for what she thinks is to come.” Cass added on.

  Hayden nodded his head. What she thinks is to come. What if she is wrong, what if it is worse than what she thinks and her plan fails? Hayden asked Draek.

  If it is worse than it does not matter, we will be dead, and if is just as she guesses and we don’t do our part than we are dead as well. Hayden could not see a way to avoid the outcomes Draek was predicting except one.

  “We don’t have a choice. We have to go through with her plan.” Cass and Shane nodded at Hayden. For the first time in a long time they all knew what lay before them.

  Over the next two days it felt as if an eternity had passed. Hayden thought as much as he surveyed what had once been a peaceful village that was all but carved out of the world around them. In two days’ time all that had changed as Kirin had taken her seat on her father’s throne.

  The first orders she had given was to send for all the seven elf leaders that were scattered across Eytherka and have them join her at Out Post. Her next orders turned her peaceful villages into training grounds and giant armories in preparation for the upcoming war she was sure was coming.

  “A storm is coming our way, we can either let it roll over us and destroy us or we can fight it off.” Kirin had stated when the few elves that disagreed with her ideas spoke up.

  Hayden and the others had been worried that there would be nothing for them to do to help the elves prepare but those fears proved to be pointless. Kirin had summoned all three of them to her throne on the second day after her father’s funeral.

  “My friends, I want to thank you for all that you have already done for us and all that you are going to do.” Kirin started off. She did not speak freely as she had done back in the Summer Woods but here she was now playing the part of queen.

  Kirin wore elegant forest green silk robes that had gems sown into the fabric to look like rain drops on a leaf. Her crown was the same that her father had worn but the emeralds in the crown seemed to shine a little brighter.

  “You’re welcome your majesty.” Cass replied as formally as she could.

  “Is it safe to say that all is ready to put our plan into motion?” Kirin asked. Hayden did not know why Kirin was being vague about their plans but he thought it best to play along.

  “It is, we are ready whenever you are, we can begin immediately if necessary.” Hayden said.

  “That won’t be necessary right this very moment. I have a few requests to make of you three before that day comes.” Kirin spoke through a smile that did not fool Hayden and the others.

  “And what would those be?” Shane asked.

  “Well I would like to put the three of you in charge of our defenses. You three know the enemy we are facing better than anyone here. In fact you were the enemy not too long ago. Shane I would like you to take control of all our ground troops and begin training them to fight the army that is surely racing towards us.” The elves that stood around Kirin’s throne did not seem surprised by what she was asking them to do.

  “I….I can do that.” Shane replied, looking to his friends for help.

  “Good, our people have done things their own way for a long, long time. It will be hard to change them but our survival as a race depends on it.” Kirin nodded at Shane and he returned the gesture.

  “Hayden, I would like you take control of our dragons and their riders. Train them to fight the Metallic Dragons
and support our ground units.” Hayden had guessed that Kirin was going to ask this of him. Hayden could not brag on himself as a rider but Draek was an amazing example of a trained dragon. Draek could accomplish things on his bad days that other dragons did not know was possible.

  “Of course.” Hayden replied. If Hayden could train the green dragons to kill Metallic Dragons then they might actually have a chance to win the war. Ground troops were important but if your enemy did not have dragons then ground troops became dragon fodder.

  “Good and it won’t be long before we have a few new riders to join the ranks. I am excited to see what you can do with riders who have never been trained before.” It was Kirin’s turn to nod at Hayden.

  “Cass, it was my understanding that you were trained it battle tactics?” Kirin asked.

  “I was but mainly on how the Metallic Army worked.” Cass said.

  “That’s perfect, I would like you to work directly with my generals and tell them as much as you can about what the enemy is going to try to do. We need as much help as we can get and you three can do a lot of good. You three are going to save a lot of lives.” Kirin dismissed Hayden and his friends with a wave of her hand.

  The three riders did a swift bow and turned around on their heels. They waited till they were out of ear shot before they began complaining about their new tasks.

  “I can’t believe this, we are not trainers. How can she expect us to train armies and advise generals?” Shane complained as they neared their dragons.

  “She is desperate. She knows that the odds of the elves winning are slim so she is trying to do whatever she can to help her side win.” Cass’s voice was full of worry even as she tried to reassure the others.

  Draek, Rilora and Shaylin were waiting in a clearing together. When they weren’t taking off or landing they loved being as close as possible to each other, that usually meant all piled up together is a shinnying mound of dragon scales.

  Hayden waited for the dragons to uncoil themselves from each other. “I know it’s going to be hard but we have to help. At least it puts Kirin’s crazy plan on hold for a little while. Maybe she will decide it’s not even worth going through with it if we do a good enough job.” Hayden was optimistic about his idea until he heard the words come out of his mouth. He did not have to see his friend’s faces to know he wasn’t fooling anyone, not even himself.

  “I know, I know.” Hayden said as he climbed up into Draek’s saddle. He noticed that even with Draek kneeling down he had to climb a little further than normal. “Let’s get this over with I guess.” Hayden said as Draek jumped into the sky and headed back for Feren.

  During the days that followed Hayden had fewer and fewer opportunities to see his friends. Cass was never in her hut; Hayden only caught glimpses of her taking off in the morning and landing late at night. He saw Shane more frequently but he was either covered in bruises or covered in sweat, most of the time it was both.

  Hayden found himself will almost no free time as he did his best to try to teach the green dragons and their riders to combat the Metallic Dragons. So far that was not going well.

  Hayden had begun with strengthening exercises, flying long distances nonstop or flying high up in the air, plummeting back down to the forest and flying back up again. Both exercise proved to be too much for even the larger green dragons.

  Draek was a strong dragon even by Metallic Dragon standards. He was not only twice as big as the green dragons but his giant wings, that were bigger than some of the smaller green dragons, gave him the power to command the skies. The same could not be said about the green dragons.

  On the second day of training, once he realized that the green dragons were nowhere close to keeping up with Draek, he called for the group of dragons he was working with to stop and land.

  Hayden had almost eighty dragons that he had been asked to train and he had been told that the number would grow as more dragons trickled in from the outskirts of Eytherka. Hayden had quickly decided that eighty dragons and riders were too many to train at once so he had broken them into groups of ten, just like the Metallic Dragon Riders did.

  He gave them all exercises that they needed to do by themselves and he would meet with one group for a day and move on to the next group the next day.

  After the dragons had landed Draek touched down in the middle of the smaller dragons and folded up his wings as soon as his front paws touched the ground. Hayden undid his straps on his saddle and slid down Draek’s side, landing softly on his feet.

  Hayden removed his silver helmet, it helped with the wind as he flew around on Draek, and wiped the sweat and wet hair from his brow.

  Hayden looked at Draek, strong and agile with wings that would fill up with air like sails on a ship when he was in the air. Then he looked at the nearest green dragon that he was training and saw how flimsy and loose the green dragon’s leaf shaped wings were.

  It’s a miracle that they can fly at all. Hayden thought to Draek. Hayden waited for an idea on how to better train them to strike him like a bolt of lightning.

  It’s going to be a miracle if we can train them. Draek responded, giving Hayden more assurance that they were in a lot of trouble.

  We need to speak with Kirin. Hayden finally thought. It was the only idea he could come up with.

  Chapter 10

  “They can’t fly.” Hayden complained. Kirin had finally found time to see him and Hayden wasn’t wasting time with pleasantries.

  “They can fly and they will get even better with more training.” Kirin responded. She was sitting on her throne with her back straight and her head held high. She wore an elegant gown that flowed over the wooden throne and down the steps. Her crown was perfectly placed on her head.

  “My training isn’t helping them. They are just getting tired and frustrated.” Hayden was frustrated as well and Kirin’s relaxed domineer did nothing but frustrate him more. “Their wings are not meant to fly long distances. They are not made for soaring and they are too small to face even the smallest copper dragons in a one on one fight.” Hayden found himself shouting when he didn’t mean to.

  Kirin just smiled at Hayden but she remained silent through his rant. She waited for him to finish and then she leaned over and whispered something into the nearest guard’s ear.

  “Queen Kirin is growing weary and needs a few moments rest, she has requested everyone please excuse her.” When Kirin did not move everyone in the throne room got the hint and quickly began shuffling out from under the giant tree. Hayden turned to follow everyone when Kirin stopped him.

  “Not you Hayden, please stay with me.” Kirin waited till only Hayden and the guards were with her. She turned and faced the same guard she had spoken too and nodded at him to leave.

  “But your majesty, we are here to protect you.” The guard was not offended but worried about the wellbeing of his queen.

  Kirin turned and faced Hayden. Hayden was not wearing his armor but now days he always kept his silver sword strapped to his back.

  “Hayden will keep me safe.” Kirin said. The guard made to make a comment against Hayden but Kirin cut him off before he got a chance. “Hayden is a more than capable fighter and I trust him.” She looked over at the guard in a way that made it very clear she did not want to be questioned.

  The guard lowered his head and quickly backed out. The other guards trailed behind him. Kirin and Hayden were finally alone for the first time since they had been together at the Summer Woods.

  “Hayden.” Kirin spoke softly, tears about to burst forth. All of Hayden’s anger washed out of him as he saw his friend sitting alone on the throne. Kirin usually looked the part as a queen but when she was alone she became herself again.

  “Hayden, I am so lost right now.” Kirin took the crown off of her head and held it gently in her hands.

  “I don’t understand.” Hayden said, moving closer to the throne.

  “War is coming at us and we are not ready for it and every day is filled with l
istening to people complaining about something.” Kirin sat the crown down on the edge of the armrest of the throne and leaned back.

  Hayden immediately felt horrible for all his complaints. “I am sorry I complained.” Was all Hayden knew to say.

  “No, no not you Hayden.” Kirin tried to say but she got frustrated with herself. “I mean….. I don’t know what I mean.” Hayden walked over to Kirin and sat down beside her throne.

  “I know what you mean.” Hayden finally said after an awkwardly long silence. “Ever since we left Celestial City Shane and Cass have been looking to me for answers, answers that I don’t have.” Hayden looked around the throne room as he spoke, making sure not to look at Kirin.

  “To be honest with you I had no real idea where we needed to go or what we were going to do once we got there. It just so happened that once we got over the forest your riders found us. We have still been trying to find out what to do next this entire time.” Hayden had been trying to look strong for his friends, even though he felt as if he had failed at that as well.

  “So here we are on the brink of war with an army that out numbers us, has better trained troops and better gear. Now you are telling me that our dragons can’t even face them one on one and hope to win.” Kirin grabbed the crown and looked into the rich emeralds that were imbedded in the wood. “What would my dad do?” She asked, more so to herself then to Hayden.

  “Your grace.” The guard ran up to the throne, the same guard that had been standing next to Kirin when Hayden had walked in.

  “I told you that I needed some alone time!” Kirin almost shouted at the guard. The guard lowered his head but would not leave.

  “I know your grace but the messengers have returned from the other cities. Their armies are marching to help us.” The guard could not help but to smile as he told her the news.