The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain

by Nicholas Clausen

  Before Kirin could respond Hayden interrupted them. “Wait, how far away are the other cities?” Both the guard and Kirin looked confused at Hayden’s outburst.

  “There are smaller cites scattered all around Eytherka Hayden, why?” Kirin asked.

  “You said the messengers returned from the other cites so that means that they have made it from one end of the Eytherka to the other?” Hayden still could not believe what he was hearing; it made no sense to him.

  Kirin looked up at the guard who in turn just shrugged his shoulders. “That’s usually what messengers do Silver Rider.” The guard said.

  “How are they getting around Eytherka?” Hayden asked, again getting confused looks as if he was asking what color the sky was.

  “Dragons of course.” Kirin replied, speaking a little slower than normal.

  Hayden ignored both the guard’s and Kirin’s remarks. “The dragons I am training have a hard time flying more than ten miles in a single day. How is it that these dragons that are delivering messages can travel all over Eytherka in a matter of a few days?”

  “The dragons that we sent out to all the other cities are the fastest dragons we have, and they don’t fly when they travel.” Kirin stated as if it was common knowledge.

  If they don’t fly how else does a dragon travel? Draek asked. Draek had remained silent as he laid out side of the throne tree but hearing Kirin’s statement broke his silence.

  Hayden repeated Draek’s question to Kirin and the guard, who had at this point became a full member of the conversation.

  “It’s kind of hard to explain Hayden, it would be best if we showed you.”

  Hayden was flying back to Feren with Draek, deep in thought as he sat atop his silver dragon. Hayden watched the world fly by underneath him as he pondered what he had just seen.

  Kirin had used her own dragon Nignra to show Hayden just how the green dragons were able to travel large distances quickly. Shortly after that her duties as queen took her away from Hayden and back to dealing with the elves that were now on their way to Out Post.

  Kirin had strapped herself into her saddle and laid down till she was completely flat against her dragon. At her signal Nignra took off but not into the air, instead they jumped straight at a tree.

  Hayden had watched in amazement as Nignra grabbed hold of the tree and climbed at a speed Hayden had only seen small furry animals, which dipped in front of your cart while you were riding, get.

  Nignra had jumped from tree to tree, seeming to hardly make contact with the wood, and only using her wings for gaps that were too large to jump. The green dragon dove between branches like a fish would swim between rocks in a river, twisting and turning as they flew through the air.

  Hayden was still running all that he had seen through his head when they finally made it back to Feren. As Draek neared the landing clearing Hayden saw Rilora and Shaylin’s metallic heads raise up to greet Draek as he neared in to land.

  They both seem excited to see you. Hayden said to Draek as he held on tight during their landing.

  They are hungry and are ready to hunt. Hayden laughed at Draek’s answer. The three metallic dragons had grown so close since they had left Celestial City. They still slept together in a big pile and they had gotten into a habit of only hunting together.

  As soon as Draek was on the ground and had his wings folded in, Hayden undid his straps and slip of his dragon. Well good luck hunting. Hayden said as he quickly undid Draek’s saddle so his dragon could hunt without it.

  When Hayden was finished two elves had made it over to him and took the saddle from him. Hayden hated to admit it but he had gotten used to having people help him take care of Draek, especially since Draek’s shoulders now stood taller than Hayden.

  Once the elves and Hayden had moved out of the clearing Draek jumped back into the air, causing a gust of wind to slam into Hayden and the elves. As Draek cleared the trees Rilora and Shaylin shot after him and the three dragons disappeared over the tree line.

  Dragons don’t need luck. Draek replied after he was out of site. They are dragons.

  Hayden turned and left the clearing, making his way back to where his hut was located. When he arrived he noticed that all of his gear had been packed up and was laying in a pile outside of his hut. Cass and Shane’s gear were likewise out of their huts.

  When Hayden got closer to the huts Shane and Cass came out of Hayden’s hut.

  “Hey Hayden, how did it go with Kirin?” Shane asked.

  “It went good but why is our stuff out here?” Hayden replied. He walked over to his pile and quickly looked it over to make sure everything was still there and that nothing was broken.

  “With elves due to start arriving here over the next few weeks, Kirin thought it would be a good idea if we went back to stay at Out Post. There would be more room and that’s going to be where she wants most of the dragon riders to stay anyways.” Cass said while she made sure that her own pile was completed.

  “That’s a good idea I guess but why didn’t she just tell me that herself when she saw me?” Hayden asked.

  “Did you give her a chance to tell you or did your barge in there and start complaining?” Shane asked. Hayden did not answer right away and when he looked up from his pile both of his friends were staring at him.

  “Well I might have complained a little.” Hayden finally replied.

  You might have complained a little, might? Draek’s voice boomed in Hayden’s head.

  I thought you were hunting? Hayden replied as he heard the rumbling sound of Draek laughing.

  “Anyways guys how has your training sessions been going.” Hayden asked to change the subject. From the looks that Shane and Cass gave Hayden he could tell that they had been going just as good as his own.

  “Well it might not be going as good as I would like it, not to say that the elves are not amazing fighters it’s just that…..they are not the same as soldiers that are trained back in Celestial City.” Hayden had seen Shane working himself until he was completely exhausted, if it wasn’t going the way he wanted it to it wasn’t because of a lack of trying.

  “And the elves are really listening to everything I am telling them about the Metallic Riders and their armies but I just don’t think that they will be ready to face them.” Cass sounded even more disheartened then either Shane or Hayden.

  She got to see the big picture of the upcoming battle and if she did not seem confident in what she was seeing then they all had reason to be afraid.

  Before anything else could be said, an elf rider, riding on the back of a giant stag, pulling a wagon showed up in their clearing and waved them over. Hayden and the others quickly began loading up their gear in the wagon and they all double checked to make sure that nothing had been left behind.

  The elf told them that their gear would be taken to their new rooms at Out Post and that they were more than welcome to ride along with him. The riders politely declined the offer and decided that they would await their dragon’s return at the clearing.

  How much longer do you think you guys will be? Hayden asked Draek once they made it to the clearing.

  Draek sent Hayden an image of the three dragons gorging on three giant bears, each one bigger than Hayden.

  “The dragons are going to be a little bit longer.” Hayden said and then sat down on a stump. Shane and Cass looked at each other quickly and, for just an instance, they both had a blank look on their face. Hayden had come to recognize the look for that of a rider focusing on their dragon.

  The black stares only lasted a split second and then both Shane and Cass sat down on the ground near Hayden.

  “So what are we going to do?” Cass asked. Shane lowered his head and looked at the ground.

  “Well I have an idea.” Hayden finally spoke up. “While I was talking to Kirin she showed me what her and her dragon could do. What all green dragons and their riders can do. It got me thinking that I was going about training them all wrong.” Shane looked up at
Hayden.

  “What do you mean you have been training them all wrong? Draek is one of the greatest dragons I have ever seen, and he has not even hit his second year yet. How can you be training them wrong?” Shane asked.

  “I have been trying to train them like we had been trained. I tried to train them like metallic dragons and riders.” Hayden said waiting for Cass and Shane to catch on.

  “Yes and?” Shane asked.

  “They are not metallic dragons or riders; they are elves and green dragons.” Hayden finally stated plainly. Shane still looked puzzled while understanding started to creep across Cass’s face.

  “I know they are elves and green dragons.” Shane stated.

  “Shane he is saying that we have been training them to be something that they are not. I was trying to prepare the elves to fight against the Metallic Army as if they were the Metallic Army but they are not and they won’t ever be.” Finally Shane understood what both Cass and Hayden were saying.

  “Your right, I have been trying to turn the elves into knights and soldiers like the ones we had back at Celestial City.”

  “So I have a new training plan I am going to start the elves on tomorrow but I have another idea. Draek and I have been talking and we have an idea about Kirin’s plan.”

  The sun rose up the next morning to find Hayden already sitting on the back of Draek. They had watched the sun rise together from on top of Out Post and now the green dragons and their riders were beginning to show themselves on the horizon.

  Hayden and Draek watched as the dragons still struggled to glide smoothly in between wing beats. The dragons would rise and fall randomly like a bird just learning to fly.

  I hope this idea of yours works. Draek thought. Hayden silently agreed with his dragon and hoped that what they were about to do was not going to come back to burn them.

  When the dragons finally reached Out Post Hayden had Draek instruct them on landing on the sides of the tower. The dragons were used to holding on to the sides of trees so this was Hayden’s first test.

  To Hayden’s surprise they landed better on the side of Out Post then he had ever seen them land on open ground. The dragons did not slow down until the last second, grabbing onto the vines and branches that had overgrown the sides of Out Post.

  As Hayden watched the last of the dragons land, covering Out Post like a green bee hive, he had a sudden feeling of surety that his plan was going to work.

  Alright Draek, let’s get started. Hayden leaned over his saddle and yelled to the riders below him.

  “I know you have all been working really hard but we have not been making the progress we need to be making.” Hayden noticed that as he spoke all the elves lowered their heads and it was obvious that they were thinking he was going to ask for more out of them.

  “But the fault for that lies with me. I have not been paying attention to your strengths and I have been trying to make you something that you are not. We are going to try a new tactic today and it should be to everyone’s liking.” As Hayden finished talking Draek began relaying their idea to all the green dragons.

  They had decided that it would be easier if Draek explained everything to the dragons instead of Hayden continuing shouting to the riders. Hayden had just wanted to say his apology in his own words.

  As the green dragons relayed the information to their riders Hayden saw an immediate change in the riders domineer, from confusion and frustration to understanding and happiness. Hayden was no longer asking them to do something they could not, he was now asking them to do what they were born to do.

  “Well I am glad to say I think we are finally getting somewhere.” Hayden yelled to Draek. Draek was flying as fast as he could across the top of the forest, turning at sharp angles to throw off their pursuers.

  The sky behind them was completely clear of anything except for the vortex of flying leaves left in the wake of Draek’s wings. Beneath Hayden and Draek, in the forest below, was a different story.

  As Draek put on another burst of speed, during a steep barrel role to his left, Hayden saw and explosion of leaves and branches to their right as a green dragon shot out of the trees underneath and lunged at Draek.

  Draek was already rolling out of the way when another green dragon, this one directly in front of them, emerged from the forest. This time Draek used his giant wings and quickly shot over the other dragon.

  This is insane; I can’t believe how fast they are! Hayden yelled with his mind. Hayden had given up on trying to help Draek avoid the other dragons. Draek claimed Hayden was just slowing him down. Draek had taken a short lead, expecting the green dragons to have a hard time catching up to him like they were flying.

  They could not have been more wrong. The green dragons had quickly over taken Draek and he had to fly almost as fast as he could to stay ahead of them.

  The green dragons were not only fast but they were all but invisible in the thick tree tops. As fast as they were moving only caused the branches to sway slightly as if a soft breeze was blowing through.

  Finally the green dragons began working together and began lunging at Draek in groups of two or three, causing his evasive maneuvers to become more sever. Hayden began having a hard time breathing as Draek continued to thrash around in the air.

  As Draek broke free of the last group of green dragons he shot off over the trees just above the leaves. Hayden could feel how hard Draek was pumping his wings, trying his best to out fly the green dragons.

  I think we lost them. Hayden finally said when his head was clear enough to think straight. Just as the last words left his mind a green dragon sprung up from underneath them and lightly tapped his knuckles against Draek’s belly. When Draek looked down he scarcely caught a glimpse of the dragon as it sank back into the forest.

  Draek slowed down and gradually flew higher over the trees, the game was over and he had lost. Hayden could not help but smile.

  Why are you happy that we lost? Draek asked, irritated at Hayden’s reaction.

  Because that means we actually might have a chance! Hayden thought back, cheering from the back of his silver dragon.

  Chapter 11

  The days that followed Hayden’s triumphant loss with Draek had turned the almost invisible elf towns that were scattered around Out Post into bustling cities that could be seen from high above. Hayden just so happened to be flying high above when he realized just how major the changes had been.

  The small, almost nonexistent, paths that had winded throughout the forest had turned into muddy roads that were large enough for two carts to go down side by side. The elves were forced to enlarge their smith buildings so now a constant stream of smoke could be seen wafting into the sky.

  Hayden had been amazed at just how many elves had turned up when Kirin had put out the call for warriors. Hayden had heard rumors of some of the elf clans disagreeing with Kirin’s actions but none dared to go against the queen’s wishes.

  Hayden’s training with the elf dragon riders had gone even better than he had imagined. A few of the older dragon riders had taken to the training so well that Hayden and Kirin had decided to let them lead the training exercises from now on.

  It was not because Hayden was doing a bad job but rather that they had too many dragons for Hayden to train by himself and when the battle took place he would need to rely on others to lead the dragons.

  Hayden and Draek flew lazily around Out Post, just observing the growth of the city beneath them.

  So I have been thinking about Kirin’s plan. Hayden started, he had spent more than one night lying awake thinking about it.

  I knew you would be, go on. Draek laughed as Hayden realized he was talking about what he was thinking to someone who was in his mind at all times.

  Well I was thinking that it is probably time. Hayden did not have to elaborate what he was talking about. Draek remained silent for a few seconds and then nodded his giant silver head.

  What Kirin had asked of them was immense and something that co
uld either save them or it would doom the entire elf race. What Hayden and Draek had thought of had the same reward but a much higher risk: their lives.

  Draek adjusted his angle so he was facing where the throne tree was located. They flew in silence until Hayden saw a copper dragon launch out of the forest.

  What Rilora and Shane doing? Hayden asked as he watched his friend and his copper dragon fall in behind him. As he turned around to look at Shane he made out the undeniable shape of Shaylin racing towards them.

  And Shaylin and Cass are behind us as well. Hayden added. Draek turned his head and looked to where Hayden was looking.

  They know what we are about to do, they have come to say good bye. Draek spoke without emotion, trying his best to hide his true feelings.

  Good bye. Hayden thought to himself. He had not thought about good bye. His friends, even though he had come to think of them as family, had been with him since the trials. They had helped each other in more ways than Hayden could count and they had fled the Celestial City together.

  They had fought and bled together and they had shed tears together. Now, Hayden realized, with a knot forming in his throat, it was time to say good bye to them. Hayden turned forward again, he did not want to think about saying good bye until he had to say it.

  As Draek landed in front of the throne tree, elves were standing at the giant tree roots guarding their queen inside. The elves around the tree had become used to seeing the metallic dragons coming and going so there was no longer any need to ask why they were there.

  Hayden jumped off of Draek’s back and slid to the ground. He waited till his friends landed beside him before he entered the throne room. As Shane and Cass dismounted Hayden walked quickly under the tree and did not give them a chance to speak.

  Kirin was sitting on her throne, signing papers that were being held by an elf covered in leather armor with the sides of his head shaved, as Hayden and his friends marched up to the throne.