Flint and steel, hmm I think that’s a better name then Draek what do you think? I could call you Flint for short. Hayden said as he walked off the beach and back into the tree line to get wood for a fire.
When Hayden returned with fire wood in hand, Draek was laying comfortable with his head down and eyes closed. Hayden placed all the fire wood in a neat pile that would burn warm and for a good amount of time. Once he was finished he walked back to Draek and made himself comfortable.
“Are you still mad?” Hayden asked as he began taking off his soaked boots.
Draek lifted his head and without warning, drenched the wood in flames. Hayden had expected Draek to do that but he had also expected his dragon to stop once the wood had ignited. Instead Draek continued blowing flames until there was nothing left but a small smoldering pile of ash.
Hayden looked at Draek and couldn’t help but laugh.
The sun rose up to find Draek and Hayden already awake and looking over the map together. Hayden had the map laid out in front of him while Draek looked over his shoulder.
So you think we have to head up the coast a little bit further and then cut over the water? Hayden asked for the third time since they tried to figure out where exactly they were. Based on the map, the flight from the shore to the island they were supposed to go to was going to be a long one and there was nothing near the island so if they missed, they were going to be in trouble.
Draek remained silent for a few moments as he studied the map and then looked down the shore line. I think we are further down then we need to be, if we head out now I am afraid that we will miss the island.
Hayden looked down at the map again. He was trying to find some land mark that they could gauge where they were at. Sadly there wasn’t much to go off of except for the Light House. Hayden wasn’t sure what to do but he trusted Draek.
Ok let’s go. Hayden rolled up the map and put it back in its place in the saddle. Draek lowered himself and Hayden made the familiar climb into the saddle.
As soon as Hayden gave Draek the signal the silver dragon took to the sky and headed up the coast line.
I think we need to turn now. Hayden said as they continued flying close to the shore. They had been flying for only a short time but as the sandy beaches flew by beneath them Hayden got more nervous that they had past the point that they had needed to turn at.
You said that already. Draek complained. Hayden had in fact voiced his concern several times.
So are you going to turn in? Hayden asked, looking out over the ocean. Draek responded by turning slowly and putting the land behind them. As they made it further and further out to sea Hayden suddenly doubted whether or not he had in fact made the right decision.
Draek began raising higher as he pumped his wings, letting the land linger behind them longer.
Soon the water below them began to look like a strange, softly moving painting rather than the sporadic choppiness that Hayden knew was down there. Before long it finally happened; they made it to a point where Hayden could see nothing but blue water all around them.
Hayden couldn’t help but feel lost and alone over the giant ocean. He began to worry about which way was which and soon he was so lost and confused he started having trouble breathing.
Relax, relax. Draek spoke smoothly, trying his best to calm Hayden down.
I can’t. We are lost and I have no idea how to get back to the main land. Hayden continued to freak out as he made his fears worse for himself.
Hayden, look up at the sun. Draek roared in Hayden’s head. Hayden quickly looked at the position of the sun and looked away because of the brightness.
We are heading towards the sun. Remember that, we are not lost as long as we continue in this direction. The island will be right where it’s supposed to be and everything will be fine. Hayden took a deep breath and found comfort in his friend’s voice. He dug down deep and found his courage.
“Of course the island will be there, we should reach it in just a few hours.” Hayden said out loud.
A few hours later and the island was nowhere in sight. No land was in sight.
Draek was still confident that they were heading the right direction.
You had to read the map wrong. That’s all this is. What you saw as a few hour flight is obviously going to be a little bit longer. Draek said with more anger in his voice than judgment.
I had to read the map wrong? You looked at it just like I did and you agreed with how long we thought it was going to take to get to the island. Hayden argued back. Seeing nothing but water in every direction was really starting to get to him.
I was just agreeing with you, I thought you knew what you were talking about. Smoke began to stream out of Draek’s mouth as he argued back.
Don’t you smoke at me you over grown kettle. Hayden shouted in his mind. Draek’s response was a huge bloom of dark smoke that covered Hayden and singed the inside of his lungs.
Hayden coughed in the smoke causing his eyes to water and stream. Finally the smoke broke away and Hayden was able to gasp a breath of fresh air. As Hayden cleared his lungs the anger got the best of him and he forgot that he was flying high above the ocean, and that he was arguing with a silver dragon.
That was wrong Draek. Hayden yelled as he coughed a few more times. Hayden finally lost his nerve and reared back and punched Draek on the back of the neck, right above the saddle.
Hayden heard the THUD as his bare knuckles made contact with the silver scales. Hayden’s hand stung slightly and he knew that Draek was not hurt by the punch but he was worried about what Draek was going to do.
All of Hayden’s anger had disappeared and he just listened to the silence in his mind.
Draek kept his wings out stretched and was gliding comfortably so Hayden began to think that Draek probably just didn’t feel what Hayden had done at all.
YOU HIT ME! Draek’s voice nearly deafened Hayden from the inside of his head. Hayden grabbed his ears and was about to say sorry when Draek, without warning, closed in his wings and dropped out of the air.
Hayden’s breath was knocked out of him as they fell out of the sky so he could not scream. Hayden instead lost all sense and began smacking Draek on his back over and over again.
At the last second Draek opened his wings hoping to smack Hayden against his back but Hayden had been in this seat before so he braced himself for it. As Draek leveled out Hayden laughed at his dragon.
Ha ha I have seen that trick before you …. Hayden was about to call Draek a name when Draek did a barrel role and flew upside down right over the water, causing Hayden to be submerged under the water.
The first initial hit of water felt to Hayden like getting hit by a wall but just as fast as Draek had flipped him in the water Draek righted himself.
Hayden once again found himself coughing trying to clear his lungs, this time they were full of water. Hayden tasted something metallic in his mouth and realized that his nose was bleeding.
Draek was flying mere feet above the water when he turned his head around to face Hayden. I hope you have learned your lesson about what happens when you hit a dragon. Draek said with a hint of satisfaction.
Hayden cleared his eyes and looked past Draek. Oh no. Hayden said.
A rouge wave had risen up and was towering ten feet over Draek. Draek turned his head and saw the wave just in time to tuck in his wings. Hayden lowered his body and the two went under the water.
Draek and Hayden were flying in silence, both soaking wet. Draek had plunged through the wave and out the other side and was able to fly up above the water without any problem.
I am sorry. Hayden finally said.
I am sorry too. Draek replied. That was all that was needed to be said. They had been through so much they did not need a long apology.
They were still flying over open water with no sign of land in sight. Draek was still fit and able to fly for many miles but that would eventually run out and now they were faced with a new challenge, the sun was s
etting.
Hayden pulled out a blanket that was rolled up behind him, knowing that the night was going to be cold, but the blanket was still soaked through. Draek knew what Hayden was thinking so he reached behind his neck and grabbed the wet blanket with his claws.
Draek lowered his head and Hayden could not see what he was doing. Draek was high above the water now so there was no threat of another wave hitting them. After a few seconds Draek’s head came back up and he returned the blanket to Hayden.
The blanket was now completely dry and hot to the touch. Thank you. Hayden said as he curled up inside the blanket, the warmth already drying out his still damp clothes.
Draek nodded his head but remained silent and together they watched the sun set.
Chapter 14
Hayden had a hard time sleeping, wondering what the next day would hold for him and his dragon; that mixed with how uncomfortable it is to sleep on a flying dragon.
Are you sure you are ok? Hayden asked. Draek had not slowed down once but Hayden was always worrying about his dragon.
For the last time I am fine, now go to sleep. Draek was not angry with Hayden but Hayden could tell he was starting to get on his nerves. Hayden pulled his blanket around him tighter; the night air had a chill that cut like a knife.
Hayden looked back up at the night sky, a brilliant display of stars of all colors. The sky wasn’t black but several different shades of blue all smeared together. Hayden was reminded of the time he and Draek had flown around Celestial City at night and how similar the night sky had appeared.
Finally, after what had seemed like hours, Hayden finally passed into a light sleep. With every turn or change from Draek Hayden woke up and had to struggle to find rest.
After what only seemed like a few hours Hayden awoke to see the stars above him had dimmed into almost nonexistent specs in the sky. The sun was rising and lighting the sky up with an array of orange and yellow colors. Hayden stretched and felt his body cramp up and decided stretching was not the best idea.
Good morning Draek. Draek nodded his head. Hayden rummaged through the bags on the saddle and grabbed a leather skin of water and some of the dried meat that Shane had given him. Biting down on the dried meat helped take the edge off of his hunger.
So any idea where we are? Hayden asked.
Draek looked around while lazily flying. I think we might be over the ocean somewhere. Draek said in such a serious voice that Hayden was shocked for a second before he realized it was a joke.
Half the day went by with nothing more than a little idle talk passing between the two of them. Hayden did his best to get comfortable while Draek continued flying.
As the time slowly drug by Hayden started to notice that Draek’s wing beats began to show signs of tiring. It wasn’t something to immediately worry about but in a span that Draek would normally pump his wings four times he was now only getting three beats in.
Hayden didn’t bother asking how Draek was feeling because he could only imagine how tiring it must be to fly for two days straight. Hayden didn’t know what to do to help his dragon so he just stayed as low to his body as he could.
After a few more hours like this with night fall coming to meet them again and still no sign of land, Draek’s head picked up and began scanning the horizon. Hayden knew that he had found something.
Land, you found land? Hayden asked, hoping that it could finally be over with.
No. Draek said. For the first time in a long time Hayden heard worry in his voice. Hayden did his best to squint at the horizon and try to see what Draek was seeing. All he could see was a little speck of grey just above the water, way off in the distance.
What is that? Hayden asked, not seeing anything else that Draek could be talking about.
A storm. Draek said.
Shane and Cass made their way back to Out Post to find that the final group of elves had arrived. As Shane and Cass got closer to the tower they could see the new green dragons climbing all over Out Post. It was obvious that they had not seen these dragons before because although they were green dragons they had been painted with stripes and hand prints.
When Shane and Rilora lowered to the landing pad they were immediately approached by one of the elf servants that normally helped them unsaddle their dragons.
“Rider Shane, you could not have come back to Out Post at a better time.” The elf said as Shane slid off of Rilora.
“Why is that, is it lunch time?” Shane asked. He was getting hungry so it had to be lunch time, or snack time at least.
“No sir, the final elf clan has arrived and they are demanding that Queen Kirin give command of the entire army over to their leader.” The elf said.
Shane nodded to Rilora as she took back to the sky and he waited for Cass and Shaylin to land beside him. Before Cass could finish undoing the straps on her saddle Shane filled her in on what he had just learned. As Shaylin jumped off of edge of Out Post the two riders quickly followed the elf through the trap door.
“How could their leader think that Kirin would give leadership over to them and why would the elves listen to them?” Cass asked as they descended the spiral staircase.
“The leader of the clan is demanding that Queen Kirin marry him and make him king of elf nation.” Both Shane and Cass stopped and looked at each other for a few seconds before all but sprinting back down the staircase.
When they made it down the spiral stairs and at the threshold of the throne room the largest elf Shane had ever seen barred their way. Shane was large by human standards, there were those that were bigger but not many could boast that. This elf was one of those few people.
He stood a few inches above Shane and seemed to be twice as wide. Unlike the other elves that they had met this one did not wear a shirt and he had covered his face and upper body in paint. The elves hair was unkempt and gave him an overall wild look.
The elf growled at Shane and crossed his tree trunk arms, making it very clear that they were not to pass.
“Let them through.” Kirin’s voice shouted from behind the giant elf. When the elf did not move Kirin shouted again. “Let them through or I will have the girl kill you.” Kirin’s voice made it clear that she was not joking.
The elf looked at Cass and laughed. He laughed so hard that he doubled over and let Shane and Cass pass by. Shane looked nervously at Cass just to make sure that she was not about to attack the elf.
Luckily she showed no signs of even hearing his laughter and they walked past the elf and made their way to stand next to Kirin. Even though Shane and Cass had not been in the room a few seconds they could both feel the tension and Kirin’s face was a little red as if she had been yelling.
Kirin sat on the only throne left in the room, the other three that Shane remembered being in the room had been removed. Kirin had two of her armored guards standing on either side of her. There were five more painted elves, none as big as the giant that had been watching the door way, standing around the throne. Shane and Cass did not have to guess which elf was their leader because only one of the elves had his hair braided with gold rings.
Before Cass or Shane could speak the elf with the braided hair spat on the ground in front of Shane’s foot. “So these are your metallic dogs. I was to understand that there were three but all I see is two.” The elf spoke.
Shane looked at the spit and back at the elf, suppressing the urge to shove the spit back down the elf’s throat.
“This is Shane the Copper and Cassidy the Gold. They have been imperative to our training and without them we could not hope to win this war.” Kirin said, trying to give Shane some time to cool down.
The elf laughed at Kirin, the elves that stood with him joined in on the laughing as if right on cue. “Is that so? Well good thing that we came along to help so now you won’t have to rely on these shiny pretend warriors. You only have to rely on me.” The elf leaned in and attempted to kiss Kirin’s hand, but she pulled it back as if a snake was about to bite it.
Cass muffled a laugh which caused the elf to turn his eye towards her. “You dare laugh at me child? Do you know who it is you laugh at? I am Valace, rider of Nithogg. It is I who have been secretly leading the fight against the Metallic Riders for years. They whisper my name throughout Celestial city with the hope of one day stopping me.”
“You must be fighting so secretly that they don’t even know it because we have never heard of you.” Cass said with a straight face.
Valace puffed out his chest and stepped closer to Cass, leaning his head in so that his nose was just inches away. Cass did not blink or lean away, she met his stare head on.
“You don’t know what I am capable of little girl.” Valace said, malice dripping off every word he spit at her. Cass smiled as she nearly whispered her response.
“I do know; I am just capable of much more.” Valace roared in outrage and threw a wild punch at Cass; which she easily ducked under and kicked his legs out from under him.
Valace’s legs flew out from under him and he landed flat on his back with a swift SWOOSH sound as all the air in his lungs rushed out at once. Cass straightened up to find the other painted elves about to attack her.
She was about to step back when Shane jumped in front of her and bellowed his battle cry, startling and nearly deafening everyone in the room. As his echoed call died away and left a slight ringing in everyone’s ear, the only other sound that could be heard was the slow, steady sound of Shane gingerly unsheathing his copper blade.
Before Shane could get his blade half way out of his sheath Kirin yelled to get everyone’s attention.
“Enough!” She looked at Shane and waited for the blood red color to leave his face and the veins to stop bulging out of his neck. When he calmed down he slammed his sword back into its sheath and stepped back away from Valace as the elf struggled to his feet.
The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain Page 15
