Shane walked silently up to the map and looked it over, trying to figure out why no one was talking. Cass never looked up from the figures as she broke the silence.
“Did you see them?” She asked. Shane was not sure how she knew where he had gone but before he could ask her she answered his question. “Rilora told Shaylin what you two were doing.”
Shane did not even bother trying to scold Rilora about not telling him that she had talked to Shaylin he knew it would not accomplish anything.
“We could not see anything; they are still too far away.” Shane admitted.
Cass nodded her head, still looking down at the figures. “That makes sense. All of our initial reports at telling us that they are over a day away and they are allowing their ground troops to lead the march. They are in no hurry to get here.” Cass said as she leaned back and stretched out her lower back.
Shane saw that on one side of the map stood five man shaped wooden figures in front of three dragon figures. There were two horse shaped figures and five arrows lined up behind the five man shaped figures.
On the other side of the map there were eight man shaped figures and six horse figures. Behind them were only two arrow shaped figures and four dragon figures.
Shane did not have to look at the figures long to realize who was represented by the lesser figures.
“So we are that badly outnumbered?” Shane asked. He knew that numbers did not win a battle but it didn’t hurt to have them.
Cass shrugged her shoulders. “We are going off of what our scout told us. He estimated the numbers he gave us but he was also terrified so we are not sure just how accurately he guessed.” Cass spoke with no emotion again. She was cold and almost heartless; she was looking at just the facts and numbers in front of her.
“Has you heard any word from Hayden?” Shane asked. Cass looked up from the map and looked at Shane as if to say If I had, I would have told you.
“We haven’t heard anything from outside the forest. We don’t know if he made it to the island or if he has been captured.” Cass said, finally showing a little emotion in her voice. “But we have to assume the worst and that he might not come.” The elders and other elf leaders nodded and grunted their agreement but Kirin just looked sadly at Shane.
“We can’t give up on Hayden, he will make it.” Shane tried to reassure her.
“We don’t have time to hope or dream or even wish. Will he make it or will he not make it I don’t know but what I do know is that there is an army marching towards us and they will be here soon. That is what I know and that is all I have time for.” Cass snapped at Shane.
“Enough Cass.” Kirin said politely, but with the strong undertone that let everyone in the room know that she meant it.
“There is nothing more we can do here. We have planned and we have trained. We have set traps and surprises and we have called upon all of our brethren to join us.” Kirin looked to all of her fellow elves for reassurance.
“We will rest tonight, there is nothing more to be done.” Kirin said as she gathered herself up and prepared to leave.
“But we can still plan.” Cass began.
“We have planned enough. They will reach the hill in a day or two and they will send a messenger to us to tell us their demands.” Kirin said. “We will begin sending our army out to the edge of the forest but keep them hidden.” Kirin said to elf leaders.
They all nodded to her and one by one they left the room. They had a long night ahead of them in order to get entire army and all their war machines to move to the edge of the forest.
That left Kirin, Cass and Shane alone with the elders. Kirin said her formal farewells to the elders and soon they too left the throne room.
“Shane, I want you on the ground with the troops. Get them in their positions and make sure they are ready.” Kirin said, looking back at the map. “I think it will still be several days till they attack but I would rather be ready before they attack rather than after.” Shane nodded his head in agreement.
“I also don’t want Rilora close to the enemy until the fighting starts. She is too battle hungry.” Shane was not offended by what Kirin said. He could feel Rilora’s desire for a good fight deep in his mind. “But the moment the battle begins I want you up in the air with us.”
Kirin turned to Cass and put her hand on her shoulder. “We have to believe that Hayden will make it in time, and that he will bring help.” Cass made eye contact with Kirin but she made no move to show that she agreed with her.
“I will need you to get our dragons ready. They don’t have to be in position but I don’t want them training anymore. They need to rest and be ready to move at any moment.” Cass finally nodded and without saying a word she disappeared out of the throne room.
“You will have to forgive her Kirin, she is nervous about the upcoming battle.” Shane said, trying to make up for her behavior.
“No she is not, she is nervous about Hayden.” Kirin corrected. “Haven’t you noticed that she only started acting strange since Hayden left?” Kirin asked. Shane realized that she was right.
“So what can we do?” Shane asked.
“Hope that where ever Hayden is, he is alright and on his way back soon.” Kirin replied, looking at the map, one last time.
Hayden held on for dear life as the ship raced up and down the waves making its way quickly to the giant floating island.
“Turn away!” Hayden yelled, his voice going a little higher then he would have liked.
Instead of Rimney turning away and avoiding a fatal collision she let go of the wheel and leaned over the edge of the railing that looked over the lower deck and yelled.
“Do not tell me what to do on my ship!” She shouted at Hayden .Her face quickly turned red and veins began to bulge around her neck.
“We are going to wreck!” Hayden retorted. Hayden was shocked at how angry Rimney was.
“If I choose to wreck my ship then so be it. This is my ship, remember that.” Rimney pointed at Hayden with her right hand, her left was on the hilt of her sword.
“Fine.” Hayden shouted back and turned to look at close they were to the ships in front of them. Hayden could make out the people on the ships and what they were doing so Hayden knew that they were too close.
Draek I need you here. Hayden began to loosen his grip on the ropes that he prepared to jump over the edge of the ship and into the water. Hayden hopped Draek was close enough to rescue him but he figured his chances were better in the water then in a ship wreck.
Hayden couldn’t help but notice that all around him the crew members were continuing on with their tasks as if they were sailing into the sunset instead of to their deaths.
Hayden waited for Draek to respond but his nervous were getting the best of him.
Oh no. Hayden thought as The Misty Maiden grew ever closer to the other ships. Hayden looked back up and Rimney and saw her smiling down at Hayden. Hayden wasn’t sure if she was insane or not but he finally made up his mind and leapt over board.
Hayden jumped with all his might so that he would clear the ship as it passed by him. The water eagerly came up to meet him as he broke through the surface of the ocean. Hayden felt the cold water send a quick chill up his spine.
He opened his eyes under water to see how far he had to swim up to reach air. The water was so clear that Hayden could see The Misty Maiden from underneath as it passed him. Hayden started to swim up when something large shot past him with unimaginable speed under water.
Hayden was tossed head over feet and when he righted himself was amazed to see Rimney’s blue dragon Farius swimming towards the ship. He quickly over took the ship and left the underwater world just a few feet in front of vessel.
Hayden’s lungs were screaming for air causing him to kick and tare at the water until his head broke through the surface and he was able to take a deep breath. The cool air burned its way down into Hayden’s lungs and caused him to cough and continue to gasp for air.
Hayde
n shook the water off his face and out of his eyes and watched as Farius jumped into the air and grabbed the front of the ship and began slowing it down with his powerful wings.
The Misty Maiden fought against Farius but quickly slowed down and Rimney was able to turn the ship slowly to one side. After some maneuvering The Misty Maiden came to rest next to one of the other ships and Hayden could make out Rimney’s voice shouting out over the waves.
“Tie us in men and make sure it’s tight. I don’t want us slipping off in the middle of the night again.” Rimney yelled. “For the love of, are you going to put the cushions in between our ships or do you want to see our ship beat to splinters?”
Hayden began to swim slowly towards the ship, fighting with shock and embarrassment about what he had just seen. He hopped that Rimney hadn’t been paying attention to him when he had jumped overboard, even though she had been looking right him.
“And where has our brave new friend gone?” Rimney’s voice rang out as Hayden continued to swim. Even the cold water splashing against his face could not cool down the heat Hayden felt in his face.
Hayden looked up at The Misty Maiden and watched Rimney look over the edge back at him.
“Hayden, what are you doing down there?” Rimney laughed.
Rimney didn’t make Hayden suffer long in the water. Farius dove back into the water and swam underneath Hayden.
Hayden held on as the blue dragon swam to the ship and stretched his head up to the deck, letting Hayden slide off and onto the dry wood.
The crew members did not laugh or make a joke about what had just happened. They were too busy running below deck and returning with large packs full of goods.
“You know the rules, back by sun down.” Rimney said as if she was talking to children. Her crew responded like children would with shouts and yells and took off onto the other ships.
Hayden did his best to wipe the water out of his face but his hands where soaked as well so he only succeeded in staying wet.
“So nice of you to join us.” Rimney said as she walked up beside him, making sure to stay out of the puddle that was growing around him. She rubbed her dragons head behind his horns, which Hayden got to see up close and realized that they looked like coral but where the color of old metal that had a slight green tint to it from staying under water too long. “Did you have fun?” Rimney continue to poke fun at Hayden.
Hayden did not respond right away, instead he just looked into Farius’s large blue, green eye.
“Hayden?” Rimney started when she realized that Hayden was staring at her dragon.
“You are the only dragon that I have ever ridden besides Draek.” Hayden said, to Farius.
The blue dragon raised his head away from his rider and lowered it to Hayden so he could rub his head. Hayden guessed that blue dragons liked to be rubbed in the same spot as metallic dragons and began scratching behind the spikes on the side of his head.
Farius immediately began humming with enjoyment and Hayden was shocked to find that the spikes were webbed on the side of his head.
“You really are meant for the water.” Hayden said with a laugh, forgetting for a second that he was soaking wet. In response to Hayden Farius raised one of his front legs onto the deck and stretched out his talons. They were incredibly thin, like fishing hooks and in between the joints were more webbing. Hayden couldn’t help but laugh in amazement again.
Finally Hayden stopped rubbing and Farius disappeared back under the water. Hayden turned to find Rimney staring at him with a confused look on her face.
“I know I am wet.” Hayden guessed that she was about to make another joke.
“Yes you are but it’s not that. He has saved countless sailors over the years but he has never let anyone rub him but me.” Rimney sounded just as shocked as Hayden had been about riding the blue dragon.
Hayden went into the cabin and changed into some dry clothes and found Rimney still waiting on the deck for him.
“So what happens now, do we go ship to ship and tell them why I am here?” Hayden asked.
“Sure if you want to die right away.” Rimney replied.
“Ok so what are you thinking?” Hayden asked.
Rimney looked up at the sun that was setting, casting out a net of all shades of red and orange across the sky.
“Tomorrow we will begin working to find you supporters.” Rimney decided. She walked onto the ship that theirs was lashed too. Hayden followed her and saw that once he put the sea behind him it did not look like he was stepping on ships but it looked like a mashed up ally way with mixed matched buildings protruding at odd angles.
The only thing that seemed exceptionally out of place was that they ships rose and fell at different rates so it looked like the town was breathing. This of course made Hayden start to feel sea sick.
“So what happens here?” Hayden asked, trying to take his mind off of his turning stomach.
“Well the main purpose of us meeting like this is for us to trade with each other and restock for the next six months.” Rimney said.
“Six months?” Hayden asked.
“We have this meeting every six months. The pirates will all trade their personal treasures with one another and the captains will meet and discuss what has all happened since the last meeting.” Rimney turned to board a ship that was covered in spices and plants and began looking through the food while a pirate stood watch over the ship.
“While the captains meet smugglers from the islands will come and bring us provisions to trade for the goods we have acquired. So the men get to trade their goods and we get to sell ours and restock. It’s like a giant floating market.” Rimney picked out a few long skinny green plants and yelled to the pirate. “How much?”
The pirate remained silent but help up three fingers. Rimney nodded to him and threw him three copper pieces. She stuffed the plants into the empty bag that she had thrown across her shoulder.
“So you sell the stuff you stole and catch up with old friends and then go back to pirating?” Hayden asked. He tried to keep up with Rimney but the ships became crowded and people kept bumping into him.
“There is more to it the just that.” Rimney said turning back to make sure Hayden was still following. Hayden raised his eyebrows as he looked at her and she shrugged her shoulders. “I mean, yes that does happen but there is more to it.”
Rimney continued walking from ship to ship looking at goods. She picked out a flowing dark blue, almost black cloak that hung down to her feet. She purchased that by trading the plants a few pieces of silver but she had haggled the guy down from a whole gold coin.
She threw the coat on and continued with her shopping.
“We also discuss where we will be pirating over the next six months.” Rimney said.
“Wait, you choose who it is you steal from?” Hayden asked, mortified.
“Kind of.” Rimney replied.
“Do you choose who gets to be your slaves as well?” Hayden asked. Rimney grabbed his arm and pulled him onto a ship that was covered in all kinds of weapons. Some that Hayden thought were cooking utensils.
“No they choose themselves.” Rimney said as she held up a war hammer and tested its balance.
Hayden was about to ask what she meant when he saw large silver blade hanging on a stand by itself. Hayden walked over to the blade and realized that it was a rider’s blade, a silver rider. Rimney saw Hayden turn to ask the owner where he had gotten the sword and quickly yanked him back.
“Not now.” Rimney whispered in his ear. She pulled Hayden off the ship and continued going from ship to ship until she finally found the one she was looking for.
The ship had pulled its sails up so that the covered over the ship like a giant tent. This kept the inhabitance away from the elements. As they neared the ship Hayden heard shouts and cheers coming from inside the tent. The smell of food grilling on a fire was more than enough to motivate Hayden to walk faster towards the ship.
Once inside the tent, Hayd
en and Rimney were surrounded by pirates of all sorts. They were all happily moving from table to table enjoying drinks and legs of pork that were coming sizzling off the fire.
Rimney greedily grabbed two mugs of foaming liquid and drank deeply in one. She handed the other to Hayden as she wiped the foam from her mouth.
“Drink.” Rimney said.
“What is it?” Hayden asked, smelling the liquid.
“Just drink.” Rimney raised her cup and Hayden did the same.
Chapter 21
Shane walked through the forest alone, just as the sun was beginning to rise. The air around him was crisp and cool but not uncomfortably cold. Spring was in full bloom in Eytherka. Shane gingerly stepped over logs and fallen sticks, trying his best not to make too much noise.
What are you doing? Rilora asked him. Shane decided it better not to answer her and continued his lone walk. Shane made his way through the dense woods until the trees began to thin out and the new day light began to shine through the gaps. He had made it to the edge of the forest and the Star Light Plains lay out before him.
Shane edged his way out of the natural cover that the forest gave him and looked around the Star Light Plains. It did not take long for his eyes to fall upon the enemies’ encampment.
They had taken up camp on the hill that Cass had expected them to. At this point everything they had done so far Cass had expected them to do. Across the open green fields the camp looked like a giant wound on the flesh of the earth.
They had erected small tents for the solders all around three larger tents. Smoke lazy flew into the air from countless fires and Shane could even make out the ringing sounds of a blacksmith’s hammer, piercing through the silence with its rhythmic hammering.
Shane could see the make shift fence that houses hundreds of horses for their cavalry stretching over the far side of the hill, furthest away from the forest. On the front side of the hill closest to Shane he could see where they had just laid out the pieces of their war machines. Shane saw everything that he had expected to see in their war camp except for one thing: dragons.
The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain Page 21
