The Dream of Shadows (The Dragon Riders of Arvain Book 3)

by Nicholas Clausen

  Let’s get back to our friends. Draek replied, eager to get into the sky.

  Cass and Shane, as well as the elders from each of the tribes, stood together in what they had found to be the throne room of the Ice Keep. When they had walked into the room, they had passed through two giant doors carved of white wood with ornate inlays carved into the wood.

  When the Frost Fangs had opened the doors to allow the riders and elders into the throne room, they were both shocked to find that the room was missing three walls. Giant pillars held the ceiling up, but the other walls were simply never built. The four thrones looked to be made out of solid ice, almost clear at the top of the thrones high back turning into a snow white at the base of the chairs. The thrones had been pushed aside to make room for a large wooden throne carved of white wood like the doors to sit in the middle.

  The thrones were at the far end of the room with the snow-covered mountain peaks in the background. Despite the lack of walls, the room was filled with braziers with fires roaring in them. Shane and Cass were the last to be invited into the room, Klarack had claimed that he needed to address the Frost Fang elders by himself before they could enter.

  Cass and Shane walked into the throne room silently, the only sound being their footsteps on the cold floor. Shane noticed that the pillars were the same white wood but were carved to look like white dragons flying and blowing their ice breath onto the floor below. Shane was impressed with the workmanship that had gone into the throne room.

  The two riders stopped just before the throne where Klarack stood. Shane cringed a little when he saw the Frost Fang. The challenge had taken place the night before, so the damage was evident upon his face. Klarack now wore a patch over his right eye, and the left side of his neck and face was covered in bandages.

  “My friends, thank ya for waiting for us,” Klarack said with a slight nod and a smile. Shane and Cass both nodded in return, but neither of them spoke.

  “Things have changed so much for us, for ya and for all of Arvain over the last few weeks,” Klarack said to both Cass and Shane as well as all the elders in the room. “And now it is time for us to change with it.” Klarack turned and looked at the mountain tops.

  “The elders and I have discussed what we feel is the best course of action for us to take now.” Klarack stopped and turned to see if Cass or Shane wanted to speak.

  They both stood in silence and waited for Klarack to continue.

  “What ya said yesterday, before Shanry and I…” Klarack didn’t finish his sentence, but he didn’t have to. Instead, he pointed to his face. “Ya had some good ideas on what the tribes should do, on what we should do.” Klarack pointed to his chest.

  The elders nodded their head in agreement, but still, no one spoke but Klarack. “The tribes of the Frost Fangs have always been nomadic, that is our way. But that way will no longer work. At least not for the time being.” Klarack said.

  “We will divide our forces into two groups. Some will go north to fight with ya while the rest will stay back and help rebuild our people. The elders and I are together on that.” Klarack said to Cass.

  Cass nodded with a smile and stepped forward, her footsteps echoing as she did. “Thank you Klarack; we greatly appreciate that and with your forces..” Cass started, but Klarack held up his hand.

  “My friend, please let me finish before ya start thanking me.” He said with a tired smile, one that Cass and Shane did not like the way it looked.

  “We will send forces to help ya but not all of our fighting force,” Klarack said. He acted as if he was telling horrific news to them.

  “Well, of course, we didn’t expect you to send everyone but, how many are you sending?” Cass asked, afraid of the answer she was about to get. The tension filled the room as Klarack first looked to the elders before answering Cass.

  “We will send half our dragons and half our people who are able to fight,” Klarack said with authority. Cass and Shane had never seen Klarack act so serious before, the role of leader was already changing him.

  “Half?” Cass asked, her voice almost breaking as she spoke. “How many dragons is that?” She asked.

  “By our count, seventeen,” Klarack said, this time lowering his head a little as he broke the news.

  “Seventeen?” Shane asked as Cass lowered her head, her shoulders falling. “That’s not enough!” Shane protested.

  “I know it’s not the numbers ya had wished for, but it is the best we can do. We lost many riders and fighters taking the keep,” Klarack said. A cold wind blew through the throne room and sent chills up their spines.

  “I will join them, and we will all leave as soon as we can get things in order here.” Klarack was about to say more but was interrupted by a loud thud coming from behind the white doors.

  They all turned to see what was causing the commotion when the doors burst open, revealing the Frost Fangs that had been watching the doors laid out on the floor, Rimney and Raena stepping over them to walk through the doors.

  “Seventeen dragons, are you serious?” Rimney shouted. Raena was almost jogging to keep up with her as they quickly walked across the throne room.

  “I see ya dragons have already communicated with your friends,” Klarack said shaking his head and holding up his hands as Rimney neared him.

  “This is why we didn’t want the Sea Serpent or the elf in this meeting Klarack, look what they have already done!” One of the elders shouted, pointing a finger at Rimney.

  “Put that finger away old man or I will break it off and shove it up your nose,” Rimney said with a calmness that made Shane think she was serious. When the elder didn’t drop his hand immediately, Rimney shrugged and started to walk over to him. By the time she took her second step the elder quickly dropped his hand to his side.

  “There is no need to break anything off and shove it anywhere,” Klarack said with his hands in the air as he stepped between Rimney and the elders. “As I was saying I wish we could give more but the elders believe that we need to take care of our people first, we did lose a lot taking this keep.” Klarack tried to explain again.

  “And we haven’t lost a lot?” Raena asked calmly.

  “No one is saying ya haven’t. How many of ya dragons are ya people sending to fight?” Klarack asked Raena.

  “All that can fly.” She answered, her words as cold as the ice outside.

  “Every ship and every dragon that could make the trip is now with Kirin,” Rimney added her voice before Klarack could ask.

  “We are giving everything for this fight because we are also taking care of our people by taking care of their future,” Cass said. With all eyes on her, she stepped up to stand beside Klarack.

  “We are fighting for the freedom of Arvain, a freedom that we want for all,” Cass said to the elders. “You said it was time for the Frost Fangs to change but you are still putting your people above everyone else. They are my people now.” Cass said pointing to Raena and Rimney.

  “Join us, truly join us, and you will become my people as well.” Klarack looked over to the elders as Cass spoke.

  “You lead the tribes now; you are the chief. You decide what happens not the elders. You decide what is best for the Frost Fangs.” Cass said. She stepped down and walked towards the door. The other riders following behind her.

  “Thirty,” Klarack said. “Ya can have half our forces and thirty riders.” The elders erupted, shouting their disagreements all at once. “I lead the Frost Fangs now!” Klarack shouted. “If ya don’t like my decisions challenge me, if not then shut up and do as I say!” Klarack growled the last words and the elders fell silent.

  Cass and the others had stopped walking and looked back at Klarack. “You do lead the Frost Fangs, and you are changing,” Cass said. Before turning back around to continue walking.

  “We will be ready to fly with ya in four days’ time,” Klarack said, looking at the elders. Daring them to say anything.

  “That will be good, thank you,” Cass said wi
thout stopping. “But you will not be flying with myself or Shane. Rimney and Raena will take you to Queen Kirin and our forces.” Shane was the first to speak before the others could grasp what Cass had said.

  “Where are we going, we were supposed to get the Frost Fangs help and return to Kirin?” Shane asked.

  “I know, but when Klarack told us we were getting seventeen riders, it wasn’t the number of riders he was giving us that shocked me it was the numbers of riders they had left. Thirty is better than seventeen, but it is not nearly enough. That doesn’t make up the dragons we lost in the first battle. We need more help.” Cass said, trying her best to conceal the worry in her voice.

  “We will have to go east and find the Bone Thieves.” When Cass finished speaking everyone, riders and Klarack included began shouting their protest.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hayden pulled his fur coat over his arms and pulled his hands through his sleeves. He looked up at TheeAgren with the same awe that he had had the first time he laid eyes on the giant mountain range. There weren’t many things that could make a dragon appear small, but TheeAgren did.

  The flight to the mountain range had been uneventful, and that was greatly needed. Hayden opened up to Draek about what all had happened, how he felt and how the destruction of Eytherka made him feel.

  It felt good to get everything out of his mind and put it behind him, he didn’t want to think about what they had gone through, and Draek didn’t want to talk about it. Hayden had made the entire journey without shedding a tear, and that worried him a little, but he pushed it to the back of his mind.

  They needed to focus on what needed to be done, and that was getting over TheeAgren again.

  Are you sure you don’t need to rest any longer? Hayden asked. He knew Draek could make it over the mountain, but the last time they had done it, Draek hadn’t pushed himself so hard right before they had gone over.

  I told you I can make this. Draek said. Hayden looked over at his dragon and saw that he was shifting his weight from his left side to his right, slightly lifting up his feet as he did so. Hayden watched as the imprint of Draek’s foot got deeper and clearer with each step.

  You look like you are about to take off with or without me. Hayden said as he secured the saddlebags back in their place.

  Draek stopped moving for a moment and turned his head slightly. Without you and this infuriating saddle, it would be easier to make this climb… Hayden laughed at Draek even though Draek didn’t laugh with him.

  “Alright, let’s leave this warm air and sunshine behind us, shall we?” Hayden asked aloud. He worked his way back into the saddle and worked the straps over the furs he was wearing. He could feel the heat already rising inside the furs and sweat was already sticking to his back. “The sooner we get up the sooner I can stop baking down here.”

  Hayden tightened the last strap and did a quick double check to make sure he had done everything he needed to do before going over TheeAgren. With everything done he leaned towards Draek’s back to get as close as he could to his dragon and held on.

  He remembered how hard the climb had been the first time and he was not entirely eager to do it again.

  Alright Draek, let’s get this over with. Hayden thought as he tightened his grip on the saddle and prepared for Draek to lunge into the air and knock him back in the saddle.

  Hayden waited like that for a few moments until he realized that Draek wasn’t moving. Draek what’s wrong? Hayden asked, but Draek remained silent and still as a statue. Hayden sat back slowly, waiting for Draek to jump into the air as soon as he sat up. He remembered how the dragons had waited to find the perfect path to fly up the mountain, but this was different.

  Draek was looking up at the mountaintop intently, but he was not answering Hayden or even responding to him. Are you really thinking about leaving me? Hayden asked as he leaned forward and tried to look at Draek’s eyes.

  When Draek still did not respond, Hayden began to worry that something was wrong. He scrambled to get the straps in his saddle undone and carefully slid down Draek’s leg. Draek did not lower himself to the ground to allow Hayden to get off easily.

  “Draek! Can you hear me?” Hayden yelled as he ran to face his dragon who was still looking up at TheeAgren.

  Of course, I can. Stop yelling I am trying to listen. Draek finally responded. The sound of Draek’s voice calmed Hayden slightly.

  What are you listening to? Hayden asked.

  Not what, who. And who would be Farius. Draek replied. Hayden was about to ask how he was talking to Farius when the sound of faint dragon roars reached them and caused Hayden to look up.

  High above them, but just over TheeAgren’s peak, dragons crested the mountain and began working their way down towards Hayden and Draek, roaring as they flew.

  To Hayden, the dragons looked like small birds that were slowly coming closer. He couldn’t make out any details, but he was thrilled to see his friends. He removed the hot furs with a smile, happy to be rid of the sweaty things and waited for the dragons to land. Draek had gone silent again and was watching the dragons intently. Hayden wasn’t sure Draek was even breathing.

  Hayden assumed that Draek was speaking to the dragons and telling them all what had happened as well as hearing what had happened at the Ice Keep after they had left. Hayden had worried about leaving his friends because he remembered the chaos that had stemmed from the landing pad falling. He felt even more guilty when he remembered what had happened when he had chased after Giles and Sebastian and left the Sea Serpents to fend for themselves.

  Hayden looked back up at the dragons flying towards them, knowing that seeing his friends crossing the Frozen Tundra to rejoin Kirin and their army would lighten his heart. As the dragons neared, he was able to make out several white dragons and what he thought was a blue and a green dragon as well.

  Hayden didn’t panic because he figured Cass and Shane must be with the second group of Frost Fangs and white dragons.

  The dragons landed all around them, most of them landing at the same time. Hayden tucked his face into his arm to protect himself from the winds the dragons were kicking up.

  When Hayden felt the winds cease, he lifted his head to greet the riders, only to see a flash of white light and be knocked to the ground. His face burned around his nose, and he could feel his eyes watering freely.

  Hayden’s vision quickly returned, and he was surprised but not shocked to see Rimney standing over him with a balled-up fist.

  “Do you never learn?” Rimney shouted. Hayden struggled to get to his feet, rubbing his nose and finding blood on his hands.

  “I know what this looks like Ribney.” Hayden started, his m sounded like a b. “But I will explain it all as soon as the others get here,” Hayden said as he looked towards the ridge for Cass and the other riders.

  “What others Hayden?” Raena asked as she, and the white dragon riders got off their dragons and made their way over to watch Hayden and Rimney, hopefully, fight some more.

  “Cass, Shane and the other white dragons,” Hayden said. Hayden noticed that there were a lot more Frost Fangs then there were dragons. He saw the last dragon that had landed unloading over a dozen Frost Fangs that had been holding on to the dragon’s saddle. The Frost Fangs were quickly trying to remove their furs while the white dragons seemed to have steam rising from their skin. The heat did not seem to bother them, however, and as soon as the Frost Fangs had their furs off, they began feeling the grass with their hands in amazement.

  “There are no others, Hayden, if you wouldn’t have left us you would know what is going on. We lost a lot of dragons in taking the keep. When the platform fell, it crushed so many people, and some of them were dragon riders.” Rimney said, looking sadly at the Frost Fangs around her but they all kept their head held high.

  “Klarack gave us as many dragons as he could spare and as many warriors as the dragons could carry. There are thirty white dragons in all with almost four hundred warriors.” R
aena said. Hayden looked around as more Frost Fangs surrounded them. His mind was moving so fast that he didn’t know what to think first.

  “Only thirty… Where… where are Cass and Shane?” Hayden asked trying to put all the pieces together.

  “They are at the Ice Keep, getting ready to leave to fly east to the Shadow Desert,” Klarack said, having just gotten off his own dragon and stepping to the front of the crowd.

  “Klarack.” Hayden tried to smile until he saw the bandages on his face and neck. “What happened to you?” Hayden asked.

  “Shanry, don’t worry though I killed her,” Klarack said with a wave of his hand as if it was no big deal.

  “You… you killed her?” Hayden asked, struggling more and more to grasp what was being said. “You said Cass and Shane were going to the Shadow Desert?”

  “Yes, I killed her, I challenged her for the leadership of the Frost Fangs, and I won,” Klarack said to the nods of approval from the other Frost Fangs. “Cass and Shane went to find help; they said we would not be enough to win this war.”

  Hayden looked up at Draek who was finally moving again. Farius told me the same thing, Hayden. We need to go quickly to meet them at the Ice Keep before they leave without us. Draek said lowering his shoulder so Hayden cold climb into the saddle.

  Hayden slowly moved to put his furs back on, his mind still racing.

  “The rider you chased, did you at least catch this one?” Rimney asked as Hayden put on his furs.

  “I did, I killed him,” Hayden said. The Frost Fangs cheered and slammed their fists on their chest. “But not before he burned down my town and killed everyone that lived there,” Hayden said, silencing the crowd.

  “I am sorry to hear that Hayden,” Rimney said. They locked eyes for a moment, sharing the loss that they both had experienced since the start of the war.

  “As much as I would like to have you with us I think you need to get to Cass and Shane as soon as possible,” Rimney said.