The Terra Drago Chronicles: The Sacrifice (Rein of Fire Book 1)

by Richardson, James

dragons they would not move against Shadow

  Fang. While the sky blue dragon would stay in

  his alcove, never moving an inch to harm his

  beloved Darjin. A smile was forming on his

  face when he thought of alone rider standing

  toe to toe against his and his brother’s dragon. Draco asked his brother to wait for him

  outside of the hold. Cominus wondered what

  could happen he knew his brother would not

  break the rules of the star elves. For too much

  was at stake for his brother to allow his anger

  to get the better of him. Cominus saw his brother move towards the crimson's dragon’s gate. Cominus breathed a sigh of relief when he saw

  his brother made no move to enter the alcove. Draco stood there for a couple minutes

  saying nothing to the hissing dragon. Cominus

  thought his brother was taking delight into the

  dragon’s discomfort. Draco started to whisper

  to the dragon Cominus wanted to hear what

  they were communicating. With a spell for

  keen hearing Cominus caught the last half of

  there conversation.

  “Hear me dragon you and you rider will

  fall to my blade for the crimes against Shadow

  Fang,” Draco said with revulsion. The crimson

  dragon lifted his serpentine neck towards Draco. Releasing a jet of flame from one of it nostril coming an inch from Draco's scale boot,

  Draco could only chuckle at the lame attempt

  to scare him off. “What's wrong oh mighty

  dragon is that fear in your eyes,” Draco said

  taunting the dragon, the dragon released a roar

  in defiance. “Ah yes you do remember what I

  am,” Draco said chuckling Cominus wondered

  if his brother was taking this too far. He wanted

  to rush into the hold to shake some sense into

  his brother. “Do you remember how I gave you

  that scar that you wear.”

  The crimson dragon released a growl that

  reminded Cominus of the first he meant Shadow Fang in his parent’s yard. Nevertheless, the

  dragon made no move against his brother. It

  seemed to him that for some reason the dragon

  had more fear of his brother’s rage.

  “Do be so kind to tell your rider I shall meet him soon on the battlefield,” Draco said waving his pale hand as he turned to the exit of the hold. Joining his brother at the entrance to the hold, Cominus did not know if he should confront his brother or not. Cominus thought it best not to ask questions he may not want an

  swered.

  “So what was going on in there,” Cominus

  said hiding his knowledge of what accrued.

  Draco studied his brother for a moment and

  headed for the inn he was aware that his brother knew. Draco did not see the point of recounting their conversation. Catching up to his

  brother Cominus held his tongue as the two

  brothers walked to the inn. As they neared the

  inn standing three stories tall, made from the

  bark of giant birch trees. Windows made of different sheets of colored crystal. Taking the

  shapes of different flowers that populate the

  area, scenes from epic battles of the ancient

  past of Terra Drago. As the two brothers entered the tavern below the living courtiers of

  the inn. Bustling with laughter and shouts of arguments, a man feeling cheated out of a game

  of dice.

  The tavern suddenly became all too quite

  as the two brothers walked to the bar. The owner of the inn and tavern greeted the two riders.

  Cominus was startled that the appearance of

  the owner. The elf was tall as he or his brother,

  hair like starlight, eyes as silver as his brothers

  were and his skin just as pale as his brother’s

  was.

  “Ah Lord Draco go to see you once again,”

  said the innkeeper. Goblets and mugs clicked

  on the wooden tabletops. Cominus looked to

  see three riders seating at a far corner table, as

  if his brothers name struck a nerve.

  “Yes it has been same time since we last

  seen each other Orin Starchaser,” Draco said

  shaking hands with the owner. As Draco procured their rooms a lone man stood from his table. Making a beeline to the bar, as the man

  neared Cominus got a better view of the man’s

  face. There walking towards them was a Drow

  male in fine robes that any cleric could hope to

  afford. One his left side of his face was the

  crescent scar that his brother had given him in

  his fit of madness. Cominus saw the scowl on

  his face and the fear in his eyes as he looked

  upon his brother. The rider stopped five feet

  away from Draco.

  “You dare talk to my dragon,” said the

  crimson rider growling. Draco paid him no attention as he continued to converse with the

  innkeeper. Growing ever more agitated, the

  rider grabbed Draco by the arm to spin him

  around to face him. With all the Drow's

  strength, he could not move Draco one inch.

  With their conversation over the innkeeper

  handed the keys to their rooms on the third

  floor of the inn.

  Finally noticing the Drow rider Draco

  looked down to his arm then to the rider. With

  a cold stare, Draco grabbed the Drow's slender

  wrist. Cominus could hear the bones snipping under his brother’s grip. Cominus saw the pain swelling in the Drow's silvery eyes pain re

  placed by fear of his mistake.

  “You of all should know not to touch me

  for I don't know if I can control my anger,”

  Draco said under his breath. As his grip, tighten around the Drow wrist with a final crack

  Draco threw the Drow to the floor. Resting his

  injured arm against his chest cursing under his

  breath, Draco stepped over the fallen Drow

  beckoning his brother to follow. Reaching into

  the folds of his robe the Drow rider drew a

  slender dagger from his sheath. As the rider

  rolled to his side to bury the dagger into Draco's back. The innate spells that permeate the

  world of the star elves sent the Drow rider flying into the far wall. Draco turned to the fallen

  Drow a cocky smile formed on his face. Walking over to where the injured Drow lay. “Come now you should know better then

  that when we are in this village. What will your

  commander think of your actions when he

  hears of this,” whispered Draco into the fallen

  Drow's ear. Cominus wondered what his brother had whispered, but he knew that it was not

  well received. From what his brother told him

  the star elves would not look kindly on the

  transgression of their rules. Cominus wondered

  what would happen to the Drow now. Would

  the elves throw him out of the village, and report to his leaders of his attempt on his brother’s life. Though Cominus had no love for this

  Drow for what he did to his brother yet he

  could not help feel pity for the elf.

  Ascending the flight of stairs to their

  rooms on the third floor. Draco said his good

  night to his brother and entered his room.

  Standing alone in the hall Cominus wondered

  if the other two riders. That accompany the

  Drow rider would strike back for their captain's

  disgrace. Shaking the thoughts from his mind

  Comin
us entered his room. The room was almost bare with only a washbasin on a small

  wooden table, with a single bed nestled in the

  far corner of the room. Testing the mattress for

  hardness and softness Cominus nodded his approval of his commendations. Cominus could

  not wait for the wonders that waited for him. As dawn crested over the horizon Cominus

  seat on the edge of his bed watching the sunrise. He could not sleep any that night he was

  too nervous. He worried what if he broke some

  rule that governs the star elves way of life.

  What if he encountered the two riders while out

  on a stroll around this amazing village. A

  knock came upon Cominus door. Knelling at

  the threshold of the room was a young elven

  girl with a tray of tarts, muffins, and a pitcher

  of elderberry juice.

  Cominus thanked the young maid, as he

  excepted the tray. With the heel of his foot, he

  kicked the door to a close. As he finished his

  meal, another knock come. This time standing

  before him was a female elf Cominus could

  hardly tell whether she was twenty or two hundred years of age. Like all elves she was as beautiful as a blooming flower and the strength that comes with age. Wearing heavy leather apron under that a plain tunic, tan leather leggings. Smut covered her face Cominus won

  dered what was the cause of this visit.

  “Greetings young rider I am here to bring

  you before Herya our master smith,” bowed the

  elf. Cominus thought his brother would take

  him to the smith who would forge his swords. “I don't wish to be rude but I thought Lord

  Draco would show me to the weaponsmith,”

  Cominus said returning the bow.

  “None taken rider, but it is not our way for

  those who wish their blades to be made. Only

  the master and rider should know how their

  blade is made,” said the elf. As they descend

  the stairs of the inn into the tavern scanning the

  room for the two other riders, blowing a sigh of

  relief when the two were not in sight.

  “What is your name,” Cominus said as

  they exited the inn.

  “Sardra Stargazer,” said Sardra. As Cominus began to say his name, Sardra shoot her

  hand to stop him.

  “All knows of the white rider here,” said

  Sardra. As they walked, Cominus pondered

  how they knew of his name. For his brother

  never told any one that they had met. Seeing

  his confusing thought process forming on his

  face, Sardra spun around to face him. “We all

  know the name of the rider for no one in our

  world, does not notice the appearance of a rider

  in the land. For those who know how to listen to the land,” Sardra said as they travel through

  the heart of the town.

  “Can all elves do this,” Cominus asked curious.

  “I do not know we rarely leave our village.”

  “If I may ask with out seaming rude,”

  asked Cominus. With out saying a word Sardra

  nodded waiting for his question. “How do your

  people get word from the outside world if no

  one leaves your village."

  “Because we are the watchers of this world

  so we know all that goes on here in Terra

  Drago and the human world,” Sardra said matter-of-fact. Cominus was stopped in his tracks

  how could they know what happens in the human world. Before Cominus could open his

  mouth Sardra her sing song voice filled the

  morning air.

  “I can not tell you the answer to your questions when I do not have them. However if you

  wish I can send word to Erdan he can tell you

  more if you so wish,” Sardra said smiling at

  Cominus. As they entered the grove of trees

  that lined the walkway that lead to Herya’s

  forge and home.

  “Yes please,” said Cominus. “If these elves

  are the preeminent race of the elven race, they

  do not have that snobby trait that the high elves

  so love to display at every change they can get.

  These elves act more as if they were more human then any elves I have meet so far,” Cominus said to himself. Before he knew it they had reach the forge of the master smith that would craft his rider swords. Sardra bowed to Herya her master and introduced Cominus to the

  smith.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” Cominus

  said bowing in respect. Sardra turned to leave

  Cominus wondered why so was going. “It is not my place to view such an event

  when I have let to achieve my journeyman

  ship,” Sardra said sadly. Stunned Cominus

  could not believe her words he could not fathom the years it took someone to achieve this.

  Herya placed her hammer on her large anvil

  looking upon the rider in which her weapons

  would be use for either good or evil.

  “Oh my child you should achieve what you

  seek in another century or two your skill has

  improved since the last century,” Herya said

  prizing her apprentice. Bowing Sardra turned

  to leave the forge to find Erdan in his home.

  “Now young rider, Lord Draco said you wish

  to have twin scimitars as your swords am I

  right,” Herya asked skeptically. Cominus

  nodded for he could muster no words, he

  feared if he did his words would stumble off

  his tongue. Finally able to control his mind

  from spilling from his mouth in incoherent

  speech. As long as he had been in this world he

  could not help but be awe struck by the elven

  beauty.

  “My lady how would you go about making

  such a fine weapon. If I may be so bold to ask

  how long has Sardra be with you,” Cominus asked finally overcoming his shyness. Herya stared at Cominus for a few moments whether

  to grant his request or not.

  “A curious lad are you not,” Herya said

  placing her slender finger over her thin but full

  lips. Cominus wondered if she would keep her

  secrets to herself though he had no right to

  know how long Sardra had been an apprentice.

  Cominus hoped his curiosity would not get him

  or his brother into trouble. “I like that, you can

  not learn if you do not ask questions no,” said

  Herya. Cominus sighed in relief that his questions would cause no harm. “To answer your

  second question Sardra has been my apprentice

  for more then two hundred years to this day,”

  Herya said offhandedly. Cominus could not believe it two hundred years and Sardra had another century or two left before she reached her

  journeyman state.

  “Why would it take so long to learn this

  skill, were riders’ swords so difficult to make,”

  Cominus thought to himself.

  “Now for your sword it is an alloy of metals. Mithral is the core of your blades it will

  provide strength to your blades. Adamanite is

  the body of the blade, which will provide the

  blade with the flexibility you will need when

  facing another rider in battle. Rhothrium for the

  edge of the blade this will give, your blades the

  sharpness they will need to pierce the armor of

  a rider,” Herya said eyeing the man. “I wonder

  why you would choose such a
fighting technique for it is very dangerous for a rider not to have a shield,” said Herya. Cominus did not know how to answer her. When he held his twin long swords in his hands it felt has if they

  were deadly extensions of his arms.

  “All I can say is that when I had the twin

  long swords Draco had given me. It felt has if

  they were apart of me though they did not fit

  my style of fighting as I liked,” Cominus said

  thinking back to the few battles he been in.

  Nodding as Cominus continued Herya face began to lighten has he continued.

  “Good not many riders that come to me for

  their swords know which style of fighting is

  theirs. Draco did well to give you those swords

  even though they were temporary,” said Herya.

  Picking up her hammer, she headed to creates’

  filled with ore. Taking the ore to her worktable

  Herya placing them into separate piles. Cominus took note of the colors that shimmered

  from the light of the forge. Bronze, silver, rusty

  black Cominus wondered which was what.

  Cominus walked over to her worktable picking

  up one of the piece's of ore in his hand. “What is this, my lady,” asked Cominus. “You can drop the formal talk I do not

  know why they insist in this manor. We are

  friends are we not so why continue the formalities,” Herya said wagging her slender finger.

  “Now what you hold in your hands is mithral.

  That my dear rider is adamanite a magical metal rare in this world and difficult to weld together with mithral. This is why only masters

  can produce riders’ swords,” Herya said pointing to the silver ore.

  “This looks like iron in its natural state,” Cominus said tossing the ore into the air. “You would be mistaken that is rhothrium a very rare metal in this world. This is why it is only used in the making of the riders’ swords,” Herya said catching the ore.

  “Does it keep its same color when it is forged,” asked Cominus.

  “No it has pinkish rue to it when you forge it in its raw state. When you add it to adamanite, and mithral the blade would be as white as your dragon,” Herya said a smile forming on her fine face. She enjoyed the conversation they were having. No one other then the riders of Sol ever asked about the making of their swords. This one it seems was more interested in his swords more then others. She took great joy from this if he had more time here, she would show him more of her skills with the metals.

  “If the welding of the mithral, and the adamanite is so difficult how then do the metals stay in its form,” Cominus asked studying Herya works that hanged on the beams that held the roof of the forge. Cominus did not see the pride swelling in her silvery eyes.