by Corin, G.
Amar shrugged. “It was a little, there are other more established heroes that might have been a better choice, however Stripe was the closest”
He looked at Ramaeka thoughtfully, “There is far more to him than meets the eye, like you.”
“As for why I brought you here,” he blushed. “I made a mistake, one that I believe I will pay for many times over before the end”
Ramaeka scratched his head thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with the covenant that you entered with the humans? I heard something about it at the Conclave not so long ago.”
“I wasn’t aware that young dragons were allowed into the Conclave,” Amar said in amusement. “But yes, the human leaders came to me with the idea. A binding covenant in which I would not interfere with humans unless it was an extreme situation and even then that situation is to be judged by human leaders.”
“Why would you honestly enter something like that?” Ramaeka asked rolling his eyes. “You made everything!”
“Yes I know,” Amar or Rama sighed and leaned back. “Believe it or not, I am but a child in my people’s terms. They made it sound glorious, I was tired and I thought a lessening of responsibility would be wonderful. I thought it would be good to let them grow and learn for themselves. I was not expecting them to be so destructive.”
“Someone once told me that being sentient means being able to think things through and create, but it also comes with the ability to be destructive. I guess you can’t really blame them since you made them that way,” said Ramaeka wisely.
“It is a little more complicated than that, but I do not have time to explain the history of existence and the creation of the delicate balance between good and evil to you.”
Ramaeka looked at his friend sheepishly, Rama looked rather miffed.
“Sorry,” he said.
Rama frowned, and then sighed. “I should be the one apologising.”
Ramaeka shrugged. “It’s weird to think of you as a child, but good too. So why do you need me and why did you bring me to Stripe then?”
He couldn’t help but notice that Rama looked rather abashed.
“Well,” he started. “The covenant means that I cannot interfere with humans, however I still have access to the draconian race. My first born people.”
Ramaeka raised an eyebrow curiously.
“This Warlord is gathering power like nothing I have known before, if he is not stopped, he will take over all of my worlds and there is nothing I can do about it. At least until he attacks Amaria, which, as you are probably aware, is completely sealed off and hidden to humans.”
He paused for a moment, looking Ramaeka right in the eye. “However if a dragon were to involve themselves in the war, it would be my duty to help him and protect him. There’s a clause in the Covenant that allows me to fight anything that threatens my first born people. I know it is a lot to ask, wanting you to get involved with this human war, but I need your help.”
“Alright”
“That is it? You are just going to go into war with me, no questions asked?” Rama stared at him in surprise.
Ramaeka grinned and grabbed a bit of fruit. “Don’t be daft, I just asked a heap of questions which you answered. Anyway you’re my friend, my only friend. So if that’s what you want to do then I'm all for it. It’s not like I have a lot of options open to me right now anyway.”
Rama smiled back shyly. “If it makes you feel any better, you are my only friend too.”
“What happened to all your people?” Ramaeka asked curiously.
“As I said, it is a long tale. To put it very shortly and inadequately, they all perished and returned to the Great Mother in the war against the Shadow. They used the last of their powers to create me, the last of the first.”
“That’s sad,” said Ramaeka, “But I’m glad they made you.”
The two of them sat in pensive silence, watching the crackling fire. Ramaeka wondered what Stripe was doing, and how much his friend now hated him. Maybe if I fight well in the war he will forgive me he thought sadly.
He turned to Rama.
“So why Stripe? Why did you lead me to him?”
“He is very important to me too. I was hoping that he would be able to overcome his dislike of dragons when he became friends with you.”
“Well that didn’t work,” Ramaeka muttered.
Rama smiled, “Do not give up on him just yet, he has a good heart.”
Ramaeka shrugged “So why is he so important to you?” He asked.
“I mean, he’s getting better at fighting but he’s not the greatest yet.”
“Did you ever hear the rumours about the four humans I created?”
Ramaeka’s eyes widened in surprise and interest. “I did, just briefly. They’re supposed to have the power to change people into a new powerful race.”
“That is correct, just humans though, not your people,” he smiled at the expression on Ramaeka’s face. “You are stuck the way you are for now I am afraid.”
“Great,” he muttered.
“Stripe is one of the four, though it will be a few years before he gains his full power. He and his three brothers were placed in separate worlds so that there would be less conflict. So you can see why he is important to me, he is a part of the future.”
Ramaeka sat still for a moment processing all that he had been told. It made sense that Stripe would be the future leader of a new people. He had a sudden glorious vision of what the future for humans could be like. And Ramaeka was filled with determination to help Stripe get there.
“Right, let’s set out tomorrow for the city,” he said firmly.
“And for war,” Rama added softly.
“Yes,” Ramaeka nodded, “And for that too.”
Chapter Ten
They set out early in the morning both filled with determination.
“It should take us around four days at a brisk pace to reach the city, if we take the shortcut and if we only take a few rest stops,” Rama determined, he had already decided that it was too risky for them to fly over though Ramaeka had assured him that he would be able to carry him, probably.
“Does Stripe know about the shortcut too?” Ramaeka asked. “I thought it would be further since we were heading away from the battle.”
“Yes, I explained the route to him just in case we were separated. We weren’t exactly going away from the battle, more parallel to it. If we head north from here we will join with the General’s shortcut in a day and a half.”
Ramaeka nodded and set out at a trot.
The first few days passed quickly, they stopped only briefly throughout the day for Ramaeka’s sake. They started before dawn and ran well into the evening, eating their food cold and sleeping within Rama’s barrier of magic.
As they sat eating a quick breakfast before dawn on the fourth day, Ramaeka suddenly remembered a question he had been meaning to ask.
“Hey Rama, since you’re, you know, Rama, can you see ahead and see what’s happening?” Rama raised an eyebrow. “See ahead?”
“Yeah, can you see the future? Or even what’s happening now?”
Rama looked thoughtful. “Very few beings have the ability to see ahead in time. There are so many limitless possibilities each triggered by the tiniest decision, it would drive most insane attempting to sort it into anything reasonably useful. However when I am at home on my lookout I can see what is happening currently. Down here it is almost impossible.”
“Because of all your power being tied up?” Ramaeka said curiously.
Rama sighed and made a face. “That and the covenant, I have been very foolish by the One Mother.”
Ramaeka frowned. “Who's the One Mother?” he asked.
“A story for another day,” Rama replied firmly, as he rose and grabbed his pack. Ramaeka sighed and followed suit.
“Oh, and Ramaeka, please call me Amar.”
Ramaeka rolled his eyes at the back of ‘Amar’s’ head as they set off again. At least
they only had one more day of running and they would finally be there. He desperately hoped that Stripe and the others were still alive. He was suddenly wrenched from his thoughts by the most intense pain he had felt so far. It ripped up through his ribs forcing him to drop to his knees and gasp for breath.
Amar turned then stopped in surprise. He ran back to Ramaeka and dropped down beside him.
“Are you alright?” he asked in concern, sliding his hands over Ramaeka’s ribs. Ramaeka gasped in relief as the pain began to fade.
“I’m okay,” he managed slowly getting his breath under control.
“What happened?” Amar asked giving Ramaeka a stern look.
“I’ve been getting these random pains for the last couple of weeks,” Ramaeka admitted. “They seem to be getting worse.”
Amar’s hands glowed softly as he checked Ramaeka over. “How often do they occur?”
“Not that often to begin with, maybe every couple of days, but now it’s several times a day.”
“Hmmmm, interesting,” Amar leaned back slowly.
“I’m not dying am I?” Ramaeka asked nervously.
Amar smiled.
“No you are not dying I promise, however...”
“There you are,” interrupted a deep voice. “I've been looking for you everywhere.”
The two of them sprang up, looking for the source of the voice. Slowly a figure materialised in front of them, out of what seemed like thin air.
Ramaeka felt Amar relax beside him, his friend placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Hello Thowra,” he said with a smile.
The figure bowed to Amar and gave Ramaeka a cheeky grin.
“Ramaeka, this is Thowra the element of the wind,” Amar calmly introduced them.
Thowra, who was now mostly solid, was tall and lean with wild white hair, bright blue eyes and an impish grin. Ramaeka couldn’t help but grin back at this strange being. So this was an Element. Thowra certainly looked like the embodiment of the wind; his hair whirled and waved as breezes caressed him, begging for his attention.
“You were looking for me?” Amar queried.
“Fate asked me to find you, she’s not far away and she wants to see you before you go off to play war, and your friend too.”
Ramaeka looked at Amar inquiringly. If they hesitated now they would lose precious time, but if an element like Fate wanted to see them it was probably better to go.
Amar was unconsciously biting his lip, staring past Thowra and down the path.
“I was not aware that you were acting as her messenger,” he said.
Thowra looked vaguely embarrassed. “I owed her a debt,” he admitted.
“Very well,” Amar said eyeing Thowra thoughtfully. “Though I am uncomfortable with the delay, I wish to be at the city when the battle begins.”
“It already has,” Thowra said calmly floating around in a bored manner. Amar stiffened in surprise as Ramaeka stared at Thowra in horror, they were too late.
“But the Warlord’s armies have not breached the city yet, nor will they for many hours,” Thowra reassured them sending a puff of air to ruffle their hair reassuringly.
Amar bowed his head. “Lead on then my friend.”
Thowra didn’t really walk, Ramaeka couldn’t help but notice, worried though he was, instead he seemed to float, drifting along one moment then spinning past the next. He wondered if he had enough courage to poke the element and see if he was substantial.
After an hour or so of walking or drifting, they reached a pretty little clearing in which sat a young girl.
“This is where I leave you my friends,” Thowra said cheerfully. “I have a storm to whip into shape not far from here.”
“Thank you Thowra,” Amar murmured.
Ramaeka reached out and touched the element as he drifted past. Thowra looked down at him in surprise and amusement.
“Ha you are solid,” Ramaeka exclaimed with a grin.
Thowra laughed. “See you around dragon boy.” With that he seemed to fade into the wind again and vanished, though his laughter still echoed around them.
With a quick wave, Ramaeka followed Amar into the clearing. The young girl looked up at them with a warm smile.
“Hello Amar, hello Ramaeka.”
“You know me?” Ramaeka said in surprise. “Are you really Fate? But you’re only the same age as me!”
Amar sighed while the girl laughed.
“I do know you Ramaeka, though you don’t know me yet. Yes I am Fate and I am your age, though my essence is older.” She looked up at Amar.
“I am sorry to call you away when you are so close to your goal, but there is some advice I need to give you.”
“I knew it would be important,” Amar said watching her intently.
Ramaeka beamed as they sat down across from her. Set in front of them was a huge meal obviously meant for several people.
Ramaeka drooled over the sight of it, unable to pay attention to the other two while so much delicious food tempted his sight and sense of smell. There were birds baked in spices, hot pies filled with meat and gravy, steaming vegetables and crisp fruit. Best of all Ramaeka could smell the tantalizing scent of apple, cinnamon and sweet pastry that surely must be apple pie. Suddenly he realised that Amar was talking to him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand and trying to look at them rather than at the food.
“Now that we have at least part of your attention,” Amar said sternly, though Ramaeka could see purple glinting in his eyes which meant that he was amused.
“Ramaeka, this is Zanir.”
Ramaeka smiled sheepishly at her as Zanir giggled.
“Let us remove this temptation before we speak of serious things,” she said pretending to be solemn. “Please join me in this meal.”
She indicated the food set in front of her. She raised her hand as Amar started to protest.
“You will need strength for the battle. It will be a while before you eat again, and dragons especially need the sustenance.”
Amar acquiesced with a nod to Ramaeka’s relief and they settled down to eat.
“Eat up Ramaeka, I made plenty because I knew you would be here,” Fate grinned at him, pushing her black hair behind her ears.
Ramaeka grinned self-consciously, adding more food to his plate.
“Dragon’s are meant to eat large amounts; it is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Ramaeka attended the food with fervent admiration. Even Amar applied himself diligently though Ramaeka was unsure whether that was because of hunger or the need to remove temptation from under Ramaeka’s nose. Finally not even Ramaeka could fit in one more bite and he turned to his host with a regretful sigh.
She looked at them seriously.
“Are you ready to know what I have seen for you?” she asked, her sombre demeanour a strange contrast to her youthful appearance. Ramaeka swallowed hard at the sudden weight of magic that cloaked the clearing. He and Amar both nodded.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and held her hands out flat in front of them palms up. Slowly she released her breath, white mist streaming from between her lips to settle over her palms. Staring at it in awe, Ramaeka leant closer as he noticed an image forming in the mist. Squinting he saw the shape of a large knife, no sword he quickly corrected himself. The sword glowed within a cloak of darkness, unable to penetrate its gloom, yet unrelenting in its light. As he watched, a figure of vivid light strode through the darkness, wresting the sword from its grasp. The darkness withdrew before the light of both figure and sword, leaving them burning in triumph. Instincts clamouring he noticed that the figure of light was marred by a single streak of darkness, but before he could get a closer look the darkness returned a sword of cruel burning red in its grasp. Darkness and light swirled together in a fluid mesh of battle before the image completely faded and another formed. In this one two small figures of gold appeared, one blazed with power while the other took the form of a small
dragon.
“That’s us,” he gasped.
The two of them walked into what appeared to be a camp cloaked in darkness. They disappeared from view only to burst back through the gloom carrying, Ramaeka noticed, the sword of light. As the image began to fade, the golden Ramaeka and Amar fled towards a distant city, sword in hand.
Zanir leaned back coughing. Amar quickly filled a cup with water and offered it to her. She took it with a grateful smile and drained it in one smooth motion. Ramaeka’s eyes began to water and he realised he had forgotten to blink.
“What was that?” he asked blinking rapidly.
“It is what you must achieve if you wish to win this battle and give your friends a chance to win the brewing war,” Zanir told him. “You must take the sword that Gasha holds and return it to its rightful master.”
“And that is?” Amar asked with a frown.
“Stripe,” Ramaeka interrupted abruptly realising what his instincts were trying to tell him. “The figure of light had a streak of darkness; it reminded me of Stripe’s hair.” He paused. “Also I remember he once said that the sword called to him when he was young.”
Zanir acquiesced to this with a nod.
“Impossible,” Amar growled. “This is not why I created him.”
Zanir looked at him passively. “You gave free will to all your creations,” she told him. “Now you must suffer the consequences of that choice because you cannot take it back without unravelling all of your work. His fate is beyond your control now.” She looked at the ground.
“Taking the sword is only one of the many possible courses you could take, however the consequences of most of the others would be...,” she shuddered. “Horrific.”
Amar bowed his head as Ramaeka watched him anxiously. Finally he stood up.
“Thank you,” he said smoothly. “For both the advice and the meal.”
“You are most welcome my lord,” she said warmly. “Good luck to both of you.”
“Thanks Zanir,” Ramaeka said coming to his feet and bowing politely.
“You are quite welcome Ramaeka,” she replied with a smile. “Farewell until we meet again.”
