The Dream of Shadows

by Nicholas Clausen

  I know how to say I am sorry Draek. Hayden insisted.

  Just don’t mess it up anymore then you already have. Draek almost growled in Hayden’s head. Hayden was about to argue back, but he knew that there was no point in arguing with a dragon, let alone his dragon.

  “I’m sorry,” Hayden said. He thought about adding more just to prove a point to Draek but decided against it. Cass didn’t respond with words. Instead, she looked up from the fire and stared at Hayden for a few moments. They locked eyes until she nodded and looked back at the fire.

  Hayden opened his mouth about to say something else, but Draek growled in his head. Hayden took the hint, and they sat in silence until their dragons returned. Shaylin landed first and walked towards the fire, curling around her rider and turned her head slightly until her golden eye glared at Hayden.

  Draek landed a little further off and didn’t step any closer. Hayden had to get up and walk back to where Draek waited for him. Draek laid down and maneuvered his silver wing so Hayden would have some cover from any elements.

  Did I really mess up? Hayden asked as Draek’s wing expanded over his head and blocked his view of Shaylin staring at him.

  Yes, yes you did. Draek replied.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Shadow Desert began to prove its name as they flew further into the Bone Thieves territory. The air became drier, and Hayden could feel the heat rising even as they flew. The grey land softened slightly in color, but it still seemed unnatural to Hayden.

  Do you smell that? Draek asked as the flat, barren land rolled beneath them.

  Hayden lifted his head so that the wind passed across his face but he couldn’t smell anything. I don’t smell anything Draek. Is this one of those times you are going to tell me how dragons are far superior to humans again? Hayden asked.

  Draek raised his own head slightly as they flew but only for a second. No, I don’t smell anything either. There is nothing out here. Draek’s voice didn’t sound as calm as it normally was. And dragons are superior to all races, not just humans. Draek added.

  Hayden didn’t know how to respond. He was happy that Draek wasn’t worried enough to stop making jokes, but the more he looked around, the more it appeared that they were surrounded by nothing.

  Shaylin let out a roar from behind them, causing Draek and Hayden to both turn their heads back. Cass was a small figure on the back of her golden dragon, and Hayden knew first hand just how small he must appear on the back of Draek.

  What is she saying? Hayden asked, knowing that Draek was speaking with Shaylin.

  They want to land to check the map. Cass thinks that we should have found something by now. Before Hayden responded he looked around one more time from atop his flying dragon. He checked to make sure that they hadn’t missed anything but as far as he could see it was nothing but flat grey land.

  Let’s land then. Hayden knew that Draek wasn’t waiting for his order, but Draek was looking around one last time as well. Draek pulled his wings in slightly and began to descend. Within a few moments, the two dragons had landed with a cloud of dry grey dust.

  As Hayden and Cass slid off their dragon’s backs, their own feet touched the ground and sent up small bursts of dust and sand.

  Cass went to work pulling at her saddlebags to get the map out while Hayden knelt down to touch the grey ground. The soil was dry and cracked, crumbling in his fingers and blowing away in the wind. The sun shone so brightly on them he couldn’t help but raise his hand to block his eyes.

  “I thought we should have found it by now,” Cass said, almost to herself. Hayden walked over to see what she was talking about. She was holding the map in front of her and looking around for signs that they weren’t lost.

  “What is it that we should have found?” Hayden asked, looking over her shoulder at the map.

  “This right here.” She said pointing at a series of lines drawn on the map near the edge of the Shadow Desert. “There should be a giant canyon here.” Cass looked back to the map with disappointment.

  Hayden walked over to Draek and got a waterskin out of his saddlebag, drinking to suppress the drought that was tightening his throat. Draek lowered his silver head, and Hayden carefully poured the water into his mouth. It wasn’t enough to wet his tongue, but Hayden knew that it helped.

  “So what do we do?” Hayden tightened the stopper back in his waterskin and returned it to the bag.

  “We have to keep going, Hayden. We have to find the canyon where the Metallic Riders built their post.” Cass said as she looked at the map one last time before rolling it up.

  “What’s the name of the post?” Hayden asked. Cass put the map back in her saddlebag and pulled out her own waterskin.

  “They call it the Dark Hold. It sits on top of a cliff in the center of the Dying Canyon. I am sure the Bone Thieves have different names for that particular part of the canyon, but Estraken just called it the Void.” Cass took a drink of her water and gave Shaylin a drink as well.

  “So which way do we go?” Hayden asked. Cass didn’t hesitate with her answer.

  “We have to keep going the same direction we were heading. We have to follow the way the sun rises, and we should hit the middle of the Void. Once there we follow it North until we find the Dark Hold.” Hayden was about to ask Cass another question, but he couldn’t think of another one.

  He was happy just to have her speaking to him again that he didn’t want it to end just yet. Cass didn’t share his feelings as she climbed back onto Shaylin without another word to Hayden.

  Hayden waited for Draek to lower his shoulder so he could climb up and get back into the saddle. Cass and Shaylin did not wait for him but instead took to the sky with a giant cloud of grey.

  I think she is still mad. Hayden thought as they waited for the dust to settle before trying to take off.

  I would have to say you are right. Draek agreed. Hayden closed his eyes as Draek jumped into the air with a giant leap and opened his massive silver wings.

  Do you think that she will ever stop being mad at me? Hayden asked. He held on as Draek fought to get into the air and find the currents in the wind.

  I am sure she will. We can’t live forever. Draek roared as he leveled out in the air and flew over to Shaylin.

  Thank you Draek. Hayden responded. Draek had led most of the flight to get them this far into the Shadow Desert, so it was Shaylin’s turn to take the lead.

  Together the two dragons continued across the grey land as the sun rose higher above them and finally began to drop behind them. Casting their elongated dark shadows in front of them as if they were chasing shadow giants.

  Hayden heard Shaylin roar and watched as the golden dragon pushed her wings a little harder. Draek increased his speed as well to keep up, and it didn’t take long for him to see why she was excited.

  I see the edge of the Dying Canyon. Draek said. His exhaustion slightly masked his excitement. They continued to fly for what seemed like an hour before they landed on a cliff overlooking the fissure that carved itself into the land before them.

  The canyon was a nasty, jagged black scar on the land. It looked like an open wound that was carved by a god. The opening was wide enough for a dragon to fly through without its wings touching the sides.

  Hayden leaned over in his saddle to get a better look and saw a small stream all the way down at the bottom of the Dying Canyon. It was hard to make out any details due to the darkness cast from the cliff side. Parts of the canyon were completely blacked out.

  “We are going to follow this, for how long?” Hayden asked Cass with a shout.

  “I am not sure, according to the map we should have found this leagues ago. We could reach the Dark hold before nightfall or at least the next day.” Cass was smiling as she spoke.

  It wasn’t the answer that either of them wanted to hear, but at least they had found the Dying Canyon, and soon they would follow it to the section called the Void. They weren’t lost, there was still hope.

&
nbsp; Can we fly down to the water at the bottom before we keep going? Draek asked. Hayden couldn’t refuse his dragon after all the hard work they had done.

  “Of course, my friend,” Hayden said aloud. “Cass, Draek would like to get a drink of water before we continue.” Cass did as Hayden had done and leaned over in her saddle to look at the bottom of the canyon.

  “I think that’s a good idea. I am thirsty, and I can only imagine how the dragons are feeling.” Cass said. Draek walked over to the edge of the cliff and simply walked off. He held his wings open and began to glide down the cavern.

  Hayden watched the cliff sides grow around them like castle walls. He noticed the temperature drop as they lowered themselves further into the darkness until they reached the bottom. It looked like night was upon them when Draek landed.

  Hayden wanted to get out of the saddle and look around, but he knew that it wasn’t a smart idea. Draek carefully made his way to the water as Shaylin landed behind him. His head jerked around from side to side with every sound of a falling rock. The air felt heavy at the bottom of the canyon, and the wind was nonexistent.

  I think we should hurry Draek. Hayden wasn’t scared, but something wasn’t sitting right with him. He felt like they were being watched and he didn’t like being on the ground if they needed to fight. Dragons were death dealers in the sky, but they could be vulnerable on the ground. A lucky spearman could ruin a dragon’s wing by himself.

  I agree. Draek raised his head and looked around as Shaylin lowered her head to get a drink. The water was dark and shallow, no more than two feet deep. When Shaylin was finished, she raised her head, and it was Draek’s turn to drink.

  Draek was larger than Shaylin, so he had to tilt his head slightly to drink.

  My eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness yet. It looks like the walls are swirling. Hayden said as he watched the darkness move like the waves on the sea.

  Draek stopped drinking and looked where Hayden was looking.

  My eyes are better than yours. Draek said.

  I know because dragons are so much better than humans. Hayden interrupted.

  No, my eyes are better than yours, and I see it too. Draek raised his head even more and let out a roar. Shaylin looked over to where Draek was facing.

  The swirling stopped, and the darkness was still until the darkness roared back. Hayden grabbed onto to his saddle as Draek took off running down the shallow creek, spraying water everywhere.

  He opened his wings and with a jut of fire pointed at the cavern walls he leaped into the air with Shaylin right behind him. Shaylin let out a stream of her own fire to where Draek was aiming.

  As soon as they were in the air, Hayden palmed through the saddlebags until he had his new bow and arrows in his hands. He quickly strung his bow and slid the quiver of arrows through one of the saddle straps. The Frost Fangs had replaced his broken bow and arrows with one of their own.

  He notched an arrow and watched as clumps of darkness jumped from one side of the cavern walls to the other. The moving darkness seemed to be all around them as Draek tried to fly out of the cavern.

  Hayden sent a series of arrows at the darkness, but there was no way to tell if he hit anything or what he was even aiming at. Nothing fell to the cavern floor nor did anything scream in pain.

  Draek, get us out of here. Hayden pleaded as he pulled his bowstring back and tried to time his next shot into the darkness. The clump of darkness jumped off the wall thirty feet to the left of where he thought it should be. He tried to move his aim, but as he fired the arrow disappeared without a trace just like all the others he shot.

  I can’t. Every time I try to fly higher these things keep jumping around above me. Draek was frustrated more than scared which was more than Hayden could say. Shaylin did her best to blast fire at the darkness, but it seemed to shake off the fire with a shroud of grey sand.

  What are they? Hayden asked. His right hand shot to his quiver without his mind having to tell it to do so. His hand hit the side of the quiver as Draek dropped to avoid colliding with the moving darkness. The quiver broke free and fell from sight to the bottom of the Dying Canyon.

  Hayden didn’t know if any of his arrows had helped, but at least he had been able to try. Now he felt useless as he sat in the saddle watching everything around them.

  I don’t know. Draek roared, echoing his frustration off the cavern walls.

  Draek turned sideways as they made a hard bank turn to the right to avoid crashing. The Dying Canyon jutted around and was hardly ever straight.

  The darkness seemed to grow around them as they tried to escape. The harder they fought to get away, the more the darkness was around them.

  They made another steep turn but this time the Dying Canyon was in the path of the sun, and Hayden caught a glimpse of the moving darkness.

  Their bats. Hayden exclaimed. He had just been able to see what looked like a dark bat wing touch the light.

  There aren’t giant bats out here. Draek slowed his desperate flying down as he spoke. Only black dragons.

  The next second all the moving darkness stopped. The only sound and movement were that of Draek and Shaylin flying, but now they were at a slower, almost relaxed pace.

  Hayden turned around in the saddle to see how Shaylin and Cass had handled the flight but what caught his attention lay behind them.

  Back on the cavern walls were scores of glowing red eyes. It was the only thing in the darkness he could see.

  I think you’re right. Hayden agreed. He turned back around in time to see the cavern open up to one giant crater with a single tower jutting out of the center that was taller than the sides of the cliff.

  The Dark Hold? Hayden asked, knowing the answer.

  We have made it to the Void. Draek replied.

  Chapter Nineteen

  What do we do? Hayden asked as they entered the giant crater. Hayden watched the moving darkness that was the black dragons move around the Dark Hold.

  I don’t know. Shaylin is about to ask the dragons what they want from us. They hadn’t been expecting to find any dragons until they had gotten closer to the Dark Hold.

  I think we should land and try to talk to the Bone Thieves. We need them on our side if we are going to take the hold. By now, Hayden expected that word of their rebellion and war would have reached out across the land of Arvain. The Bone Thieves hopefully knew what was going on and Hayden was sure that if they did, then they would want to join them.

  Shaylin is saying we should land, but she doesn’t want you out of the saddle. Draek began to lower himself to the base of the crater with Shaylin already beneath him and about to land. Together the two dragons stood side by side putting Cass and Hayden close enough to talk.

  “What’s the plan?” Hayden asked. Cass rummaged through her saddlebags and pulled out her golden eagle helmet and quickly placed it on her head. Hayden followed her lead as the first black dragon climbed down the side of the Dark Hold all the way to the bottom of the Void.

  The dragon looked to be half bat, having no front limbs but instead claws on the thick outer bone of the wings. As the dragon made it to level ground, Hayden was blown away by how different the black dragon before them looked compared to the one that had died and been repainted back at Celestial City.

  The dragon was several different shades of black and grey, and it was so thin that Hayden could make out the bones underneath the dull scales. Hayden couldn’t even see where the dragon’s eyes were on its head. Hayden called it a head, but it looked more like a skull.

  With every step the dragon took, grey sand fell from its hide as if it had just climbed out of the ground. It sounded like old parchment paper and brittle twigs cracking as it walked towards them, using its winged limbs to propel itself forward just like a giant bat.

  Just as terrifying as the dragon, its rider was every bit as impressive as it’s dragon. The rider, Hayden was unable to tell if it was human, male, or female, was clad in loose-fitting sheets of grey cloth.
The Bone Thief was covered from head to toe in this cloth, but it was all held to the rider by bones.

  A shattered skull had been resewn to cover the riders face and head like a helmet. Ribs were tied together to make a breastplate and bones Hayden didn’t recognize covered its arms and legs. Making an entire suit of armor out of bones.

  “Bone Thieves, I understand the name now,” Hayden said aloud.

  “I agree,” Cass said a little in awe of what they were seeing.

  With the sounds of cracking knuckles, the Bone Thief climbed off the back of the black dragon and walked slowly to where Cass and Hayden were. The Bone Thief stopped halfway between them and waited.

  “He wants us to get off our saddles,” Hayden said.

  “How do you know he is a he?” Cass asked. She did not move from her saddle but watched the Bone Thief to see if it did anything else.

  Hayden did not respond; he was just guessing that it was a him. Together they waited for a few moments, but the Bone Thief didn’t move again.

  “Well, we can’t wait here forever,” Hayden said. Draek lowered his shoulder while Hayden undid the traps to the saddle.

  “Hayden wait.” Cass urged.

  “We have been waiting, and nothing is happening. We are running out of time Cass.” Hayden slid the rest of the way down from Draek.

  The Bone Thief did not respond to Hayden getting out of the saddle, but Hayden hadn’t expected it to. Hayden began walking towards the Bone Thief while looking into the dark eye sockets of the skeleton helmet. As he neared the Bone Thief, he realized he had forgotten his sword, or any weapon, back with Draek.

  “Hello,” Hayden said, unsure of how to start the conversation.

  “Is the golden rider not joining us?” The Bone Thief asked. Hayden was shocked by the Bone Thieves’ voice. Hayden was unable to discern if the voice was that of a male of a female.

  “I…. Um… Yes, she is.” Hayden said. The Bone Thief still didn’t move even as it spoke.