The Necromancer's Dragon

by C D Muller

  “Quickly! Both you and Rahim get on Thor now! I will follow you,” Silver ordered.

  There was no time to argue or question Silver; she mounted her dragon but looked around to find Rahim.

  We need to leave now!

  I know but I can’t find Rahim anywhere!

  She called out his name, and heard his grumbling as he stumbled outside with their provisions and other bags.

  “I didn’t ask for any of this fighting, or any of this fugitive stuff, or magic!”

  “Rahim! Get on!”

  She reached out her hand and helped him up on the saddle.

  “Make him fly! Go! Soar!” Rahim yelled.

  “Let’s go, Thor,” Selena commanded out loud with the snap of the reins.

  His back leg muscles tightened and, with the stretch of his wings, he took off to the sky. Rahim screamed as they flew higher and held onto Selena’s waist.

  “Get them now! Don’t let them escape!” their leader yelled.

  As the other three attempted to get into position to try to cast magic, Silver took his stance and dug his hands into the ground. The earth rumbled and liquefied beneath his opponents and, with one swift movement of Silver’s hands, they were swallowed into the swirling sand.

  The leader contorted his arms and hands to take a stance like that of a puppet master and summoned a black hole that was illuminated with a purple glow in the air. Hands made of shadow emerged and stretched out to try to reach Thor.

  “We kind of have a problem back here!” Rahim shouted and pointed down.

  We need evasive action!

  Thor roared as he swerved out of the way of one of the shadow hands, but could not avoid the second as it wrapped itself around his hind talon.

  Silver quickly moved to their leader and grabbed his hand. A circle of light appeared under his palm and both the portal and shadow hands disappeared in smoke.

  “Thank you, all powerful Silver,” Rahim called out.

  Selena looked back with regret as they left Silver and the leader behind. The two were locked in an awkward down stare before the last enemy vanished in smoke.

  “What just happened?” Selena asked as her, Rahim, and Thor flew away from the Grand Exchange.

  Night turned into day. The sun took the place of the crescent moon and the stars disappeared from the heavens. The sky was filled with the bright, vivacious morning colors of the sun. Some clouds sailed above them, free and without care. Selena welcomed the early morning. The cold night was almost unbearable while flying.

  Rahim, Selena, and Thor were greeted by the White Plains. Silver, however, was nowhere to be seen.

  The beautiful, green lands stretched for miles all around. Off in the distance was the Raging River that weaved in and out through the Hinterlands, running its full course to the south to rendezvous with the Turquoise Ocean.

  Eventually, the sun moved to the center of the sky, indicating it was noon, and Selena knew that Thor was growing weary, despite his objections.

  Find some hills and we’ll rest there.

  If we keep taking breaks like this, we may never reach Alfheim in time. I could carry you two all the way there without having a problem!

  But we have to let Silver catch up! And you just learned how to fly. I know you have better judgment over your own stamina but I don’t want you to push yourself. You’re carrying more weight than you’re used to!

  He snorted in reply and flew towards where Selena was pointing in the distance. She sensed that he knew she was right, but did not want to admit it.

  He landed right by one of the hills and folded in his wings.

  Selena and Rahim climbed off the saddle and tried to walk around.

  “It feels good to stretch out,” Rahim said.

  Selena did not respond; instead she looked back where they flew from.

  “Do you think he’ll be okay?” she asked.

  “You’re still seriously worried about him? He’ll be fine! Did you see how he stood his ground against them? And I mean that literally,” Rahim laughed.

  “This isn’t a joke, Rahim. He saved our lives and we just left him behind like that,” Selena said.

  “He said to leave him behind,” Rahim said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “I guess you’re right. Is there any water?” Selena asked.

  Rahim took his canteen from around his neck and offered it to her. Selena took it and began gulping the water down. She then poured some water into her hand to allow Thor to drink.

  “There he is, see?” Rahim pointed to the top of the hill.

  Silver was casually strolling while reading a book, making his way towards their camp.

  Rahim looked at him with an angry glare.

  “Why do you look so smug?”

  Silver ignored him and instead walked to where Selena stood.

  “It is such a marvelous day for a stroll,” he said as he smiled at her.

  Selena chuckled a little before turning to Rahim.

  “Well, he did just save us,” she replied.

  “Umm, Selena, or, Andric! Would you care to know how I was able to keep up?” Silver asked as he ran over to the two.

  “Oh please,” Rahim said as he stood up, “no one cares.”

  “Well, I figured that at least Selena would like to know how a simple human was able to keep up with a dragon, with you being the latter half!”

  Rahim looked confused and Selena interjected.

  “He just called you a dragon’s ass,” she said while trying not to laugh.

  “What? You white bastard!” Rahim said through gritted teeth.

  “Please, enough!” Selena pleaded, “why can't we get along?”

  Thor walked over and nuzzled her shoulder as the two ignored her pleas and continued at it.

  I don’t know what to do. Rahim keeps acting…protective and defensive.

  He doesn’t want to lose you like how he lost his mother. You’re all that he has left, besides his Uncle Rowan.

  You’re right. We’re all that he has.

  Rahim made a fist and launched it at Silver’s face, but Silver quickly reached up and grabbed it before Rahim hit him.

  “Silver, Rahim!”

  Both Rahim and Silver stopped.

  “He started it!” they both exclaimed, pointing at the other.

  Selena shook her head.

  “Rahim, this way please.”

  She motioned for him to follow, but stopped Silver when he tried to come over.

  “But...” he began.

  “I’m sorry. I need to talk to him,” Selena said and turned around to converse with Rahim, leaving a pained look on Silver’s face.

  “I know,” Rahim began, “stop fighting; but Selena…”

  She held up her hand to interrupt him.

  “His intentions are good,” she said, “you may not trust him, but I do. I feel there’s something familiar about him. I know I’ve met him before, but I’m not sure as to the reason why.”

  Rahim blinked a few times.

  “Are you getting your memory back?”

  Selena shrugged.

  “Perhaps. In any case, he is trying to help us.”

  “But…” Rahim started.

  Selena shook her head again.

  “Please, he’s not going to hurt us. Trust me.”

  She smiled. Silence lingered between the two. Rahim took a deep breath and nodded.

  “I’m sorry. I just…I don’t want to lose you too. When…I found out about mum… I don’t want to lose my family. You may not be blood, but you’re still the only family that I have left,”

  Rahim smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  Silver made a painful noise and attempted to move towards them with his hand stretched out. When Selena looked over at him, Silver lost his balance and fell down.

  “Are you all right?” she asked him, running over to see if she could help him.

  “Yes, I’m okay! I’m just eating the dirt!”

  Silver trie
d to stand up properly, rubbing the earth from his face. Selena ran over and helped him up. Silver held a smile on his face as she grabbed his arms.

  “Thank you, my dear,” Silver stood up and dusted his robes off.

  “We’re staying here for now. Selena, you get us some firewood. Thor can get us some dinner, and I’ll check our map to see where we go from here.”

  “It’s Andric now,” Selena whispered.

  “Oh, right. Sorry. Andric, get us some firewood please. I keep forgetting,” Rahim said as he rubbed the back of his head.

  “Then where does that leave me?” Silver asked with an angry look.

  Rahim glared at him and was about to speak, but Selena cut him off. He sighed and waved his hand before walking off.

  Silver and Selena exchanged glances with one another.

  “I might as well go and get firewood.”

  Thor followed her as she made her way past the hills, scouting the landscape.

  Well, looks like we made some progress, Selena said to him, trying to sound optimistic. However, Thor shook his head.

  You need to give Rahim some time, he said, he’s hurting emotionally. The best thing that you can do is to help him through it.

  Selena bent over and picked up a medium-sized stick.

  I know. I just don’t know how to help Rahim.

  Be there for him. He means well.

  Selena and Thor made it back to their campfire, carrying the wood that they’d gathered.

  Rahim was looking over the map, pointing to various locations that he assumed that they’d traveled.

  “How far is Alfheim from here?” Selena asked Rahim.

  She occasionally glanced over at Silver, who was randomly shooting fireballs in the other direction with his hands. His easy use of magic made her feel slightly envious, for she wished to learn as well. She wanted to ask if he could teach her right then and there. He made her an offer the night before; how could she refuse?

  Rahim pointed where the map said, The White Plains.

  “We’re here,” he said. He slid his finger across the surface until he pointed at the word Alfheim written in bold letters, “and there’s Alfheim. It should be about two days from here. We’ll still be able to get you there in time to report for duty.”

  Selena nodded and leaned against her dragon. Rahim folded the map back up and stuffed it away.

  When her stomach began to ache with hunger, she looked up at her dragon. His eyes were a light shade of red and she understood at once that he was hungry. She began to learn that when the color of his eyes changed, it indicated what sort of mood Thor was in.

  “I still made sure we had our supplies before we left,” Rahim mumbled.

  “Thank you for getting our stuff,” Selena said with a nod and smile.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m the bag man,” Rahim snorted.

  He glanced over at Silver and gave a loud huff, but did not speak.

  “I don’t need your food,” Silver said in an arrogant manner, addressing this mainly to Rahim, “I can get it myself.”

  Rahim gritted his teeth, but Selena placed her hand on his shoulder to help calm him down.

  “Remember what I said,” she whispered in his ear, “I want us to work together if we are to get to Alfheim. I want to be there for you.”

  He shrugged her hand away and stomped off in the other direction and sat on the ground.

  It hurt her to see Rahim act this way. She knew he was hurting, and it bothered her to see him behave as though he did not care for her support. However, she held it in and took a deep breath to calm herself down. When he was ready, she would be waiting for him.

  Selena walked to her dragon and began to stroke his nose.

  Do you have enough strength to hunt?

  I think so. They’re hard to catch.

  He had looked over the hill and saw a herd of deer grazing nearby. Selena nodded in agreement.

  I know, but you’re a brilliant hunter. If only we had enough for you as well.

  I don’t expect you to keep feeding me when I am more than capable of doing it myself.

  He walked towards the herd of deer and flew silently in the air. As his shadow was above them, they scattered.

  “Come on, Thor!” Selena tried to cheer him on. Thor grumbled. A small doe was falling behind the herd. He opened up his talons and was about to catch her. The doe ducked, but the dragon used his tail and knocked it over on its side, where it lay helpless. Thor quickly came down and snapped its neck.

  Thor flew down with his kill and began feasting on it with delight.

  Rahim forced himself to get on his feet.

  “I’ll get the fire ready,” he announced.

  When he went over to put the firewood into a pile, Silver quickly turned and waved his hands. The pieces of wood gathered themselves in the air and dropped right in front of Rahim into a neat pile. Silver then lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. The wood pile was set ablaze.

  “Thanks,” Rahim muttered.

  They sat and ate their meals in silence later that afternoon.

  Silver appeared to be deep in thought, as the others were eating, with his nose stuck in his book. Selena was intrigued as to what he could be reading about. Silver reached out his other hand and summoned what appeared to be a metal cube that would break apart and repair itself again. A dark aura emanated from the object as it floated above his palm.

  The sun began to set over the horizon, painting the sky in its rays. The clouds hung oppressively low to the ground. The wind became increasingly cold and bitter.

  Thor sat down beside the campfire with his wing stretched over Selena as if to protect her. She noticed that Silver seemed slightly uneasy, but he did not speak against it.

  Rahim pulled out a blanket from his sack and laid it on the ground, but stopped when he heard Silver chuckle slightly. He glared at him from the corner of his eye as Silver approached Selena.

  He re-adjusted his glasses.

  “My dear,” Silver began, “may I have a word with you?”

  Selena’s legs suddenly felt weak again as she walked over to him. He held out his hand for her to take and began to lead her away from the campfire.

  Instead of words, he looked up at the sky as the stars began to light above their heads. Their light was scattered across the beautiful dark void.

  “You seem to be very interested in my magic,” he whispered, not tearing his gaze from the stars.

  Selena blinked a few times and looked down.

  “I…I am a bit envious.”

  Silver looked at her with a soft expression.

  “You shouldn’t be jealous of me,” he whispered to her, “I've had a lot of time to practice, and I'm willing to show you what I know.”

  Selena was feeling excited and anxious to begin.

  “Of course! I would love to – er, I mean, yes, Teacher.”

  Silver smiled and readjusted his glasses.

  “Then let the lesson begin now! I want you to take a look at everything around you. Everything you see was created from the four elements of life: air, earth, fire, and water. They exist in the Nexus and in the very depths of Oblivion. Since the beginning of time, humans, elves, and dwarves alike have found the ability and the will to use the created energies around us. The energies flow through every living creature, and we have learned how to use that energy to manipulate the elements.

  “I want you to close your eyes,” Silver continued, “and to clear your mind. I want you to let go of all of your self-doubt, your negative emotions, and to focus on the energy that surrounds you. I want you to take it in, imagine it surging through your body.”

  “Is it possible to learn all the elements?” Selena asked.

  “Yes, although it is very difficult and it requires years of discipline. The dragon riders of the Air Force have mastered all of the elements as part of their core training, and so this knowledge will be passed on to you to help you further in joining their ranks. It will have its limitations, h
owever, depending on your strength and endurance. Being able to weave the elements through your body and to manipulate them can leave you with negative repercussions. You feel so powerful when carrying that much energy within you. However, you will need to have a clear mind as well as a full understanding of your own strength while channeling the energy, because one false move can mean the difference between life and death.”

  Selena swallowed hard.

  “However,” Silver continued to explain, “I can sense that you do have power over the elements that lie dormant within you. I hope that I can help you re-awaken your abilities.”

  “Wait, how do you know that? Have I ever used magic before? What was it like? Was I good at it, or was I just learning?” Selena asked him excitedly.

  Silver held up his hands with a nervous smile on his face.

  “I can sense magical essences in everyone and everything. I… I don't know how good you were before but all I can tell you is that that you have used magic before,” he cautiously explained.

  Selena felt exhilarated even more.

  “Since we’re going to Alfheim, we will work with fire first,” Silver said excitedly.

  Selena smiled, closed her eyes, and tried to clear her mind.

  “First, I want you to imagine fire itself. Feel it as it flows through your veins. Allow the energy to consume you. Breathe with it as it fills you.”

  She focused on his words, and pictured in her mind a stable flame that turned into a beam that surged from the ground beneath her feet. She imagined it coursing through her body and her heart. She began to feel hot as she felt the energy surge through her, waiting to be released.

  Instinctively, she thrust her hand forward, palm up as she channeled the energy to her palm and fingers. It felt hot as if her whole arm was turning into flames.

  Selena's eyes lit up when she saw her channeled energy turned into fire. They were small flames that burst into the air, but she was happy that she conjured them.

  “Excellent!” Silver exclaimed.

  “But they were small,” Selena said.

  “I don't think you understand how long it takes to develop that sort of concentration to be able to channel energy like that. I'm very impressed. I want to work with you some more if you wish to continue,” Silver said again, scratching the back of his head.