“If that’s the case then I’d rather be with them than alone when that moment comes, if it ever does come!” I let out my frustration with less the tone I had intended to use.
You will not be alone! The calm and deep voice of the dragon resounded in my mind.
“What?” I was startled to see nobody move their lips.
It is I, Ghaeloden. I alone am talking to you now!
“How can I hear you so clearly and yet you are not talking?” I turned toward the dragon, making the others realise where my confusion came from.
We, Drakhahouls, are magical creatures, are we not? he gurgled. And you need only think of an answer and I shall hear it as loud as your voice!
I was awestruck.
And to correct you, you will not be alone, and it will be I who brings you back to your family once all this is over, I give you my word! Could anyone else in Sallncoln say they have ever had such honour? His big head was now turned sideways towards me and I could see my own reflection in his lustrous eye.
There was a constant, feeble flicker on his big, colourful iris and the red, yellow and orange seemed to pulse brighter with life the more I stared inside. I was mesmerised by its beauty.
I am afraid master Ghaeloden, and not only for myself. I thought.
I can feel your distress, but it is only natural to feel afraid of the unknown! It is the same for every creature that breathes air or water. Drakhahouls too, are afraid, but we are very good at hiding it. But the question remains, are you brave enough to secure your own future? Or do you prefer that the future should find you instead? There is no shame in any choice, there is only the choice. And nobody here will dare go against it! You have my word! he concluded.
An unusual sense of peace and hope spread inside me with each wise word the mighty dragon delivered to my mind. I felt calm and reassured to be in his presence.
Refreshed in attitude by his promise, I started to realise it was not such a bad idea to join them. What harm could possibly come to me if I had the promised protection of a mighty Drakhahoul, who, in turn, had some help from a witch? After all, wasn’t I the one who wanted to know the truth? Could I back out now when I was so close to it? With surprise, another consideration came to mind; poor Alaric would probably give his legs to be in my place even as old as he was now. The memory of his bearded face reinforced my motivation.
Noticing that I was silent for too long the witch insisted, “Besides we could help you do that and way faster than you ever could!”
“Do what?” I asked, completely lost.
She replied with a mocking smile. “Take your horse and the carcass of that bear to your family, what else?”
“Would you?” I rejoiced.
“If that is what it takes to convince you, then let’s be done with it. But I warn you, do not change your mind once there!” She seemed awfully serious all of a sudden.
“There will be no need, I only want to see them and reassure them I will be fine!” I said, knowing well I’d take the chance to make sure someone would look for Elmira and her mother in my absence.
Then here is what we need to do!” Naghnatë started imparting her instructions. “Lorian, you shall come with me and Firebreath! Ghaeloden, Nuuk, you shall take that carcass and drop it at the edge of the village, somewhere where you cannot be seen nor heard. A good place might be near where I found you, Nuuk! And make sure you use the sceptre!” She winked at the imp.
The sceptre? I wondered what she meant.
“Nuuk, once arrived make sure the bear is tightly secured back on the cot Lorian made, so we can take it from there.” She placed her wrinkled hand on the small shoulder of the imp.
“I shall do just that then,” he promised.
“Splendid! Then we should all get ready. Master Ghaeloden, Nuuk will show you where we left the bear’s body. It’s not far from where the horse is tethered.”
The imp took a long-bag over his shoulder and mounted on the lowered neck of the dragon holding a harness I had previously failed to notice.
With a leap high as the tallest trees, the dragon took to the air and after a couple of wings strokes dropped to the valley below.
The witch called me inside the hut and shut the door behind us. She did not say much afterwards and instead dedicated her attention to some herbal and chanting errands. She mixed and squashed dried leaves and powders from jars hidden in her small wooden cases, spread across the tiny room. At one point I was sure I saw a wooden crate appear out of nowhere, yet what was there to be marvelled at anymore?
“We’re ready! Let’s get Firebreath!” She led me out of the hut.
After a slow descent of the snowy slopes, we found ourselves by the forest’s edge where Firebreath was tied. I ran towards him and embraced his big head, stroking his face until he had enough and neighed me away. My excitement always lasted longer than his but I knew he was happy to see me.
Naghnatë approached the horse and patted his forehead as well, whispering something. She extended her hand towards his mouth and I could see inside her palm the same, dark concoction she had prepared earlier. Before I could argue, Firebreath had consumed it all and seemed to be looking for more. He suddenly became agitated and shifted from hoof to hoof.
“Steady now, boy,” Naghnatë said, stroking him on his forehead. “We’re ready, up you go!”
With enhanced ease, thanks to her mending, I lifted myself on the saddle and gave her a hand to climb on the horse too, which she attained with the same grace and ease as mine.
“You’d better hold tightly on those reins!” she giggled as she wrapped her hands around my stomach with a strong hold.
I stirred Firebreath with the softest little-kick of my heels, and he darted from the brushwood with a tremendous push. I almost fell from the saddle and strained all my muscles on my stomach and legs in the effort to recover from the knockback. Even though we were at the edge of the forest, there were still many dangerous scrubs and branches lowering almost to our height from the pine and birch trees. Firebreath darted left and right and only increased his speed as if possessed or chased by a famished wolf pack. The horse neighed and crushed everything in his way, running like a bat out of hell. The cold air of the morning and the maddened haste of my horse, made my eyes water to a point I could not see ahead. How was it possible a horse could run that fast? Such was his speediness that I had to lower my body and wrap my fists around the bridle with another tight-loop.
Firebreath was galloping at twice the full speed I have ever seen him run, or any other horse for that matter. Definitely faster than Charcoal, the fastest mare in our village was not a match anymore, and that horse had won every summer sprint-game in Sallncoln for the past five years – every year we’d celebrate the longest three days of the year with a feast where the villagers would bring their own delicacies and special brews; there was always plenty of food, drinks, dance and games for the whole duration of the event, which often resulted in disputes and grudges that lasted a whole year-round, until on the next occasion the bravest men and bravest horses would have the chance to compete again in the muscle and speed competitions.
We finally cleared the dangerous edge of the forest and ended up running alongside a small river – the river Irhe. Its green, clear waters could not be mistaken and I joyfully remembered the many times I had fished the stream with my two brothers. It felt good to have a sense of orientation finally. From here we’d end up just few miles outside the western edge of the village where, curiously enough, the river bends and goes underneath the Ridge; the mountain that divides Sallncoln and Irenthir. Few were those that dared venture inside the big cave that draws the river underneath the rocky mountain for a good and dark mile.
My eyes stopped tearing and I could make out the feature of the landscape better, but speed did not allow me to loosen my grip for one moment. Firebreath was tireless and the rapid beat of his hoofs crated a constant cloud of yellow dust that seemed to chase after us. Naghnatë appeared unaffected by the perilous situation i
n which she had placed us. She laughed and cheered like an unmindful child carried on someone’s shoulders.
“What did you give him?” I had to scream to make myself heard with the air battering in my face.
“Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that.” She continued laughing. “Do not tell me you are not enjoying this?”
She was right. The fear of being hurt, soon turned to exhilaration. In the open valley I was itching with excitement and started enjoying the astonishing speed we achieved. I let out shouts of joy as my confidence and sense of security grew and joined the witch in her silly, crazy laughter.
We reached the village in a short time, and I was determined to ask Naghnatë about the ingredients to make the horse-speed potion. Maybe, given the momentum of the joyful ride we’d just shared, I could persuade her into giving me a tip so I could have it ready for the sprint games, next year. Though, as we stopped at a safe distance between a patch of trees, Naghnatë dashed away and I lost the opportunity.
I was puzzled to see her return with the imp, dragging the cot with ease. It was like they were only lugging a sack of potatoes, and not even the biggest one.
“Magic!” I babbled.
They harnessed the cot to Firebreath.
“Nuuk, you still hold the sceptre, it’s better they think it’s only me and Lorian! Which way,” the witch asked, turning to me.
While I indicated the direction, the imp took out his sceptre and vanished, to my utter disbelief. Before I could say a thing, his voice resonated in my head.
Master Lorian, I am still here, near you!
You too can talk with your mind? This time I made sure not to voice my question.
Ghaeloden taught me on our way here, he replied proudly. We found the sceptre in the armoury at the citadel. There are so many beautiful things left to rot in that place!
“Curious thing that sceptre, isn’t it?” The witch seemed to know exactly what me and the imp were talking about.
“Magic is truly amazing!” I replied.
“And perilous!” she swiftly added. “It can eat at your soul as the rot eats through wet wood, don’t ever forget that!” She sprung Firebreath’s reins to move a bit faster, allowing me and the imp to continue our muted conversation.
He couldn’t have waited for a better opportunity to recount all the exciting things he had accomplished during the past days; his illicit rummaging through the armoury and the discovery of the sceptre as well as a golden chariot; the mocking of the two tall and ignorant Gholak guards; and especially riding on the back of a dragon which, judging by the excitement in his voice, was by far his greatest accomplishment. He also told me everything the witch had told them about Bilberith and his sceptre and the powers it bestowed. Though, when it came to recounting further back in his past, he became vague in his choice of words. I did not insist on knowing more as I had my own trail of thoughts to disentangle.
I walked mystified and without words for a long time, contemplating the marvels that heroes of old, wizards and witches had been able to accomplish with magic. Unquestionably, every story I had read must have contained a small amount of truth and, as was the case of the sceptre, their magical weapons might still be within grasp. Weapons from ancient times, wielded with masterful skill in the hands of their heroes. Heroes that accomplished great deeds and secured their place in timeless pages of history.
Absent in my thinking, I lost track of time and place, and when the witch elbowed me back to reality, we were standing in front of my cottage.
I was nervous.
There was nobody outside and we slowly approached the door, the imp still concealed by the power of his sceptre. Before I could open the door, quick steps approached from inside. I instantly recognised Kuno’s pacing before he even opened the door.
“May I help…” he froze for the briefest moments, “Lorian! Where the hell have you been?” He embraced me in a hug.
How much I missed his voice, I thought as I responded to him with the same intensity.
“Nana, Henek, come! Lorian is back, he’s back!”
Nana’s quick and stiff steps could be heard approaching and I almost shivered while waiting to see her face. There was another door loudly banging somewhere inside and I supposed that was Henek, still reluctant to leave a task unfinished.
When she came outside and went to hug me I could see her eyes were red and swollen with freshly wiped tears. It was a powerful and attentive hug neither of us wanted to break.
“What took you so long, son? Are you hurt? Are you hungry? Look at you, you thin thing!” She managed to detach herself from me only to clasp her hands on my shoulders and closely inspect me.
“Nana, I am well and sound and I’m not hungry!” I replied holding her hands.
“Is this…” almost as if not hearing my reply she looked past me and asked, “… Naghnatë?” She sounded befuddled.
“I take you do recognise me then!” Naghnatë tersely replied. “No need to concern yourself, he is well and he is following in his grandfather’s footsteps.”
“What is wrong, Nana? Who’s this?” asked Henek as he came outside, his rushed breathing giving away his alerted state. “Lorian, you rascal!” He clasped me in a brief hug, as always, afraid that someone might judge he had grown soft.
I knew he had missed me and worried about me just as much, even if he preferred not to show it. It was nice to see my brothers together.
The witch did not reply, nor did she take her glance away from Nana. She only extended an inviting hand towards Firebreath, who was hidden by the corner of the cottage. “Maybe this will help you trust my words, I dare hope!” she then said.
“Firebreath!” Kuno exclaimed as he rushed towards him.
Grandmother and Henek followed behind, pleased to see our beloved horse.
“And what is this?” I could hear Henek as he spotted the bear’s corpse. “What on devil’s name is this?” he kept asking dazzled and amused.
“Henek!” Nana rebuked.
“That is…” I started to talk but thought no words would make them actually believe me.
“That is the proof he’ll be just fine, Allarea!” Naghnatë’s soft words made my grandmother return the attention to her.
Remembering her name appeared not to distress my grandmother as much as what those terse words implied. I could read it in her face. If she was impressed about the big, black bear, I could not tell. She left my two brothers to marvel at the beast and returned her eyes to me.
“Lorian!” she whispered.
Her words stuck in the air and prepared me for a typical reprimand. A reprimand which did not come.
“I am so proud of you! And I am sure your mother, your father as well as my beloved Dhereki would be just so!” She swallowed dryly and allowed a feeble smile to break the flatness of her expression. “I will not stand in your way if this is what you want! I only want you to be sure of what you are doing! The choice is yours!”
My mind cleared as the noon’s sun clears away the morning’s fog. I did not see until then how much hearing her say that I was free, mattered to me and made my choice simple.
“Nana, I need to see this through for all our sakes. Everything you said about grandfather is true, all of it!” My enthusiasm made her smile more. I saw no doubt on her face.
“Promise me you will look after yourself!” she demanded.
“Promise me you will not worry, I mean it!” I replied.
“You are every bit like your grandfather. I know you will be well.” She grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me towards her.
My check squeezed against hers I whispered, “Nana, any word of Elmira?”
“Kuno has just returned from there. Some neighbours said they left the day before the fire. It’s got to be that; all the victims have been accounted for. I will have your brothers keep an eye out and two ears on the ground. Do not worry!”
“Thank you, it means a lot to me.”
My two brothers returned with dozens of silly
question and remarks, clearly not understanding it had been me who had killed the bear. And who could blame them or make them change their mind?
“Boys,” Nana directed at them, “Lorian will be departing for a while. There are some things he needs to take care of!” Against the discomfort I knew she felt, her voice sounded reassuring and authoritative.
“Where are you going, little brother?” Kuno was the first to come salute me when he realised I wasn’t going to step inside.
“There are some things I need to find; it will be quick.”
“Elmira then!” He smiled.
That would have been a better excuse, I considered.
“You’re a big lad now, almost a man!” Henek joined with a chuckle and patted me on my forehead.
I knew he meant well, despite his condescending gesture.
“I will miss you!” I kept the tears at bay while I tightened my hands around theirs. “I will be back soon!” I promised.
There was no point in lingering. Troubled emotions were making me more anxious. Nana was showing signs of weakness as well, even if she was genuinely happy for me and my new venture. She understood it was time to go but didn’t let me leave before she had wrapped me some food and some clean clothes.
“Still here?” she almost barked at my brothers. “Before that meat gets spoiled would you start the fires and sharpen the knives? We’ll have a long night ahead if we want to prepare it all? Lorian’s game should not go to waste!” She was hushing them inside like chickens towards the bear’s carcass.
“Lorian’s?” Kuno asked sharply.
“You’re kidding, Nana?” Henek added.
“Do you mean he…?” Kuno, with a marvelled look upon his face, turned to face me, as he got pushed towards the horse by our grandmother.
“Who else you think? I’ll tell you all about it later, once you’ve cleaned and fed the horse. Fast now, the both of you!” Nana avoided turning to face me.
I knew then that she was crying again.
The Cave
Lorian
After leaving Sallncoln, I felt torn and empty and dreaded even turning my head to take one last look. When I finally found the courage to do it, it was way too late; it was out of sight. What had been a pleasant and fast ride on Firebreath’s back to get there, was now a slow stroll where my thoughts wore me down more than the exhaustion of the lengthy plains.
Winterhorn (Tokens Of Benevolence Book 1) Page 23