by G L Roberts
King Thamen spoke to those gathered. “Those who wish to follow the Lady Athebryn should be ready to leave when I return from Wessex. Know this, not all of you will return, and though your death will be sorely felt, it will not be in vain. You go to fight the Norsemen. You go to free a nation from impending invasion and enslavement. You go for Alban.”
“For Alban,” one young man repeated. “And for the Jewel of the Brae.”
“Land is before us!” the helmsman called to the others. The crew shouted and again took up their oars. They were in sight of land, and soon they would meet up with the Jarl. As they felt the end of the voyage rise up to meet their oars, the men began to sing:
Brave are the men who know the sea, deep and black and writhing.
Brave are the men who row the sea, strong their arms are blading.
Brave are the sons of Odin, tempting the stormy waters.
Suffering not the sea god, nor his passionate daughters.
The helmsman remained at the bow and watched the land. He needed to guide them carefully through the rocky entrance to the inlet and on to the mouth of the river. This inlet was not new to him having been there twice before. The dangers the sea held upon this outer land remained in the forefront of his thoughts. As he scanned the nearing landscape, he spotted the fire on the shore. His heart leapt as he believed it was his Jarl welcoming him. It was not until he was close enough to judge the size of the fire that he realized something was terribly wrong.
The one remaining man on shore, frightened into hiding long after the dragons had disappeared, counted the days knowing when to expect the return of the ships. He judged correctly. When the ship appeared on the horizon, he lit the signal fire. The Norseman hoped the ship would see the small fire, and not be obscured by the residual smoke from the remains of the Jarl’s own longship. It still smoldered because of the dense hardwood used for the mast had continued to burn long after the rest of the ship had turned to ember and ash. The man risked the small signal fire only when he was sure the ship could see the bright flames. He prayed to Odin the signal fire’s smoke would blend with the smoke from the ship, and the winged beasts would not return before his rescue.
The gray and gold dragon, a Reaper, chosen to remain at the eastern shore, perched high above the ground on a crag that overlooked the sea. Intent on watching the sea, he did not at first notice the man hiding among the rocks. He could hear the man’s movements, but he remained hidden from sight. When the man made no movement for several hours, the Reaper believed him to be asleep or dead. He returned his attention to the horizon.
In the distance, the Reaper saw a ship approach. “How swiftly it moves,” he thought. He started to call to Meydra, but a noise from below caught his attention. He peered at the ground to find the source of the noise. A fire was lit beside the still smoldering boat, and next to the fire stood the man. The Reaper lifted up and silently perched on a higher crag obscured by the trees below. There the Reaper waited. Knowing the ship was near, he did not want to be heard or seen before the ship made landfall.
The Reaper watched as the rowers drove the ship onto the beach. Men on the boat stepped onto the sand with swords drawn and bows at the ready. Curious, the Reaper watched the men meet with the one who had hid among the rocks. The man led the others to the remains of their dead. Then the man from the rocks gestured high above the trees.
“They see me,” the dragon cried. The Reaper lifted quickly, but not before the first arrow struck him. He brushed at the arrow with his talon, but it did not move. Distracted by the pain, the Reaper flew first toward the sea. A volley of arrows sailed toward him. He turned and took the brunt of the arrows in his chest. Never hearing accounts of this happening to another dragon, the Reaper did not know how to react. He struggled to gain altitude. Higher and higher he flew. When the arrows could no longer reach him, the Reaper turned west and headed for the Peak Stone to find the Lady Athebryn.
On the backs of the dragons, the flight to Skiel would take the better part of a long day. Bryn expected to arrive just after dusk. The moon would be new, and the sky dark and clear. Once in Skiel, she planned to send the dragons to the eastern shore to watch the Norsemen she believed would arrive any day. She expected a small shore party, with a swift return to Heardred. If the seas were in their favor, the Norsemen would return home within four days of discovering the dead Jarl. Bryn’s plan was to be in the villages along the coast, the ones where the previous raids took place, by the time Heardred’s men returned to Alban to exact their revenge for his death.
“The first thing to be accomplished is the use of the brochs,” Bryn said to Meydra. “Those tall stone buildings the clanns use to store grain and dried meat. They will be our first line of defense. The Norsemen always raided the stores and used those stores to sustain them while they raided the neighboring countryside. I plan to use the brochs as the first of many ambushes.”
“Where will you hide the villagers?” Meydra asked.
“In the burial cairns, like the one at Skerrabrae. We’ll secret away the children. The cairns are connected to each clann’s longhouse by way of stone fortified tunnels. They will make good fortresses.”
Meydra snorted her approval. There was only one issue the two continued to debate. Meydra twitched her tail every time they discussed Bryn’s safety. “I will place my life before yours should anyone attempt to do you harm.”
“Thalynder is still our main concern.”
“It would be best to allow me and the other dragons to be present as a deterrent to the raiders.”
Bryn smiled and leaned down to kiss Meydra’s head. She patted her cheek. “No, mo anam. I cannot have you seen by the Norsemen. You must remain hidden. Though, I greatly desire to have you and the others on the battlefield at my side. The decision to do so would be both dangerous and perilous. Dangerous to the wielding of my power, which is still in its infancy, and perilous to the clanns. A rogue dragon is always a possibility. To have other dragons give in to their own bloodlust, even at my direction, would be the end of the companionship as it now stands. The peaceful benign bonding between human and dragon would cease.”
Bryn sighed.
“I understand the conflict in your heart, My Lady.”
Bryn again patted Meydra’s cheek. “I know you do, my friend.”
It was midday when the riders arrived at the Peak Stone. Several other dragons greeted them. Some they had met briefly at the hill in Skerrabrae. Dragons flocked to the dragon places in hopes of seeing the new High Dragon and the Dragon Daughter.
Bryn heard their thoughts. “Dragon Daughter,” she mused.
“It is a fitting description,” Meydra replied. She set down on the open grass at the hidden pool, lowering her head to wait while Bryn slid off her neck. Bryn kissed her cheek, and she moved her tail to touch Bryn’s back. Meydra had started to step back when the call from one of the dragons caused her immediately to take up a defensive position. She opened her wings wide and shielded Bryn.
Bryn drew her sword and touched Meydra’s body. “Allow me to pass.”
Meydra moved aside, and Bryn stepped out from under the cover of Meydra’s wing. In the sky overhead a dragon descended rapidly. Bryn waited, her sword drawn and poised to strike. Meydra stood tall, ready to challenge the unknown dragon. IronHeart and Mediter swooped in behind her. An Yun had held back at Bryn’s request the moment the shrill cry was heard, keeping Thalynder out of harm’s way.
IronHeart had just landed, and Malcolm was on the ground when he too heard the cry. Without waiting for Malcolm’s command, IronHeart lifted into the air to intercept the incoming dragon. Mediter followed IronHeart and together they met the dragon as he neared the pool and the companions on the ground. IronHeart snorted a large plume of dark black smoke toward the unknown dragon. The newcomer did not heed IronHeart’s warning and continued to dive straight down for the pool.
Malcolm ran toward Bryn with his sword drawn. As he reached Bryn and Meydra, he yelled at Meydra. “
Why are you still here?”
Bryn touched her sword to Malcolm’s blade. She continued to look skyward, noting that the descending dragon was wounded, the scales on its chest covered with arrows. “There is no danger from this dragon. Recall IronHeart.”
Malcolm stared at Bryn for a moment. He turned his gaze skyward and called to IronHeart. The fire-breather, along with Mediter, landed to form a ring around the companions.
The whole incident took only seconds to transpire and there was no time for Thalynder to react when An Yun flew up and out of the way of the other dragons. An Yun circled above and waited while the large wounded dragon plummeted toward the pool. By the time Thalynder and An Yun had reached a safe distance, the incoming dragon had hit the water.
After Bryn commanded Meydra, IronHeart, and Mediter to take up stations on the Peaks, she sprinted down to the pool and into the water. She still brandished her sword. The jewel at her crown glowed a deep red. She tossed her sword behind her and walked through the shallow water to reach the fallen dragon.
The Reaper lay close to the shore, his body partially submerged in the pristine water. He opened his eyes as Bryn approached. He tried to speak. “My Lady…” The dragon took a breath, his body shaking with the effort.
“Shh.” Bryn placed her hands on the dragon’s face. “You need not speak aloud for me to hear you.” She closed her eyes and searched her heart for the dragon’s voice. There she saw the ship driven up on the sand, the men jumping quickly out of the boat with swords, axes, and bows. She saw the man at the fire and as he pointed high above the trees. Bryn felt the Reaper’s surprise at being seen.
“I am sorry, My Lady. I tried to stay hidden. Once I knew they could see me, I flew toward the sea. I felt the arrows strike again, and I flew higher and higher until I was out of range. I felt it important to tell you what happened.”
Bryn ran her hands down the dragon’s chest to where the arrows pierced his scales. She found the one that had burrowed deep. She closed her eyes and searched the wound with her hands. She slowed her heartbeat to calm the dying dragon.
Bryn kissed the dragon’s cheek. “I cannot take away your pain, beloved friend. Soon you will join the others in the night sky. Be brave, and the pain will pass.”
“I am not afraid to die, My Lady.” Again, the inhale of breath shook the dragon’s body. “I will leave you my life-source if you will accept it.”
Bryn looked into the dragon’s eyes clouded in pain. Pain he never expected to experience at the hands of the humans he had pledged to protect. She could see that he did not wish to die alone and without giving all that remained of his transient self. She moved her hands back up to his cheeks.
“I will accept your gift.”
Bryn stepped back as Meydra and IronHeart moved to the Reaper’s side. They stood next to him and interlocked their tails with his. An Yun and Thalynder stood close together at the water’s edge. Mediter took up a position at the top of one of the Peaks and had not moved. Once the dragons had settled down next to the Reaper, Bryn touched his forehead with her crown and jewel. The jewel changed colors from a deep red to a soft pink. From pink to lavender, lavender to blue, and finally blue to white. The white light surrounded all at the pool and held them in a warm embrace.
The Reaper took one last breath. As he exhaled for the final time, he released a single tear. The tear fell and touched Bryn’s open hand. It shimmered and shone brightly for several seconds before it disappeared from view.
Malcolm and Thalynder watched in silence as the tear touched Bryn’s hand. The light surrounding them covered the fallen dragon. The Reaper rose higher into the sky, taking the light with him. Meydra and IronHeart released his tail and moved out of the water to stand behind the companions. The Reaper, wrapped in the brilliant shimmering light, continued skyward. Bryn and the company watched with their faces turned upward. The light shot across the sky and joined the countless stars overhead.
Bryn turned to Malcolm and Thalynder. “The Norsemen discovered the Jarl’s body.”
“But how was the Reaper injured?” Malcolm asked.
“He was watching for the Norsemen’s approach. He believed they would not look from him since no other humans have seen our dragons. We all believed our dragons to be safe. We were wrong.” Bryn retold the rest of the dragon’s story. “When the Reaper started to lift to send word of the landing, the man pointed him out to the men from the boat. They loosed their black arrows, and our friend paid dearly for our mistake.” Bryn paused. “There is one thing now that is for certain.”
“What is that?” Thalynder asked.
“We not only fight to free Alban but to protect the dragons.”
“It is time to reconsider the dragon’s position in this war,” Malcolm said. “If their lives are also in danger, they may want to alter their code of conduct.”
Bryn nodded. “It is something I will discuss with the High Dragon. For now, we need a quick meal and a short rest. We must make Skiel tonight.” Bryn took Thalynder’s hand and gave her palm a quick kiss. She left Thalynder with Malcolm at the edge of the pool.
The night sky would twinkle with a new star. Nevertheless, Bryn’s heart was heavy with the loss of the Reaper. Bryn looked down at her hand and remembered the tear he had given her. The tear had touched her, of that she was certain, only to be absorbed into her skin. She was no longer hungry, nor did she feel fatigued. When she was sure she was out of sight of the others, she raised her hand to the sky. A ray of light shot out from her palm. High in the sky beyond the pale blue of midday, a star winked back.
The captain laid his hand on the Jarl’s chest and spoke the sacred words. It was all they could do for the fallen man as there was need to take his body back to the seers and to his father, King Heardred. The king’s son would have to wait for his final journey a little while longer. The runes on his chest held a clue. That clue must be deciphered before the fallen could sail for Valhalla and the halls of Odin. The men reclaimed what arrows they could and went back to the ship. They were more than ready to leave the accursed Druid land. They had seen something strange and frightening of the likes no man from their homeland had ever seen. They continued to marvel at how many arrows the beast could take and still fly away. They were sure the thing would return and kill them all.
The captain gave the signal to the helmsman, who nodded to the oarsman. They pushed the ship off the sand, and the men boarded her as she met the surf. Once on board, they took up their oars and moved the ship out into the open ocean.
The captain did not intend to stay and wait for the beast’s return. There was plenty to tell the king. They would surely be commanded to return to find those who killed the king’s son. What new magic had the Druids discovered to conjure such a beast, the captain wondered. How could they possibly fight such a foe? The captain took up his position at the bow and looked back over the men, their faces grim and their arms set. The return trip home would be swift.
He turned back to face the bow and lifted his head to the heavens. High above him, a star shot across the sky and the captain sighed. “Odin,” he called. “We are in need of your arm and your spear.”
Chapter Eight
Meydra set Bryn down outside the village wall. The company was expected. Many people gathered at the gate awaiting Bryn and the other dragon riders. Restless with all the people coming out to see Bryn, Meydra called to Bryn with her heart.
I must ask that you not remain inside the wall too long, My Lady. I cannot come to your aid in that small space.
You need not worry, mo anam. Thalynder will be at my side, as will Arryn and the Prince Malcolm. Bryn slid off Meydra’s neck and rubbed her cheek.
“There is something else troubling you.”
“I sense disquiet among the dragons. The death of the Reaper at the hands of men has created doubt in their hearts.”
Bryn looked behind her at IronHeart. “Yes, I feel the uncertainty. Surely they do not doubt their riders?”
“No, n
ot the riders. Yet, their hearts are heavy, and they are beginning to question.”
“I will meet with them tonight. Gather them all to you, High Dragon, and I will hear their words. We must remain steadfast if we are to unite and drive away those who seek to destroy all of us, including the dragons.”
“I will call them to me. We will await your return upon the hill.” Meydra moved her tail to touch Bryn on the back. She lowered her head to be close to Bryn.
Bryn touched her forehead to Meydra’s brow. “This is the day I have been prepared for. Today, I will know if the clanns will follow me. It may be that you and I will fight these raiders on our own.”
“Not if I have any say in the matter,” Arryn said from behind Bryn. He bowed his head and touched his fist to his chest. “My Lady.”
Bryn turned and gave Arryn a warm smile. “It is good to see you.” She took Arryn’s arm. They walked toward the other dragons and the prince and princess. “I see you are still wearing your clann’s emblem. Do you bring good news?”
Prince Malcolm and Princess Thalynder slid off their dragons and walked over to Bryn and Arryn. Malcolm shook hands with Arryn, and Thalynder gave Bryn a quick kiss.
“News?” Thalynder asked. “What news do you bring, Arryn of the Epidii?”
“News for the Lady Athebryn, your Highness. Clann Epidii will join you, My Lady.”
“What is it you are not saying?” Malcolm asked.
“They will join you but have not yet decided to call you their leader,” Arryn told Bryn. “They have sent another with me to sit in on the council and determine if you are what the Elf-Sisters say you are.”
Bryn chuckled. “Intrigues and mysteries. The clanns have strayed far if they now question the clann elders. Most important at this moment is that they have agreed to join us. Come, let us enter the village and see who else has arrived. Speak to your dragons and tell them to remain outside the walls, but bid them be vigilant. I feel a change in the wind.”