Ughedar moved the trees apart with one arm and took a mighty step forward, letting the trees shake back into place.
Kaida, startled, yelled out, “Ughedar, you scared me!”
“Not meant to.” His enormous head hung low with a deep frown carved into his whiskered face.
“Don’t be sad, it’s all right. I didn’t know you were nearby.” Kaida gave him a radiant smile to show she wasn’t upset.
“I saw ye a traveling. Thought I could’st make yourn journey quicker.”
Kaida looked at her companions and then back to Ughedar. “How?”
“I carry thee. In me hands and me pockets. Not had many freonds. Ye still freond?”
“Of course we are Ughedar.” Kaida looked at Molakei and shrugged her shoulders. He replied with the same motion.
“We accept your offer,” she replied.
Ughedar’s face lit up with a big woody grin as he gently scooped up his friends and made them comfortably settled. He slipped Sigrunn and Tyrianua into his shirt pocket and held the others in one hand, close to his chest.
“I only go to edge of trees, but it will save ye from walking for a long journey,” he said.
“You are a good freond, Ughedar. We thank you for your kindness,” Kaida said loudly, hoping he could hear her tiny voice.
A loud rumbling started below them and in a huge rippling wave, rose from his belly and out his mouth with a giant sized laugh. “Likes when you call me freond. Feels like hot soup in my belly. Warm and … and … filling!” He gave another enormous laugh and his companions joined.
Kaida, Molakei and Flower Bird took the advantage of being lifted up high to look around the new world they were in. Their range of vision was much greater sitting up in the Giant’s palm. They spotted a beautiful valley ahead, strewn with marvelous colorful plants, some vaguely familiar, even though their sizes were not.
Flower Bird nudged her father and pointed, “Look, those are like the mushy umbrella plants that grow on the wood bark and in the wet places, but look how tall they grow. They have bright blue edges that glow!”
Molakei nodded. “A land of mysteries. All things grow much bigger here in the world within our world.”
Kaida pointed. “Take us to that valley, Ughedar. It looks so beautiful.”
“I only can walk to the edge of trees. Not goes out of our forest. Too scared out in big open land of no trees. Nomliacs are forest Giants, not people of no trees.”
“That is fine, Ughedar. You have saved us many hours of walk time. We will explore the valley ahead,” Kaida replied.
The gentle Giant went to one knee and set his new friends down softly. He held his hand near his pocket and Sigrunn and Tyrianua leapt out. He lowered them down, looking sad to see them leaving the forest.
Kaida said, “Thank you, freond. We may pass your way again.” She smiled warmly and hugged his finger.
“Be watchful. Therin be magic folk about … ye be entering the Vale of Valdross, knowen to be filled with Magicians.”
“Is it a bad place?” Kaida asked, her face splashed white with alarm.
“No place is e’re good or bad.” Ughedar said, thinking. “The stories been told since I was boren says most the Magicians and their folk be kind. Never goes into the Vale of Valdross so I not knowen more to tell.”
Kaida unknowingly had clutched her neck chains. A soft warmth filled her hand as she held the stones, and a soft peace covered her. She looked at Ughedar and gave him a wink.
“We will keep our eyes open and be aware. We know magic too so we aren’t worried. We may make more freonds!”
“Be well, freonds. Ughedar e’er ye freond. I be lone sick with ye gone.” A massive tear formed in the corner of his eye, threatening to splash down.
Kaida’s lip quivered. She felt sad to leave her new friend but they had to continue their journey. She waved goodbye. Sigrunn and Tyrianua rubbed their sides against Ughedar, marking him as a friend.
Chapter 14
Flower Bird pointed, “Look up ahead! Do you see those, father?”
Molakei shaded his eyes and looked. It looked to be a gateway. Stones seemed to sprout from the ground in odd shapes but neatly fitted on top of one another and tightly against the next one until it formed an arch.
As they approached, they saw strange markings on the large keystone. Molakei placed his hand against the arch and felt a tingle that made his forearm hairs stand up. He uttered a chant under his breath as he passed through the arch.
In front of them the ground made a gradual slope up on both sides and trees and shrubs crowded against jutting rocks. Molakei reached to grab Kaida’s arm. Flower Bird had already stopped and was staring at the thin tendrils of smoke up ahead. The breeze was blowing against their backs. The smell of wood smoke hadn’t warned them. The smoke could only mean one thing, someone was nearby.
A branch cracking had Flower Bird armed and ready to sail an arrow as a boy darted forward from the shrubs. He looked stunned to see the newcomers. Suddenly, a blue-white bolt shot from somewhere behind him and latched onto his waist, reeling him backwards. A voice sprung out loudly, “Kiel! You haven’t finished.”
A man, pale of skin, breached the bushes. His focus was on grabbing the mischievous young man and lead him back when he became aware of the group watching.
“Er hum,” he cleared his throat. He took large strides to stand face to face with the newcomers, his piercing eyes sizing up Molakei. “What is your business here? You have entered the Vale of Valdross without invitation.”
“We only pass through. We search for our way home,” Molakei replied.
“Home? Where is your home?” the pale man asked as he pulled on his long mustache.
“It is in the land above. There were terrible shakings….”
“Yes, certainly. We felt those. It rained dust on us for days! We, the Magicians of Valdross, that’s where you are, you know … Valdross, we had to dome our area with a protective spell, otherwise our place would have been made foul.” He shook his long dark brown hair tinged with broad streaks of gray.
Forgotten in the grasp of the pale man’s hands, the young man spoke. “I’m known as Kiel.” He managed a smile towards the visitors. “The man still digging his bony fingers into my shoulders is called Perthorn. He is my guardian and Teacher.”
Perthorn quickly let go his grip and righted his lopsided cap. “Er … Yes. I am Perthorn.” His left brow wiggled as he asked, “Heard of me?”
Molakei had to bite the corner of his lips to not smile. “No, but then we are from..”
“Well, perhaps you are less informed living way up there!” His staff reached overhead and jabbed above his head. “What my overzealous student was trying to inform you of is that I am the Master Magician of Valdross. Perhaps he felt the need to warn you.” He narrowed his eyes to intimidate the newcomers.
Kaida took a step forward and spouted, “I can do magic too!” She grinned and asked, “Why do you lip hairs grow so long?”
Kiel stepped back, laughing, making sure he was out of range of a sudden Magician’s magic bolt. In a sudden flash, a crisp white bolt stretched out to zap Kaida’s foot but only hit the dirt in front of her.
Perthorn’s brows knitted together in surprised dismay. “Girl, your feet should be hopping up and down. How did I miss?” His puzzled look had even Kiel doing a double take. He said, “What manner of spell was that?”
Kaida looked down and released her hand from her stones around her neck. She looked at Kiel and said matter-of-factly, “It is the great magic of the stones I wear. One of them is a Dragon Tear and the great White Dragon of Urthe put a great Magic in every stone tear. The Dragon Tear protects me.”
“Dragons? Girl, I would not have harmed you, it was only a little burst of energy to chide your quick tongue,” remarked Perthorn.
“My name is Kaida.” She held Perthorn’s stare until he answered.
“Kaida. Odd name, it is.” Perthorn mumbled.
“You h
aven’t heard of me?” Her eyes flashed the challenge at Perthorn.
“Heard of you?” Perthorn gave out a burst of laughter. “Heard of a wisp of a girl from up above who stumbles into the camp of Valdross’s Master Magician? Why should I, Perthorn, hear of a girl such as you?” Amusement flashed in his violet eyes.
“Then, you have not heard of the Legend of the Dragon Child? It might be you are uninformed down….”
Molakei quickly buffered any further words with his hand clamped gently over Kaida’s mouth. “She means no disrespect, Master Magician. And we mean no harm. We are simply travelers in your world, trying to find the way home.”
“What did she mean by mentioning the Legend? Is she to say she is claiming to be the girl of the Legend?” Perthorn asked.
“Perthorn, it is my honor to present Kaida, the child of the Legend.” Molakei replied.
“Thunder and Lightning! How can you be sure?” Perthorn asked, his violet eyes snapped enormously wide.
Molakei replied, “Everything about her is in the Legend. How she would be found, what she would be like and the things she would know. She even flies with a Dragon.”
“Thunder you say! Is this true?” He replied absently twisting one side of his long drooping mustache between his narrow fingers.
Molakei nodded as he released his hand from Kaida’s mouth.
Kiel stepped forward with a smile. He said with unrestrained excitement, “Is it true you can ride a Dragon?”
Kaida chuckled, “Yes, I guess that is true. I have always thought of it as flying. Zlemtec, he’s my friend, we fly as One. I never thought of it as riding a Dragon, but now I see that is what it would look like. We just fly. He … it is hard to put in words. It isn’t like he becomes my wings or I become his rider.” Her face scrunched up trying to find the right words to say but none translated to their ways. She could only repeat, we fly as One.
“There hasn’t been Dragons in our world for thousands of years! They lived here, you know? Long ago and before the Outer World was hospitable. So long ago, they are but a small entry in our history. It is recorded, they all left at once and were no longer in our sky.”
Kaida latched on to the meaning. “Then, they had to find the way out! That is what we need to do, find how and where they got out!”
“You could leave the way they did, but it will be tricky,” said Kiel.
Kaida’s jaw dropped. “You mean you know how they left?”
“We know what was written. They left through a passageway, but it is on the other side of Rutenthrall Castle. That’s where the Solteriem folk live. They are Faery folk, not much of a bother to us but….”
“Then they won’t be a bother to us, either,” Kaida said confidently.
Perthorn said, “Come into our village. Rest up a bit. After we eat, I’ll pull out our Book of Days and we will go over it with you,” Perthorn eagerly said, hoping to learn more about the travelers.
Molakei leaned heavily against his walking stick. “We will be honored to come to your village. I am tired and food always sounds good,” he answered, giving a wide smile.
Little did they know a Squadron of Dragonflies and the Solteriem folk were quickly making their way to their location.
Jengar made the Squadron and their cluster stop along the way so she could dig her toes into the ground to hone in on the direction of the Uplanders. The last stop made her let out a shrill that threatened to burst all eardrums.
“I knew it! They have joined the Magicians in the Vale of Valdross!”
All held still as they watched the Warrior Queen pace and kick at the ground. It made the Solteriem folk shudder. They could feel the heat of her anger as her face resembled molten bronze, ready to incinerate anyone close. In a flash, she darted through the sky leaving a streaming trail behind her. After a short time, she discharged her anger and landed heavily with a ‘thump’. In the corner of her eye, she saw movement.
Jengar called out, “Quick, to the bushes and trees! Dragons!”
Hidden in the brush, the Faeries looked on anxiously as three Blue and Gold Dragons and one White Dragon sped to the West, towards Rutenthrall Castle.
Perthorn led the newcomers into the small village where some of the villagers were forging swords, some were practicing spells and others were mixing concoctions into a large black kettle simmering above a fire.
The newcomers looked on with great interest, surprised to see so much magic in one place. Kiel sported a proud gleam in his eyes. It is rare any outsider had such a privilege.
They came upon a rocky hill covered in a vine that hung down with cascades of flowers caught up in clusters, much like a cluster of grapes and of the same color. Way down at foot level stood a small, bright purple door.
Perthorn stopped and said, “This is our home. Please, come inside.”
Kaida looked at the wee door and then back at Perthorn. “How do you get inside?” Her eyes were filled with confusion. The door was too small for anything but perhaps a rabbit.
“We use the door,” Kiel said. He tried diligently to suppress a chuckle. He had been raised here most of his days, so to have a newcomer see things with fresh eyes gave him a new perspective and he was delighted. He knew the next thing would downright shock them.
He pushed up his sleeves and said, “Abracadabra! Open.” The whole of the front in the hillside swung wide, large enough to accommodate a man of great height. He was right. The newcomers staggered backwards, sending Kaida tumbling over Tyrianua.
Perthorn burst out in a jolly laugh. The villagers grew quiet as all work suddenly stopped. It was a momentous occasion to hear the Master Magician laugh, for he rarely was inclined to do so.
Kaida dusted off her tunic and asked, “How did you do that? What means this ‘abracadabra’?”
Kiel, barely able to contain his laughter, answered. “It is a magical word. It is one of the first Magic words ever to be written in our spell books. Its meaning is as old as Magic itself. It means: it came to pass as it was spoken.”
“Yes, it is true, Kaida. But it only works for those carrying strong Magic in their bloodlines,” Perthorn replied. “For instance, the Solteriem are Faery folk. They have their Faery dust and charms. Their Magic is not of Sorcery or Wizardry. It is a weaker link in the Magical realm. Therefore, it will not work for them.”
“Is that why you make your door look so small, to keep the Solteriem folk out?” Kaida asked.
“Hmmm, well partially. We have no great fear of the Faery. As I stated, they are weak. It is mainly … the Others that we hide. But it is of no matter, now please enter and sit.” Perthorn said.
With a grand gesture, his arm swept before them to create stools upholstered in a fine and colorful purple brocaded silk. A low table was set with bowls of fruit and stone goblets encrusted with gleaming jewels were filled with refreshing drinks.
Sigrunn and Tyrianua gave a low growl. Kaida opened her hand and cast it down low, her signal for them to halt their menacing sound.
Tyrianua replied, “We will stay outside and watch for any trouble. You will be safe on the inside, but … if you have any worry, remember your stones.”
Kaida softly smiled. “Thank you, Tyrianua. I have my Protection worn around my neck.”
Perthorn sat and motioned for his guests to do the same. “Let us share a meal. The journey ahead will be long. We eat, we rest, we shall share stories before we venture forth.”
Molakei repeated, “We?”
Perthorn stopped tying his long mustache under his chin. “Certainly, we. I could not in all good conscious allow you to make this journey alone.”
“We will be honored to have you come on this journey,” said Molakei. “It only surprised me that you would want to travel with us.”
“Ah, we may be of help to you, and you to us!” Perthorn said with a sudden smile.
“What help could we be to you?” Molakei questioned, looking puzzled.
“All of that in good time. It will be told as we go
through the Book of Days. Now, eat. Let us enjoy the food and friendship forged around this table!” Perthorn finished tying back his long lip hairs, in an effort to keep them out of his food.
Kiel stole a look at the Master Magician. It was odd to see him in such good humor. The energy he was putting off in their hut was palpable. Even his own hair on his forearms tingled and rose. Since he had been brought to the Master Magician, he had never seen him so happy. He wondered, was it the newcomers or the talk of the Legend and Dragons? Whatever it is, he liked seeing this side of him.
Chapter 15
Zelspar called out, “Look ahead!”
The four stared at the large out building rising straight out of the ground and fashioned of peculiar stones fitted one upon another. As they flew closer, they saw a small river that circled the building. The river had no beginning, nor end. They flew over it and saw the inside of the stone building. It had a great open space with no sign of activity. They circled twice, then landed to explore.
Zlemtec called out, “Kaida!”
The four Dragons had barely had time to scratch the ground with their talons when a mighty wooden door swung open. They stared intently at what came through the door.
Two Solteriem guards stood at the entry, visibly shaken to their core. One was able to mutter “Dragons!” The other passed clean away and fell back into the entry. While the Dragons looked upon the fallen guard, the other guard blew a fine dust into the air.
The Faery dust rose on a breeze and fell lightly upon the Dragons’ snouts causing them to sneeze. They blinked, looking bewildered. Their eyes grew heavy and they sat down. They blinked slow and with heavy lids, then fell into an apparent slumber.
The guard then ran into the keep, calling for King Togar. He passed the guards standing sentry before the King and said, “King Togar, Dragons!”
The guards shook in their bronzed slippers and quickly unlocked the padlock, saying, “King Togar, protect us! Send them away.”
King Togar quickly fled his dungeon and asked the guard, “What did they do? Are you harmed?”
The Legend- Revealed Page 6