Galdean’s narrowed eyes answered where his words did not.
“We will wait here until you return with them in your possession,” he stated, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling of the cave.
Galdean lumbered back to his make-shift lair and scooped them up into a parcel, shaking his head. He certainly could not see why Zelspar was so adamant for him to keep those atrocities. He had only to recall Zelspar’s sudden insight for making the cure, to realize perhaps some good may come out of them yet.
He returned to Zelspar and said, “I have them. Do you need to check?” Galdean good-naturedly sparred at his friend.
“It will not be necessary Galdean, as your body shows me the answer long before your words do.” Zelspar smirked a look to the mighty Warrior.
Galdean’s brief puzzled look brought on a bout of laughter from both Zelspar and Traylethon. Galdean quickly joined in, thinking it is good to feel this joy again.
One by one, they left the ground with the tell-tale signs of their talons marking the dirt as they pushed off to join the sky.
Their trip home was uneventful. They entered the main cave and at once knew the decision to return home was the correct decision. The air itself reeked of conflict and uncertainties. Dragons parted as Zelspar and his companions moved towards them. Zelspar’s lifted brow announced his surprise.
“Dragons all, give me your attention. You may already know we have been contaminated with a poison. It greatly affects our thinking and abilities for discernment. It was created to fabricate distrust and chaos between our brethren. Worry no longer, there is a cure.” Zelspar announced to the crowd that had gathered in close.
“The Queen and King of Mursei, please join me.” He said after seeing them off to the side.
“This will be a daunting undertaking due to the individual potions that must be prepared. I ask each of our leaders in all Hails to bring together their Dragons. Each Dragon needs to bring their heritage box. I will make my way to all Hails and prepare the potions. Leaders, you will assist myself and my Healers in making quick the preparations. Please, now all of you return to your Hails and do as I have asked.”
He was pleased that he did not have to waste precious time on rebuttals.
The perplexed look on the Queen’s face indicated he would have to bring her up to date in regard to the cure.
“Zelspar. What is the meaning behind the bringing of the heritage boxes? That seems to be an odd request,” Starleira stated.
“It is. But it is also a portion of the cure.” He winked and smiled reassurance to his dear friend.
“Please join me and I will give you the answers as we begin the treatment. No time to explain, but it will be in the telling as we go from Hail to Hail.”
They made quick work of starting the treatment as they assisted in recounting the cure to each Leader and even helped the Healers in preparing the powders for the drinks. When all was ready, Zelspar lit a great fire under the large cauldron of water. Each Dragon scooped a bowl full. As the powders were mixed into their bowls, Zelspar brought the incantation of their Spirits to infuse the necessary magic to bond with the powders. This was repeated all through the day and evening, until all Hails had been treated.
Jubilation spread from Hail to Hail and the commotion of rejuvenation replaced the sounds of chaos they had recently experienced.
Zelspar and his companions retreated to a nook to rest before joining in on the evening feast that was going on around them. The noise level rose but this time, in lighthearted banter.
It was Zlemtec’s question that disrupted the group before him. “What about Kaida?”
Zelspar’s eyes narrowed, and he answered. “Yes, Zlemtec. It has come to my attention that she also has the poison. However, I am in conflict as to how,” Zelspar looked at Zlemtec through his bushy brows, waiting for the answer.
“I had to see her!” he cried out.
He heard all parties shout, “Zlemtec!”
Zelspar was flabbergasted. “How did you do this, I put the magic of hiding memories into her. Did you frighten her?”
“No,” Zlemtec said, staring out the ground. He did not want to meet Zelspar’s eyes. He didn’t want to tell him he used magic on the amulet he entrusted Zelspar to give to Kaida. He simply added, “She remembers me, but no other Dragons.”
Zelspar tapped his rugged cheekbone with a long taloned finger, thinking.
“Perhaps the magic for hiding memories is not as strong on a peoples as it is for Dragons. No matter. The result is she must somehow be treated. That poses a problem as to how to treat her. I do not understand how the poison meant for Dragons could be given to her. But since it is, I will prepare a powder similar to ours.”
The King of Mursei exchanged a look to his Queen.
The Queen quickly offered up a solution. “Zelspar, when her mother was found heavy in childbirth, we delivered Kaida as her mother was dying. We...we collected items from her mother for Kaida’s heritage box.” She swiftly looked to Rynik to dissuade him from commenting.
“It isn’t much, small clippings from her hair and nails and a piece of the cord which tied her to her mother. Would that help?”
“By all that is Dragon, praise be to you and Rynik! She will have something from her line to enhance the potion,” Zelspar said.
Zlemtec added a suggestion. “I think you should use part of my heritage box since we are so close, maybe since she recognizes me, her spirit will recognize it also.”
Zelspar studied Zlemtec in silence. “Your suggestion makes sense. I would have suggested items from both the Queen and King, but I believe your idea has credence. Now, once the powder is made, how do I give it to her since she does not remember me?”
“Um, Zelspar…” began Zlemtec warily, for he knew he was standing on a very thin ledge. ‘I could take it to her…”
Zelspar began to get agitated with Zlemtec. “What good would that do? You are no Healer.”
“I know that Zelspar, but I could take it to her and explain what her teacher must do. He makes medicines for his peoples. He talks to his peoples’ Ancestors like we do. He could do this for us.”
Zelspar grunted. “You know more than you should of the peoples, Zlemtec. But we will have time enough to discuss this later. It seems the only logical answer. We will have to try it. I am not convinced we have found the solution, but we must try,” he said with uncertainty. “The moons are in the sky now; I’ll prepare her powder in the morning. You will then take it to her.”
Zlemtec nodded and returned his gaze to his food, hoping to bypass any further questions, at least for the moment. After eating his fill, he returned to his lair to think about tomorrow. He knew the Queen had the heritage boxes for all the hatchlings and hoped she would select the finest pieces to make the potion for Kaida.
The Queen and King finished eating and returned to the lair to retrieve Zlemtec’s heritage box and the items from Kaida’s mother. When alone, the King tried to initiate the discussion regarding Kaida.
“Why did you not mention…” he began.
She raised a brow to him. “There are many things we do not know. This is one of them. There is no need to raise questions regarding Kaida’s mother and father at the current time. I am thankful we have all that is necessary to aid Kaida.”
Rynik did not question his Queen more. He watched as she gathered the items.
First, she made a packet to add select pieces from Zlemtec’s heritage box, thinking it could do no harm. Then, she reached behind all the hatchling boxes and felt for the smooth orb. She carefully brought it out and pushed gently against the long-ago discovered spring that caused the top to retract and expose its treasure. She careful extended a claw to retrieve the items from Kaida’s family and took small snips to add to the packet which contained Zlemtec’s items. She carefully closed the orb again and returned it to its place of sake-keeping. She smiled, looking forward to the day Kaida would become its rightful owner.
“I will take the pa
cket to Zelspar. I’ll return shortly,” she said.
“An extraordinary day, my beloved. I’ll wait for you here.” He watched her leave. He had often wondered about the strange orb. The one Kaida’s mother had clutched in her hands, even as the strains of childbirth took away her life. The one he had given to the Queen for her to protect. She immediately recognized its importance and reverently tucked it away.
He reflected on the Queen’s words she uttered years ago. She had muttered in a soft whisper, “One day you shall have this, Dragon Child, and all will know the secrets hidden within.
Chapter 17
Upon returning to his home, Molakei stepped inside to find Kaida awake and helping Flower Bird with the mid-day meal.
“Look Molakei, Kaida brought food to Flower Bird!”
“Father, you should see her magic,” she said with her eyes wide in wonder. “She stepped out in the tall grasses, wove her hands through the sky and then called names into the grasses. Two large rabbits came to her, and when she picked them up, I saw their spirits fly away. She is showing me her way of calling the animals. I think we will always have good meals on the fire.” Flower Bird’s sparkling chestnut eyes glanced down at the meal cooking over the fire pit.
“You both make this old Warrior well pleased. It smells ready to eat. I have returned at the right time without wasting a moment,” he said with a grin.
Flower Bird dished up a platter of rabbit and root vegetables for her father, and then she and Kaida dished up and sat to enjoy the meal.
Between hearty bites Molakei asked how Kaida felt this day.
‘Kaida feels tired. Thinks slept too long,” she said, wiping meat juices from her chin.
“Molakei thinks she needed rest. Look, she wakes and brings us a good meal.”
Kaida joined in the gentle music of laughter from Molakei and Flower Bird as they enjoyed the fresh rabbit meal. After eating, she helped Flower Bird with the cleaning and joined Molakei as he sat outside in the shade cast off by the forest nearby.
Flower Bird strung out her supplies for making new platters of woven grasses. Molakei loaded his pipe to enjoy the sweet smoke after his meal, watching Kaida spend her new supply of energy, playing with the wolf pups.
It was unusual for the wolves to come this near the camp and he wondered why they were so friendly with Kaida. He had yet to see the pups parents anywhere near. Perhaps they have lost their parents, he thought. It would explain why they showed up to play with Kaida. He shook his head. Kaida brings sunshine to even the wolves.
Molakei asked, “Kaida sleep well or have more scares?”
“She slept without screams but moved around fitfully. She had tears fall while sleeping. Father? She cried and her tears fell as stones.”
“Stones? Daughter, did you see this?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “They dripped down as water but fell to pelts as stones. I swept off her pelt, so she did not roll on them and cause discomfort.”
“Can you show me such a Stone Tear?” he asked.
“Yes, I saved in a bag,” she said hunching up her shoulders, “I have not ever seen such things. I know it is unusual but still the same, they have nice colors flash through the Stone Tears. They mean something, Father?”
“I am not sure but would like to see one.”
“I will go get them,” she said. She went to her nook where she kept her supplies of weaving materials and reached for the small bag made of moleskin. She took it out and gave it to her father.
Opening the bag, he reached inside and pulled out a small stone. Holding it up to the sunlight filtering through the trees, he saw what Flower Bird had mentioned. Colors danced within the stone.
“What is it that makes tears turn to stone? What puts such colors inside? Do they trap spirits in them? Glad you did not sweep away, daughter. Keep them. Do not say to Kaida what you found. I do not know their meaning yet. Let’s not cause Kaida more worries.” Molakei placed the stone back into the bag. “Here. Take and return to where you kept them. We make no mention to Kaida.”
Flower Bird nodded and quickly returned her moleskin bag back in its place.
Kaida came bounding towards Molakei laughing and fell down next to him.
“Wolf pups are fun! This one,” she pointed out the one with a white face and blue eyes, “says I run too slow-- ha ha ha! And her brother,” she pointed to the one showing a black mask on his face and a heart-shaped white patch below his neck surrounded by black fur, “he says his sister is too competitive. She always must run fastest!”
“They speak to you Kaida? Molakei wants to hear wolf language.”
Kaida started laughing, “They not talk ways of peoples. They look at me and Kaida hear thoughts in head. Not sure how to put wolf thoughts in Molakei’s head. I think maybe a magic I learned, but not remembers when or how, Molakei.”
“It is well, Kaida. Molakei ask you if wolf starts showing teeth and growls,” he said with a chuckle.
“Oh! These pups not do that unless steps on tail.” She laughed. “They tell you quick to get off tail!”
Molakei laughed, “Yes. I am sure they do.”
“I heard you wake first time this day with more night scares. You remember?” he asked Kaida.
“Not all. Knows head filled up with terrors. Knows made me very sad. Feelings mostly coat mind now but images not there.”
“Makes me worry for Kaida,” he said with eyes clouded in concern.
“I not want Molakei sad. Day is here and night images go away. Molakei want to go to tall shrubs and learn more?”
“Molakei just return from looking in shrubs today. We,” he pointed to himself and Kaida, “go when fresh sun comes again. Today, we enjoy time with Flower Bird. She show you how to make bowls and platters?”
“No, not seen how she makes the nice things. I like Flower Bird to show me. Wonders how she makes the images of bird and flower spirits get in them.”
Molakei chuckled, “She is good at making everyday things nice to look at, even empty. Many of the peoples trade her vegetables or meats for her baskets. They also make needed items but all know, Flower Bird makes beautiful designs in hers. She show you this today.”
“Yes!” Kaida’s smile never failed in making him smile, too.
Molakei enjoyed the afternoon’s cool shadows as he watched the two weave. Kaida took an interest in all things and studied hard, but to him it seemed once she was shown something, it became a part of her.
His thoughts drifted to how she had taught him and Flower Bird many things since she came to live with them, but most importantly, she taught them how to go on living after their loss of their mates. He had not expected that lesson could be taught to him, or even to Flower Bird. Kaida made it easy to learn, easy to look forward to the gifts discovered in each new sun.
As the day progressed, long shadows hinted at the fading light. Kaida had run off again chasing after the wolf pups, her giggles ringing close by.
“Kaida!” Molakei called. “Come. We go inside.”
Kaida came running, the wolves following close behind her. As Kaida went into the cave, they followed.
“No Kaida. They belong outside. Get into trouble inside,” he told her.
She reached down and gave each one a good scruff to their necks. She waved for them to leave and said to Molakei, “I told them it was time to go home.”
He smiled and made a low grunt of approval and motioned for her to sit by him at the fire pit. He poked around the ashes and stirred, placing small broken branches onto the embers, waiting for them to catch fire before adding fresh wood.
He began singing by the fire in a rhythm as old as his peoples, telling stories of hunting and battles. Kaida sat mesmerized by the sounds, and her heart ran with the peoples on a hunt. She swayed to the sounds and closed her eyes yet seeing the images dance behind closed lids. They mixed with the shadow flames of the fire pit, the scents of the cave, and from the music Molakei made with his voice.
Flower Bird brough
t the food to the fire and had it roasting as her father sang his stories. For a long time, he had not sung by the fire. It is good, she reflected, to have his singing fill our home again.
The singing stopped as Flower Bird started filling the platter with a melody of root vegetables mixed with the remainder of rabbit meat. They all took their portions and ate in silence except for the moans of delight over the seasonings Flower Bird laced into the food.
After their meal, Kaida helped clean away their platters and bowls before stretching out on her bed of pelts. They shared the moments of the day as they watched the fire slowly become flickering embers. Kaida fell asleep listening to the cadence of Molakei and Flower Bird’s voices.
After the cave grew quiet, strange shadows came to the cave entrance. The soft clicking sounds of claws against the stone floor went unnoticed. They reached Kaida. A white face with blue eyes slipped up on one side of Kaida while the black-masked wolf took the other side. They decided naturally; they were home.
“Zlemtec,” Zelspar began, “you will carry Kaida’s potion with you. I’ve explained to you how to have her Teacher, as you call him, to bring the binding of the Ancestors to strengthen the magic for her cure. Be very sure Kaida understands all of it before you leave.”
“She needs every benefit of the cure as we did. I know I cannot come with you as she might become alarmed, since most of her memory of us have been hidden. This certainly is one time I wish it were not true.” Zelspar looked on wistfully to the hatchling. “I too, miss her Zlemtec. It isn’t only because of the Legend. She is a part of us all and as such, holds parts of us with her,” he said with a short sigh.
“You may count on me, Zelspar,” he said, anxious to leave. “I’ll leave straightaway!”
Zelspar seemed ready to say something but in his moment of hesitation, Zlemtec with the potion tucked carefully in his pouch, leapt from the ledge and joined the air, thrilled for having a valid reason to see Kaida.
He had hardly slept the evening before. Concern and longing kept his eyes watching the cave walls for the slightest glint of morning light. He needed to make sure Kaida had the cure as soon as possible in case the poison she carried reacted the same way it did for the Dragons. Even with the urgent reason for him coming to her, his heart raced at the thought of being close again. He felt purpose when they were together, as if something lacking was suddenly filled.
The Legend of the Dragon Child Page 18