by Katrina Cope
She is a little more apprehensive than I was when I first started.
I smile. "You were rather apprehensive. It took Hildr over a day to coax you into letting her touch you."
He clears his throat. Yes, well, Tanda is a bit more touchy because she has been treated worse than I was. I also had a little bit of time with you when you cleaned out my stall. He glances over at Tanda, his eyes thoughtful. For some reason, the Valkyries aren’t dragging Naga and me out to fight. I am hoping this will extend to Tanda also. I don't know if something has happened or why they leave us alone. Maybe somebody is working on the other side to stop the Valkyries from dragging us out because they always like to try out the new dragons.
"I don't know. Perhaps Eingana sorted something out when she came to visit Odin that time after he kidnapped Elan. She didn't disclose everything that was in that visit." I place the saddles on the ground, and Drogon picks one up then looks at Tanda and Naga. They come running over and grab a saddle each.
He looks at me. Do you think you’ll be okay? I can't see any more dark elves.
"I can't sense them at the moment either. I think they might be gone. They said they were only trying to threaten me. Then you arrived, and they seemed to disappear. So we should be fine. Thank you so much for showing up."
That's okay. But if I didn't, I would have been dead meat in Elan’s eyes. I would never have heard the end of it. But that's not the only reason I came. He glances at Hildr.
"Well, thanks again."
The three dragons push off into the air, and I watch them disappear back to the stalls. I turn around to see Eir and Britta still helping Hildr. They have managed to travel a fair distance. I jog quickly to reach them. "Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine." Eir peers over her shoulder at me. "We’re going to take her to see the healer. I think Anita should see her just to be sure."
"Good idea. If you’re okay, then I’m going to take off and take care of something."
Eir frowns, and her eyes are full of concern. "Sure. But be careful. Okay? Those elves came out of nowhere, and I’d hate them to attack you again while you’re by yourself. Not that we would be much help." She looks slightly embarrassed.
I shake my head. "Don't worry. It's not your fault. They hit us early, and I should have recognized the warning signs. I can sense their magic, but I can't sense it now."
"Okay then. Maybe you should pay better attention next time. I would hate to have something happen to you." Eir notices my empty arms. "Where are all the saddles?"
“The dragons took them back to the stalls. They were too heavy for me to carry them all, and Drogon offered to take them back. We can grab them later."
“Great. That's an excellent idea. Take care then, okay?"
"Okay." I spin around and run in the opposite direction, making sure that I head toward the academy. The last thing I need is for them to follow me, not only because I want to keep my secret, but also because Hildr needs a healer’s attention. When I'm confident that I’m alone, I run straight for Gilroma’s cave. I haven't seen him since the attack of the dark elves, and now questions burn inside of me.
I run down the dark, thin tunnel. It has lost all eeriness since I have been here so many times. Instead, trying to get to the far end is an inconvenience. He has buried himself so deep in this mountain. I barge into his little cave and notice that he has made use of the second room that I created while practicing using my magic. He has even created a small bed on the far side. Before, the cave had piles of rocks everywhere and looked extremely unhospitable. The strange elven figurines are spread out and appear more decorative than just placed inside, and he has decorated the walls with strange painted markings. By luck, the dark elf is sitting inside the cave, and he glances up from a book he is studying while stirring the pot that’s boiling over a small fire.
"Kara! It's been a while. Why do you look so worried?" His glowing yellow eyes assess my body, and his nose twitches. "I can smell magic." He places his book to the side and stands. "Are you okay? I can smell your fear and apprehension."
"I wasn't okay. We were attacked by six elves that were in the attack of the other day. I'm sure you must have heard about it or at least sensed it."
His hairless eyebrow rises. "Yes. I did hear about the elves and the attack the other day. And I heard that you did wonders with your magic."
"How do you hear of these things all the time? You're always hiding in this cave. I never see you outside of it. So how do you hear about all the news?"
A strange smirk spreads across his face. "I have my ways."
I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms, leaning to one side. "It’s going to be like that, is it?"
"That's the best way to have it." His eyes twinkle with mischief. "Why, what happened today?"
“Six of the dark elves came back somehow. I don't know how, and they just disappeared later. But one was the main elf from the other day, and he was specifically looking for me. What is worse is that he and his comrades also attacked my friends."
His eyes turn serious, and his brows push together into a frown. "Why didn't you protect them or yourself with your magic?"
"He didn't give me a chance. He tainted their magic somehow, making it hard for me to detect since I’ve had such little exposure to their magic. The sensation was different from the other day. I didn't recognize it immediately, and it was too late by the time he hit me and pinned me against a boulder with his magic. I couldn't move my arms. It stopped me from doing anything with my magic. He then attacked my friends and threatened all of us, and I couldn't do anything about it.” I rub my temples, straining over the horror of the memory. “They told me that if I use magic against them again and stop them from doing what they want, they will rip my friends’ limbs off one by one in front of me and then they will work on me."
Gilroma approached me and stroked my upper arm. "That's terrible. Are you okay?"
I toss my head to look in the opposite direction. "I'm okay, but I feel vulnerable. It frustrates me that I couldn’t use my magic because my arms were pinned to my side before I knew what was happening. It frustrates me that I'm the only one with the magic and my friends have nothing. Why couldn't the zmey have marked them as well? At least then everything wouldn’t rely on me, and more of us would have magic. I know my friends have good hearts. They would always protect Asgard. So why couldn't the zmey pick them, too, and not just me?"
Something flicks through the dark elf’s eyes, and they dart to the corner. I follow his gaze, and my eyes land on the pile of books. Perhaps he is thinking of some passage in these books to use as a reference.
He looks back at me. "That’s an interesting thought."
I look deep into his glowing eyes, and a thought suddenly occurs to me. "Gilroma? Your eyes are bright yellow and glow, but the other elves’ eyes were dark and evil. Why are yours so different?"
He removes his hand from my upper arm and paces in front of me in a small circle. "There is a lot about me that you do not know. My past is tainted with so many things, and some you may not like."
I frown at him. "I would not think any differently of you. Perhaps one day you will tell me."
"Perhaps. Maybe one day."
- Chapter Five -
* * *
Try as I might, I can’t use the magic any other way than with my hands. I work relentlessly alongside Gilroma and try over and over again, yet it won’t manifest any other way. I slump forward in defeat. "I just can't do it," I moan as my energy bleeds from me, making my head woozy.
I sit on the stone seat and lean my head back against the hard rock wall inside his cave.
Gilroma runs his hands over the trident-shaped tattoo on his bald forehead and paces the room. His movements cause his leather clothes to squeak. Small rocks scatter across the hard surface of the floor as his shoes clip them in their travels. He sighs deeply, goes to a corner, and digs out a box I haven't seen before. He removes the lid and digs through its contents. Eventually,
he pulls his hand out, accidentally knocking it against the side. A slight clang rings out. A long chain droops through his fingers, following his hand out of the box. He opens his hand, exposing a necklace lying in his palm. Awkwardly, his big fingers track down the links and fiddle with the clasp before unhinging it. He walks toward me and hooks his arms around my neck then secures the clasp together behind my neck and lets the necklace droop over my chest. Instantly, I grasp the ornament between my fingers and study it. Lying in the middle of the metal shape is a large blue stone that forms an upside-down raindrop. I rub the shiny surface between the threads of silver that secure it in place.
"What's this?" I turn it around so I can look at it properly.
“It’s a necklace charmed with magic. It helps draw your magic together and helps you control it. I fear your magic is not settling in well with your body, and I think it might need a little help.”
I stroke my thumb over the stone a couple more times. "I love it. Thank you."
Kara! Elan’s voice telepathically speaks to me. Kara! Where are you?
Hearing Elan rejuvenates my energy, and I stand quickly, nearly knocking Gilroma in the head. “Oh, sorry!”
He steps away from me. "What's going on?” He frowns, and his chin pushes out, accentuating the spiky tattoos along his jawline.
"Elan just called out to me. She sounds worried, so I better go. I’ll see you later." Without waiting for a response, I head out the door and down the long, eerie tunnel without looking back. I am confident that his glowing yellow eyes are watching me. A cool breeze blows from behind me, and I charge down the long tunnel.
Kara! Where are you? Elan calls again.
As I charge out of the tunnel, a shadow circles overhead. I glance up to see Elan flying over the top of me. “I'm here!” I call up to her. “Directly under you.”
She tilts her head and looks down. Oh, thank dragon scales! You had me so worried. She angles down to land, and when she hits the ground, a few rocks scatter aside. She stomps forward, shoving her nostrils in front of my face. Where have you been? I’ve been searching for you everywhere. Drogon told me what happened. Are you all right? I can't leave you for a moment!
I chuckle and stroke the side of her face. "I'm fine, Elan. Stop worrying. Drogon had it covered. He, Naga, and Tanda did a wonderful job of protecting us."
They got there too late. If they were a second later, it would have been bad. Her golden eyes fix on me, sharp with stress.
“I don't know. I don’t think the dark elves were really going to do anything that bad, although it was scary. I think their visit was more of a threat."
They still could have hurt you, you know.
"I’m fine, Elan! Really, I am. Stop worrying. Although I can't believe you’re back so soon. Have you finished relaying everything to your mother?"
I have.
"And?"
She sits on her haunches and lifts her chin. Well, she's quite proud of me. She says I’ve been doing a good job and was quite impressed that the dragons are coming over slowly to work with the wingless Valkyries. She doesn't expect them to work with the winged Valkyries. That would be a contradiction to their beliefs.
“That’s true. I wouldn’t expect the dragons to forgive the winged Valkyries quickly.”
Elan tilts her head to the side. Where have you been, anyway? I’ve looked everywhere for you, and I couldn’t see you anywhere from the sky.
"I’ve been visiting Gilroma."
Who?
"Gilroma,” I repeat, looking at her strangely. Then it dawned on me. "Oh. I haven't told you about him, have I? He's the one who has been helping me use my magic."
She searches the area with her eyes. Where is he?
"He’s down that tunnel." I turn to point at the entrance, only to be startled by something flying quickly out of the tunnel. I watch the creature fly away.
Is that a bat?
“I don’t know. I didn’t know there were bats down the tunnel. That’s where Gilroma lives. Down there.”
Elan stares at it and frowns, the scales above her head bunching together. That's a strange place for someone to be.
“I know. But he’s not exactly normal for Asgard."
What do you mean?
I balk before I say, "He’s a dark elf."
A dark elf? Her voice booms in my head. I haven't seen any around other than the ones that attacked the other day. Are you sure he’s trustworthy? She stomps over to the tunnel and sniffs the entrance. He smells familiar. She turns back to me, her face wearing a look of confusion. Have I met him before?
"No. I don’t believe you have."
She turns back and sniffs the entrance again, this time more loudly, and I can hear her snorting. The smell is very familiar. I have definitely smelled him before. I just can't place my talon on where. She turns back to me. Can I meet him?
"I don’t see why not, but there’s no way you are going to fit down this tunnel. I’ll have to see if he’ll come out. Wait here. It’s quite a long tunnel, so be patient. Okay?"
She nods once.
I work my way back down the tunnel, and I can hear Elan’s breathing following me. She’s still snorting the air, taking in every scent that travels along the wind. Eventually, I reach the end of the tunnel and follow the flickering the lights into the caves that I had left only moments before. But I can't see Gilroma.
I go into the room that I created the other day and see that his bed remains neatly made, but the place is empty. I go back out to the main room and stare at the pot still boiling over the fire. He’s gone, but I don’t know how.
Puzzled, I stand in the middle of the room. I can’t for the life of me think of how he left without Elan or me seeing him go. Completely baffled, I exit the cave and head back down the tunnel toward Elan's eyes staring at me from the far end.
I don't see him. The golden dragon squints. Why are you coming out alone, Kara?
I stop in front of her nose. "He's completely gone. I don't know where he went. Did you see anyone coming out of the cave when we were talking before?"
She shakes her head.
- Chapter Six -
* * *
That’s a shame. I'm keen to meet this Gilroma. I want to see if he is good for you.
"Aww. What's this? Are you acting like a mother to me now?" I poke Elan’s leg.
Someone's got to do it. You certainly don't know how to look after yourself—always getting into trouble when I turn my back.
"Oh, whatever." I nudge her with my elbow, and she nudges me back with the side of her head. I stumble over a rock and land against the hard surface of the tunnel wall.
Elan looks down the tunnel. What sort of place is this to live anyway? It's so sheltered and in the middle of nowhere.
"Let’s just say he’s an unusual character, and he wouldn't fit in very well with most Asgardians. If you were a strange character, you wouldn't fit in very well with Asgardians either, and you would probably hide in the middle of a mountain."
Aren’t I already an unusual character who most Asgardians don’t like? She tilts her head to the side. Even so, I wouldn't hide in some cave buried deep within a mountain. That’s way too claustrophobic.
I frown. “True. But you’re very large and would be a formidable opponent to anyone who challenges you. Plus, you have wings."
Kind of different, but not really. I still wouldn’t hide inside a cave. She screws up her nose, and her scales clump together.
"Yeah, I can't stand the cave so deep inside the mountain either. I'm always afraid that it will collapse on top of me, especially when I use my magic inside of it."
Suddenly, Elan’s face turns serious, and she tilts her head to the side. What is that?
I look in the same direction, unable to spot anything. “What’s what?”
She ignores me, and the strange look remains on her face. She tilts her head in the other direction.
"Elan, what’s what?" I ask again. I stand next to her and rest my hand
on her side.
Quick, get on! She squats her front legs, making it easier for me to climb on. It’s harder to secure myself without the saddle on her back. I wrap my legs around her neck and clasp the scales at the front with my hands. She pushes off into the air. We rise slowly, my body rocking up and down as her wings labor to lift us. She has me worried, and I can feel the frown adding pressure to my forehead. Without a word, she flies a short distance before descending again. It is then that I see it, and the depths of my stomach churn with deep, aching pain.
I spot the zmey hovering over something on the ground then dive toward a moving object. On the ground, three figures are scattering to the sides. The zmey drops, claws first, striking the pale-faced Valkyrie. It then flaps its wings, rising in the air, and dives for another. My cheeks turn clammy as the blood runs from my face. It is attacking Hildr, Eir, and Britta.
A glint catches my eye, and I spot a sword lying on the ground a few feet away from where my friends are standing. Hildr dashes for it but gets knocked down by the zmey. It drags its talons down her back, tearing her leather uniform, before knocking the sword out of her reach. Her cry cuts the air, followed by Eir’s scream, as the zmey dives toward her and scratches her as well. Britta charges off in one direction, leaving me puzzled, until I realize there is also a sword lying not far from her. The zmey swoops down, blocking her from the weapon, and aims for her. It drags its claws down her torso, managing to catch her arm at the same time.
"Quick, Elan," I call.
She lands with a thud, and the ground shudders underneath her. I throw my leg over her neck and slide off her back. Dirt swooshes around me as she pumps her wings and returns to the sky. I’ll get you, you rotten little creature. I’ll teach you for stealing our eggs and attacking my friends. She darts for the zmey, and its small body maneuvers quickly to the side, out of the way.
I dive for a sword and race back to Hildr. I make sure she’s okay then help her to her feet and hand her the sword. Some relief washes over me when I see that the gashes aren’t too deep, but I know from experience that they hurt.