Tail of the Dragon

by Timothy Reihm

  Chapter 31

  The dark earth was warm and moist between his fingers. Ariel plunged his hands deeper into the soil, enjoying the sensation. It was good to work. His muscles strained against the rock as he pulled it free, adding it to the growing pile beside him. He stood to ease the pressure on his back and surveyed his progress.

  He was working at the Lion's Den, the Aralim estate bocket course. The complex's overseer had decided to modify the fifth path in order to make it a bit more difficult. Although he wasn't sure he agreed with the decision, he did enjoy the work. He had removed most of the retaining wall and would remove several cubits of soil to narrow the flat to the outlined specifications.

  A trio of passing arella gave him odd looks as he worked. He understood their attitude. It was more difficult to use his hands to pull out the heavy rocks, but there was something he enjoyed about working with his muscles, rather than the elements. However, it would be no fun to manually remove the dirt. He backed away and focused on the line he had marked on the grassy surface to define the new edge of the flat.

  He picked up a small amount of dirt and mixed it with the airflow he bonded, using the combination to create a razor thin, dense knife of air the dusting of earth made visible. After modifying his tool to the proper dimensions, he pushed it down into the ground, forcibly, until it reached the correct depth. He then creased the wedge and drove it at a ninety degree angle. He continued pushing until bubbles emerged at the water's edge, then lifted.

  The slab of earth rose into the air. The left and bottom edges were straight and came together at what was, roughly, a right angle. Satisfied, he moved the section of ground above a nearby cart and dissolved the bonds. The dirt dropped into the container creating a cloud of dust.

  Using air pressure, he pushed the water out of the excavated site. The soil was muddy, but exposed and ready for the new retaining wall. He placed a pile of argon chips on the ground and began moving rocks, this time without his hands. He worked with one rock at a time, trying to match size and curvature. Although they were all approximately square, he was careful to select blocks that fit snugly, which he fused together by pulling heat from the radiant chips.  Within an hour, a solid wall stood, some three cubits from where it had been. Releasing the water produced a boiling hiss, as it contacted the still hot bulwark. He stepped back and smiled at his work.

  He saw a figure approaching he assumed to be Gadreel, who was supposed to meet him for a round of bocket. His friend was attending an informational forum on careers in planetary relations. Gadreel was interested in working as a political emissary and wanted to get additional information about the field. However, another friend approached him through the slender tree trunks.

  'You are quite difficult to find out here,' the familiar voice called.

  'Raphael. It's been an eon. What are you doing out here?'

  'I came to see you. And by the looks of it, I'm not a moment too soon. Were you buried alive?'

  Ariel looked down at his clothes and filthy hands and smirked.

  'As a matter of fact, I just finished attempting to infiltrate a gopher colony. I would greet you properly, but you look so clean and tidy.'

  Raphael just laughed and grabbed Ariel in a tight embrace, paying no attention to the dirt and grime. Ariel showed his old housemate the project he had completed and explained how it would affect the difficulty of play.

  'I never understood why you and Gadreel were so passionate about this game, but I see your ardor is alive and well.'

  The two old friends wandered back along the path and shared news about their lives. Ariel learned Raphael was splitting time between the chemistry and thermodynamics departments, conducting research Ariel didn't begin to understand. He had decided that upon graduation, he was going to remain in the city to work as a researcher.

  'I, unfortunately, can't stay long, Ariel. I need to get back to the lab to assist with an experiment mapping heat conductivity in some composite metals, but I needed to talk to you.'

  'What is it?' Ariel asked curiously.

  'I am concerned for you.'

  'For me? Why?'

  'Do you recall the kick you made to win the bocket championship? Of course you do. And you remember that afterward there was a rumor going around claiming you cheated. It is common knowledge you were cleared and, of course, I know you would never do such a thing. But it seems there are others who were not convinced, as the rumor seems to have resurfaced. And it is now being used to explain another troubling rumor- that you used some sort of energy blast to kill a serpent at the animal habitat.'

  'Where did you hear that?' Ariel replied with shock.

  'I was in the lab the other day, working on this new organic polymer. Two trainers were in an adjoining workspace conducting their own research. I wasn't trying to listen to their conversation, but our spaces are joined by a shared exhaust system and their voices carried so loudly through the ducts, I couldn't help but overhear.'

  'Trainers at the school were saying I cheated and killed an animal?'

  'Yes. They were talking about a debate many of the faculty are having regarding how we should be taught. One of the instructors related a story about you. He mentioned the bocket incident to validate the rumor.'

  Ariel stood motionless, completely stunned. It seemed like the serpent in question had managed to get hold of him all over again and was squeezing him in its vice-like grip. He had told only Gadreel about his experience at the habitat. With everyone else he had been evasive. Gadreel wouldn't have started such a rumor, but who else would connect fact with fiction in this way?

  'I'm stunned,' he said.

  'I'm sure. Of course the story is an utter fabrication. I just needed to make you aware it was going around. No one who knows you would believe this, but it was troubling, to me that trainers were talking about it. I actually confronted them on it. Needless to say, they weren't pleased with me and wouldn't tell me where it came from,' Raphael said.

  'I am thankful, but you shouldn't get yourself in trouble on my account. You said there is some sort of debate going around. What are the trainers debating?'

  'Some faculty members argue we need to offer more practical application as part of our training and to eliminate some of the restrictions currently in place. I can't say for certain, but I suspect it might be related to the meetings you spoke with me about. It seems it is not just Azazel conducting the trainings. There are now a large number of angels participating, at least according to the rumors.'

  'Gadreel never told me that,' Ariel mused aloud.

  'Than perhaps it isn't true. I tend to doubt all gossip as a rule. Unfortunately, due to the fact I spend so much time working on campus, I am subjected to loose talk.'

  'Raphael, I'm concerned. I had an episode with a snake while at the animal habitat. I didn't use an energy bolt to kill it, but I did choke it and might have injured it, but I was defending myself.'

  'You were attacked by a serpent?' Raphael said incredulously.

  'I was as shocked as you. But I told no one about it, except Gadreel. I don't understand how anyone else could have concocted something so similar to my attack, but containing such blatant falsehood. Is it in any way possible Gadreel might make up such a story?'

  'Not for a second. Gadreel loves you. You two are the twins. He would never do anything to hurt you. I'm a little surprised you entertaining such thoughts.'

  'You're right. I feel guilty even saying those words, but things have been a bit strained between us lately.'

  'Still, there is no way he would do such a thing. It's more like that either he told someone else, or someone saw your attack, or perhaps instigated it. It's pretty incredible that a serpent would attack an arella, unless you were threatening its young?'

  Ariel shook his head. What Raphael said was true. His friend would never intentionally hurt him. He would ask Gadreel if he had told anyone else about the incident. If not, someone else had been present in the cavern.

  He resisted the i
mpulse to pin this on Helel. Following Ariel into the cavern would have been impossible and he would have no real hope of injuring him. The Kings would never allow it. He wasn't even sure the incident had been real. He believed it was more likely some sort of psychic training. After the attack he had no marks on his arm or face where the serpent had bitten him.

  Raphael interrupted his thoughts, 'Is it true you were pair bonded with a griffin?'

  ‘Yes. His name is Shadow and he saved me during my attack at the habitat,' he answered.

  'I didn't know it was possible to get paired with one. I heard they are incredibly solitary creatures.'

  'Actually they live in colonies, deep in caves. They do tend to keep to their own kind, however. I have done quite a bit of research on them, as you can imagine. There are other arella bonded with griffins, but you are right in saying it is rare.'

  'So, what is it like having one as your bond?'

  'She doesn't live at the estate with me. They are not akin to a cat or a bird, even though they look to be a combination of both. He stays mainly out of sight, but is usually around. I can sense his presence and he can feel mine. He's here now. Do you want to see him?'

  'Of course I do,' answered Raphael enthusiastically.

  Ariel gave two loud whistles and waited. He looked around as if trying to decide on a direction.

  'He's shy around strangers.' He whistled again.

  A piercing shriek filled the air, seemingly on top of them. Shadow appeared seconds later, swooping in over the trees. He landed on an upper branch of a nearby deciduous and shook his feathered head, as if indicating his desire to come no closer. Ariel stepped a few feet away from Raphael and whistled again. Shadow sat stubbornly for a second before taking flight and landing on the opposite side of his pair bond.

  Ariel walked over to Shadow and rubbed his head while whispering quietly to the griffin. He gestured for Raphael to approach.

  'It just takes him a minute to relax around strangers. He's getting better. It took him several attempts before he would let Gadreel come this close to him. And Gadreel's cat, Fang, still frightens him off every time he approaches.’

  Ariel reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of nuts and opened his hand. The griffin began picking up the little treats, one at a time, careful not to pinch Ariel with his great, hooked beak. The beast’s chest rumbled contentedly, sounding not much different from a common cat. It stood nearly to shoulder high and seemed incredibly powerful. Its head resembled that of a snowy crowned eagle, but the tufts of feather on top were almost owl-like. Its upper body was birdlike, with front legs ending in yellow talons. Beautiful ivory wings partially hid its back half, which was covered in a pale tan fur. The lower portion seemed like a panther with a long, golden tail wrapped around hind paws equipped with razor sharp claws. It was both spectacular and menacing to behold.

  'Can I touch him?' Raphael asked.

  'You can try. He gets pretty skittish, but if you move slowly, perhaps he will stick around. So far only Gadreel and myself have been able to.'

  Raphael advanced with hand extended. He whispered quietly, as he had seen Ariel do and never took his eyes off of those of the griffin, who watched him approach. Several times it twitched, seeming ready to flee, but gentle whispers from Ariel seemed to calm it. Shadow opened her mouth slightly, causing Raphael to freeze less than a cubit away. The beak closed and Raphael inched forward again. Neither of them spoke and the scene grew quiet as the animal's purring stopped. With a tense hand, Raphael reached out to touch the griffin's head.

  A loud snarl shattered the stillness. With one powerful stroke, Shadow shot up into the air and over the treetops. The cry came again and Ariel was suddenly hit from behind by a mountain of fur.

  He was knocked onto the grass and pinned beneath Fang, Gadreel's pair bond. He struggled to push the weight of the enormous cat off of him, but gave up, sputtering, as the sabre-tooth started caressing his face with its rough, black tongue.

  'Get off of him Fang. He's learned his lesson,' Gadreel ordered, laughing.

  'Raphy. Great to see you old friend. Did Ariel finally manage to convince you to take up bocket?'

  'He's been trying. I don't think I'm quite a believer, yet. You look well, Gadreel.'

  'I feel wonderful and I've figured out what I want to specialize in. It is obvious that I have the winning personality, wit, and good looks to be a planetary emissary.'

  'I'm not sure about the good looks, but being an emissary does seem a good fit. I'm excited for you, my friend,' Ariel said and grasped Gadreel in a hug.

  'Hold on there. My clothes are clean. What in the world happened to you?' Gadreel said while backing away.

  Ariel proceeded to relate his recent experiences, including the rumors being spread. Raphael added more detail and answered some of the related questions. Gadreel expressed his shock and anger that such things were being said about his friend.

  'So who else knew about what happened in the cavern?' Gadreel asked.

  'Just you. I didn't give specifics to anyone else.'

  'I hope you know that I didn't spread this rumor.'

  'Of course,' Ariel answered. 'Did you tell anyone?'

  'Only Gabriel. And he wouldn't do this.'

  'You didn't tell Helel?' Ariel asked.

  'I did talk to Helel about it, but he was the one who brought it up. He knew as much, if not more, than I did,' Gadreel said.

  Gadreel saw by the look on Ariel's face his friend believed him. He felt a pang of guilt about withholding how the story had been used to garner support for modifying their training, although nothing Helel had said would point to Ariel being the subject of the story.

  'As great as it is to see both of you, I must get back to the academy. I have a ton of work left to do,' Raphael said before embracing each of them and departing.

  'We'll figure this thing out, Ariel,' Gadreel offered as their old housemate strode away. 'Perhaps a quick round of bocket will stimulate our reasoning and help us find our answer. If not, at least we get to play.'