by Daniel White
“Sorry for keeping you.”
“It is of no matter.” The dragon rose to his feet. “I have enjoyed bathing here in the sun.”
Télia lifted her head so that the sun’s rays caught her face. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
Illumir looked from her to Aldrick. “I like this one. She feels life, as you do. You will do well together.”
“Thanks,” Aldrick said awkwardly.
Télia flushed.
“What will you do now, Aldrick? With the foul wielder demised, where will you go from here?”
“Home,” he answered. “I may have lost two parents, but I am blessed to have a complete family in this life. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”
“Ah yes.” Illumir looked to the sky. “Home is a good place to be.”
Aldrick suddenly felt deep sorrow for the dragon. “You will speak with your king, won’t you? He might decide to allow you back. You deserve that.”
“No, he will never allow me back. Such a change of heart would be viewed as weakness by our kind. He would not be seen that way.” Illumir looked down again.
Télia was watching him. “Maybe up there isn’t where you belong, Illumir. Maybe your home is here with us…”
The dragon grumbled broodingly.
“Perhaps you are right, Télia,” he said, then turned to Aldrick. “May I take you back to your family? It would be an honour.”
“If you can spare the time, that would be greatly appreciated,” Aldrick said, pleased that Illumir had offered. He was eager to view the world from the sky once more.
“Well then, let me know when and I shall be waiting for you here in this field.”
“At noon tomorrow?” Aldrick suggested. “I want to spend a little more time in Galdrem first.”
“At noon,” Illumir repeated. “Very well. We will see each other then.” He launched into the sky and flew away toward the peaks of the Mountains Nemduran once more.
Aldrick and Télia walked back to the city gate. As it opened, there was a spirited neigh behind them. De’ama, Tame and Stub were galloping down the road toward them. They were a welcome sight. The couple greeted the horses joyfully, then led them to some stables and paid to have them well attended to.
That evening, after a lengthy tour of the sprawling city, they attended a public celebration of peace and a commemoration to those who had lost their lives during Malath’s seizure of the city. It took place in the Garden District. Hundreds of small lanterns had been hung from the trees and lit up their surroundings in warm colours. Seats and tables were arranged on the grass underneath them. The tables were laden with sumptuous foods and there was drink on tap.
To Aldrick’s bewilderment, he had been allocated a seat at a table with members of the city council and those who remained of the Synod. During speeches, mugs were raised to thank him and the others for standing against peril and adversity. Devéna openly offered him an honorary position in the Synod, which he immediately accepted under pressure. When he was offered the opportunity to speak, he made a point to note Illumir’s role as true saviour of the city and lands, for it was he who had stopped the army of Sanswords and he who had defeated Aashkara. To this there was much cheering in Illumir’s name and Aldrick was spontaneously dubbed ‘Dragon Rider’. He didn’t object.
Never was there a mention of the danger which still lurked deep below them. This was a good thing. It was not the time or place to speak of such dark things. Besides, there was no knowing whether those dragons would ever become a threat. Illumir had said the seal still held at Darkna.
Aldrick mused on something else the dragon had said: “To wonder can be a greater thing than to know.” Perhaps it was a good thing that one could never know exactly what the future held. Assuming everlasting peace was foolish, and dwelling on doubt was more so. It was this fleeting moment that was to be revelled in and cherished… he finished his pint.
When the hour was late, people began to drunkenly stagger away to their respective dwellings. Some continued on to taverns around the city. Kaal and Sinin were part of the latter group, this time accompanied by Jon and Frade. After reminding Kaal to be ready for the journey home at noon, Aldrick and Télia returned to the aera’s residence.
“Do you realise how lucky you are that you dismissed me as your aera?” Télia asked, removing his clothes at her bedside. “This would be so very frowned upon, especially in my room.”
“I dismissed you for that exact reason,” he joked.
She slapped him. “Idiot.”
He took her in his arms. “Will you come with me tomorrow?” he asked hopefully. “Come south with me. Meet my family. Enjoy some quiet time between the mountains and the sea.”
She beamed. “I will.”
“Good,” he said gladly.
They began to kiss and slowly…
A large audience had gathered for their departure even though the weather was sour. Aldrick was uncertain if the crowds had come to farewell them, or to witness the greatness of Illumir. People gazed upon the dragon in marvel. Those who dared not tread too close watched from the heights of the city wall.
Jon was the first to say his goodbyes. He was to remain in Galdrem, to spend time with old friends and oversee the rebuild of Delthendra and the Synod’s tower.
“Take care, won’t you?” he said, addressing them all. “It will be cold down there very shortly. Wrap up warm and don’t hesitate to wander north from time to time.”
“Definitely,” Aldrick said, embracing him. “In fact, I might come back with Télia in a few weeks to fetch our horses. Whether you are home or still in Galdrem, we will stop by to say hello.”
Jon’s eyes twinkled.
“Very good,” he said. “You will say hello to Braem, Vara and young Bree for me, won’t you?”
Aldrick patted him on the back. “I will, Jon.” He turned away, then immediately back on his heel. “Jon, how am I here?” he asked. “How did I endure Malath? He was unrelenting. I felt his storm overwhelming mine many times. Still, I breathe… I don’t understand.”
Jon smiled. “Aldrick…” The old wielder’s head drooped and then he looked away into the distance—into some memory of long ago. “I like to believe that the hatred of many can be dissolved by the love for a few,” he said wistfully.
Aldrick knew Jon’s mind lingered on Isobel and Gilthred. “Jon, my parents are still here….”
Jon looked back at him with his smile returning. “Yes,” he said. “Yes, I do believe they are.”
“Did… did they have a sign, like Selayna did?” Aldrick was fairly certain he already knew the answer.
“They did—a black fantail.”
At that very moment the friendly fantail appeared, hovered between him and Jon for a moment, then went chirping away and perched on an oblivious Illumir.
“You are in the company of angels, Aldrick,” Jon whispered.
Aldrick watched his two winged friends for a time, then looked over at Télia. “Yes, I am.”
When all farewells were said and done, he kicked Kaal. “Are you ready, Brother?”
“Am I ever!” Kaal exclaimed, eagerly clambering up onto Illumir’s back.
He turned to Télia.
She grinned. “Always.”
Aldrick took her hand and they found a seat together between Illumir’s spires.
The dragon turned his long neck to look at them.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“We are.”
“Then let us be off. Brace yourselves.” Illumir launched his mighty stone body into the air and they began to ascend into the sky.
Aldrick took a breath. He was feeling great now. Everything was great. He felt in touch and at peace with everyone and everything around him. It was a feeling he would bear home with him. His life may have changed drastically since he left their modest farm on the mountainside, but all the same, it was home and always would be.
Looking down, Aldrick saw the crowds waving up at them. As a
final gesture of goodwill and farewell he raised his hand and for leagues around them the clouds dispersed, allowing sunlight to flood down upon the land. There was thunderous applause.
Télia squeezed him. “Show-off.”
Illumir swooped into a smooth glide and they were on their way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel was raised in a remote mountainous region of the South Island, New Zealand. He lived on a 23-acre lifestyle block of regenerating forest with his parents and three siblings. The beautiful natural scenery and quietness he was surrounded by was the perfect environment for his imagination to run wild with fantasies of what the larger world could be. Around the age of 12, Daniel first envisioned The Narathlands—a world full of magic, adventure and mystery. For nearly a decade, this world was little more than a small collection of messily written notes and simple sketches. However, after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington, Daniel found time to continue work on a novel set in this world. Over the years his eagerness to do so never waned. This novel is in your hands and a sequel is on the cards.
Visit Daniel’s website:
danielwhiteauthor.com