The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain

by Nicholas Clausen

  “What are you talking about?” Hayden asked, thrown off by her question.

  “You are here to meet some pirates, are you not?” She asked.

  “I am here to meet friends of the elf nation.” Hayden corrected her.

  “And here we be.” She removed her hat and did a deep bow.

  “You are the friends we are here to meet?” Hayden did not trust the slavers or anything they were saying.

  “We are indeed those that you have come to meet. We love our pointed ear friends that live in the trees.” The slaver said.

  Hayden thought about what he was being told for a few seconds. He looked at Draek and the blue dragon. He watched as the unconscious slaver in front of him started to moan and rub his head.

  “I think we will take our chances without you.” Hayden made up his mind that they had to be lying. Hayden pulled back on the bow string again.

  “Kirin was right; you do have courage to spare but brains, not so much. We can work with that though.” As the slaver spoke the other three around her laughed.

  “You know Kirin?” Hayden lowered his bow completely as he asked.

  “I sure do.” The slaver looked up into the sky at the blue dragon. “Farius get back in the water.” She spoke and the blue dragon dove into the water. It reemerged but only its head and neck were above water.

  The moment the blue dragon hit the water Draek spoke. They are telling the truth Hayden. They are the ones that we have are supposed to meet. Draek lowered himself to the sandy beach and stood behind Hayden.

  Finally you answer me and how do you know? Hayden wasn’t sure why the slavers were really here but he was getting more confused.

  Farius told me everything. We have to go with them. Draek seemed so sure about what the slavers were telling.

  Do you trust them? Hayden asked as he put his arrow back in his quiver. The female slaver walked up to Hayden.

  No even a little bit. Hayden was glad that at least on that matter Draek and Hayden could agree.

  “So Kirin told us that a silver dragon and his rider were coming out here looking for help but she did not elaborate on the details. Care to fill us in?” She asked when she was just feet away.

  “What’s your name?” Hayden asked, wanting to know the name of the slaver before he dared tell her anything about what had happened to cause him to be here seeking out their help.

  “I am Captain Rimney Sky, rider of Farius the Sunken Death. That is my ship, The Misty Maiden.” Rimney said. For the first time since they had encountered each other Hayden really looked at the five pirates around him.

  The one he had knocked out, who was now sitting up, was almost as tall as Hayden but was round in the middle. He was bald with no facial hair and he wore a loose fitting tan shirt and brown pants that were held together by a leather belt. He wore leather boots and besides the shackles Hayden saw three small daggers and knifes half way hidden in his clothes.

  The three other male pirates all wore the same style clothes; they all looked dirty like they hadn’t bathed in more than just a few days. One of the pirates had long dark hair that rested on his shoulders while the other two had close cut hair.

  Rimney Sky was a different matter altogether.

  “And what is your name rider?” She asked as Hayden looked at her.

  “I am Hayden the Silver, rider of Draek.” Hayden said. Rimney nodded to him and turned to look at Draek. Every time people saw Draek they were either impressed at his size and build or they were terrified for the same reasons. Rimney was the former.

  Rimney was a little shorter then Hayden, which meant that she was tall for a female, and her hair was a unique red unlike any color Hayden had ever seen. She wore tight fighting black pants and knee high black boots. Her shirt was a gray loose fitting shirt that stopped just a few inches short of where her pants started revealing just a little bit of skin.

  That’s where Hayden saw a brand that was an S S, the bottom loop of the first S was staggered on top of the top loop of the bottom S so that the S’s were on top of each other but at an angle, and a trident branded through the two S’s. Rimney carried multiple daggers and a long saber on her side. Lastly Hayden could not help but look at the large black hat that rested on her head.

  Rimney had noticed Hayden sizing her up when she spoke. “If you are finished I would like to be getting off the island as soon as possible. Grab your gear and let’s be off.” Rimney turned around and got back in her boat while the other three pirates helped the fourth to his feet and to the boat.

  “If I was not the rider that you had been looking for would you have really tried to capture me and make me a slave?” Hayden asked before he turned to head back to his gear.

  “We would not have tried.” Rimney said as they backed the boat back into the water. “You would have been our slave.”

  Chapter 17

  Shane wasn’t ashamed to admit that Cass was. Not only had Cass helped with the idea about giving the young elves bows and arrows but now she was helping the elves build moving targets just like they had used in the Festival of Games.

  At first the elves had been reluctant to build the targets, claiming it was a waste of time and that regular stationary targets would suffice for the children. Shortly after building them however, it became an entire different matter.

  “I won’t tell you guys again this is for training this group. You cannot have a try.” Shane yelled again. Ever since they had gotten the moving targets up and working Shane had been dealing with a growing crowd.

  The targets would move left to right at varying speeds, depending how fast the person working the ropes wanted them to move, and one at a time an elf would step up and try to hit the target that Shane told them to hit.

  After just a few shots all seriousness had left the training field and it quickly became a game. The elves firing the arrows of course wanted to hit the targets but the person pulling the ropes started trying their best to make them miss. Working the ropes slow right up until the elf was about to release the arrow and then quickly pulling the ropes as fast as they could.

  Then the crowd grew and elves brought their own bow and arrows and were constantly trying to sneak onto the field and get a few shots off. After running off the last group Shane looked up at the sun and decided that they had been training long enough.

  “Alright trainees, over here now.” Shane said. The other elves did not even wait for his trainees to get completely off the field before they ran on and began releasing their barrage of arrows. The arrows quickly covering the targets making them look like stalks of grass.

  “I don’t think there is much more we can do past this point.” Shane said as he watched the elves make bets and start making the shots harder and harder. Shane watched as one fired two arrows at the same time and hit two separate targets.

  “You will keep practicing here every day but we need to begin working on a strategy for what you will be doing in the battle.” All the elves were happier to be practicing with their bows but at the mention of the battle all smiles faded away.

  “We are really going to be fighting?” One of the young elves asked.

  “You will not be on the front line but yes, you will take part in the battle.” Shane said.

  “So what are we going to do?” One of the oldest elves in Shane’s group asked.

  “I have no idea.” Shane said honestly. He had done his best to try to think of a plan on his own but Shane was a warrior, not a planner. “But I know someone who might be able to help.”

  Shane looked up into the sky as Cass and Shaylin circled overhead.

  I am on my way to come get you. Rilora’s voice rang through Shane’s head.

  Shaylin and her rider are saying that there are too many people around you and they think it would be best to speak in private. Rilora was supposed to be out hunting; Shane knew he would hear about how he interrupted her hunting later on.

  I will get to a place where you can land. Shane replied as he watched the
golden dragon fly off over the trees.

  “I think that we have done enough for today. You can continue training here if you want to but we will meet here again tomorrow at sun rise.” Shane said. He turned and made his away from the training field which was showing no signs of emptying soon.

  Shane finally found a clearing that he thought was large enough for Rilora to land in. Shane gave her the location of where he was and within seconds there was a streak of copper in front of him and Rilora was standing there.

  Shane could tell Rilora was restless and ready to be back in the sky, which was a normal everyday mood for Rilora. As Shane walked over to Rilora he could feel that she was shaking under his hand.

  Are you ok? Shane asked as he climbed up into the saddle.

  Rilora turned her head around to face Shane. Of course I am ok, I am excellent. Now if you are finished talking I would like to be off. Rilora said.

  Shane got into the saddle and began strapping himself in. Ok just let me get strapped in. Rilora took that to mean get into the air and Shane was all but ripped out of the saddle as Rilora jumped into the air.

  Shane grabbed the front of the saddle and pulled himself back onto the saddle before he completely fell off. He had a few seconds to get the main safety straps tightened before Rilora did a back flip and put on another burst of speed.

  Thanks for almost killing us. Shane said as his stomach caught back up to him.

  We weren’t going to die. I knew you wouldn’t fall off. Rilora replied as she flew as fast as she could, as if she was chasing prey or being chased her.

  And how did you know that? Shane asked.

  Because if you would have fallen off with something a minimal as taking off without your straps then you would have never been worthy to fly me. Rilora said as she quickly came up on Out Post.

  Shane loved Rilora, of that there was no doubt but Shane was also frustrated with Rilora more often than not. But there were moments in between the frustration where he was proud and humbled at being a rider.

  Shane was about to tell Rilora that but thought better of it. She never liked to hear about Shane’s emotions or anything of the sort. Shane often wondered if any of the riders had the same relationship with their dragons but he had never

  Rilora landed on Out Post and allowed Shane to get off her back before shooting back into the air. Now I can get back to hunting. Rilora said as she quickly put distance between her and Out Post.

  Shane walked to the far side of Out Post where he had seen the golden dragon laying around like a giant golden cat while Cass gently oiled the scales around her wing joints.

  “She has been complaining about itchiness around her joints, especially around her wings. I think she might be putting on another growth spurt.” Cass said as she finished her work and whipped her hands off on the legs of her pants.

  “Dragon’s never truly stop growing so she very well could be going through a growth spurt. Who knows, she might get as big as Draek.” Shane said jokingly, which got him looks from both Cass and her dragon.

  All the dragons seemed to be massive, the metallic dragons being bigger than the green dragons, but none of them compared to Draek. Shane was still amazed at just how big Draek had gotten and he never seemed to be slowing down when it came to his growth.

  “So why did you want to meet up here?” Shane asked.

  “I have learned that when discussing battle plans it is best not to do so in front of those who will be carrying out the plans.” Cass said. She leaned forward and gave Shaylin a pat on her side and with her riders dismissal Shaylin took off into the sky.

  “Especially when death is a very real part of that plan.” Cass said sadly. Shane had a bad feeling about what they were about to discuss.

  Hayden loaded up the last of his gear on Draek. He had used some of his extra shirts to tie together the leather straps that had been torn apart. It wasn’t going to hold long but it didn’t have too. It just had to make it over the trees and to Rimney’s ship.

  I still don’t feel good about this. They are slavers. Hayden said as he jumped into the saddle. He had used his safety straps to hold together his saddle so he had to hold on with his legs.

  We don’t have to like them or what they do. We need their help to fight the metallic army, nothing more. Draek had seemed different ever since he had spoken with Farius. Hayden did not want to pry into his dragon’s thoughts but it did make him uneasy.

  Hayden held on while Draek made the quick flight over to Rimney’s ship, The Misty Maiden.

  Hayden had seen the ship from the shore but at that distance he was unable to see just how big the ship was.

  As Draek made his way across the water and slowed his flight to land on in the middle of the ship, Hayden got a good look at the ship.

  The Misty Maiden was a giant ship with two large masts, one near the front of the ship and the larger of the two near the back, leaving enough space between them for a dragon to land.

  The hull of the ship was a dark wood with stains that lurked just under the water line and the figure head on the front of the ship was a snarling dragon. The main deck of the ship was oddly empty, except for a few bundles of wood and a giant mounted crossbow on the front of the ship. The upper deck had ornate carvings in the railing around the deck and as they neared Hayden could see the large steering wheel mounted at the front of the upper deck.

  The sails were rolled up and Hayden could see a chain nearly as thick as his arm hanging over the edge of the ship. Draek beat his wings back to further slow his flight as he lowered himself onto the deck.

  Hayden slid off his dragons back and as his feet hit the deck he immediately felt the ship beneath him gently rise and fall with the waves. Hayden undid the make shift straps holding the saddle together and allowed his gear to drop to the deck.

  Although there was enough space for Draek to land on the center of the deck it was still crowded. As soon as the saddle and gear was off his back, Draek slid off the end of the deck and plunged into the water. When Draek made it to the edge of the ship Hayden felt the ship rock against the unbalanced weight.

  This is going to take a little getting used to. Hayden thought as he watched the end of Draek’s tail disappear over the end of the ship.

  At least you will have a dry place to rest. I will be swimming and flying everywhere. Draek said from the water.

  Hayden felt bad for his dragon, he knew that they would let him spend some of his time on the deck but he was so big there was no way to work around the giant silver dragon.

  Hayden turned back to the pile of gear and started to pick as much up in his arms as he could carry in one trip. Rimney came down from the upper deck to give Hayden a hand.

  “Welcome aboard The Misty Maiden Hayden. What do you think?” Rimney asked as she grabbed the rest of the gear off the deck.

  “The ship is amazing, I have never seen anything like it.” Hayden had to admit. He had heard about the massive ships that the Sea Serpents used to navigate across the Burden Sea but he had never seen a ship larger than a fishing boat.

  “She is amazing, you are right about that. You will be staying in my loggings; I won’t have a rider staying below decks.” Rimney led Hayden to a large wooden door that was directly below the steering wheel. The ship had two sets of stairs leading up to the upper deck, one on either side of the door.

  As they made it to the door Hayden wondered why he hadn’t seen any members of the crew, not even the four other pirates that had been with Rimney on the beach. Rimney opened the door and moved out of the way so Hayden could enter first.

  The room was almost an entire house in one room. A large bed was off in the far corner while there was a large desk without stretched maps on the other side. The wall at the back of the ship was covered in stained, light blue glass that gave and slightly blue hue to the room.

  There was a small table with two chairs against the glass; Hayden assumed it was there that Rimney ate. The last thing Hayden noticed was at the foot o
f the bed was a large trunk covered in locks and chains.

  “Is that…?” Hayden started to ask about the trunk but then wondered if he should be asking a pirate captain about possible treasure chests.

  “We don’t all bury our treasure.” Rimney replied as she laid his gear down on the bed. “Now you can put your gear here for now, I will have someone bring up an extra chest for you to put all your stuff in while you are here.”

  Hayden threw the rest of his gear on top of the pile that Rimney had made. He was about to look around the room when he heard Rimney close the door behind him. Rimney gestured to the table in front of the back glass for Hayden to sit.

  Rimney sat across from Hayden and the two dragon riders sat in silence for several awkward moments, taking each other in.

  Finally it was Rimney that broke the silence. “I think it is time that you tell me your story Hayden. I am very interested to learn how a silver dragon rider comes to befriend the elves, start a war with the metallic nation, and winds up on my ship looking for help from the elves’ oldest enemy.”

  Hayden had told his story so many times that he did not have to think about what he was saying. Rimney listened intently without interrupting as Hayden told her about all that transpired in the Celestial City, about Fendrel and everything that had happened since entering Eytherka and meeting the elves.

  “I am sorry to hear about the loss of Aelfrie, he was a good king.” Rimney said. After that the two riders sat in silence, both staring at the table. “Do you honestly believe that with our help you can win?” Rimney finally broke the silence and asked.

  “I’m sure the metallic nation will send an army just large enough to crush the elves, or scare them into submission. They will never expect the elves the reach out for help and no one would expect help to come. I am sure that with the Sea Serpents help we can win the battle.” Hayden truly believed what he was saying, it wasn’t just a plan anymore, it was their only option.

  “But what happens after that? What happens after we join you and we defeat the army that the metallic nation sends? You know as well as I do that they will only send a fraction of their true force so it won’t end with just one battle. What happens after?” Rimney asked.