by Ben Marble
The simple room had five different chambers grown to the sides of the circular structure, so that each apprentice, as well as herself would have their very own room. There was a door for entering and exiting, however outside that door more elves then she cared to think about stood guard. If any of them decided to leave these rooms, there would be an escort involved. If they decided to escape, then the implications for future relations with the elves would be severely compromised. So here she sat, with all the apprentices looking at her expectantly.
How she longed to shed this human form. It had been too long since she had flown and hunted for her food. The dreams and healing had locked her as human, and now that she was free of those burdens the sky called her. It would be a while yet before she flew again, and the burning in her center every time she shifted was a swift reminder that she wasn't fully healed.
"For now, we need to feed this stalemate. As we are trapped here, so is Nightfire. Torch's absence, along with ours should be discovered soon enough and that will get Fuego and the other dragons searching. It won't take them long to figure out what has happened."
Xander Jumped in. "You really think that Nightfire would have planned something without figuring in how quickly you and the others would discover his actions? My guess is he has covered his tracks somehow, or whatever he is planning will happen more quickly then you expect."
Ember stared at her student and pondered. More than likely he was correct. All Nightfire needed to do was hold the stalemate in that case. They would be playing right into his hands if they stayed and waited for the elves to decide.
"You may be right. The key then will be to get one of you out of here while the rest stay. I have to remain or it will be taken badly. An apprentice however, that is probably something the elves can overlook." She looked at her apprentices expectantly. "Any ideas."
"I assume teleporting is out since they have communications cut off," Chandler cocked his head. "What about a short transformation? Turn one of us into an eagle or a wolf and we can get out. If the spell has limited duration, we can warn people after we transform back."
"None of you have experience being shifted. It takes practice to fly or to run on all fours as an animal." Ember shook her head. "No, we need something else."
"Could we disrupt the magic field long enough to teleport one of us out?" Sierra queried.
"Not without it being taken as an act of aggression. One of you disappearing we can smooth over. Disrupting their magic is another thing entirely."
"Well maybe...." Xander was cut off as three elves walked in the door.
All the other elves they had seen were dressed in shabby but colorful clothing. These three wore shiny metal armor and carried swords in a casual manner. The lead elf stopped in front of the group, more specifically in front of Xander who was watching the elves with a raised eyebrow and an incredulous look on his face.
"Dragon eyes," The elf in the center growled. A dagger appeared in his hand and before anyone's reflexes could kick in, the knife flew to stick in the ground between Xander's feet. "I challenge you to a duel."
"I'm afraid the laws of hospitality won't permit me to accept your challenge." Ember could hear the anger in Xander's voice as he spoke.
"You are not bound by hospitality. You are prisoners so my challenge stands." The elf stood calmly and watched the group carefully.
"And what would Queen Lilyshade think about the timing of your challenge? I don't believe she would be happy if you forced her into a situation where it seems she took sides prematurely with the chaos dragons?"
"This is not political. You insulted me when you used magic when I was simply armed in the woods. There is no honor in such action. Now, meet my challenge or I will gut you here like the coward you are." The elf drew his sword and held it in his hand testing its weight.
"What are the terms of the challenge?" Xander remained un-phased even though he currently had no defense against the elf. Her apprentice was still shielded from using magic, and she had neglected to train her apprentices in physical combat.
"You will meet me at the edge of the village tomorrow. You are welcome to bring whatever weapons you are comfortable with magical or martial, and we will fight until one of us is no longer breathing." The elf gave a pale smile, "You will choose a second who will fight with or assist you as needed."
"He accepts your challenge," Ember stepped forward and gave a formal bow. Xander gave her a sideways glare that left no doubt in her mind that he was irritated over the whole situation.
"Mistress Ember," The elf gave her a formal bow. "I must have him accept the challenge personally. And as this is a mortal affair, I'm afraid I must point out that he can't choose you for his second. It would be dreadfully unfair to have a dragon assisting him in a dual."
"I'm sure it would be as dreadfully unfair as you challenging me when I'm in a situation where I can't use magic." Xander stepped forward into the elves personal space. "I accept your challenge...." He let the silence at the end of the comment hang.
"Pinenut, and I will see you tomorrow to accept the challenge. I am sure your restriction on magic will be lifted for the event."
Xander blinked a few times and tilted his head to the side as he regarded the elf. "Your name is seriously Pinenut? I guess I'd be picking fights to make myself feel better too."
The elf’s sword snapped out and sang through the air to stop and inch away from Xander's head. Anger filled the fey creatures countenance and Ember thought she might have to jump in and stop a fight from happening right now. "I will see you laying in your own blood soon enough." The sword snapped back into its sheath and silvery eyes weighed her apprentice carefully. "Until tomorrow," Pinenut spun in his heal and both his attendants followed him out of the room
"I think we may have another problem." Xander looked back at the room. "Chandler, are you fine with seconding me tomorrow?"
"What?" Sierra rounded on Xander. "I am going to second you. Chandler still may be compromised, and you know as well as I do, I am your best choice for a second."
"You are also the best chance for the group to get clear should the duel go badly for me."
"Well, then you better make sure the dual doesn't go badly because I am seconding you!"
"I am just trying to protect the group!"
"Stop protecting me!"
Both her apprentices were standing fists clenched and looking ready to start slapping each other around. Humans and their flighty emotions where so hard to follow at times. "Sierra will second you Xander, now that I'm awake we have a little more protection."
"What? Until you have to stretch and your stomach ruptures?" Xander glared at her. "You are in no shape to be fighting for us."
"Watch your tone apprentice." Ember found herself growling. "I am hurt, but I am not dead. You will speak to me with the proper respect while we are here.
"What proper respect? This whole situation is your fault. If you and the rest of the dragons hadn't started a war, dragged the world into it, and then put everyone to sleep when things didn't go your way we wouldn't be in this mess. The only reason I don't think Nightfire is on the right side is because he seems happy to just kill someone off if they happen to be in his way. Michael's death? That is on you and the rest of the dragons. Did you even think to check and see if you had managed to kill all the chaos dragons when you woke up? If you didn't well, then congratulations add one more screw up to the list."
"Arguing is not going to solve anything apprentice. The actions of what my kind did before the sleep are meaningless at this point. Going back and assigning blame doesn't fix or change anything, so let's focus on what we can do something about." Ember stepped up to Xander. "Now, if you want to maintain your place as my head apprentice, or my apprentice at all you will learn to bite your tongue when it is appropriate to do so. You can question me back in the cave, you can question my whole race in the privacy of our home. If you don't want to be burying one of your other friends next to Michael, you can't sit
here dividing our team with your words."
His face red with anger Xander looked down at his feet. "I understand Master," There was a bite to the last word. "However, we may have some long discussions about this later."
"I look forward to it."
"So, what is our plan?" Chandler had a pale look to him. Ember couldn't help but look at the necklace that his fellow apprentices had given him and debated the need for the contraption.
"Our plan is for Brianne to use the excitement around the duel to escape. You Chandler will help her."
"Is Brianne the best choice?" Chandler looked at the shyer apprentice apologetically. “She is the least likely to succeed. Sierra could do it if I second Xander on the duel." This drew a murderous stare from Sierra and Ember held up her hand to stop any forthcoming comments.
"Sierra would be a better choice. However, I can't have you seconding Xander at this point until I can study what was done to you under Nightfire's care. I can't let you be the one to go for help for the same reason. We don't have the time and I am not strong enough to see if anything was done to you. That leaves Brianne, whom is more than capable."
"Capable? I am not even sure how I'm going to sneak past the elves." Brianne shivered.
"Well, I will help with that. The elves don't dare cut off my magic and I'm sure I can get you out of here."
"So, if the duel goes my way, I still need to drag it out as far as possible?" Xander nodded. "I can do that."
"Then it's just a matter of making sure we hold the stalemate here." Ember looked around. "As long as the elves are holding Nightfire after we get Brianne out, we won't have to worry about him catching her. He also will not be able to enact any plans that he has in motion."
"Teleportation?" Chandler broke in and everyone looked over at him. "Our best bet of getting Brianne out is teleporting her right?"
"I can't teleport her through whatever shield the elves have blocking us off."
"Well, what about under it? I mean, you don't have to break through the barrier if you can move her out to the edge of the area. That is if they have shaped the spell like a traditional shield, which since it's not blocking off or disrupting all magic is probably a safe assumption. The duel should bring most of the elves into the camp as well. She would just have to step out of the barrier, and we are home free, correct?"
"That should work. Now, I want you all to get some rest and prepare." Ember suddenly felt another wave of exhaustion overwhelm her. "Tomorrow you are to wake up and get in the best dress you can manage. I have asked the elves to help us lay Michael to rest.
A sober mood sapped the emotion from the room at her words. All the anger and fear seemed to fade, and the group sat there in silence for a moment. Brianne was the first one to stand and walk unsteadily to her room. As soon as the curtain of vines that served as a door lay shut across the opening she could hear her apprentice’s sobs and tears clearly. It was soft enough she was not sure any of the other would pick it up. one by one the other apprentices followed and went to their respective rooms.
Ember sat there listening to Brianne cry and couldn't help but ponder, was Xander right? If so, what could she ever do to make things right?
Requiem
The morning crept in early waking Xander in a violently quiet manner. The elven architecture was designed to drink in the morning sun and use it to warm and light the rooms within. This meant from the moment a ray of sun touched the structure, it was like someone had flipped on a giant light switch. The sudden influx of light woke everyone.
Sierra worked with Ember first thing, and with the help of a little magic all the apprentices had fitting and matching robes. All were created from the clothing in Sierra's wardrobe. The Robes made them look all tidy and uniform despite the clothing they wore underneath. Magic could have been used to mend those as well, but they had made do with cleaning and just fixing the most egregious tears.
Xander found himself fingering the silver dragon that decorated the right breast of his robe, and he felt self-conscience of the matching tattoo on his cheek. He did not think of that tattoo often, unless he was out in public. Today it seemed to slightly burn keeping him from ignoring the symbol tying him to Ember and the other order dragons.
The elves had escorted the group out to the edge of the encampment, and there they were faced with Michael's body. It had been cleaned up and dressed in robes that matched the rest of the groups. His hands were crossed carefully over his chest, and they held a sword point down to his feet. The elves had decorated the table he lay on with all sorts of dead and brown plants from the area around them. Despite the death inherit in the arrangement they were set tastefully and seemed to embrace his friend's body carefully.
An elf stood at each of the four corners of the table. They each held a sword at the ready and every two or three minutes they chanted a few words in elvish that sounded like a short song to Xander's ears. Their armor had been shined and was well kept. He had no idea what the elves were saying, but the meaning of the words was clear enough. The four were saluting a fellow warrior, they were guarding him even in death from anything that might spoil his remains.
Lilyshade stood over Michael's body across from the group as they approached. Other than the other four elves guarding the table the area was empty. Lilyshade wore a white dress rather than the colorful clothing he was used to seeing her people wear. There was a solemn look on her face, and she bowed to each member of the group individually as they approached.
"I have given your friend the full honors I would any fallen warrior. I am not sure what the customs your friend would have had in normal circumstances, but I wanted to make sure his bravery and friendship were recognized,” Her hand rested lightly on Michael's shoulder. "The sword symbolizes he sacrificed himself fighting to protect his friends. The plants symbolize even in death we can be renewed and can grow to become part of a greater whole." The elf queen took a step back and held her hands out. "I will perform the ceremony for him once you have said your goodbyes.”
Ember walked around to take the place across from the other apprentices where Lilyshade had been moments before. She faced the apprentices for a moment, then looked down at Michael with sorrow on her face.
"Death is a strange thing for a dragon. We are born of magic, and we don't die until our allotted time is up, unless it is cut short by unforeseen circumstance. Some dragons only live a couple years’ time, others have been alive since the first plants sprung from the soil of this earth. We only know that we have a purpose to protect those we love and fight for what we believe."
"You mortals are confusing to us in so many ways. You all live such a short time, even those who live the longest. The whole time you seem to chase your deaths by taking risks and pushing yourselves to extremes. Yet despite that, maybe because of it, dragons are often enthralled by the small flames of your existence."
"Your life was shorter than it should have been. I should have been there to protect you, but I allowed myself to let the vanity of my race overcome common sense. I let my guard down like the rest of the dragons and our enemies swept in. You are the price we have paid for this arrogance. I only can promise that I won't let that arrogance leave us unprepared in the future. I don't promise you will be avenged; revenge is meaningless to the dead. I do promise you will be remembered by me and my kin, and the memories of dragons are long. Your name will long outlive the days of your people and the next to come." Ember leaned down and kissed Michael's forehead, and then took her place by the rest of her apprentices. Xander realized he was next up quickly taking Ember's place.
Being the head apprentice, it was up to him to summarize everyone’s feelings. He closed his eyes and took a moment to organize his thoughts.
“Michael was our older brother. He was the one who would make us laugh or watch our backs when we made a mistake.” He removed his sunglasses feeling they were out of place. “Michael never spoke a lot about his family before he came to the cave. All of us keep a little bit back,
but with him it was a closed book. I wish I knew now if that was because of something about his family, or because we were his family.”
“If we have the chance to meet those that gave him up, we will have to let them know why their son. Why our brother, is no longer with us. We will give them stories. Stories about how he protected us. How Michael was strong for us. How he loved us, and how we loved him. There will be no body for them to pay homage to. No tombstone for them to visit. I doubt they will come here to visit his remains, so we must honor him with our actions and our words so he is not forgotten. To those who ask, we must let them know how much he meant to us. Though we will never be able to convey it.”
“We will go on from here, knowing nothing can replace him. Our hearts are empty as they have ever been. No amount of magic can fix that. So, until we see you again Michael, our brother, our friend, our family, rest knowing that you will be missed.” Xander turned and sat down. It was simply not possible to convey with words what he felt, what he should say. He looked down at his feet and waited.
"Michael blessed all of you in your lives, that is apparent." The elf queen then drew a small silver knife and cut a long black lock of hair from her head. As she spoke, she wove the hair into a ring. "Michael, you were child and brother, protector and fighter, past and future, love and friend to all these people and countless others. Nothing passes from this world that isn't missed, no one's life is meaningless. We are all bound in spirit and heart and part of you is linked with your friends for eternity." Lilyshade lifted the ring she had woven for all to see. It was a band of several Celtic looking knots running together to make the circle. "It is our way to honor our warriors and friends with a chance at life." She slipped the ring onto Michael's finger and started weaving magic into it. Like the other elven magic that Xander had seen he could not follow what the energy was doing, but he felt the power radiating through the circle.