by Corin, G.
He smiled warmly at Ramaeka. “In a strange way it was thanks to you and Ramanae that it was passed.”
Ramaeka laughed sheepishly, his father would have been furious. It was an ironic tribute that Ramanae’s act of underhanded cruelty towards the humans had led to their protection. Isahn waited for him to settle down before starting again.
“Now as to your future young dragon. Have you had any thoughts on what you would like to do now?”
“I want to stay with my friends and hunt Gasha,” Ramaeka said firmly, trying his best to meet Isahn’s eyes. The Empara dragon nodded thoughtfully.
“I can understand why you would wish to remain here, however I hope that you will consider my offer of a position at my school.” He held up a hand as Ramaeka began to protest.
“Let me finish,” he said. “Firstly, what you have learned and achieved has been thoroughly impressive, I hope that my current students are able to learn from your example if you do return with me. What most concerns me is that I have received reports from several different well-placed dragons that your father has covertly ordered your death. While luck and skill have kept you safe to a point so far, think what will happen if some of your more powerful siblings are sent after you.”
Ramaeka hung his head, he had hoped that his father would ignore the fact that one worthless little son was still alive. Isahn was right, if any of his more terrifying brothers or sisters came after him he would be doomed, not to mention anybody who was travelling with him. Just look at what a score of dragons had done to Gasha’s horde.
“He won’t dare touch you while you are under my protection,” Isahn said softly. “However that can only generally extend within my own territory.”
“So I would be stuck in the same place again with no freedom,” Ramaeka said unhappily. “How is that any better?”
He hated the thought of being trapped once again in one place, especially when he had experienced so much freedom travelling with Stripe and Shady. Seeing new places and meeting new people. Isahn was shaking his head.
“Not necessarily,” he said. “I travel through the human worlds often and I doubt your family would dare attack me.” He grinned coldly, showing his fangs. “What I am offering is a chance to train and learn with us until you are able to protect both yourself and your friends.”
“Which will take years,” Ramaeka interjected. “I’m still just a undersized Skaire. It’ll be forever before I’m big enough or tough enough.”
“That brings me to another point I wanted to make, Amar informed me that you had been suffering from random pains, is this true?"
"I...,” Ramaeka swallowed his mouth suddenly dry.
"It's alright Ramaeka,” Isahn smiled and patted his hand where it was twisted in the blankets.
"This is a normal part of being draconian. It's surprising for your age, usually we don't go through our first change until around sixteen years of age, but you are very advanced for your age.”
"Sir?” Ramaeka squeaked. He couldn't be going through a change so soon.
"As I said, it is unusual but not unheard of. Even if you do not stay at the school it is important that you return for your first change. The first one is always the most important because it begins your true connection with your element of power and with our home. In your case that would be with the element of earth. Being in Amaria will strengthen that bond."
Ramaeka struggled to breath; he thought he would have more time before his first change. He definitely wanted to ascend to the next level, and of course get bigger, but the change was notoriously painful. Every couple of years it drove a dragon insane or killed them.
"It is a painful process,” Isahn said watching him intently. "However it is well worth the struggle, it is a right we earn through pain.”
"Come now Ramaeka,” he smiled at him winningly. "If your brothers and sisters made the change, surely you have nothing to fear.”
That steadied Ramaeka instantly. He was right of course, if his siblings had made it not just once but several times, then he would be fine.
"I told Stripe I would go hunt Gasha with him,” he told Isahn unhappily.
"Na, it’s okay Ra.”
Both Ramaeka and Isahn jumped a little as Stripe slipped back inside the room. His friend glared up at the tall dragon.
"You best not be lying.”
Isahn bowed his head slightly in respect.
"I am being honest,” he told them. "Things are beginning to change through all the worlds and it is young people, like yourselves, leading the changes for good or bad. Amaria and the human worlds need both of you to be prepared to your full potential.”
Stripe shrugged. "I don't know about that but Ramaeka's important to me and a lot of other people, we don't want anything happening to him.”
Ramaeka flushed and looked down at his blankets. Hopefully they would stop talking about him as soon as possible.
"He will be under both mine and my highly trained staff’s protection. Not even Ramanae dares challenge me directly and I know more of his secret dealings than he is aware.”
"Wait,” Ramaeka protested. "I haven't decided yet.”
"You should go with him,” Stripe said. "Learn everything you can and then come back and we'll finish that scuz Gasha together.”
He grinned cold and fierce. "Then we'll go deal with your dad.”
Ramaeka nodded unable to stop a matching grin spreading across his face.
"Should I be afraid?” Isahn asked fascinated. "Because I am starting to feel concerned.”
"You'll keep me informed of what's happening right?” Ramaeka asked Stripe.
"Of course, we'll find a way to get messages through to you. With the help of Lord Isahn.” He bowed formally to the amused dragon.
"I will organize it immediately,” he promised blue eyes dancing. Ramaeka suspected that Isahn had been even more mischievous than he was as a youngling.
"One last thing before I leave you to your rest Ramaeka. Our mutual friend Amar has sent a letter and a package to me for you. He was forced to leave rather abruptly, though I'm sure you will understand why.”
Ramaeka really hoped that meant that Amar had needed to get home before he was discovered not because he had been found out. Isahn handed him a letter and a wrapped parcel then slipped out the door before Ramaeka and Stripe realised he was leaving. Stripe stared after him before shrugging and turning to eye the letter and parcel. To Ramaeka's relief however he didn't ask about them.
"Well it's not the original plan, but I guess it'll work out in the end. We'll work out a code before you leave so I know they're treating you right.”
Ramaeka nodded fighting a yawn, all this talking had worn him out. Stripe smiled.
"Read your letter then get some rest.”
He left as Ramaeka waved, closing the door behind him.
Ramaeka leaned back ignoring the itch of the bandages and the dull throb of healing injuries and contemplated the package. Suppressing his curiosity for the moment he opened the letter first.
My friend Ramaeka
My deepest apologies for not being present when you awoke from your injuries. Unfortunately my guardians have become suspicious of my activities and I was forced to return immediately to conceal my deception. You will be relieved to know that, while they have questioned me extensively since I have returned, they are unable to prove anything. The only one who might have proven my absence is the kindest of them all and does not seem inclined to be concerned.
I would like you to know that I am proud of how much you have learnt and what you have achieved, you have done exceedingly well. However if you put yourself in such danger again I may be forced to take action. I have never been so afraid before. I will continue to watch over you though from a distance for now. Continue to practice what I have taught you.
If my opinion counts for anything I would advise you to take Isahn's offer. You will need both the training and the allies that you will make in Amaria for the future.
/> Your friend
Amar
Ramaeka smiled sleepily, relieved that Amar hadn't found himself in serious trouble. He ripped the paper wrapping the package off, too tired to worry about making a mess. Ramaeka grinned, the box underneath was wooden and delicately carved with dancing dragons. Inside he found a mix of both apples and oranges, under which was a box of the sweet Amar had once given him while they were trapped in the mountains. And at the very bottom of the box was a book. He slid his hands reverently over the leather cover before flipping it open to read the title and laughed. It was a book on healing herbs, most probably the one that Amar's other body had been reading.
Amar had the best sense of humour he thought snuggling down into the blankets and giving in to sleep.
Ramaeka stretched and yawned. He had finally been able to catch up on sleep in the three days since the last battle with Gasha. Glancing over at his friends who now shared his room, he smirked as Stripe drooled a little in his sleep. They definitely deserved the rest. After the dragons had allowed Ramaeka and Shady out of bed yesterday they had been busy, despite their injuries, helping with the small number of seriously wounded and cleaning up.
A runner had been sent after the evacuated city dwellers and soldiers with orders for them to return. In the meantime those in the city rejoiced and celebrated their victory.
Silently he slipped from the room where they had been resting, determined to find something to eat. He made his way down a stone path in the direction of the eating area; hopefully Tam would be there already. He was always two steps ahead of everybody else. Glancing around as he walked into the dining courtyard he noticed the General, Tam and Isahn sitting together at one of the tables which had almost disappeared under the amount of food that it held. His stomach growled hungrily and forced his feet in the direction of the table. Isahn looked up with an amused smile, clearly able to hear the gurgling of his stomach as Ramaeka approached, but merely gestured for him to sit and eat. Ramaeka had absolutely no argument with that and with a polite nod at the General and a grinning Tam, sat down and almost inhaled the food.
It was a fair amount of time before he slowed down enough to notice what was happening around him. By that time Stripe, Parrit and a still pale Shady had joined the table and were watching him with expressions of awe and amusement.
“What?” he asked sheepishly.
Parrit chuckled. “You are a strange young thing Ramaeka.”
He scratched his head.
“What do you mean?”
“She means you just devoured eight pies, a pot of stew and three loaves of bread while we have been sitting here. Which has been about ten minutes,” Stripe said trying not to laugh.
“M’hungry,” Ramaeka mumbled continuing to eat though a little slower. He glanced at Shady.
“You’re looking less dead,” he told him.
“Disappointed?” Shady taunted.
“Vaguely,” Ramaeka replied. “You would probably smell better the other way, but I would miss you all the same.”
Stripe laughed and shoved Shady who grumbled under his breath looking away from Ramaeka unhappily. Ramaeka sighed to himself, Shady was always going to be difficult, looking around he suddenly realising their number was slightly depleted.
“Where’s Gelber?” he asked still a little anxious despite the horde being destroyed and scattered.
Parrit rolled her eyes.
“Do not worry about that one my friend,” she told him. “She is merely disciplining the men on the walls, teaching them how to defend us properly.”
“To their horror,” Tam added his eyes dancing in delight. Ramaeka laughed at the thought. “My poor men,” the General said dryly.
“It’s good for them,” Isahn told him calmly though he looked amused. He turned to Ramaeka.
“So little earth god, they finally got the gates cleared you will be happy to know. That spell was an impressive effort on your part.”
Ramaeka fluttered his eyelashes and tried his best to look earnest. “I try my best sir.”
The Empara dragon laughed at him while Stripe gave him the usual light slap to the back of his head.
“What about Gasha?" Stripe asked frowning. Everyone stopped eating and looked at him.
“What?” he asked shifting self-consciously under their gazes. “He’s not dead is he?”
“No,” the General said firmly. “And that is something that we need to remedy.”
Stripe nodded in agreement.
“If you’re following him then I’m coming too,” he stated. He glanced over at Shady who sighed.
“Yeah me too,” he said reluctantly. “Can’t let this idiot go off without me.”
Stripe grinned at his friend.
“My sister and I will both join your hunt,” Parrit told them. “We took a vow to find and destroy the Warlord, so we must continue on.”
“Aye, ye know I’m wit ye already,” Tam added. “What abou’ ye Ra?’
“As to that,” Isahn began.
Ramaeka yelped and grabbed at his shoulder as the pain hit again with a fury.
“What’s wrong?” Stripe asked jumping up anxiously and hovering over him. Ramaeka couldn’t reply as he writhed with agony.
“It will be alright,” Isahn said quickly stepping over to Ramaeka and putting a hand on his shoulder. The pain receded and he was able to breathe again. He looked up at Isahn with grateful, watery eyes.
“What was that?” Stripe demanded still hovering.
“Ramaeka is about to go through his first change,” Isahn said sitting back down.
“What?” Stripe looked at him blankly.
“Dragon’s grow older differently from humans,” Isahn explained. “While you simply grow over time, we stay the same until we are strong enough or powerful enough to evolve. Then over a month or so we begin to feel the changes and we go into a deep sleep. During that sleep our bodies stretch and change into a more adult or powerful form.”
He looked over at Ramaeka sympathetically. “It’s a very painful process.”
“Most dragons’ don’t change for the first time until they are at least sixteen,” Isahn said to Stripe. “And Ramaeka’s only just turned fifteen I believe.”
“So I am,” Ramaeka said in surprise. The last few months had gone so fast he hadn’t realised.
“Have you made your decision yet Ramaeka?” Isahn asked.
“What decision?” Parrit asked suspiciously.
“Isahn wants me to go back to Amaria to go through my first change and then to train at his school. He thinks I could learn enough to help destroy Gasha but,” he hesitated. “It means going for longer than I want to be away.”
“I do not understand,” Parrit said slowly. “A mere handful of dragons were able to destroy Gasha’s horde. Why don’t the dragons join the hunt as our allies and rid the worlds of the rest of these vile beasts? Surely it would be only a matter of months to make sure Gasha and his followers never trouble us again.”
Isahn shook his head ruefully.
“At this point it would be impossible for me or my people to work openly with humans. While our law now provides protection for humans, it still does not recognise them as our equals let alone our allies. Even speaking to a human breaks several archaic laws let alone willingly collaborating with them.”
“Yet ye came to our aid,” Tam pointed out. “Seems a bit unfair that we hav’ ta’ lose hundreds iffen a few dragons can get the job done.”
“I know, and I sincerely wish that I could help more,” he smiled wryly. “I fully intend to present my ‘rescuing’ of Ramaeka as the reason for my interference.”
He leant forward earnestly.
“Give me time and I will get these laws changed. My people have never been challenged by another strong dominant people before, we must learn to adapt and change.”
“And Ramaeka will be part of those changes,” Parrit stated.
“The youth of today will shape our future in ways few of us could com
prehend,” Isahn inclined his head.
She nodded thoughtfully and turned to Ramaeka.
“Then you must go,” she said quietly. “Learn everything you need to know and then come back and help us.”
Stripe grinned at Ramaeka shrugging off the serious atmosphere at the table. “Maybe by then you’ll be as tall as Shady.”
Ramaeka smiled reluctantly back, ignoring Shady’s angry reply in the background. “That wouldn’t be hard I guess.”
“Alright,” he agreed looking up at Isahn. “I’ll go.”
Isahn smiled at him as Stripe punched him affectionately on the shoulder and Tam ruffled his hair. And despite the fact that he was about to separate from his friends, just for a while, he couldn’t help but grin at how good the future seemed.