The Dream of Shadows

by Nicholas Clausen

  With one last burst of speed, Draek climbed the ridge that was their last obstacle between them and Arvain. As Draek moved over the frozen peaks the ground beneath them seemed to disappear as the mountains dropped away. For the first time in a long time, Hayden got nervous about how high they were.

  Draek pulled in his wings and began an angled dive, moving faster than Hayden had ever thought possible. Through the sounds of the wind ripping past, Hayden was able to hear a flapping sound of the loose membranes of Draek’s wings. Hayden’s ears popped and Draek opened his wings and shot across the fields of Arvain, going in the direction of Erskine.

  “What is he doing?” Cass asked as she held her hand in the air to block the sunlight out of her face as she watched Draek fly after Ricen and Fennet.

  “Did you tell Shaylin to tell Draek to come back?” Shane asked, already knowing the answer but unable to stop himself from asking.

  “Of course I did Shane,” Cass responded.

  “I believe he is ignoring you and they are chasing after the big silver dragon,” Raena said calmly.

  “No. He wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t chase them and leave the rest of us here.” Cass said shaking her head as she watched Draek disappear over the surrounding mountains.

  “You have no idea just how wrong you are.” Rimney interrupted.

  The riders stood around the front of the Ice Keep, wondering what to do next and hoping that at any moment Draek and Hayden would return. The roars of their dragons and the screams of those in pain brought them out of their hopes and back to reality.

  “How many were still outside when the landing pad fell?” Raena asked as they all began running to where the dragons were.

  “A lot,” Shane said sadly. They all began helping try to dig through the rubble.

  They couldn’t help but notice the alarming amount of stone dragons that had fallen out of the sky to land discarded around them. They had sent the Frost Fangs that were unbound to a dragon up to take the keep when they had first sprung their trap. This allowed them to get close to the keep and surround the metallic riders before they knew what was going on around them.

  The downside to the plan was that all of their Frost Fangs that were already bound to dragons were left outside of the keep. Many of them had been under the landing pad when it had broken free from the Ice Keep causing more havoc when their dragons turned to stone and fell from the sky.

  They kept an eye on the sky as they moved the ruble around, looking for any survivors. They hoped that they would see their friend return and they feared that they would never see them again.

  “They should be fine,” Raena said. Shane grunted as he lifted a stone piece of dragon tail. Luckily this time there was nothing beneath the stone except crushed snow.

  “You have seen what they can do, Hayden is as good of a fighter as any and with a bow, he never misses,” Shane said, throwing down the stone.

  “And don’t forget about Draek. I know that other silver was big, but we have all seen what Draek can do.” Rimney said while she smeared the sweat from her brow.

  “I know, but it’s not just that,” Cass replied, looking at the other riders. “Kirin was planning on us bringing an army of Frost Fangs and enough white dragons to replace the numbers we lost in the battle over Eytherka.” Cass and the others looked around at the chaos around them.

  Frost Fangs were still flowing out of the keep in search of survivors. Names were being shouted while others were being screamed. Now that all the dragons were grounded they could clearly see how many dragons they had left.

  “Half,” Shane said. The others looked up at the copper rider. “I think we lost at least half the white dragons.”

  “More than that,” Shanry said weakly as she and the other elders walked towards them. “We lost dragons, entire generations of dragon riders gone. Some villages will not survive without their riders, but I fear we may have lost entire villages already.” She said with all of her fierceness having left her, making her seem weak and frail.

  “We have lost so much,” Klarack said from amongst the other elders. “I knew that this war was going to cost us, we all understood that but we didn’t realize the cost would come today, all at once.” He said, his voice breaking as he spoke.

  “I know this is hard.” Cass started.

  “Ya know nothing!” Shanry shouted. “Ya don’t know our pain; ya didn’t know these people. These are our people, our friends, our families. They are just numbers to ya, that’s all any of us have ever been to ya. Just numbers.” Shanry looked out over her people.

  “That’s not true,” Cass said. “You’re more than that, but we need to remember that this is more than just you, more than just your people.”

  “This is about my people as well,” Raena replied, her voice stronger and louder than she had ever spoken before.

  “We to have lost many of our own as well,” Rimney added.

  “But were your races crippled?” Shanry asked. “Have ya lost this much? I don’t know what we are going to do.” Tears began to fall down her face, following the wrinkles like rivers flowing down old, dry paths after a drought.

  “We will fight. We will make a better future.” Cass insisted.

  “Fight, fight with what? Most of our riders fell and lay around ya. We do not have the numbers to win your war.” Shanry motioned for the other elders to follow her as she turned to leave, the conversation finished and her point made.

  “So, they all died for nothing?” Rimney asked, forcing Shanry to turn back around.

  “No Sea Serpent, they died for ya, because ya convinced us to join this fool hearty mission of yours but we are done now, you’re on your own.” Shanry stood her ground as she spoke. The fire rekindled in her eyes slightly.

  “That won’t work,” Cass said sadly.

  “Ya think to tell us what to do, gold rider?” Shanry barked.

  “No, I will only tell you what everyone else will do. We will fight this war with or without you, and it will either end with our victory or our death. Those are the only two options. If we win then, your people will be rewarded for helping us take the keep, but nothing more for you will have abandoned us to fight alone and you will not have a part in that victory.” Shanry puffed up her chest as if she were being challenged. The other elders stepped away not sure of what to do. Even Klarack remained silent.

  “If we lose we die, and the Metallic Nation will know that you helped us take the keep and will mark you all as traitors. You will die with us.” Cass said, her eyes never leaving Shanry’s.

  No one moved or spoke for several long, awkward moments. The wind around them picked up, and they were reminded of the cold around them.

  “The way I see it is that right now the most important thing for all of us to do is to work together and try to save anyone we can. Let’s move all the wounded inside the Ice Keep as well as all the villagers around the keep. We need everyone inside before nightfall, and we need to make preparations in case Ricen kills Hayden and tries to come back to save the other Metallic Riders.” The reality of their situation brought them all back from their argument.

  “I agree with ya; my people need help more than we need to fight,” Shanry said, the other elders nodding in agreement. The elders took that as a sign to dispense and find areas they could help. Before Shanry left to help as well, she walked over and stood directly in front of Cass.

  “When my people are safe, at least for the time being, we will continue this talk, and ya better have a good plan for us to join ya instead of killing ya gold rider.” She did not wait for Cass to respond. Instead, she followed the other elders to help her people.

  “I hope so too,” Cass said quietly, looking back up to the sky for Hayden before getting to work herself.

  The day was long and the labor hard. They all worked together, mostly in silence, removing debris and searching for survivors. The first few hours had been filled with shouts for help from both the workers and those trapped, but as the day wor
e on and the sun began to set, the noises faded as well.

  Their hard work began being rewarded with finding bodies instead of survivors. As the land grew dark, the temperature dropped even further and with one last look around the remaining workers left to go inside the keep. A few Frost Fangs stayed out, calling for friends or loved ones that had not yet been found.

  As Cass and the others made their way to the keep, Cass waited outside with Shaylin, letting the other dragons and their riders go in first.

  So what do you think? Cass asked as they watched the dragons settle in for the long night ahead of them.

  The plan you have thought of is sound, the risks are there, but I think it's worth trying. Shaylin’s voice resonated softly within Cass’s head. She had seen other riders jump and get scared when their dragons spoke but not with her golden dragon. When Shaylin spoke, it was like birds singing softly in the distance.

  I agree it will be hard. Cass thought sadly.

  It will be, but if successful we could win the war. We must not think of our struggles but of the struggles of all those oppressed. Shaylin leaned her head so she could see into the keep and see all those that had survived the day.

  Should we tell the others first? Cass asked. Seeing their friends being approached by Shanry, Klarack, and the other elders.

  It makes no difference. The plan is the same regardless of who knows it. If we tell them all at the same time though we won't have to repeat ourselves twice, you know how I hate that. Shaylin shook her golden head.

  I know, I wish Hayden and Draek were here. They always seem to come up with the right plans. Cass said sadly. She felt Shaylin’s sadness and longing through their bond.

  Unless their plan is to ignore us and chase after a larger, more experienced silver dragon to who knows where. Shaylin replied angerly, still mad that Draek had ignored her and upset that he hadn’t had the decency to return yet.

  That was not one of their finer plans. Cass agreed. Shaylin looked back to the now night sky, longingly looking for Draek one last time.

  “Come, my friend, let us face our destiny and reveal our plan before it gets colder, and your scales freeze off,” Cass said with a forced smile and patted her golden dragon on her shoulder. Shaylin moved into the keep with Cass at her side.

  My scales would not fall off. I would simply freeze to death. Shaylin corrected. Cass gave a real smile to her dragon, and together they walked up to the elders who were already asking questions.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hayden nodded off slightly; his head limp against his shoulders. They had been flying nonstop since the day before when they began their chase of Ricen and his silver dragon Fennet. Draek had been pushing himself, but with the journey they had done to get to the Ice Keep, they just didn’t have the energy to keep up with Ricen.

  We need to stop Hayden; my wings are going numb. Draek said weakly.

  We can’t Draek, we have to keep going. Hayden replied. He looked over the horizon as he spoke, hoping that he would spot Fennet off in the distance. He had no such luck. They hadn’t been able to see the dragon since shortly after making it over TheeAgren.

  We are no good to Erskine if we show up too late. Hayden insisted. He felt Draek’s strength falter and they fell out of the sky for a few moments before Draek was able to catch himself.

  We won’t be any good to them if we die on the way to them. Draek rumbled. Before Hayden could argue Draek pulled in his wings and lowered himself to the fields below. Draek hit the grass, landing hard.

  Draek collapsed in the field, not waiting for Hayden to undo the saddle straps. Hayden wanted to get out of the saddle quickly, but his body would not obey him. His fingers felt numb and fat as he tried to undo the buckles.

  Once the straps were finally off, Hayden tried to slowly lower himself down to the ground but instead the moment his weight leaned too far to one side he slid off and landed with a muffled thud on the grass below.

  Hayden was still wearing his furs which softened the impact, but the heat from the sun was starting to cook him.

  Draek, are you ok? Hayden asked as he struggled to sit up and remove the cumbersome furs from his body.

  Draek did not answer. He remained limp on the grass with his body moving heavily with his deep breathing that was quickly turning into snoring. Hayden got to his feet, feeling lighter without the heavy furs weighing him down. He tried to move Draek’s wings to tuck them into his body and make him more comfortable, but the limbs were too heavy to pick up and instead Hayden ended up falling on Draek’s side.

  With the last of his energy spent Hayden drifted off to sleep while leaned up against Draek. Both too exhausted to move.

  Hayden, wake up. Draek’s voice penetrated the veil of sleep and woke Hayden with a start. Hayden tried to jump up, thinking trouble had found them. His body tried to obey him, but he could hardly move. He was stiff and sore from the constant flying.

  What’s going on? Hayden asked as he tried to stretch out the soreness once he saw that they were free from danger, for the moment. Hayden looked up at the sun and guessed that they had slept most of the day and that night would be upon them within a few hours.

  I think we may be near Erskine. Draek said sadly.

  We should be getting close. Hayden agreed. He had looked at their map constantly once Fennet had flown out of site. It was the same map that Kirin had given Hayden when she had sent Hayden and Draek out on their journey to bring the Sea Serpents into the alliance. I figure if we can fly like we have done to get to this point then we should get there by tonight.

  That will be too late. I think we are already too late. Draek replied.

  What do you mean? What are you talking about? Hayden demanded frantically. Hayden looked around until he saw what Draek had seen. A small black dot far away on the horizon.

  I don’t understand. Hayden said still staring at the black smudge.

  That’s smoke. Draek answered. Hayden immediately started trying to think of reasons for there being a giant column of smoke that could be seen from leagues away. His mind raced with thoughts of celebrations or field fires they would do at the end of every harvesting season, but nothing added up. There was only one answer.

  We have to get there Draek; we have to help them. Hayden stammered. He couldn’t imagine what the people of Erskine would do in the face of a rouge silver dragon. He doubted that they would be able to defend themselves.

  We will. Remember, we need to find Ricen and Fennet; we won’t be able to stay there long. Draek said sadly. Hayden wanted to argue; he wanted to shout and scream and explain to Draek why they needed to help his people. He knew there was no point though. He knew that they would do their best but Ricen needed to be stopped, that was the most important thing.

  Hayden nodded his head in agreement. Without a word, Hayden started digging through the bags, pulling out the cloth wrapped pieces of armor. He laid them down on the grass and quickly changed his clothes.

  You should go hunt. Hayden said as he pulled his old shirt off over his head. It’s going to take me a while to get all this on by myself, and you might not get another chance to eat. Hayden could tell that Draek wanted to argue, but he could not argue with hunger.

  I will return as soon as I am done. Draek replied with a puff of smoke escaping out of his nostrils.

  Be fast my friend. Hayden replied. There was no telling what they were flying into. There could be a trap laid for them, Fennet could still be lurking around, or they just could arrive to find nothing but smoldering destruction. It was best to be fed, somewhat rested and ready for anything.

  Draek took off with the eagerness of a soldier following orders. Hayden stopped his work and watched Draek take to the skies. Hayden turned and focused back on his work. Checking the straps and making sure his armor was in perfect working order before putting it on.

  When Draek returned, his kill a small dear resting in his stomach, Hayden tightened the last strap on his breastplate. His silver armor shined in the ev
ening sunlight; his eagle helmet rested atop his silver sword and shield. His shield looked the same as the day he had gotten it, the sign of his status as a silver dragon rider.

  As Draek landed Hayden pulled his quiver filled with arrows out of one of the saddlebags, as well as his unstrung bow.

  He got everything on the saddles ready for their flight to Erskine. With everything strapped down, Hayden clambered into the saddle and tightened his leg straps.

  His shield hung at his left knee with his bow laid on his lap. With one last check, Hayden dawned his eagle helmet and together as rider and dragon the two took to the air and began their flight towards what they believed was a burning Erskine.

  “The other elders and I have talked, and we have decided that this fool's quest ends here,” Shanry said. The other elders stood behind her, and it appeared that her strength had returned. “We will not stop ya or ya other riders from leaving, but we will aid ya no longer.”

  “And when we win, what happens then?” Cass asked.

  “We would hope that ya would understand our situation and why we made the decision we have made,” Shanry replied, doubt obvious in her voice.

  “Should they win?” Rimney asked. “I am guessing you would do the same.”

  “Yes, we will hope that they will understand,” Shanry said, emphasizing the word will.

  “You would make this decision without consulting us, without giving us a chance to speak in our own defense?” Cass asked.

  “There is no need to consult with ya, ya all have done and said enough.” Shanry barked, louder than she intended to.

  “They should be allowed to speak,” Klarack said from behind Shanry. His voice a whisper compared to Shanry’s.

  “Ya should remain quiet; it is ya fault we are here just as much as it is theirs. It’s time the Frost Fangs stop looking north and dreaming about the rest of Arvain. We need to focus on our own people and on our own tribes.” Shanry turned and scolded Klarack.