Chapter 4

Once I woke up, I found my meager belongings in my room. My white dragon was still curled into me, its eyelids fluttering in sleep. I moved and it yowled in surprise. Already, the dragon was bigger than it was yesterday.

This would be the last time I would let it sleep with me. Dragons couldn't be house pets. I grabbed my clothing, my bow and my dragon that was perched on my shoulder. I quickly exited the hall and made my way to a little cabin in the Spine.

I stashed my stuff in the cabin and changed out of the fine gown I was dressed in yesterday. I took out my hair and let it down instead of binding it again. I changed back to my usual trousers and I relaxed with familiarity. I didn't fit in at the hall where servants cowered in front of me and the lord and lady of Palancar eager to please me as well. Here in the forest, in the wild was where I belonged.

I first gathered some firewood for the fireplace so I wouldn't freeze to death. Next food. After that, I guess I trained my dragon. I slung my quiver on my body and loaded an arrow. My dragon followed faithfully. It wandered off into the trees and then I was alone. I brought down a big buck which would last me a while and a few rabbits when I found my dragon. He walked over to me, a few dead rabbits in his mouth. I smiled at the dragon and we walked back to the cabin.

It was when I was storing my meat for later when Turquasa came. She landed heavily, her wings partly opened. She bared her teeth. She caught me by surprise so I aimed an arrow at her skull. I lowered my bow but didn't disengage the arrow. I might need it.

What is this? Turquasa growled. Why do I smell another dragon?

I just looked at her, almost afraid to tell her anything. It was a reasonable fear. Dragons were dangerous beasts.

Answer me! she raged.

Wordlessly, I showed her the palm of my hand. She glanced at the sigil and huffed. Why am I not surprised she said questioningly.

I called my dragon with my mind and it came out, eying Turquasa warily. Turquasa sniffed the white dragon.

You got yourself a male.

The white dragon stiffened and crouched. Before I could protest, my dragon hurled himself at Turquasa. He bit at her head and neck but all Turquasa did was chuckle.

Turquasa suddenly announced that she was going to aid me in raising my dragon. Then it began.

We had the first few months to myself. My dragon, who was named Umaring, grew to a respectable size. He was even larger than Turquasa already. There was still a gangliness in his legs that betrayed his youth but he was still strong. He had breathed fire a couple of times but not often.

It was when I was about to ride Umaring when a large thud sounded near us. I knew it was the elf-Queen-Rider. I hastily cast a spell of concealment on Turquasa and she flew off.

Arya emerged from the trees, followed by her massive green dragon, Firnen. Arya's eye widened as she saw me and I stiffened, my grip on my bow tightening.

"So you are the new Rider. I'm Arya and this is Firnen. And what are your names?"

"Elvana," I said stiffly.

Umaring, Umaring said just as tightly.

No need to be on guard, hatchlings. We are friends. We've come to take you to Ellesmera. Firnen sniffed the grass for a second and then eyed my game bag. It would be rude for me not to offer any and I didn't want a Queen, let alone a Rider as an enemy.

I gathered some firewood and started to clean some game. Firnen and Umaring took off in search for their own food. I summoned a ball of fire and threw it into the wood. It burst into flame and sparks flew everywhere. Arya remained emotionless but I knew that I had startled her. She stared at my eyes and something dawned on her. She knew something.

I wordlessly gave her some meat and I began to cook mine.

Arya cleared her throat. "Have you lived her all your life?" she asked.

I shrugged. "For most of it. But for some I lived in Illirea. But I prefer it here."

She stared at me hard. "Are you Elva's daughter?"

I stiffened but didn't reply. Arya went on; "There have been rumours after she passed into the void but I didn't believe them. I knew she came back pregnant after she escaped but I thought she killed her baby or it was a still birth."

I raised my hand. "Wait, what? When was she taken? What are you talking about?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, she went to bed and when the Queen went to look for her, she was gone. She was gone for a while and when we managed to get her back, she was pregnant. And at so young too. She almost died in birthing you. But she managed to live."

I stared at my skinning knife; I couldn't believe what I was hearing. There was an extreme possibility that my father raped my mother, whoever he was.

Anger rose in me and I clenched my hands into fists. Sparks began to fly off my clenched fists. I dug a nail into my palm and the slight pain made me focus and the sparks died.

We ate in silence and not too far away, I could see the glittering shapes of Firnen and Umaring. Each had maybe two deer. I felt a twinge of love and happiness at seeing Umaring. I didn't know how deep a bond between a Rider and a dragon could go and it always surprised me.

I reached with my mind towards Firnen to see how he thought of Umaring. I felt a sense of amazement and respect. Firnen was impressed with Umaring's fighting and hunting abilitites. I withdrew my mind from his. As soon as they were done eating, Arya gave me a saddle and I easily put it on Umaring. We were ready to go.

We both mounted and our dragons jumped into the air, flapping their wings. I was used to riding bareback but the saddle was a nice adjustment. There were a number of occasions where I had accidently gripped Umaring's scales to hard. Now I could just hold on to a saddle.

I could feel Umaring's pleasure at flying and the wind under his wings. I merged my mind with his and I saw through his eyes. His vision was just as clear as mine, if not a bit clearer. Everything seemed so small and insignificant all the way up here. This is what it must feel to be a god.