I felt the air around me compress painfully and knock down a bunch of the tavern's men. Several of them screamed in panic and tried to run away from the new attacker.

I tried to look for the spell-caster, the one who had shouted in the ancient language. It was futile since there was so much commotion among me, and I could barely lift up my neck, much less twist it around. In the end, I just lay there on the floor, lying on my side.

Amidst the turmoil, I heard Berwyn shout frantically, "Calm down! Calm down men! Halt! I command all of you to halt!"

A blast of light almost blinded me and I tried to crawl away from the crushing feet and moving bodies. I certainly did not want to be trampled on. Of course, someone did end up stepping on me and I cursed angrily through the rag on my mouth, tears springing from my eyes.

Many of the men escaped, leaving behind a catastrophic mess. Some men lay dead on the floor with pools of blood forming beneath them. The only one left standing was Berwyn, the head of the men and the one who had seemingly come to rescue me.

My rescuer wore a dark, black cloak that shrouded most of his body and covered his head. Its back was facing towards me so I could not discern its face or much of its appearance.

However, the voice soon gave away its gender.

"Who are you?" came the low, controlled voice, "Are you working for the Dark Order?"

Berwyn hissed and cried defiantly, "I'll never give you any information!"

Just then, it seemed they were fighting some inner, mind battle. The two men stood rigidly in their places. I could see Berwyn's face slightly, and I noticed that his teeth were clenched tightly.

I moaned loudly and this distracted Berwyn. Suddenly, he was shrieking as if in utmost pain, pressing his hands against his ears as he sank to his knees.

"No, no, no, no!" He shrieked anguishly.

Another blast of light came out of nowhere rendered me blind and dizzy. The last thing I remembered seeing was darkness and another unknown figure.

When I came to, I realized my savior was carrying me on his back. I shook my head, my head feeling a little numb and fuzzy. I also realized that the ropes and the rag were gone. My wrist still burned in pain from the tightly tied ropes. I rubbed them, hoping to stop the pain though it wasn't working.

"Are you alright?" asked the man who saved me.

I was startled momentarily. I forgot he was another human being (I'm guessing) and could talk.

I replied shakily, "I – I think so. Who are you? Thank you for saving me."

He did not reply immediately, only shifting me on his back. I wondered who he was and why he helped me. For some reason, staring at his back made me think it would give me an answer.

I felt something buzz in the back of my mind and I tried to ignore it. However, it persisted and I let my mental guard down and shouted in my head, "Stop it!"

"What do you mean, what? I've been worried sick about you!" came my dragon's voice, loud and clear in my head, and obviously angry and annoyed.

Naolïn! You're safe! Where are you? I thought at her, relief washing over me like a warm bath.

"Look in front of you, you idiot."

I glanced upwards and gasped. There she was, my beautiful pearly white dragon, perched on a low branch of a tree. Her eyes twinkled at me as my rescuer and I approached. However, something enormous loomed behind her. Something red, something glittering, something with scales, something…

My jaw dropped.

Another dragon.

Wait, Naolïn, don't tell me that my eyes are tricking me, I thought, Because I've had enough craziness for one day.

She shook her head, saying, "Your eyes aren't tricking you".

My rescuer dropped me down gently, as if I were a baby, and I stepped a bit away from him, taking a good, hard look. He took off his hood and smiled grimly as he revealed his face.

"No way," I said out loud, "Seriously? Are you a –."

He interrupted right in the middle, not allowing me to finish my question.

"Yes, I am a dragon rider. My name is Murtagh, and behind your dragon is my dragon, Thorn."


Pronunciations:

Kita – Kee-tah

Naolïn – Now-ling

Berwyn – Bur-win