Previously on The Dragon Rider Chronicles we saw how Aslan himself appeared to Aravis, Bree, and Hwin. Aslan proceeded to reveal that he was the same lion that had chased them and scratched Aravis before telling them why. After giving Bree a message and lifting his spirits, he told them they would have two visitors. The two visitors turned out to be Cor and Jacob, coming to take them back to Anvard. Finally we saw the joyful reunion between the three friends and Cor starting to tell how he ended up in Caloremen as a baby. Let's find out what happened!

Chapter Thirteen

"It must have been a wonderful chase. They were six days following Bar's galleon and brought it to battle on the seventh. It was a great sea-fight from everything I heard yesterday, lasting from ten o'clock in the morning till sunset. Our people took the ship in the end. But one of his men said, early in the morning, as soon as he saw he was certain to be overhauled, Bar had given me to one of his knights and sent us both away in the ship's boat. And that boat was never to be seen again. But of course, that was the same boat that Aslan pushed ashore at the right place for Arsheesh to pick me up. I wish I knew the knight's name, for he must have kept me alive and starved himself to do it."

I couldn't help but grin as Aravis voiced what we were all thinking.

"I suppose Aslan would say that is part of someone's else story."

"I was forgetting that," Cor said. I don't know if Aravis heard him since she kept going.

"And I wonder how the prophecy will work out and what the great danger is you're supposed to save Archenland from."

I ribbed Cor as I winked at Aravis. "Ah, bet here's the thing. They seem to think our good buddy Cor here has already fulfilled it."

Aravis stared for a minute before her face lit up in recognition as she clapped her hands. "Of course! How stupid I am. And how wonderful! Archenland can never be in much greater danger than it was when Rabadash crossed the river with his two hundred horses and you hadn't yet gotten through with your message. Don't you feel proud?"

Shasta glanced somewhat sheepishly. "I think I feel a bit scared."

I butted in again. "Your forgetting something Cor. Like the fact you'll be living at Anvard now.

"Oh, I'd nearly forgotten what I came about. Father wants you to come and live with us.! There's been no lady in the court since my mother died. Do, Aravis. You'll like Father and Corrin. They're not like me – they've been properly brought up. You needn't be afraid that-"

Aravis smirked at Cor. "Oh stop it, or we'll have a real fight. Of course, I'll come!"

I clapped and stood up, startling both of them as they jumped a bit. "Right! Now that we have this out of the way, let's go meet up with the horses." Aravis turned and pointed a finger at me. "And you – my dear Jacob – need to fill us in on what happened after the battle. The pool stopped showing us when the battle ended. Besides, I want to know if justice was given to that pig, Rabadash." I tried to hold the laughter in, but I couldn't do it. I burst out in a giant bellyache laugh. "Hahahaha – oh man – that's just – woo boy. Sorry Aravis, that story is just too funny. No, I'll be glad to tell it. You're going to get a kick out of this one. Trust me. But let's go say bye to the hermit and get on the road. I'll tell you everything after we head out." "Deal."

…

We had been walking this whole time and I spotted the horses as we came around a corner. I heard the two of them talking to each other as we came around the corner. What exactly they were discussing, I never found out. Hwin was the first one to notice us though, and with a merry trot and a grin came bounding over. Bree was right behind her, trotting a little subdued. "

Hwin pushed her snout into my chest and I returned it with a hug. "Jacob! Shasta! Thank the Lion you survived. After the pool stopped showing the battle, we had no idea what happened. And when the pool showed Shasta getting knocked and then stopped showing you, I was worried sick."

"Pardon the interruption, but that was a rather good spot of fighting Jacob, at least for a greenhorn." I looked at Bree, closing my eyes for a minute as the images tried to rush back in. "Yeah, well, I don't want to become good at it." "No one ever wants to my son, it just happens. The only slippery slope is losing your humanity and decency in the middle of it. And if you keep your perspective, you'll be fine." I just nodded. "Oh, I was going to mention this, but it turns out Shasta is the long-lost Prince Cor of Archenland. I know, pretty big shock."

Both Bree and Hwin gaped at Cor while Aravis and I couldn't help a grin. Was it a little cruel to relish in Cor's apparent embarrassment? Probably, although it was awfully hard not to.

"Ah, there are some voices that it does my heart well to hear! Welcome back safe and sound my sons!" We turned around to see the hermit coming over, the smile on his face plain for all of us to see. "And Prince Cor, it does me well to see your highness again." The hermit gave a low bow as Cor arched his eyebrows. "How did you know?" The hermit grinned at us with the same mischievous smile and mysterious eyes.

"How do you think, my Prince. The same way I watched the battle at Anvard today. You see, I have lived a long time and your abduction and subsequent chase were one of many events I watched through this pool. Not all of them pertain to this world either. It was merely a hunch more than anything else, but hearing the story about the lion and seeing you on the stand next to your brother confirmed it."

My eyeballs popped out at the, 'pertain to this world either,' comment." The Hermit chuckled. "Now is not the time to pursue that, my son. However, I do believe you came to say goodbye for now. The impact of that statement hit home hard. Whether we had realized it or not, we had all become rather deep friends with the Hermit. The wise old man continued. "Fear not my friends, I will continue to watch you through the pool and surely Anvard isn't too far to visit. I dare say it will be a much more pleasurable ride, what with knowing the way and no armies on your tail at that."

….

We all shared a good laugh at that comment. Aravis broke the silence and brought us back to reality. "Well, I suppose we should put your saddles back on. Come along then, Bree, Hwin." Before they could walk off though, Cor cleared his throat to grab their attention. "As it turns out, riding talking animals is considered highly rude. Except in times of war, mind you. Everyone must do one's part then anyways. Jacob and I brought enough horses for all of us." They turned to look at me, and I nodded my head in confirmation. "We also brought a couple pack horses to take the saddles, Arvis's armor and the rest of the gear back. I'll go grab them"

"Ahem!" I swiveled my head around to look at the Hermit. "A word if I might, Jacob. There are some things I believe you need to hear." I looked at him with a question mark on my face for a minute. "Oo-k? I guess you're going to have to get the horses Cor." Cor just looked at me and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

I turned and followed the hermit until we ended up in the upper floor library of the springhouse. We pulled up some chairs as I looked around and took in all the detail. "Holy cow man, this is amazing. But what were you going to tell me."

The Hermit stared at me with an intense look of curiosity, searching for something unknown to me. "As you know my son, I can see a good many things through my pool when our heavenly father allows it. Interestingly enough, that can include other worlds sometimes, namely yours for this discussion."

My eyebrows shot up at this one. "Wait, wait, back the truck up here! You're telling me you're a prophet and you can just look at my world."

The hermit chuckled as he got up and started pacing. "Not so much a prophet my son, although I would be honored to have such a blessing. No, dreams would be a better description. Although for me, I see them through the pool. No. I cannot just 'look' as you put it, for I can only see what I am allowed to. And that brings us to why I need to talk to you, for I have seen something that relates directly to you."

That statement was making me nervous. I had to know though. "Um, ok. What exactly did you see then?"

The Hermit smiled again. "I come with a message from our Lord. 'Take heart, my child, for my plans with you are not yet fulfilled. Your greatest moment is coming, yet it will not be an easy or painless one. Be strong, for the gift I will bestow upon will not seem as one at first. It will be a gift that will take time to master and one earned on a hard road. You will meet many friends and some powerful enemies. But take heart, for your true friends will be there with you till the end, and when you reach there, you will know fully why you have been allowed this ability. Continue to honor me and I will use you to bless generations.'"

…

My mouth was hanging open in bewilderment. It seemed impossible, a message straight from God? Yet, there were plenty of instances in History it had happened. I felt an overwhelming desire to get on my knees. The hermit must have sensed it somehow since he interrupted my thoughts.

"No, my son, reserve that honor for Jehovah alone."

I couldn't contain myself. "but what is it, exactly. You said you've seen it, so at least give me some warning."

"No. Telling you could very well change some of the coming events. Besides, who am I to go beyond what He has allowed me to reveal. He doesn't promise us clarity, my son, just we are to rest in His will and leave the outcome up to Him."

I sat there for a minute, lost in thought before I had to burst out laughing. This trip had been crazy enough already. "Oh man, this will take some absorbing. Whoa boy. Alright then, so what now?" "Continue on with your friends I suppose. Unless you heard something else." "No, no I didn't. I guess I better go see how the others are doing so we can be on our way." The hermit threw his arms around me as we walked out. "I do suppose that would be the best. Like our Lord said, my son, take heart. I have lived many years in this realm called Narnia and seen many things, both in the known world and beyond. There have been many uncertainties over the years and at times I have doubted Him. But Christ has never left me alone. I, for one, know I will be there when he makes an end of sin and brings in His eternal kingdom. Until then, I am simply content to rest where God has seen fit to put me."

I didn't really want to say anything else, so I just nodded as we came within earshot of the Cor and the others.

Aravis saw me as she looked up from buckling some saddle straps. "There you are. We're finished and ready. All we lack know are you on a horse and we will be ready to depart.

I just rolled my eyes and grinned. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. The hermit walked over and started saying goodbye to the others as I buckled my sword belt back on and swung myself up on the saddle. My hip still wasn't completely used to the weight, so I'd given myself a break and left the blade and scabbard on my saddle. It's funny though, the weight doesn't even seem to be there anymore. I reckon that's what some crazy adventures and a whole lot of practice will give you.

Except for Bree's tail, he and Hwin were looking themselves again. They each had their regular saddles back on and their coats were nice and glossy again. Arvis's armor and some other bundles I didn't recognize were strapped on the two pack horses. Aravis's scimitar and dagger were strapped to her waist. The guards from earlier had followed Cor and the rest of the horses through the gates and were re-mounted and in position, ready to take back their escort positions as we left.

I looked over to see the Hermit giving Cor and Aravis some hugs. They didn't know I saw, but a few tears escaped. All of us had made a very good friend that day and it was very hard to leave him behind. "Thank you, Sir, for everything. You have shown all of us a great kindness." His eyes twinkled brightly, and his wrinkled cheeks framed a sad smile. "You're very welcome my daughter, although I'm just another servant in the grand scheme of things. And you, my son, you have been given a great opportunity that a precious few receive. Use it well and you will be an honor to your father's throne. Although, I have already seen that spark in you." Cor flushed somewhat and just looked at his shoes with a lopsided grin. "Yes, well, I will try to do that. I suppose we should get going though. It is a fairly long ride back to Anvard." Aravis let out another sigh as they turned around to the horses. Aravis swung up, with Cor following. He was getting pretty good at it by now.

The hermit looked at Bree and Hwin before teasingly asking, "are you sure you don't want another bowl of mash?" They both snorted, and Bree rolled his eyes. "No, my good friend," said Hwin, "that will not be necessary." The Hermit turned his head to one of the guards, nodding that we were ready to head out.

The man straightened slightly as he spoke. "Prince Cor, are you and your companions ready?" Cor gave him a nod. "I believe we are." With that, the guard nodded to the Herald and trumpeter.

Well people, there you have it folks. Arather startling reavalation for our main character, is it not? Not only that, we finally know how Cor ended up in Caloremen! Seriously though, sorry it's taken so long. School and work have been a pain lately, but what do you do?

Progress on the plot for the next book is coming slowly but surely. I'm starting to get the origin of the humans and main villain in Zeron ironed out, as well as putting some thought into how to use the wood between the worlds. That might be the key to the main overarching plot through all the books. Don't know yet.

In other news, I've been catching up on Marvel movies. Ant-Man, awesome! Black Panther, what-the-heck! Speechless! And Infinity War? Powerful. I think we forget the true cost of war sometimes. I also think we forget that even though it's a just war though good always wins in the end, justice can take time to come to fruition. Does that still make the fight to get there worth it? Absolutely.

Anyways…there's a couple more videos up on my YouTube page, so go check those out.

Alright people take care, God bless, and…Avengers Assemble!

The Love of Dragons out!