Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.
Chapter 23
Verus Umphrey wasn't quite sure whether Cazut could see those figures draped in tattered black cloaks with raven faces circling above the mother and the child. He was more petrified by the scene. A mother and a baby surrounded by these blood-chilling hovering and flying figurines trapped in a cemetery. It was not just an ordinary one either. The tombstones were led mirroring the lines of an ever ending spiral.
The dream consisted of two fragments. The first one he was sure was the one Cazut had pulled forth from the depths of his own mind. The next one had just latched itself to the withering tail of the first one. Both Matre Solveig and he had fallen back from their chairs trying to fend off those terrifying creatures. They looked so real over the brink of the whirlpool that they thought they would simply jump out of it and attack them here in the Kelp. Cazut had fainted almost instantly and the round basin had shattered into pieces all by its own.
Healer Umprey stood shivering at one spot as he watched Matre Sol trying to rejuvenate the unconscious potioneer. She was speaking to him but Umprey was too shocked to even hear her from this close. Not until Hidos, Cazut's faithful raven had pecked his head to snap him out of his trance.
Still lying prone on the flagged stone, Cazut coughed and slurred. Milis was already present. Turning at the stunned Healer Solveig barked," Get a grip, he is running a fever, get him to his quarters along with Milis and see to it no one approaches him." Shaking Verus out of his stupor, Solveig added," I am counting on you, Verus, don't disappoint me."
The healer cautiously knelt next to the delirious man and panicked," But Matre he sees the dead. The dead can hear him and do his bidding. Matre, he is a necromancer. A very powerful dark wizard."
"Are you doubting him now of all the times, Verus? Are you doubting Naireen and the choice of the Elder's magic that has protected us for ages?" Solveig countered.
"I don't doubt any of it. But we need to make sure the Dark Forces never get a wind of him, if you want him as our ally," placing his shaking fingers at the pulse point of the man Verus urged in hurried whispers.
Cel Cazut couldn't hear much of what was said. He knew his body was feeling like it had turned into lead. Everything in his mind was freezing. He was also aware somehow the baby was safe. Unmindful of where he was, he kept on chanting," Safe, I will keep you safe. Little one, you will survive, you simply must."
"Hurry up, take him back right now," Solveig half shouted. Millis grabbed the ailing man and the healer and apparated out of the Kelp Mistress's office.
Without wasting any time, Solvieg hurried down to the catacombs. Several of the Apprentice Handlers greeted her on the way. Rolf Spearfield was readying Aidan, his Hebridean Black dragon, when he saw her hurrying towards the main entrance to the catacombs. He called for his master, Dushtan Folkyre instantly, "Sir, Matre Solveig is coming this way. She surely doesn't look quite pleased."
The Head guard barreled out of his shed, where he was busy fixing the straps of his hoister. Together the men half sprinted to welcome the Kelp Mistress. Before they could even utter a word, Solveig ordered in a no nonsense tone," No one trains today, Folkyre, at least not with the dragons. Seal the catacombs and redouble the guards. You can continue training the apprentice. But no one is to ride dragons until further notice. If they ask any question, you will ask them to wait for the official decree. Give me the keys to the catacombs and call all your guards out of the caves. No one should venture inside, while I stay in."
Leaving the worried group of Kelp guards, handlers, the assistant and the Head guard at the mouth of the main cave entrance, Solveig, unlocked the iron and golden gate and stepped in. The structure of the cavity was much like an egg. The entrance was at one tip and at the round base was the nest of the oldest dragon, Naireen , the Dragon Matriarch.
On an ordinary day, Solveig would greet all of them one by one. But today, she simply dashed down the stone stairs. The dragons watched her walk past them and retreated inside their nests. The whelps followed their guardians and hid under their wings.
Finally reaching the end of the spiralling stairs, Solveig grabbed the stone wall and panted. Right across her, the azure blue dragon sat on her hind legs. Naireen's nest took up the entire base of the catacomb. The stairway spiralled closed to the wall of the egg shaped cavern. It was too deep for a human to see its bottom. While the kelp handlers and apprentices used the stairway, the dragons usually chose to exit the cave through the tunnel and shaft connected to the main entrance. They would fly back or trudge back to their shelters through the many smaller cave mouths connected with tunnels which finally led them to their respective nests.
Legend has it that the whole structure was made by Gul Vilt and the first dragons that had flown in with him. Dragons had breathed fire in order to create those small tunnels connecting the whole place. As for the unique shape of the entire structure, Naireen to this day mentioned," An egg helps life to thrive. So we live inside an egg."
Marching up to her dragon familiar, the irate Kelp Mistress lost her composure at last. Instead of utilizing their mental connection she resorted to yelling, " YOU have not been forthcoming NAIREEN. I could have killed an innocent man today."
The Dragon huffed and murmured through the mental connection,' You saved him in many ways, instead.'
Scowling at the beast, the witch took to pacing across the floor. She complained,"Verus is somehow managing to keep himself together. He thinks Cazut carries a cursed soul, that he can speak to the dead or the dead speaks to him, sought him alone...he is a necromancer. Tell me Naireen did you know about this, all those years ago?"
'I did,' came the solemn reply.
"What else are you hiding from us? Tell me is he the chosen one? Do you know who the child is? Tell me why the Kelp hums on its own, why the Gallowers are failing to perform magic? Tell, me for once are we all at the brink of extinction, Naireen! I remember pledging to you and I can recall you too in return had pledged to be my guide!"
When she saw the dragon close her eyes and bowed her head, she decided to confront her, "Naireen you cannot help us by not being forthcoming." Solveig watched the beast turn away her head and watch the scorched marks dotting the jagged ceiling and the walls.
Sighing deeply, the witch took a couple of steps forward and placed her palm against the dragon's ridged cheek. This time in a soft voice she pleaded,"We cannot fulfill the demands of the prophecy by being secluded in the Kelp or the Gallows. We need to reconnect with the outer world. We need to look for those lost kins who have sworn their blood and magic to the Gul Vilt's spirit. I shudder to think of what little I saw in Cazut's Dreams. Verus too seemed to see it for the first time. He never mentioned those figurines. All he said, he saw the ancient magic around us extend itself to welcome the young and desolate man. He mentioned the magical aura engulfing Cazut and claimed him as one of us. He also said, he saw him saving people and walking through fire unharmed. From that, the Healer concluded that perhaps, Cazut was related to the Kelpers as well."
Naireen turned her head slightly and brushed her cheek against the much smaller palm of her Witch Rider. "Sol- ari, Time dispersed many of our own. You are right. I too miss my kin. The Ones I never got to know in person. I hear them call to me from over the ocean. But my vows to this place have tied my hands."
"Naireen, the Kolbis of the hjertet av isrosa are still in touch with us. Cazut himself has met with the Corvus Witchmen," the witch reasoned.
Purring and chuckling, the Dragon Matriarch apologized," Yes, old blood can help, but we need to find those new saplings. Sol ari forgive me, I sought silence over the debate. It has been ages since I felt old magic. I might have prepared many of your ancestors for this day, but down the line, its meaning got slightly rusted for me. So when it all started again, I couldn't quite decide what to say or do. The Kelp and the Gallows depend on you, and you depend on me. I need to be certain of things to begin with."
"I can understand Naireen. I am truly not holding it against you," leaning her head against the snort of her dragon familiar Solveig murmured affectionately.
'Sol- ari, summon the Vaktare Rikedom Vilt Guld. I hear someone say these words after so many years. You were right we can't find a solution while hiding. I see that the outside world wants to reach out to us. I concede it is time that we reciprocate the gesture. I don't know who the child is, but I know this much he is a raven much like our potioneer, his blood kin. I can assure you, Master Rohirrim Cel Cazut is worthy enough to be a part of Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt Guld. And we must all join to help him in unearthing the past.' the dragon purred into her ears.
"No one will believe me. The Kelp residents, my counsel will question me and so will the Gallowers. I don't know what to say, Naireen. How will I convince them that we can really trust Cazut?'
'This time you will stand aside. I will talk to them!' Naireen's firm voice echoed in her mind.
"Naireen! What are you talking about? No, I cannot allow you to take your human form. You are weak. You haven't taken your human form in millennia. " in utter shock, Solveig blurted out.
"It might be, ages, since I took my human form, Sol-ari, but don't you dare question my powers and the extent of my strength," the dragon harrumphed.
"I am just concerned. Your magic just does not control the Dragons residing in the Kelp. It also connects the old wards and the protective shields placed by the Elders and the first Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt Guld with that of ours. It also keeps our enemies away,' the Witch Rider countered.
Naireen thought back, 'Dearc Mordor is aware of the vibration, she feels it Sol-ari. But we need to Keep the potioneer close and protected at once. We need the Gallowers to continue to trust us. They need to finally accept in the true sense that Cazut is one of them. I want to meet all of them together here in my nest. Let the house-elves take care of Master Cazut. Healer Verus Umphrey needs to be present as well. I think apart from you, Cazut will consider him as a friend and a confidant from now on.'
When the Kelp Mistress was about to leave, the familiar called at her," On second thoughts, Sol-ari, you can ask the guards to let Healer Umphrey in, whenever he pleases to see me. I must put the man's mind to rest at once."