Chapter Fifty
Lessons Learned
I walked back to Allura's tower in a daze. I hardly noticed where I was going. My mind was so enveloped in what I had just experienced.
When I finally got back, everyone was excited to see me, it meant we could all fight together in the training room, they'd been waiting for me. We entered the training room and were greeted once again by the spectral servant. "What is required?"
Keothi stepped forward. "We wish to battle a dragon."
"A dragon you say?" He almost seemed surprised. "What type of dragon?"
I stepped next to Keothi. "An ancient white dragon."
The servant nodded. "In case you have need of it, now or at any other time, you may end the training by all of you dropping your weapons, so you are all unarmed. Now, the white dragon. Please close your eyes."
I closed my eyes and waited for some sort of signal. Surely, the magic of the room would not have the dragon attack us first. The air grew cold, and I opened my eyes. All was black. I could not see, just as when we had met the sphinx. My sight came back to me slowly.
We were at the bottom of an ice cavern, in a deep pit. There looked to be a ledge about five storeys above us. There was a faint, slow rumble throughout the cavern, I could even feel it beneath my feet. I knew it had to be the dragon, probably breathing.
I motioned to the group to be quiet. I asked Keothi for the immovable rod, and two lengths of rope from whomever would lend it. Naidaroe tied an end to the rod, and then the two lengths together.
I flew up to the top of the ledge. It was slippery all around, but I was beginning to become accustomed to moving around where others might have difficulty. I found the best place to anchor the rod so we could climb the rope and land on top easily, locking it there.
There was a wall of ice near the edge, but there would be enough space for all of us to stand until we could get through. It was thin enough I could almost see through, but not quite. The rumbling was louder up there. It was definitely breathing, just as I'd heard Bahamut breathing. I was sure the dragon was on the other side.
I flew back down to the group. "The rod is in place, so we can climb up. I can fly lighter people who don't think they can make it up the rope. There is a wall of ice at the top, but it is thin enough we should be able to break through. We'll need to stay quiet though.
"A few things you should know about white dragons, they can breathe out a cone of cold air, much like Brox'l Tor and the winter wolves. The more spread out we can be, the better. They try to use their breath weapon as much as they can because they can use it from a distance."
We began the ascent. Keothi climbed up the rope first, so that he could pull people up if needed. Naidaroe went right after, scrambling up the rope like a true sailor. Melima and Ari'yasa climbed up as I took Jörgen up the ice on my broom.
We deliberated how to get through the ice. We wanted to make as little noise as possible, so Keothi's hammer, Melima's lightning, and Jörgen's fireball would not be ideal. Melima mentioned that she had a spell that would allow her to breathe out fire, much like a dragon, and it was pretty quiet.
She started breathing on the wall, quickly making a hole, and I flew up and retrieved our rod and rope. She had a small hole through, and breathed on it one more time to make it large enough for us to get through. I cast my spell that allowed my arrows to splinter so I'd be ready for battle. I couldn't help but tap my foot in anticipation. At long last, I'd be able to fight a dragon again, a chromatic, an evil dragon.
The hole was large enough for us all to get through, but all was quiet, the rumble had stopped. The large cavern inside had a light blue glow. To the right was a shelf. Two claws hung over it, with a snout on top of them. I motioned for quiet and pointed to the dragon.
An eye opened and looked right at me. "It's seen us."
The dragon lifted its head and spoke to us in Common. "It's been so long since food has come to my cave."
I shouted back in Draconic. "You won't find it so easy!"
"Ah, it has been a long time since the tongue of dragons has been spoken by a little one here."
We began to rush into the room. Keothi and Melima to the right, Ari'yasa and I to the left. Naidaroe and Jörgen were still trying to get their footing. Jörgen had almost fallen off the ledge and Naidaroe had barely caught him. The dragon spoke again, "I love a buffet!"
I flew halfway between the hole and another wall of ice. It gave me a wide-open shot and my arrow planted right into its shoulder as it splintered. I cast my mark on my foe and shot another arrow before flying behind the wall of ice. That arrow hit right next to the first one, but bounced off and planted in the ice behind it.
"Oh, you want to play!" It had stood up and was spreading its wings as I made it behind the block of ice. I remained in the air in case I needed to go farther up to stay out of range of its icy breath.
A blast of cold air hit me from behind. My mind briefly flashed to when I was sitting on the floor, staring down Brox'l Tor. I had been sure then that I was going to die, but not today! The blast of cold was powerful, but I still had more in me.
My friends, however, did not. Naidaroe and Jörgen had fallen and were encased in ice at the base of the hole. I flew over and tried to heal Naidaroe. It worked. The ice covering her melted, and she looked around.
Melima had thrown a lightning bolt at the dragon and it flew towards her, striking her with its tail and knocking her to the ground.
I whispered to Naidaroe as I straddled my broom again. "Heal Jörgen! I have to go fight it!"
She leaned over and touched Jörgen, melting the ice around him, but the dragon was now above us, beating its wings and blasting us with wind. It knocked me over, and my friends were unconscious again.
It flew to a ledge on the left. Keothi rushed towards it and the back of the cave, but there was no way he was going to be able to reach it. It refused to land on the ground.
I had to decide. Was I going to heal my friends, or was I going to try to defeat this dragon? Without defeating it, there was no chance any of us would survive.
I let off a couple of arrows, but they were thrown off by the wind from the beating wings. One merely bounced off the side of a wing. It laughed and taunted me in Draconic. "You were right, I'm not finding this easy, I'm finding it nothing. Dinner, and a show."
There was a crack of a whip. Ari'yasa had hit it from behind. Without looking, the dragon swished its tail, knocked her to the ground, and flew into the air again. She was out as well.
What had I let us get into? I knew that we'd be no match for an ancient dragon, even one as brutish as a white dragon. I'd led us against something way over our heads, again.
I looked to Keothi, horror was spread across his face as well. There was nothing our war chief could do.
In desperation, I cast my arrow splintering spell again. That helped my next arrow hit, and my next one went straight into the dragon's snout. Maybe I could at least give Keothi a chance.
It was right above me, its wings beating harder again. I tried to hold on, but the force was too powerful. I fell to the ground and drifted into unconsciousness. I really was going to be dragon fodder this time.
. . .
I awoke to darkness. It was no longer cold, though I still felt chilled. Much like I had after fighting Brox'l Tor, but I no longer ached. My friends were waking up around me as well, we were back in the training room.
Keothi looked away from us. "Now you know what happened to my tribe."
None of us felt like continuing training at that point. Not after what had just happened. We'd just lost, and if it had been real, everything would be over. Despite being alive, we all felt a little dead inside.
We washed up a bit before being called to dinner. Allura had just returned from the council chambers. "I want to thank you all for coming, and for your input in the meeting today." She looked at Melima and I.
"So, have you come to any decisions as to what the plans are for the next couple days are, or the next few days, or however long you need? I have informed the captain of the ship to at least begin preparations for the journey soon, though I don't know how soon you want to leave."
"I don't think we should stay longer than a week," I said. The weight of what Bahamut had told me was heavy on my mind. Time was of the essence. How much time had we wasted already? Then again, where was I supposed to study?
Food was brought and we began the meal. Allura spoke again. "I apologize for the somewhat rude exit that was had by the council members. They are not all in agreement on this subject, and uh, yeah... Some of the council members do not agree, and those who don't tend to have more influence in certain areas of the city. I wish they didn't, but, here we are."
She sighed, then changed the subject. "It looks like you've made yourself useful in the training room."
"We made ourselves pathetic," Keothi said.
"Indeed?" Allura laughed. "How so?"
"I realized the foolishness in my quest to slay the ancient dragon," Keothi said. He'd stopped eating and was staring at his plate.
"In time, in time. We all have our quests that we must go on. But I was in your shoes once. Do not worry, you'll get there."
"I am not a spellcaster, I do not ever see myself having the power to slay a dragon."
"You'll be surprised, Keothi." Allura smiled.
We turned our discussion back to when we would leave Emildan. We had nothing else we wanted to do in Emildan, so we decided to leave as soon as the ship could be made ready. Allura would need to make sure things were in order for her to leave as well.
Allura asked us which port we wanted to go to. She advised against going directly to Felspring, the High Elven capital, as there was not a port there and the elves wouldn't take kindly to a ship flying over their land, and it would nearly double the voyage for the ship.
There were two main port cities on the eastern side we could go to. One was Vasselheim, which was a main trade hub, especially for things of a magical nature, and was where Naidaroe trained as a bard. The other one was Ankharel, a desert city, and where Ari'yasa was from. Once again, I began to feel like an outsider, having never been off of the continent of Lystran, and knowing next to nothing of the geography of Fenraas.
Getting to Felspring from Ankharel would involve crossing a desert known to be dangerous, then crossing over a mountain range before reaching the forest. Getting there from Vasselheim would take longer, but be a bit safer. We'd have to go around the mountains on the southern edge of the range, then travel through the Wood Elven country.
I was leery of traveling through Wood Elven territory, now knowing that I looked like their royalty, but it sounded safer than going the other way, and I was not about to needlessly risk our lives again. I'd done that twice within one day.
I briefly considered how I might disguise myself, both hiding my High Elven blood and disguising my royal blood. Then I remembered what Bahamut had said to me, I was divided even within my own self and could not be any longer. I needed to embrace both parts of my heritage.
Thinking back to when the elves originally divided, I realized I was the closest to what elves were first created as than anyone had been in a long time. No longer would I consider myself a mixed elf, I was a true elf.
We all agreed that we'd go to Vasselheim. It would lead to the safer route of travel, and in the city itself we might find things or people to help us. I was especially aware of Allura looking for someone to bring back Kima and Sindus. Ari'yasa was a little disappointed we were not going to Ankharel, but agreed with the decision.
Naidaroe warned us that even though we would not be on the sea itself, there were still pirates that would try to raid airships. Some had airships themselves, some lived on islands and would fly up on creatures to raid the ships. Air travel was safer, but not immune to trouble.
Knowing we were going to leave soon, I wrote a letter to my parents. This would probably be the last one I'd write in a long, long time, and I knew I couldn't receive one back. I wouldn't even tell them which port we were going to, I'd made too many enemies, including an elf that could get them in serious trouble.
Dearest Meldalós and Thorontur,
It breaks my heart to hear about Raishan, and I hope you are safe. I wish I could be there, assisting with the war efforts there, but I have been called another way, in what I fear is an even greater war. We are to set sail within a few days for Fenraas.
I have learned so much since I departed Raishan, some of which I never wished to know. I've never felt such sorrow, but also have never known such thrill of adventure.
How I long to talk to you, to ask you so many questions. I know about my Mother's family now. Not much, but how significant they are. I should warn you, I have told some people of importance, including an elf, what little I do know. I have a feeling I'll know a lot more soon.
You may find this hard to believe, but I've started feeling more amicable towards dragons, at least the benevolent ones. Enough so that I have started to follow Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon. I have received help of him in my quest to save the Tree.
I hope to continue what you have started. I honor you for your bravery. I understand now more than ever what you have been through. You are heroes in my eyes.
Gratefully yours,
Glân
I asked Naidaroe to take it to the post for me. She was the least likely to draw attention to herself. I didn't want the letter to be traced to me, and even if it was, I didn't want to indicate my relationship to the recipients, thus my use of their first names. I could have had a servant do it, but I worried that Brotorus would be screening mail now coming from Allura's tower.
I sent it with instructions to check each town near Raishan for Meldalós and Thorontur. Hopefully it would find its way to them.
Hopefully, if they made it out of Raishan.
