Wind thrashed rain tore through the cave entrance, stinging Amalthia's bare back. The sweet, yellow warmth radiated from the fire in the center of the cave, wavering off the walls and playing with the light. Amalthia looked around but was unable to see the caves occupant.
"I am over here dear child" That deep voice again, it filled the cave but made no echo. "Lady I am in the Shadows beside you"
Amalthia looked over and saw a small, sapphire blue dragon. His serpentine body was no more than 10 feet long and his shoulder could not have been higher than 4 feet. Not exactly a small creature but almost minuscule by dragon standards. Amalthia was shocked, she had many dealings with dragons in her lifetime and their culture put much stock into being physically imposing, it was an integral part of their survival. Mankind had been hunting dragon kind since time immemorial. For reasons ranging from the selfish quest for arcane knowledge, human greed for their stores of gold, fear of dragons, and even some tried to kill dragons as a test to prove their love...
" Lear held a dragons head out to her, the hopeful look on his face was charming in the sunset light against the sea"
Amalthia shook the memory from her mind, Lear was gone. There was no time now to mourn him. She must focus on the situation at hand it was unwise to be distracted in the presence of a dragon.
"Lady, do not try to ignore those memories of the past. Whether they be for good or ill they were part of the man you loved. He is gone and it is only right that you honor him by remembering him."
The Dragon moved closer to the fire and stretched out ... like a lizard sunning himself on his favorite rock. Amalthia moved nearer as well clearing her throat.
"My Lord Dragon how did you know what I was thinking? " A low roar that faintly sounded like a chuckling laughter echoed through the cave.
"My Lady have you honestly not realized that neither of us have spoken since you got here? Dragons cannot speak as humans or unicorns do instead they communicate within, only a few days human and you are already forgetting how immortals communicate. Do you think that you ever spoke out loud with the Harpy Selena? Not all immortals can converse the way humans do. So they speak directly mind to mind. When you thought of that man it was a memory so strong it was like shouting in my ear. Have you even taken the time to really think that he is dead? "
Amalthia was stunned, he was right. The man she had been in love with for twenty years was dead and she had not shed a tear.Ever since Dagda had told her all she had time to think of was getting to her task moving forward. She had managed to push everything away and just concentrate on what she was doing but now... She fell to he knees on the warm stone of the cave floor. Hot, salty tears stung her scratched face. She curled up in a ball on the floor intent on her misery, when a warm feeling surrounded her. It filled every inch of space around her, it didn't try to chase the sorrow away but it was the most comforting sensation that Amalthia had ever felt. Amalthia cried until her eyes ran out of tears but unlike most times she cried when she had been human this time she felt better afterwards.
"I know is hard for you Lady but I also know that there are many hard things coming that you must face. We all need you to be ready for them, the lives of ALL immortals depend on you Amalthia Lady of the Forest. If you cannot keep Liryn away from the manipulative clutches of the court and the corrupt bishop there we will lose the battle. Immortals used to be allies with the New Religion of Christianity we are mentioned many times throughout the Bible but in the past few hundred years the church has used our existence as rallying point, proof that Satan exists and has his minions on the earth. Now we are all hunted as demons and pagan gods. Our numbers are so low that people are beginning to think that were are just myths. The dragons have long memories that expand beyond the time of man, we have seen the rise and fall of Atlantis, The Mighty Empire of Alexander the Great, and we have seen what a man will do for for what he believes. All immortals are in danger as are magicians and any of their friends. Lear's court is on of the few places that still harbored magicians. But now Queen Alia is the regent and she is very Christian but she cannot remove the Magicians without Liryn's consent and we are uncertain where he stands, that is why we need your assistance my Lady because if Liryn falls prey to the deceptions of these false Christians we may lose everything, Someone has already tried to set Liryn against us by attempting make is appear as if a dragon killed Lear but as no doubt any magician in the court knew Dragons would never have done that it was the work of a very powerful magician."
"But My Lord Talyn why would a magician want to frame a dragon? "
"There is only one Magician in the world strong enough to have cast the spell that killed Lear who is not a friend of Dragons and unfortunately this one had a grudge against Lear's adopted father King Haggard he has vowed revenge against all of Haggards family and anyone they love. I beleive you know him... Does the Name Mabrook mean anything to you? "
