CHAPTER 3: DRAGON MESSAGES
It had taken a month for Tai'ree to return to the city of her birth. From the Library it had taken a week on a riverboat to get to the royal ship Waverunner at the port of Panainia where the Tystara River met the sea. It took another week for the Waverunner to work up the coastline to Trianal Bay and almost two weeks to cross the Bay itself.
And now she was standing in the shadow of the castle she had run riot within as a child, had spent her adolescence stumbling her way through, and had left in hope of securing the path her dreams had been leading her to.
Which she had been unable to do.
Yet.
Tai'ree was unsure of her feelings as she looked up at the outer wall and beyond, to the top stories of the buildings just visible from her perch on the foredeck of the Waverunner. She tapped a foot unconsciously against the wood railing before her, trying to find a calm center within the hope, fear, worry, and confusion that tightened her chest. She knew her duties as first-born daughter, had been trained to accept her role, but she had begun to feel she had a greater role to play than forging alliances through marriage.
She had no intentions of turning away from this life, to leave the world she had been born to, but lately her dreams had begun to ask more of her than that of a ky.
She should have told Mahado.
She could see the banners on the castle's river wall showing that all members of the royal family were in residence, her own banner not quite at the top of the pole it flew from, since she was not yet within the city. She knew it would be fully raised when she stepped onto the dock in another two hours. She could also see a banner for a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Caltesart. She was sure it would be Fanesdani, the heir to the throne. Her father had been negotiating a marriage contract with the Calteasartian king for years. If Mahado was unable to convince her father she should be trained, she would be celebrating her wedding within the next year. Part of her looked forward to her marriage to Fanesdani but the rest of her still had things to accomplish.
She leaned against the railing and watched the guardian of the fortress spread his wings, catching the warmth of the spring sun. The green dragon was sitting on the tower closest to the harbor, watching the ships and activities along the docks. It would be the guardian who would announce her return to Alcalsar.
A sudden movement from the guardian made her straightens in surprise. A second dragon pulled itself up onto the wall below the guardian's position. It was of a thinner build and slightly larger than the guardian and it seemed to glitter as if shards of crystals were imbedded in its hide. The two dragons seemed to speak to one another before the guardian settled into his usual perch, wings now held close to his body.
She had just raised a hand to shield her eyes to try to see the new dragon better when she heard soft footsteps behind her.
"Is something wrong?" Mahado asked as he stepped to her side. He was dressed casually in a blue tunic and loose pants tucked into the swirled sided boots he had worn when they had met. He held his wand just below the flared head, the length resting along the inside of his forearm, keeping the bladed end tucked up behind his back.
She had begun to wonder what type of magician he was, having yet to see any magic from him.
Besides Coeremar.
Looking back up at the castle walls she nodded and said, "I thought I knew all the dragon clans within the Kingdom but," she shook her head, "I don't recognize that one on the wall." The dragon appeared to be searching the river for something, its head slowly swinging back and forth.
The magician glanced up. "It's a Crystal Range Dragon."
"From the Summer Lands? He's a long way from home."
"Yes." Mahado said, frowning slightly. Turning he beckoned to the captain of the Waverunner who was currently speaking to the commander of the honor guard who had traveled with her for the last five months. Tai'ree glanced back up and noticed the Range dragon had twisted around to look into the castle proper, its wings raised in what appeared to be agitation. The guardian dragon was looking down at the Waverunner and back to the dragon below him with the familiar cock of the head Tai'ree knew to be curiosity.
"What is it you require, Magician?" the captain asked as he stepped up to the pair.
Mahado nodded toward the castle and said, "Would you allow a dragon to land on your ship?"
"A dragon?" he said, surprised.
Without looking back, Mahado pointed up to the castle walls. "That one to be precise."
As if it had been waiting for a signal from the magician, the dragon launched itself off the cliff wall and angled down toward the boat. Tai'ree could see the dragon had acquired a passenger as Mahado continued talking to the captain. "The dragon will be able to pace your ship but it would be much easier on my voice if he could land."
"Why would a dragon be searching for you?"
"I do not know. I hope to find out."
The captain watched the dragon weave around the other ships to swing up behind his own. It rose slightly to drift above the masts, its gaze firmly locked on the group. The captain glanced at Tai'ree. She nodded, supporting Mahado. She also wished to find out why a dragon was searching for him.
The captain, looking unhappy but obviously unwilling to go against the will of a royal, sighed and said, "He has my permission to land."
Mahado thanked the captain before gesturing to the dragon. The dragon shook its head then dropped back to make its approach.
Tai'ree followed the magician as he headed for the stern and asked, "Were you expecting this?"
Mahado simply shrugged.
The dragon landed on the raised deck facing into the ship, legs braced wide for stability. It did not look happy to be standing on a rocking ship.
While speaking a few words in a language Tai'ree did not recognize, Mahado stepped up alongside the dragon and bowed. The dragon acknowledged the bow with a nod of its head and answered in the same rumbling language. She watched the magician straighten before stepping back to allow the rider room to slide off the dragon's shoulders.
Tai'ree had expected an elvish rider but still found herself surprised. It was rare to see one of the Duine-sith outside the Summer Lands and rarer still to find one in Alcalsar with a dragon.
As the King's eldest daughter, she had been introduced to the few who had come to Alcalsar on royal visits but she had never heard of one seeking out a magician. The Duine-sith were highly skilled magic users, beyond any the Kingdom could produce. What would one want with Mahado?
Unless they knew the truth of who he was.
The elf was not one of the immortal elves of the Crossing- the dark hair and eyes marking him as a native born. Pulling a package off the dragon the elf was easily identified as a Bard from the ornate lap harp strapped to his back, although the gold-stitched knot work circle on the left breast of his jacket showed he was just past journeyman rank. Placing a hand over his heart, he nodded to Mahado.
"Beannachadh, Dubh Draoidh a Mhahaido." the elf said, smiling.
Mahado laughed, a surprisingly bright sound, and answered, placing a hand over his own heart, "Beannachadh, Bard Mhathoid, agus meal do naidheachd."
"Moran taing." The elf said, the smile widening a bit. Nodding toward Tai'ree he added, "Cò I?"
Mahado smiled at Tai'ree and said, "Thai'ree NicAlcalsar de Alcalsar. Is dòcha Dubh Draoidh Caileag."
Bowing to Tai'ree the elf, slipping easily into the language of the Kingdom, said, "Greetings Tai'ree ky Alcalsar. I am Bard Mathod of Clan Glenhu."
Tai'ree quickly walked over to stand by Mahado and bowed, arms at her side, palms outward; reciting the greeting she had been taught as a child.
"Welcome to the Kingdom. I hope you have found peace and comfort here, Bard Mathod."
"I have, thank you ky. Your greeting honors me.," he answered.
Glancing at Mahado before speaking, Tai'ree asked, "What brings you to Alcalsar, Bard Mathod?"
"I came to deliver a message." Turning back to Mahado, the bard handed the package to him as he said, "Gaighdon sent me. A communication was received from Mag Mell by Ciorstag. The heart of it, as far as she could perceive, concerned the awakening of an ancient evil. Gaighdon thought you may have some insight to add in regards to the message."
Shaking his head Mahado said, "Probably no more than he would have. Did Ciorstag convey to you exactly what the message said?"
"She asked me to tell you nothing more than I have. She is afraid to taint your interpretation and wishes to speak to you personally. However she asked me to pass on to you a questing song she believes may be connected to the message. Ciorstag said it may be of use to you"
"A questing song?" Mahado asked.
Mathod nodded. "It is apparently quite old but she feels it is somehow connected." Chanting softly, he sang-
"Search the wind for the questions why.
Search the sky for the answers lie,
Within the mind and the past decides,
Who will win and who will die.
Beyond the land where memories cry,
With whom will the magic come to ride?
Beyond the sands, time will sigh,
With whom will the loved one come to reside?
If not from the three, how can hope be?
If not from the one, how can you be?
The past and the now are bound and the same,
For the future has come and now is the game."
The bard shrugged. "She thinks part of the song refers directly to you." He pointed to the package, "That may have something to do with the rest."
Mahado nodded. "I understand. Tell Gaighdon I will head for A Tir Sahradh, most likely through Caes Catlea, as soon as I am able. That would be the quickest route." The last he said more to himself that to Mathod before falling silent.
While waiting for Mahado to continue, Tai'ree asked, curious, "Where is Mag Mell?" She wanted to ask how Mahado knew Gaighdon, the High Guardian of the Summer Land but decided to wait until later for that information.
"It is a continent several months journey from ours. Many of my ancestor's kin crossed into Vesedhe through a crosspoint there." Mathod answered.
Another continent? "Then the message is out of date." Tai'ree said, giving Mahado a curious look.
"If Ciorstag received the message, then it was not delivered physically." Mahado said as he slowly focused on her. "It is current as it can be."
Mathod nodded agreement, adding, "She does think that a messenger is being sent but is uncertain how long it will take to reach us."
"And she sent you here to find me in the meantime."
"Actually Ciorstag was unsure as to your location. Gaighdon knew you were heading for the Library but I was too late to catch you there. The Door Warden said you had moved on to Alcalsar." The bard gestured to the dragon and said, "We only reached the city two days ago. I was able to deliver a slightly different version of the message to the King while waiting for your arrival." He smiled and said, "I was not informed you were traveling with the ky."
Mahado shrugged. "It is as much a surprise to me as to you, Mathod." He gave one sharp nod before saying, "If Gaighdon is unable to meet me at Caes Catlea, let him know I will continue on to Alenfeer. I should be there by Bhealltainn." Setting down the pack he reached out and shook the bard's hand.
"I will." Mathod said. "Are there any other messages you wish me to carry?"
Tai'ree was surprised when Mahado turned to her and said, "Yes, let Gaighdon know I ran into another Mana. He will understand."
With a nod Mathod pulled himself onto the dragon and said, "Latha math an-dràsda, Dubh Draoidh."
"Latha math." Mahado answered as he pulled Tai'ree back beyond the dragon's wingspan. The dragon carefully turned in place and crouched behind the railing across the back of the ship. Tai'ree watched Mahado make a gesture, bringing a sudden up flow of wind directly behind the ship. The dragon studied the upward wind and jumped, snapping its wings open once it was clear of the Waverunner. Catching the upsurge it was quickly swinging up into the air.
She followed the dragon's path a moment before turning to Mahado. Before she could ask a question he said, as he headed back into the ship "We are almost to the dock and I need to prepare. I will meet you again when we disembark."
She gave an annoyed shout, "Ah! Wait, who's Mana?" When he did not respond she said, "You're going to answer my questions, right?"
"Eventually." he answered calmly, turning to smile at her over his shoulder.
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Beannachadh, Dubh Draoidh Mhahaido- Blessings, Dark Magician Mahado
Beannachadh, Bard Mhathoid, agus meal do naidheachd! - Blessings Bard Mathod, and congratulations!
Moran taing. Co I? Thank you. Who is she?
Thai'ree NicAlcalsar de Alcalsar. Is dòcha Dubh Draoidh Caileag.- Tai'ree, daughter of the Alcalsar of Alcalsar. And possibly Dark Magician Girl
A Tir Sahradh- The Summer Lands
Latha math an-dràsda, Dubh Draoidh- Good day for now, Dark Magician
Latha math-Good day
Bhealltainn- Beltane