Fate of the Forsworn
Chapter 8
High and Low
Morning dawned cloudy and dull as Niev awoke. Sarrarra and Kyvoster were both laid down around the fire, guarding their Riders, and Caryn was still nestled up against him. The fire had all but died down by now, and just as Niev made to get up and put more wood on the dying embers, Caryn murmured in her sleep. Niev got up and pulled dried food out of his heavy rucksack and proceeded to eat slowly before Caryn awoke. As he ate, the sun slowly broke through the clouds above, shedding watery light across the wide, bleak landscape. Kyvoster stretched and yawned behind his Rider, and gently nudged Sarrarra, who returned the gesture somewhat timidly. Niev turned around to look at his dragon with something akin to suspicion on his features.
"Kyvoster, what exactly were you and Sarrarra up to last night when you vanished in the small hours of the morning?"
Kyvoster chose not to reply, merely snorting and looking over at the cloudy sky. Before Niev could question his dragon further, Caryn woke up and smiled wanly at Niev.
"Good morning, Niev. Will we be able to make it to Bullridge by tonight?"
Niev shrugged as he got up to pass food to his young friend.
"If we get going within the next half hour, then yes, we should be able to. I don't think there'll be much in the way of bad weather today. You'd best get ready, Caryn."
Caryn nodded slowly as she got up, stretching to ease the cramps in her muscles. Her dreams had not brought her any peace in the night, and all she could remember was a huge being swatting Sarrarra aside like she was nothing before trying to grind her out of existence. She winced as the scar across her waist stretched, reminding her that her healing abilities were still not perfected. As she sat down to eat, she idly wondered whether Uthur or any of the other dragons trapped in their Eldunari would aid her recovery at all. Niev extinguished the fire and climbed onto Kyvoster's back just as Caryn finished her food. Caryn flashed her idol a smile before hoisting her rucksack up onto her back and mounting Sarrarra. Niev smiled back and gestured to the land before them.
"After you, Caryn."
Sarrarra broke into a run before leaping into the air, her giant dull yellow wings beating furiously to gain altitude. As soon as she had gained a reasonable height, Caryn glanced behind her to see where Niev and Kyvoster were. To her surprise, there was no sign of them, until a movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to look up. Soaring a good hundred feet or so above her was Kyvoster, sparkling red in the sunshine. Smiling, she urged Sarrarra higher until the two dragons were flying alongside one another, heading into the west. Much of the day passed with barely a word between the two Riders, although Caryn spend much of the time conversing with the wild dragon Uthur. The other three Eldunari were more hesistant to share knowledge with her, but the more savage dragon from the high polar regions had taken a real shine to the curious, bubbly young Rider. Kyvoster began to show signs of tiredness by the time the sun was in front of them, but Caryn's four Eldunari had kept Sarrarra as fully fit as she had been in the morning. As the sun edged ever closer to the horizon, Caryn broke out of her mental conversation with Uthur and yelled across at Niev.
"Shouldn't we land soon? I'm not sure about you, but I'm parched and starving."
Niev shook his head.
"We can carry on for an hour after dark, then we'll land. We're still a good way from Bullridge."
Discouraged, Caryn lapsed into a sullen silence as their dragons flew on. Finally, when night had truly fallen, they descended towards a marshy pool a mere three miles from the Ramr river. Caryn staggered off Sarrarra, stretching her aching limbs and breathing deeply. Niev jumped down from Kyvoster's back and approached Caryn, looking concerned.
"Are you alright, Caryn?"
Caryn shook her head and began to stumble around, looking for a good spot to rest for the night. Niev turned to remove food and water from Kyvoster's saddlebags when a scream brought him to full attention. Hastily mouthing a few words in the Ancient Language, he created a floating red light about a foot across, not unlike the lanterns the dwarves were so adept at crafting, and saw the problem immediately. Caryn had wandered too close to the murky pond and was sinking out of sight in its' muddy shoreline. Already she was up to her waist in the thick, dark mud, and her desperate flailing to get out was only making her sink faster. Niev did some rapid thinking before yelling to his trapped friend.
"Caryn, shout 'Skoliro Brisingr' and pour every fibre of your being into holding that spell! Shut your eyes and trust me on this."
Caryn turned her golden eyes onto Niev, shut them, and mouthed the spell. Kyvoster roared deafeningly and spat a jet of red fire right at Caryn, followed split seconds later by Sarrarra's yellow flames. The effect was instantaneous. The fire of the two dragons boiled away the water and burned the mud dry. Signalling for the dragons to halt, Niev picked his way across the dry mud and took Caryn's hand in his. Shaking like a leaf, Caryn opened her eyes. Her clothes were scorched and filthy, mud splattered her face, and she was almost up to her neck in the mud. Niev rested a hand on her cheek as her shaking got worse. Muttering a few words in the Ancient Language soon allowed Caryn to be brought above ground level again, but the instant she regained her feet she collapsed. Kyvoster made to rejoin his Rider, but was forestalled by Sarrarra, who snarled warningly and made her way to Caryn. Niev moved aside as Sarrarra nudged her unconscious Rider. More out of a desire to do something than to cook, Niev began to build a fire for Caryn to sit by when she came to. The flames were crackling merrily within mere minutes, and Kyvoster had gone hunting to give Caryn a good meal when she woke up.
Some time later, a good-sized deer carcass was roasting over the fire. Sarrarra had been forced to remove all of Caryn's clothing and wrap her in her blankets in the absence of a proper change of clothes. Kyvoster had fallen asleep without waiting for the food to be prepared, and Niev was carefully watching the meat cook. Sarrarra hadn't said a word since Caryn had been nearly sucked into the mud, and kept shooting sidelong glances at the older Rider. Finally, Caryn stirred under her makeshift bed, coughing. She rubbed at her eyes blearily before looking around.
"Sarrarra? Kyvoster? Niev?"
"All still here. You gave us all quite a shock there, Caryn. I hope..."
That's enough. Sarrarra snarled at Niev, her yellow eyes glaring at him balefully. Your trick to pull my Rider out of this mess almost cost her her sight, Niev.
Niev sighed.
"Time was hardly on my side, and sadly..."
I don't care if you thought you had all the time in the world, old one. You are not responsible, she is not your apprentice, and...
Niev flared up.
"And what? Listen, if I'd tried to levitate her out, it wouldn't have worked, she would have drowned, and I'd have ended up pulling out a dead Rider. Didn't you feel as if you were choking?"
Caryn nodded slowly, her eyes welling up. The thought of losing her sight was bad enough, but of dying in quicksand was truly horrific. Sarrarra looked from her Rider to Niev and back again, then blew out a muffled roar.
My apologies, Niev, I spoke in anger and haste. Yes, I too felt as if I was choking and drowning. Caryn is everything to me, and you know how I feel.
Niev nodded and gestured for Caryn to move closer to the fire, looking away as she did so. Just as he turned to look back at the roasting venison, a warm, moist touch on his cheek jolted every nerve in his body. He turned to see Caryn smiling before lying down next to him. He smiled back and ruffled her bright yellow hair.
Hours later, the camp lay shrouded in darkness. Niev had sent a message to Caryn's master, Ralforr, and had received news that she would be accordingly given extra time to search for her weapon. After stuffing herself with food and drinking enough for three people, Caryn was bundled up underneath one of Sarrarra's wings, out to the world. Niev was sleeping soundly, having left the remainder of the food for Sarrarra to devour. Kyvoster started in his sleep, glaring towards the south-west. Bearing his teeth, he growled deeply. Tremors shook the land every few seconds as something approached. Kyvoster let his natural magic flow as he sensed the incoming creature. Soon his growls became more of a warning snarl to stay away. Something inside him wanted to flee at the approach of this beast. Overhead, the clouds parted, and the light of a gibbous moon fell onto the marsh below.