Chapter Twelve
Friends, New And Old
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
The next morning, when they were ready to depart, Mûnnguldûr approached them.
May the wind bear you speedily to your journey's end, my friends. He said.
Elmïra bowed in acknowledgement of Mûnnguldûr's goodbye. Thank you for your kind words. She said.
Mûnnguldûr hesitated, then said: If ever you wish to visit the Blessed Realm, seek me out, and I will show you how to reach it.
Aragon's eyes widened as he heard it, and Teclian glanced sharply at the smaller brown dragon in astonishment.
You honour us beyond thanks, Mûnnguldûr-vodhr, we shall seek you out if ever we can. Said Elmïra, obviously as shocked as Teclian.
After expressing their thanks again, and bidding farewell, Teclian and Thelduin set off from Mûnnguldûr's cave, once more heading for Ilirea.
By that evening, they were out of Mûnnguldûr's territory, and they stopped to camp by the Ninor river, on the edge of the great plain.
As Aragon set about building a fire to cook the evening meal, Elmïra was busy casting wards around the camp, so they wouldn't attract any unwanted attention.
Thelduin, who was busy cleaning her scales, looked up when she heard the she-elf finish, and then flicked Aragon with her tail, with the message: look.
Aragon glanced at what Thelduin was trying to draw his attention too, while trying not to burn the simple stew that was simmering over the fire.
Elmïra and Teclian were looking south-east, and Elmïra was shading her eyes, as if to see something at a great distance.
Then she nodded sharply, and turned to Aragon with a mischievous smile on her face.
'Oh no, I know that look.' Said Aragon, shaking his head and backing away from his teacher.
The last time she'd had that look on her face, She'd talked Aragon into helping her play a practical joke on Vrael.
He'd been demonstrating what Elmïra had taught him, while she went and seeded Vrael's bed with itching powder.
He'd spent the next month doing housework for the rider's leader, while Elmïra had been sent hunting a band of notoriously evasive slavers.
She'd eventually returned, sunburnt, haggard, and short tempered, and there'd been no lessons with her for a week while she recovered.
And Teclian had been rather withdrawn and thoughtful, so Aragon had taken to practicing with Thelduin, she trying to strike him any way possible, while he evaded her attacks.
'You won't be doing laundry duty for a month this time Aragon, leave the fire burning, but pack everything else, an old friend of mine is further out on the plain, along with four students of his.
We trained together, and I never once managed to best him in contests of stealth,- he was so damned vigilant,- so, I'm going to see whether or not he's let himself slip or not.' Said Elmïra, as Teclian took off.
Thelduin and Aragon looked at each other.
'And what exactly do you want us to do?' Asked Aragon suspiciously, dreading the answer.
'Distract his two apprentices, and their dragons, and try and draw his dragon off as well.' Replied Elmïra, and Aragon couldn't help but groan in despair, and drop his head into his hand.
Then Thelduin flicked him across the back of the head with her tail-mane.
Aragon looked at her in surprise.
What was that for? He asked incredulously.
If you hadn't asked, we wouldn't be being used as live bait right now. Responded Thelduin waspishly, growling deep in her throat.
Then Elmïra came over and gave Aragon a light punch on the arm.
'Just consider this a lesson in stealth and tactics.' She said encouragingly.
Aragon gave an incomprehensible reply, then pulled his things together, and placed them on Thelduin's saddle.
Now they were closer, Aragon began to think that his teacher might've spent a bit too long in the desert, and that she was yet to truly return to her normal, relatively sane self.
There were indeed three dragon riders stopped for the night on the plain along with them:
One was a slight boy, and Aragon put his age at about fourteen. He had brown hair, and lightly tanned skin.
Then again, most novice riders do. Thought Aragon to himself, grinning ruefully as he realised just how much time he spent training outside, like practically every other novice rider.
The second was around Aragon's own age, and had black hair, and from what Aragon could gather from watching from fifty metres from the camp with his mind closed, was a lot like Kialandì: An utter prick; albeit, an utter prick in beggar's finery, which didn't really improve his standing in Aragon's eyes.
The third, was an elf, who Aragon judged to be close to Elmïra's age, although, as Aragon had learned from his teacher, he was most likely out by a margin of a decade or three.
But the three other inhabitants of the night-camp were what kept drawing Aragon's and Thelduin's attentions.
Aragon could feel his bonded partner squirming with apprehension as they looked on these three.
They were three dragons, One looked to be the height of Tierm's outer wall, and was a bronze-gold colour that Aragon was sure would mirror the sun with dazzling effect on clear days.
A red dragon, small beside the massive gold dragon, but still easily bigger than Thelduin, was lazily cleaning it's scales as the three riders talked.
The third dragon was the smallest, looking to be maybe three months older than Thelduin, and about as big.
Aragon took a steadying breath, then rose slowly into a crouch and reached his mind out to Thelduin. She owes us so bad this time, look at the size of them! Aragon mentally exclaimed to his partner, and watched as the three riders, and dragons stiffened, then the elven rider gestured for his two apprentices to go and investigate.
They did, along with their dragons.
Quickly as he dared, Aragon set off in the other direction, praying that Thelduin wasn't going to cut this one too fine.
Elmïra smiled as she crept closer, and saw her old friend Oromis, send his two apprentices, and their dragons to investigate a disturbance opposite where she currently was laying prone.
It meant Aragon had given himself away.
Sure, enough, she saw her student running like hell in the opposite direction to the two apprentices of Oromis, drawing them away from the camp.
With a quiet word to Teclian, the great dragon swooped overhead, and Oromis's dragon Glaedr,-proud, powerful Glaedr,- took flight after Teclian.
Finally, Elmïra began to close in on her old rival, stealthily, silently, and at a reasonable speed.
Within two minutes, she was behind her old rival.
Carefully, she raised herself into a crouch, then jumped at Oromis-
-only for him to turn and catch her midair, before throwing her onto the ground in front of him, and place Naegling to her neck.
'You're getting better and better at that.' Said Oromis, with an amused expression, as he sheathed Naegling, then helped Elmïra to stand.
'I'm not even going to ask how you knew I was there.' Said Elmïra, shaking her head.
Oromis smiled.
'If you hadn't have jumped at me like that, I wouldn't have known of your presence until you'd pressed a dagger to my throat.' Said Oromis modestly.
'I take it that that was Teclian who Glaedr was chasing?' Enquired Oromis.
'Yes, that was him.' Said Elmïra simply, as Oromis's two apprentices came back into the camp, the older one sporting a split lip, while the younger had an awed expression on his face.
Their dragons came flying back a second later, appearing disgruntled to Elmïra.
The four stopped cold as they saw Elmïra, and Aragon took the opportunity to break out of the slackened grip of the two of them, and walk up to Elmïra.
'Next time you want live bait, go fishing.' Said Aragon to his teacher, his chest heaving and his eyes wild, before collapsing onto the balls of his feet, and attempting to catch his breath.
'A friend of yours?' Asked Oromis smoothly.
Elmïra nodded. 'Student actually, but I don't know where the other one is.' She said, scanning the starry sky, and pulling a blank.
'If you're looking for Thelduin, ebrithä, she's around here somewhere, but I'm buggered if I know where.' Said Aragon, collapsing onto his back, as he couldn't maintain his crouch a moment longer.
The older of the two of Oromis's apprentices looked at Aragon with a curious look.
'Who are these two interlopers, ebrithil?' He asked.
Aragon noted that his eyes were mismatched: One was blue, the other brown.
'They aren't interlopers Morzan-finiarel, this is an old friend of mine, Elmïra, and her apprentice…' Oromis let the pause hang.
'Aragon, Aragon the Grey.' Said Aragon, raising a hand in weary acknowledgement.
'You two sure as hell can run.' Said Aragon, looking at the two bemused apprentices, and hauling himself into a sitting position.
'Thanks.' Said the younger of the two uncertainly.
The older one just snorted, and went to sit by his dragon.
Their partners could do with some flying lessons though. Thelduin told Aragon smugly.
And where might you be, pray tell? Asked Aragon sarcastically.
Right here. Said Thelduin,-or at least, Thelduin, but at the size she'd been when she'd hatched,- jumping off the blue dragon's saddle into the air, where she was briefly illuminated by a sun-bright halo, like the moon during an eclipse, and returning to her usual size.
Aragon just stared at her.
So did Oromis.
So did Elmïra.
Oromis's two apprentices opened and closed their mouths stupidly, imitating goldfish.
The red dragon let out a low chuckle.
The blue one shot into the air, and attacked Thelduin in anger, only to have Thelduin flick her body in a huge circle that reminded Aragon vaguely of the crescent kicks Eragon had taught him.
In that way, she evaded the blue dragon's initial assault, then countered by wrapping her tail around her adversary's body, and constricting, somehow managing to hold the two of them off the ground.
Yield. Stated Thelduin flatly, so everyone could hear.
The blue dragon growled in threat, only to have it cut to a squeak of pain as Thelduin tightened her relentless grip.
I have fought Mûnnguldûr, a wild dragon over a century old, and defeated him with assistance from my rider, you are no match for me, blue-scales. Thelduin said to everyone.
'Saphira, yield for pity's sake, she outwitted you using dragon-magic, a power that is notoriously unpredictable, it was a one-off, and if she tightens her grip again, she'll break your back.' Pleaded the younger apprentice.
The blue dragon,-Saphira,-seemed to sigh, then grudgingly, so all could hear said:
I yield.
Thelduin released her captive, then landed gracefully by Aragon.
'Sorry about that, but Thelduin is one for theatrics; and she was fully within her rights to defend herself.' Said Aragon to the younger apprentice.
'Leave them, the defeat'll keep their collective ego from becoming inflated.' Advised Morzan.
Aragon decided then and there that his initial impressions were correct: Morzan could be as big a prick as Kialandì.
Ignoring Morzan, Aragon and Thelduin went over to the younger apprentice, and Saphira.
Saphira growled at Thelduin, who simply stopped, but Aragon continued to advance, watching Saphira carefully.
The apprentice was running his hands over his dragon's side, checking for broken ribs.
'Hey.' Said Aragon squatting beside the apprentice.
'Come to gloat?' Asked the apprentice sulkily.
Aragon chuckled. 'What about? You caught me, when I was drawing you and Morzan out, and Thelduin…well she can be a bit heavy handed.' Admitted Aragon.
Thelduin flicked Aragon across the back of the head with her tail.
Am not. She said huffily, but Aragon knew she was joking.
'See what I mean?' Said Aragon, 'oh yeah, I don't believe I caught your name,' he added after a moment.
'It's Brom.' He said shortly.
Thelduin took another step forward, and lowered her head to Saphira's level, a posture Aragon had only seen her use once before, when she'd accidentally slashed open one of Teclian's wings, during a practice bout of aerial combat.
It was a posture of regret, she used when seeking forgiveness.
Saphira growled another threat, and tensed, as if to pounce.
Brom and Aragon looked at each other.
'This is between them, I say we give them some space.' Said Aragon.
Brom hesitated, but a louder growl from Saphira, as well as her rising to her feet and coiling in anger galvanised him into following Aragon's lead and backing away.
Careful Thelduin, in the air you might have an advantage, but on the ground, even sharing my skills, Saphira outmatches you just due to sheer strength. Cautioned Aragon, who noted that Morzan and his dragon hadn't moved, and seemed to be watching Saphira and Thelduin with mild interest, as if their fight were merely a drama being performed for his amusement.
Morzan's dragon seemed to be having conflicting thoughts, about whether to follow Aragon and Brom, or stay with Morzan.
I must do this dear-soul, or I will not sleep soundly, with this one feeling angry and vengeful with me. Thelduin replied, laying herself down, before Saphira, the greatest display of submissive behaviour Aragon had ever seen from her.
Aragon and Brom backed further away, leaving the two dragons to their stand-off.
The two dragons didn't move all night, only pausing to acknowledge Teclian and Glaedr as they returned an hour later.
The way they were both panting, Aragon had a suspicion they'd spent fifteen minutes flying away from the camp, half an hour sparring with each other, and then used the remaining fifteen minutes to fly back.
Introductions were made, and when the meal was done, everyone ate in silence, the tension between Saphira and Thelduin grating on all present, except Morzan, who Aragon was beginning to suspect of thriving on conflict.
When everyone finally went to sleep, Thelduin and Saphira remained in their respective positions throughout the night, impassive.
They were still there when the sun rose.
Still not forgiven? Asked Aragon, as he awoke when the sun struck his eyelids the next morning.
Yes, this one is stubborn, I apologised, but she wants my apology in the ancient language, and I don't know the words to phrase it, even in the most basic terms, and I'm not asking, nor do I think she'd tell me. Even though she is a bonded dragon, she's prouder than Mûnnguldûr, and he's as wild and proud a dragon as we're ever likely to meet! Said Thelduin in exasperation.
Aragon sighed quietly.
As unobtrusively as possible, he tried to wake Elmïra with his mind, but she was in the middle of some dream or other that occupied her entire attention, and blocked him out, and he wasn't stupid enough to try and batter his way into her mind.
He didn't try Oromis because he didn't know the elf well enough to know his reaction, and he refrained from doing the same with Glaedr for the same reason.
He didn't even consider Morzan, mainly because Aragon had a suspicion the other boy would ride him mercilessly, and Aragon wasn't in the mood to sit Morzan on his arse.
He avoided Morzan's dragon for the same reason.
He couldn't ask Brom for help either, Saphira would sense his touch.
That left Teclian.
Ebrithil Teclian? Asked Aragon hesitantly.
If you're wondering whether I'm awake Aragon, I am, and as you said last night, this is between Thelduin and Saphira, although, if they haven't resolved this by the time you lot have done with breakfast, I'll pin Saphira to the ground until she does forgive Thelduin, who I must say, is very brave to try and gain forgiveness from that one. Said Teclian.
She is almost as untamed as a wild dragon. Observed Aragon.
But that's not why I wanted to talk to you, according to Thelduin, Saphira will only forgive her if she says she's sorry in the ancient language, and neither of us know anything much of that language beyond 'heal,' 'master,' and 'mistress.' Explained Aragon.
Again, I'm not interfering until it's time to leave, and such pride from that one isn't good. The fact Thelduin has even gone to this trouble, so soon after that fight with Mûnnguldûr shows that she is truly sorry, so its best just to wait and see if Saphira will unbend her pride, if not, Glaedr and I will have to discipline her. Replied Teclian, letting a note of pride in Thelduin creep into his voice.
Wouldn't it just be Glaedr who has to discipline Saphira? He is her master after all. Asked Aragon.
I think Glaedr mustn't have made lessons on pride much of a priority, or he doesn't know how to broach the topic; Or, alternatively, he just dotes too much on her. Glaedr always had a thing for a blue-scaled dragoness while we were young, and- Teclian broke off as Glaedr subtly elbowed Teclian.
Although 'subtly', was only a relative term, considering the elbow involved was the size of a wild boar.
I don't think your student need know about that Teclian, or would you like me to share your old love interest with him? Enquired Glaedr, his voice was deeper than Teclian's, and Aragon got an impression of strength exceeding that of Mûnnguldûr.
And he was possessed of colossal physical strength.
Aragon and Thelduin had both agreed that the only reason they'd won that fight was because they'd been working together, and that if their teachers hadn't have intervened, they probably would've been killed.
Point taken. Conceded Teclian, and Aragon could feel a slight sense of embarrassment coming from the old dragon, and even though Teclian was concealing the memories, Aragon caught a glimpse of a black dragoness.
I'll tell you when this matter has been cleared up. Said Teclian privately to Aragon, who grinned slightly as he lay there at his master's levity.
Not much changed here, just a little bit of tightening up poorly constructed sentences.
No One-liners!