Under Control.
"Hello Kayla"
Kayla raised her head from the ground and stared at her brother.
"Hello to you too" she replied and closed her eyes again. She was trying to concentrate on making another type of plant as she had grown bored of daisies. The magic was taking the shape she wanted and she tried to visualise the bright colours…
"BOOM!" her brother shouted next to her ear and she lost her control and conventration, the magic disappearing.
She opened her eyes and stared at her brother with a deadly expression.
"I better hope this is important" Kayla whispered and Tristan smiled at her and gently punched her on the shoulder.
She tried to move away from his reach but he caught her in a deadly embrace, no doubt practising some of the moves from Octavian's lesson, and she struggled to free herself.
"What do you want Tristan?" she asked as she pushed her head out of her brother arms. He was flushed and smiling at her.
"The usual stuff, you know. I feel like we haven't been spending much quality time, lately" he said and she started walking back to her spot in the hill, ready to practise her magic.
This afternoon they had been given some free time, as Eragon and some of the trainers had gone to visit Ramirblaka and re-establish their relationship with the wild dragons.
"Tristan if it's about Aiedail then let me tell you that we have talked and she understands that I am not going to ride her" Kayla said, guessing her brother's intentions.
Tristan shook his head and smiled again.
"It is not about Aiedail although I highly doubt you have actually reached an understanding" he said and Kayla sighed.
Indeed they hadn't. There were many things troubling her lately, one of them being Aiedail and she had decided to talk to the dragon but she had yet to be given a chance.
She was not going to ride the dragon, her decision on this was solid, but she hated the fact that Aiedail might be at a disadvantage against other dragons due to their lack of a proper bond. When she had followed the Shade in the clearing she had decided there and then that she would protect the dragon.
So far she had failed, she knew this, but her emotions were conflicted. She could not open herself to the dragon but she wanted Aiedail to stand an equal chance against every opponent, as all creatures deserved.
A rain drop fell on her face, making her return to the present moment. Tristan looked up to the sky and his eyebrows pulled together.
"The weather is changing. Let's hope that the riders will be able to return safely from Ramirblaka tonight" he said, worried.
Kayla sighed and threw a rock in the air.
"Tristan I appreciate the fact that you want to spend some time with me but I have things to do. Why don't you go to the rest of the riders? Go to Laer or … Gwen?" she offered but at the mention of the name Tristan's expression suddenly darkened.
Then he smiled.
"I don't think Gwen wants to spend any time with me. And besides I want to see you! You can tell me all about the things you do when the rest of us are flying or I can teach you how to land a proper punch" he teased and one of his blond braids fell on the side.
Does he know?, Kayla wondered and her heart beat quickened remembering the hooded figure and the scream of the shadow wyrm when her spell had gone wrong. She swallowed and turned around.
She should have told one of the dorm leaders or the masters of training but she knew that they would ask access to her mind and she could not allow them to do so. But maybe one of them had found out, maybe they wanted to examine her every thought again, gain access to the deepest parts of her memories…
"I promise I will be nice. If I see blood or bruises forming I will stop! You don't have to look so scared. It's just training!" Tristan offered in a light manner and she stared back at him, trying to guess what he was thinking.
Tristan was smiling at her and he was his usual calm, happy and relaxed shelf. He did not appear to have any ulterior motives. Maybe she was misjudging the situation after all.
She shook her head trying to clear it of all thoughts and nodded.
"So what do you want to do then?" she asked curious and pointed at the dark clouds that had started gathering above them as some more rain droplets fell.
Tristan smiled.
"I am glad you are seeing reason, little sis! First, I think we need to speak to someone, someone we haven't talked to in a long while…" he said in a mischievous manner and Kayla raised her eyebrow.
Nevertheless, she followed her brother down the path which led to Glieonard, all the way thinking that he somehow wanted to trick her. When they reached the base of the training centre Tristan entered the Grand Hall.
"Isn't it too early for dinner?" she asked curious and slightly cautious. Tristan shook his head and continued forward until he reached a building near the library. Two elder riders stood there, in front of scrying mirrors and with books on their laps.
Tristan cleared his throat and one of them put the book down.
"Ah, young riders. How may I help you?" he asked and Kayla felt her heart beat quicken.
What is Tristan planning?, she wondered once again.
"We would like to see our mother" her brother said and that took her completely by surprise. She swallowed.
"Tristan, is it a good idea? Scrying mirrors haven't been very helpful lately…" she started but he stopped her.
"Nonsense! How long has it been since you last spoke to mother, Kayla?" he asked her and to that she could not reply.
She stared at the ground instead, realising that it had been long indeed. The thought of an unearthly being entering the conservation was still a strong possibility. She could say no. But Kayla missed her mother much and so she kept silent and let the elders work their magic, the scrying mirror taking the image of her mother.
This time their mother was awake and slightly startled. Then recognising her son's face, she smiled.
"Tristan!" she said joyful and then turning her head slightly she realised that Kayla was there as well. "Kayla! I haven't talked to you in such a long time! How are you finding the island? Are there many books in the library? Are they keeping you company or have you made any new friends?" she asked, the stream of questions rushing out fast and unstoppable.
For a moment Kayla paused and studied her mother, like she often did. She looked older, but not as tired as when she had last seen her. She was not happy but… Accepting.
Tristan and Kayla spent most of their evening talking to their mother and exchanging news about Arhan village and Dis Atilan. Villagers had rebuilt the central buildings in the square but the winter promised to be long and cold. Yet their mother was not worried because as she explained, Grion often brought her meat and supplies for the winter and she still had her job which gave her enough money to take care of herself.
On their way back to their dorms, Kayla felt unexpectedly content. Not happy, but relaxed. She replied to her brother's jokes and whenever he tried to punch her she dodged. When Tristan saw Vertigo flying above them, he left to join his dragon in the air. Kayla looked up, once, and then down again.
She preferred the warm water more.
Kayla momentarily closed her eyes and let her thoughts take her to places where her legs couldn't. Suddenly though, she snapped them open and scanned her periphery. There was a presence near her, one that hadn't been there a few moments ago. She crouched, her heart beating furiously inside her chest and then her eyes met the eyes of the intruder.
It was a cat, a small cat with a grey-white fur coat and grey-blue eyes that she felt she had seen before. No, she definitely recognised the eyes…
Maud, Kayla said.
Youth is wasted on the immortal, a voice inside her mind said and the cat tentatively raised one of her paws and licked it.
What do you mean?, she asked the werecat.
The creature glanced back and walked around her in a circle.
I have seen a lot of death, a lot of pain, a lot of suffering. But I have also seen a lot of life, a lot of beauty, a lot of wonder. Our years add up to a series of moments. We never know when or where they will happen, but they stick with us, marking us forever. The problem with living forever is not the pain or the loss. It's when life seizes to surprise you.
Every generation likes to think they are improving upon the last. That progress is inevitable. That the future holds less misery and suffering that the past. But the truth is that some things never change. History has a way of repeating itself. It's just most creatures don't live long enough to see it happen.
I can tell you with certainty that what keeps us alive is not magic, nor energy, blood, love but… hope. Hope that things will be better. Hope that history will not repeat itself.
You have been offered a gift and a curse, Kayla, although your thoughts might lean more towards the latter. You should be thankful for all that is given and for all that is denied. See the potential in things that do not yet exist. You have a choice, Kayla. We all have a choice. Just make sure you choose wisely when the time comes, the werecat ended, holding her gaze with her own glassy one and then jumping above her.
Kayla turned around to see where the cat had gone, but not surprisingly it had disappeared into the forest, which rose dark and tall, offering both protection and solitude. She thought she saw a flicker of movement in the background, something that very much looked like an animal with horns, but she could not be sure because another noise, a louder one seized her attention.
Kayla was suddenly faced with Aiedail. The grand purple dragon took her by surprise. The she-creature had grown a few meters more in the last few weeks, her wing span now larger than ever before, while still maintaining a lean physique and a slender body.
Aiedail, Kayla whispered, acknowledging the dragon's presence.
If the dragon was surprised that Kayla had finally spoken first, it did not show it.
What do you want? I thought we agreed to keep to ourselves….
Of course, but… I need to apologise to you. I have mistreated you and ignored you even though you have done nothing wrong and caused me no harm for the most part, Kayla explained.
Aiedail raised one large talon towards the girl's direction and Kayla held her breath.
For the most part?, the dragon asked, her steely gaze holding Kayla's one.
You did attack me when you hatched, if you remember, Kayla said, raising an eyebrow.
The dragon snorted and let out a whiff of smoke that sparked in the dark landscape. There was little light left, Kayla realised, as winter was approaching and the sun set much earlier than it did in the summer.
That was only because I was trying to protect myself from your terrified, murderous thoughts!
Murderous thoughts?, Kayla inclined.
Aiedail pressed her front legs forward and laid on the ground, her eyes on the same height as Kayla's.
Yes, she answered and Kayla stayed silent for a bit.
She looked at the sky above and then at the forest behind her as she thought she heard a foreign cry, but her dragon appeared unmoved.
Something happened a long time ago. Something I cannot entirely remember and don't want to remember. For this I cannot let anyone enter my thoughts. To give someone the power to control you is to give them the power to destroy you, Kayla replied.
You hide beneath this anger, this façade. You really have an expertise in avoiding any real intimacy.
Perhaps I enjoy the solitude, Kayla replied realizing that what the dragon had said was very true.
Real connections are the only thing any of us are looking for, Aiedail replied and her expression was sympathetic, two large violet eyes.
When did you become so wise?, Kayla asked in a teasing manner.
When you were spending your time inside books and near the scrying mirrors, Aiedail replied and moved her tail to the other side, slightly wincing.
Kayla noticed the discoloured skin and went to examine it further, but the dragon stepped back.
It's just a scratch. Nothing to worry about, Aiedail replied but Kayla still approached her and kneeled next to the dragon, so close that she could feel the heat emitting underneath the silvery-purple scales.
"Weise heal" Kayla said in a low tone, feeling the magic leave her body and sparks flying from her fingers as they landed on Aiedail's skin. The dragon winced slightly and then her expression softened.
Kayla walked back to her previous spot and let out a sigh.
I cannot promise that I will ride you or that I will fully open myself to you but I am willing to try. Never again will you be weaker than any of the other dragons because of me, Kayla promised.
That is all I have ever asked for, the dragon replied and for once, she looked satisfied.
They walked back to the human dorm in silence, even though Aiedail could have very easily flown.
Kayla fell on her bed and smiled. Whatever was happening at the outside world, at the moment, was at bay. Her mother and brother were safe and her dragon was becoming … well… stronger. She closed her eyes, ready to sleep but an unexpected noise woke her.
Did you hear that?, she asked the dragon who nodded. Kayla walked outside of her room and wondered who it was.
A wave of dark hair flew past her but she was not fast enough to recognise the face. The front door closed and Kayla felt her right palm tingling.
One of the riders?, Aiedail asked and Kayla nodded although she was not sure who. She returned to her bed and closed her eyes. She fell asleep but before she did she couldn't help but wonder.
Who would be up so late and why?