Chapter 25-Striving for Decision

The volley of tests through which Makiar put Aurelia place a strain on Dhran's patience. They had returned to the area where Aurelia normally worked, only to use her own equipment for treating dragons to observe her. Dhran paced outside the room, clearly displaying an attitude of not wanting to know until later, or until told by Makiar.

Dhran sighed, tapping his foot as he stopped pacing. Eventually Makiar was finished and left the room to talk to him. His palms felt sweaty as Dhran led the way to a small alcove a few feet away where they could talk in private.

"Is she?" He asked, unwilling to finish his own question out of fear of what the answer might be.

Pregnant? Yes, although it is too early to tell the gender of the child. Makiar's yellow eyes flashed with concern. I would like for her to discontinue her work during the remainder of her pregnancy.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes at hearing the stunning words. It would crush Aurelia to know she would not be able to work at what she loved to do the most, helping dragons recover and regain their majestic strength and power. "Why? She loves her job. It is who she is, Makiar!"

I know but the risk is too great for an accident to happen. Losing a child is traumatic, believe me I know. I just do not want that risk to come up for you both, considering this is your first child.

Dhran let his arms fall to his side, clutching the cloth on either side of his shirt. "You cannot force her to do this. She has a choice!"

Makiar snarled. A choice that cannot be made by her at this time. She is over a month along, Dhran. The devastation is . . . much worse when the child is young.

"Stop saying it will die." He tore his hands away from the cloth and clenched them into fists. "The danger is also great for either one of us to perish as well . . ."

If she dies, so does her child. Makiar paused for a second, lifting her tail from the ground. Let us change the subject from something so morbid. Tell me, what is your idea of getting Arxa to cooperate with us?

"Use Tamli's new ability. He can shape-shift into Sitedal and copy the dragon's powers to find both Jormundur and Arxa."

You are suggesting they are in another time period then?

"That was not what I meant. Unless, you think Sitedal has some ability that is unknown to us which justifies your idea."

Makiar snorted. Exactly my point.

"How do you . . . No. Are you certain this secret ability of his exists?" Dhran fidgeted, tapping the tip of his foot on the floor in impatience.

Call it an informed guess. I know more than just what I speak of, Airu. It would do you well to accept that.

Ending with a hiss, Makiar turned and walked off, her claws clicking with every step she made. As the noise drifted further away, Dhran sighed and grumbled under his breath. He would never understand her completely, no one probably could.

I pity her sometimes, Finca commented as she came up beside him and sat down, laying her tail alongside her right side.

"Why?" He questioned, recognizing her voice before even looking beside him.

She lost so much from the Flood. Her brother perished, her father and mother also were carried away by the rushing water, never to see the light of another beautiful dawn. It turned her heart bitter to humanity and to dragon-kind. Finca glanced down at him, casting one yellow iris on the top of his head. She's not the only one holding secrets, Airu. Tamli recently informed me of who Arxa really is.

From the shadows of a nearby column, an unfamiliar voice rang out. "And who really is Arxa? Care to inform me?"

Jormundur spat at the dirt under his claws before lifting his eyes to the sky. Narssia was supposed to meet him at the very spot he was in over an hour ago. What was keeping her? He snarled softly and swept his gaze around. Green grass, a small brook flowing nearby, mountains in the distance; everything was as it should be from what she had told him.

If Narssia-of-the-past had not tried the near-kill attempt, they would still be living with the only dragons he knew during their current time frame. Unfortunately, old rivalries seemed to die hard or, rather, grow stronger in different areas in time. He wanted, after hearing both black she-dragons talk of her rider, to go back through more years and meet this individual. Jormundur had a feeling this would not go well with his mother though and decided to keep quiet on the subject for a while longer. He wasn't certain on the length of time he could hide this from her but little mattered now.

From the distance, a grey dragon came toward him, its form easily recognizable as his own. Why had his past self come? Did this mean further danger for Narssia? A low growl rose into his throat as the hatchling landed and tucked its wings protectively against its side.

Jormundur. It felt odd to say his own name to another dragon, particularly when the other dragon was the younger version of himself. What news do you bring from the high winds?

The high winds, a clever cover for them to distinguish between the two black females. His mother's past version was respectively known as the name mentioned, while Narssia remained Axra -although Jormundur loathed the idea with a passion, but said nothing about its meaning to the younger dragon out of respect.

Not much. Arxa was speaking with Father when I departed. I assume she has forgotten your plans once more . . .

As do I, Jormundur snorted before parting his jaws slightly. A ripple of wind burst forth and both dragons growled softly.

Could you . . . teach me? You tried to last time but . . .

I recall what occurred last time. Another growl escaped him as he closed his maw and lowered his gaze to the grass, breaking eye contact, With the eve of the Great Darkness upon us, I reached deep within to unlock my skills. Traveling through time as I did I-

The thought ended abruptly as Jormundur realized his mistake. He had never mentioned the skill during their time with the ones-of-the-past and now his only secret had slipped. He slowly brought his focus upward, regret shining clear in his irises.

Time travel. That's how you and her made it here. It makes perfect sense. Ryta has been saying that for days but I figured she was just in shock from the fight. His younger self cast a weary glance at his own foreclaws. It's the skill Arxa could never get, right?

Jormundur tensed up, lifting his wings partly from his back. Had not the words most dreaded now slipped from the thoughts of younger-him? Arxa? What do you-

Most, if not all of what Mother knows came from Arxa. All we can figure out is that it's some dark spirit or something. Why? Is there more?

The greyling watched the eyes of Jormundur as he sat down and allowed his wings to spread out completely beside him. You don't know the truth. A truth I've kept for years since we came. He swallowed. You are not going to like this.