Thunderfall Part Three
Willow and Caldor continued to fly on Pyrrah across Xadia. The young girl admired the great magical land below, sensing so much magic. She noticed something was off about Caldor. "You okay?"
"I'm alright. I just haven't been to these lands for years. Not even sure I should be here,"
"Whatever man you were before, that is long past," she comforted. "You're our friend now. And that's all that matters,"
He smiled. "Thank you,".
She smiled back. The moment of joy was interrupted by the sudden growls of their mount. "What is it, girl?"
I smell something. She snarled. And to the surprise of her riders, she flew down over the forests, for a closer look.
The pair peered down but saw nothing. "There's nothing down there," said Caldor. "Maybe you should…."
"Woah!"
Pyrrah dived down into the forest and landed, before sniffing about. She knew there was something close by. She wandered through trees when all of a sudden a maple-coloured dragon appeared from behind a large tree and roared. Pyrrah roared back.
"Don't you attack us!" shouted the Sunfire elf rider on its back. "Or you'll regret it dearly!"
And by his side appeared three sky wing elves preparing to fire sky magic at them. Zaps were tingling off the tips of their fingers.
"Wait!" Willow cried out. "We mean you no harm! Our dragon thought you were a predator or something!". She patted Pyrrah's side and she calmed down.
"You're humans," said the eldest Skywing elf.
"Yes. But we're not your enemies," Caldor held his hands out in a calm manner. "We're not here to cause any trouble. We seek safe passage only,". To their surprise, they lowered their guard down.
"We won't judge you for being human," said the female Skywing elf. "But we want to know who you are and where it is you see safe passage to,"
"I'm Willow. This is Caldor. And this is Pyrrah," she introduced. "We're here because we need to find some friends who came into these lands. We seek directions to the storm Spire,".
The youngest Skywing elf seemed to put himself into some sort of thinking mode much to their confusion. "Do you know a girl called Caroline and an elf called Raylan?"
Willow was stunned. "She's my sister! And Raylan is our friend,"
"Well, we'll be happy to inform you both that she, Raylan, and the rest of their company are close to the Storm Spire," the Sunfire merchant informed.
"Oh, thank goodness," breathed Caldor whom Willow hugged in relief whilst Pyrrah howled in victory for them.
"Your sister wasn't afraid to show her true identity to us when we met them in the Midnight Desert. And she is one talented sky mage," said the female Skywing leaf with deep admiration.
"My name's Sunus," the merchant introduced. "And these are my friends: Thorten, Dovina and Skyros,"
"Any friends or family of Caroline and Raylan are friends of ours," said Thorten. "Welcome to Xadia, Princess Willow and Sir Caldor,"
"Uh, thank you," said Willow. "As wonderful news as it is, there are more pressing matters,"
"What do you mean?" asked Dovina.
"War is coming to Xadia!"
"What?!" the elves cried out with Cyrus roaring in horror.
Raylan and Ethari had waited on some rocks, staring up at the sky. They thought by now the Sky patrol would have seen them by now and landed on the plains to greet them. But the former was more concerned about his girlfriend who had been alone for quite a while. Zym and Felix stopped playing and came over to sit by his feet, worried for their person.
That's when they heard footsteps and they turned to see her coming towards them, spinning the weapon which Viren had stolen from her to kill the Dragon King. She was different. Her hairstyle and hair length had changed. It flowed down her back just past her armpits and it had a braid down the centre pulling part of it back. Her hair bangs had been brushed to the right side of her head with only a few strands dangling past her left cheek.
"You look…beautiful," the blushing Raylan complimented, loving her new look.
"Thank you. I'm finally ready to move on. All my life I've been grieving for her, but now…now that we're going to end this war and bring a better future to our lands…thought I might adopt a new look,"
"It suits you," flattered Ethari.
Zym walked over to her and looked at her with wet eyes. I'm so sorry that you lost your mother.
Wiping away her tears, Carol lifted him up to her chest and stroked his mane. "I'm so sorry you lost your dad. As much as I can never forgive him for all the pain I felt for years, I didn't want him to suffer so that it would lead to more suffering. And now I regret that you've lost him,"
Zym chirped and licked her face to wipe away her tears. When her boyfriend stroked his mane as well, he licked him too. The pair then hugged him together. In some way, Zym had brought them together since he was an egg. His egg had started their adventure. And their adventure had started their relationship with one another. They couldn't have been happier with how everything had turned out.
They waited again for any signs of the Sky Patrol but still nothing. "We can't wait here," fumed Ethari. "It seems our only chance is to walk upwards,".
"Not the stairs," complained Raylan; he hated the idea of walking up so many steps.
"Maybe I could try and fly again," Carol placed Zym down and tried again to cry out the wing incantation but nothing happened. "I don't understand. It worked before. Why isn't it working now?"
"Maybe because you're a human…" Ethari did his best not to sound offensive. "It has limits,"
"He's probably right," said Raylan.
Carol couldn't help but agree. "Looks like we'll have to brave the stairs. Let's just remember to use the sky spell when the air gets too thin. Here we go then,". She lifted Felix, Zym and the Adoraburrs onto the saddle of the Moon mount. The group then made their way towards the base of the Storm Spire and the hike up the towering domain of the Dragon Queen commenced.
"What do you mean War is coming to Xadia?" demanded Thorten. They were sitting together in a circle whilst the dragons were having some food. Cyrus was kind enough to let Pyrrah have some of her food.
"Viren, the former high mage has taken over my brother's kingdom. He's marching with a massive army of four human kingdoms to capture the Dragon Prince. And he wields dark magic," Willow said grimly.
"Good gracious," breathed Surah.
"We have to warn my sister, Raylan, Zym and the Dragon Queen. But from what an ally said, Viren is going to attack the Sunfire elf capital first,"
Sunnus's eyes enlarged in horror. "If war is upon us, I must inform Queen Khessa of Lux Area at once,"
"We will spread the word to as many elves and dragons as we can gather," said Thorten. "If this mage is as powerful as you say, we will need every ally we can get if we're going to win this war and ensure peace,"
"Great, then let's head to Lux Area," said Willow.
"It wouldn't be wise to bring you there princess," warned the merchant. "Queen Khessa despises all humans. She is not one to always see reason. And I doubt she would take believe whatever you say to her even with my support,"
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try,"
"Then let me go to Lux Area," insisted Caldor. "I will travel with Sunus and you can continue the rest of the way to the Storm Spire,"
"Are you sure you'll be alright Caldor?" asked Willow. "I don't feel comfortable about this,"
"I have to try. And besides, it may be the only way to get your aunt out of prison,"
"Your aunt?" asked Dovina.
"My Aunt Amaya sealed the Border but she was trapped on the other side. She saved the general,"
"That general was Janai," said Sunus. "If your aunt showed mercy to her, then I can guarantee they spared her life,". Willow sighed in relief. "I will be with Caldor the whole time. I can't promise Khessa will listen. But I can guarantee her sister: Janai the golden Knight will be more willing to listen,"
"Then there is no time to waste," Thorten said.
Willow turned to Caldor. "Please be safe,"
"So long as you take care of yourself," he hugged her tightly and then petted Pyrrah. "Take care of her,"
I will. She promised.
"To reach the Spire, travel in that direction," Thorten pointed northeast. "You can't miss it. The spire reaches high into the clouds. But beware the Sky Elves and dragons that guard those lands,"
"Hopefully once my sister and friends reach there, they'll know I'm not a threat. Please protect Caldor," she implored Sunus and his dragon.
"You have our word princess,"
Cyrus bowed and then licked her much to her delight. She mounted Pyrrah before Caldor came over and handed her some moon opals. "Take these for your sister. Good luck,"
"You too,"
Pyrrah roared and with a flap of her wings, they soared high into the sky to reach their destination, hoping they wouldn't be too late. Meanwhile, Caldor mounted Cyrus with Sunus and they took off to reach the capital of the Sunfire Elves whilst the family of Skywing Elves flew off in a different direction to search for allies, both elven and dragon.
At the edge of Katolis, in a secret cave, groans echoed against the tunnels as three lousy men who had been trapped by dark magic woke up.
"What the…"
"I'm walking again?"
"Who released us?"
"I did of course," Castor looked at his brothers who stood up, freed from their prison. Delmar's legs were working again much to his delight. "I have freed you. But our work is not yet complete,"
The brothers looked at him and saw some of his strands were white. Tellus and Delmar received their primal stones back but Lairus cursed in fury when he remembered his one was destroyed. "I'll never be able to cast magic again,"
"You'll just have to use dark magic like me," Castor tossed him a bag of magical creature parts.
"How did you..." Delmar was cut off.
"I had to steal the body of a soldier to get in. And just after that child king and that child princess got kicked out of the castle along with Ihan, I grabbed your prison and set you all free,"
"I'm quite surprised he used dark magic against us. Even though he refrained from that talent a long time ago,"
"What has become of the blighter?" asked Tellus, desperate to make him pay for imprisoning them.
"Listen, my brothers, the high mage Viren is on his way with armies to the Storm Spire. There is where we'll find that girl and the baby dragon. Whilst they are fighting whatever armies will be awaiting them, we strike and we get them. Without fail,"
"And what does this have to do with Ihan?" Lairus asked.
"He and that girl's half-siblings fled the kingdom. And I have the feeling they are heading to Xadia. Now we leave now. That dark mage who thwarted our attempted kidnap years ago has soldiers looking for us. We leave now,"
"And how are we supposed to get there safely?" spat Delmar impatiently.
Castor smirked cruelly. "I've contacted an old friend,". Right when he spoke, his brothers heard a booming roar from outside and they each smirked with wicked eyes. Their ride had come.
In a few hours, strikes of gold struck the eyesight of Caldor and Sunus which meant one thing. Flying over the hills, they stared down and saw a magnificent city of gold. "Welcome to Lux Area," said the merchant.
"It's beautiful," said Caldor.
"We land down there," Sunus guided Cyrus and she gracefully passed over the lower districts till she found a landing spot where some elves awaited them. "Remember, do everything I say. No questions. And always bow and refer to the queen as your majesty,". His human ally nodded.
The citizens of the city stood back as they gracefully landed. The first person who came over to greet Sunus was his brother Yonnis, a Sunfire elf with red-orange hair and bright red horns. "Brother," he greeted. "How wonderful to see you have returned safe,"
"It's good to see you Yonnis. I would love to catch up but I must speak with Queen Khessa at once,"
Suddenly one of the other elves saw Caldor's human ears. "Human!". Immediately some soldiers pointed their spears and sunblades at Caldor.
"Wait!" Sunus cried. "Calm down! He's with me!"
"He's a human!" retired his shocked brother.
"Yes. But he's a friend. And he's here to bring important news to the queen,"
"What is going on here?" shouted a voice. They turned their heads and saw their city's Golden Knight approaching them. Caldor knew exactly who she was judging by her crown with the golden opal and her red dreadlocks. Janai, sister to Queen Khessa.
"Golden Knight," genuflected Sunus.
"What reason do you have to bring a human to this city?" she demanded.
Caldor slowly dismounted Cyrus, treading footsteps calmly and slowly as he was watched by narrowed eyes. "General Janai," he bowed humbly. "I come here not as an enemy but as a friend,"
"Mmm…you are not the first human to come here to Lux Area,"
"I know you are holding my friend Amaya captive. I want to know if she's alive,"
"She saved my life though I was her enemy. The queen allowed the Light to decide her fight. She was pure and has been allowed to live,"
Caldor was filled with relief. "Please…let me see the queen. Your people are in grave danger. And so is the Dragon Prince,"
His words shocked the people. Not the word 'danger' but the words 'Dragon Prince'.
"Impossible," denied Janai. "The egg of the Dragon Prince was destroyed,"
"No. A dark mage stole it for dark magic but the children of Katolis found it and are delivering it to the Storm Spire. But now war is coming to Xadia and he's going to attack your capital first,"
Janai furrowed her eyebrows; she was determined to protect her kingdom. "Then you will come with me to the palace,"
"I wish to accompany him if you will," implored Sunus. "I made a promise to Princess Willow, that I would guarantee his safety and I won't break it,"
"Very well. We will speak with my sister at once,"
That's the next episode done. Only three more to go and then that's this story done. Please let me know what you all thought. And once again thank you so much for all these ideas for the next book and later on in the next chapters. I can't promise I'll be able to use them all but I'll try to use as many as I can. See you all next week. Bye for now
