Dragons of Summer Tide (The Dragons of Hwandor) (30 page)

The gods, seeing that human kind would destroy all, took action – a horrible action. Perhaps they realized that magic and dragon bonds had been gifts that should not have been wasted on this race in the birthing of the races. Perhaps the gods foresaw that the humans would destroy themselves and the other races. A just punishment was rained down on humans – upon their armies. There is a great sadness in that so many of dragon kind also perished in the justice being meted out to the race so deserving of punishment.

And so the world shook and rumbled and was torn by great forces – forces that lifted mountains where there had been plains. The New Mountains were born, thrown up as though they were giant blades hurled at the sky. Their sharp and jagged peaks pierced the clouds. Gone, were the once great fields of battle. Where first there had been fields and sustenance and then horror and evil there came a cleansing. Mountains formed in which none of the races can live and through which none may pass. There is no room left for any fields – neither fields of battle nor fields of grain. What was a once great sustaining plain of farms was replaced by a monument to the sins of human kind.

In the seas, massive navies of ships clashed, each with a dragon on its prow. But in the rending these navies were destroyed as mountains of fire burst up from the waters creating great cleansing waves in their explosiveness. These great waves destroyed all of the vessels of war and sent their crews, man and dragon, to the depths. The shores were cleansed by the scouring of these mountains of water as they swept the cities and towns away and left behind a clear fresh shore. Still yet do these volcanoes rage in the seas, always making the waters difficult and dangerous with wild waves and twisting currents so that the navies of war can never ride above the depths again. Even the winds which blow over the seas are unpredictable and will suddenly shift and rip the sails from a ship.

This rending of the human world was still felt far into the Elder Mountains in the valleys of the elves and in the deep halls of the dwarves. A few of the halls of the dwarves collapsed but most remained and the dwarves within them held on during the ensuing period of upheaval. The elves saw our valleys shaken and damaged and many of our groves perished in the early years of this new era. The rending was at first followed by a long and enduring winter in which many creatures perished. The seasons in the early years then seemed to fight one another and some summers were hot and long while some seemed to never come as winter pressed itself into dominance.

It was a difficult time for all of the races. Best suited to survive the early years were the dwarves who in their halls were the least subject to the vagaries of weather and seasons. The elves were helped by our friends the dwarves who took our children and many of our people into their halls to protect them. Goblin kind managed to survive as they were always hidden in their caves in the small groups. Lacking an ally such as the dwarves, the orcs, who were not many anyway, perished during that time – or at least none have been seen in the Elder Mountains in a thousand years. Dragons and other wild creatures survived by their wits and instincts. Even some humans survived through what must have been meant to destroy them. Their lust for life like their lust for all things must have kept them alive.

After those early years the seasons came to rest in their order again. The rumblings and shakings of the earth beneath our feet ceased. The groves of the elves were replanted and the races started to rebuild their worlds. The bonding of dragons and humans seemed to be no more since dragons only survived in the interior of the Elder Mountains. Elves and dwarves swore that we would never again allow humans to hunt dragons in our mountains and that we would not allow any dragon to be forced into a bond. From time to time a human hunter finds a dragon and knows it for what it is though the magic of the dragon usually keeps it safe in that it is seen by humans to be something other than what it is. Even more rarely a human and a dragon will bond and as along as the dragon bonds of its own free will the elves and dwarves do nothing save watch. Years have flowed and time has shifted and we are here and we are now.

With Talyat’s final statement the company felt as though they had been released from an enchantment which had transported them into another world. The Humans found that after so long listening to the melodic voice of the elf the sudden silence of the night seemed strange. It was very dark and everyone had eaten the meal quietly and without really noticing – having been so firmly held by the telling.  Myalnar had returned at some point during the telling and the fire had died down to embers. The group of elves and humans realized that it had become cold. Even the dragons sat as if they had been hypnotized by the elven storyteller. There were several minutes of silence as everyone thought back over what they had heard and how it seemed as if they had been there and somehow the tale had become almost a living memory.

The elf Pelinar picked up a stone and stood looking at Talyat intently with a quizzical look which finally resolved itself into a glare. Talyat looked back at Pelinar defiantly clearly something which the humans did not understand was happening between the elves. Pelinar walked over to stand before where Talyat was still sitting. With a slight bow the standing elf handed held the stone out to the storyteller who accepted it with a nod. Pelinar said. “A gift in thanks.” Then he turned and walked silently into the darkness followed by the angry eyes of Talyat.

Myalnar looked at the storyteller and spoke with an edge to his voice. “Thank you Talyat for considering the needs of our new ‘friends’. I have never heard the tale told in such a short time and in so few words.” Myalnar nodded toward the stone in the hand of the storyteller and his calm gaze was met by the defiant gleam of the storyteller’s eyes.

Without a sound Ulistrial stood and her bearing was like that of a queen and all eyes were upon her. There in the glow of the embers she had an almost painful beauty. Her eyes were upon the storyteller who slowly stood still with a defiant look in his eyes. Ulistrial walked passed the storyteller almost close enough to brush shoulders and then she walked into the darkness, Talyat took a deep breath and slowly turned and followed the woman elf into the forest. Myalner sat and watched the storyteller go.

After a few more moments of silence Veer began to add wood to the embers in order to build the fire back up. “It seems that elven tales can take a long time if that was a short version of that story and it took hours to tell
.”

“
Yes,” Myalnar answered. “They can take days – that particular tale often does.”

Veer looked at the spot where the male elf had gone into the darkness and said. “He seemed to be bothered by something.”

“Yes, Pelinar was bothered by something,” responded Myalnar.

“The tale?” asked Shira.

“The telling,” answered Myalnar.

“Talyat doesn’t seem to like humans very much,” said Shira.

Myalnar glanced at Shira and then looked into the darkness where the storyteller had disappeared behind the elven woman.  “Talyat is young – Ulistrial is sharing wisdom.”

With a slight smile Cyerant said. “My mother used to get the same look in her eyes before she shared wisdom.”

Myalnar glanced at the dragon Corth and then looked at Cyerant with an appraising look and made a slight nod.

Veer asked. “Wait, she is his mother?”

“Yes,” answered Cyerant. “And I don’t think that elves like to say he or she about one another. I think they prefer to use names.”

“It is respectful,” added Myalnar with a nod.

With a frustrated voice Veer asked. “Why don’t elves say these things? Why do they leave you to figure it out? Are they mind readers?”

“We do not read minds. We listen carefully to what is said in order to hear what is not said. Communication among elves is… complicated.”

Veer asked. “So Talyat is getting yelled at by his mother?”

“I doubt that a single word will be spoken.” Myalnar said.

“So Ulistrial. Is going to hit him…. er… Talyat?” Asked Veer.

“The temptation is there.” Came a beautiful female elven voice. All turned to see that Ulistrial. Had silently walked back from the forest. “But elves are not dwarves and we do not strike our children.”

“I wish that my mother had been an elf,” said Veer.  This brought smiles to everyone.

Ulistrial looked down where Jolss had fallen asleep and she walked over and spread his blankets out near the fire and quietly helped him get into his bed and the boy seemed to sleep through the entire process. While the elf woman was taking care of the youngest, Talyat walked back into the firelight looking somewhat embarrassed. A few moments later Pelinar walked back into the firelight and quietly stood. Ulistrial seated herself beside Jolss and she look expectantly up at Talyat as she brushed her finger across the hair of the sleeping child.

Talyat gave a slight bow to Ulistrial and then looked at everyone in turn. “I apologize if my manner of telling has given offence.” Talyat turned toward Pelinar. “I thank you for your gift, it is worth far more than the simple tale that I have told.” Pelinar gave a slight bow and then sat. Talyat watched the other elf sit and paused for a moment as if wanting to say more and then also sat and looked expectantly toward Myalnar.

“I have spoken with the other council members,” said Myalnar. “The news is grave. The humans have made several captures of dragons. Elves have freed most of them and dwarves the rest. An emissary was sent to the empire in the west to warn them. The emissary was attacked Balinar is dead there was an open seat on the council which has been filled.” He glanced at Ulistrial. “I am to become emissary to the kingdom in the east and go and speak to their king. Talyat must go with me as witness to all that is said and done. The newest member of the council will take command in this region to stop the capture of dragons. And Pelinar?”

“Will go to meet this king.” Pelinar answered looking only at Myalnar.

Cyerant noticed that Ulistrial gave a small smile as Pelinar spoke and that Talyat looked slightly relieved.

“One more thing,” said Myalnar. “One of the westerners has bonded a dragon. The dragon was willing so we cannot interfere.”

“What kind of dragon?” Cyerant asked.

Myalnar looked up into the darkness of the tree above them where a set of green eyes gleamed in the firelight. He was answered by a loud hiss from the darkness behind those flashing emerald eyes.

“Oh,’ said Shira.

Myalnar stood and faced Ulistrial who then also stood as did the other elves. Cyerant stood also followed by Shira and finally by Veer. Myalnar walked up to Ulistrial and placed a necklace with a stone around her neck.  The stone fell upon her chest and Myalnar placed his right hand over the stone. Ulistrial placed her left hand over his hand on her own chest and placed her own right hand of the chest of the man. After a moment she nodded.

The elves sat back down and the humans took this as a signal that the ceremony was over and also sat.
Ulistrial looked at Myalnar and asked. “So you carry and extra Council Stone?”

“When it may be needed,” answered Myalnar.

Cyerant spoke. “You may have some difficulty with your mission to speak to the King.”

“How so?” Asked Pelinar.

Shira said. “Humans don’t believe in elves.”

Veer said. “Humans don’t believe in dragons or magic either. Something tells me that lots of things are going to change – lots of things.”

Each watch passed that night with a human and an elf sitting watch and the night was uneventful. Early the next morning as the companions were preparing to head back to Deelt three strange elves stepped out of the forest. Each of the unfamiliar elves had a very large pack and an extra quiver of arrows. They sat the packs and arrows down and quietly waited but seemed intent in trying to not be noticed as they were watching Shira. Myalnar looked at them and gave them a slight nod and the three responded with a slight bow.

Ulistrial walked over to Shira and looked into her eyes for few moments as she brushed the girl’s hair back from her face. The elf woman gave the girl a small smile and a nod. Then Ulistrial turned toward Talyat and Pelinar who both gave her a slight bow to which she responded with a nod. With a final glance toward Myalnar and exchange of nods the elf woman jogged into the forest accompanied by the three newcomers. The three remaining elves each retrieved one of the packs and put it on.

Myalnar spoke. “Those three travelled through the night to bring us supplies for our journey. Ulistrial will return with them to take over leading our people who are watching the humans here in the southern hills. We will be going to speak to your king. Our maps are very old but I believe that he lives in a city far south of here on a river and that if we follow the rivers we can be there early in the winter.“ With this Myalnar started to lead the other two elves into the forest.

Wait,” called Cyerant. “We must also travel to the capital, and we know humans and human lands.

Talyat answered. “Elves travel through the forest we do not like open exposed roads. We will travel through the forests until we come to this city.” This drew a strange look from the other two elves.

“Well, that could be a problem for you,” said Cyerant. South of here, there is lots of open exposed farm country. Especially on both sides of the Garee river all the way down to Verat City.  There are towns, farms and cities; very settled lands.”

“Will other humans find it strange to see you in the company of elves?” Asked Myalnar.

“Yes, especially so, if they do not believe in elves.” Answered Cyerant. “But with it becoming autumn and things turning colder you can keep your hoods over your heads to hide your ears and other elven features and you can pass for humans.”

“Perhaps this is a good idea,” Myalnar said with a pointed look at Talyat. “It will give us a chance to get to know humans better.”

Soon the party was ready to get on the road back to Deelt with the humans mounted and the elves walking quickly beside them. Shira sent Cyool into the sky as the party broke from the trees and onto the road.

Myalnar watched as the dragon climbed higher and higher into the sky. “To act as your eyes? Very good.”

“This is how we avoid those foreigners who are going around like bandits,” said Veer.

Myalnar said. “I’m afraid that they are getting bolder than that. Their search parties are getting larger since they have realized that the other humans have no army to speak of in this area. But this winter will be a hard one for them throughout the elder mountains”

Jolss asked. “Oh do the elves know how bad the weather is going to be?”

Malnar looked at the boy with slight smile and shook his head. “I don’t need to know the weather; I know the elves and the dwarves. And this will be a hard winter on the soldiers from over the mountains.”

“Oh,” answered Jolss.

“I wish that I could be there in the mountains with the elves.” Said Veer.

“Oh no,” said Shira. “There is a large party of foreigners moving this way pretty quickly. They are searching in front of them with scouts who are running ahead. They are going to catch up to us later unless we run for it.”

“Can we hide out in the forest?” Asked Cyerant.

“No, they are searching the forests as they come along this way. There has to be fifty of them, at least. I can also see that a few elven scouts are shadowing them in the forest.”

“You can see through the dragons eyes.” Myalnar said. “Very interesting. And you can see elves through her eyes.”

“I see glimpses of whatever she is watching and as for elves, that is strange. I don’t really clearly see the elves but I see that they are there.”

“Ah,” said Myalnar. “Elves in the forest are very difficult to see. I am a bit surprised that your dragon can see them at all.”

“Well, we know that these foreigners do not mind pushing their horses too far,” said Cyerant. “We are two long days journey from Deelt so they are going to catch up to us at some point.”

“By mid day today,” said Shira.

“Or we can take to the forests to journey,” said Myalnar. We can go deep enough in that their scouts cannot find us and we would move toward this city ahead but our elven scouts would also be close at hand to help keep them from finding us. The forest can be a very confusing place especially when someone is helping with the confusion.”

“I say we fight,” said Veer.

Shira said. “I don’t know that we will have time to get far enough into the forest, they just spotted Cyool and I think that they realize that she is a dragon. They are starting to hurry this way.”

Myalnar said. “Can you have her lead them into the forest? Then we can let the elves take care of them.”

“Yes,” said Shira. I will send her flying north over the forest and make sure that they can see her easily.”

Cyerant said to Myalnar. “I wish that you elves had horses, we could move faster.’

Myalnar said. “We can run for days.”

Soon the horses were at a gallop with the three elves loping along beside them. Then Shira said. “Not all of them went into the forest there are a couple dozen of them still heading this way.

Cyerant pulled his horse to a halt and the others stopped with him. “Well then we shouldn’t keep going until they catch us tired and from behind. We will set another ambush.” Cyerant looked at Jolss. “No more forest fires.”

Pelinar looked that Jolss and asked. “That was you?”

“It was an accident,” said Jolss.

Cyerant said. “Well we can’t just hide in the trees and attack them from there because they are scouting the forest ahead of themselves. But I have an idea.

An hour later Cyerant and Veer were riding back toward the west in the direction of the foreigners. They came over a slight rise and caught sight of the foreigners in the distance and more importantly the foreigners caught sight of them and their dragons. Once they were sure that the foreigners had seen them they turned and fled back toward Deelt and the waiting ambush. As the foreigners gave chase they called their scouts in from the edge of the forest and soon their whole search party was on the road and catching up to the two men and two dragons running ahead of them.

As Cyerant and Veer topped another rise and passed the place where they knew that the others were hidden in the trees they began to slow.

When the foreigners came within arrow range it was Jolss who struck first with his cantrip of un-fastening. The front half of the foreigners fell from their horses as their saddles and tack all released at once. The ones behind were forced to pull up short. But before the men could even think to start to sort the tangle of fallen soldiers and saddles a flight of arrows descended into their midst. For each arrow that Shira was able to release each of the elves released three. As deadly accurate as the Hilfolk girl was, the elves were even more so. Many of the foreigners sprouted feathers within moments.

It took the season troops only a few seconds to realize where the arrows were coming from and their commander immediately began to lead the still mounted half of the foreigners into a charge toward the trees. As they neared the forest the deadly rain of arrows continued to bring men down. The men who had been unhorsed were still trying to form up on the road into some semblance of order when they realized that two mounted men and two dragons were bearing down on them.

Jolss seeing that the riders would be taken by the arrows before they could break into the trees focused his concentration on the men in the road who would soon be outnumbering his brother and his friend. The young mage raised his hands and a fireball hurled toward the soldiers in the road. Between the fireball and the earlier arrows there were only four men left on their feet to meet the charge of the two mounted men and dragons. Moments later there were none. Of the men who had charged the forest only two remained alive and they were riding fast for the west in full retreat.

Cyerant realized that the two fleeing foreigners would be able to take news back to their forces and that soon this area would be crawling with foreign soldiers. But there was just no way to catch the riders now. Pelinar and Talyat ran out of the forest and stood side by side. Talyat pulled up some grass from the ground and tossed it into the air to gauge the wind. Both elves nocked arrows, drew and released.

“There is no way,” said Veer. “That shot is too long and they are moving.” Then both riders fell from their horses. “Incredible”

Myalnar came walking quickly from the forest followed by Shira who was supporting an exhausted looking Jolss.

Cyerant said. “Daralce, you are not to use so much of the magic that you are endangering yourself.’

The boy shook his head. “It isn’t a danger it just makes me very tired.”

Cyerant said. “You can get up here with me and ride in front so that I can hold you up.”

Jolss shook his head again ad said. “I can ride my own horse.”

Looking at Myalnar Cyerant asked. “There are riderless horses now. Will you elves ride?”

The older elf glanced at the two younger elves and simply said. “We ride.”

In a few minutes the packs had all been loaded onto horses and the elves too were mounted and the party was moving quickly eastward.

Cyerant set a punishing pace and rode well on until after nightfall. The company made a cold camp just off the road inside the edge of the forest. Cyerant had them in the saddle again as the sky started to lighten toward dawn and by mid afternoon the north gates of Deelt were coming into view.

As the company neared the gates they noticed that things had changed since they left just days before. There were now city guards at the gates asking visitors questions before letting them enter. Cyerant stopped long enough for everyone to dismount and lead their horses through on foot. As the company neared the gates a guard began to eye them suspiciously, especially the three elves who had their hoods up. The guard stepped in front of the party and held up his hand for them to stop. “Hold there,” said the guard. “What business do ye have in Deelt?”

As Cyerant prepared to answer he was cut off by another guard. “They’s alright, Marl, that boy there with ‘em. I seed him at the magistrate’s court. He’s the ‘prentice to the mage over in the tower. The one what put out the fire down over too the wharfs a few night ago.”

“Oh,” the guard called back over his shoulder. Facing Cyerant he continued. “So ye’s all going over to the tower then I reckon.”

“Yes,” Said Cyerant.

“Did ye come in on the north road or the west road? They’s strange things doin’ lately. They’s been a lot o banditry going on. Some as say these bandits are comin’ closer to the City. We heard that they’s a mad woman just up the north road stoppin’ travellers and warnin’ ‘em ‘bout dragons runnin here abouts. Musta seen that magic dragon at the tower the night of the fire. Scared a crowd o folk half outta they’s wits afore they knew that it was just a bit o magic. I recon that it did scare one outta her wits. Did ye see ought of bandits along the west road?”

Cyerant answered. “Yes, about two days back. There looks like there was a battle of some kind and there are some bandits dead. I imagine they started fighting among themselves over something.”

“Two days? That close?” Asked the guard shaking his head. “I reckon they’ll be the ones that burned the ferry up the Blacktine River. Bad business that. The magistrate sent a barge to be hauled up to the crossing to be used fer a new ferry. Hear tell that the magistrate is sending to the king to ask for a guard outpost at the ferry. Things is sure getting strange. You folks ‘ll be safe ‘nough at the tower I recon.”

“Thank you, ..um Marl was your name, correct?” Cyerant said.

“Yes, Marl it is, and I hope the master mage gets to feelin’ better.”

“Thank you,” said Jolss as the party rode by.

“How did you remember his name?” Asked Jolss.

“It is the first thing you learn as a child in a good noble house.” Answered Cyerant. “Remember names and faces, it makes people more loyal if they feel like you know who they are. And it makes you a far better noble if you actually do know who they are. Now I’ll always know his name and he will always be pleasantly disposed toward me for remembering it. People appreciate being remembered.”

The company made a strange menagerie going up the streets of Deelt – two young men and a young woman along with a boy who had a bird on his shoulder. And there were the three people in hoods who were a bit shorter than the average adult. Each leading a horse and there was a chain of pack horses. A colt and two dogs were following along. And there was a noisy crow following along on the roof tops of the building scolding anyone who would listen.

As the company entered the city their senses were assaulted by the life of the city. The air was filled with the sounds of people talking and haggling in the shops and the market stalls, and the sound of songs and arguments coming from inns and taverns. Always the sounds of some distant smith or farrier hammering on heated metal provided a ringing and constant heartbeat to life in a city like Deelt. Then there were the smells, wonderful smells like the meat pie vendors and the fruit pie shops. There were bakeries and spice markets and leather goods stalls. But there were also the smells of people living close together and of chamber pots emptied in the streets. They passed stables with their smell of hay and horses and the charcoal smell of the smithies. And there was a great deal to see with hawkers and merchants always trying to get the attention of passers by.