Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands (24 page)

20

BETWEEN
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SEA

For the first time in a week, there was no need to rise early. Aldrick
and Télia spent the spare hours snoozing peacefully. Eventually they were woken
by one of Télia’s good friends who lived in the aera’s residence. They ate
breakfast with her before returning to Sinin’s. Both Kaal and Jon had slept
there.

“Ah, you two,” remarked Jon upon their arrival. “I had almost
begun to worry.”

“We needed a good rest.”

Sinin winked at them. “It was about time you two had a ‘good
rest’.”

“How did the meeting go last night, Jon?” asked Télia, ignoring
Sinin’s cheek.

Jon sighed. “Oh, you know politics. There was a lot of shouting
and little actual discussion. The council found the whole deal with the dragons
difficult to swallow. We did at least manage to convince them that Illumir
poses no threat to us.”

“I hear the dragon is outside the city wall,” said Sinin. “He’s
been giving farmers and livestock a right scare.”

“I think he’s waiting for you, Aldrick,” prompted Kaal.

Aldrick nodded. “I should go and see him.” He turned to Télia.
“Will you come?”

“Of course.”

As they made their way down the main city street, they noticed
numerous people eying them. Some murmured in the ears of those close to them,
others pointed. A few cheered. They must have heard details of the battle at
Darkna.

Télia nudged him. “All eyes on you, huh?”

“Me? Why me?!”

She grinned. “You’re the hero.”

He shook his head. “No I’m not. I did no more than anyone else did
yesterday, no more than you.”

She snorted. “That’s the kind of thing a hero would say.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.” She stopped and looked up at him. “Aldrick, you took on
Malath. You saved this city and its people.”

“I may have taken him on, but I never defeated him. He was just
unlucky.”

“Perhaps, yet you survived him all the same. You outlasted him.
How many can claim that?”

“And what does that prove? That I’m a lucky fool?”

She wrapped her arms round him. “You’re a fool to be sure. But
what it proves is that you are courageous and powerful. You are now perhaps the
most powerful wielder who lives.”

“How much power I have is not something I have any say in.”

“Oh look—speaking like a hero again,” she said playfully.

He laughed sarcastically and they continued on.

The city gate was opened upon their approach. Beyond, the
surrounding farmland was eerily quiet. This was because Illumir had settled
himself in a nearby field. The dragon looked to be dozing in the sun. A flock
of terrified sheep were huddled in the far corner of the field, adamantly looking
in the opposite direction.

As they neared, Illumir unfurled and stretched. “Ah, Aldrick and
Télia, I have awaited you.”

“Sorry for keeping you.”

“It is of no matter.” The dragon rose to his feet. “I have enjoyed
bathing here in the sun.”

Télia lifted her head so that the sun’s rays caught her face.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?”

Illumir looked from her to Aldrick. “I like this one. She feels
life, as you do. You will do well together.”

“Thanks,” Aldrick said awkwardly.

Télia flushed.

“What will you do now, Aldrick? With the foul wielder demised,
where will you go from here?”

“Home,” he answered. “I may have lost two parents, but I am
blessed to have a complete family in this life. I’m looking forward to seeing
them again.”

“Ah yes.” Illumir looked to the sky. “Home is a good place to be.”

Aldrick suddenly felt deep sorrow for the dragon. “You will speak
with your king, won’t you? He might decide to allow you back. You deserve that.”

“No, he will never allow me back. Such a change of heart would be
viewed as weakness by our kind. He would not be seen that way.” Illumir looked
down again.

Télia was watching him. “Maybe up there isn’t where you belong,
Illumir. Maybe your home is here with us…”

The dragon grumbled broodingly.

“Perhaps you are right, Télia,” he said, then turned to Aldrick. “May
I take you back to your family? It would be an honour.”

“If you can spare the time, that would be greatly appreciated,” Aldrick
said, pleased that Illumir had offered. He was eager to view the world from the
sky once more.

“Well then, let me know when and I shall be waiting for you here
in this field.”

“At noon tomorrow?” Aldrick suggested. “I want to spend a little
more time in Galdrem first.”

“At noon,” Illumir repeated. “Very well. We will see each other
then.” He launched into the sky and flew away toward the peaks of the Mountains
Nemduran once more.

Aldrick and Télia walked back to the city gate. As it opened, there
was a spirited neigh behind them. De’ama, Tame and Stub were galloping down the
road toward them. They were a welcome sight. The couple greeted the horses joyfully,
then led them to some stables and paid to have them well attended to.

That evening, after a lengthy tour of the sprawling city, they
attended a public celebration of peace and a commemoration to those who had
lost their lives during Malath’s seizure of the city. It took place in the Garden
District. Hundreds of small lanterns had been hung from the trees and lit up
their surroundings in warm colours. Seats and tables were arranged on the grass
underneath them. The tables were laden with sumptuous foods and there was drink
on tap.

To Aldrick’s bewilderment, he had been allocated a seat at a table
with members of the city council and those who remained of the Synod. During
speeches, mugs were raised to thank him and the others for standing against peril
and adversity. Devéna openly offered him an honorary position in the Synod,
which he immediately accepted under pressure. When he was offered the
opportunity to speak, he made a point to note Illumir’s role as true saviour of
the city and lands, for it was he who had stopped the army of Sanswords and he
who had defeated Aashkara. To this there was much cheering in Illumir’s name
and Aldrick was spontaneously dubbed ‘Dragon Rider’. He didn’t object.

Never was there a mention of the danger which still lurked deep
below them. This was a good thing. It was not the time or place to speak of
such dark things. Besides, there was no knowing whether those dragons would
ever become a threat. Illumir had said the seal still held at Darkna.

Aldrick mused on something else the dragon had said: “To wonder
can be a greater thing than to know.” Perhaps it was a good thing that one
could never know exactly what the future held. Assuming everlasting peace was
foolish, and dwelling on doubt was more so. It was this fleeting moment that
was to be revelled in and cherished… he finished his pint.

When the hour was late, people began to drunkenly stagger away to
their respective dwellings. Some continued on to taverns around the city. Kaal
and Sinin were part of the latter group, this time accompanied by Jon and Frade.
After reminding Kaal to be ready for the journey home at noon, Aldrick and
Télia returned to the aera’s residence.

“Do you realise how lucky you are that you dismissed me as your
aera?” Télia asked, removing his clothes at her bedside. “This would be so very
frowned upon, especially in my room.”

“I dismissed you for that exact reason,” he joked.

She slapped him. “Idiot.”

He took her in his arms. “Will you come with me tomorrow?” he
asked hopefully. “Come south with me. Meet my family. Enjoy some quiet time
between the mountains and the sea.”

She beamed. “I will.”

“Good,” he said gladly.

They began to kiss and slowly…

A large audience had gathered for their departure even though the
weather was sour. Aldrick was uncertain if the crowds had come to farewell
them, or to witness the greatness of Illumir. People gazed upon the dragon in
marvel. Those who dared not tread too close watched from the heights of the
city wall.

Jon was the first to say his goodbyes. He was to remain in Galdrem,
to spend time with old friends and oversee the rebuild of Delthendra and the
Synod’s tower.

“Take care, won’t you?” he said, addressing them all. “It will be
cold down there very shortly. Wrap up warm and don’t hesitate to wander north from
time to time.”

“Definitely,” Aldrick said, embracing him. “In fact, I might come
back with Télia in a few weeks to fetch our horses. Whether you are home or
still in Galdrem, we will stop by to say hello.”

Jon’s eyes twinkled.

“Very good,” he said. “You will say hello to Braem, Vara and young
Bree for me, won’t you?”

Aldrick patted him on the back. “I will, Jon.” He turned away,
then immediately back on his heel. “Jon, how am I here?” he asked. “How did I
endure Malath? He was unrelenting. I felt his storm overwhelming mine many
times. Still, I breathe… I don’t understand.”

Jon smiled. “Aldrick…” The old wielder’s head drooped and then he looked
away into the distance—into some memory of long ago. “I like to believe that
the hatred of many can be dissolved by the love for a few,” he said wistfully.

Aldrick knew Jon’s mind lingered on Isobel and Gilthred. “Jon, my
parents are still here….”

Jon looked back at him with his smile returning. “Yes,” he said.
“Yes, I do believe they are.”

“Did… did they have a sign, like Selayna did?” Aldrick was fairly certain
he already knew the answer.

“They did—a black fantail.”

At that very moment the friendly fantail appeared, hovered between
him and Jon for a moment, then went chirping away and perched on an oblivious
Illumir.

“You are in the company of angels, Aldrick,” Jon whispered.

Aldrick watched his two winged friends for a time, then looked
over at Télia. “Yes, I am.”

When all farewells were said and done, he kicked Kaal. “Are you
ready, Brother?”

“Am I ever!” Kaal exclaimed, eagerly clambering up onto Illumir’s
back.

He turned to Télia.

She grinned. “Always.”

Aldrick took her hand and they found a seat together between
Illumir’s spires.

The dragon turned his long neck to look at them.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“We are.”

“Then let us be off. Brace yourselves.” Illumir launched his
mighty stone body into the air and they began to ascend into the sky.

Aldrick took a breath. He was feeling great now. Everything was
great. He felt in touch and at peace with everyone and everything around him.
It was a feeling he would bear home with him. His life may have changed
drastically since he left their modest farm on the mountainside, but all the
same, it was home and always would be.

Looking down, Aldrick saw the crowds waving up at them. As a final
gesture of goodwill and farewell he raised his hand and for leagues around them
the clouds dispersed, allowing sunlight to flood down upon the land. There was thunderous
applause.

Télia squeezed him. “Show-off.”

Illumir swooped into a smooth glide and they were on their way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Daniel was raised in a remote mountainous region of the South
Island, New Zealand. He lived on a 23-acre lifestyle block of regenerating
forest with his parents and three siblings. The beautiful natural scenery and
quietness he was surrounded by was the perfect environment for his imagination
to run wild with fantasies of what the larger world could be. Around the age of
12, Daniel first envisioned 
The Narathlands
—a world full of
magic, adventure and mystery. For nearly a decade, this world was little more
than a small collection of messily written notes and simple sketches.
However, after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University
of Wellington, Daniel found time to continue work on a novel set in this
world. Over the years his eagerness to do so never waned. This novel is in your
hands and a sequel is on the cards.

Visit Daniel’s website:

danielwhiteauthor.com