Dragon Born: Book I of the Tendaaren Chronicles
Chapter 13: The Sentinel

“Beware the manipulators claiming that they love you. Satan was an angel once. ANd hell can look an awful lot like paradise” --Erin Van Vuren

Aly rode in silence for most of the next day mostly because sharing her dark not so distant past and turning into a giant bloodthirsty tiger had drained her of any useful source of energy. It felt like she had run an emotional marathon and now she was riding a physical one. Her legs pulsed with strain and frequently cramped during the ride. As they slowed their gallop to a fast walk and the sun beat down on her she felt her eyes were softly failing at their task of staying open. Every once in a while she would feel her head slingshot down to her chest in a fit of temporary narcolepsy. Even Sadie was exhausted and silent. Every ounce of her concentration was focused on merely coordinating the four hooves beneath her and keeping her rider on board.

Despite the obvious exhaustion of his companions, Baellnar was relentless in pushing them forward. They had spent most of the day at a full gallop. The trio had covered more distance in a couple hours than they had in a full day of their two-week journey. Even normally talkative Aagi was silent for this part of the journey. It was not until the sun had started to fade into orange and twilight hues that he barked at Baellnar in protest.

“oi you pointy eared wanker you are gonna ride us our mounts ta death!” He growled ferociously at their silver-haired leader. Baellnar pointedly ignored and continued to push forward. Finally, by some unseen natural queue, he was satisfied with the level of the suns descent over the trees. Without a word, he guided their lackluster group about a mile off the road deep into the forest around them. Their mounts stumbled clumsily over the roots and bramble barely able to stand.

They stopped in a clearing each of them as if on autopilot began to set up camp. When they were finished with their respective tasks they gathered around the firelight. Aly quickly gave way to her exhaustion. Her supper had been placed in her lap for mere moments but she immediately fell unconscious right into her plate. She did not care that it was food it was warm and soft just like a pillow. In the haze of her unconscious, she felt strong hands gently lift her from her space and carry her to her bedroll.

Aagi grumbled over his portion glaring at Baellnar who was gently wiping the food from Aly’s face having tucked her away in her bedroll. “What’s your problem?” Aagi snapped at Baellnar’s hunched form. Annoyed Baellnar looked up at his friend and patiently waited for an explanation for his outburst while simultaneously suggesting for him to whisper.

Needing no more incentive to speak his mind he let out a massive tirade which he carried out in a sharp whisper. “Oi you slack-jawed, son of a bastard knife ear, you could get us killed pushing us like ya were. The poor lass fell over into ’er food! ... ’er food Baellnar! What for Gaia’s sake is so important you could get the whole lot of us killed before we even start on this godforsaken venture?” Aagi was fuming even his ears had turned a brilliant shade of scarlet.

“Not only that ya treated the lass like she was a leper or summtin da ‘ole damn day! Da poor thing probably thinks yur are afraid o’ ’er or. . . ’ate her after that ’ole tiger fiasco.” Huffing and puffing finally letting his emotions out Aagi angrily poked at the fire sending a shower of sparks to emphasize his feelings on the matter.

Baellnar held an unfocused gaze facing the fire and stayed that way for a long time before answering. “Is that what you think Aagi?” He eyed his friend cooly almost in a non-verbal scoff. “You think I hate her, or fear her? No. I care more deeply about her than you could know.” Baellnar looked wistfully into the moonlight.

“I was I tasked with watching her through the crystal for one hundred and fifty years. I watched as she slumbered for over one hundred and twenty years.” His words were poignant and heavy. “I watched as she grew up with her host family. I watched as they cherished her and loved her. I watched as she laughed and she played. I watched as she grew, and at sixteen I watched as she began showing signs of magic.

Did you know it was that magic that helped Paul replace her?” He turned back to Aagi his eyes whirling in agony. “I watched as he snapped his finger and the driver of the tanker truck died. I watched as the truck collapsed and burst into flames. I watched as her host family’s car flipped three times off the road. I watched as her ‘father’ crawled from the burning vehicle only to be shot by Paul. I watched as he slithered his way into her life. I watched as he chipped away at her self-esteem. I watched as his gang of friends attempted to assault her.” He a grin of pride seeped onto his lips. He waited for Aagi to absorb the whirlwind of emotions that accompanied Baellnar’s words.

“It was in that moment that she also turned into a raging beast. Tearing the men apart. That is why Paul gave her a necklace that froze her powers and her in time. That is why they were in a protection spell that sealed them from the outside world. No one could come save her because no one could see her.” He sighed and shook his head trying to wipe the memory from his mind.

“oi what is dat necklace den?” Aagi whispered gently having no idea of what he had been seeing. He had known Baellnar had been tasked as her guardian but he had no idea what pain he had gone through being on the wrong side of the portal. Unable to stop the pain and suffering their ward had endured.

“That necklace is the pendant of souls. The one and the only thing that can keep the powers of an earth child at bay. There is no way Scelestra does not know what she can do.” It was his turn to furiously poke at the fire almost stabbing almost as if to pick a fight with the flames. As if stabbing the fire would somehow stab the witch that pursued them. He threw his fire stick away in fury and plunked down on a boulder nearby. All of this was done with a careful eye on Aly as she slept. Finally done with his silent tantrum he leveled his gaze on Aagi.

“You think Paul was the only one of the claimed who is following us?” Aagi’s eyes bulged and he said nothing sudden comprehension scrawled across his features. “Aagi there are hundreds of them on our trail. I catch the vibrations of their approach on the wind. We are dead if we do not push forward our only hope is reaching the veil in time.”

“the veil? uh . . . oi though we were goin’ ta see the other ’er ya know Aly’s destiny and all.” Aagi whispered suddenly alarmed. “wouldn’ she be safer wid ’er?”

Baellnar shook his head. “We would never reach her in time. Besides Aly’s new . . . abilities have me questioning everything. I do not think she is who we were told she is. She is infinitesimally rarer than that. Allabandar is hiding something from us.” Aagi maintained his slack-jawed silence absorbing Baellnar’s words. Baellnar’s eyes gazed fondly at Aly’s sleeping form. She started to moan and thrash in the throws of a nightmare. Small screams emanated from her slumbering lips.

Baellnar pulled out his lute and began to softly strum a lullaby. As he touched the cords his lute began to glow and then small strands of light stretched lazily from the strings. They danced around in the air and as he sang they found their way to Aly. The wrapped around her like a blanket and her body began to illuminate with the glow of the music. She sighed heavily easing into a much deeper and more peaceful sleep. The song continued for several minutes but as it ended the glow faded into her bedroll and laced around her from fading away completely as he strummed the last note... He gazed fondly at her as her breath softened and a sleepy smile spread across her face. Satisfied with his work he put his lute away and looked back at Aagi. “Only a child of mother Gaia can take the form of a forest creature. To my knowledge and yours, Ella was the last. If what I believe is true Aagi she is the last and final heir to natures’ throne.”

Aagi simply whispered how?

Baellnar took one last long meaningful look at Aly. “I do not know, but if we do not get her to the veil in time then we will never know.”