Dragon Born: Book I of the Tendaaren Chronicles
Chapter 16: The Journey Ends Here

“Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest... It’s about who came and never left your side”--Unknown

They had found their way back to the main road. The time for slowly tramping through the forest was over. They pushed their mounts toward the veil. The only sound for miles was that of the thundering hooves of their mounts below them.

Then Aly realized something. That was the only sound around them. She yelled to her friends. Baellnar and Aagi ignored her. Pushing harder and forward. Realizing the futility of her efforts she continued to push Sadie. Who was also silent. The white of her eyes flashing in the effort of carrying her load across large distances as such a harsh pace.

It is too quiet she said to no one because no one cared to listen. Her skin prickled unnaturally. Incredibly alert her instincts firing alarms partially because of what she now understood but also because in books silence was never a good thing. Ever.

She was sweating profusely. Her heart tied to her throat making it hard to breathe. She choked on the dust storm around them. She felt the ground shaking like an earthquake.

They pushed harder. The trees around them swaying branches crashing down. There was no wind. How was this happening? Sadie reared up in fear and galloped out of control. Alyenna held on for dear life. Her feet had fallen out of the stirrups she had no control of her horse anymore.

The ground ahead of them erupted. Enormous fissures forming around them. Almost like the dirt road, they were on was actually a weak icy pond. The horses and Roxanne reared up and danced nervously having no-where to go. Sadie screamed.

Out of the ground came an enormous clawed hand. The claws were easily the size and shape of a deadly scimitar. Its’ scaly skin was the yellow-brown color of diarrhea and had the smell to match. Her eyes were burning and watering and she was gagging on the smell.

Another hand followed both grasped the ground and two arms pushing whatever was attached to them up. There were terrifying spikes on the elbows each with the deadly curve of a scimitar.

Next came an enormous head. It looked like it was the ugly creation of what happened when a snake and a bull mated. Hundreds of pointy dripping teeth lined the jaw. Its eyes were red and serpentine. On its head were horns. In the shape of a Texas long horn cattle with a deadly twisted curve. Each horn was easily the diameter of a tree trunk and 5 feet long and at their base were smaller deadly looking horns. A forked tongue flickered in and out.

The beast finally pulled its whole body out of the ground. It stood in front of them armor plated shoulders and legs with its muscles twitching. A long-spiked tail whipping about behind it. It was at least two stories tall and unequivocally terrifying.

Sadie and aria in a panic threw their riders and bolted. The beast showed no interest in them and grinned hungrily instead just on Alyenna.

“I have been sent for you my dear.” Its serpentine voice clutching at her heart. Its body moving toward her licking the air hungrily. “You look delicious.” He took a lumbering step towards her. “Your journey ends here Alyenna of Earth.”

Aagi jumped off of Roxanne. Why she had not run was beyond Aly but almost in answer to her question Roxanne grew.

The beautiful jeweled mount was now at least a story tall while still on all fours. Her own crystal spikes taking on deadly curves and her tail flickering angrily at the new comer.

“Ah, we meet again pet.” The monster said coolly to Roxanne clearly unthreatened by her size. “it seems this time you have something that belongs to my mistress.”

Roxanne answered by crouching down and growling. Her rainbow eyes swirling in anger. Aly was still stuck to the ground. Being thrown from her horse had injured her leg. The awkward angle at which her foot stuck out did not give her much hope.

She looked at Baellnar. He was unconscious.

Terrified she watched as the monster and Roxanne circled each other. Aagi had lifted his enormous crossbow from Roxanne’s saddle right before she had grown. He beckoned for Aly to stay down.

Do not worry hatchling I am familiar with his kind and they are morons.

“Who are you calling moron’s you overgrown lizard!” Roared the monster.

Aagi snuck behind a large boulder that had fallen when the ground had ruptured. Propping his enormous crossbow on it. He busied himself digging through his sack pulling out various poultices and potions.

Aly crawled over to Baellnar’s unconscious body. Her foot screaming at her with the effort of being dragged across the uneven ground. Her arms now bleeding with her efforts she held her friends head up on her lap.

Roxanne roared and charged the monster. He grabbed her by the neck and easily lifted her and slammed her to the ground. The whole forest shook with the weight of the impact.

“please wake up” she whispered trembling. She pulled her hand away from his head feeling a sickening liquid pool in it. It was then that she realized he was bleeding. Blood from his head wound was pooling onto her clothes. She quickly tore a piece of her sleeve off and pressed hard on his wound. Rocking him back and forth she whispered again “Please Baellnar wake up.”

Roxanne recovered from the impact quickly and jumped up and bounced away grabbing the Monster’s leg in her jaws and pulling it out from under him. She sank her teeth hard into his flesh. A sickly purple liquid started pulling out. She snarled dragging the monster.

Aagi wiped some ugly sick looking liquid on his arrows and cocked them into his crossbow.

The monster recovered quickly and grabbed Roxanne’s jaws yanking them open he freed his leg and held her mouth open.

Aly was helpless and terrified. She worried after Roxanne and mentally warned her be careful. All she got back from Roxanne was a chuckle. Simultaneously a large stream of white fire escaped her mouth and blew the monster in the face. He screamed covering his eyes in agony stumbling back. She lunged again this time biting his shoulder and pulling him down.

Aly looked back at Baellnar. The bleeding had slowed but his face was a terrifying pale color. A little bit of blood touched his lips as well. “No no no no,” she whispered. “Wake up please wake up!” His breathing slowed.

The monster picked up a large boulder and threw it at Roxanne. She dodged it easily and leaped again. This time missing her target. He took advantage of her miscalculation and grabbed her tail and threw her to the ground. Then picked up another boulder and slammed it onto her leg.

Roxanne roared in pain. Whipping her tail around she tripped the monster and rolled out of the way. She got up and rolled out of the way and just in time for Aagi to fire his crossbow.

The arrow soared through the air and embedded itself in its’ targets’ neck. The monster bellowed and ripped it out. Another arrow soared through the air making a sickly sound as it sunk deep into the thigh of the monster. Once again, the monster ripped it out.

This time Roxanne grabbed his horns with her teeth. Held tight and growling like a dog with a fresh bone. Five ore arrows arrow soared through the air. This time embedding themselves in various locations all over the creature’s body.

It angrily thrashed about but Roxanne refused to let go of her prize. Her head whipping about with the effort. If the situation was not so terrifying it would have been funny. She refused to allow the monster any access to the arrows and the time it took to rip out five the poison that Aagi had put on them did its job. The monster’s eyes rolled back into its head. Its forked tongue lolled to the side and the twitching and thrashing began to weaken. Roxanne would not let go until she was sure he was gone. When the monster’s lifeless form was at her feet she ripped off his head by biting through his neck and then burned him with her white-hot flame.

After the body ignited and reduced to ash Roxanne shrunk to the size of a small house cat. She cried out limping and then fell to her side.

Aagi ran toward Roxanne checking her leg.

Aly turned her attention back to Baellnar. His breath was terrifyingly shallow. She curled herself around him. “Wake up!” She screamed.

Aagi’s attention was now fully on her and he ran to his friend. Sliding across the ground and grabbed Baellnar. He poured water over his face. Trying to revive him but nothing was working. Life was slowly leaving his body.

Roxanne help us, please! You are dragonkin you can heal.

A sad voice echoed back. No hatchling I cannot. I am only dragonkin I am not a full blood. Only the ancient ones have that power.

Aly looked back at Baellnar hopelessly as she saw his breathing become harsher and sporadic.

They call that the death rasp. Roxanne said sadly. Her small form now nuzzling Aly’s knee.

“What is wrong with him?” Aly asked Aagi.

“sum sort o’ brain ’emorage.” He said sadly.

Aly looked at Baellnar and wept. How could this happen? Her first friend in so long. How could he be taken away from her? She desperately gripped his shirt. Gritting her teeth again.

“WAKE UP!” She yelled repeatedly but of course, nothing was working.

As his last breath left his body she refused to give up on him. She jumped out from under him and began to press hard and rhythmically on his chest. One and two and three and four and five. She learned the skill a long time ago. Aagi tried to pull her back but she shook him off. Twelve and thirteen and fourteen and fifteen. Again he tried to pull her away and she yelled at him continuing to press hard on Baellnar’s chest. The sickening sound of his rib cartilage breaking beneath her. Twenty-Seven and twenty-eight twenty-nine, Thirty.

She bent down and breathed hard into him watching his chest rise. Again, she breathed into him but this time it was different. She felt her body warm. She saw a light white glow encompassed his body. Completely freaked out she jumped back.

The glow connected her to him even with her not touching him. It pulsed slowly at first and then grew brighter and pulsed faster. He started to gasp. His eyes wide and he moaned with pain. Aly watched the mismatched cartilage of his chest knit itself back together. She checked his head for blood but there was none.

She jumped next to him “Baellnar can you hear me?”

“BAELLNAR!” she screamed. Again silence. She shook him gently and no response. But there was breath she could see it.

She did not notice that Sadie and Aria had come back now that the danger had cleared.

Aagi yelled at her. “We ’ave to get going miss.”

“I am not leaving him!” She yelled back.

“OI! No one said anythin’ ‘bout leavin’ ’im!” He growled. Picking up his friend and threw him onto Aria. He put him in a sitting position and lashed him on with ropes.

Roxanne jumped up with him gripping his shirt in her teeth and digging her claws into the saddle. I have him hatchling do not worry but we must leave. There are more coming.

Aly felt herself being pulled up onto Sadie by the dwarf and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Digging her face into his shoulder.

“Ya!” He yelled forcing Sadie to startle forward then launch herself into a full gallop. Aria followed obediently Baellnar’s body bouncing limply in the saddle. Roxanne’s eyes glowing in an effort to keep her charge upright so the bouncing would not harm his recovery against the bouncing of the saddle.

“Aagi do you know where we are going?” Alyenna yelled into her friend’s ear as they thundered forward.

“Yes, miss we are going to the Elven veil. A land so protected with ancient magic even her highness cannot penetrate it with her tricks and deeds.”

“If it is so safe why isn’t everyone allowed in.”

“Ah lass if everyone knew where it was it would hardly be safe now would it.”

She then busied herself with keeping a watchful eye over her unconscious friend. She had no idea what happened back there but whatever it was had saved him and that was all that mattered wasn’t it?

Emily awoke the next morning feeling sore. Her stomach ached painfully. She was bleeding. She chocked it up to mother nature visiting and took the necessary maintenance precautions before dressing herself for her work that day.

This was her first day as Allabandar’s personal servant. She was so excited. She could not help but feel sad but she was not sure why. This was everything she had dreamed and hoped for. He had been her savior and she had idolized him ever since he saved her at the young age of four. Sure, he was otherworldly and immortal but age was just a number, right? He had gorgeous brown hair and hazel eyes.

She tidied herself up in the mirror. Sighing as she realized the face reflected back at her was as good as it would get. She was not ugly but she certainly wasn’t beautiful either. She knew her lot in life and she was lucky to have it. Being born human and a potter’s daughter and then an orphan she knew her prospects were very thin. She lived in a castle and that alone was cause for celebration. The concept that she had her own room she felt like a governess and often pretended to be so.

When the Courtiers were out on business she made a habit of trying on their lovely gowns and mesmerizing baubles and dreamt that she was in a different class. She frequented the local tavern not for the ale, though it was a nice perk, for the stories of princes replaceing their destined loves in common folk like herself. Her favorite story was any incantation of Cinderella. She loved pretending she lived in a land not threatened by the concept of falling in love and cherished these contra-banned stories. These stories were only allowed in the outskirts of towns. In the areas, Scelestra was least likely to replace prey. In the courts, the stories of love and damsels were strictly forbidden.

She whistled brightly as she dusted her way to Allabandar’s quarters. She used her new key to open the door and was in shock when she let herself inside. She was expecting a man of Allabandar’s rank to have perfectly lavish quarters but they weren’t. they were lavish at one time but absolutely everything was covered in old clothes, papers, and books! She lovingly traced a spine looking at the cryptic runes on top of the binding. She unlike most servants had an excellent understanding of the written word. Allabandar insisted all of his staff was educated. He was very outspoken about the importance of an educated populous.

He was the only ruler she had ever encountered that would give an advisory position to a servant over a noble blood if they showed the right amount of knowledge and gumption. When he did this the first time his simple speech to the shocked courtiers was

A leader controlled by the blindness of rank is one doomed to fail. A leader who sees the power in all living things and recognizes their individual abilities is guaranteed to succeed.

He was incredible. She admired everything he did and everything he stood for. Her reverie was broken when a velvet voice sounded behind her.

“Yeah, it’s a mess my last servant gave up on me.” He chuckled and strode up next to her examining the book she was caressing.

“That is one of my absolute favorites. It is an ancient elven tale of an elven princess who gave up her immortality so she could live a lifetime with the human man she fell in love with.”

Emily gasped. A story whose nature was expressly forbidden of nobles.

He chuckled at her reaction. “I know it is silly to collect such stories but given how dangerous actual love is it is nice to retreat into a story. I know it’s a rule but honestly what harm can one story do.”

Emily desperately trying to control her emotions when she realized her hero was romantic. “Sir I would not know of such stories.”

“Emily, you and I both know that is a lie.” He said smoothly starting to assist her in tidying up his room.

“I beg your pardon sir but these are forbidden.” She said demurely.

“Emily, one does not become a leader of the resistance by being blind to his people. I know you sneak out to the tavern on the hill almost every night.”

Fear shook her. “Sir I am so sorry but. . .” She trailed off. She knew she was doomed. Why had he hired her for this if he was just going to fire her right away?

“Emily, It is only forbidden in the castle.” He said sweetly tucking the books away in a bookshelf.

Why is he helping to tidy up his room? She thought to herself Better yet how does he know what I do in my personal time. Instantly indignant she began angrily dusting the room.

He sighed observing her anxious behavior. “Emily, I know you sneak away and listen to bards because I do as well.”

Emily dropped her duster. She turned to stare at her hero gawking. Then it hit her. The hooded figure she saw night after night. The one with hazel eyes and a big sword. How could she not have seen it before?

“Why did you follow me?” She asked gently picking up her duster and a couple of papers scattered around the floor.

“I did not mean to follow you. I just happened to also go. When I realized you frequented the tavern for the same reason I did. Then one night two weeks ago you went to the stage and sang. Emily, you have the voice of an angel. The story you sang was so poignant and pure I had wanted to get to know you better. Yet as soon as I decided to approach you when I saw you next you stopped coming.” He looked saddened.

Emily needed to look anywhere but at him. So, she chose to look at the stack of papers in her hand. The topmost paper was a map. It had the dotted red line of a route on it and several Xs with strange names on them. Her vision grew hazy for a moment. Her head began to hurt. She leaned against the desk to support herself during her dizzy spell. After a few moments, her vision cleared and she was able to stand.

Emily shrugged off the strange feeling and then put the maps neatly on Allabandar’s desk but not before she saw Allabandar gawking at her. “Emily are you alright?”

“Sir I am sorry did I do something wrong.” She asked sheepishly feeling ashamed of her momentary weakness.

“No Emily but you just looked like you were about to faint.” He said worried he crossed the room quickly concern etching his face.

“No, I am fine really. I just did not sleep well last night and I missed breakfast.” Shrugging she continued her work.

“Maybe you should go to the infirmary?” He said nervously.

“No sir, really I am fine, honest.” She said reassuring him.

“Please do not call me sir Emmy. Call me Bandie. It is what my closest friends call me.”

“Sorry sir, I cannot do that.” She said. “I am your servant I do not believe it is best for me to confuse that with friendship.” She hated the words as they left her mouth but she knew them to be true. She had no right to believe otherwise.

“Alright Emily, call me Allabandar then?” He said hopefully.

“Allabandar.” She said testing his first name on her lips. It felt terribly clandestine to be calling him by his first name.

He smiled. “That is much better I like that. Do you mind if I call you Emmy?”

“Sir, you are my boss it is your right to call me by any name you choose.”

He chuckled.

“Sorry Allabandar, this will take some getting used to.” She said smiling.