Dragon Born: Book I of the Tendaaren Chronicles
Chapter 20: The Dyrklo

“I may not always be there with you, but I will always be there for you.“--unknown.

After several long minutes of discussion, Alyenna revealed her out of body experience to her friends. As she described the coronation, Baellnar and Aagi turned a very unflattering shade of white. Baellnar’s expression sunk as she described her involuntary reaction to the handsome stranger. He said nothing to her directly after her story. Instead, he insisted they speak to the high priest immediately.

Aly was lead, much slower this time, through the incredible Elven castle. She was brought to a more prominent looking room lined with pews with an incredible stained glass window in the front. The window must have been 8 times Aly’s size and it displayed a great tree. Strange people and animals of all kinds were kneeling in praise of it.

The room was painted in the rainbow light of several ornate stained glass windows. The effect of the lighting was enchanting and the individual images were incredible. Some were simply of prominent people others told stories. In front of the main stained glass window was a figure in a white cloak. He was hunched over and mumbling in a language Alyenna did not recognize.

“Great Priest Umefiel, we must speak with you, and earn your wisdom on a matter of great importance.” Celeste was the one that spoke. Her formality shocked Aly. She spoke with an elegance that Aly expected of Baellnar but after spending a day with her she not given the least bit of an inclination of formality until now. Baellnar at the time still looked like a ghost and was not willing to communicate with anyone.

The hunched figure slowly rose and turned to face the eclectic group. Celeste pushed Aly forward gently. “Miss Aly, please relay the story of your vision from the armory. Please use as much detail as you can.” Aly once again explained her experience. The priest made her repeat herself several times.

After the third description of the stranger with dark hair and blue eyes evoking an emotional response, Baellnar excused himself mumbling something about another appointment. The priest probed her for even the smallest details. He asked about the weather, the day, what Allabandar was wearing. Even about some members in the crowd.

Since the whole thing was seen in a blur it was extremely difficult to relay everything. The interrogation took several hours. When it was finally over Aly felt as if she would collapse. It took every bit of her willpower to stand her ground. She refused to show weakness in front of the strange man and his followers who had started to appear as she told her story. She realized this was some sort of show for them and she was not really feeling like performing.

Of course in one of the moments she needed him most Baellnar had left. She understood that her own want of his presence was selfish; but, did he really have to leave? Her story seemed important to everyone but him.

She really needed Baellnar’s support as this out of body experience became more and more real. The strangers around her kept gasping and mumbling amongst themselves as she told specific details about the crowds and who was on the stage. What she had originally thought was a strange dream, was alarming everyone so much she thought it was much more prominent than anyone was telling her.

At what she hoped was the last telling of the story she plunked herself down on one of the pews. The priest sat beside her and tried to comfort her by wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “How could you have such a clear recollection of queen Eleanor’s coronation when you were not even born yet a child?” His silver eyes boring into her soul. She had to look away even his gaze felt invasive.

“I am not sure sir.” She stuttered “All I did was touch the sword, and then that other world appeared around me.” Aly whispered.

He nodded knowingly. Miss Aly, I think that is enough for now. I have to do some research. Go replace yourself something to eat, and I will replace you when I am ready.

“Thank Mother Gaia! I am starvin’!” Celeste said happily. “Then covered her mouth wide-eyed as she realized she had just cursed in a holy room.” Luckily for her, the priest just chuckled quietly and walked away.

“Here here!” Aagi chorused.

Aagi helped Alyenna up off the pew and allowed her to use his shoulders for support. Her ankle was now throbbing with the efforts of the day. He guided her slowly to her room. Once they arrived she crawled on top of her bed and bunched her knees deep into her chest. Lost in thought she stared blankly out of the window. Thankfully this one was not stained glass. She was able to stare out at the white oaks and songbirds and for a few brief moments feel nothing but peace.

Celeste yelled for an elf who quickly came to the room. She spouted off a couple foreign sounding items like she was reading a menu and then he left. Celeste and Aagi sat on either side of Aly, both trying to chatter at her to pull her mind away from today’s trauma.

The elf quickly returned with a tray piled high with soft fluffy roles, steaming vegetable soup, and a couple absolutely amazing looking chocolate desserts. Aly’s stomach rolled newly emboldened by the site of the feast. As the rolls and vegetable stew hit her stomach she was finally able to relax and enjoy the company of her friends.

It did not take long to realize that Aagi and Celeste had a really strange rivalry. Almost like that of a brother and sister. They would jovially spout off insults at each other covering a range of topics from the way they fought to the integrity of their parenting. Celeste had the monopoly on insults involving Aagi’s nether regions and they were about matched in-jokes about their physical size.

Aly was laughing hysterically by the time a timid knock rapped on their door. It was the disgruntled orderly from before who quickly stood in the way of the door to thwart a non-existent escape attempt. The trio eyed him expectantly.

“Great priest Umefiel will see you now. Follow me” He said and turned about face then exited the room. The three friends sighed and slowly heaved themselves up from the bed. Recess was over.

They trailed after him. The sun was setting now which covered the hallways in faded orange and red hues. As the colors outside faded so did the colors on the stained glass windows. The glass became transparent as the sunset giving way to the shyer light of the moon and stars.

They exited the great building and made their way past sleepy houses and drowsy townsfolk. No matter what culture Aly encountered she realized they all had the same basic routine. Parents were calling in their children from play. The working members trudged their way home, enlivened only by their families joyous greeting as they arrived. Several others congregated around the local watering hole. Inside were sounds of music and ruckus laughter. As they exited to the outskirts of the main town she heard crickets begin to call for their mates and watched as fireflies danced in the fading twilight. Mesmerized by the magic Aly did not notice that they had suddenly stopped.

When she finally did realize they had stopped she looked up, and up, and up. Before she was a massive tree. Easily the height of a New York City skyscraper and equally as wide. The base of the tree was enormous. The roots that peaked up from the ground where the size of small cars. However, none of that mattered.

The tree called to Aly. It sang to her. She heard it in her bones and in her soul. A soothing melody like a mother’s lullaby to a child. She started stepping forward to the tree and the song grew louder. Soon she lost track of the calls of her friends and just walked toward the tree. She felt a tug on her shoulder but shook it off and kept forward. Her movements like that of a zombie as she slowly shambled towards the enormous oak.

“Aly!” Baellnar shouted through the fog of her mind. She ignored him.

“Aly!” Her friends said in unison. Again she ignored them.

Celeste then grabbed her and picked her up. Aly hung there continuing to stare at the tree. She shook her a couple of times but Aly was unblinking. Celeste put her down and watched as Aly’s feet continued their trek forward. Finally, Aly touched the tree and as her fingers contacted the tree her whole body was enveloped in a bright white light. The tree echoed the light and it too glowed in greeting. Soon the forest came alive. All of the white oaks glowing and singing.

Aly began to rise off the floor. Her friends helplessly watched in the distance. The glow around her body pulsed and she began to shift. Her body slowly morphed between birds, elk, great cats, mystical horses, and other strange creatures. After several minutes her form became her own again and she lowered to the ground.

Speechless her friends stared at her now slumbering form.

“What the hell just happened!?” Baellnar roared. He scrambled to Aly and scooped her up cradling her against his chest.

Great priest Umefiel stepped out from behind one of the great roots. “It is as I thought.”

Baellnar glared at the holy man. “What is as you thought? What just happened? Why did you bring us here.”

“Calm yourself, child. Look to your friend. She is sleeping peacefully, yes? See how she smiles.” The great priest gestured toward Aly.

Baellnar uncaring of his reassurances unsheathed its sword and held it threateningly towards the priest. The priest stared at him unmoving. “Good, you should protect her. She is valuable beyond compare. She is the last of the children of Mother Gaia. She is a Dyrklo.”

Celeste gasped and ran to Aly and held her hand looking up at the priest. “Great one it cannot be. The children of Gaia were hunted to extinction by Scelestra. It was foretold, a child of Gaia would be her undoing? Queen Eleanor was the last of her kind.”

“It appears we were wrong.” The priest smiled.

Baellnar picked up the sleeping Aly continuing to cradle her against him. “How is this possible.”

“Child, I know a great deal many things. How a child of Gaia could stay hidden for over 150 years is a mystery to us all.” The priest said. However, as the words escaped his mouth he stared pointedly at Aagi and Baellnar. “Unless there is something you would care to share.”

Baellnar was resolved in keeping his mouth shut. His eyes unmoving from Aly. It was Aagi that spoke up this time.

“Mister ’olyness sir, Aly was sent through the Jade Portal ’bout ‘undred an’ fifty years ago. We jus’ got ‘er back an’ been runnin’ ever since.”

The priest stared at them for a long time. “Tomorrow you must leave. Though we are blessed to have a child of mother Gaia with us, having a Dyrklo in our mist is incredibly dangerous. Scelestra has ways of tracking her kind and you may have lead her straight to the veil. You have endangered our sanctuary. When she wakes in the morning you must go. We will see to it you are provided with ample supplies. Leave and do not return until the war has ended.”

“One last question.” This time from the very sullen Baellnar as he chose to finally speak. “What will happen to Aly. We have no means of training a Dyrklo.”

“I believe you were a familiar of her ancestor?” The priest asked.

“Yes sir, we were very close,” Baellnar said slowly.

“Excellent, then you also know Cameron. Her human lover.” Baellnar balked, while Cameron was like a brother to him deep down he would never forgive him for what he had done to Eleanor. Whether it was his fault or not. Despite trying to assist in his recovery. Baellnar had helped him not out of love for Cameron but out of love for Eleanor. “Yes,” he said simply his eyes starting to heat up frustration, and fear of the next command.

“Then you must take her to Cameron. Though he and you were present during her training only Cameron is intimately aware of the ups and downs of the Dyrklo race. Only he can help you now.”

“Forgive me, sir, we do not even know if he is alive.” Baellnar objected.

“He resides deep in the Hakkar mountains. The only company he keeps is that of the forest and the snow. You will replace him there, or he will replace you. That is your destination and that is how you will replace the answers you seek.”

Aly gently rolled in Baellnar’s arms and moaned. The priest approached her slumbering form and caressed her head. “Sleep well child of the earthen mother. Your future is not an easy one.” he leaned closer so no one could hear. “We’ve missed you.”