Sky Riders: The Rising Sun
From the Depths

“Eliana! Eliana!” a familiar voice called.

She stopped her sparring match with Teleas and glancedaround, searching for the source of the voice. Her eyes settled on a beamingchildish face as the tall elf came racing towards her.

“Iocus!” she called back happily.

Immediately upon reaching her, Iocus swept her into his armsand spun her around. She gave a shortlaugh of surprise until he finally set her feet back on the ground. His lipsbrushed her cheek, and she stiffened; she had nearly forgotten about Iocus’forward behavior.

“It’s wonderful to see you!” he said, his hands on herwaist.

She took a subtle step backwards. “And you,” she repliedtruthfully. Though his feelings towards her were very much unwelcome, she wasstill fond of him; he was one of the few people she knew that she could trulyconsider a friend.

Iocus finally seemed to notice Teleas. He extended a slenderhand towards the red-haired man. “Sorry, I must have interrupted your sparring.My name is Iocus.”

Teleas grasped the elf’s hand in his own large, callusedone. A few days ago, the man still hesitated to shake hands with an elf, butEliana was pleased to see that he took Iocus’ hand without any apparentthought. “Teleas. I’m from Vegrandis, the village where Rider Eliana was born.”

Iocus nodded politely, then turned back to Eliana. “Caelumsent me to fetch you. He wishes to speak to you right away.”

She looked at Teleas. “Do you mind?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. You must attend to yourduties.”

She thanked him and followed an eager Iocus back towardsAmiscan. He chattered animatedly about things that had occurred since shedeparted for Vereor with Caelum. Eliana only half listened, her mind preoccupiedwith what could possibly be so urgent that Caelum would send Iocus to fetchher; his aversion to the childish elf was hardly a secret.

Caelum was standing beside the large hill in the center ofthe village, which concealed the entrance to her quarters. He was deep inconversation with Denio, his voice low and quick. They didn’t seem to noticetheir approach until Eliana and Iocus stopped a few feet from them.

At last, the two princes looked up. “Eliana!” Denio saidwith a smile, stepping forward to embrace her. “It feels like weeks since Ilast saw you.”

She chuckled as they parted. “Only one week. But how muchtime can a king have for his lowly subjects?” she teased, dipping into acurtsy.

Denio laughed in amusement. “Now, Eliana, you know I alwayshave time for you. I believe that it is youwho does not have time for me, ohmighty Rider.”

She smirked and looked at the blonde elf beside the king.“Well, my commanding officer has been keeping me busy. Did you have somethingto speak to me about?”

Caelum’s face was serious—the face of the army’s captain,and nothing more. “We need to scout the surrounding areas as quickly aspossible. We want to ensure that no enemy has slipped in without our attention.The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can begin to establish our defenses. I wantyou and Oriens to do that as soon as you can.”

She nodded in understanding. “Very well, but I’ll needsomeone to direct me. I don’t know the land well enough to know the places Ishould search.”

“I’ll go with her,” Iocus quickly volunteered, not givingCaelum a chance to answer.

Caelum looked at Iocus with a flat expression. Iocus gazedsteadily back.

After a pause, Caelum shrugged. “Very well. Iocus, you willaccompany Eliana. Be sure to scout all possible hiding places on both sides ofthe mountains. Eliana, have Oriens fly a short distance out to the west of thepeaks as well. Keep a sharp eye for anyof our enemies.”

She caught his emphasis, knowing that he meant more than thesoldiers. Both Peior and the Dark Rider could be patrolling the skies nearby.

“And be careful.”The command was spoken firmly in her mind, Caelum’s blue eyes piercing into heramethyst ones.

Eliana nodded, acknowledging both commands, then called outto Oriens. His mind had been elsewhere, so she relayed their duties to him andtold him to meet her in the cave. She spoke briefly to Iocus, planning to meethim in the same place in a few minutes’ time. Then, he departed to retrieve hisbow and quiver. Denio strode off to the other side of the grassy circle, whereKana sat cross-legged, playing with her brothers.

Now that they were alone, Caelum reached out and gently tookher hand. Eliana looked up at him and smiled; the captain was gone, and her Caelum now stood in his place. His freehand found the back of her neck, and he pressed his forehead to hers.

“Why do I keep sending you off to do things without me?” heasked quietly.

“You have things to tend to here,” she answered. “The elves’captain has been gone quite enough already. I don’t need to deprive them of youany more than I have.”

He sighed, “But what if I like to deprive them of me?”

She felt Oriens glide by, far over head, moving towards theupper opening to their quarters. “I should go,” she whispered.

Caelum cradled her chin with his hand, tilting her head upand brushing her lips with his. “Be careful of Iocus too. His infatuation withyou still unsettles me.”

She laughed and shook her head slightly. Returning the kiss,she answered, “Do you really think you have anything to worry about?”

“No,” he replied, “which is the only reason why I’m lettinghim accompany you. Now, go saddle your dragon and return to me in one piece.”

Eliana turned and trotted down the opening in the hill,following the long tunnel to the round room beyond, where Oriens stood patientlywaiting. He greeted her warmly, and with excitement. It had been a few dayssince they’d last flown together; Caelum had kept her training hard most days,practicing everything some swordsmanship to sorcery, usually against men muchlarger and stronger than her.

Now, Oriens was ready to be off. She could sense hiseagerness to finally have some time alone together. She had not yet told himthat they would be having company on this flight.

Footsteps echoed around the stony room, trotting down thetunnel. Eliana finished tightening the last strap on the saddle. Iocus appeareda moment later, his quiver and bow across his back.

Oriens rumbled deep in his throat, a trail of smoke risingfrom his nostrils. “What is he doing here?” he asked her with irritation.

Eliana grimaced sheepishly. Oriens’ aversion to Iocus seemedto be even stronger than Caelum’s, which was why she’d put off telling him abouttheir navigator. She told him now, and Oriens growled again, emitting anotherpuff of smoke.

She batted the grey cloud away from her face. “Tone down the smoke, would you?”

“I can’t,” heanswered, his voice still sharp, obviously irritated that she’d concealed thesituation from him. “When I feel the firerise in my belly, smoke comes with it. I cannot stop it.”

Eliana couldn’t help but smile a little at his words; sheknew it must mean that he would soon be able to breathe fire, but she didn’tsay this to him. She turned to Iocus and greeted him as he approached with hisusual bright smile.

“I’m ready when you are,” he said.

She nodded and climbed into Oriens’ saddle. As Iocus made tostep on Oriens’ elbow and mount, the dragon’s long golden tail flicked out,sweeping the elves’ booted feet out from under him. He hit the ground with asurprised grunt.

A deep, coughing laugh echoed from Oriens’ throat. Shescolded him silently, but Eliana was struggling not to laugh herself.

“I’m sorry, Iocus,”shecalled down to the elf as he stood and brushed off his trousers. “I don’t knowwhat came over him, but I promise he willnot do it again. Will you, Oriens?”Her dragon simply snorted in reply, and she continued, “Please, go ahead andmount.”

Iocus stepped forward again, more cautiously this time. Hebriefly stepped on the scaly elbow, then leapt into the saddle behind her. Oncethe elf was secure, Oriens pulled them up through the top of the mountain. Theyrose into the cloudless sky, and Iocus pointed out towards the eastern cliff.

“Start down there,” he instructed. “We’ll search the beachesfirst, then come back up and scour the mountains.”

Oriens turned towards the ocean, and they dropped over theedge of the cliff, flying close over the wet sand. Their three pairs of eyesraked over the beaches, searching for footprints or extinguishedcampfires—anything that would indicate that someone had recently roved thosesands. The beaches were completely untouched for as far as they could see.

They rose back up over the cliff top and made their way tothe mountains. For hours, they crossed back and forth over the mountains,examining every area that Iocus thought could be hiding an enemy. They foundnothing. At last, they had examined the entire rocky spine. All that remainedwas to fly out west a short distance and see if any enemies were approaching.

They crossed the mountains once more and flew out over theforests, gazing down at the thick canopy of branches, which now bore the fresh,green leaves of early spring.

“See if you can sense anyone,” she told both Oriens andIocus; it was too difficult to spot any signs of an enemy through the trees.

Eliana reached out with her own mind to the forest floor farbelow, feeling for any signs of life. She briefly touched the minds of dozensof scurrying forest creatures, but found nothing more intelligent than an owlnesting in the trunk of a hollow tree, waiting for dusk. Oriens and Iocusreported similar results.

She stretched her arms skyward and sighed, “Well, it lookslike we can head back now.”

“Wait,” Iocus said, pointing off in a southeast direction.“There’s one other place I want to look. Fly that way, along the mountain’sbase.”

Eliana sensed Oriens’ weary agitation, but the dragon turnedin the direction Iocus had pointed. They flew along the mountain ridge, stayinglow above the treetops.

After twenty exasperating minutes, Eliana finally asked,“What are we looking for, Iocus?”

“That,” he responded, a smile in his voice.

She followed the line of his extended finger to see a vastexpanse of glassy water. The sun reflected off the smooth surface of themassive lake in a blinding glare.

“Want to go for a swim?” Iocus laughed in her ear.

Eliana smiled and nodded, urging Oriens on. She sensed thathe was eager to reach the lake as well, and his wings beat a little harder andfaster, propelling them quickly towards the waiting pool. They landed besidethe perfect waters, and Iocus and Eliana quickly dismounted.

“Get this thing off ofme,” Oriens said, squirming eagerly under his saddle.

She quickly undid the straps and pulled it off his back,dropping it to the grassy earth. The dragon immediately jumped into the air andsplashed into the water, disrupting the perfect surface and sending waves outtowards the banks. Iocus quickly yanked off his boots, pulled his tunic overhis head, and raced towards the water.

“Come on!” he called to her as he plunged into the lake.

Eliana laughed, pulled off her own boots, and sprinted afterhim. The water was chilly as she dove in, but the direct rays of the springsunlight took away some of the icy bite, and her body soon adjusted to thecold. Iocus swam up to her as she surfaced, his smile bright and cheerful.

“What do you think?” he asked.

She laughed, her head barely above the water, her toes justtouching the soft bottom of the lake. “This is wonderful,” she said. “How didyou replace it?”

“Out on a scouting trip some time ago,” he said. He movedcloser to her and put his hand on her waist, pulling her body close to his,holding her in the water. “I’ve been hoping to bring you here for a long whilenow.”

She drew back quickly and was about to form a response whenshe felt a strong, tugging sensation in her mind. She turned her head towardsthe center of the wide lake. Oriens was circling happily on the surface of thewater, watching her with a green eye and smiling slightly. The silent, tuggingsensation was coming from him, and her body replied without thought. She struckout towards the center of the lake without a word to Iocus.

“What are you doing?” he called after her.

She didn’t answer. She didn’t really know the answer. Sheknew only that Oriens was calling to her, his mind pulling on hers, and she hadto go to him. He waited patiently for her until she finally reached him. Shegrabbed hold of a spike on his neck and pulled herself onto his back.

“Ready?” he asked,eyeing her with an adventurous glint in his emerald gaze.

She didn’t know what he meant, but she grinned back at him. “Absolutely.”

“Hold tight, and holdyour breath!”

She gulped in as much air as her lungs would hold. Oriensdipped his golden head and they plunged below the water’s smooth surface.Eliana opened her eyes, seeing clearly through the perfect waters. Oriens flewthrough the water as she held to him, beating at the clear liquid with hismassive wings as if it were air. He flicked his long tail from side to side,using it like a rudder, steering them.

Eliana’s wide eyes took in their underwater surroundingswith a sense of wonder. They dove deeper and deeper, scattering colorful fishas they went, until she felt a strange pressure in her ears. She squirmeduncomfortably, but still held tight. They reached the lake’s bottom, which wasfar darker and colder than the surface. Oriens wove between massive rocks andlong fingers of green plants, which seemed to reach out to grab hold of them.

Her lungs began to burn. She expanded her mind, sensing themicroscopic bubbles of air in the water around her. With a flick of her wrist,the air gathered around her, forming a large bubble before her. She breathed inthe summoned oxygen, refreshing herself.

Suddenly, she felt a jolt of surprise in her stomach. “What is it?” she asked Oriens, tryingto shake off his emotions, to separate them from her own.

“Look.”

She squinted through the dark water, searching for what hadcaused Oriens such an upsetting jolt. The same feeling of sickening surprisereturned to her stomach; this time, the feeling was her own.

A pale figure danced before her, swaying slightly in theshifting waters. Her blonde hair swirled around her head. The slender wristsand ankles were tied together and, down the length of a worn rope, she was tiedto a large boulder. Her head lolled to the side, revealing her face. It wasRaena.

Eliana gasped, then choked in surprise as frigid waterfilled her lungs. Sensing her distress, Oriens pounded his wings and jettisonedthem towards the surface. They broke out of the water and he snapped his wingsopen, sending droplets glittering through the air. She coughed and sputtered,clearing her lungs as Oriens circled just above the water.

“Hey!” Iocus shouted, still treading in the lake below.“What happened? Are you okay? Why were you down there so long?”

She didn’t answer any of his questions. “We have to get her out, Oriens,” she said, her hands shaking fromthe cold and the sight she’d just seen. “Wecan’t just leave her body down there.”

“I know,” heanswered grimly. “Are you ready?”

She tightened her legs against the bare scales andreadjusted her grip on the slick, wet spike. “Ready.”

He folded his wings and they dove back down towards thelake. The water broke over her body like an icy wall, nearly tearing her off ofOriens’ back. She clung tighter, barely managing to stay on as they raced backdown towards the bottom of the lake.

Raena’s body came into view again, and Eliana fought thedesire to vomit. Oriens stopped in front of the swaying form, and Eliana pushedherself off of his back. For a moment, she stared at Raena’s pale and lovelyface, remembering when it had been contorted in hatred, trying to kill her.

Then, Eliana spotted something hovering near the elf’sperfect lips. It was a small bubble of air, not unlike the one Eliana hadformed earlier to breathe. Cautiously, she pressed her fingers to Raena’s neck,and felt the faint fluttering of a weak pulse.

“She’s alive!” sheexclaimed to Oriens.

“Then let’s get herout of here before she becomes otherwise,” he answered.

A long, white claw quickly lashed out at the rope, severingRaena from the heavy stone. Her body began to float upwards, but Eliana grabbedher around the waist and pulled her onto Oriens’ back in front of her. Holdingtightly to the elf with one arm and clinging to Oriens’ neck with the other,Eliana signaled that she was ready. The dragon launched them towards thesurface once more.

As they broke the surface, Oriens snapped open his goldenwings again and raced back to the lakeshore. Eliana slid from his wet back,pulling Raena with her and laying her on the grass. The bubble around the elf’smouth had disappeared, and Eliana leaned her face close to it, her cheekhovering over her lips. A whisper of breath touched her cold skin.

“She’s still breathing,” Eliana sighed with relief.

She sat back, gazing at the unmoving woman, her mind nearlyas numb with surprise as her fingers were from the cold. Raena’s hair clung toher deathly-white face. Her skin looked nearly translucent. She looked likesome beautiful, terrible angel of death.

“What’s going on?” Iocus demanded as he raced out of thewater.

He skidded to a surprised halt as he saw the body lying infront of the Rider. After a moment, he inched forward, his blue eyes growingwider with each step. “Raena?” he whispered.

Eliana nodded. “She’s alive, but only just. We have to gether back to my mother and Laurus as soon as possible.” She stood. “Try to gether warm while I saddle Oriens.”

Iocus nodded, completely mute. Eliana hurriedly grabbedOriens’ saddle and strapped it to his back in record time, while Iocus kneltbeside Raena, his hands moving over her body with the soft glow of fire, tryingto warm her.

Once the dragon was saddled, Eliana shoved her feet backinto her boots and snapped at Iocus, “Hurry up!”

The elf hurriedly pulled on his tunic and boots while Elianaclimbed into the saddle. Iocus lifted Raena into the Rider’s arms. She pulledher into the saddle before her and Iocus leapt up behind. Oriens’ claws dugdeep gouges into the soft grass as he threw them into the sky.

She knew her dragon was tired from the hours of flying incircles around Amiscan, but his wings beat ceaselessly against the air in apowerful, rapid rhythm, spiriting them back towards the only people who couldsave Raena. She urged him on in her mind, giving him what energy she could fromher own body.

They reached the village in ten minutes—ten long, anxiousminutes. Oriens dropped to the grass as close to the village as he could. Hisgolden sides heaved with labored breaths. His scaly knees buckled, and he fellto them in exhaustion.

Iocus jumped down and Eliana slid Raena down into hiswaiting arms. “Go!” she shouted at him. “Take her to Laurus and Ispera! Hurry!”

He raced away, clutching the limp body to his chest. With anexhausted sigh, Eliana fell forward against Oriens’ slick neck. She felt herdragon slip into an exhausted unconsciousness, dragging her into darkness withhim.