Guardian Dragons (18 page)

‘Would you do that Sherat? You
must be tired from our mission, how can you come back for her?’
Vatara pointed to the sinking Dayloon, realising that it would soon
be time for the vamplins sleep.

‘I will return with Nytloon. I am
a commander of many warriors, my Lady. I care not which of the
moons is in the skies. Now come before your brother, Lord Fiendrac,
realises you have strayed.’

The vamplins said no more words.
Soon they were in flight leaving behind the injured basca who had
already accepted the opportunity of sleep.

The dragons broke their silence
using Mindtalk but still they remained motionless.

They spoke of a battle with the creatures of the Light
Lands. What do you think the Emperor is plotting?
Queen Thimat was concerned at the
words she had just overheard.

We must return with haste my Queen
and go on no further. This is grave news. We need to prepare and
warn the leaders of our lands

Yes, Ramdon, but we need not
unsettle the peace just yet. There is one I must seek out before we
can assess how real this threat is. We also need to communicate
with our King, we cannot act without the instructions of my
partner.’

Let us leave as quietly as we can
and not waken the sleeping basca. The vamplins must not be alerted
of our presence

The huge dragons gracefully alighted themselves, one at a
time, from the landing platform where they had sought sanctuary.
The injured basca slept on, dreaming she could hear the rhythm of
pounding air, like wings in flight. She briefly stirred and
attempted to open her eyes but the magic spell upon her wing
weighed heavily. Exhausted still, she soon returned to her dream
and remained in total oblivion to the noiseless dragons, who
listened out for her possible cry of warning. If she were to waken,
they would have had to kill her outright. Dragons do not kill
unless they are in danger or need to feed. Soon they would be out
of her sight and she would
pose no further danger to them. She could sleep on in
ignorant bliss.

The party of four dragons returned
to their homeland without incident and soon reconciled themselves
back in their own lair.

Chapter 26 An Ancient
Mage

Q
ueen Thimat was not
to rest for long. Upon the next moonwake she embarked on a new
flight to seek the advice of the Wise One, in the deepest of
caverns within the Ginnung mid-mountains further north. It was
another long flight but Thimat did not want to delay her news.
Ramdon set off to find the dragon King and request his speedy
return.

The dark peaks loomed below,
reflecting the rolling shadow of the Queen dragon’s movements. She
passed over incisive sharp jagged spikes on the edges of towering
basalt tops that fiercely threatened to stab at her fragile wings
should she tire and fly too low. Deep ravines and gorges furrowed
in the breach between the mountains creating long plummeting voids
for one who was too weary to stay aloft. The air was aberrantly
thin at such a high altitude, but she must push herself and
continue this journey as rapidly as her strength could tolerate. It
would not end for another three moonwakes.

Resting for only one brief moment
upon a large protruding crag hanging on the periphery of a
grey-slated mountain, she looked up to observe which of the moons
hung in the sky. Nytloon looked down at her with a radiant reddish
twinge on a mellow yellow body. She was tired and longed to sleep
but her urgent quest motivated her to stir and continue onwards.
She must seek out the Wise One and convey the conversation they had
heard between the two vamplins. If he also considered this a
serious threat to the Light Side, then all the divided realms
needed to prepare.

Compelled with her obligations to
protect the creatures of the Light Side, she pushed her stamina to
the bitter edges. Dayloon replaced Nytloon then came back again,
and finally she landed, rather ineptly and with ungainly expertise.
This was not a time for flawless perfection.

The Wise One had been expecting her arrival for many
moonwakes. Cautiously positioning himself well away from her
landing site, he watched over the dusty trail that stood at the top
of
a yellow stone crag,
waiting to see a plunging dragon, the arrival of his long time
friend Queen Thimat. The Wise One felt a chill in his aching old
bones. Trembling under a thick blanket poncho, he struggled to
inhale into his lungs to breathe the fresh warm air. Once Queen
Thimat was secure on the ground, she raised her head and looked up
to see the ancient old human. She greeted him in
Mindtalk.

My salutations to you Wise One. Of course, I should have
known that you would be aware of my coming?
The Queen stated more than enquired. She snorted at
the air worriedly, detecting signs of illness in her human
companion.

‘Come my friend,’ the old man
spoke the human tongue. ‘You’ve had a long journey and I don’t wish
to speak with you until you’ve rested. I sense the unease of the
Dark Side. While I grow old and frail, my magic weakens. Yet I
still feel responsible for the safety of our peoples. Come, let’s
go eat, I have a fresh plump goat waiting to be your supper.’ The
dragon Queen could not form the human words but she could
understand any dialogue of any creature of this world.

Dayloon shimmered with a warm yellow glow, high in the opal
blue skies. The sun seemed to respectfully cool itself almost as if
it knew that time within the Light Lands was entering the phase of
moonsleep for humans and many other creatures and Nytloon would
soon be back. Queen Thimat, felt weary from an unbroken journey.
She stretched up her long neck so her head rested on the edge of
the crag where the wise old man stood. He carefully climbed onto
her long snout and she assisted him in sliding down her sleek neck.
It was easier than stumbling down the hobbly hill. He wedged
himself at the bottom of the scaly slope by perching behind the
first long spike that protruded behind her shoulder blades, if
dragons possess such things as shoulders. He held on to the bony
spike whilst she slowly brought her long snout to the ground at her
feet. Awkwardly he clambered off her neck wondering if it would
have been easier and quicker to just have hobbled down the
embankment of the high crag. No matter, they set off again but at a
slow pace as he tottered with the aid of his staff. She took the
lead down a trail of dry loose stones. To the old
man it was usually a bumpy trail, but
the pebbles were easily crushed beneath Thimat’s stomping feet,
which made the path smoother to his aching knee joints. They ambled
downhill until they reached a wide alleyway in the cleft of two
dark cliff faces. The opening was just large enough to allow the
dragon entry. Not many would dare to tread down such an alleyway
where ghostly mists swirl around in the desolate black darkness of
the shadowed spaces. Thimat was familiar with the route, knowing it
would eventually lead to a large opening in the rock face. Upon
entering the network of caves they kept their pace steady, without
stopping or slowing, following the spiraling tunnels leading in a
downwards direction.

Finally arriving at an enormous
cavern where stalactites and stalagmites of long shimmering
crystals made the cave appear to possess a huge set of long sharp
teeth, they stopped. The whole cavern appeared as a cosy chamber.
Beautiful wooden carved furniture filled the room. Large colourful
tapestries hung on shiny grey slate walls. Thickly woven rugs
covered much of the floor space. It was an inviting friendly and
somewhat magical grotto.

The chamber was cooler than the
constant heat of the sun outside but it was by no means cold. It
furrowed out large enough for Thimat to fit inside quite
comfortably. For his aches and pains, the old man burned coals low
within an open hearth surrounded by a circle of bright white chalk
stones. The orange glow reflected the dragon’s shape by creating a
huge dark dancing shadow on the jagged walls.

‘An old man needs to keep a warm
hearth,’ he explained almost defensively, putting on more
coals.

Thimat glanced over at him as he huddled in a bundle of
darkly dyed woolen blankets. Her friend was suffering the effects
of very old age. Known to the humans as the Ancient Mage, Saurlton
Barronz, had lived through many an adventure with her. This frail
old man had been a powerful human with a wise head and a wonderful
heart. She smiled, remembering how often he would forgot his
correct human name, having lived as so many different creatures
using his Changeling skills. It was no surprise that he was
occasionally forgetful. That he often struggled to return back to
his
original form because he
could not think which of all the creatures he truly belonged to.
They were but costumes.

Saurlton,
Thimat
Mindtalked.
You may wish to
enter the human sleep before we commence our discussion. It is most
urgent we deliberate on my tidings but it can be delayed a short
interval.

‘Sleep!’ He yelled. ‘Time enough
there will be for that later, Thimat. There is much to be
considered. I must know what rumours are amiss in the Dark Lands. I
am sensing dark times in the world of which I fear cannot be
undone.’

This is my dread also, that many are to perish in the hands
of this evil,
Thimat
expressed.
As you know
Saurlton, it is the time of the suncircle for the dragons to pass
through the Wall to see that there is no dissension among the
dwellers upon the Dark
,
and
we search for signs of
assault upon our Wall.

‘And, is the Wall in danger?’
Saurlton asked concerned.

We do believe that something is stirring but we see no
immediate danger to the Wall.
Thimat stretched her long neck to the ceiling, careful of
the glittering stalactites, she did not desire the jaws of the cave
to puncture her scaly skin. Bowing her head in a downwards motion
to be nearer the level of her friend, she began to explain the
events of their previous expedition.

What we did witness was a troupe
of vamplin commanders, led by the vamplin Lord, returning from the
Ice Land of Nilfe. We are certain that they had crossed the
threshold of Emperor Morte- Bielz. This is of grave concern Wise
One. I come to you to ask for your words of wisdom on the
consequence of such a meeting.

‘Indeed Thimat,’ Saurlton spoke
aloud, his voice quivering at the impending horrors that the future
held for Aarabassa. ‘I have sensed disturbing visions that indicate
troubled times ahead for those on the Light Side. There is written
an old prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled. “When an angel
births evil, then dark shadows shall seep into the light.” We will
tumble to our demise if this prophecy is fulfilled.’ Saurlton now
looked weary at the telling of this prediction. In his entire
existence, he had always sought to protect the Light Lands from
evil. He never felt very powerful in his human form, as age slowed
his body.

You should seek an apprentice Saurlton,
Thimat suggested with concern for her friend of
many suncircles.
You could
use a little human help.

Nah, human life is too fragile,
Saurlton lamented, switching to Mindtalk in his
weariness.
Prone to too many
physical pains of which I feel in my bones and my muscles and every
joint that bends. I am tempted to stay as a dragon or some creature
whereby my bones won’t creak as much as they do in the human
form.
Drained of power, he
silently continued.
Fate has
already chosen my follower who will aid the creatures of this
world.
As a human, he was
obliged to follow the natural routine of his body, and the
enticement of sleep now lured him with Nytloon in the
skies.

‘
There is a new
Changeling in the world, as you know Thimat’ Saurlton stated,
yawning sleepily.

Do you seek this girl as your apprentice?
Thimat enquired.

‘
No, no. I fear she
will play a different role in the future. My apprentice will come
to me, of this I have no doubt, I shall not have to look far.
However, the Changeling is still young and
vulnerable.’

Will you not contact her Saurlton?
And perhaps give her guidance.

‘
No Thimat. This I
cannot do. She will need to decide upon her own destiny, all by
herself. Let us just hope that the child steps carefully and
wisely. She has good people around to guide her.’

‘
I must go deeper into
the caves.’ The old man deduced. ‘I sense big changes Thimat and we
must ready ourselves. Dark shadows will enter the Light Lands, of
this I do not doubt. The Devil Child, whatever that is, will be
born. This we cannot stop. But, we can ready ourselves to weaken
the attack.

I will not meet with you again
until the time of battle. For now, we have no strengths. The
creatures of the Light Lands are diffused and too lax. If we told
them of the dangers, they would not believe an old man and a giant
dragon, even if she is a powerful and beautiful Queen. No, no
Thimat. They must decide for themselves on their course of action
when the time is come. Meanwhile we can prepare. The Changeling
will come to you in due course. You will accompany her through the
Wall.’