Yspaddaden - Chapter 18

Kady stood in the middle of the creek, splashing water on her arms and legs, the water downstream of her red with blood, the smoke of the fire of the night before rising behind her in the distance, contrasted against the clear blue sky. Yspaddaden had insisted that she not wash the blood off until daybreak, just in case they had been followed by a few incensed Dinas. The blood stuck well, and even after she scrubbed for several minutes, finally washing off the bulk of it, her skin had been stained red with the pigment. Who knew how long it would take for that to wash away? But at least the feeling of the blood all over her arms and legs was gone. It had sickened her to do such a thing, but Yspa had made a convincing argument, and she had ultimately agreed to the plan. Thankfully it had worked. They had survived another night in this hellish preservation, and they no longer had the threat of the soldiers hanging over their heads.

Kady stepped out of the creek and watched as the blood trickled away downstream, dispersing and disappearing. The hem of her dress was wet but she did not care any longer. Two months ago, while still living in the compound, if she had ever found one of her garments this dirty, she would have had a fit, throwing things, yelling. A person of her standing did not go about entertaining in dirty clothes. And her skin was just as bad. Her hair no longer held the shiny luster that it had before, and the dirt had seemed to become permanently ground underneath her fingernails. She had to admit one thing though, as she inspected her body. She had received a great tan!

She walked back around the wall of tall grass that separated her from the campsite and emerged, stepping into the clearing, spinning so that Yspa could see her. He sat up and stared, smiling at the sight. She twirled once for him, her skirt flowing outward. He nodded and clapped his hands once in approval.

"Very nice! I'll admit, I was quite intimidated by the girl that haunted the land last night, covered in Dinas blood. But this image is much more desirable. You look nice."

He cast his eyes downward quickly, as if ashamed, and Kady knew he was just being polite. Or was he? She shrugged it off and sat down. Yspa had gone hunting early in the morning and caught a few small flightless ground birds, which he had then plucked, cleaned and cooked. She reached for a roasted leg and took a large bite out of it.

"Tell me Yspa one thing that you never fully explained to me. Why did I go roaming about last night covered in beast blood? I will admit to being very frightened. You ensured me the Dinas would not go near me, even told me they would shy away from me, but you never explained exactly why that is."

Yspa smiled at her.

"Several years ago, traveling through this land, I came across a dead Dinas. It was skinned, so I can only assume that it had been killed for its expensive pelt. The blood lay all about in a huge puddle. I didn't pay much attention to it, until I noticed the Dinas surrounding the body, in a large circle, pacing back and forth, calling out agitatedly to each other. Every now and then one of them would dart forward, only to retreat, seemingly in fear. I couldn't understand why until I thought on it later. They seemed afraid of the carcass."

Kady shook her head in curiosity.

"I don't understand. Don't trolls and unicorns, the giants, other semi-sentiants, don't they mourn their brothers deaths, and even in some cases try to avenge them?"

"They do. My theory is this. The Dinas cannot conceive of an enemy more powerful then they are. The humans and Minotaurs hunt this land for sport, yes, but the Dinas almost never travel together in packs, so rarely do they witness another of them being killed by us. I believe that they fear something that is so much more powerful then they, that they obviously are frightened of the smell of their own blood. When you appeared last night, covered in Dinas blood, they could tell. And they were afraid. So it was easy for you to corral them around the tree as you did."

Kady sat and munched the leg of meat, contemplating this. Eventually she grinned widely, looking at Yspaddaden sideways.

"That's a very thin theory."

Yspa smiled sheepishly and glanced at his feet.

"I never said I was very good at science. But I do pride myself on viewing and recognising social patterns. It is just a theory, yes. If someone one day refutes it, I'll believe them. But until then I think I'll stand by my thoughts." He grinned back at her, and she laughed. His eyes glistened in the light and she felt her breath catching in her throat, though she knew not why. Yspaddaden smiled at her once more, then gestured.

"Come, let's get some sleep before darkness. We still have a long way to travel yet before we reach Finngal."

Kady grabbed her bedroll and began to unroll it.

"Are we going straight through the preservation?"

"No, I think we need to head south, towards the border. Travel will be easier outside the fence, now that we do not have men pursuing us. Once we reach Ynwfn again, we can turn west and travel onward to Finngal. We still have a very long way to go."

Kady nodded and lay down, snuggling into her roll. It was warm outside, and even though she knew the Dinas would not attack them in daylight, she still felt safer deep inside the warm confines of her blankets. She glanced once more at Yspa, who had already closed his eyes to the sunlight. She sighed and covered her face.

A long way indeed.

Yspaddaden

"Tell me stories of my father."

Yspaddaden looked back at Kady who trailed behind him, trying to keep up with the large man as he forged his way through the tall grass. He slowed a bit to allow her to catch up. She jogged to come abreast to him and they walked like that, side by side.

"Stories of your father? What kind of stories?"

Kady shrugged.

"Any kind. I never knew I even had a father, and now that I know who he was, he is no longer. This is the only way I'll ever get to know him, and you seem to have known him longer and better than most."

Yspaddaden stared straight ahead as his mind began to whirl with memories of the late king. He had known AethelKil better than most, he had been a close friend. There was so much he longed to tell Kady about her father, but as long as their journey was, there wasn't enough time to tell her all she wanted to hear.

"I'm not exactly sure what you want to hear about him."

Kady looked up at him.

"Tell me about the things he enjoyed. What was his favorite food, what kind of clothes did he wear, what was his smile like?" She paused and became somber. "I would like to be able to picture him as you tell me."

Yspa nodded then in resolve and began to answer her.

"Alright. Well, the king was a very strict man. He didn't have many close friends and there never seemed to be much time in his reign for fun." Kady looked disappointed at his attempts, so Yspa tried a different approach. "But he did enjoy himself at times. He had a radiant smile, when I saw it. He enjoyed the sport of falconry very much, and he had a particular bird that he loved. It was a joy to simply watch as they hunted together, bringing down kill after kill. Those were good days."

Kady smiled.

"What of his social life? Did he throw parties, did he like to dress up for them?"

Yspaddaden laughed then at a particular memory.

"There were parties, yes. Kil did not much care for most of them, he said they were boring. The life of a king sometimes insists that one attend certain balls and                            gatherings, most of which your father despised. 'Circuses, where peacocks and crows boast and cavort, showing off their idiocy to the world,' he would say about them. But there was this one night, one particularly important banquet that he attended where something exciting happened." Yspa could feel Kady's stare as she walked along beside him, enraptured with the tale. Yspaddaden, however, while recounting the story, kept his eyes and ears open, listening to the Dinas that circled them in the dark, just out of reach of the torch he carried. He did not think they would attack. Kady, though now clean, harbored just enough of the smell of the blood of their kinsmen for them to be wary of the pair. He must have contemplated on them too much, for he found Kady's hand on his arm, pulling at his sleeve.

"The party? You were saying?"

"Yes, well, this one party we both went to. This was back when I was employed by him as one of his soldiers, as part of his personal bodyguard. Anyway, this one night the King and Queen from Uisnech were visiting and AethelKil had gone over to them to introduce himself and say hello. They had brought along their younger niece, and she seemed quite shy of the whole ordeal. I believe she may have been there to meet a future spouse of hers later in the week, but I'm not sure. Well, when AethelKil, your father, introduced himself to the King and Queen, they all bowed to each other, and then he turned to the niece, to introduce himself to her." Yspa stole a glance at Kady and she was looking at him with wide eyes. Gossip was a natural way of life among the compounds in Ynwfn, but this was one of the first times Kady was hearing a true story, and about a relative she had just recently found out about. She was really enjoying herself. "AethelKil had bowed to the niece and said something to her, but when she bowed in return, her backside smacked up against one of the banqueting tables and upset it!" Yspaddaden chuckled at the memory. "There was a bowl of dimroll on the end of the table and as the beverage splashed down on the ground, it spread across the floor and became slick, causing several people to start falling!" He had to pause yet again to laugh himself. Kady was smiling, enjoying the story. "The Duke of Siru fell directly into the large bosom of his wife's sister! She started shrieking and cursing him! By this time Kil was almost on the floor laughing so hard. He had to take the niece aside later to reassure her that had not gotten angry at her, and that all was forgiven."

Kady smiled to herself, and glanced at the grass in front of her. Yspaddaden watched as she thought about the story. His own parents had both died when he was twenty-seven, so he had known them for quite a while before their passing. He couldn't imagine her feelings about a parent she had never even knew existed. He felt his hand reach out to her, without realizing he was doing so, and he almost placed it on her shoulder. But for some reason he found himself pulling back at the last instant. He didn't think Kady even knew his hand had been there.

"What else? Are there any epic stories about him conquering some distant land?"

Yspaddaden had to think about that for a second.

"Not in the way you think. Ynwfn has been at peace with the world for a long time now. Your father was not much of a warrior. He spent his time studying, reading, teaching himself about the world and about politics. And every so often he would return to his first passion. The Aszkastone. He loved finding things out about it."

Yspaddaden suddenly smiled as a memory came to mind.

"However, there was this one time when he heard about a large Brawl happening in the city." Kady nodded. Everyone in Ynwfn had either heard of, seen or been involved in one of the coordinated public fighting arenas where locals could spar with each other and win prizes. "Well, this one was quite large, it being in the capitol and all. He had been feeling quite joyful recently and decided he wanted to go to it. He asked me to accompany him. I didn't think that it was something he should have done, but he insisted, and there's usually no point in arguing with a king.

"Well, we went down to where the Brawl was happening and it was filled to full capacity. If they had tried to fit more people inside, it wouldn't have worked. Kil shoved his way to the front of the arena and I was obligated to follow him. He reached the center where the tall fence stood and we watched as the first pair of men came out to the middle. The floor of the room was covered in sawdust to pad it slightly and people were pressing up against us on all sides, the room already filling with the stench of too much testosterone." Kady smiled. "Well, the first two men were quite small, not more than six feet tall, two hundred pounds. They tried to save the biggest men for last. We sat through several of the smaller fights, each of us picking our favorites and making a few friendly wages with each other. When Kil decided to make the biggest wager of the night. He bet me that he could tell me who would win the last fight, before he ever saw the fighters. They hadn't come up on stage yet, so there was no way he knew who was fighting. Well, I thought I was sure to win the gold. That's when they announced the fighters. Juleein "The Brute" against Kil, king of the realm." Kady's eyes went big, and Yspaddaden continued. "I tried to stop him, to tell him that it was a bad idea to go through with something like that. But he never listened to me.

"Well, he got up there and I swear the fight lasted less than a full minute. I'm not even quite sure what it was that he did, but he brought down that man quicker than a Minotaur can invoke war." Kady seemed to be really enjoying the story, laughing a bit now at his antics. "The judge announced him winner and gave him his prize gold. He then added my challenge money to it later." Yspaddaden shrugged. "I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. When your father got an idea into his head, he never let it go. He would die before giving up. Very stubborn."

Kady grinned and stared at the ground. Yspaddaden walked alongside her, sniffing slightly, not for the Dinas that still surrounded them, but to hopefully catch a whiff of Kady. They hadn't been able to properly bathe at all recently and perfume had not been on his priority list when he had taken Kady. But she still smelled nice. His eyes were closed slightly, which was why when she slipped her hand into his, it caught him by surprise. He looked down with shock and pleasure at the small hand she had offered him.

"Thank you. I never met my father, and these stories help to get to know him a little better. He was always just the faceless man hiding in the castle. Not a human. Not a relative. Thank you." She gave his hand a squeeze and Yspa was glad it was dark, so she couldn't see the blush that came to his face. He breathed heavily, in and out.

They would make it to the border in one piece, but he wasn't sure if either of them could survive that long.

Yspaddaden - Chapter 17

 Ynwfn, Dinas Preservation.

The tracker for Marus' team of soldiers crept forth carefully, trying his hardest not to make a sound in the tall grass. The grass was long and brown, course, and when the stalks grated against each other, they made a rasping noise that could be heard if you stood within several yards. But the hight of them made it impossible to see over, and the tracker had to make do with his other senses, listening for others rustling through the grass, sniffing to make sure no one was nearby. But he relied mostly on his othersense.

He did not know if this sense was something supernatural, given to him by some god or other, or if it was merely an unrecognizable part of him that made it seem to be another sense. Whatever the case, he used it, and he usually knew when people were about him, and whether or not those people meant him harm. At the moment he could feel nothing threatening, but he thought, perhaps, there were a few Dinas to the south, creeping ever closer to his scent. If only he could distinguish between races, he could tell where the giant was! As it was, he had to rely on his other, lesser senses for that. Footprints, scents, bent grass. He was following a trail, and he was fairly certain it was the man and his female companion. The land around him did not give many clues as to the size of a quarry, so it was difficult to tell if he hunted a seven foot tall man or a twelve foot tall Dinas. He would know when he found him.

The tracker crept forth, trying to see through the darkness. What was that form, over there to his right? He hesitated, then averted his course, aiming toward the unknown shadow that sat fuzzy against the night sky. Dinas? No, too large to be a Dinas. As he drew closer, he could see now what it was. A large tree, solitary on the plain, sitting solidly in the ground, inviting people to shelter. Strange. Vegetation such as this were usually only found near rivers or creeks. This was only one tree. Where were the others, lining the creekside? The only river he knew to be in these parts was several miles to the north. It was a place where female and young Dinas rested and went to for water. It was usually avoided by people. Why was this tree here, alone, solid? The tracker knew not why, but it was a curiosity he could not avoid. Maybe the giant had seen the tree as well and headed toward it for protection. He was foolish indeed, if he thought that a single tree could protect him from the soldiers of the kingdom. The tracker grew restless, and a smile grew across his face, as he sensed something, something alive, near the tree. There was something there, either Dinas or the giant. He had to check it out.

As he approached the tree, he could begin to hear the snufflings that came from the angry Dinas. And now he could see the large head, bobbing up and down above the grass, shuffling back and forth underneath the large trunk. The tracker began to shuffle himself, backwards, quietly, trying to put as much distance between himself and the beast. He was a tracker, his job was to seek out life, not engage with it. And his quarry was the giant. As he turned to leave, his othersense kicked into high gear, and he felt the beast, before he ever heard and saw it. Another Dinas, towering over him, not ten feet away! The tracker froze. He knew enough about the beasts to do that, and he slowly crouched, trying to blend in with the grass. The beast walked directly toward him, not seeming to notice him, but grunting, hooting nervously. It wasn't until the Dinas was a mere six feet away when he smelled the tracker and recoiled, hands hitting the ground in agitation, looking all about, trying to see where the man was. The tracker grimaced and stood still, hoping the Dinas would go away. Why had the beast only just now noticed his presence? Their sense of smell was effective over several miles, why had he not known the man was there before? He seemed confused, sniffing all about, rubbing the tips of the grass with his hands. The grunting in his throat grew louder, and he began to shuffle sideway, towards the tree. The tracker could sense also the Dinas already at the tree growing agitated as well, beating the trunk of the tree. What was making them so nervous?! Dinas did not get nervous, not in their own backyard.

Only after the Dinas had turned his back on the tracker did he start to move, standing swiftly and turning back the way he had come. He knew not why those two were acting so strangely, but he did not care to find out. He turned and let out a yell. There stood a large Dinas, the beasts feral yell drowning his own out, the scream echoing across the plains.

Marus

Marus heard the man scream, and then the sound of the Dinas war cry. The cry echoed across the plains, and it was being answered all about by others of his kind. The first cry, the human one, had not seemed to come from a female, and he doubted that Yspaddaden had made such a sound. He could only guess as to the fate of his tracker, lying dead in a pool of his own blood no doubt. Stupid man. Well, Marus would have to see this through himself.

He held up his hand and pointed forward, telling his troops to follow him through the brown weeds. He had to find that giant!

Kadyriath

Kadyriath walked seemingly calmly through the grass, but her wide eyes, shining brilliantly in the moonlight, gave her frightened mood away. She walked with her hands outstretched, dripping wet. The liquid covered her arms and legs as well. She knew she was doing right, yet she was still scared. When Yspaddaden had told her that he was going to split up from her and go off on his own, she had panicked, begged him not to, to stay with her. He had explained the plan to her then, and she had eventually agreed, but she did not have to be happy about it. She cursed him under her breath and kept walking, slowly, surely. She could hear the Dinas around her, avoiding her, grunting at her nervously. This plan was really causing an uproar. She had to give Yspa credit. He knew what he was doing out here. She heard the scream of the man then, and recoiled. She almost stopped and crouched, but steeled herself to continue forward. Keep the tree to your right. She glanced over and could just barely make out the form of the large tree that stood in the middle of the area. She kept walking, making a wide circle around it, arms outstretched, thinking up ways to punish Yspaddaden once they got out of this predicament. If they did.

Yspaddaden

Yspaddaden stood stoically, head peeking out above the grass, staring about. Stupid Marus. He seemed unable to get anywhere without any kind of light, and the flame from his torch could probably be seen from miles around, even by someone who did not stand as tall as Yspa. How had that man ever gained so much prestige among the soldiers? Yspaddaden shook his head in wonder and watched. He could not see where Kady was at this time, but he felt the commotion that she was causing. The Dinas were growing more flustered by the moment and Yspaddaden could see several of them wandering around the tree, calling out to their brothers, trying to figure out what was going on. They were scared, that he could tell. And Marus and his men were heading directly toward them. Yspa smiled. Time for action. He unsheathed his sword and surged forth, heading directly toward the company of soldiers.

Marus

Marus walked forward with a confident look on his face. But his emotions betrayed him. He was anything but confident as he crept forward, heading toward the tree that he could now see on the horizon of the grass. He glanced behind him and gave a confident smile to his soldiers. Only seventeen men now followed him. Hardly enough to have with him in a real fight, but hopefully just enough to subdue a large man who was wanted by the king. He turned back to the tree and could now see the outlines of several Dinas, wandering about the tree, some running quite fast, some seeming to muddle about in tiny circles. Marus did not know much about these strange creatures, but they appeared to be nervous, huddling themselves against an unknown enemy. What was frightening them so? There was something strange going on here, but Marus could not put his finger on what it was exactly. The Dinas seemed very agitated, and Marus could not believe that it was their presence that made them so. These were creatures who ate men alive for their meals. So whatever it was that was scaring them, it also scared Marus as well. He steeled himself and pressed onward, leading his men into unknown territory. Whatever it was, they would face it. And hopefully come out alive.

Kadyriath

Kady stopped and knelt. The plan was working beautifully. She could see the group of Dinas clearly in the moonlight, at least ten of them, all surrounding the tree, scared out of their minds. Yspaddaden was right in his planning. She had doubted the validity of his claims when he explained them to her, but she had to eventually trust his expertise and it was turning out to be right. He was a smart man, and she had to envy him a bit for the way this was coming off. She looked over to the side and noted the group of soldiers walking toward the tree as well. They had to notice the Dinas, yet they still advanced. Marus was more courageous than Yspa had given him credit for. Still, even though they continued further, she must implement the next part of the plan. But she was to wait for Yspaddaden's signal. She put the stick that she had been holding down on the grass, then grasped the two stones close to the end. It was unnecessary in her opinion, but Yspa had insisted. She knelt, waiting. Waiting.

Marus

Marus heard the scream of the Dinas and whirled around. The soldiers paused and turned as well, only to witness the last of their party, the man trailing them, being pulled brutally into the grass and darkness, his screams echoing across the plains. The Dinas surrounding the tree started to scream in protest and dance about, beating their knees with their fists in anger. The Dinas behind the soldiers screamed again in frustration. Marus could not see it, but he felt it to be just out of torchlight, standing somewhere in the darkness. The soldiers grimaced as their fellow comrade screamed again. They all knew that cry. The desperate scream of a man, with the knowledge of impending death in his head. The scream was cut short and the Dinas cried out again, this time in triumph. Marus' breathing became irregular as his stomach churned, last nights dinner rising as bile into his throat. They could all hear the distinct sounds of a man being ripped apart, blood spattering the grass, body parts falling to the ground. It was a sound they all knew. And dreaded.

Suddenly, without warning, light leapt forth from the right! Marus twirled and watched as a flame licked at the sky, then traveled forth, racing along a determined course, ringing the tree in its devouring conquest. The ring of flame encircled the tree in a wide arc, causing the soldiers to become trapped within it, along with the group of Dinas surrounding the tree. They were lit up brilliantly now, and Marus could see each of them, all frightened by the flames, running about in fear, not knowing where to escape to. If there was one thing the Dinas feared, it was fire. It was only a matter of time before they noticed the soldiers and began a massacre, venting their rage and fear upon them.

And his men were not helping matters much. Marus spun around, only to see one of the soldiers leap forth, attempting to jump over the wall of flame that kept them prisoner with the beasts. His jump was unsuccessful and he fell on the other side of the ring, his screams of pain being heard by all. The Dinas as well. One of them turned toward the group of men and let out a scream of anger. No doubt he could see the silhouettes of the men against the dancing, ever moving flames. His call alerted several others and within a moment or two all the Dinas that had been trapped within had turned to witness. The one that had called out surged forward, running directly at the soldiers. They backed up as close as they could to the flames without being roasted alive, but it was no shelter from the angry Dinas, fully intent on allowing his anger to rain free upon the humans. He charged forth, feet banging the ground, arms swinging. The other Dinas watched and a few hurried forward as well, to see better. But before the beast could get close enough to cause harm, he stopped short, breathing heavily, baring his teeth. He banged a fist on his knee and gave an agitated cry at them. Marus could not figure out what he had stopped for, until one of his men called out. Marus turned and stood in shock at the sight before him.

There stood the whore, Kadyriath, planted in-between the fire and his men. Her arms and legs were red, covered in blood. She stood with her hands outstretched, feet firm, a steely gaze on her face. Marus couldn't tell if the blood was her own or someone else's. But it was apparent that she was the one the Dinas had shied away from. The men in the back grouped even closer to the men around them, forming a tight circle. One girl, one small, tiny female, yet her appearance was so intimidating that they could not help but back away. She looked at them with authority and anger, raising a hand to point at them. The fire crackled all about, almost drowning out her voice, causing her to yell loudly. The Dinas did not help with their continuous calls. Kady gestured as she spoke.

"Marus, leader of these men! Hunt us no longer! I assure you, if you continue to haunt us, if you pursue us any longer, you will be cut down! I am master of the Dinas now, and they do my bidding! Go back to the king, crawl back to your master and we shall leave you alone! Follow us again, and I shall command these creatures to hunt you, find you, and kill you! Trust me in this! You shall not follow us any longer! Swear to me! Promise me you will leave, promise to me that you will return to your king and tell him that Yspaddaden and his companion Kadyriath are subject to no man, and will not do the bidding of a tyrant-lord! Swear to me you will leave, and I will grant you safe passage! Swear it!"

The Dinas were become quite loud now, and Marus glanced about. They did seem to shy away from her as if afraid, but surely she could not actually command them to do her will. No one was capable of that. His men looked to him for guidance, for courage, and he gave it to them. He turned back to the tiny girl and pulled his sword from his sheath, pointing it at her.

"Kill her."

His men did not have time to grab her before a loud cry was heard, a Dinas call that was louder than all the others, one that caused the Dinas within the fire circle to fall silent. Marus and his men cringed and looked about, trying to see from where the creature that made the sound was standing. There was nothing. Just the Dinas that stood within the circle. And as the fire burned all around them, the call died down, and the creatures once more turned to the soldiers. Marus spun around and Kady was gone. He turned back slowly to the Dinas that stood there, and there was now no fear in his eyes. The Dinas within the circle began to call out again, in anger and frustration. The soldiers behind Marus began to break down in fear as the Dinas almost smiled, right before lifting his feet and running directly toward the soldiers of the king, hunger in his eyes.

Marus had failed in his quest.

Yspaddaden - Chapter 16

 Tabari, Thorma.

Yosh sat still, staring at the city below him, trying to concentrate on the busy commotion that comprised the awakening place. He focused in on individual people, trying to learn what they were doing, where they were going, why they were out so early in the day. The cool air cascaded over his scales and it sent chills through his large body. Maybe this wasn't the best weather for his practices. But he ignored the cold and went back to observing the town below. He sat on the hill high above them, watching, waiting for his companions to wake. Once they did, their journey would continue and they would enter the city, purchasing supplies for the next part of the trip. He let out a little unused air and again attempted to focus on the city below them. He noticed a woman carrying her small child, and he watched them, following their path. The woman seemed not poor, yet her plain clothes told him she was not altogether wealthy either. She entered a shop that seemed to sell spices and herbs and stayed there for a few minutes, eventually emerging carrying a package alongside her child. Yosh felt sorry for her as she struggled to hold both the baby and the package. Where was this woman's husband, and why was he not out shopping with her? Did she even have one? The woman vanished behind a building and Yosh lost sight of her in the crowd. But then another person caught his attention. A young man, following closely behind a beautiful young female. The man held a bouquet of red flowers, and seemed to be trying to talk to the girl. The man could not see the girls face from behind her, but Yosh noted the sly smile she sported, no doubt enjoying the torment he was getting. The young man seemed agitated, yet determined, as he offered the girl the flowers and seemed to profess himself to her. She turned then, smile gone so as not to encourage him too much, and glanced at the flowers. She finally took them and nodded to the man, telling him something, possibly a place to meet later in the day. Yosh smiled along with the man as the girl walked away, smelling her flowers. The man waited until the girl was out of sight before dancing a bit in the street. Several people noticed his oddity and laughed at him but he seemed not to care. Yosh shared in the young mans triumph. Love was always a nice thing to see, especially in the world today.

His lungs were burning fiercely by this point, but the Dragon knew he could withhold himself a little longer. His concentration shifted from the people below to his body, as he focused inward, noting all the details. His mouth closed, his feet growing pale purple from lack of oxygen, he nonetheless stood stock still, eyes closed now, wishing that he could withstand the pressure. His brain ticked away at the seconds almost unconsciously as he counted upward toward his goal. Only another few moments. Only…

"Yosh?"

The Dragon leapt from his trance, shocked, and gave out a cry of fright, all the air bursting from his lungs. A large flame of fire accompanied the pent up oxygen and his head swung to the side accidentally, brushing the tops of the trees that sat next to him. Thankfully the tops were still coated with frost and they did not catch fire, but the frost did melt rather fast and fell swiftly toward the earth, drenching the girl in cold water. Cara stood stock still in shock as the water that had been ice fell over her, coating her entire body, soaking her to the skin. She breathed out in horror and shivered immediately, cursing nothing in particular. Yosh grimaced at her words and began apologising profusely.

"Oh Cara, forgive me! I had no idea you were even up, you startled me! I am so sorry, it was merely a reaction from the fright. Are you alright?"

Cara could do nothing but nod her head slowly. The only movements she seemed capable of were convulsive shivers, racking her body. Yosh knew all the words that should be said had been, and decided now to act. He swung past her and aimed his head at the fireplace that had burned out in the night and snorted, sending a spurt of flame toward it. It caught the logs that still sat there, untouched, and began to flame up, warming the campsite. Yosh then placed a large clawed hand on Cara's back and gently led her toward the open flame. She shuffled toward it, sitting gently on a log that served as a chair. It took her a full minute to warm up enough to where she could speak without the rattling of her teeth drowning out her words.

"What, w…were you doing, that required so, m…much attention?"

"Again I apologise. I was holding my breath, seeing how long I could go without breathing in."

Cara nodded stoically. She spent another minute regaining her composure as Yosh sat by, still not sure if she was mad at him or not. His fears were stilled when she spoke.

"How long?"

He grinned. Cara, ever the forgiving one.

"I was going on twenty-seven minutes when you startled me. I was hoping to reach a full thirty."

She nodded in acceptance.

"That would have been five m…more minutes than you ever have."

"Yes, and as it is, I still beat my old record by almost three. The concentration methods you gave me were quite helpful.

Cara finally smiled at him as she nodded her approval. By this time Cherise had begun to stir and shivered in her waking. She pulled her blanket quite close and opened only one eye, surveyed the campsite, then closed it and pulled the blanket over her head.

"Curse that merc and his adventure! Couldn't he have waited, and gone searching for this stone in the summertime? Curse this cold too! I don't understand how you two can be out there in it!"

Yosh smiled.

"It is summer in Ynwfn, where Yspaddaden now travels. When we get there, we will be right in the middle of the warm season."

Cara answered her sisters railings.

"And, believe it or not, I'm probably more cold than you are at the moment. Our beloved Dragon tried to kill me this morning with a shock to my bones."

"I did no such thing! It wasn't my intention to attack you so! I already apologised once, do I have to once more?"

Cara stood and headed toward where her sister lay.

"Only if you think you must."

Yosh snorted at her in derision and Cara grinned back at him to show she was only teasing. She shoved her sisters blanket down and placed her feet inside the roll to join her in the warmth.

"Move over, share some of that summertime you got in there."

Cherise screamed as if a knife had been placed forcefully in her belly as Cara's feet brushed up against her bare stomach. Yosh simply watched with mirth as the two girls began fighting over control of the warm blanket.

"I swear to you, if you don't get out of my bag, I will…"

Cara laughed and shoved her sister.

"You'll what? Beat me? We both know who the better fighter is between us. It takes me mere seconds to subdue you in any skill. Your threats hold no fear for me."

Cherise cried out again.

"Oh, your feet are so cold!"

Yosh decided to intervene. He swung his head downward and picked up the bag in his teeth. The two of them were caught up in the middle, swinging high above the ground. They both cried out in shock and stopped squirming so much. Yosh spun around to give them a thrill and then tossed his head, causing the sleeping roll to turn upside down. The two girls fell out roughly to the ground, landing in a tangled pile on the frost covered grass. They rose quickly, stamping their feet on the cold ground, breathing heavily from the fright. Cara recovered quickly and stood there, feet firm, staring at the Dragon. Cherise still bounced around like a flitting faery, rubbing her hands against her bare arms, breathing heavily into the freezing air. Yosh tossed his head once again and threw the roll to the side. He then looked down at his Riders and snorted at them. He did not expel any flame, but the hot smoke that blew forth covered the two of them, heating them both immediately. Cara breathed a sigh of relief and Cherise stopped her antics as the melted frost on the ground rolled away.

"Now that I have your attention, please listen. You both know our mission here in Thorma and I do not have to remind you of the importance of our meeting. Now, you know as well as I how much I enjoy joining the two of you in your games and having fun, but now is not the time for such things. We are going to be meeting with one of the oldest elves this land has ever seen, and I assure you, two young humans dancing about in the cold half dressed would not impress. There is a place for fun and games, but this morning is not that time. It is time for us to become what most people see us automatically as. Dragon and Riders. You know of the prestige those titles carry. That is what we must be today. Now, are we up for it?"

Cara and Cherise, both humbled and emboldened by his words, nodded their acquiescence and understanding. They glanced at each other, and started to laugh at the appearance each beheld. What would others think, if they were to happen upon this campsite and see them now, two twin sisters, clad in almost nothing, scampering around a blazing fire, fighting for a patch of warmth found in a blanket? Their mirth could not be hidden and they both laughed aloud at the situation. Yosh sighed and groaned. He hoped they could become civil long enough to complete their meeting.

Barto

The old elf sat in the middle of his room, hands steady at their task. He dipped the plumage once again into the bottle of ink and brought it low to the parchment, slowly scratching at the surface, forming the words that told the story. The ink sat wet on the parchment, the contrast between the blackness of it and the yellow of the background stark. He could only form but a few words before returning the tip of the feather again to the small vial of ink. The only sounds that could be heard in the room was the scratching of pen on parchment, the crackle of fire in the middle of the room, and the slow, soft breathing of the old man. He sat crossed legged on the mat, a tiny table before him. His long gray hair hung across his back in a tied up tail, a single, almost imperceptible, streak of red running straight down the middle. His ornate, layered clothing was spread out around him, the blue robe hiding his body. His honorary brooch, given to him by the faculty at the University, was pinned regally and proudly upon his breast. His dark eyes flickered in the firelight, focusing strongly on the story before him. He raised his utensil once again, a feather taken from the tail of a phoenix bird. The red and blue and black of the feather seemed to sparkle in the yellow light. He smiled. Appropriate he would use this pen for this story.

He heard the visitors before they ever reached his door. His keen hearing, inherited by his race, told him of them before he saw them. Two people, possibly female. They were walking too loudly to be elves, and their feet fell too far apart to be dwarves. Human girls. They were the only two ascending the staircase, yet he felt something more, something external, and at the same time, completely internal. He could not place the feeling, and he set aside his pen to await their coming. They were just now approaching his door.

The knock came. The old man sat there, hands lying on his knees, eyes staring at the door to his left. There was not a sound. Then, another knock. He smiled at their impatience. Young humans, then. Voices began to bicker silently outside the door and it wasn't until he clapped to invite them in that they fell silent. It took a moment for them to open the door, no doubt composing themselves. There was that feeling again. What was it? It annoyed him that he could not figure it out. He had seen much of the world and knew much. What was this feeling?

The door opened softly and two young, beautiful females entered the room. He could tell right away they were sisters, twins. The similarities were striking. And now he knew exactly what the strange otherfeeling was. The purple streaks in their hair told him all he needed to know. The one leading, short blonde hair, glanced about the room before settling her eyes on him. She grinned and her companion did as well. They closed the door behind them and entered the room, striding confidently to the center, facing him across the fire. He remained in his seating position as they both raised their right hands and laid them over their left breasts in greeting. He nodded to them to sit and they did so, maneuvering so that the flame burned behind them. He did not move as they made themselves comfortable, then the leader spoke.

"Professor Barto? I am Cherise C'Vaneagh, and this is my sister Cara. Thank you for inviting us into your home. We bring greetings from Professor Manikold of the College. He sends his praise."

Barto nodded and smiled at them.

"I would always willingly invite people such as you into my home. This place sees too little of such young, pretty looking girls as yourselves are."

They smiled sheepishly at his veneration.

"Yet you dishonor me. You come here, appearing as two, and I know there are three. Does your companion not wish to meet me as well?"

Cara shook her head emphatically.

"No sir, of course not! We apologise if there is any unintentional insult to you. We are Dragon Riders and our partner awaits outside. The rooms and halls in the buildings in this town are too small to accommodate one such as he. And it is regarded as rude to speak to a stranger in the Dragons mindspeech uninvited. If you wish to open your mind to him, he would be more than willing to introduce himself."

Barto merely nodded his head in compliance and waited. Cara seemed to concentrate, telling the Dragon of Barto's allowance. Then he heard the voice in his head.

"Greetings, Barto of Uisnech. My name is Yosh Purplescales. I apologise. I did not mean to hide my existence from you. It is a very rude intrusion to force oneself to speak such as we are now. The architecture of this place makes it necessary however. I understand if you wish to speak only to my Riders. I assure you, they are quite verbose and skilled in conversation. Sometimes too much so, I'm afraid."

Barto smiled at the Dragons words.

"I understand completely, Dragon. There is no anger on my part. Please, I wish to include you in our conversation. I have heard much of the Triple Pair, and am eager to hear what you wish to talk to me about."

Barto could feel, rather than hear, the laughter of the Dragon in his mind.

"Thank you, Old One. Then simply keep your mind open when you wish to speak to me. I will hear. If there are thoughts you wish for me not to overhear, simply close off your mind to me. I will not anger and will not probe your memories. You have my word."

"The words of a Dragon are true indeed. Now, I'm sure the girls are growing antsy in anticipation."

The laughter could be felt again as Barto again focused on the two females that sat before him.

"Your companion seems very nice indeed."

Cherise nodded her head in answer.

"He is. He has been our best friend ever since he hatched for us. We were very grateful indeed to have been chosen by him."

Barto pushed aside the tiny table before him and stood. He walked silently over to the fireplace and reached for the pot of hot water that hung over it, ready to be used at any moment. He then reached for a set of teacups and started to prepare them for refreshment. As he worked he questioned.

"So please, quell a few rumours for me. You girls are the only set of Riders that have ever been Picked by a Dragon is that correct? Usually there is only one Rider for each Dragon?"

Cara nodded her head.

"Yes, generally that is true. The Kind and the Order were quite astonished when Yosh hatched for us. They debated for a while whether to even include us among their ranks, but the other Dragons quickly dispelled those ideas. It has never been done in the history of the Kind, and we have been the object of much study and scrutiny. By now though, Yosh has thoroughly convinced all that he knew completely that he was Picking two Riders. As my sister has said before, we are very grateful to him. Riding is a bit of a family heritage for us. Our great grandfather was the Rider Derrolf and he could trace his heritage back to Numa, Rider of Jewel, Mother of the Kind."

Barto carried the tray full of hot water, tea leaves and biscuits back to them and placed it in-between the three of them.

"Indeed? Quite a family tree. You must be very proud. Any chance of carrying on the tradition to your descendants?"

He smiled wryly as Cara and Cherise gave each other uncomfortable yet curious looks and Yosh laughed silently in their minds. Cherise shook her head.

"As of now, there are no plans."

Barto poured them some water and placed the leaves in the cups, handing each their own.

"Pardon me, Master Dragon, for not including you in our repast. I have nothing that would constitute more than a mouthful for one such as you."

"Think nothing of it. I spied a flock of cattle when we flew in to the city. I'm sure I shall find likewise on the way out."

Barto turned back to the girls.

"I'm sure the story of your Picking is one full of potential, and I would enjoy hearing it at another time. Perhaps you three can return at some point to relay the tale. I always enjoy hearing the stories come from the people actually involved. They seem to become more embellished that way, and not all weighed down with truth." He chuckled at himself and the twins laughed. "But you did not come seeking me to tell tales. I'm sure you have some other, higher purpose in mind for our meeting." He looked them over now, noticing everything. He noted the dirt on their shoes, the dirt in their hair, the way they held their hot cups, as if the heat would not last long enough. They had traveled many days to reach him, and their purpose was urgent. "Tell me, why is it you seek me alone? I can assure you, there is no skill that I possess that you cannot find else where. I am too old to travel. I am too eccentric to be wise. I can see not how I can be of help. Why do you seek me?"

The one called Cara seemed about to answer, but it was the unseen Dragon that interrupted her and spoke.

"We seek your knowledge."

The girls nodded as Barto looked back and forth at them. Interesting. What did he know that no other would? He had to admit, his years as a historian and teacher at the University had made him quite knowledgeable in many things. But he had never focused on any one area of history. Except perhaps one. And only by accident. Surely that story was not what they sought? He had to hear it from them.

"What is it that you believe me to know, that you cannot find elsewhere? Did you not just fly away from the largest library known to mankind? Was there no documents to help you there? What can an old, wizened, world-weary elf know that others do not?"

Cherise leaned forward and stared at him with her piercing blue eyes. Barto glanced quickly over to her sister and noted those same eyes, staring at him. He looked back to Cherise as she spoke.

"We seek a story. It is told that only you know the full tale. It is not written in any text found at the Library. Will you tell us? Will you tell us about The Desolation of Juke? We have told you our heritage. Tell us yours. Is it true your father was Murra, half brother to Kilnbas, king of the elves?"

Barto's eyes drifted off into dreams, focusing on nothing as he remembered a childhood, long lost in history.

"You truly do not understand how old I am, do you? You seek a story that is older, even, than I. But you also do speak truth of my heritage. My father was alive during that time, and, as I remember it now, he used to tell the story to me as an elva. I've written it down somewhere, though I haven't read it in years." He seemed to practically leap from his seated position in youthful vigor, betraying the old man persona that he had bestowed upon himself. He walked briskly over to a bookshelf that sat against the wall and searched intently for a few seconds, before crying out and picking up a large leather bound volume. He hurried back over to the mini circle and laid the book on the floor in front of him. He traced the gilded letters that made the name on the cover. A History of Dragons and their Riders. By Barto. "I wrote this years ago. No one has ever seen it but myself. I was thinking of updating it and changing the name. If it were ever to become published, I'm not sure if I would enjoy the fame that comes from being a prolific author." He cackled to himself and the girls exchanged curious glances. "You know, you three really must return after your journey. I would very much love to include your story in the next volume."

Cara nodded her compliance.

"I'm sure my companions would agree. We would be honoured."

Barto felt the nod coming from the Dragon and noted Cherise's. He grinned, reaching for the book.

"Good. Then I shall tell you of what I know of Juke, the Traitor, and Popor, the Martyr."

He lifted the cover and it seemed as if he knew the exact spot the story lay, for his fingers went automatically to the appropriate chapter. The words leapt up at him as if old friends. A warm chill swept through his body, and he knew it did not come from the fire. He hesitated, memories flying about in his mind as the scents of old, musty parchments wafted up into his nostrils. And then he began to read.

"Chapter Nineteen. The Desolation of Juke."