irholmes

This Post will hold all of my novel in progress as I work on it. Tell me what you think:

Preface:

The day drew closer to an end as the sky turned crimson red. Clouds obscured everything but the sun setting behind the mountainous horizon. The cool breeze of the waking night felt refreshing after the scorching heat of the day’s sun. The tall grass of the meadow waved like the great seas when the wind combed over it. A glade of sorts, the meadow had a great wall of trees to east and a sea of grass and rocks too the west. The trees had a high and thick canopy, covering the foliage below it with darkness, but as the sun set, beams of light bore holes into the darkness.

The huge black flowing banners of an army flew high along the massive plains. Hundreds of armored soldiers marched towards the trees from the east, their armor reflecting the light from the setting sun into what seemed like a moving crimson mass. Spears stood tall among their ranks, casting an ominous shadow along the ground towards the forest. Their march shook the ground and pebbles danced upon the surface of the beaten path leading into the trees.

A beautiful woman in white stood silhouetted by the setting sunlight only feet from the forest’s edge. Her white birch bark staff, although rested on the ground, rose above her head, its bright sapphire crystal giving off an almost blinding deep blue light. Her white dress sparkled as the setting sun reflected off of it, giving off a shower of light. Her soft blonde hair shone with the life of a beautiful young woman. Her skin soft, unscarred, and unblemished, she was the spitting image of beauty.

If her beauty wasn’t enough to catch the attention of one’s eye, her steed, an enormous young Silver Dragon, sat majestically at her side. Its wings folded at its side and its head stretched up towards the sky, it was a spectacle for any man to behold. Her head, armored with polished plate mail, struck fear into every man’s heart. Yet somehow, through her harmless expression and elegance, it was calming to see something so enormous and beautiful.

The beauty and her beast stood defiantly as the army drew closer. The rumble of marching footsteps began to unease the dragon. It shifted its weight forward and sank its neck towards the ground, letting a slight rumble emerge. The woman cast a sorrowful glance at her dragon, reaching her hand out and placing it softly on its neck. She spoke some calming and then took a step towards it. As if pleading, her shoulders sank and her words became suddenly strained. The dragon reared back and roared, its scales glistening as bright as the sapphire from the birch staff. As the dragon’s front feet lifted off the ground and its roar became piercing, birds from nearby trees rose and flew away into the darkening sky, fleeing from the shattering bellow. The dragon came down with forceful smash and the ground trembled from impact.

The soldiers’ march suddenly came to a halt and their ranks parted slowly. From the gap came a hooded rider, galloping swiftly towards the dragon and its master. A small trail of dust was kicked up behind the ride and as the rider approached, the woman stepped forward to meet him. As the rider drew closer, he quickly dismounted and took a short bow before rising to a full foot’s height above her.

“Lady Gabrielle, I’m sure you’ve been expecting this.” The rider said clearly.

“Don’t think me ignorant, messenger.” Gabrielle responded, her voice as beautiful as her body, “I’ve been expecting this for a long time. I’m surprised it took your lord this long to muster his Dragonslayers. Does he not have the gall to come and slay me himself? What manner of idiot would send an army of mere men to slay a Dragonmaster? He is no sorcerer, only a weak minded fool who knows many parlor tricks.”

Lady Gabrielle’s dragon snarled slightly at this and the messenger started, looking at the silver dragon as it bared its teeth. Regaining his composure, he turned his gaze back to Lady Gabrielle. “Do not speak foolishly my Lady,” began the messenger. “The Lord Sigrum doesn’t take kindly to blasphemy.”

“Your ‘lord’ is not your God. Be gone from my sight. Tell your lord my dragon awaits her dinner.”

The messenger bowed shortly then began to mount his horse, turning his head back and saying, “Lady Gabrielle, perhaps you can win this battle and meet the Lord himself.”

Lady Gabrielle didn’t smile, but looked at the messenger with her cold blue eyes. “I plan to.” The rider settled into his horses harness and giving his horse a swift kick, began his short gallop back to the ranks of men.

Night was capturing the sky star by star. And the light was fading. Lady Gabrielle looked to the sinking sun and followed its last streaming rays with her eyes as they disappeared into the dimming sky. She stared at the stars for what seemed like a lifetime before he serene silence was broken by the sounding of a battle horn. Lady Gabrielle’s dragon rose slowly from sitting into its full upright position. The dragon peered down lovingly at Lady Gabrielle, and a pain gripped Gabrielle’s heart. She loved her dragon more than anything in the world. It had been with her since birth, a mere 200 years ago. The dragon, still a baby by any man’s definition, had grown into quite the powerful being, and it was willing to fight to the death with Gabrielle, but as beautiful as she was, nothing compared to the beauty of her soul. She was good throughout and cared not for herself, but for the wellbeing of every other living creature.

Lady Gabrielle looked to her dragon, a glisten in her eye as her emotions took the best of her. She approached it and placed a hand on its neck, speaking softly to it, “I want you leave. Get as far away from this place as you can.”

The dragon seemed taken aback, and let out a soft groan of disagreement.
“Please don’t make this any harder than it needs to be. You are too young to leave this world with me. You’ll find a new master, but you must live on. You’re the last of a dying breed Kai.”

The dragon spread its wings and beat them hard to lift herself a short distance into the air. A furious roar shattered the silence and for a moment it seemed as if the dragon was going to attack the army before it, but it craned its head low and nuzzled softly against Lady Gabrielle before raising itself into the air and flying east over the trees. As the dragon began its departure, three drakes, smaller yet still quite devastating creatures, with mounted riders lifted from the army’s ranks and began chase. Lady Gabrielle cursed aloud and raised her white staff, holding its tip towards the quickly passing drakes. As if by some unseen force, the drakes quickly slowed to a stop. The intensity of Lady Gabrielle’s staff grew brighter. She took a step forward, her staff held high, and with a speed unmatched by any man, she slammed her staff into the ground. As the staff sped towards the dirt, so did the drakes and their riders, being dragged by Gabrielle’s power. When the staff came in contact with the soft dirt, the drakes followed with a sickening crunch of metal and bone. A piercing scream was heard and then all was silent.

The army’s ranks shifted slightly, but no move was made. Lady Gabrielle lifted her staff, dirt falling from its still pristine white finish. She began to walk slowly towards the ranks of soldiers. Her pace was slow but without hesitation, and her unyielding determination showed her confidence in her own power. As she walked, Gabrielle kept her head level, staring at the front ranks of soldiers before her. As she grew closer, the ranks spread apart slowly, spears lowered and facing her, forming a circle of men around her. She passed by, looking from man to man, seeing the expressions of awe and fear. As she reached the center of the ranks she lifted her staff high, and as if without a will of their own, every man lifted their spear. A blue light shot from the tip of Gabrielle’s staff through the ever darkening sky and touched the tip of every man’s spear. Without notice the spears shattered, breaking the deathly silence and sending splinters of wood flying in every direction. A few men were pierced by the splinters their screams were as audible as ever.

The battle had begun, and Gabrielle’s staff remained hovering in the air, only a few feet above her. The men closest to Lady Gabrielle drew their short swords from their sheaths and charged, uttering a battle cry to reassure themselves. Gabrielle moved with the grace only heard of in the tales of legends. She stiffened her arm towards the nearest of the men, and simply waved her hand as if sending him away. The man was flung forcefully back into other approaching soldiers, knocking them from their feet. She spun around, her arms following closely behind her, sweeping through the air. The air seemed to shift oddly, as if being manipulated, and suddenly there was an earth shattering explosion that sent forth tongues of fire. The fire wrapped itself around the nearest attacking soldiers, enveloping them in their death. As she turned again, she reached her hand towards the sky and gripped her staff at the very bottom, swinging it with her as she turned. The staff connected with one man’s neck, just above the collar bone, and with a sickening crack he fell to the ground, his body limp. Without hesitation, Gabrielle twisted the other direction, bringing the staff around again as the men closed around her. She let go of the staff and it spun wildly through ranks, hewing men apart as a scythe would hew the grass of the field.

The fury of battle began to overtake Gabrielle, and her beauty was horrifying rather than entrancing. She tore into men with just a swift flick of her wrist, blood showered all around like rain, soaking her once stunning white dress with the deep red. As easily as a man lifts a stone, Gabrielle tore pieces of the earth from the ground itself and hurled them into the approaching onslaught, crushing men under the weight of the dirt. Fire and Ice alike were conjured into weapons and used to slay anyone who was fooling enough to come near her.

From atop the nearest mountain, the battle looked like a small display of red, blue, and white fireworks. Lord Sigrum sat upon his mature black dragon steed and watched as his small contingent of Dragonslayers was eradicated. A small fit of rage overcame him and with it his dragon let out a ferocious roar.

Lady Gabrielle came to a sudden halt, the noise of another dragon, and especially one of such power, sent a shiver down her spine. She knew at last, that Lord Sigrum himself came to end her life and destroy the last of her kind. But with Kai sent away, Lady Gabrielle had a shred of hope that someone would find her and keep her hidden until the time came for an uprising. Her thoughts were snapped back to reality when a blade cut deep into her thigh. With a yell of pain she gripped the man who’d stabbed her by the throat and threw him into the nearest attacker. She was weary from combat and it wouldn’t last long at this rate. Gabrielle saw a rock that rose above the plains and decided to take the higher ground. Upon the rock lay her staff, still unscathed as if nothing had ever touched it.

She made her way through the soldiers, dismembering all that were in her path. As she drew closer, she grew more tired. Her strength was failing her and she knew it was only a matter of time until one of the soldiers landed a fatal blow. She struggled to keep fluid, but as she drew upon her last strength she felt the cold metal of a blade pierce her skin at the small of her back and cut into her. She fell to one knee and in seconds the sky was blotted out by the faces of men with their swords held to her throat.

Gabrielle held her breath as she felt the blood rush from her wound onto the blade in her back. The wind suddenly blew loudly and the sound of flapping wings could be heard from afar. Gabrielle’s staff was a mater of feet from her, and she reached an aching hand towards it. The men suddenly stepped back from her and she felt as if she might be able to reach her staff. But as she shifted forward to reach it, her back seared in pain and she dropped into the dirt. She had the strength only to breathe in sharp stinging breaths. And as she lay there, the wind grew strong again and the sound of wings became clear.

The ground shook from something heavy landing behind her, and Gabrielle slowly turned herself around with her few last ounces of strength. There upon his gigantic black dragon sat Lord Sigrum himself. He was clad in black steel with golden chains draped across the chest plate that bore his empire’s emblem: a black dragon on a green backdrop. His winged helmet covered all but the red eyes that bore into Gabrielle’s heart, filling her with despair.

The dragon lowered itself to the ground, and Lord Sigrum swung his leg around the back of the harness, launching himself to the ground at Gabrielle’s feet. As he stepped over her he reach up and pulled off his helmet, speaking slowly and pleasantly, “Lady Gabrielle! At last I get to see your beauty first hand.”

Gabrielle lay bruised, cut, and beaten at his mercy, saying nothing. Blood trickled from her mouth onto her cheek and towards her ears. She gasped for breath as another searing pain made her shudder.

“Should I end your misery?” Sigrum asked in mock sorrow. “It’s a wound I’m certain will last you hours before you finally pass from it. It would do us all a great service. But first…”

Sigrum knelt down, placing his heavy knee on her shoulder. The dark steel cut into her soft skin, and blood began to ooze from the fresh wound. He brought his face just inches from hers and spoke in a harsh whisper, “Where did you send your dragon?”

Gabrielle licked her lips as if preparing to speak, but she only grinned and spat in his face. Lord Sigrum recoiled, whipping the blood and saliva from his cheekbone.

Sigrum stood up, taking his knee from her shoulder. “You think you’re drollery will save your beast? Tell me where she is and I’ll end her life painlessly. Make a mockery of me, and I’ll see to it that when she dies from the tortures she’ll endure, she’s brought back, and slain again, and again, and again, until I’m satisfied that no other being has felt that pain.”

Lady Gabrielle mustered the strength to sit up slightly, “Your plot to relieve this world of its other Dragonmasters is futile. The Silver Riders shall rise again. And my dragon will see to your death.”

Sigrum chuckled to himself. “You’re the last of them and it will be a matter of days until I find your dragon in this forest. She may even be enough of a fool to still be in the skies. If you die, I’m sure the fall will kill your precious beast. Wouldn’t that be grand? Then all I’ll need to find is her delicate body, shattered on the forest floor.”

Gabrielle seized from a cough that wracked her body. She rolled onto her side and spat blood. Lord Sigrum drew his sword and placed it cautiously in the dip of the neck.

“It’s a shame we cannot keep up this conversation, but it bores me, and I can see it pains you to even breathe.”

Sigrum lifted his sword, and before bringing it down Gabrielle reached up and gripped the side of the blade in a futile attempt to stop him. He just smiled and politely said, “Allow me…”

__________________
Work in Progress:
Empty Skies

You can find it in the Fiction Section.
Tell me what you think!

irholmes

Chapter One:



The rain came down so heavily that it flooded through the thatched roof in small waterfalls. The downpour stifled the sounds of the night, the flashes of lightning illuminating the doorway for brief moments at a time. Drops landed on the tables and on the dirt floor, turning to mud and creating puddles


Jaercy slept through the storm, but stirred as the approaching thunder grew louder. He dreamt of the clouded night sky. A sense of urgency, despair, and fear gripped him. In the dream he passed over the landscape, unfamiliar to him. He passed over rivers, mountains, and plains, and suddenly, a landmark stood out. He noticed a river that appeared familiar to him. It lay outside of his village and forked to the north and south just past the miles of plains to the east. At the fork of water nestled in a small group of trees rested a small cottage which once belonged to a legendary hunter.


What became of this hunter is unknown. He disappeared years ago when Lord Sigrum began his tyrannical rule. Systematically Sigrum had his army slaughter the clans of Dragonmasters who didn’t swear their allegiance and kneel at his feet. The resistance was led by the Silver Dragonmasters known and was known as the Silver Riders. Dragonmasters of every talent and color joined the ranks in their fight against Lord Sigrum. This resistance called themselves the Silver Riders, but nothing could stop Lord Sigrum and his Black Dragonmasters from destroying everything in their path. For every Dragon Lord Sigrum slew, he gained their power. And with Gabrielle’s death, the last of the Silver Riders were destroyed, and now all he needed was her dragon.


As Jaercy slept the storm worsened, and in his dream the skies became dangerously dark. He was yet again gripped by fear, constantly looking over his should back west towards the setting sun. He felt as if he was being chased. And suddenly he felt a wrenching in his heart as if his life had been cut out of him. He writhed in mental anguish as he watched the ground rush up at him. But as it sped towards him, he slowed and entered the trees, not far from his own village. He writhed again in anguish and the ground sped the last few feet to catch up to him.


Jaercy awoke with a start, sitting up in a cold sweat as a lightning strike cracked the monotonous droning on of heavy rain. Jaercy removed the hide from himself and placed his feet on the wet muddy floor of his thatched hut. He sat there, letting the cold muddy waters shake him from this torment he’d just witnessed.


What did it mean? Jaercy thought.


The pain was so real he could feel a tingling in his leg where he thought he’d crashed to the forest floor. He stood up, a shiver going down his spine as he took a step towards his door. He put his weight on his right leg and a pain shot up to his lower back, buckling his legs and dropping him to his knees. The mud splashed up around him and he felt it drip down his bare stomach.


What is this? Jaercy thought, gripping his stinging leg. I must have slept on it wrong.


He stood again, feeling the stinging turn into a light burn. He massaged it with his right hand as he hobbled to the doorway, placing his hand on the left side of the opening. He poked his head out, and squinted through the darkness as his head was pounded with the rain and the fall of water from his roof. Stepping back inside he ruffled his hair, shaking it to get the water out. He stared out the doorway again, trying to decipher what just happened in his dream. He stood there, staring, for what seemed like hours. As the storm lessened and the hard rain seemed to let up a little, Jaercy turned back to his bed where he’d decided to return for the remainder of the night. Pulling a nearby bucket full of water over, he washed his feet of mud and slipped back under his warm bear hide he used as a blanket.


He lay there awake, pondering what to do. It was late and Jaercy knew he’d need his sleep for his hunt the next day, but he couldn’t get the images of what he saw out of his head. Something was gnawing at him, driving him from falling back to sleep. A sense of terrible urgency gripped him. He stood again, the cold mud feeling good on his still waking body, and the pain in his leg was still too real to have been from ill positioned sleep. He marched to the wall and grabbed his father’s greatsword and the bow he’d fashioned for himself not a year back. As he picked up the quiver, the bed that was next to it stirred. Jaercy looked down to be certain he’d not woken his younger brother who slept through the storm like he would through a silent summer night.


Jaercy bent down slowly, planting a firm hand on his brother’s arm, “I’ll return shortly Eonas.”


His brother stirred slightly, grunting as he turned away from Jaercy’s touch, clearing his mouth of dryness and craning his neck for a more comfortable position. Jaercy stepped to the door, swinging the quiver over his head and tightening it. He held the sheathed greatsword in his right hand and the bow in his left, his lean yet strong physique silhouetted against the doorway. Darting from the house into the rain was like putting a damper on all his senses. The rain was loud and the thunder deafening, his visibility limited from the harsh downpour masking the trees ahead of him. His normally keen sense of his surroundings was smashed by the waves of harsh raindrops.


His village was completely dark, no covered torches were lit, and every house was dark. The road was covered in small rivers, flowing down the slow incline towards the forest. Jaercy looked up at the pitch black sky, lightning showing the dark ominous clouds racing across the sky. He stood in the rain, carrying the heavy sword with ease. After being a hunter for his entire life, Jaercy had built a strong but wiry body. His constant physical activity had kept him in tough shape and the extra water weight posed no threat of slowing him down.


Jaercy began down the road.


The bright flashes of lightning guided Jaercy into the forest just west of his home. Passing into the foliage the rain lessened from the thick canopy now above his head. With the trees now obscuring the falling rain, the silence of the trees was frightening. The occasional drop of water landed on a nearby fern leaf, startling him as he passed slowly through the dense vegetation, keeping his eyes peeled for anything unusual. The flashes of lightning showed parts of the forest for only moments, and urgency pressed harder into Jaercy’s mind. Something was terribly wrong, and he had to find out what it was.


As he pressed into the woods, it grew darker and the night began to chill him. The wind picked up and the trees began to sway with its force. Suddenly Jaercy realized he was where he’d been in his dream. The canopy broke open and a tree lay in pieces before him. The rain poured down through the gaping hole and the water formed a river that flowed south. Jaercy stepped into the waterfall of rain, resting a foot on the fallen tree. He looked up into the drops and searched the sky for signs of anything.


Lightning struck close by and the explosive crack startled Jaercy. He shielded his eyes from the sky and began to wipe the water from his face with his arm when an unusual sound caught his attention. It sounded like a short and almost inaudible gasp. Jaercy froze. Fear gripped him as he suddenly knew he was not alone. He dropped his bow and drew his father’s greatsword from its sheath, turning slowly, peering into the trees for any sign of the noise.


He hopped off the log, and called out, “Who’s there?” After a short pause with no response, he called out again, “I know you’re there! Show yourself!”


An almost equally silent gasp was heard again, this time just beyond a large tree that split into a twisted mess of branches. He shifted in that direction and began to make his way towards it cautiously. The gasp came again, this time a little louder, sounding like a sharp intake of breath. Jaercy’s heart raced. Whatever it was in his dream was behind the tree in front of him.


He stepped closer and a flash of lightning cast light upon the area in front of him. Jaercy thought he saw a foot, but if it was there, it was pulled away as quickly as the light withdrew. Again he froze in place. There was no doubt anymore, it was there, behind the tree, and he knew he must confront it.


He took the last few steps towards the tree and as he did whatever was there became suddenly aware of him, for it made to scramble away. Jaercy swung around the tree, his sword held at his side. As he turned around the tree whatever it was attempted to escape, but ran directly into him, knocking him down. The thing fell back a few feet with a high pitched shriek. Jaercy scrambled back up and held his sword to its throat.


“Who are you?” He bellowed, but the being cowered at his intensity.


The only sound it made was a terrified whimper as it shook from what appeared to be both fright and cold. Jaercy’s fear suddenly turned to confusion as he realized whatever it was posed no threat. He lowered his sword and stepped towards it. It shrank back into the tree, obviously terrified of him. Lightning struck again and Jaercy was stunned at what he saw: A young girl, no older than himself, hardly an adult, and completely naked. Her hair was bizarre yet brilliantly silver, falling just past her elbows. Her icy blue eyes pierced into him, innocent and pleading. Her skin was smooth and beautiful, shining if only there’d been more light.


She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes upon, and her terror at the sight of him suddenly made him ache. She whimpered and pushed against the mud with her left leg, pressing herself back into the tree. Jaercy set aside his sword, holding out his hand and inching backwards, looking to the side as to not try and embarrass the girl.


Trying to calm her he spoke softly, “It’s alright. It’s fine. I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re safe.”


Jaercy’s words seemed to take affect, as the girl calmed a little and stopped scrambling backwards. Jaercy noticed the girl was in pain. And he looked down at her leg. A clear gash could be seen and blood covered the greater part of it. A deep bruise was forming as well, and Jaercy knew it must be broken. Jaercy looked back towards his outstretched hand. The girl was looking him in the eye. It seemed as if she begged for help. Jaercy reached out a little farther and touched her cheek with his fingertips. He brushed her cheek off of dirt, feeling the perfectly softy skin and trying to reassure her, “I’m going to help you.”


Jaercy stood up and looked around, the darkness forcing him to squint to make anything out. He removed his quiver, dropping it to the ground and began to take off his silk shirt. The girl gasped again as it seemed to worsen. She tilted her head back in pain and bit her lip. Jaercy tore the bottom of his shirt and moved it towards her leg. The girl squirmed a little but didn’t seem to object. Jaercy began to wrap the wound tenderly, making sure not to hurt her any more than he had to. As he wrapped the shirt around her leg she groaned in pain and reached out, gripping him by the arm forcefully. Jaercy winced in pain, her grip stronger than he could have possibly imagined. He finished wrapping her leg and moved closer, placing a hand under her legs and another behind her back. As he lifted her, she bore into his chest for warmth. Her skin felt cold and clammy. He looked down at her face, which was pressed against him. Her eyes were closed and her face was scrunched in an expression of pain.


Jaercy felt her shivering against him and knew he had to hurry. Her whimpering grew quieter and her grip on his arm loosened with every passing moment. Jaercy grew frantic as he dashed through the trees, trying desperately not to get lost on his way back. As he broke from the forest he sprinted through the fields towards his village. The rain came down in heavy sheets, but it didn’t slow him down. The lightning grew closer and more frequent. The sky lit up for a passing moment, giving Jaercy the foresight as to where to place his feet next, and this is how he made his way back to his thatched home.


Flying in through the door, Jaercy shouted, “Eonas! Get up! Get up!”


Eonas rose with a start, “What? What is going on?”


Jaercy’s brother froze when he saw him carrying what looked like a body. “Wha—”


“Get out of your bed Eonas, she’s dying!” Jaercy screamed. “Take your hide and sleep in mine,” gesturing to his bed, “but throw me my hide! Quick!”


Eonas scrambled from the bed and ran past Jaercy as he set her down on the already warm straw bed his little brother had been sleeping in. He turned around to catch the hide Eonas tossed to him.


“What happened Jaercy?” Eonas inquired, “Where have you been? Who is she?”


“No time for questions! Just shut up and sleep.”


Jaercy placed his hide blanket on the shivering naked girl, “She’s hurt bad Eonas, I need you to dump the bucket and fill it with rain water. Hurry, please.”


Eonas began to grip the seriousness of the situation and did as he was told. He picked up the bucket as he passed by it, turning it over and spilling its contents onto the already wet and muddy floor. He held it up to the sky as he stood partially out of the doorway.


Jaercy pulled the hide up on the girl’s wounded leg, and pulled out his cleanest shirt from the wall of clothes he’d just dried the day before. Eonas returned with the bucket of fresh rain water, handing it to Jaercy quickly and looking at the quaking girl under the hide.


“Is she going to be ok,” he asked.


“I don’t know Eonas. It looks pretty bad. She’s bled a lot and I think her leg’s broken.”


“How did you find her?”


Jaercy tore off the corner of the clean shirt and dipped it into the cool water. Wringing it out, he placed it on her forehead. A drop of water ran down her face, as if even it didn’t want to mar her beauty. It soaked into her shining silver hair and Jaercy ran his fingers down her beautiful face down to her chin where her skin reached the soft hide he’d placed over her. Fixed momentarily by her beauty, Jaercy seemed to forget the direness of her condition.


“Jaercy?” Eonas began. “Do you know her?”


Jaercy snapped back to reality and took out his hunter’s knife, cutting away the shirt he’d wrapped around the wound in the woods. Tearing off another piece of cloth, he dipped it in the bucket and dabbed it gently on her exposed and bloody leg. The blood came off onto the rag, and he took care to clean the surroundings of the cut.


When it came to the gash itself, Jaercy stood up, leaning over the still shivering girl. He put his hand under her cheek and turned her face up towards him. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment as she struggled to open them.


Jaercy looked pitifully upon her, speaking softly to try not and discomfort her, “I need to clean the leg. It’s going to hurt, but I need to do it.”


He knelt back down onto the muddy floor and pulled her wounded leg off the straw bed, leaving the still bleeding cut hanging. He lifted the bucket of water and began to turn it over the wound slowly, pouring the water over the top of the injury. The girl squirmed and her breath became sharp as the water ran over and through it, but Jaercy knew he had to finish cleaning. He poured the rest of the water over the cut and wrapped the new shirt tightly around it like he had before. Taking great care not to hurt the girl, he lifted her leg gently back onto the straw bed, and pulled the hide over it.


He plopped down on the floor, exhausted. He turned his eyes to his younger brother, who sat now in his older brother’s bed, looking concernedly at both Jaercy and this strangely beautiful girl. Now that the urgent matters were attended to, Jaercy took a deep breath and began to draw connections of what had just happened. He was sure his dreams led him to her, but he was uncertain as to how and why. In a world where magic was rare enough already, Jaercy wondered what purpose it served that he knew where to find this girl, and why he was the one to find her.


“Jaercy?” Eonas asked quietly.


Jaercy turned around slowly, looking at his little brother. “What is it Eonas?”


“This girl… do you know her?”


“No.”


Eonas seemed to dislike the answer, as he scrunched his face and opened his mouth to ask another question.


“But wh—” Eonas began, but Jaercy cut him off.


“I don’t have answers for you now Eonas. I don’t even know what’s just happened.”


Again Eonas seemed displeased, but he knew he’d have to wait. The girl’s hand was resting just outside of the hide Jaercy had placed over her with her palm towards the thatched roof. He went to grab the corner and cover it, but as he did, her fingers closed slowly, tugging at his hand with a gentle elegance. Jaercy sat silent for a moment, and the girl’s fingers unfurled again began to close again. Jaercy took her hand and held it firmly, but delicately. With this, the girl seemed to relax a little and Jaercy sat, watching her pass into an uneasy slumber.


For what seemed like hours he just watched her pained expressions come and go. He could hear Eonas’ breath quiet as he too fell asleep on his bed. He held her hand for the eternity that he waited for sleep to take him. Eventually he became drowsy, and he put his head rest at her side. The storm continued to rage outside, but the lightning had moved on, and now the calming droll of rain lulled Jaercy to a dreamless and sweet sleep.

__________________
Work in Progress:
Empty Skies

You can find it in the Fiction Section.
Tell me what you think!

Charlie_Eleanor

I really like this a lot! Is this your first draft? I think there are some things you will catch if you reread it. I took the liberty of pointing out some of them in the first couple of paragraphs.

Please know that I didn't do this to be mean or rip apart your writing. I just liked it so much that I think the story deserves attention!

I stopped making suggestions because I felt I would go too far, but if for some reason you like my suggestions just let me know and I will continue.

Well Done!!!


The day drew closer to an end as the sky turned crimson red. Clouds obscured everything but the sun setting behind the mountainous horizon. The cool breeze of the waking night felt refreshing after the scorching heat of the day’s sun (Maybe I am picky but I don't like to use the same word too close together. Maybe just end it...after the day's scorching heat.). The tall grass of the meadow waved like the great seas when the wind combed over it (I would suggest: The wind combing over the tall grass created of a vision alike the great seas, or something like that). A glade of sorts, the meadow had a great wall of trees to east and a sea (again already using the word sea again. Too close for my comfort) of grass and rocks too the west. The trees had a high and thick canopy, covering the foliage below it with darkness, but as the sun set, beams of light bore holes into the darkness. (Suggest: The setting sun bore holes of light through the darkness that lay beneath the thick canopy of the forest.)

The huge black flowing banners of an army flew high along the massive plains. Hundreds of armored soldiers marched towards the trees from the east, <--(I don't think this should be one sentece.)--> their armor reflecting the light from the setting sun into what seemed like a moving crimson mass. Spears stood tall among their ranks, casting an ominous shadow along the ground towards the forest. Their march shook the ground and pebbles danced upon the surface of the beaten path leading into the trees (suggest: The pebbles danced on the earth's surface, as the army marched down the beaten path that lead to the trees.)

A beautiful woman in white stood silhouetted by the setting sunlight only feet from the forest’s edge. Her white birch bark staff, although rested on the ground (I understand you are trying to be clear, but I assumed the staff was on the ground. You might not need this statement.), rose above her head, its bright sapphire crystal giving off an almost blinding deep blue light. Her white dress (sparkled with a shower of light as the) as the setting sun reflected off of it, (this part doens't flow, see previous suggestion) giving off a shower of light. Her soft blonde hair shone with the life of a beautiful young woman. Her skin soft, unscarred, and unblemished, she was the spitting (yikes, spitting does not reflect beauty. May I suggest "mirror") image of beauty.

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Hironimus

It's about time. This has been floating around the forum for about a week now, and it has not got the attention that it deserves. I think it's a superb piece of work. It might benefit from one or two changes here and there, but overall I think it has great potential.

Garden of Kadesh

I read the first chapter...

I've never been a fan of Dragons/magic/sword fantasy, because such stories always end up cliche. Yours didn't seem much different. You could of at least made the evil guy's dragon white instead of black

But on the plus side, it was well written, apart from some minor, rare, and probably unintentional clunky sentences. It seemed better written in the beginning, but it was good throughout.

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All that moves is easily heard in the void. We will listen for you.

rosenthalpiano

Was just skimming through this, and one particular thing caught my eye that I feel I just have to get off my chest. Crimson is a type of red, by its very definition. You don't need to say "crimson red".

irholmes

Charlie_Eleanor, I'm SO glad you're looking at this critically, this is my first draft. I'm getting it down on paper because I'm so motivated to write this! Your comments are LOVED. I'm taking every comment and saving it so when I edit it I can it superb. I'm putting up chapter Two soon, and I'm ALMOST done with 3. Keep checking back guys!

__________________
Work in Progress:
Empty Skies

You can find it in the Fiction Section.
Tell me what you think!

irholmes

This is the first portion of the second chapter to my novel. It's a longer one, so it has to be posted in two parts. Here's part 1.






Chapter Two [Part I]



Jaercy awoke to Eonas shifting. It was late morning, but the rain made for poor lighting. It smelled of spring, the warm air and the rain making for a fresh clean smell. He could hear girl breathing calmly under the hide blanket, and he smiled to himself. The pants he wore were still wet and he could feel the dried mud caked on his heels. It was a disgusting feeling, but yet he still felt calmed by the girls presence.


He noticed He hand was no long holding his, and he curiously wondered where it had gone, for the girl didn’t seem to have moved. He began to lift his head off the straw bed, but a light weight seemed to have been added. As he pushed off her hand flopped down onto the straw and Jaercy came to realize her hand had been resting in his hair.


Slightly taken aback, Jaercy felt the ridiculous form his hair had taken to while it had dried. The girl had ravaged his usually curly locks and it now looked as if a small torrent had taken to it. He turned around to see his brother rubbing his eyes.


“Mornin’ Eonas.”


Eonas groaned as he stretched his arms out from under his hide, and with a long abnoxious breath and a huge smile he responded, “Morning brother. How’s the girl?”


“Couldn’t forget a face like that could you?” Jaercy said truthfully. “She’s alright. I’m worried the wound will get infected and she’ll catch a fever, so I’m going to go to Dawn and see if she has any medicine I can buy.”


Eonas sat up straight and objected, “Jaercy! The money you’ve saved from hunting and selling your hides is enough to take us to the city soon! You promised we’d go, and I will hold you to it!”


“Eonas, this girl’s life is in danger. You would rather go into the city and see a few jesters perform tricks and pick your pockets than save this girl’s life?”


Jaercy’s brother frowned and looked down at the muddy floor. “Ugh. I’d just been looking forward to it so much. We’d have such a time, you and I!” An idea suddenly seemed to dawn on Eonas. “We could buy swords!”


“Right!” Jearcy laughed. “You and what money?”


“Well I’d take yours no doubt.”


Jaercy smiled at his brother and stated jokingly, “From my cold dead hands boy!”


Eonas frowned back at him. The rain could be heard once again pounding on the roof and coming down outside. And as Jaercy began to look outside, Eonas started grinning from ear to ear.


“What is it?” Jaercy asked.


“Your hair’s a wreck!” Eonas laughed.


Jaercy moved both hands to his hair, again feeling the abomination it had become overnight. “So it is.”


Jaercy stepped out into the rain, letting it soak his hair thoroughly again. He matted it down and then ruffled it back up, stepping back into his home, walking back over to check on the girl. He took the cloth from her forehead and dampened it again by plunging into the bucket and wringing it out. As he placed it back on her forehead, her eyes fluttered and opened. The deep yet bright blue eyes stared up at him. Jaercy seemed to fall into them, her beauty gripping him again as he tried to tear his gaze away, but he couldn’t. Her eyes spoke more than any words could. She lifted her arm and touched Jaercy’s, her eyes saying the ‘thank you’ she didn’t seem to have the strength to say.


Jaercy took her arm by the wrist and set it back down on the straw. Eonas took great interest in the girl being awake, and appeared over Jaercy’s shoulder, peering down at the girl. She saw Eonas and smiled sweetly at him, thanking him with her eyes as well.


Only seconds later Jaercy realized he’d abandoned his father’s sword and his own bow and quiver of arrows in the woods. It came so suddenly to him that he stood up, knocking his brother back. The girl shrunk away momentarily, startled by Jaercy’s sudden movements.


“Dad’s sword!” He said urgently to Eonas. “I left it in the woods last night.”


Jaercy turned quickly and made to leave, but as he started for the door the girl reached out and grabbed him by the pant leg. He turned to her, and saw her expression of fear. She didn’t want to be left alone without him, not even for a minute. Jaercy looked pleadingly at her. His father’s sword was in the dirt under some tree, and his bow was soaked and drawn taught. If left for too long, it would wear and become useless.


Eonas saw what was happening and spoke up, “Jaercy. I can go get your things. Tell me where they are and I’ll get Aranaia to come with me.”


Jaercy loved his little brother a little more each day. Looking guilty he asked, “Are you sure you want to do this? It will probably take you most of the day to find it.”


“Hey, if Aranaia is with me, it could take weeks and I’d be happy.”


“Eonas, have I ever told you how much I love your little self?”


“All the time! I’ll go fetch Aranaia and stop back here before we head out.” Eonas started towards the door, then turned back, “Hey, think you can pack some smoked meat for Aranaia and I? I’m sure we’ll get hungry.”


Jaercy smiled and nodded, “Anything for you brother.”


“Thanks!”


Eonas glanced out the doorway into the downpour of rain. Turning his body towards the entrance of their home, he took a deep breath and then plunged into the fresh rain of the morning.

Jaercy turned his attention back towards the girl as Eonas left the house. She looked innocently up at him and smiled, knowing he wasn’t going to leave her. Jaercy stared curiously at her deep blue eyes and wondered about her silver hair. He slowly reached out his hand towards her, and she shrank away from it shyly, as if uncomfortable. Taking a handful of strands between his fingers, Jaercy felt how soft it was. It calmed him to just feel the smooth silklike hair running through his open hand.


He looked back into her eyes, making a conscious effort not to get lost in them. He licked his lips to wet them before speaking, “Could I ask you your name?”


The girl, suddenly being spoken to, looked away from him, not seeming to want to have to answer.


Jaercy spoke again, a little more forcefully, “Who are you?”


The girl wouldn’t look at him, worry suddenly in her eyes. She gnawed at the side of her lip, looking at the drying clothes on the wall.


Jaercy, slightly frustrated, stood up from leaning over her, and walked over to his bed. Sitting down on it, he took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. He placed his head in his hands and sat wondering about her strange attributes.


Where did she come from? he thought to himself.


He heard a rustling, and he looked up from his hands. She was sitting up in Eonas’s bed, looking intently at Jaercy, the bear hide falling to her lap. Jaercy looked away, turning red in the face. Standing up from his bed and exclaiming, “Have you no modesty?”


Jaercy peaked over his shoulder, and the girl still sat, bare-chested and looking intently at him. Realizing she obviously didn’t care about her exposed skin, Jaercy turned around and approached her quickly to cover her, but tripping over the bucket of rainwater, he fell face first into the muddy floor. The girl giggled.


His nose stinging, Jaercy rose slowly, his eyes closed from the mud all over his face. He wavered once on his feet, trying to maintain his balance as he wiped the mud from his eyes. He squinted at the girl who looked sheepishly down, as if trying to hide the fact that she was smiling.


“You find that funny?” Jaercy said, grabbing his throbbing nose. “I have to fall on my face to get you to make a sound?”


He removed his hand to check for blood, and there, flowing slowly but surely from his tender nose was blood. Jaercy threw his hands up in frustration, “Great! Now I’m bleeding.”


The girl stopped smiling, and reached out a hand as if beckoning him to come closer. Keeping his head tilted back to try and stop the bleeding, Jaercy inched towards her. Carefully averting his eyes, he knelt down at the foot of his brother’s bed, letting her hands gracefully descend upon his own. She grabbed his hands carefully and gently lifted them from his bleeding nose, frowning slightly.


Jaercy winced as the slight injury gave a twinge of pain. He’d fallen on his face before, but never so hard and with such lack of dignity. Reminiscing over his clumsiness, he closed his eyes in pain, feeling the blood run down his face. He suddenly felt the girl’s soft wet lips touch his nose. He was shocked, but didn’t move, wondering what in the world had compelled her to kiss him.


The burning in his nose stopped, and Jaercy opened his eyes, slowly lowering his head to come level with the young girl. As she slowly lowered herself back onto the bed, she wiped the small dab of blood and dried mud on her lips. It seemed strange to him, but he couldn’t keep from blushing. The girl lay back down, resting her head on the pillow and smiling sweetly. Jaercy immediately pulled the bear hide up to her collar, planting it firmly and trying to make her understand to cover herself. It was apparent that the girl didn’t understand his concerns, for she seemed taken aback by the firm placement of the hide.


Jaercy sat, the events of the night before running through his head. Beginning to connect his dream with reality, he looked towards the doorway, the rain still pouring heavily outside. It seemed to him as if his dream had led him to this girl, but how it had led him to her made no sense to him. He remembered flying over the landscape, feeling the horrible sense of urgency and fright. He looked back down at the girl, who just lay there, half smiling, half resting her eyes. Jaercy remembered falling to the ground through the trees and feeling the startling pain in his leg.


Looking down, he rubbed his thigh where it had hurt him, realizing then that it was exactly where the girl had been cut badly. He began to piece together the mixed puzzle in his head. His dream was seeing what was happening through the eyes of this girl. It seemed to make much more sense, but there was something missing.


What was she doing in the sky? he thought, rubbing his jaw and feeling the caked mud peel off.


“Ugh!” Jaercy began, “I’m still covered in mud.”


Standing up, he grabbed the nearby bucket of water that he’d tripped over and set it outside. As he did, he took care not to make the girl think he was leaving, for as he moved towards the door, she shifted and looked at him with frightened eyes. The rain began to fill the bucket with water, and Jaercy stood in the doorway, looking back at the girl and wondering what it all meant. She had silver hair, which he had never seen before in any person he’d ever met. His knowledge of the peoples of this world wasn’t extensive, but even in tales, no legend or person of any significance had silver hair. And her eyes; they penetrated him with their stunning ferocity. They were the deepest, yet brightest icy blue he’d ever seen, making even the most hardened and worn men stop to look in wonder.


As he sat, pondering about the girl’s strange characteristics, he suddenly remembered her kiss on his nose. HHHHHe felt to see if it was still bleeding, but it had stopped, and by the feel of it, it had stopped when she’d kissed it. Jaercy knew of magic. He knew it existed in the world, and the more he thought about it, the more he came to believe that this girl had something magical about her. It scared him, to be in the presence of someone who could wield such powers, but at the same time, her innocence seemed to prove she was no threat.


Jaercy remembered a tale his father used to tell him as a child. Before the beginning of Lord Sigrum’s reign, not many years ago, the world had a small population of magic users. These magic wielders weree of the generations passed, known as Dragonmasters, for their magic attracted such powerful beings. The purity, or corruption, of that person’s soul attracted different kinds of dragons, and certain dragons granted the master certain powers. The blackest and darkest hearts attracted Black Dragons, enormous and frightful beings that granted their masters terrifying and evil magic, while the purest of souls attracted Silver Dragons, granting their masters immense power to use for the betterment of others.


A Dragonmaster was born with a power about him, but unless focused and trained, it would go unnoticed. This power can still be felt by other Dragonmasters and dragons alike. The dragons of the world are attracted to the power, and once a Dragonmaster’s power attracted such a being, the two would form an unbreakable bond, connecting the two spirits in a frightening spectacle of power.


Jaercy remembered his father. He’d been taken by Lord Sigrum’s men to fight in his battles against the resisting Dragonmasters. Although defiant and traitorous, Jaercy’s father had always told him that the resistance was fighting for their freedom, and that he only went to war for the sake of his family, for those who refused to join were struck down and their families imprisoned.


Shortly after his father had left for the war, his mother became desperately ill. No ointment or medicine could cure the illness that had gripped her body, and she deteriorated under Jaercy’s watchful and loving eye. His mother had passed only months after his father had left word was sent to him by Jaercy. He knew not if his father had gotten the letter, but knew it would break his heart if it had. Jaercy had taken it upon himself to care for his brother, doing everything necessary to keep their cottage as a decent shelter, hunting for food, making clothing, and assisting the community whenever possible. The departure of his father and the death of his mother shattered both him and Eonas, but the two of them found the strength to move on and continue living their lives to their best.


Jaercy turned his attention back towards the girl on his brother’s bed. She almost seemed to understand that he was confused and hurting from those thoughts, and she just gave him an apologetic look. But Jaercy began to wonder if he had just saved the life of a Dragonmaster. It would make sense, considering in his dream she fell from the sky, but then why wouldn’t she speak to him.


“Why won’t you talk?” Jaercy asked.


The girl again turned her eyes away and seemed to not understand him. Then it hit Jaercy, maybe the girl actually didn’t understand him.


“You don’t understand a word I’m saying do you.”


The girl caught the sarcastic undertone and looked back at him. Jaercy just smiled and walked back over, sitting on the edge of the straw bed.


“Well I’m just glad I got to you in time,” he said. “If I had left you out there any longer, you could’ve died. The only thing I have to do now is find out who you are.”


As he finished his words, the girl slid over to him and nuzzled against his arm, her soft cheeks making him feel comforted. He looked down at her as she brushed up against him, “My! You’re affectionate. Do you talk at all?”


She just ignored his words and continued to nuzzle his arm. Deciding to just go along with the girl’s strange wishes, Jaercy sat patiently awaiting Eonas and Aranaia’s return.

__________________
Work in Progress:
Empty Skies

You can find it in the Fiction Section.
Tell me what you think!

irholmes

The second part to Chapter Two! Enjoy! Chapter 3 is finished, and will be on it's way soon. Give me some feedback!


Chapter Two [Part II]:




It was warm, but the rain kept him cool as he ran. A dense fog carpeted the ground, making it hard to see farther than a rocks toss. Eonas made his way up the road towards an obscured gathering of small thatched-roof cottages. Thoughts of Aranaia made Eonas grin widely. It had been a couple days since he’d seen her, having been forced to work on preparing his home for a storm just like the current one. But the work had paid off. His home wasn’t flooded and the contents of his small cottage remained dry. Sure there were places that could use patching, but he’d leave that to Jaercy. He tried hard not to think of what had just happened that night. He would explain everything to Aranaia when the time was right, and in doing so, he could revisit the subject then.


As Eonas trudged along, he saw two of the Lord’s cavalry trotting slowly out of the mist and up the muddy road towards him. Not wishing to cause any sort of trouble, Eonas stayed off the road, hoping to pass by undisturbed. There was a tension between the villagers and Lord Sigrum’s men that had caused many fights to break out, and Eonas had no wish to be in one of these tales. They passed by and Eonas bowed low. He could barely make it out through the sound of the falling rain, but he was sure one of the soldiers chuckled to himself.


He started back towards the cottages, glancing over his shoulder at the fading figures on horseback. Their shapes retreated into the mist. Straightening himself, Eonas wiped away the hair that had stuck itself to his brow while bowing. He turned again towards the slightly more visible cottages and jogged the rest of the distance to them.


Upon arriving in front of Aranaia’s home, he shouted a greeting, “Morning! Anybody home?”


Eonas peered into the dark entrance to her cottage, and surely enough, a young child, only five years of age at most, poked his young head out of the doorway.


As if rehearsed, the child spoke quite amusingly, “Can I help you?”


Eonas smiled, “You certainly can Romar. Is your sister there?”


As if he’d been heard, Aranaia emerged from the shadows of her home, looking up from a wooden dish she’d been drying. Upon seeing Eonas, she dropped the bowl and dashed into out of the house, jumping into Eonas’ arms. Catching her and spinning about in the rain, he craned his neck back.


With an uncontrollable grin, Eonas looked into her beautiful green eyes, “Hey you.”


“Hey you,” she spoke softly back.


Letting her feet back to the ground, Eonas held her by the waist.


“Aha!” Aranaia’s father emerged from the home as well. “Good morning to you Eonas”


“Good morning to you too, Korrin.”


“You’re not looking to take Aranaia out into this storm, are you?”


Eonas looked back at Aranaia, “As a matter of fact I am.”


“Well there’s no better man to do it,” Aranaia’s father said with a smile. “Here, let me fetch you some breakfast.”


Turning back into the home, Aranaia’s father began to say something, but Eonas quickly shouted after him, “Oh! No worries sir, my brother’s going to have food ready for us as soon as we get there.”


Korrin looked over his shoulder, placing a firm hand on Romar’s head, “Is that so?”


“As a matter of fact it is, sir.”


Aranaia tugged on Eonas’ soaked tunic and pulled at him as she began down the road back to his house. Eonas stumbled but kept his footing, glancing back and waving as Korrin went back inside, laughing.


Aranaia could hardly contain herself, “Eonas?”


“Yes?”


“So what are we going to do today?”


“Well firstly I have a long story to tell you, and there’s actually a bit of work that needs to be done.”


Aranaia frowned, stopping in the muddy road and looking back at Eonas. “You’re all about work. You need to make some time for yourself, and more importantly…” She smiled innocently and bit her bottom lip, “… me!”


“Aranaia, this is no ordinary labor. Something’s happened… and it’s quite a strange turn of events.”


“I don’t follow,” Aranaia said carefully.


“Well, I don’t even know exactly what’s going on, but it’s serious.” Eonas began.


He jogged for a moment, catching up with Aranaia. He took her hand and fell into step with her. Together they walked, and Eonas continued to fill her in on what he knew.


“Basically, I woke up to Jaercy carrying in an injured girl.”


Aranaia gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth momentarily, “Oh no! Is she alright?”


“If she is physically, I doubt she is emotionally. She was cut badly and there was something not right about her. She had silver hair and the coldest blue eyes I’d ever seen in my life.”


“Silver?” Aranaia exclaimed.


“Ara, this girl was odd. Anyway, Jaercy left my father’s sword and his bow in the woods where he says he found her.”


“What was he doing in the woods last night? The storm was enough to keep Romar from sleep, and my baby brother sleeps hard than any being I’ve met.”


“I don’t know what he was doing. I haven’t had time to ask him yet. All I know is that he came home with this damn near dead girl, and now she’s asleep, or dying, in my bed.”


“So I take it we’re going to watch over her then?” Aranaia asked curiously.


Eonas scrunched up his face in slight frustration. Taking a quick breath he stated, “No, because the girl won’t let Jaercy out of her sight, so we have to go get it.”


“Well do you know where they are?” she asked.


“Honestly, I have no idea, so it will probably take most of the day. Jaercy said he could point us in the right direction though, so it isn’t futile. It’s just that it’s my father’s sword, and that being said, it’s the most important thing we have.”


Aranaia nodded quietly. “I understand.”


“Don’t think too much of it, let’s get something to eat since we’re here,” Eonas began. Then shouting into the house, he bellowed, “Jaercy! Let’s get that dried meat!”

Jaercy had heard Eonas and Aranaia approaching, so when Eonas called for the dried meat, Jaercy was at the door with a sack ready to go. To see them together made Jaercy smile. The two of them had been devoted to each other ever since they set eyes upon on another only a couple years back. Aranaia had been there for Eonas when their father left, and didn’t leave his side for days when their mother passed. The two were inseparable, and they had plans for each other’s futures.


Eonas jogged up from muddy path, the rain soaking through his clothes and matting his hair down. He reached his hand out, taking the sack of dried meat and looking into the cottage past Jaercy.


“How is she?” he asked his older brother.


“She’s alright, but there’s something I think I ought to tell you two,” Jaercy said, stepping out into the morning rain. “I think she’s a Dragonmaster.”


Aranaia gasped, but Eonas lit up.


“You mean—” Eonas began, but Jaercy cut him off


“Listen to me Eonas. If she is, we’re dealing with someone who uses magic. This has become a lot more dangerous than we thought.”


“But how do you know?” interjected Aranaia.


“I smashed my face into the dirt and she healed it.” Jaercy said plainly.


“You what?” Eonas said, finding this strange.


Aranaia shifted uncomfortably, “But if she healed you, why do you find her dangerous?”


“Because magic is nothing to be trusted!” Jaercy said harshly.


There was a short silence that followed. Both Eonas and Aranaia felt uncertain about Jaercy’s mistrust for the girl.


“May I see her?” Aranaia said suddenly.


Jaercy nodded and stepped aside, allowing Aranaia and Eonas to enter the home. Upon stepping inside, Eonas took Aranaia by the waist, pulling her close. She looked over at the girl, gasping slightly.


“She’s beautiful!” Aranaia remarked.


The girl stirred, hearing Aranaia’s voice. Opening her eyes, she saw Aranaia and jumped. The sight of a new girl obviously frightened her, and she looked around the room, searching for something. Jaercy stepped inside, and the girls eyes fell immediately upon him. Looking to him for comfort, Jaercy stepped past Eonas and Aranaia, saying to them gently, “She’s a little afraid of people she hasn’t seen before. I don’t think she knows yet that we’re all her friends and here to help.”


“She’s mighty skittish.” Aranaia thought aloud.


As Jaercy sat down on the bed, the girl crawled behind him and cowered there, peering over his shoulder at Aranaia. Seeing this, Eonas let Aranai go as she approached carefully.


“It’s alright girl, I’m not gonna hurt you,” Aranaia said soothingly. “I’m your friend too.”


Jaercy moved aside a little, letting Aranaia approach the shy girl. She reached her hand out, trying not to intimidate her, but the girl didn’t seem to know what to do. She only sat, slightly frightened as Aranaia approached. Jaercy looked the frightened girl in her shining ice blue eyes and said, “It’s alright. She’s a friend.”


The reassuring statement seemed to do the trick, as the girl leaned forward and touched Aranaia’s hand with her nose. Aranaia cocked her head sideways a little, bewildered by the girls behavior.


“Strange…” she said slowly. “She doesn’t act like a Dragonmaster.”


“I know,” Jaercy started. “Her behavior’s completely strange, and she doesn’t seem to understand a word I say to her, yet she can almost communicate with me… somehow… I don’t quite understand her yet.”


“But you think you will?” Eonas asked.


“Certainly. I’ve learned a lot about her since you left.” Jaercy said. “She’s got no modesty, and I can’t teach her to cover herself, for she takes it as an attack.”


“Hm. I’m sure we can find her out,” Aranaia began. “But I suggest we get your sword back. How about it, Eonas?”


Eonas nodded. Smiling, he kissed Aranaia on the cheek and turned towards the door with, “Let’s!”


Jaercy watched as the couple left the cottage, heading backing out into the rain and into the forest to fetch his father’s sword. He was truly loved by his brother, for no other sibling in the world would dare do a favor for him. It seemed to him as if their strong relationship stemmed from the hardship of losing both their parents at relatively the same time. Any way he looked at it, he and his brother had the strongest family bond of any he knew, and it warmed his heart to know that Eonas had someone to look after as he did after his little brother.

__________________
Work in Progress:
Empty Skies

You can find it in the Fiction Section.
Tell me what you think!