Chapter 2 - 20: The Awakening of the Three Dragons (II)
Eliandar was very worried. He would have preferred that they had taken that unknown serpent rider more calmly. He knew, because he could read the interior of other beings, that there was almost nothing good left in his heart and that his serpent was a mere plaything in the hands of someone they all knew. But even so, there remained that small part of goodness within him, however infinitesimal, that could have been called upon or touched to see if healing that individual was possible. It would have been difficult, but with his brother so angry, it wasn’t unlikely, it was simply impossible.
He saw his brother, who, from a rather ungentle old man, had transformed into that magnificent dragon with golden scales, fire breath, and extreme anger. This was also nothing new: Rulkrio meant «Soul of Fire» in the ancient language of Bonardia, long before it was the capital of the Sinardian Empire. «Rulk» meant fire, and «Rio» was translated as soul: since the word «fire» preceded «Rio«, the resulting word translated as «soul of fire«. If they had been written the other way around, it would have been «fire of the soul.» But no: the name Rulkrio had been given, was so appropriate that Eliandar sometimes wondered if it had been specifically chosen to reflect that name.
Thus, Rulkrio, considerably larger than the snake that had retreated in fear, faced its rider, though including both of them in his speech:
– «Despicable life-stealer,» Eliandar thought, his voice still deeper than usual, «you are nothing more than a slavish servant to the will of Klandorg, the Great Necromancer Lord. You lack a will of your own, for you simply do what he commands without even evaluating for yourself whether it is right or wrong, or even if you really want to do it.» This seemed to make the snake rider doubt, and he began to visibly tremble. «On top of that, you boast about it, thinking that, since you lack freedom, you lack responsibility. But your freedom still exists: even if you only use it to obey and do not fight valiantly against the evil within you, you have chosen… but you have chosen very poorly.»
The man, now visibly terrified, tried to speak, but Rulkrio raised his dragon-like right hand and brought it to his mouth, while he remained meditating. He seemed to tell him to please be quiet, that he wasn’t up for his whiny human nonsense. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and the light within them reflected all his power and also his anger, which he believed to be evidently reasonable:
– «You laughed at three old men riding in a poor wagon because you thought we were too old and too irrelevant to give in. That those three weak old men couldn’t stand up to a weak, pathetic, and cowardly creature like the one you’ve become.»
The Great Dragon stood up to his full height, towering over the tall peaks of the trees that lined the forest, and, fixing his gaze on the serpent rider, said:
- «You miscalculated what you were getting into.»
And then, he inhaled, expelling a great ball of fire in the direction of the serpent rider and his mount. Once its effect passed, nothing remained of what the great serpent rider once was, and what a serpent he once was: now they were only a vague memory.
But Eliandar wasn’t satisfied and said calmly:
- «Rulkrio, have you been able to see his memories or anything that might be of use to us?»
Rulkrio, now the grumpy old man again, rushed toward Elandar and hugged him, saying:
- «Yes, yes, whatever you say, brother. But we had to cut him off: I don’t know what memories he had, but I do know that someone was following what that man had in his head.» He looked down at the ground, then looked up and continued. «Do you know?» he said, crossing his arms and beginning to look at the sky… in broad daylight. «I think they were monitoring him from afar. We must wait for Danladia: surely she can tell us more about this case.»
- «What I know,» Eliandar continued, «is that they wouldn’t have sent someone inexperienced or someone they didn’t trust.»
- «In either case, he wouldn’t have told us anything,» Rulkrio said. «Evil was too advanced to accept the call of kindness: that’s why he laughed at the old men he saw. Evil understands kindness only as weakness. Besides, if he had so much experience, it’s because he’s already killed, he’s done it often, and that hadn’t created a problem of conscience: that is, if he had one and it hadn’t already been destroyed by whatever they’d given him…
Korian, meanwhile, had been inspecting both the place where the serpent rider and his mount had fallen, as well as the interior of the forest. He had remained silent because, although Eliandar was usually right, it was Rulkrio who was simply making excuses for his bad temper. However, in this case, the solution wasn’t so simple, as Korian pointed out, his arms crossed and his hand on his chin:
– «In this case, Rulkrio is right: this man’s soul was already devoid of any kind of goodness. Such was the corruption that Klandorn had implanted in his soul that it was almost no longer human. I was amazed by what I saw within him. I believe his transformation into what we saw began with some kind of spell or witchcraft, undoubtedly something related to Klandorg or that man named Guonlorth, or another individual close to both.»
He paused for a moment and then continued:
– «Frankly, I doubt Guonlorth has or has ever achieved this level of magic, but anything is possible. So we’ll have to consider it and investigate what happened and where he is right now.»
Rulkrio and Eliandar nodded: what their brother said was true. Eliandar replied:
– «I expected something like this when I called you.» He looked around and continued. «We’ve slept too long. I hope we still have time to heal this world and its members.»
Korian took a deep breath and said:
– «There’s still so much good in this world. We just need to help it grow and develop. That was the mission we were entrusted with, wasn’t it?» He hugged them both and then began to wander around the grounds. Then he continued: «But it won’t be easy and pretty. It will have to be eradicated, and that won’t always mean killing someone.» He looked at Rilkrio. «But sometimes it will be necessary.» He looked at Eliandar. «But only as a last resort.» He looked back at Rulkrio.
– «Anyway,» Rulkrio said, «I highly doubt this was the only one they sent to kill the woman in the woods.»
– «Yes, me too.» «We’ll have to protect her,» Eliandar smiled.
- «Of course.»
At that precise moment, Danliada, riding Gracilos, emerged from the forest and looked at them, understanding what had happened.
- "I think there's something else you should see, gentlemen."
- "Ah, you know us," Korian said, smiling.
- "Yes, of course I know you."
In a few minutes, they were back at the waterfall. Danliada pointed to the man she had brought back from his previous snake state and said:
- "I've been able to heal his body, but he's still very agitated, even though he seems to be sleeping peacefully now."
Eliandar knelt beside the man and placed his right hand on his forehead:
- "This man has suffered greatly. And he continues to suffer. Apparently, somehow, he has his family, although he doesn't know where they are or when they were taken."
- "I don't doubt it," she said, "but there was something strange: he was disturbed by the arrival of the snake rider. He began to tremble uncontrollably, saying that they had come for him."
- Hmmm - said Rulkrio - when did the snake that was this man appear here?
- "The same day your griffon came to tell me you were coming. No more than four days ago."
- "Well, either there's someone closer who could have seen us, or it turns out they found out from her. Yes, Rulkrio," Korian said, "that's very strange. In any case, someone must stay here to defend this and others must go to the Gulf of Esdáloren, right, madam?"
– «Well, either there’s someone closer who could have seen us, or it turns out they’ve learned about it from her. Yes, Rulkrio,» Korian said, «it’s very strange. In any case, someone must stay here to defend this place and others must go to the Gulf of Esdáloren, right, ma’am?»
– «That’s right. There’s one of the people we all need most, Prince Erevin. We know there are people who have been tasked with finding him and either killing him or taking him to the Imperial Castle in Sinardia. His destination would then be dangerous for him, but also for the rest.»
– «I understand,» Korian said. «Rulkrio, you must stay here in the Western Forest. Take care of this man as best you can, but conserve your strength. I don’t think they’ll stop trying to get in and kill him. Eliandar and I will take care of Danladia and Prince Erevin. Does anyone want to add anything?»
A moment passed in which no one said anything: long, worried faces abounded among those present. The Balirakok, normally fearful, had now adopted an expression of elegant seriousness that was surprising. But if there was anyone who could help Rulkrio in his mission, it was precisely them: they knew the hidden corners of the forest, its plants and the properties each of them possessed, and provided pleasant, warm company. Rulkrio sat beside the sick man, while Eliandar and Korian took flight above the tall trees of the Western Forest.
Foto de Tamas Tutze-Katai en Unsplash
Although it was still spring, the abundant rains around the forest meant that a deep, thick fog often settled above it. The dragons climbed a little higher to better see their route: they had to go southeast but without straying too far, and then they would have to think as the prince would think.
When they were almost at the southern edge of the forest, they both became old men again, and it was then that they began to consider some of the things they already knew:
«Let’s see,» Korian said, «the first thing I must ask is why we’re here.»
«It seems the entire Imperial Western Fleet has been kidnapped, and no one knows where they are.»
«And what do you think the reason is?»
«Reason? Yes, I know what you mean. The first, without a doubt, and from what I’ve been able to find out, is undoubtedly to eliminate a friend of the Crown Prince…»
«And thereby facilitate Holingen’s coronation. Yes, I understand that.» What I still don’t understand is why they kidnap them instead of killing them…
«I imagine they think that, from where they’re holding them, they won’t be able to free them.»
«If that’s true, we’ll find it because I doubt there are many places where the Fleet would fit.»
«However, that doesn’t mean they’re all in the same place,» Eliandar said.
«Yes, of course. Do you have a map somewhere?»
Eliandar burst into laughter.
«Well, no, sorry. How do you expect me to carry a map when I’m in dragon form?»
Korian shrugged.
«We’ll have to ask, then.»
They continued on their way to their destination, but while they were in the forest, they knew perfectly well they wouldn’t meet anyone. Very soon after, they heard the loud, continuous sound of the Ataide Waterfall. They had reached the edge of the forest. Now they just had to go down and take the path that led to the coast. They would try to ask someone about that place, although they had a feeling it wouldn’t be difficult to find.
Leovild, Grand Abbot of the Order of the Hope of the Heavenly Mother, had been waiting for them to come for him. In the end, it had only been a messenger from Grand Patriarch Askanides, informing him that, due to various health problems, he had had to leave Bonardia, heading for a small monastery where he usually retreated near the Broken Peaks Range in a village called Pyónades.
He gathered the Board of his Order and explained that they must obey the Empress, allowing everyone to fulfill the missions entrusted to them. He explained the facts he knew, including the kidnapping and release of the former Chief of Intelligence, Mirondar, and the disolución of the Order of the Praying Ones due to the involvement of its Grand Master, Grand Abbess Desa Akrovia in those same deeds.
There were murmurs and occasional signs of anger and criticism. But most understood the gravity of the situation. Then Leovildo spoke again:
– «Gentlemen, we are in a very difficult moment, and I do not want my actions to harm this Order. I know it is necessary to investigate what happened in two places: Sinningen and Nirania. The first is a monastery of our Order; the second is not.»
He drank some water and continued:
- «This time I’m not going to send anyone; I’m going to go myself. We can’t be too many, so as not to attract attention. We won’t wear any identifying clothing and Carry only the service weapons that fit under our cloaks. We need to be as quiet as possible. Whoever wants to come, there’s no need to tell me just wait for me tomorrow at the back Gate at 5.30 in the morning, well equipped and silent. That will be all, brothers».
The session adjourned. Leovildo didn’t get up quickly but sat there for a while. The Grand Patriarch’s letter still didn’t add up. So he began to examine it by candlelight. He then noticed a corner that wasn’t properly taped, but it was so imprescriptible that no one had noticed.
When he was able to open it, he realized there was a message inside, the real message:
“Leovild, you should be careful. The Empress is going away for a few days to rest, but she won’t forget what happened. I advise you to get out of the way for a while: go see what happened in Sinningen, it’s something that needs to be done. Leave instructions stating something very innocent as the reason for your departure, but don’t say you’re going to Sinningen: once there, I doubt they’ll send anyone after you.”
He had thought the same thing too, although he didn’t know that Askanides had advised him the same thing. He got up and went to his library and searched, found, and then sat down to read the book entitled: “The Monastery of Sinningen: Mysteries, Stories, and Legends.” He glanced through the table of contents and read: “Chapter 32: How a Monastery Was Built on the Most Mysterious Stone Bridge of Ancient Sinardia.”
Then he stood up and went to the magnificent window overlooking the monastery courtyard: the moons were clearly visible in the star-studded sky. He would leave as soon as possible. At least now, as spring advanced, most of the roads would no longer be impassable.
Buy me a coffee. ☕️