The League of Dragon Riders

Initiation

It takes four hours to reach the small village. There’s a large stone archway that we walk under that matches the buildings we walk past. They are all built close together, almost forming a wall of stone with boarded up windows and locked doors. It’s rather small, despite the tallness of the homes, and there isn’t a spot of color anywhere. The dull gray stone matches the dull gray smoke that rises from the chimneys. The few people we walk past are plain too with large gray coats with hoods pulled down so low that I can’t see anyone’s faces.

No one paid us any attention except for one girl. She too wore a coat but it hugs her body more so than anyone else’s. Her face isn’t as hidden as the rest and I can see a pair of familiar blue eyes catch mine before she scurries away. Those eyes...I’ve seen them before but I can’t figure out where.

The only thing that stands out is a large gray building that stands in the center of the town. It too is gray but its doors are large and open unlike the rest of the village.

“Are we headed to that building?” I ask and point toward it.

“Yes,” Fergus nods, “that is an ancient meeting place of our people. The rest of the town was built around it.”

“I remember hearing stories about it from my father,” Maxwell says as he stares at it in awe, “I never thought I’d actually get to see it.” 

Erin says nothing as he keeps his dark eyes forward.

“That’s where the leader initiation thing is happening?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Enter you will,” Erin says as he walks through the open doorway, “and look upon the threshold of the mighty League of Dragons.”

“The League of Dragons,” I repeat. 

“Yes,” Maxwell bows slightly as he gestures for me to walk ahead of him, “We’re a clan. There are more fighting the same fight but, as I said before, we are a dying breed. It has become harder and harder to find others like us.”

“But with you,” Erin says as he pulls me inside, “a true dragon master, we can find more like us and become just as we once were.”

“Let’s get this started,” Fergus says as he closes the doors behind us. He seems a lot less excited than the other two. The only light comes from the large fireplace where flames purr and crackle. The room itself is large and gray like the rest of the town. Battles are carved into the walls, fights of dragons and men alike. Flames decorate the ceiling. My eyes land on the large basin sitting in the center of the room. Rows of pews sit circling out, surrounding the basin. I can feel myself walking toward it without any active thought of my own. It feels as if I’m being drawn to it. I stand over it and look down. It looks like a mirror. I look into it and see me, and my tangled hair, reflected back at me. 

“You know,” Maxwell says as his face appears beside mine, “there is a legend that claims the true leader can consult the mirror in times of crisis and it’ll show them answers.”

“Answers to what?” I ask as I glance up at him. He shrugs and I turn my attention back to the mirror. I expect to see me with my brown hair and dark brown eyes next to Maxwell with his dark curly hair. Instead, I see clouds. They are speeding past as if I am flying. I lean forward and can almost feel the wind on my face. 

“Do you see something?” Erin asks, appearing next to me. The clouds dissipate and I’m back to looking at my own reflection. I lean back and let out a heavy sigh. 

“Did you?” Fergus asks from one of the pews. 

“For a moment,” I say with a shrug. Everyone smiles and Erin reaches for his bag. 

“Let’s do the initiation,” he smiles and turns toward me but he’s no longer Erin. He’s my father. I stumble back as he takes a step toward me. This can’t be happening. I must still be asleep. 

Wake up, I tell myself. 

“I told you not to trust him,” he says as he shakes his head at me with disappointment in his eyes. I stare at him in shock as I try to wake myself up. 

“What am I supposed to do?” I ask him when my attempts to wake up don’t work.

“Run. Run while you still can. He’s filled with lies, Alaina. He plans to use you.”

“Use me? For what?” I ask desperately.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to figure that out for yourself,” he says as he nods toward something behind me. I spin around and scream as I come face to face with the bald headed man from the first time I had seen Erin. He smiles wickedly and raises a knife toward me…

“Alaina!” I fall back from the mirror and Maxwell catches me before I can hit the hard ground below. Fergus is beside me in a moment with concern in his eyes.

“You saw something,” he states, “what was it?” 

“I…” I glance over at Erin who is simply watching me with curious eyes.

“Alaina?” Maxwell asks as I sit up. I groan as Fergus pulls me to my feet. 

“Nothing,” I say, “it’s nothing.”

“I know it isn’t nothing,” Fergus grumbles, “but it is the proof we need that you are a true leader. Are you ready to be fully initiated as our leader?”

“Y-yes,” I stutter out as I step between him and Maxwell. Erin stood on the opposite end of the basin. I refuse to look at the mirror as Fergus steps in front of me and grabs a bowl of what looks like purple paint.

“Do you, Alaina Jordan, vow to lead us with honor, dignity, and courage?” Fergus asks as he dips a finger in the paint and runs his fingers across my forehead. I nod after he removes his finger from my face. I scrunch up my forehead as the paint starts to itch.

“Do you, Alaina Jordan, vow to lead us with mercy, compassion, and forgiveness towards those who oppose us?” he continues, his voice growing soft as his paint covered fingers move to my cheeks. 

“Yes, I do,” I say firmly though my insides are turning. Leading them? I’m still eyeing Erin as the ceremony goes on. What I saw...can it be true? I look at the other two and sigh. Lead them? It hit me harder than it ever has before. Can I do what I promise?

“Good,” Fergus smiles, “let us feast!”

I sigh in relief as Fergus and Maxwell leave to organize the feast. Erin walks up and looks at the mirror. I step away from him as he bends over and searches the mirror.

“See anything?” I ask him as I sit down on one of the pews. I ach to wipe the paint off my face but I don’t know if I should. Would that ruin the ceremony? 

“No, only the chosen can. You can see the future through the glass. You can see anyone’s; you only have to be touching them.”

“Really?” I ask. 

“Yes.”

“Erin? They need your approval,” Maxwell says as he steps into the room. Erin sighs as he leaves without a word. Maxwell walks up to the mirror and glances at the mirror before looking back at me.

“Want to see yours?” I ask him as I stand. 

“Want to see what?”

“Your future. Erin says that I can show people their future if I look into the mirror and, well, touch them,” I say as I place the hand on the reflective glass. 

“No,” he says softly. His eyes are full of sadness as he looks away. 

“Maxwell?” I ask and places a hand on his shoulder. 

“You know, I heard the stories. That mirror doesn’t only show them the future, Alaina. It shows you their deaths.”

“What?”

“My dad found out how he died by your father. He went mad trying to stop it. I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want to spend my life trying to avoid the inevitable.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I mutter as he nods and smiles as Fergus bursts into the room.

“The feasts awaits!” he bellows as he leads us toward another building that I assume is an inn. I keep my eyes on Maxwell but he holds his sadness in even though the sadness never leaves his eyes.