Varheiman Myths: The Dragon And Her Fire

The First Light Of Dawn.

Alistair stared widely at Rhineas, staggered by his approach. He'd never expected of this coming from a boy so young, his heart replenished with admiration for his courage from the first moment he saw him. Alistair was amazed at this young boy who'd glided down from the tree to fight alongside a stranger with no self interest of any sort, he was not a blinded fool to neglect the kindling fire in his eyes and  Divinity  flashing through him, the boy is meant to do wonders in the foreseen time. Alistair would love to have a companion with him rather than traveling in solitude, but he has a reputation this boy shouldn’t know.

‘No, this thing is not going to be like fighting the dancing Goblin boy.’ Alistair returned to his grimness.

‘I am aware of that, which is why I asked you.’

‘I cannot protect you while I fight –’

‘yes, it was you who saved me from the Goblin's sprinkled fire.’ Rhineas snapped.

‘You were fortunate enough to not get burned.’ Yelled Alistair.

‘Look, my mother owns a orchid, I can fetch some fruits for our journey.’ Rhineas tried to intercede.

Alistair knew this boy wouldn’t retreat easily, he had to say agree, some or the other way he'd go seeking the adventures. So, better with him than to start off alone.

‘Aye, you can accompany me, but, if it comes to a greater peril I will not hesitate to abandon you and save myself.’ Alistair warned, ‘... And I expect you to get the fruits that you promised.’

‘Affirmatively, I’ll bring the fruits. If I have to fend for myself, don’t I need to learn how to swing a sword?’ Rhineas provoked.

‘Aye, first we need to get you a sword, boy.’ Alistair smiled vaguely behind his scruffy beard. ‘And a horse.’

Rhineas was joyous with delight gushing through him, exhilaration streamed through every vein of his body. But not competent of owning a sword would still be a crucial obstacle imminent in the way.

Alistair mounted the horse. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow in the dawn at foothill of Hetra.’ The clattering of hooves fading slowly as Rhineas watched Alistair riding, disappear behind the thick wall of green moss of forest.

So far, what Rhineas has learnt about Alistair was, he is not as polite, honour has long abandoned him. Rhineas was overcame with the sensations of eagerness for the adventures which were clustered ahead of him. The sword situation will definitely be resolved he was certain, he'd found a teacher, a guidance he looked up to. It's too soon to tell that, he thought; but he would take him as his master and he swore to stay obedient through their journey. He also hoped to go further than this, today what had happened in the forest would’ve never crossed his mind, he was oblivious about the existence of all those beings his mother told him at bed time. He neither knew that the magic is still practiced, and hearing Alistair speak about unicorn's blood had left him with unsettling wave of curiosity. There is more to this world than Rhineas had seen, and he'd see everything of it when the time comes. The howling of wind distorted with the sound of chattering of leaves, announced the spread of the nightfall over the golden twilight sky, like a carpet spreading; unfurling on the palace floor. The birds returning into their nests, and the creatures of night anticipating their freedom after caging themselves through the bright light which is sought to scorch their skin, Rhineas stalled back to his village before it gets black.

Velina was impatient for her son to return home, she knows the God is watching over him but her motherly instincts would not allow her to be at ease and sit in calmly. Nothing's has taken him so long to return home. At the sight of Rhineas in the frame of her hut's window, over her straw bed had set her in relief, as he appeared closer and growing back to his usual size, Velina flung her arms around him desperately. She noticed the burnt portion on his tunic with splintered ends, and a spotted a few black patches on his breeches , she looked at him deliberately and asked, ‘Where have you been, Rhineas?’ Rhineas was terrified his mother had spoken his name, her relived eyes were now agonised.

‘I – in the forest mother.’ He stammered.

‘What were you doing there?’ She glared

‘I sought my destiny, mother.’

Velina's face donned a vaguely incredulous expression, she stared widely at her son, bewildered by his new approach to life everyday. She was finally eased when he promised not to go chasing behind his father who is utterly incognizant of his existence. And now he comes home with burnt clothes saying he's after some different kind of peril would not make her any less frightened for Rhineas.

‘What are you saying my son?’ Velina's voice was fragile.

‘I met my master today mother.’ Rhineas declared

He expected of his mother to say something, but the only response he got was the crackling of fire in the little hearth.

‘Alistair of Bustia, mother.’

‘A northman?’ Velina’s voice was tuned with disapproval.

Rhineas educated her of everything happened today, he mused jubilantly about the sword fight and how he fought a Goblin. Rhineas expressed as much of a fascination as he could to his mother presuming she'd permit for the adventure he willed to seek further.

‘What has gotten into you Rhineas.’ Velina said glumly after listening to her son's story.

‘Mother, I want to become someone, a soldier or a Knight.’ He paused and turned away from his mother staring out of the window at the starry sky darting his gaze on the point where sea united with the sky. Velina sat beside him studying her son’s symmetric face. Velina had never seen such intensity on her son's face, the only she'd seen was juvenility, his innocent translucent face lighting up with chiming laughter. Now, she sees the hardened face, visible jawline behind his pale skin glowing against the moonbeam, the babe face once he'd is gone now she'd realised he is becoming a man now.

‘I’ve always known in my heart, that one day you would do great things. All the wise men and women would tell me about the flame in your eyes, but what I’ve always seen in your eyes was myself when you looked at me with a smile so wide it would look like your face is too little to bear it.’ She sighed.

‘I will always have that smile, mother. Let me go and seek my happiness, please don’t keep me here. I would very much love to stay with you, but when I fulfil my destiny, let me go seeking it, and one day all the people will sing my ballads just as they sang father's I want to serve his kingdom, our kingdom mother.’ Rhineas's eyes kindling the flame that his mother saw for the first time ever. She'd realised now that her son speaks no more the tongue of a babe, he's to be man and she can’t stand between that. She put his face between her palms and said, ‘seek yourself son. You will always be my baby.’

The Hetra wore the solemn golden crown of the first light of dawn, apex of its hill. Rhineas was impatiently avid for Alistair of Bustia to arrive. A hefty sound of frenzy hooves echoed in the air as the horse approached Rhineas galloping mounted by Alistair he looked like a luminous warrior illuminated in the moonlight in his dark armour.

‘The first light of dawn?’ Rhineas mused.

‘Aye, boy way around forest is no easy.’ He said brusquely in his husky voice.

He dismounted his horse and walked with Rhineas holding the rein in his hand while the horse followed them. He walked with pride his chest puffed out and his shoulders wide, the armour frame made him look like a giant, the curls of his long thick hair swayed gently behind his neck.

‘So what are we going to do today?’ Rhineas asked curiously.

‘We might find you a pony first, and then a blade and a armour.’

‘Why would I need a armour?’

‘If a unicorn stabs you with it’s horn then it won’t impale deep in your cheese like flesh, boy.’ He laughed bitterly. Rhineas felt humiliated but he preferred not to voice it.

‘How are we going to get these?’

‘Excellent question boy.’ And that was the sole response he gave till they walked for another mile, and halted near the port of Talle.

‘You see those ships, you would get everything on one of those high born brat's deck.’ Alistair snickered wickedly.

‘Are we going to steal?’ Rhineas grimaced. He no more wondered Why’d he lost his knighthood he reeked of wickedness.

‘Oh, yes right. Is it a dishonour for you to do such an undignified thing. M'lord of Talle.’ He scowled. ‘If you've got silver we don’t need to do it. Have you, boy?’

Rhineas agreed  reluctantly. He saw the harbour stretched widely on the waterfront of the Daleus sea. The ship gently swaying against the surface of waving water, the ship was at the moorage, a pier extending from the end of it's quay to the port from where the ship’s unloaded barriers were further transported to the royal palace with the city guards.

The bowling commands of the harbour masters at their men mingled in the humid air along with the exasperated muttering of the workers. The soldiers and the commanders of the harbour marching up and down the port with carriages in which they transported the goods. It was filled with busy brisk of merchants and travellers and soldiers.

‘Straight ahead boy.’ Alistair instructed. Rhineas followed his gaze, he was looking at a ship with a flag which bore a golden Dragon spitting fire. ‘That ship is leaving to Grehol with the royal soldiers and the merchants to fetch wine and spices. They are loaded with diamonds from Bustia.’

‘How are we going to get inside of it?’ Rhineas wondered.

‘Just follow me on my lead, and do not utter a word.’ Alistair instructed sternly.

He handed the flask to Rhineas asking him to carry it, and walked procession with his hand grasped around the hilt of his long sword which dangled stiffly on the side of his waist in a rich scabbard. Rhineas followed him timidly.

‘We cannot let you through, gentleman.’ One of the two soldiers put a spear blocking Alistair's path.

Alistair gazed at this soldier furiously. ‘You are disdaining a Knight of Bustia young man.’

‘My apologies sir, but we are ordered to not let anyone through the pier.’

‘And I am ordered by the Queen Pysenia herself, to inspect the fleet as a commander of Queen's Bustian regiment.’ Alistair spoke with a certain tone of poise that his lie sounded as honest as truth, his Knighthood still lingers in him.

‘Sir commander, we might want to ask the port ranger's commander Sir Sarylet’ The soldier said in a lower voice.

‘You are disrespectful towards a superior high rank of the royal infantry, you better answer this to the Queen. You are well aware of the diamonds being transported from Bustia, right?’ Alistair's croaky voice sounded like a threat.

‘You may pass sir.’ The soldier hesitantly pulled the spear back.

‘I expect Sir Sarylet on the deck.’

‘I am afraid he is not here yet.’ The soldier answered.

‘Excellent.’ Alistair whispered at Rhineas.

Rhineas saw a deck of the ship for the first time, he noticed a big erected pole amidst the deck with thick ropes bridging it to the other poles tying the mainsail and foresail in its places.

‘No sightseeing boy. Let’s find the arsenal.’ Alistair pointed at a staircase descending into the darkness.

‘What makes you so sure that there would be an arsenal in this ship?’ Rhineas asked dubiously.

‘Diamonds. And it sails with soldiers. Means weapons’ Alistair rushed down the cabin and there stood a Knight against a former Knight gazing at us suspiciously.