The Cruel Prince's Wrath

Chapter 23

Iefyr’s wide astonished eyes were fixed to the deep red eyes of the dragons, it stood bold and beautiful before them but did not appear to be making any move to attack though they were all braced for it. For a while nobody said a word, they were all too shocked and terrified that a real dragon had landed before them. It flexed its wings like a bird sometimes does if they had not folded quite correctly behind them. The dragon slowly moved towards them; eyes still fixed to Iefyr and when it got closer the dragon bowed its head.

“Brother… it is pledging to you,” Velkin said and then suddenly Iefyr heard a voice in his mind.

I am bonded to you; I felt your birth and have only recently found you. Something was blocking our meeting for many years. You have a difficult path ahead of you and I wish to help in any way I can. Us dragons do not usually meddle in the affairs of your kind, but a lot is at stake.

Her voice was beautiful in his mind and as he looked at her, he realised she was most certainly a female reptilian dragon, she had a certain grace about her, and her snout was quite slender. She was magnificent and under the stars he could see that her orange and red scales glistened. She was large but not as large as he had imagined a real dragon to be. He soon realised Tolanda was holding onto his arm as though trying to pull him away protectively and he realised she had even pulled the small dagger he had given her what seemed like so long ago now.

“It is alright, she is a friend,” Iefyr smiled down to her, “what were you going to do with that against a dragon?” he asked referencing the small blade she held.

“I… have no idea but it is the only weapon I had and… I suppose I wanted to protect you,” she muttered but then laughed realising how silly.

“A dragon… has pledged to you, brother, did she commune with you?” Velkin asked.

“Yes, she is indeed our friend and ally,” Ieyfr explained. I must not linger here; humans get nervous at sight of my kind. She said and Iefyr felt the need to approach her, getting closer, he touched the side of her neck and she allowed it, so he gently stroked her scales. Touching a real reptilian dragon sent a thrill through his entire body, he could feel power rising inside of him and then suddenly a glow emanated from his hand and the point of the dragon’s body that he had touched. It felt like a transference of power. With that connection we are now joined. She said in his mind.

“What is at stake?” Iefyr asked going back to her previous words. Everything. She said and then she stretched her wings indicating Iefyr move back and so he did then she took into the air once more.

“Brother… you have a dragon. We have a real dragon on our side, you are chosen, how is it that you and Ievos are both so blessed by the ancestors and you are only half dragon?” Velkin said.

“That was truly amazing,” Iefyr remarked, “oh I wish the rest of you could have heard her beautiful voice!” he gasped. “She said she bonded to me after I was born but she could never locate me until recently. I imagine that has something to do with the magic Cauladra put around Laseron’Dir,” he said.

“You… and she… are bonded?” Tolanda asked.

“It is not the same as you and Iefyr’s bonding Tolanda. It is by the soul, but the meaning is vastly different. It is more like… a pact, an oath to one another as allies. Someone like Inar would describe it better than I. Dragons are powerful, but their powers can still be limited. They are mystical creatures even we do not fully understand and our people being a dragon race are linked to them. We share a kinship of sorts, but it has been many years since a dragon sought out and pledged to one of us. It… fills me with dread. This usually only happens when… things are about to get very dire, but she said she bonded to you from your birth?”

“Yes,” Iefyr confirmed. “What does it mean for a dragon to pledge itself to a man?”

“She has linked to you… it means that she will come when she is needed but she will not come at every sign of danger. She will know when she is most needed, and you will see her. At least that is how the stories go, like I said it is only the heroes in our ancient stories who had dragons pledge to them, I am not entirely sure what we can expect from her, perhaps that is another story from Inar once we return.” Velkin finished.

“That… was a real… dragon…” Tolan muttered feeling light-headed and then he decided to lower himself back down to his bedroll. Liv realised her mouth was still agape and she finally blinked her drying eyes.

“Amazing! Truly amazing!” she gasped and then went to Tolan to check he was alright.

“What a beautiful and… magnificently terrifying creature!” Tolan muttered. “And she is on our side?” he asked just to confirm what he had heard was correct.

“Yes, she is my dragon by all accounts,” Iefyr said.

“You make it sound as though she is a pet, brother, you have much to learn,” Velkin replied with a slight smile curling at the side of his lips.

“I can hardly believe what just happened,” Tolanda said as they all began to bed down once more and try settling for sleep. “That was wonderful!” she gasped looking around to Iefyr as he bedded beside her.

“It really was, and her scales were just… I felt like I was touching some beautiful crystal and the colours were wonderful reds, oranges, yellows, like a brilliant flame!” he remarked, and they all listened since he had seen the creature close up.

“Dragons eyes really are beautiful, yours are and the eyes of the reptilian ones… all so beautiful,” Tolanda said.

“Iefyr has a mixture of beautiful dragon and beautiful elven eyes for elves tend to have wonderful bright eyes, too.” Liv said.

“Oh yes, you have a liking for elven men, right Liv?” Iefyr asked teasing her.

“Not… specifically,” she said looking a little uncomfortable.

“Well, if that’s the case why any interest in me?” Tolan asked and she slapped him playfully on the arm.

“You know why, I have told you before you just like hearing it over and over,” she teased, and he grinned boyishly at her. Tolanda settled down in Iefyr’s arms once again feeling content and happy in listening to the sounds of people she loved as they conversed softly or teased one another, and she soon drifted into a peaceful sleep with Iefyr’s arms wrapped around her making her feel safer than she had ever felt before.