Chapter 11
For three hours, we walked in silence.
My feet were sore, my calves were aching, my thighs were stiff, and the light pack started to feel like rocks, weighing me down. I didn’t stop. I wasn’t going to whine, or complain. Karson can punish me as much as he wants. I would prove to him one way or another that there was no lie. I spied Karson ahead of me, his lean form hadn’t slowed, he showed no sign of tiring, or noticed my discomfort. I reached for my water skin in the midst of walking; stumbling a little on my footing, though managing to stay upright was a surprise. What did become double the surprise, was Karson. He stopped. Allowing me to drink my water before walking on. He didn’t make eye contact, and I was surprised he paid any attention to me at all. My shoulders ached from the pack I carried, the straps dug in and I shoved the water skin inside, I retrieved a bread roll. My anger from this morning was melting away. Not completely and Karson wasn’t helping either. Something about his cold silence made this trip less adventurous than I had hoped. The idea of spending my holiday with Karson had stirred interesting thoughts. You add a camping trip, and that was definitely something to consider as fascinating. Not now.
Now I was angry. He didn’t even try to find the girl, talk about the possibility and if he even cared. He thought I was a liar, gone nutters as they say in Plumridge. Focusing on La’Kera wasn’t helping either.
She was angered. Blade’Dur was giving her the same cold silence, the same retreated actions. Okay, so she attacked his Bond; wasn’t as if she was going to harm him. Neither of them saw it that way. La’Kera rested with reading their auras. The colours were clouded, high levels of greens, yellows and reds mixed their moods. What it all meant was a mystery and I was none the wiser. I just knew from Evelyn saying colours always tell the mood, which is why she iced the cakes differently. I wish I had paid more attention to her when I lived in Plumridge. She’d know what the hues meant, the best me and La’Kera could make out, was that, they were discussing something, something important; and neither of us were to know what it was.
I bit into the bread roll, ready to walk on when Karson stepped to the side.
“You can rest.” His tone was soft, the first words in three hours, and his voice was raspy.
I nodded, and took up a seat on a log, as Karson perched on the other end. Resting his bow and quill set beside him, he retrieved his water skin. With a deep breath, and a few mouthfuls of water, he relaxed. I chewed my roll in silence while Karson mused himself with his food and the trail we were taking. Neither of us spoke, glancing at the other to turn away just as quickly. The strange ritual continued for a length, when he finally hushed another breath.
“I owe you an apology.”
I shrugged, was that it? He owes me an apology.
He dipped his head forward. The strands of his black hair shadowed his face and with a swipe of his broad hands, he pushed them from his eyes. His bronze skin held a sheen of sweat from the walk, and the high musky leather scent of his fragrance lingered on the light breeze. He rested his elbows on his knees as he gripped the water skin, tighter. Like a lumberjack on a lunch break.
“Here’s the deal,” he spoke, clearing his throat a little to turn his green eyes on me. “I don’t know what you saw was real, I know, as to does Blade’Dur, we could not detect another being in the area. Whether it was your mind playing tricks on you and La’Kera, or your need to for my attention, I am sorry I didn’t believe you, and that perhaps there was a girl, just hidden as you said.” He waited a heartbeat longer and added. “I just don’t want you to lie to me.”
“I don’t lie. I hate lies,” I hissed, irritated and ready to rise.
He pressed his lips together. “Then, I believe you saw the girl in the castel.”
I rolled my eyes, wiped my hands on my leggings, and took a long swig on my water skin.
“You should go easy on your water.”
“Yeah, sure,” I said airily.
He opened his mouth, closed it, and turned away. “We’ll head further east, we’ll make camp near a clearing this afternoon.”
“As you wish.” I took in the brush of the low foliage and high trees, and the direction he stated. A group of fairy-wren chirped and swooped in low, chattering mildly to each other. The brush was the same as it had been in the grounds of Draeos. Only here, it was more forest. Untamed, unrestrained and wild, since there were no clipped hedges, no paths, but the one he was taking. And it was nothing but a trail the horses would have taken. Why we didn’t have horses was annoying. Least my feet wouldn’t be sore.
“Can I ask you something?” His tone was serious.
“You want to ask me something?”
“Actually, it’s La’Kera I wish to ask.”
“So ask her.”
La’Kera snorted, annoyed with Blade’Dur who rumbled towards her; she turned her snout away, not wanting his attention.
“I see …” I rolled my eyes. Still angry, but curious. What would he need to ask her about?
“She said that she would know the truth when she sees it. What did she mean?”
“Oh … you know. All dragons see truth.”
“We can hear the truth … not see the truth.” He pointed out. “Lies can be read easily enough, some lies sound truthful, but La’Kera claimed she could see when one was being untrustworthy. How?”
“The … colours … she sees the colours.”
“Colours?” He sounded confused. “What colours?”
“The one’s around you … everyone. Auras as she calls them.”
“She sees auras?” shocked showed as he cradled his thumb to his chin. “How long has she done this?”
“Er … couple of months. Why. Is it wrong?”
“No.” He turned with an amused gaze. “It’s not wrong. It’s just … dragons can’t read aura’s. Least not the other signs.”
“You mean this is … a Dy’Monian power?” My anger vanished, and was replaced with surprise.
“That I do believe it is. She didn’t tell anyone of this, any other dragon?”
“No. We … just thought it was normal. And maybe that they could read something about our colours and that was why everyone hated us.”
“Hated? No one hates you Rehema. Why would you think that?”
“Please, you judged me instantly last night. You’re no different to the other Ryders. They’re all the same.”
“When I apologise, it’s with heart and truth.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve met plenty of Ryders who have lied to me in the last six months. You will only take it back.”
“Take it back? Are you insane?”
“You clearly are thinking it.”
“I can see you’re angry, you have lost trust in me. I wish not to do that to you.”
“Please. You just wanted to discover why La’Kera is … special. That was all this was. You were just saying what you wanted to get what you needed.” I rolled my eyes, ready to leave. Inching my feet to rise. As the heat flushed my cheeks with the anger, I wasn’t sure where to go. I stuffed my water skin in my bag, tied off the strings and slung it over my shoulder. “Everyone gets what they want, but me.”
“Fine.” He stood, swiftly, marched off to the side, and scooped up a branch. Flicked it through the air, and then tossed it at my feet. “Come on. Time for a combat lesson.”
“What. No.”
“Yes. You’re angry and you need to do something with it. Hitting me is the only way for you to get it off your chest. Come on. Here … now.” He scooped another branch up, thicker and longer. He slashed and sliced through the air with ease. “Ready. Now strike.” He attacked.
I wasn’t ready, sitting with my pack on my shoulder. I reached to the branch, and he was attacking. Dropping my pack, I rolled. Gaining my balance and he was on my right.
“Zahh!” I rolled, and he hit out. “Huhhh!” Striking me, I tried to get to my feet.
“You’re not focused. You’re slacking in your attack. You should have blocked that.??
?
“I’m not ready. And I don’t want to do this right now.”
“Now? If a delgori were here, you would have no choice. You need to do this. Angry, upset, annoyed, panicked. In the end, you need to know when and where you are. Otherwise, you will fall.” He lunged, twisted, struck my shoulder to turn and twist and hit my left.
I winced and buckled under his attacks.
“Damn it, Rehema. Why are you slumbering? You want La’Kera to bite me? Do you need your Bond to protect you every single time? Are you just as weak as a common girl?”
“You will not speak ill of me. You don’t know me.”
“Then show me what you’re capable of. Don’t think I know you’re holding back. You were one step ahead of me this morning. Now, you’re slipping. Because I ordered you here? Because I told you to forget the girl? Or because your Bond attacked me, that you think it fair she take me on each time it becomes too much for you.”
He has a point, said La’Kera, and instantly retreated her thoughts from my mind.
“I’m not weak!”
I lunged, hitting hard and fast on his shoulder to spin and strike on his shin. I missed and went for a high hit. Making contact with his jaw and neck, slamming his left shoulder before he sprung to action, blocking my blows.
“I’m not weak.” I repeated.
“Then what are you? Angry?”
“Yes.”
“What else. What is bothering you the most?”
“Lies. Your lies. Your bullshit. You’re mean to me. Like everyone else since I put this glove on. You’re all mean to me. No one cares, no one understands. No one!”
“We do care. It is why I am here. To aid you, to train you.”
I blocked his attack and lunged, with force, determination, and power of my voice taking off on me.
“You’re not training me. You’re beating me, insisting I walk for hours without rest. You’re mean to me because you’re older, because you wanted to be a Ryder and I didn’t. Because I have a Dy’Monian dragon as my bonded. That’s why you’re all mean to me.”
I spun hard, fast and came down on his arm three times in one strike. Lethal and painful.
“Gahh!” He screamed.
I was shocked. I actually hit him. Hard.
Stepping back, the branch slipped from my fingers, hitting the leaves with a stiff crunch. I had no memory of the tears falling down my cheek, until Karson rose, cautiously. Staring at me, his features softened.
“I wish no harm to you. I wish to help you. And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. But I can see you have been mistreated by someone recently. Is this to do with the boy, Bronson Creet?”
“Everyone knows his name,” I snapped, venom dripped from the words. “And everyone listens to him. You believe him too. Don’t you.” I clenched my fist, ready to attack.
“No. I see a young girl, fighting to come to terms with her destiny. Why do you hate being a Ryder?”
“I-I … I don’t.” My sob caught in my throat. My body went numb. Hate being a Ryder? I didn’t hate it, I just … didn’t understand why now. Why not three years ago, four, hell! Six years ago would have been nice.
“I hate that I’m so far behind everyone. I hate that … everyone wants me to be something special. I’m just me. And they all hate me. I can’t do anything right. I hate I can’t be that Ryder for her, that I’m letting her down, that I’m failing her and everyone believes the lies … and everyone wants us to do something amazing, and we’re just … here. And I hate that I don’t know anything about anyone and everyone wants me to be something.” I burst into a loud sob. Unable to hide it. I turned; ready to leave. I couldn’t stay here, not now. He was … watching me. Seeing me fall apart.
I made three steps and he was in front of me. Damn it. Him and his powers of speed. I tried to sidestep him. He caught me at the shoulders.
“I’m here because I want to. You’re a Dy’Monian yes. We do not hate you, we envy you. You have the last Bond of Dy’Monian, the one kin of the lost herd and the forgotten power. But together, we will find the answers for you and La’Kera. You haven’t let her down. She would not have aided you so boldly if she did not have faith in you.”
“B-But … y-you said she was protecting me because I’m weak.”
“I needed you to fight with voice. I needed to break through your walls. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. You’re far from weak. La’Kera knows this. You’re not alone. I know it can be scary, I know it’s hard. We have all been where you are. To be around so much expectation and led into the path of unknown … it’s not hard to get lost, to lose your way and to be led by the wrong crowd.” He squeezed my shoulders. “You’re only six months in. You have already shown great potential in your mêlée, you’re hard working, committed, and eager for information. It just takes time to master all that is needed. Don’t expect yourself to do more than you can. This way you won’t disappoint anyone, but yourself.”
“But … I’m already letting myself down. And La’Kera. I know she chose me for good reasons, I just … I feel like I should be more for her.”
That is not true … you are all I will need. Her thoughts hummed through me, distracting me. Hanging my head as Karson steadied me.
“You need to let yourself breathe. Just breathe. You will find your way. I am here to help you, not make things worse.”
I laughed, a sarcasm rose inside of me. Moments ago, he was insulting me. Wanting to fight him, to attack him; and now he was pleading a peace, a truce. I closed my eyes, the tears slowly eased. I forced myself to stand taller.
“That’s it Rehema, just breathe.”
I hadn’t realised I was relaxing, breathing slow, gentle breaths, lulling myself into a meditation.
“Think of La’Kera, think of yourself and her as one. Keep yourself centred, and you will always know your heart. Together, you are one.”
Taking in his sea green eye, the endless hues, and shades had me double blink at his position; so close, reachable, handsome, and kissable. I stumbled from his grip, startling him.
“I’m good …” I lied. He knew it, but didn’t hold me to it.
He stood taller, running his hand through his hair. He released a jagged breath, and glanced around the area we had sparred, spying our packs by the log we had stopped at. I heaved a deeper breath, stilling my thoughts, my racing emotions, and discussing things with La’Kera.
I’m so sorry girl, I mean no harm to you … you know how much I care about you.
As I care for you, we are one as Karson said. We are centred. And together we will find the answers to my kin and what became of them. But know truth, I chose you as my link because we are one. Alone, we are sheltered; together we are blessed. Do not question my selection of you. For our Bond is made, there is no return. I find it saddens me at times, that you think I placed you in a situation you deem painful, for that I am sorry.
No. You did not. My dangorian life deems my pain La’Kera. Not you. It is never your fault; remember that. My pain is because of Walt, because of what I am, a dangorian.
You are a Ryder now, she sounded hopeful. And you are my Bond. The call from above had me look up, she was there, wanting to land, but the brush was too thick, too dense.
“There is a clearing about an hour’s walk from here,” Karson nodded to the path. “We will continue ahead, where you and La’Kera can have some time.” He walked towards his bag, a little rattled maybe, though not completely.
“Why don’t you or the other Ryders wish to spend time with your Bonds as I and La’Kera do?”
My question had Karson pause mid reach of his bag, shuffling the bow over his shoulder; he inclined his head, before talking. “In the beginning, Bonds are new, the link makes you two yearn for one another. Later on, you will find a distance, comfortable distance without needing to constantly touch each other. It is with all Bonds that the link stays and yet, becomes the same.”
“So. You’re saying me and La’Kera will not want to be with each ot
her. That we will … wish not to be linked.”
“No. It is, simple. You and La’Kera are two different parts. She, a dragon. You, a person. She will seek dragon ways; you will seek dangorian ways. Your link will be unlimited, and you will be able to know each other pure and true without the need to constantly touch.”
“You just said the same thing.”
“It’s harder to explain. The truth is, no, I don’t need to touch and be with Blade’Dur as much as you and La’Kera do. Our link is eighty five years strong. We are and will always be, as one. Nothing can wedge that or match it. Touching one another will not make it stronger, it enhances it, and flying on him will always be welcomed, but he is a dragon and I a dangorian.”
“Hu …” I sighed, relaxing my thoughts, my worries. “So … if me and La’Kera see each other all the time, we will become bored, or something.”
“No. Even to this day, Blade’Dur is still amused with my thoughts, as I am his.” Karson started on the path. “Come on. We’ll talk more on the way.”
“You still want to do this?”
“This?” He pressed his lips together.
“Camping?”
“Yes. I still wish to take you camping. I know this morning I was harsh to you, and as I said before, I am sorry for that. But I wish for you and I to connect better, alone; and in the wilderness is the better option. The grounds hold too much pain for you, and at present, too much expectation.”
“Hmm … guess, the academy is too big for just us.”
“It will fill with Royals soon enough.”
“Tobias said that before. So the Royals do arrive here for the Kl’Ors festive?”
Karson held an odd look, one I couldn’t place. With another sigh, he marched on, leading me east. “Yes. They arrive in a week’s time. You may meet a few, but I wish to educate you. Not show you off. This way, we can focus on your studies, discuss all that is needed, out here, and if it is the entire two months, by then we would definitely have bonded.”
“Hmmm … so, will La’Kera and I become sightless friends?”
He laughed at my comment. He was light, amused, and calm. Not hostile, angry or even annoyed, nothing like the Karson before; and my outburst was clearly forgotten, or as I hoped, never mentioned again.
“No. You will always be in sight of one another. You will be more aware of each other, visually and emotionally.”
It was a short walk to the field. To see La’Kera, we soothed our connection with rubs, and from her, playful nips. It was rewarding as always to be with her. She was my one true hope of a better life, and even as we mended our thoughts from this morning, we knew as we always did; we were one. A short time later and it was on to the camping area he had planned, talking about fauna, plants, soils, even the saps of trees as we walked. I was slowly relaxing, trying my hardest to focus on what he was saying about nature and what it’s all cracked up to be, and not his charming good looks.
“Feel the freedom out here, in the wild. Take in all that surrounds you and hone what you can do with it. As a Ryder, you will go many places, see many things, and most times, it will be in the wilderness. You may not see a town for days, weeks even and you must use what nature has to offer.”
It was a time of silence, and finally, I was able to rest at the chosen camping area we would spend the night. Starting in on the fire was his first priority, and I was surprised. It was hot, sticky with sweat and adding a fire wasn’t going to ease it. Small insects were already starting to bite, which had me rubbing the insect lotion on as I sat on the log. Gathering the twigs for the fire, he smirked, summoned a ball of flame, the size of my head. And before I could say, wow. The campfire was made. Both of us heaved a simultaneous breath of comfort. So much had happened, so much had changed, and still, so much was the same.
“Why does using the elemental in lore-form, drain us or our Bonds, but not standard spells.”
Karson smiled. “Because the four elements of standards are always around us, a lore spell is usually used for attack. What did you think I used.”
“Um … elemental.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Um … it was large. And I think it had a rune in it?”
“You think? You can’t tell the difference between lore, elemental, or standard?”
“Well, you turn an elemental into a standard, so it becomes one and the same. Right.”
“Sort of. Here.” He summoned a ball of flame, allowed it to bob in his hand, and then summoned a second ball. “Which is which?”
I had to lean forwards, taking in both balls a little surprised I hadn’t notice this before. Now that they were beside each other, it was obvious. The lore … acted as an orb, twirling inside itself was the rune. The standard stayed as flame; though a ball of mânã … it was just flame. No rune inside, no twining dusty glow of red and yellow tinting into orange. Truth was, elemental power was far more beautiful, and maybe that was why Walt said it’s always dazzling until someone gets hurt. I had failed his question. He had used a standard, not an elemental. “But you said all spells needed an element.”
“Fire is an element. You don’t need the rune to conjure it. Here … what about this one.” He closed his palms, stuffing the fire out and bringing forth another ball of mânã. My first guess it was an elemental of lore and earth was the power. I was wrong. Okay, so earth was there, it was fire and earth combined inside, making a completely different rune, one I had not seen or taken knowledge of. It became an orb of lore, making it from sand and fire, dusting and dancing, twirling in the ball of constant spinning lore.
“If I blend two lores, I get a combination spell similar to an elemental, yes. They are now free from Blade’Dur, and mine to will. As a Ryder, you will learn to direct and take what is needed. Unlike healing magic, or deeper magic of the mind or body, the four elements are always around us. To will.” As he spoke, the orb became something I wasn’t expecting, a shard of glass, spinning so fast it was a clear orb. “This cost more mânã, but more from the mind than from your Bond.”
“What if you enchanted an object with as much of that power as possible? Wouldn’t it be here all the time … at your will?”
“Yes and no.” He held the glass orb up, adding water for seconds at most to toss it towards me. Cool and now a solid shape, I smirked at his creation. A clear orb, nothing inside and yet, hollow. “The object becomes the way of magic, much like a wizard or witch’s power works. To make a ring of healing, it would heal only when worn. You couldn’t redirect the magic from the ring, because it is already drawn; made to do what is asked, willed. If you made a ring of glass or even wood. It would be just that. A ring.” He dipped his head to the orb I held, “Or in this case, a glass orb. You can’t take it back once it is made.”
Creasing my brow in thought as I stared at the glass orb, Karson rested on the log opposite me. His elbows pressed to his knees, and like earlier today, I thought him a lumberjack on break. The glow of the fire was warm, welcoming, even if it was summer. The afternoon sun had set beyond the tree line and hour ago; the last rays of light were lazily tracing the sky and clouds above. La’Kera was in the den, resting with Sky’Ros.
“Did you want to do a hunt?” Karson’s voice brought me from my thoughts.
Part of me was a little unsure when I gazed into his eyes. Today’s fight was because of my anger and pain from Bronson. I was exhausted, wanting to have a shower, to crawl under my blanket and allow the night to take my worries away. But I was hungry.
I exhaled. “Sure. What are we hunting anyway?”
“Bit’rab.”