Amáne of Teravinea - The Chosen One (The Teravinea Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Good morning, Amáne,” Dorjan said in his booming voice, “you look well rested. I’ve brought you some gifts I’ve been working on for quite some time. I just finished the last a few hours ago. I may just be known as the blacksmith in Dorsal, but I do know more than just horseshoes, wagon wheels and clipping horses’ tails. At one time, my family were cutlers. They made the finest knives, daggers, spears and swords in all of Teravinea. I learned that craft before I became a dragon rider. My skills do not match those of my father, but I haven’t forgotten what he taught me so many lifetimes ago.”

He reached for the pole arms. “I understand you’ve taken a liking to wielding a spear, so I’ve crafted two differing styles. You can choose which feels best to you.”

He lifted one that had a blade that widened toward the bottom and had two arms or lugs that curved up from the base of the blade before attaching to the shaft. Handing it to me, he said, “This partisan is a long thrust-and-cut spear. You’ll find it a very agile and nimble fighting weapon.”

I took it, feeling its weight and its balance. It was light in my hand and had a reach of maybe a little less than six feet.

Gesturing toward the other pole arm, “This one is a glaive. As you can see, it has a longer thinner blade, with a well-defined fore and back edge. It is exceptional for thrusting. And this guard here,” he indicated a small cross bar a little below the base of the blade and before the shaft, “will allow you to parry and control your opponent’s weapon.”

He handed it to me and it felt just as nice, the reach was maybe a bit longer due to the length of the blade. They were both of
beautiful craftsmanship. I raised my eyebrows and looked at Dorjan when I saw Eshshah’s scales were inlaid at the base of the blade.

“You’ve noticed I’ve made good use of Eshshah’s scales, with her permission, of course. You can whisper her name and the scales will ignite for use as a torch. It may come in handy in the dark tunnels under the castle.”

The Healer spoke, “You can test them on the pell a little later to see which you prefer. We need to go through the rest of your gear with you first.”

There were several swords from which to choose, all well-made and sturdy. I had already made my mind up one of the pole arms would be my weapon of choice. But as a back-up, I chose a beautiful, yet simple sword that suited me.

Next, the Healer handed me some new knee-high boots with buttons up the side. Leather cords laced around the buttons. These were not ordinary leather boots, although their appearance had me think so. They were, in part, a gift from Eshshah, as her scales were used to make them. Between the top leather and the lining were her beautiful fire-like scales. In another era they would not have been hidden, but would have shown in their full beauty. However, in these times we could not chance exposure. Their strength is unmatched and they would protect my lower leg and feet from almost anything.

“These are beautiful. Thank you, Healer and Eshshah.”

“There’s more from Eshshah and me,” said the Healer as she pulled back a cloth that covered something on the table. “I wanted you to see its beauty before we cover it up.”

I took in a sharp breath as she held the most beautiful breastplate I had ever seen. Again, it was constructed with Eshshah’s iridescent scales. They were fastened, in an overlaid pattern, to
a leather background. It shone brighter than if it were polished metal. I could see why we needed to cover it up as its brilliance would announce my coming from a long distance. It consisted of a front and back piece that attached at the shoulders. Buckles secured the two pieces at the ribs. I found it surprisingly lightweight and nearly indestructible. The pauldrons for my shoulders would be fastened on separately.

To go with the breastplate were gauntlets, to protect my hands and forearms, again made with Eshshah’s contributions. Similar to my boots, a thin layer of soft leather covered her shimmering scales, and made them look like ordinary elbow-length leather gloves. There is no other known substance as strong and lightweight as dragon scales.

Gallen and the Healer put the breastplate over my head for a tentative fitting. They buckled it at the sides, and were please to find it a perfect fit. It was surprisingly supple and didn’t hinder my movement at all. This piece of my gear was shaped to make me unidentifiable as female, which didn’t prove to be difficult as I was not very well endowed on top anyway — unlike some of my female acquaintances. There was a time or two when that fact was a little embarrassing to me, but now I was thankful for my body style.

Our plan hinged on the fact that I would go in disguised as a male. My hair would be tucked inside my helmet. I learned to move and behave with a masculine bearing. Dorjan and Gallen had taught me to speak with a lower voice so I would sound genuine, like a male my age — not put-on. I’d been working on that part of my training for the last couple of weeks for our original quest. We would proceed with the same plan for the rescue. The Healer started to explain that in the unlikely event something were to happen and I was captured — if it were revealed I was female ...
She shuddered and didn’t finish her sentence. I understood what she meant. She insisted I not drop my disguise until I had met up safely with Eshshah. Dorjan and Gallen had both given me last-minute pointers to improve my performance.

To finish off my protective gear, the Healer handed me a riding helmet. Again, Eshshah’s scales were between the outer leather and the lining. There was enough room to tuck my long hair inside, without any bulk showing. Gallen showed me a small lever near my temple. When I pushed down on it, a pair of connected dragon scales, treated and polished to be completely transparent, lowered over my eyes. They were of perfect clarity and would shield my eyes from the wind and debris when we flew. Pushing up on the lever hid them from sight.

Then Dorjan selected an object from the table. It was spherical in shape, about the size of a small apple, constructed from the scales of at least three different dragons, judging by the three colors. There was a small brass ring at the top with a leather thong threaded through it.

“This,” he said, “is my prize creation. Gallen isn’t the only rider to invent something from our dragon’s scales to use in our cause.” He looked at Gallen in a good-natured taunt. “This is my lightning ball.”

These are scales from Torin, Unule — my dragon — and Salama. Thunder, Wind and Lightning. It’s a one-time-use-only device and will disintegrate into nothing — no evidence remains after its use. I only had the time to make one, so you must choose the occasion wisely. Ideally, you should take full advantage and wield it to incapacitate a group, possibly guards in the guardroom. It won’t kill them, but they’ll wish it did when they wake up hours later. They’ll have a headache that will make their worst hangover
feel like a soothing massage. You need to remove the brass ring and then say or whisper the three dragons’ names as you toss it toward your targets. The noise, the wind and the flash will knock them on their rears — out cold. Remember to put your eye shields down or look away, but the noise and wind will not harm you, only your opponents.

“Wow,” was all I could think to say. I was relieved that this device would not kill. Doubt still remained in my mind that I could actually take a person’s life. I didn’t voice these doubts, however, because it contradicted the adamant instruction these three had been instilling. They pressed into me that in any given altercation I may engage in, the result would find someone resting with their ancestors. The preferred outcome — that it would not be me.

“I have a couple more things on my wagon for Eshshah, if you’ll join me outside.” Dorjan led the way to the courtyard where Eshshah waited.

The items left on his cart were covered in a thick cloth, which he flung back to reveal a double saddle. It was of dark leather with designs similar to the ones on the single seat we used from the Dorsal Outpost — the same style of long distance saddle, only it was for two riders. Two sets of belts, and two sets of boot pegs completed the equipage. The other item was a breastplate for Eshshah. Besides a few of Eshshah’s interspersed in the inlay, Dorjan used scales from many different dragons, judging by the multiple colors of nearly indestructible scales. These were attached to a leather lining to protect her most vulnerable part — her heart.

The Healer had loaded a leather satchel with some other necessities. A helmet and some warm clothing for Ansel, some rope, a water skin and some travel cakes with special grains and nourishment for me as well as for Ansel — not knowing if he been
fed by his captors. She also packed two small vials of a dark liquid in a small pouch to hang on my belt. It was important he drink one of the vials as soon as I found him. It would give him the strength he would need to make it to the other side of the castle where Eshshah would be waiting.

“How do I even know if I’ve found the right man? What does he look like? How is he expected to trust who I am?” In all of our preparations the last few hours I was surprised these questions had just occurred to me.

Expecting him to be in his thirties, forties, or older, being the Healer’s nephew, I was quite surprised when she said he was only seventeen. The Healer gave me a brief description that he was tall, had long dark hair and green eyes. She then took a chain from around her neck that held a man’s ring and placed it over my head.

“He knows this ring, give it to him and tell him his aunt has sent him help. Let me just tell you that he can be a bit headstrong, like someone else I know,” she raised an eyebrow. “So don’t lose this ring, or he may not trust you.”

At the midday meal we went over our plan. With our permission, the Healer was to ride with Eshshah and me to the Dorsal Outpost where she would wait for our return. It would be daylight when we arrived with her nephew and we wouldn’t be able to fly straight into Dorsal. She needed to be at the outpost in case Ansel required medical attention. We were to leave here as soon as it got dark. It should take around three hours to get to Castle Teravinea from the Dorsal Outpost. I had to be in and out of there before daylight, which gave me less than seven hours to find him, convince him I was there to help him, and then navigate the maze of tunnels and passageways to the Castle Outpost where Eshshah would be waiting.

After we ate, I worked on the pell and decided which pole arm I preferred. I liked the glaive — the one with the cross-guard and the longer blade. I practiced with the Healer, Gallen and Dorjan to get in some final pointers from each of them.

The Healer gave me another cup of her relaxing tea and told me I must get a few more hours sleep. Fatigue would not figure in to my already precarious quest.

A couple hours before dark, the Healer woke me with enough time to eat something and then make my final preparations for our trip. I dressed slowly in dark tights and a dark tunic. Pulling on my new boots, I marveled at their comfort. I twisted my hair and pinned it at the top of my head, then headed to the kitchen.

A large leather satchel leaned against the wall, already packed with the Healer’s herbs and concoctions — whatever she felt she would need to treat Ansel, should he need it. There were also provisions in case we stayed at the Dorsal Outpost for longer than expected.

It was quiet at the table. I could hear each of us chewing and swallowing. I’m not sure how I actually got any bites to go down. My mouth was dry and my stomach was ready to refuse anything offered. But the Healer stressed again I had to be at my best. For that I needed the nourishment — so I forced myself to eat.

At last it came time to leave. We went out to the courtyard, and while Dorjan put the breastplate and double saddle on Eshshah, Gallen and the Healer helped me with my gear. They eased my breastplate over my head — Eshshah’s beautiful scales were now completely hidden. As they buckled it, my teeth began to chatter, although it was a warm night. My muscles twitched and I started in uncontrollable spasms. My stomach went into knots.

Gallen took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. “Amáne, you are having pre-quest jitters. It’s completely normal. I was starting to worry about you not showing any emotion for the last couple of hours.”

He placed his hands on the top of my shoulders and exerted downward pressure as he continued to talk. “But, you need to control your nerves. Will yourself to relax. Breathe in, breathe out.” He kept the pressure on my shoulders and, truthfully, I could
feel the calming effects. I started to pay attention to my breathing. Before I could ask for Eshshah’s help, my shaking subsided. Gallen slowly let up his pressure.

Over my breastplate I put another dark tunic that was of a lightweight material but made for warmth on higher flights. I buckled on a thick belt that held both my sword and my dagger in their scabbards. It had several loops in which to attach other objects, such as the lightning ball and the medicine vials for Ansel. I noticed another item hanging from one of the loops on a leather thong. It was a dragon scale, carved into the shape of a key with a flat brass head on the end. Decorated with swirling etchings, the word ‘Aperio’ was inscribed.