Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians (8 page)

His
talons reached out and took hold of her left arm, keeping her steady. “Well?”
he inquired as they continued on.

“I
prayed to the Guardians, casting a spell with my mother’s stones. That night
they came to me and granted me release of my pain, my scars given to me by the
Church. I felt them come to me. They walked upon my flesh. I could feel them
tear away my pain, devouring it, scar by scar.” Her hand took hold of his
outstretched hand, avoiding his deadly talons as if holding a Dragon’s claw was
nothing new. Clutching onto him she pulled herself up the slick slope. It felt
like she was climbing a slide of ice.

His
clawed feet dug in and allowed him purchase far better than she’d been able on
her own. “That’s how I knew they’d accepted me. It was all I needed to know
myself capable of what challenges they would present me with. I know there will
be many, Reign. Despite my age, I am no fool. I have seen my share of pain and
hardship, and it will aid me in what is to come. I know better than anyone,
when you have nothing left but your pain you hold onto it as if it is your very
thread of life.”

Skittering
up through the small hole, they climbed out of the cave and out to the low side
of the mountain. The opposite side of which she’d climbed just the day before.

“I
have no doubt in your convictions, Ary. None at all.” He stepped aside once she
had cleared the small opening to Dia. “You were sent to find me not just by
your Drow friends, but by the Guardians themselves. You were sent to me so that
I would be your advocate. So that I would be your champion.”

“My
champion…” she seemed to walk a line of bewilderment and confusion. She looked
away from the white Dragon, scales gleaming in the rays of the sun, out over
the valley. The valley was vast, golden with grass, untouched by winter’s hand.
It rolled gently in the belly Dia’s mountain range.

Never
had Aryaunna seen such a place. Mystical even. Surrounded by mountains, Dia was
still clearly the largest but it was not what held her eye. Acres away through
the lush field was a stone arch, bridging between two great peaks. It was a
place fortified with magic.

Throughout
the valley the rumble of thunder could be heard. Aryaunna looked up to the
heavens. An automated habit for years of watching the skies and counting the
time between thunder and lightning.

The
sky was bright blue, clear as the air was crisp on her cheeks. Looking back to
the valley she saw the tall grass waver in the wind. The thunder had not
ceased. Sweeping her gaze she saw its source. A heard of wild horses ran
through the valley freely. It was the most incredible sight she’d ever
witnessed. Their hooves, pounding the field, echoed throughout the entire
valley for there were so many of them.

“Your
champion in spirit, but eternally your advocate. I will teach you what I can. I
will guide you however it is that I may. I would have even fought for you… But
I am hindered for my wings, as you have clearly seen, have been taken. Left
with nothing but a shadow of what I once was…” She could hear the pain and
anger in his words.

“A
Dragon would choose freely to serve a mortal?” it was hard to question him, but
she found herself without choice in doing so.

“Loyally,
for as long as I walk this earth,” he spoke with pride and conviction in every
word. “You are not the only one who has suffered at the hand of greed. You are
the Emissary, Aryaunna. That is of no doubt. It will be at the Emissary’s hand
that the enemy falls. As will many more evils of this earth.”

She
absorbed this with a moment of silence as she watched the horses race through
the great field. There must have been a hundred, at least. “You spoke of a
test, a challenge of sorts. We are here for that now, Ary.” With these words
she’d looked upon Reign. “It is not I that will test you.” His head nodded to
the valley where she followed his gaze. “One of these beasts is meant to be
your companion. The test is theirs.”

She
looked back with an arched brow. “Go,” He instructed, as he sat back on his
haunches to wait. Without question she knew he would wait as long as it took.

Andalusian
horses ran through the field of golden grain freely. Aryaunna walked slowly,
careful to keep her movements steady and nonthreatening. They were all
beautiful. Pure white, black, brown, cream, and every shade and brindle mix in
between.

Upon
seeing her, some of the horses, the younger ones mostly, ran away. A few seemed
interested in her presence. Most of them had slowed from their gallop and had
returned to grazing a safe distance from her.

There
was one though that chose to watch her. She was a glorious mare. Her body was
gradient, black hooves faded to grey up the legs until her back was a pure
white. Her rear haunches were brindled strangely, almost making star like
patterns in her fine hair. The mare rippled with muscles as she walked proudly,
her head tall. Keeping some distance between them, the horse walked around
Aryaunna cautiously.

Her
mane was dark grey and silver, hanging just past her elegant neck. The long
hair curled back in a natural twist. Her muzzle was black, mottling into the
white of her forehead. Her soft grey nose huffed at Aryaunna who stepped closer
slowly. She knew. This was her horse. Without question she called out to the
mare with a soothing voice, “Sita. Your name is Sita.”

The
mare’s head bobbed as if to agree with Aryaunna’s statement. The horse had
stopped circling and stood still now, waiting for Aryaunna to approach. One
leisure step at a time brought her closer to the mare. Sita snorted through her
black rimmed nostrils. “Be easy, Sita. I am Aryaunna. I believe we are meant to
be friends,” she spoke softly as she a came to stand before the mare. Another
soft snort.

Aryaunna’s
hand reached out to touch the bridge of her nose. “What do you think, Sita?
Shall we be friends?” The horse’s ear twitched forward as her head bobbed. She
seemed to be in agreement. Aryaunna walked forward, to round herself to the
side of the horse. “How about we go for a ride? Give it a shot, huh?”

Aryaunna
grabbed a strong hold on the mare’s mane at the base of her withers. She was
surprised when the horse kneeled its front legs down accommodatingly. “Thank
you, Sita.” Aryaunna leaned against the mare’s back, sliding her legs around
until she was mounted. Sita rose up steadily and without waiting for direction
she began to walk briskly through the field.

Aryaunna
laughed out for the sheer joy of it. She was riding a wild horse, bareback
through a valley filled with Guardian magic. The impossibility of it was
astounding. It wasn’t long before the brisk walk by hooved legs became the long
strides of an easy gallop.

She’d
ridden bareback before but never rode quickly while doing so. It was
exhilarating if not just a bit frightening. Sita’s legs moved like water,
fluidly running through the grain with long strides. Another horse came in
beside them which encouraged Sita to run faster. This was their play. Aryaunna
leaned forward against the horse’s neck. Her hands wove into Sita’s mane with
steady grips. Together they raced a young stallion and before long two other
mares had joined them.

They
rode together until they all grew winded. Sita returned to an easy trot through
the tall grass plane. “Well, Sita, what do you say? Shall we be friends? Would
you choose to stay with me?” Aryaunna rubbed soothingly against the horse’s
back. The horse was warm from their brisk run.

For
answer, Sita continued her easy trot, rounding the valley towards the base of
Dia. Sita seemed to have no qualms being so close to a Dragon, which astonished
Aryaunna in truth. She continued up the shallow slope of the base of the
mountain to where Reign had sat for the past couple of hours watching. The sun
was falling lower in the sky. In a few hours it would be full dark.

“You’ve
chosen well, my friend. She’ll be good to you, as I trust you will do right by
her.” Reign nodded to the two.

“Of
course I will,” Aryaunna started.

“I
wasn’t talking to you, Ary.” Reign’s scaled lips curled up in a grin that would
frighten many she thought. “I have known Sita for as many seasons as she’s
seen. She is spirited, but loyal. You will be a good match.”

Aryaunna
dismounted slowly, cautious as she dropped her feet to the rocky surface. The
odd trio took their time walking around the base of the mountain. Though Sita
and Reign were agile creatures, they knew well enough not to underestimate
Dia’s dangers. Reign and Aryaunna talked of what training she would need, and
when she would come back to see Reign as they stood at the base of the
mountain, nearest to the Dark Wood.

“It
feels as if I’ve only just found you. There is so much left I wish we could
talk about. So much left you have to teach me. I find it strangely difficult to
leave,” she confessed to Reign.

“You
have much to tend to. The Drow will be your teachers in ways that I cannot. I
shall be here whenever you need me. Together we will progress your power.” Her
brow arched as she looked away from him towards the woodland that awaited her.
“You have no reason to fear the woods. The Dark Wood will not be of consequence
again for you.”

“Why,
because I’ve proven myself?” she asked doubtfully.

“Because
you defeated it. It will recognize you now. And with your magic, it can even be
brought to your aid if you beckon. I don’t suppose your Drow friends ever told
you that no human had ever survived the Dark Wood before?” Reign looked smug,
if a Dragon could ever be said to show such an expression.

“No.
I don’t recall them telling me that much.” Shaking her head in grim amusement
she looked at the wood. Its sight before had been daunting. It was true that
she felt no such emotion as she looked upon it now.

“Good.
That was wise of them. Doubt is a crippling disease, don’t you agree?”

“Indeed.”

“Your
Sita will see you through the wood quickly. Your journey will take no time at
all.” She looked at him, disbelieving. “The wild horses of Dia are creatures of
magic… just the same as you and I are.”

“Then
I am truly lucky to have her, as lucky as I am to have a friend like you at my
side.” Aryaunna smiled kindly, truly happy to say she had them both. She knew
how to be grateful in life for all good things, especially when such few good
things had crossed her path before. “I suppose it is too selfish to ask you to
return with me?”

“My
place right now is here. But when you need me… I will hear your call. However,
when you are under the light of the moon, we will have the greatest
connection,” he said this with significance. The Emissary was tightly bound to
the Guardians of course, but to a living breathing Dragon she would be truly
connected-and Reign was indeed the last of his kind.

Grabbing
Sita’s mane, and bracing her other hand against the mare’s back, Aryaunna
mounted her swiftly. “Until we meet again, Ary.” Reign bowed his head to her as
the horse snorted and gave a soft whinny of eagerness.

Soothingly,
Aryaunna rubbed Sita’s strong neck. A soft, nearly sad smile was returned to
Reign as she bowed her head to him, pressing her boots gently against the
mare’s side. Sita needed no more encouragement, taking off at an easy gallop
without hesitation into the Dark Wood.

As
Reign had promised Aryaunna had no trouble within the forest. She heard no
voices, and felt no daunting fear. Sita would only slow for terrain that was
difficult to maneuver in the snow covered wood.

It
seemed like only a couple of hours had passed before Sita was clearing through
the trees into the Hollow. Steam rose from the mare’s nostrils as she slowed to
a light trot. Aryaunna never would’ve imagined she’d be so easy to ride. Sita
seemed to sense the direction Aryaunna wished of her, and needed barely a tug
on her mane to guide her.

They
slowed to a walk as they made way through the earthen streets. “Aryaunna!” a
voice called from behind. A light pull of the horse’s mane turned her around.
Lena was walking closer. Anxious eyes of many Drow watched Aryaunna closely. It
was a strange sensation. Sita could feel it, too, and had grown more tense for
it.

“Lena,”
Aryaunna greeted as she leaned forward, rubbing the mare’s neck soothingly.
“Easy, Sita. We’re safe here, my friend.” Leaning her weight to her left,
Aryaunna dismounted slowly, easing her right leg over as she did so.

Keeping
a hand on Sita’s shoulder, Aryaunna turned to Lena. “How is Elizabeth? Has she
woken?”

Lena
stepped closer to Sita, gently raising a hand to the soft spot on the horse’s
muzzle. “Magnificent,” Lena breathed, running a hand up to the bangs of Sita’s
mane. Sita gave a soft snort in form of acknowledgment, as if to say she knew
that she was. Disregarding Aryaunna’s question she called to a young boy.

He
was only a child to Aryaunna’s eyes, but that meant little for his actual age. Though
the boy appeared to be maybe nine, he could easily be in his fifties. Aryaunna
hadn’t the slightest idea.

His
skin was dark grey, his hair fairer but just. Though the Drow were a naturally
slim people, this boy had a childish roundness to his face. “Veyn, see this
horse is well cared for. Ask Dyxin for scraps from the kitchen. She is in need
of a good meal.”

The
boy nodded but refused to look at Lena or Aryaunna. His tender hands held under
the horse’s chin and guided her away. Sita followed easily enough, though
snorted in his hair, nudging the boy’s head as they walked. He laughed in play
and tickled her chin back. Though concerned for Elizabeth, it was impossible
not to smile at the two.

“Come
with me, Aryaunna,” Lena called for her attention. The beautiful warrior Drow,
dressed in simple yet beautiful white tunic and closely fit trousers covered
from the knee down from fine black boots, had turned away and was walking back
to the small hut that belonged to Mayla. There were small buildings and shelters
throughout, but Aryaunna had little more chance than to glance their way. She
followed Lena, trying to keep her eyes open to all that was around her as they
walked the short way.

It
felt ominous that Lena had not responded to her questions about Elizabeth.
Aryaunna grew tense. For lack of anything constructive to do with her hands,
she held them against her belt. One gripped her knife, the other hung on the
strap around her shoulders holding the empty bota.

Lena
opened the door to Mayla’s and stood aside for Aryaunna to enter. Korena was
inside standing by a shelf that stretched high above her reach. A basket hung
on her arm as she reached on her toes for a bottle. Aryaunna came up behind
her, stretched and pointed. “That one! Yes!” Korena exclaimed as Aryaunna
handed it down to the girl. “Can you get the green one, too? The one above it.”
Obligingly she got it down and laughed at the girl’s heavy sigh of relief.
“Thank you.” She tucked both bottles into her basket and went on about her
business gathering the other things she needed.

Aryaunna
wanted to ask about Elizabeth, but before she could, the door to the staircase
opened and Elizabeth stepped through. Relief washed over her, nearly causing
her to collapse to the floor. “Ary!” Elizabeth called happily, forgetting her
task she ran to her sister. The two grabbed hold of one another in a tight
embrace. “Thank the stars you’re back.”

“How
are you? Are you well? Is your ankle better?” Aryaunna drilled her with
questions as she pulled back to look over her sister nervously. She seemed to
be walking much better at least.

“Of
course I am. With great thanks to you I am told.” Lovingly, her hand held to
Aryaunna’s cheek. “It’s so good to see you back safely. When Allos told me where
you had gone it took all the strength within me to keep from going after you.”
They hugged again. To be apart had been painful for them both.

Few
times had seen them separated in life for more than a few hours for chores. The
times that had been longer had been such horrific events that it had been
ingrained in both women to keep the other close. “I’m very well,” Aryaunna
assured. “You won’t believe what all has happened. I met a Dragon,” she
whispered excitedly. “His name is Reign. He’s more incredible than we ever
could have imagined. I have a horse now, too! Her name is Sita. She’s so very
beautiful, you must come see her.” When Aryaunna was happy she became very
enthusiastic. It was amazing she could even find time for a breath between
words. It was a rare glimpse of her youth.