By Julie Heydorn
Chapter One
What am I doing here? Ember thought to himself as he looked about the hall full of swirling, happy dancers. He had given up dancing years ago, after his injury, so why was he at a village dance? Was he really that bored? Apparently anthropological observations of one of the few groups still untouched by dragons was not his cup of tea. He would not be tricked by Professor Illsley so easily again. “Fascinating insights from a dragonless culture” indeed. He should stick with what he knew he loved. He should spend his time finding a bonder for the Aerid instead of sitting here taking notes on ethnic dance. He glanced around the room, only to have his gaze rest on a young woman who seemed at least as bored as he was. Well, perhaps bored was not the right word. She seemed, abstracted. Lost in thought. Not the usual appearance of a young woman at a lively dance. She was blond like most of the Marsi, but of a color so light it was almost white. Large distracted eyes under dark lashes appeared to be green, but she was too far away to be certain. Ember caught himself thinking she was by far the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Since when did he care about that? As a scholar, indeed the youngest scholar to ever attain professorship at the university, he was too busy to be chasing after girls like other young men his age. He refocused his gaze to her attire, which was one of the more interesting aspects of this culture. The Marsi told much about themselves through their traditional dress. Lets see, Three rows of shoulder panels, that meant she was fairly wealthy. Knee length skirt indicated a young but fully grown adult. The lack of a triangular embroidered panel on her bodice meant she was unmarried, and the embroidered strips on her skirt indicated her clan. Dragon scales dangling from her hair and shoulder panels were used as a ward against danger in this society. Interesting, but only mildly. As he took in these details he could not help but notice as several men approached the girl for a dance, only to be abruptly refused. They left in varying degrees of disappointment and embarrassment, and the girl continued her pondering.
Ember suddenly found himself on his feet and walking with his mild limp towards her. He was going to ask her to dance. Why not? There was nothing else to do, and since he also wished to be somewhere else, perhaps she would actually agree to dance with him. Reaching her bench, he cleared his throat. “I hesitate to venture where so many have failed, but would you do me the honor?” he said, amazed to find himself blushing slightly. She stared at him for a moment, then said, with a slightly puzzled look “Are you asking me to dance?” “Um, yes” he replied, almost as amazed as she seemed to be. There was another pause, where her sparkling eyes, which he could now see were definitely green, seemed to stare right through him. Then she nodded and said “Yes, I will ‘do you the honor.’”She repeated his words dubiously, as if unsure of whether they were proper or not. He smiled, as much at her response as at his own happiness at her acceptance. What had come over him? He didn’t even know her! As they moved into place and began to dance, the girl seemed to slip away once more into thought. After several moments of silence he finally broke it, saying “Pardon me, but you seem unusually abstracted this evening. Is something amiss?” “Abstracted?” she questioned back, and he clarified “withdrawn, preoccupied,” and at her confused look he added “thoughtful.” “Oh,” She responded. “Yes, I am afraid I have quite a problem before me tonight.” “Well, it is clearly not trouble finding a partner, as you seem to have your pick of anyone here!” He remarked. She blushed slightly at this, and after sending a quick, enquiring glance into his face said “Actually, in a way you are right. I am forced to choose a husband by the end of the night, or have one chosen for me” she said with a grimace. Ember startled. He had not thought such things happened outside of history books these days. “Picked for you! Ah, I see. And is it so hard for you to choose on your own?” “Yes.” She said succinctly. “Ah. And why is that? There seem to be many handsome young men here to choose from.” She looked searchingly around the room, as if needing to confirm his observation, before replying with some doubt. “Yes, I suppose. But actually I don’t care about that” “Oh, then what exactly do want in a husband?” He asked curiously. “Books” She replied, and Ember startled again. She looked up at him and then down at his leg in response, obviously concerned about his limp, and he shamelessly used the opportunity. “I find I tire slightly. Shall we sit for a moment?” She nodded, and he moved them to an empty bench. “Books?” He asked once they were seated. picking up on her brevity. “Well, I want to learn to read, and then to read lots and lots, and I don’t think any of the--the options, own anything besides an almanac.” “Perhaps if they knew your interest in them they would acquire some.” He suggested. She laughed at that, and apparently considered that enough of a response. Ember sat silently for a moment, rubbing his leg abstractedly, first in thought and then, as his thoughts reached a conclusion, in an embarrassment he hadn’t felt in years. “Well then, would you possibly consider marrying me?” he asked.
She stared up at him, amazed. “I don’t even know who you are!” She said, cutting to the central problem. “Oh, my name is Ember, well, Dashel actually, Dashel Thorpember. The 3rd.” he added meekly. “Ember Dashel Thorpember the 3rd?” She asked. He shook his head, smiling again. He hadn’t smiled at anyone so much in years.“My friends just call me Ember, for obvious reasons.” He responded, glancing up at his glowing red hair. “And who are you, Mr.---Ember?” she asked. “Well, it’s technically Sir, or Professor, but I am a scholar and a--collector. From Inning.” “Oh. A collector? And what do you collect?” She asked suspiciously. “Dragons. Rare ones to be exact. I am currently endeavouring to discover and preserve ancient breeds before they are lost forever.” She stared back and him, suspicion and curiosity warring for dominance in her eyes. “Actually, you might be able to help me tremendously if you were to accept my offer.” Suspicion won. “How? Are you going to feed me to one of them?” she asked accusingly “Feed you to them?” Caught up in considering how anyone could have such nicely curled lashes, it took him a moment to return to the thread of conversation. “Oh, you mean like in the old tales.”He replied when it finally clicked what she was referring to. “Of course not! I believe they prefer lamb anyway, although some of the larger breeds go more for cattle, so I doubt they would take you even if I tried... Which I wouldn’t!” He added hastily, realizing that he was not exactly strengthening his position talking like that. She snorted softly, then seemed to grow thoughtful. “If I went with you, you would teach me to read?” “On my honor” he said, and as her eyes narrowed, no doubt considering that she had no notion what his honor was, he added. “It would be my pleasure.” “And you’d let me read all I want after you teach me?” “My entire library, which I believe has spread from its original place to encompass two additional rooms, would be yours to enjoy” he replied. She shook her head slowly, the motion setting the dragon scales in her hair on fire with reflected light. Dragon scales. Even as he admired the effect of the light reflecting of of them and her eyes his mind took off. Scales. The villagers were covered in them, yet for some reason no dragons would fly to this valley high in the mountains. And the scale shape was unique. There had to have been a breed here at some point. He would have to make a further study...He snapped out of his thoughts hurriedly as he realized that the girl was speaking to him “Sir? Sir Ember?” “My apologies, I am afraid I got slightly distracted by your scales and their implications regarding the existence of dragons in this valley at some point in its history”. “You were thinking about dragons?” She asked in surprise, and Ember realized he had probably offended her. Who thinks about dragons while proposing to a girl?” “Ah, yes, I am afraid so.” She looked at him, appraisingly. “Well, in that case, I guess I will, what was it that you said? ‘Do you the honor’?” Shocked that she had actually accepted, Ember’s mind whirled even as he found himself bowing slightly, smiling, and forming the words “Thank you.”
“We should tell my uncle immediately, or he’s likely to promise me to that fool Raldor” she said, and Ember obediently stood and followed her to the head of the room. He startled once again as they drew to a stop in front of the Chief of the clans. Ember had talked to him briefly on arriving at Marsin in order to gain his permission to visit for a while, but he had no idea that this girl was his niece. “Uncle, I have made my choice.” she said abruptly, and Ember noticed a sudden silence drop on all within hearing distance. What exactly had he gotten himself into anyway? No wonder all the young men were asking her to dance. She was the Chief’s niece and tonight was the night of her betrothal! Well, he’d certainly have some firsthand experience with Marsi customs to report to professor Illsley anyway. He caught back on to the thread of conversation around him. “--always knew you would choose young Raldor” the Chief was saying. “Actually, my choice is Sir Dashel Thorpember the 3rd” She said, squaring her shoulders as she interrupted the chief’s congratulations. “What!” he barked out, and Ember was suddenly grateful for years of intense university term examinations that had left him with a backbone of steel. “You!” He shouted at Ember. Ember just bowed, unsure of the procedure in such a situation. “We will have to have the ceremony now, as Sir Dashel is leaving first thing tomorrow morning.” She said, and Ember startled for what felt like the hundredth time that night. “Now?” The chief shouted, and Ember began to see where the girl got her brevity. He realized suddenly that he didn’t even know her name. What a mess! “Yes. Everyone is already here for the dance, we might as well make it a wedding.” she said. The chief stared silently, eyes bulging, and Ember prepared himself for an explosion, but it never came. Suddenly the chief deflated with a loud laugh. “Well I wanted to get you off my hands in a hurry, and it looks like you took me at my word. Steward! Bring the scepter, we’re having a wedding!”
So it was the Sir Dashel Thorpember the 3rd, Scholar and Dragon collector, found himself not only totally infatuated with a girl, but hearing her name for the first time as he knelt across from her at the feet of the clan chief in their marriage ceremony. “As chief of the Marsi clans and of the Aniul clan I now bind my niece Aniul Aislin to Sir Dashel Thorpember the 3rd, till the White Dragon flies again.” With that he lowered the scepter he had been holding aloft and pounded the floor with it three times, and the assembled guests broke into a confused but happy cheer. He suddenly realized he had no idea what to do next. Was he supposed to kiss her? Or was that taboo in this culture? Ember kicked himself for not spending more time studying that anthropological tome Illesly had given him before his trip. But before he could decide what to do they were surrounded and Aislin was being carried away by a swarm of happy revelers, and with some regret Ember realized that decided the matter, for now anyway.
Chapter Two
Ember smiled as they accomplished the final descent from the Marsi valley. Tawn would be nearby, and they could get rid of their horses and travel efficiently at last. When he had finally escaped the revelry for his room the night before he had almost instantly collapsed into a deep sleep, and awoken to find Aislin already awake and waiting to depart. Two horses had been provided for their trip to Inning, and both carried several bundles of what he took to be Aislin’s things. After a hurried breakfast and farewell that left Ember with a strong impression that Aislin was only too happy to leave, they headed out. So far their trip had been accomplished in near silence, as the narrow trail down required enough distance between them that it prevented easy conversation. As they at last drew to a halt at the opening to the lowlands, Ember dismounted and smiled up at Aislin. “I hadn’t thought about returning the horses, I suppose they know their way back?” “Returning them?” she said with a blank look. “Of course. We can travel the rest of the way on Tawn, it will be much faster, not to mention comfortable.” “Tawn?” “Yes, she’s the only Travelore dragon I keep. As I said I prefer the rarer breeds, but there is no denying that the Travelore’s are the best for long distance flying and transport, which explains their overwhelming popularity. If it weren’t for their aversion to these mountains you’d have seen me fly in on her, in fact there would probably be Travelores all over Marsin, they have taken over everywhere else.” Ember ended with some disgust, as the popularity of this breed was the main reason for the decline of the other breeds he collected. “You want us to fly on a dragon?” she asked, and Ember glanced up at her fearful tone. “Ah, yes. That is what I had planned.” “Oh.” she responded. At his questioning gaze she continued “I didn’t have time last night to tell you that I--that I don’t know that I share your love for, dragons.” She said hesitantly.
“You don’t like dragons?” Ember asked, stunned. “In Marsin dragons are generally feared!” she replied, somewhat defensively. A small voice in Ember’s mind began to whisper “Marry in haste, repent at leisure” but he silenced it. It was too late for regrets now. “Ah, just to clarify, when I mentioned that I was a dragon collector, that did not persuade you that I would perhaps not be the ideal husband, despite my large collection of books?” “I... I guess I thought that I would not have to see much of them.” she said, and laughed softly to hide her obvious embarrassment. “Ah, I see. Well, I am afraid that might be difficult, as Thorpember Hall, where I reside, is a bit over run with them at the moment.” He fell into silence, musing on how to resolve what appeared to be their first marital conflict. “I’m sorry,” Aislan said, “ I should have told you, but I was so desperate to get away that, that--” Ember looked up at this, surprised to have his observations confirmed. “That I just hoped it would work out”. She finished, meeting his gaze with a defensive look. Ember realized he had not spent much time considering Aislin’s reasons for accepting him. His own infatuation and inkling that he had perhaps at last found a bonder for the Aerid had been enough for him to propose the union. But he knew that she was unlikely to reciprocate the infatuation, for although they were fairly close in age, a skinny red haired scholar with a limp was, in his experience, not most women’s first choice. And although she seemed to have a strong desire to read, that was hardly a strong enough motive to leave everything she knew for marriage with a stranger. There must have been other reasons to accept his offer. Reasons powerful enough to override her fear. Ember pondered that last thought. Reasons powerful enough to override her fear. Perhaps he could come up with some more.
“My apologies. I am afraid in our rather unique arrangement we must expect a few, misunderstandings, to arise. I believe they are common even in marriages where the parties have been acquainted some time. As we are relative strangers, we will have to expect them and find ways to work around them. Perhaps to begin you could explain to me what it is you dislike about dragons.” He said, smiling at her. She looked at him, as if at a loss where to begin, then said “They are large, fearsome, ugly beasts that breath fire and eat people. They also smell bad, are sneaky thieves, hoard treasure and--” She broke off as Ember broke uncontrollably into laughter. “You don’t really believe that?” He said, still laughing, then stopped as she stiffened and glared at him. “Ah, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to doubt you, it is just your description sounds like something from the fantasy section of the library. Have you really never seen a dragon in real life?” “No.” She replied shortly. Ember, amazed, stared at her in silence for a moment. “Well then. I see. Perhaps the best solution would be for me to call Tawn here and let you see her--from a substantial distance of course!” He added as he saw her eyes widen in fright. “I promise I won’t let her hurt you, and I really believe that if you could just see her you would understand much more easily than if I tried to explain.” She sat for a moment, then nodded. “Alright” she said. Ember remounted his horse. “I am going to ride to that tree there, and send this horse back to you. As soon as he reaches you I will call Tawn. You can observe her all you like from this distance, and if you feel comfortable coming closer that is fine. If not, just wave at me and I will come back.” She nodded, and Ember set off at a quick pace for the tree.
Arriving, he dismounted and sent the horse back. When it reached Aislin he removed his pack and pulled out his dragon call. With a few quick breaths he played the short tune he had trained Tawn to respond to. Several minutes passed, and Ember was just beginning to wonder if Tawn had given up on him, when he saw a blue flash on the horizon. The flash rapidly grew into a streaking bolt of pale blue wings and scales, and in a few minutes Tawn had landed beside him with a whoosh of air that nearly knocked him over. “Calm down! Calm down girl!” he laughed as Tawn frisked around him in circles, her speed and elegant lines giving lie to her size, Her birdlike snout began nipping happily at his hair and shoulders and anything else she could find in the joy of seeing him again. Ember was surprised to find he was just as happy to see her. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed dragons during his stay with the Marsi clans. “What mischief have you been up to?” He asked as he pulled a ripe fruit he had stashed at breakfast from his bag and let Tawn nibble happily at it from his hand. It was gone in seconds, and the excited Tawn snatched his pack off his back and began tossing it about in a search for more fruit. Chasing after her, Ember suddenly remembered Aislin. She had probably thought he was being attacked when Tawn had nipped at him. He turned hurriedly to try and reassure her, and found that she was sitting on her horse only a few yards away.
“See, I told you you’d like her!” He shouted, moving towards her. “I thought she was going to eat you!” She shouted back, not moving any closer. Ember paused. “You came because you thought she was eating me?” He shouted back in confusion. How was it that she was afraid to fly on a dragon with him that he swore was safe, but she was willing to ride towards one at full gallop if she thought it was eating him? What was it Illesly had said about women? Something about irrationality, but Ember had just written it off as the mumblings of a confirmed bachelor. Perhaps he should not have disregarded it so quickly. “I couldn’t go back to the clans and say my husband had been eaten by a dragon, now could I?” She said angrily. Ember almost shouted back “Why not?” but changed his mind. This was not the best setting for deep questions. “How do you feel about Tawn now?” He asked instead. “She’s not, ugly, at least” She shouted back. Ember smiled. Although he hated to admit it, given his anti-Travelore breeding views, he found Tawn one of the most beautiful dragons he had ever seen. “She doesn’t eat humans, either!” He shouted. “I’ll let you watch for a while longer, then if you would like you can try feeding her her favorite food. It’s fruit!” He returned to the waiting Tawn, and proceeded to give her a good rub down and confirming that she was in good condition for flight. He then began assembling the gear that he had packed up when he let her loose to explore while he visited Marsin.
He had nearly finished when he looked up to see Aislin standing just a few feet away. He stood up hurriedly and smiled at her. “Your ride is almost ready, my dear!” he said happily, and was rewarded with a brief attempt at a smile. Tawn, who was in a near coma of bliss from her rub down, had only stirred slightly to glance at Aislin’s approach before dropping her head and resuming her purring. “Here” Ember said, drawing Aislin around to Tawn’s head. He felt her increasing tenseness as they approached but ignored it and said, “I saved a pear for you, they are her favorite. Just hold it like so, and put your hand out. I’ll stay right here by you.” he assured her, and after a brief moment where he thought she was going to turn and run, she slowly raised her hand. Placing the pear in it, he directed her to kneel in front of the drowsy dragon, then raise her hand. Tawn’s eyes flickered open at the scent of the pear, and soon she was nibbling daintily away at the fruit. Aislin had gone rigid at the first touch of her beak, but she hadn’t backed away, and kneeling next to her Ember could tell she was relaxing slightly. “Are you doing alright?” He asked her, glancing at her white face and compressed lips. She nodded slightly, then said “You were right, she is not, what I had imagined.” “I’ve yet to see a dragon like you imagined, and I’ve seen quite a few!” he said, smiling at her. “How do you feel about flying back?” She took a moment to respond, then said “I think I can.” “Great, then lets fly!” Ember said with a grin.
Lift off had gone rather smoothly, all things considered. Ember had finished strapping on the supplies while Aislin sent the horses back up to Marsin with a note explaining their return. After giving her some basic instructions and reassurances, they had climbed on Tawn, who soared almost effortlessly upward, despite the heavier than normal load. That fact set Ember to musing about a new theory he had that Travelores actually generated an energy field that gave them buoyancy in the air. It would explain their unmatched abilities at distance flying, and tie in with some other curious findings he had been recording in his observation of other breeds. It was while he was immersed in how best to conduct further research on these lines that he was interrupted by a question from Aislin, who had elected to ride behind him where she could grab onto him more easily if needed. “You were very good at that, do you do it a lot?” she asked abruptly. “Oh, ah, to what exactly do you refer?” “Showing me how to fly, I guess.” “Oh, ah, yes actually, I teach a beginning flight course at the university as an extracurricular for interested students.” “I thought you sounded a bit professor-ish during it.” “Ah, I’m afraid I slip into professor mode quite easily these days. You’ll have to tell me if I bore you.” “What else do you teach?” she asked. “Oh, I mostly teach dragon related courses, as you might have guessed. Dragon anatomy, dragon breeding and care, a historical analysis of dragons and their impact on society, things like that. I also teach some generals like mathematics, and this next term I hope to teach a course on rare dragon breeds, if the board will approve it.” “What is ‘the board’?” “Ah, well, I guess I am, technically. There are also currently two other professors, Illesly and Meechen. There are a few other honorary members, donors and such, but we three are responsible for most of the duties of running the university.” “Aren’t you a bit, young for that?” she asked curiously. “Well, yes, actually. I believe I am on record as the youngest in several categories at the university. But as I indicated earlier, it turns out that election to the board is somewhat arbitrary, mine came not because of intellectual achievement per se, but for--other accomplishments.” “What other accomplishments?” sShe asked. Ember sighed. “I was hoping to avoid the subject, since you are so cautious about dragons, but I suppose you’ll hear about it one way or another so I might as well give you the accurate version.”
“A few years back the king decided to acquire an especially large Travelore to serve as the royal ‘carriage’ if you will. Well, seeing as they viewed it as a carriage, they also treated it as one, and a combination of isolation (which is fatal for Travelores, they have to live in a pack) and lack of proper exercise eventually drove the poor beast to its breaking point. It escaped from its barn and began circling the castle searching for the king, who had brilliantly decided to bond with it, even though he hardly ever flew it himself. So of course the dragon went after him, and rather than following the obvious solution of having the king calm the creature, they hid him behind as many walls and guards as they could and sent the entire castle into full siege mode. Luckily one of the generals had a smattering of intelligence, and sent a messenger to the university for help. Since my interest in dragons was already well known (I was actually teaching a few classes at that point, although I hadn’t graduated officially yet), I was the one sent. Well, the poor dragon was half crazed by the time I got there, and since they utterly refused to produce the king, I had no option except to sedate the creature. It was a bit tricky since you have to insert the sedative between the scales in order for it to take effect, but thanks to Tawn here I managed to land on the beast and insert the sedative without too much injury to anyone involved. Tawn here came out without a scratch despite having to fly right up to the beast, which was nearly twice her size!” “And you? What happened to you?” “Ah. Well, I came out with a slight limp. But that was not the worst of it. The king decided that I had done him a signal service, and so he had me knighted!” “What’s wrong with that?” “Well, despite wasting a ton of time in a ridiculous ceremony, it had repercussions at the university. I was already slated to be a full professor there, but since I was now a knight they had to appoint me to the Knight’s chair, a sort of set apart professorship you can only get if you are a knight. Anyway, this chair automatically gets a place on the university board. So there you have it. I now spend all my valuable research time in administrative meetings listening to Illesly an Meechen argue endlessly about minor trivialities.” “What does the chair look like?” she asked, and Ember laughed. “There isn’t actually a chair. There is a sword and shield, but they’re really just a decoration, I don’t think you can even remove them from their holder, which is in my office somewhere I think. But that is more than enough about me. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” “No.” she said shortly, but he thought she hesitated slightly. “Ah. Well then, I know you mentioned your desire to read as motivation for accepting my offer, but subsequent statements have made me realize that there may have been more too it than that. Would you mind explaining exactly what led you to accept marriage with a total stranger over one of your own people?”
Aislin sighed. “You will probably just laugh” she said. “I promise I won’t laugh, or at least that if I do it won’t be at you, just at the events you relate, assuming they are even laughable. If that makes sense…” he broke off as she let out a brief snort of laughter herself. “Well then, it all begins with my hair. And my eyes. I suppose you have noticed their color?” Ember most definitely had, but she didn’t give him a chance to say so. “Well, that should explain the problem right there, but I guess you might not know Marsi legend. Green and white gold are the colors of the White Dragon, the most fearsome beast that ever flew the Marsi skies. Legend is that it could torch an entire village with one breath and then consume the villagers and their livestock in a single gulp. It had a large hoard that it would build by stealing from people, and sometimes it would take people prisoners and keep them in its lair. It especially liked young girls with green eyes and white gold hair.” she added bitterly. Ember, who had been trying to keep a straight face through this, heard the bitterness and grew more serious. “Well, when I was born, the wise woman who comes to bless each new child took one look at me and uttered a shriek of despair. When they could get her to speak she prophesied that I would bring about the return of the White Dragon. Well, that was that. I think they probably would have thrown me out right then, except she said that to do so would bring even worse luck. So I was spared, but that didn’t stop the clans from fearing me. Luckily my uncle doesn’t really believe the old legends, so when he took over as chief things got a little better. People began to forget the prophecy, at least enough that my life became more normal.”
“However, when it was time for me to marry not even my wealth was enough to make people forget. Uncle had finally decided to get married himself, but Eileen, his intended, refused as long as I lived with him, so he was very anxious for me to find a husband. I told him all the reasons why I couldn’t marry, and his solution was to declare that whoever married me would be the next clan chief, failing him having a son. Since his intention to marry was quite secret at the time, it was a very good reason to want to marry me. Suddenly I was swarmed with--” “Hold on, hold on, are you telling me that I am next in line now to be chief of the Marsi clans?” “What? Oh. I hadn’t thought about that. I suppose so. I guess I just assumed it wouldn’t be an issue, since Uncle has probably already married Eileen, although maybe not. She’ll probably spend six months just getting a dress ready. But I’m sure there will be plenty of heirs to the position shortly. That’s probably why he didn’t argue more when I chose you. He never intended my husband to take over.” “Yes, well, in the off chance he has seven daughters and no sons, or falls off a cliff in the next few days, it is good to know!” “Well now you do! Why else do you think everyone alive enough to stand up was asking me to dance that night?” she said impatiently. “I assumed they also thought you were the prettiest girl there.” Ember said pointedly. “Oh.” was her only response. There was a bit of an awkward silence, but then she resumed. “That’s very nice of you, but it’s not true.” “We can argue that later, but for now I am to understand that you accepted me because I was the only man you believed wasn’t proposing to you so they could be chief?” “Yes, when you said that you hadn’t heard me because you were thinking about dragons I was about to refuse you, but I realized then that you really didn’t even know what that dance was about. Also, I do really want to learn to read. I wasn’t lying when I told you that.” “Ah. I see. Well then, that seems to explain things. I must say that I hope most devoutly that your uncle does not fall off a cliff anytime soon. And if you are not too tired when we arrive, I would be happy to give you your first reading lesson as soon as we can get to the library.”
Chapter Three
“Thorpember! I was beginning to think you had gotten lost! I have been most anxious for that report on the Marsi you know! I must persuade you to clarify a few points for me with that fool Meechen. Anyone that pseudo-scholar’s age has probably forgotten half the facts they ever knew anyway!” Since Meechen happened to be several years Illesly’s junior, this statement brought a small grin to Ember’s face as he bowed respectfully to the older man. “And you couldn’t find the answer in this brick?” he asked, returning the volume Illesly had lent him on Marsin to the professor’s overflowing shelves. “Of course not! Didn’t you even look at it? Meechen wrote it, you fool!” Ember blushed. “Ah. That might make it difficult. Well, perhaps I can atone for not examining your loan by inviting you to tea with my wife. She might be better able to silence Meechen anyway.” “Your WHAT?” Illesly exploded, erupting from the chair where he had been sitting at his desk. Strong shafts of light coming through the nearby windows allowed Ember to note the clouds of dust that this motion produced, and he wondered if Illesly had moved at all during the time he had been gone. “My wife.” he repeated. “Although technically she is more of a business partner at the moment. However, I spent most of last night studying the university library’s entire section on courtship--a mere three volumes, you will be disappointed to know--and I hope to in time to improve the situation.” “I am disappointed in you.” Illesly said, dropping back into his chair and producing another cloud. “Oh come now. It’s not that bad. She’s a Marsi, think of all the things you can ask her! Can you believe she had never seen a dragon before Tawn?” “You could have brought anyone back for questioning, they didn’t have to be your wife!” Illesly muttered. Ember grinned. “Well, I couldn’t have brought her back, and she was the only one I wanted. Anyway, I originally thought she might at last be the bonder for the Aerid, and I wanted her to try.” “Originally?” Illesly questioned despondently. “Yes, for various reasons I no longer think it would be wise to ask her to do so. I will have to keep looking.” Illesly eyed him suspiciously through his glasses. “It’s beginning already I see. Well. I suppose I shall have to accept your offer and come meet this--this--” he caught Ember’s eye and ended with a harrumph as Ember guided him out of his office.
On arriving at Thorpember Hall they found Aislin seated on a couch in the main library, which Ember had temporarily purged of dragons until she found herself more comfortable with them. She was pouring over a book of letters that Ember had left her with, carefully copying them out onto a slate. She arose when she saw them enter, and bowed politely to Professor Illesly. “Sir Ember tells me you have a great interest in the Marsi.” she said as they moved towards a small table where Ember had requested tea to be delivered. Illesly just grunted. Ember had warned Aislin about his views on women, but he was worried still that she might take offense. She seemed perfectly at ease though, and by the time their tea had arrived she was launched deep into a discussion about Marsi grain preservation techniques, which apparently was the point that Meechen and Illesly had disagreed on. Ember shook his head and turned to his own thoughts. It hadn’t taken him long after his conversation with Aislin on the flight home to realize that he would not be able to ask her to bond with the Aerid for some time, if ever. How do you ask someone whose whole life has been overshadowed by the prophecy of a dragon beast to bond with what was most likely the biggest dragon species in existence? And the egg was white and green. More bad luck. Ember sighed. He would have to keep waiting. Maybe Aislin would grow comfortable enough with dragons to forget the silly prophecy. Maybe he would find another woman beautiful enough to bond with the egg, but he doubted it. What was it John Aerid’s journal had said? “The natives believe no woman alive is lovely enough to awaken the egg.” or something. Ember thought he had proved them wrong when he found Aislin, but now perhaps he would never know. He glanced at the sunlight filtering through the window and realized with a shock that it was getting late. “Illesly, we must be going. I didn’t realize the time. I am supposed to be teaching anatomy any minute now.” Illesly grumbled slightly, torn between his obvious desire to continue grilling Aislin and his refusal to admit that he liked talking with her. But with a promise to bring her to the university soon and let them continue their discussion there, they were off.
It was several weeks after this that Ember found Aislin one evening in the library. She was quite a proficient reader now, and he had a hard time luring her away from books for other activities. She was slowly becoming more comfortable with the dragons though, and Ember was hoping to be able to reintroduce them to the house soon, as he missed having them around. “Pardon me for interrupting, but do you mind if I join you for a minute?” he asked as he approached her. “Of course not!” she said, setting down her book. “Thank you. Are you sure you have enough light in here? You should have someone bring in more lamps.” “I’m fine, although I don’t know how you managed before I had these brought in. Did you never come in here at night?” “Oh. Ah. I used to use lamps, but then when I discovered Baldwik’s energy fields I installed him in the library instead.” “Baldwik? Isn’t he one of the dragons?” she asked. “Yes” he said, happy that she remembered. She was making progress! “I’m not sure if I mentioned to you my theories on dragon energy fields before? Well, I believe that each species produces an energy field with unique properties. The Travelores of course produce buoyancy, or lift, contributing to their impressive flying abilities. Other breeds seem to encourage plant growth. Baldwik is a Lumin, or at least that is what I call them. They are an extremely rare breed I discovered while on a research trip to the Southern Mountains. They are able to produce light from rocks, a fascinating ability that seems to allow them to live in caves underground while maintaining their ability to see in regular daylight as well. Anyway, when I brought him home I placed rocks in here and set up a lair for him in that far room. He loves it there, and produces perfect lighting with very little fire hazard to the books, since his breed doesn’t breath fire, at least as far as I have been able to discover.” “Oh. I see. I, well, I am growing used to your dragons, so if, if you are sure they are safe inside, I see no reason Baldwik couldn’t have his lair back.” Ember grinned happily. “I’m sure they wouldn’t hurt you. Especially not after all the treats you sneak them when we go visit together.” Aislin flushed guiltily. “I have to do something to get them to like me!” she said. Ember just smiled, and then added, “Completely unnecessary, but much appreciated, by them anyway. I am glad you are growing more comfortable here, as I actually came to tell you that I will need to leave you for a few days. I just received word that a breed I have been hunting has been sighted, and if it doesn’t inconvenience you I would like to go see if I can see it for myself.” “Of course, you must go. I don’t expect you to always be here taking care of me! I, I feel like I haven’t really said thank you for everything, teaching me to read, upsetting your whole house and schedule for me. I really haven’t done anything to deserve it. Wasn’t there something you wanted me to help you with? I’d love to do something to repay you for everything.” “Oh. Ah, no trouble at all, really. I told you it would be my pleasure, and it has been! It’s true that I originally thought of having you assist me with a project, but I have since reconsidered. Perhaps later, but for now I think it would be best for you to focus on your reading and getting comfortable here. Please help yourself to anything you need while I am gone, and the servants know to help you with anything you require. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” She seemed about to speak, then shook her head “No thank you, I am sure I will be fine.” Ember nodded, and fell silent. He had come into the library thinking that perhaps tonight he would finally have the courage to try and kiss her. They had gone hiking earlier that day to see the nesting grounds he had established in the nearby hills, and when he had taken her hand to help her over a boulder in their way, she hadn’t pulled it out. They had hiked for some time that way, and she had been very open and friendly at dinner, so much so that he thought perhaps she might perhaps be starting to return his affection. But something he had said in their conversation just now seemed to have bothered her. She had withdrawn inside herself again, curling up into a ball on the couch, suddenly more interested in her book than conversation. Ember, knight and dragon tamer extraordinaire, found he didn’t have the courage to force the issue. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” right? Perhaps when he got back would be more appropriate. “Well, I will be off early tomorrow, so I should probably retire. If you do need anything that goes beyond the staff here, Illesly would be more than happy to assist, despite what he may say.” he said. She laughed a little at that, and deciding he would have to be satisfied with that, Ember left her to resume her reading.
Chapter Four
Aislin was good at controlling, and hiding, her feelings. Growing up as The Cursed, she had quickly learned not to expect love or to show it. It was not that people had ever really mistreated her, they were too afraid to, but they hadn’t liked her, either. It had been hard, but she had survived, and now at last she had the escape she had longed for. A double escape really. Ever since a travelling scholar had visited years earlier and gathered the clan children around and read them stories, Aislin had dreamed of learning to read. In the stories contained in books she could actually forget her own problems. It was magical. And Ember had given her that escape, in addition to helping her actually leave the clans. That must be why she liked him so much. He was so kind, not to mention being the first person to really be happy to see her. And he had a very nice smile… But she couldn’t be in love with him! He was very good looking, but his height and bright red hair were so different from the Marsi men she had known that he was not really what she expected she would like. And he loved dragons! She hated dragons! Or she always had. She was growing used to them, but she didn’t think she would ever love them like he did.
But the main problem really was that she couldn’t afford to fall in love with a man who probably only married her out of pity. He really was that nice. Always very considerate, even when his head was lost in the clouds of thought that seemed to follow him around. And although dragons dominated most of his conversation, she was always discovering new things about him, and he was so easy to talk to, since despite being extremely intelligent, he wasn’t proud. Only the other day she had caught him playing hide and seek with some newly hatched dragons! Well, there was no getting around it. She liked him a lot, and although he seemed to like her initially, she must have done something to disappoint him. He was still friendly enough, but he didn’t seem interested in anything more, and he had for some reason decided she would not be able to help him like he had hoped. What had she done?
She was pondering this lowering thought as she finished her daily walk and as she returned to the hall she was surprised to see a small Travelore in the landing area at the back of the house, and a even smaller woman preparing to enter through the nearby back door. “Good morning, is there something I can help you with?” she said suspiciously, even as she realized with a start that the woman standing before her was the very one who had visited the clans all those years before with her books. “Ah, you must be Thorpember’s wife. Aislin isn’t it? I’m Augusta Meechen, one of your husband’s colleagues at the university. No doubt you’ve heard of me?” she said. “Oh, yes, Ember has mentioned you several times. I did not realize though--” “That I’m a woman? I always wondered how Thorpember describes me. I’m technically his stepmother you know, although he was practically grown and out of the house when I married his father. As Thorpember Senior died suddenly a few months after our marriage, we never grew to be much like family. You probably wonder at me using the back door like this, but I lived here for several months before his death, so I forget sometimes that I need to use the front door again. Please excuse me, and if you don’t mind letting me in, I would be most appreciative as I have come to reclaim some property I lent young Thorpember that I need back desperately. I apologize for not coming to visit you sooner. Thorpember invited me to tea when you first arrived, but things have been so hectic lately, two of my graduate students are out of commission, which nearly doubles my class load, not to mention all the research work they were supposed to be doing! Silly fools got themselves imprisoned in Lellef, and it is taking all the diplomacy I can muster to get them released. Well, well, I am here now so you must tell me all about yourself. I heard that you were a Marsi, I visited your people years and years ago now, I must have you clarify some minor points I forgot to record in the research I conducted there. I was the first to establish diplomatic relations between the king and your clan chief you know!”
Having let professor Meechen in during this lecture, Aislin quickly found herself the one being led through the winding passages towards the library while she tried to keep up with the stream of conversation. No wonder Illesly didn’t get along with her, she spoke even more than he did! But at last they arrived at the library, and Meechen slowed slightly to look around. “I see you have been busy, this room looks much nicer. I told Thorpember at my last visit that he needed a better housekeeper.” “Perhaps that explains why he proposed.” Aislin said, attempting to be humorous, but failing to hide the gloom in her voice. “Nonsense. I never saw a young man so twitterpated in my life. I don’t think he’s listened to a single remark at our board meetings since you arrived. Did you know I caught him reading a book on courtship during one of them? I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen him myself! If he wasn’t in love with you the moment he saw you then he was shortly after, and that I can promise you. It is you I have wondered about! Since when does a young man need books on courtship after he is married?” By this point they had reached the farthest end of the library and Meechen paused her brisk pace to reach up and nudge a small green volume on one of the shelves. Aislin startled slightly as at the touch an entire wall of shelves swung slowly open, revealing a small room. “I, I didn’t know this was here! Anyway, I thought our marriage was more of a, a mutually beneficial arrangement, I didn’t think he really wanted to marry me.” Meechen just harrumphed at this. Searching through a stack of books on a small table seemed to have cut off her flow of words, at least for the moment. “I mean, he hasn’t even tried to kiss me!” Aislin said, still not convinced. “Have you asked him to?” Meechen asked, pausing and looking up at her. “Of course not!” Aislin said, shocked. “Well there you are then. He may be a twitterpated book thieving young scamp, but Thorpember has always been a gentleman! Just like his father…You probably just need to give him more encouragement.” she said finally, and returned to her searching. Aislin pondered this as she looked around the room curiously.
This was obviously where Ember kept his more valuable books. It appeared to seal completely shut when closed, and the books and artifacts spread about the shelves were so rare looking you could almost smell their worth in the air. Aislin paused her wandering abruptly in front of a small table that bore an enormous white egg. “What is that?” she exclaimed. “What?” Meechen said, looking up again from her search. “Oh, the Aerid egg of course! Thorpember hasn’t told you about it? If I thought he had had an ulterior motive for marrying you that would be it. He is obsessed with that thing, something about the largest dragon egg in existence or some such nonsense. I believe he got it from a dragon hobbyist he corresponded with for a while. The man died and left him several trunks full of books and things, and that was in one of them. He can’t get it to hatch, seems to think it needs a woman’s touch. I tried to hatch it for him of course, but it didn’t work, thank goodness. I have no time to be bonding with dragons! Much as I like Thorpember, that was asking a bit much. Odd that he hasn’t shown it to you, you seem like a good match for it. Maybe it’s just your hair. Ah! At last. Bottom of the last stack, of course. I don’t think he’s even bothered to use it! And I told him I needed it back immediately. Men!” she huffed. “Well, I must be off dear, I wish I could stay for that tea Thorpember promised, but I shall just have to come back another time. Oh don’t worry, I can show myself out, no need to drag you through all those ridiculous corridors again. Make sure the door shuts tightly will you? So glad to meet you dear!” she said and bustled hurriedly out before Aislin could respond.
Chapter Five
It was nearly noon five days after he had left that Ember landed Tawn briefly at the university before heading for home. He was anxious to see Aislin again, he had grown increasingly worried about her on his trip back. But he had a few things for his classes the next day, and what could really have gone wrong anyway? He was walking briskly down the hall to his office when he heard a shout from the far end of the corridor. “Thorpember! I saw you land just now, I was about to go out after you myself! Come to my office, hurry lad!” Illesly said, still shouting as he turned to head towards his rooms. Ember broke into a run. If Illesly called him “lad” something was seriously amiss. “What is it? What’s wrong?” he shouted back as he hurried to catch up with the older man. “It’s Aislin. She’s been taken.” IIlesly said grimly as they entered his office together. “Taken?” Ember said, his worst fears confirmed. “Yes, by that cursed beast of yours.” “Not the Aerid” “Yes, yes, thats the one.” he said, pushing aside a pile of books and pulling open a drawer in his desk. “How? When?” “This morning. One of your servants came to tell me, they were nearly hysterical. Apparently the beast came out of nowhere. The biggest dragon they had ever seen. It appears to have taken out most of the South tower, and Aislin with it. It flew North with her, to its lair.” “I don’t believe it. I promised her this wouldn’t happen, couldn’t happen! Dragons don’t carry people off to their lairs! In the hundreds of species I have studied it has never happened once!” “I’ll show you.” Illesly said. He had been digging about while they were talking and was now holding an odd bundle in his hands, which he unwrapped to reveal a clear glass ball. “Your crystal ball? You can’t be serious, that’s just a, a trophy, for holding the Seer’s chair” “Yes, that’s what I thought. But this morning I noticed an odd glow coming from that drawer where I stuffed it many years ago, probably before you were even born! Anyway, I pulled it out to discover that the ball was pulsing with odd bursts of light. I was in the middle of examining it when your servant arrived with the news about Aislin. I went to Thorpember Hall at once, thinking that Aislin had probably just gone home without telling anyone and put the servants in a fuss, but when I saw the tower I knew things were serious. Especially after I found this.” he said, removing a large white gold scale with light green tints around the edges from his pocket. It’s shape was unique, but Ember thought he had seen it before. Where… Of course, in Marsin! It was the same shape as the scales the Marsi wore!
Ember examined it in amazement and tried to focus his racing thoughts on Illesly’s narrative. “--returned here to try to find out where you had gone when I suddenly remembered the ball. I decided it was worth further examination, so I placed my hands on it like so,” he said, clasping the ball “and said, ‘show me Aislin Thorpember’” Ember startled as the ball suddenly let out a blinding flash of light so bright it hurt. When his eyes finally recovered he glanced cautiously at the ball, which now contained an image of what had to be Aislin’s white gold hair. She appeared to be sitting in a cave, with what looked like an enormous white dragon tail making a large circle around her. She was reading a book, he noted with amazement, but as the ball closed in on her he could see the panic radiating from her and realized she was definitely not reading for fun. “I have to go get her. Can the ball show you where she is? I mean, where the lair is?” “I’ll ask it.” Illesly said tersely. “Crystal ball, where is the lair of the Aerid dragon?” he said, and there was another flash. Ember remembered moments too late to close his eyes when Illesly used the ball, so he had to wait again for them to recover before seeing the next image. “Use that thing too often and you’ll be one of those blind seers!” he said grumpily. “Yes yes, but look quickly before it fades!” Illesly said excitedly. “Those are the Northern ranges, near Marsin!” Ember said, examining the ball. “I still can’t comprehend it. The legends and prophecy must have been true! It might explain why no dragons will go there, they must still fear the White Dragon. How could it have left its mark after so many years?” he said curiously. “If you’re as foolish as most men about their women, you’re probably about to find out.” Illesly said grimly. “You’re right. I have to go. This is all my fault! Thank you for your help Illesly, I’m off.” “I told you a woman would bring nothing but trouble! But it’s too late now.” Illesly said reprovingly, but Ember could tell his heart wasn’t in it. “Anyway, if you insist on going after her I wouldn’t leave without your sword and shield.” Illesly said as Ember was about to walk out of his rooms. “My what?” Ember said, halting. “If we needed my crystal ball to find her I’ve no doubt you’ll be needing them to get her back. You don’t think that dragon’s going to let you waltz right in there and take her, do you?” “I’ve never needed a sword for a dragon!” Ember said disgustedly. “Yes, and dragons don’t take beautiful maidens captive to their lairs and eat anyone who tries to come get them! You fool, when is it going to sink in that this dragon isn’t like the other ones! It probably will try to scorch you to a crisp and then eat you before you are within miles of it. You’ll want that sword and shield. I took the liberty of checking on it this morning when I noticed my crystal ball lighting up. They were glowing as well.” Ember nodded, silenced. He turned once more to leave, this time by way of his rooms, when Illesly spoke again. “And you won’t want to take Tawn, she’s too slow.” “You know a way faster than a Travelore?” Ember asked, pausing yet again. “Yes.” Illesly, with a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Meechen.” Ember just waited, too impatient now for words. “If our relics are working then hers must be as well. She has seven league boots, you know, as the Messenger’s chair.” “Of course” Ember said. “I’d forgotten. Will you ask her if she’ll let me use them while I fetch my shield?” Illesly nodded his agreement, and his lack of argument surprised Ember. He really must care about Aislin to agree to talk to Meechen without a protest. “I’ll meet you by Tawn, in case she can’t help.” Ember said and set out at a rapid pace.
On reaching his rooms, Ember discovered that indeed his sword and shield were glowing, and came easily off of their holder. He wondered curiously if it was possible that the relics were powered by the Aerid, that that was its energy field effect. Why hadn’t he studied the relics more closely? There was always just too much that interested him. He would have to look into their history more when this was over. He shook off the brief thought that he might not still be around when this was over, and headed at as much of a run as his limp would allow for Tawn. When he arrived a few minutes later with sword and shield in hand, it was to find Meechen and Illesly waiting for him silently. Today was full of impossible occurrences it seemed. But the oddness didn’t last long, as Meechen broke into speech as soon as she saw him. “I am so sorry Thropember, this is all my fault. I brought Aislin in with me when I got that manuscript from your vault, and she saw the egg then. She must have brought it to life some how.” “No, no, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought her to the Hall at all when I learned she hated dragons, and why. I should have put two and two together.” “Yes, you mentioned a prophecy? What--” Illesly asked curiously, but Ember broke in. “I’ll tell you later, I don’t want to waste any more time. Meechen if you don’t mind letting me borrow the boots--” “You can’t borrow them, they only fit a woman’s foot.” she said. “I’ll have to take you. So if you just hold my hand tightly, I believe you will come with me when I step.” “Not without me you don’t!” Illesly said, grabbing her other hand as Meechen stepped forward. Suddenly they were slammed with a wall of air even as they saw the ground whisking away around them. When the land finally slowed to a halt again they paused to catch their breaths. “I shudder to think what using that sword will be like, given the pleasant and comfortable experience we’ve had with the other relics so far.” Illesly muttered as Meechen bent down to tighten one of her laces. Ember grimaced, but he was too worried about Aislin to think much about it.
Chapter Six
Aislin gently felt her head, where a small lump seemed to have formed in the place where a brick had hit her during the chaos that was that morning. For lack of anything better to do she began wandering through the beast’s enormous hoard in search of a mirror so she could better assess the damage. Surely anything as vain as this monster appeared to be must have a mirror. Aislin hadn’t realized such an ugly creature could be vain, but only something as self obsessed as Uncle’s future wife Eileen would pick a companion based on the fact that their coloring matched. “Beautiful human, almost like me. Beautiful...Me, Beautiful me. ” The Aerid had said when Aislin asked it why it had taken her. It had an odd habit of repeating itself, she noted. It didn’t actually speak its words, but its thoughts were so powerful Aislin could hear them just as if it had spoken. It was sitting now preening itself, and examining the scales on its tail with great admiration. When they had first arrived at this mountain lair the dragon had spent several hours perusing the enormous piles of wealth that it contained. Aislin had no idea there was so much gold in the world, let alone in a single dragon’s hoard! It was still in the midst of its exploration when it had discovered a large jewel encrusted book, and demanded that Aislin read to it. Despite struggling to breath through the beast’s awful stench, which had filled the large cave almost immediately on their arrival, Aislin had almost been excited at the thought of reading as a book might distract her from the terrible situation she was in. But as she opened Odes to a White Cloud over the Mirrored Lake she soon realized that the reason this book appeared in the hoard was that it was apparently one long poem to the White Dragon. But she had read until her voice grew hoarse and the dragon had granted her a pause. So now with her throat sore and her head throbbing she wandered through the treasure piles, thinking that perhaps in her search for the mirror she could also find a way out without the beast noticing. “Why are you searching?” The Aerid’s thoughts said. “I’m looking for a mirror” she replied, and then jumped back hurriedly as a ball of flame came shooting just a few feet in front of her. “NO MIRRORS! No mirrors, no mirrors.” The dragon said angrily, its initial outburst dying down into a mutter.
Aislin, retreating hurriedly to a corner as far from the beast as she could find, wondered again about that odd repetition, almost as though it was discovering things about itself even as it said them. Could it have a sort of inherited memory? It definitely had far too much knowledge for something only a few hours old. How else did it know about this lair? For that matter how could it possibly have grown so fast? It was only a day old! After Professor Meechen had left the day before, Aislin had closed up the vault, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the egg. Finally right before bed she had decided it wouldn’t hurt to just check on it. Returning to the vault, she found to her amazement that the Aerid had hatched, and a tiny white gold dragon with green tinted scales was curled up in the broken remains of the egg. “Ember will be so happy!” she said out loud, and to her surprise it uncurled itself and leapt across to where she stood, recurling itself on her shoulder. Any attempts to remove it were met with a hiss and a snap of its tiny jaws, so despite her fears she had taken it up to her room, thinking she would have one of Ember’s assistant’s help her with it in the morning. She never had the chance. She had awoken in the early hours of the morning to a large crash as the Aerid, now an enormous beast, broke through the wall of the tower, circled once slowly in the air, and returned to snatch her from her bed. It seemed the prophecy was true, even after all her attempts to escape it, the White Dragon had found her.
Aislin again turned her mind to a way of escape, but it was without much hope. The monster seemed to have eyes in the back of its head, and it had not yet slept. “I am hungry.” It said suddenly. “You too. I will find us food. Find food. Find food. Yes, I will go east, or even West, but not North. No, not North, no North.” It muttered to itself as it moved aside the heavy stone that blocked the entrance to the cave and climbed out, returning the stone before it flew away.
Meanwhile, the three Chairs of the highly esteemed University of Inning were sitting in an exhausted heap on the rocky side of a small mountain. “Please tell me we are almost there and that fascinatingly unreliable ball of yours hasn’t lead us astray again!” Meechen said with a smile that did not match her tone. “I believe it was the limited design scope of the boots you wear that is the issue, not this intriguing and highly useful ball. How the designers thought you would be expected to make course corrections when you travel seven leagues at a time is a problem quite beyond my comprehension, one of the first to ever be so, if I say so myself!” Illesly responded. Meechen snorted at this but Ember broke in before she could speak. “Ah, um, perhaps we could save this discussion for another time?” he said, looking worriedly at the sun approaching the tops of the mountains. Although the boots were much faster than Tawn, it was still taking them longer than he would have liked to get to Aislin. “Very well. If you like I will confirm our course with this marvelous ball.” Illesly said pointedly. Nobody bothered to respond, so he fell to muttering to himself as he removed the ball from its sack and asked it to show the way to the dragon’s lair. “We are very close now. Too close in fact. It is less than seven leagues. How do we manage that?” “I believe these cleverly designed boots actually can travel a shorter distance when required. How I lace them seems to have a direct impact on how far we travel. I tested this theory once or twice on our way here and it seems to be a sound one.” Meechen said. “Well, well. That explains it then! Fiddling with the mode of travel without giving proper notice! It’s no wonder we got lost!” Illesly said, finishing with a muttered “Just like a woman.” Ember, noting the martial light in Meechen’s eye, broke hurriedly into speech. “Ah, I have been thinking as we travelled and I believe now would be a good time to construct a strategic plan for our approach. When Illesly showed me the lair it appeared to be blocked off with a large boulder. One too large for us to move on our own. So here is my idea...”
Chapter Seven
Aislin awoke from an exhausted sleep to the sound of the Aerid returning to the cave. “It is time to eat. Time to eat, time to eat.” it said. Aislin shuddered. It was no doubt only a matter of time before it decided to eat her. “But first we must greet the admirer.” Aislin stood up quickly. “Admirer?” she asked. “Yes, an admirer has come at last. I think it is a knight. A knight… A knight!” It said, a note of comprehension dawning in it at the last. It let out a small hiss. “Perhaps we shall eat dessert today.” it said, and Aislin tried desperately to keep calm as the monster moved once again to the cave door and rolled aside the boulder. “--come to discuss the return of Aislin Thorpember--” she heard Ember’s voice shouting from outside the lair. It was him! How had he found her so fast? She was trying to decide if she could make it to the entrance before the Aerid replaced the boulder when she heard a crash behind her and turned to see Professors Illesly and Meechen sitting precariously on top of a large chest. “Grab my hand, quickly!” Meechen shouted, and Aislin ran towards her. She was nearly to her when she heard the large crunch of the boulder. “Curses! We’re trapped here now.” Meechen said angrily. Aislin, glancing at Illesly’s drawn face, could tell he was worried, but disagreeing with Meechen was too hard of a habit for him to break, even at a moment like this. “Nonsense, it will surely open the door again.” he said calmly, picking up a diamond encrusted fork sitting next to him on the chest. “Yes, when it’s fried young Thropember to a crisp!” Meechen responded angrily. “Thorpember’s not such a fool. He’ll have us out soon, I’m sure. Even if he does have to resort to that sword and shield of his! In the meantime, what is your opinion on this utensil? Early third century wouldn’t you say?” “Definitely not! 5th century at the earliest!” she responded, and Aislin torn between laughter and despair, sat down to wait.
Ember had hoped to be able to reason with the Aerid, but when the dragon appeared for the first time behind a rolling ball of flame, he began to wonder if Illesly had been right on this one. Luckily his shield seemed to protect him against the worst of the fire, putting up some kind of extended barrier around him, but he still felt a good deal of the force and the heat of it. After the initial blaze had died down he tried shouting to the dragon that he just wanted to talk, but the dragon only let out what he assumed was a laugh and sent another fireball at him. Ember decided he had better give up on reasoning and set about surviving.
“Well, well, I do believe this is the sword of Glammon!” Illesly said excitedly. Several hours had passed since Illesly and Meechen’s arrival in the lair, and still the entrance remained shut. Illesly and Meechen had begun wandering about, supposedly to find another way out, but they were now completely distracted by the numerous treasures in the dragon’s hoard. “It can’t be. Glammon’s sword was destroyed.” Meechen said, her voice muted as she covered her mouth and nose with a silk shirtsleeve she had found in an attempt to block out the smell of the Aerid. “No, no, that was the sword of Gliming” Illesly said. “Glammon’s sword disappeared.” “I believe that Thorpember would concur with me in citing the writings of Paulantus as conclusive evidence that Glammon’s sword was destroyed.” Meechen said. “You can’t bring Thorpember in when he isn’t here to defend himself, and anyway what about Gollus? Haven’t you read his treatise on the five swords of Gloan?” “Speaking of Ember” Aislin said as, per Meechen’s instructions, she followed them about so as to be within arms reach if the cave opened suddenly. “Is there any chance he is still alive? It has been several hours now I think.” “I doubt he has been eaten, or the dragon would have returned.” Illesly said, pausing in his examination of the sword. “Suppose you use that blinding bit of glass of yours to check?” Meechen said sweetly. “Oh, yes, I should have thought of that myself.” Illesly said. He pulled out the ball and said “Show me Thorpember.” A flash lit the room, and then a picture of Thorpember Hall appeared in the ball. “Not the hall, silly thing. The man! Show me Sir Thorpember!” There was another flash and then an image of Ember appeared. He was hunkered down under his shield, and seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly the image darkened briefly as a shadow fell over him and then a wall of flame filled the ball. It cleared to show Ember thrusting his sword up towards what must have been the beast, then the ball faded. “Curse it all!” Illesly muttered.
“Well at least we know he is alive!” Aislin said, eyes smarting from the light. “Or was.” Meechen muttered under her breath. Illesly opened his mouth to respond when suddenly there was a loud thump and the sound of the boulder moving. “Hurry! Meechen shouted, grabbing Aislin’s hand. Suddenly Aislin was slammed by a huge wall of air. When she caught her breath she found herself sitting in a heap next to Meechen and Illesly, staring up at a slightly charred looking Ember. “Very nice placement, I must admit you are growing quite skilled!” Illesly said, impressed in spite of himself. “Just grab on and lets get out of here!” Meechen said, as a roar erupted from the cave. “Don’t go back to Thorpember, it will just follow us, go North!” Aislin directed as Ember grabbed onto Meechen’s arm and they all stepped forward.
Another blast of air, and they were in a small valley that appeared to be barely on the opposite side of the mountain that housed the dragon’s lair. “Curses, I forgot to adjust the distance” Meechen said, as she bent over her shoes. “Where are we going?” Ember asked, slightly dazed still from the battle. Aislin noticed he had a green liquid oozing down his arms and splattered liberally over the rest of him. She was just recognizing what it must be when she became aware of everyone else looking at her. “Oh, um, what is North of here?” she asked. They stared at her for a moment, then Illesly said “Well, I believe the Far North Ranges start soon, and there is the Forest of Ilk.” Aislin shook her head, uncertainly. “I don’t think that is it.” “Well, there is Starlight Glacier, of course.” Meechen said. “Ah, isn’t Mirror Lake at the base of that?” Ember asked, joining in the discussion. “That’s it! It’s got to be!” Go there, hurry!” Aislin said as a green and gold flash burst into the sky above them.
A few minutes later Ember found himself looking out at the perfect reflection of the mountains in the lake that lay before them. He was exhausted, and the Aerid’s blood from the stab he had given it there at the end stank horribly. But they were all alive, and he was so happy to see Aislin safe he hardly noticed his discomfort. But it wasn’t over yet. Aislin seemed to think that the Aerid would know how to find her no matter where she went. So why the lake? She had insisted and no one had a better plan, so here they were. “Ah, well, this does appear to be Mirror Lake!” he said, breaking the silence that had reigned as everyone tried to recover from taking so many successive steps in the boots. “Indeed it does, I believe this is where the poet Langsteen spent several years while writing his classic verse. I teach several of his poems in my literature class, but I never thought I would actually see the lake that was his muse.” Illesly said happily. “Yes, well, suppose we discuss our plan before poetry. I’ve no doubt that monster will be here soon!” Meechen said testily. “The plan is that I am going to swim out to the center of the lake, I need to be there when the Aerid arrives. I think if it sees its reflection that will somehow stop it.” Aislin said. “Swim in the lake?” Illesly said, shocked. “Ah, not you, Illesly.” Ember said. “There is no need for you or Meechen to come. I however, am desperately in need of a bath. So if it is acceptable to you Aislin, I believe I will accompany you.” Aislin nodded, flashing him a grateful look, but whether it was for going with her or appeasing Illesly he wasn’t sure. “There appears to be a decent sized log over there that would no doubt float quite nicely.” Meechen said, pointing to where a tree had fallen near the shore of the lake. “You must both be exhausted, and who knows how long you will have to wait out there. You should take the log to rest on.” “Good idea.” Ember said. “I don’t think it will be long, we should hurry.” Aislin said, and turned to head towards the log. Ember nodded to Meechen and Illesly and followed.
Having dragged the log into the water, they set out paddling with it towards the center of the lake. The water was surprisingly warm, and Ember guessed the lake must be quite shallow. He had left his sword and his boots on the shore, but he had set the shield on the log, just in case whatever Aislin believed the lake would do didn’t work. She had removed the ornate dressing gown she seemed to have acquired from the Aerid’s hoard, and was now dressed in what appeared to be her night wear, a long green tunic over matching pants. He had forgotten she had been asleep when the dragon took her. The material was light weight, and a very nice green that complemented her eyes perfectly. He turned to confirm that match by examining her eye color more closely and found that she was already looking curiously at him. She blushed and turned back to look towards the center of the lake where they were headed. “I--” they both said, then broke off. “Please, go ahead,” Ember said, smiling at her. “I, I don’t know how to thank you for coming and rescuing me, and Illesly and Meechen too. I don’t think anyone from the clans would have bothered.” “Ah, perhaps you are a little too harsh on your people. Any woman who could convince Illesly to leave his rooms to rescue her could not have failed to have many admirers willing to do the same.” She shook her head, and he added. “Besides, how could I not come? This was all my fault really. I am surprised you are even talking to me after what I put you through. I should have believed you when you told me the prophecy about the White Dragon and connected it with the Aerid. I put you at great risk bringing you to Thorpember. I hope you will forgive me.” She turned an amazed gaze to him but before she could respond there was an deafening roar and the Aerid appeared suddenly over the South horizon. “Bother, I told you she would find me.” she said instead. “Amazing. She makes the Travelores look like snails! Why, she must have travelled at a rate of nearly--” “Yes, yes, but we really should get as far out into the lake as we can!” Aislin said hastily. “Ah, right!” Ember replied, and obediently put all his energy into swimming.
They had only gone a few more yards when the Aerid reached them. “Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!” It shouted as it dove towards them. Ember gripped his shield and prepared for the fireball, but it continued speaking. “You were not there to describe to me my wound! My wound! My--” It suddenly broke off its speech and its rapid descent as at last its full enormous hideousness was reflected in the lake’s water. It hovered for a moment in mid air, staring, then began a slow glide in circles above the lake. Ember held his breath, one hand still on the shield, but when the Aerid spoke again it was almost unrecognizable. “What stunning beauty, beauty, beauty… A masterpiece. Golden white perfection, perfection, perfection! Almost unreal.” it hummed as it gazed down at itself. “I don’t believe it.” Ember whispered, amazed. “You haven’t had to spend all day with it. Come on, I think we can go now.” Aislin said. “No, not that, but its vanity is fascinating. Do you really think it will stay here if we leave?” “Yes, it seemed very afraid of mirrors earlier, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is so vain that once it sees it’s reflection it can never leave it.” “Fascinating. That might explain how such a powerful breed disappeared as well! I was wondering about that, as you would think with their size and intelligence they should have been a dominant species.” “Well thank goodness for mirrors then. But what was it you were surprised about originally?” she asked as they began paddling back to shore. “Oh, ah, those words it was repeating. That rhythm. I was trying to place why it was so familiar when it finally hit me. That’s Langsteen! He wrote here at this lake, I bet he must have been here when the last White Dragon flew and he didn’t even write those poems, he just copied what the dragon said! Illesly will be devastated! Langsteen is his favorite. He made us write a twenty page paper on him in Classic lit.” “That explains that book the beast had me read, it was full of that nonsense.” Aislin said disgustedly. Ember laughed, but grew thoughtful. He had suddenly realized one implication of this adventure that had escaped him before. He slowed his paddling and said hesitantly “Ah, perhaps you have reached this conclusion already, but it has just struck me that now the White Dragon flies again, technically our marriage vows are annulled.” Aislin had slowed her paddling to match him, but now she stopped and turned to stare at him. “I forgot. ‘Till the White Dragon flies again’. I guess no one really believed it would actually happen!” she laughed, uncertainly. “Well, I know that you disliked the idea of possibly being Chief of the clans one day, so if you would rather…” she broke off, unable to keep meeting his gaze. “Ah. Would you rather?” he said, surprising both of them with his directness. She hesitated for a moment, then said “Were you really waiting for me to ask you to kiss me?” Ember blushed. “I was afraid to try it, I wasn’t sure if you even liked me like that.” “Sir Dashel Thorpember the 3rd was afraid?” she asked, looking pointedly at the green goop still spattered all over his face. “Ah, I guess I have always found dragons easier to approach than women.” he said ruefully. “Oh.” she said, obviously surprised. “Well, I think I would rather not,” Aislin said after a pause. “Rather not kiss?” Ember said, confused. “Oh no, I mean, rather not not be married, I mean--” Ember, feeling that Aislin was right in thinking his fears were ridiculous, didn’t wait for her to finish.
Epilogue
Aislin was walking down the hall from Illesly’s class when she nearly ran into Ember coming round the corner. “Aislin!” he said, thinking it was great luck that the hall was empty, allowing him to stoop down quickly for a kiss. “How was your first class? You know the board was very impressed at your passing the entrance exams so soon after learning to read.” “I had a good tutor.” she said, smiling at him as they continued walking down the hall together. “Class was good, but I was surprised when Illesly started out with a poem by Langsteen. Didn’t you tell him?” “Ah. I did try. But he told me it was more likely that the Aerid had read Langsteen and thought it perfect for the occasion, than that Langsteen had plagiarized such a hideous beast. Unfortunately I had no evidence to contradict the idea, so he persists in his preference for the writings. So you will probably still have to write a paper on him.” he said with a grimace. “Well, as the only other member of the class to actually have visited Mirror Lake, I might have an advantage interpreting him.” she said with a smile. “I think this might be my next class. One of professor Meechen’s graduate students is finally out of prison and teaching, that should be interesting.” “Speaking of Meechen, she is actually at last coming for tea today, I hope you don’t mind.” “Not at all, I’ll see you then, Professor.” she said, with an attempt to show proper respect. “Ah, actually it’s Professor Sir Ember Dashel Thorpember the 3rd, Knight’s chair and Board member at--” He was unable to complete this list of titles as Aislin, ignoring the presence of several interested students, returned his kiss with one of her own. “You don’t look like a chair to me, let alone a board.” she said with a grin, then slipped into the classroom. Illesly, coming down the hall at that moment, took one look at Ember’s face and harrumphed. “Women!” he muttered and continued down the hall.
The End
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