Previous Chapter / First Chapter / Next Chapter


Five Dragons: TLoP: Chapter 21: Shadows on the Horizon


Roand dived deep into Kyndle's awaking memory.

Spongy outlines formed a solid floor and suddenly Roland was standing in a high hall. A round window could be seen on the ceiling, which let a broad beam of light fall onto a stone plinth. A metal symbol cross was embedded in the orange-red glass, casting an identical shadow on the floor. In front of the base there was a large mosaic pattern in the stone slab, which had the shape of a dragon. Five silver braziers stood symmetrically arranged around the pedestal and magnificent tapestries hung from the walls. A large symbol was embroidered on the white fabric with orange-red threads. Roland looked at the symbol and saw that it was identical to the one in the window and the one on the back of his right hand.

He also recognized the room itself. He looked at the stone base and walked slowly towards it. His fingers drove slowly over the surface. “Here was the dragon egg, from which Kyndle hatched.” He thought to himself with a little smile. The chamber looked different than he remembered. No cobwebs or weathered tapestries were to be seen, and no rubble or dust covered the floor. The place radiated a pleasant warmth. With no doubt it was inhabited.

He went around the base and looked at the many corridors that led out of the room. He paused briefly in front of a high and wide entrance. “I came from this corridor back then.” He said and put his hand on the wall. “After I woke up….” He felt a faint vibration in the wall and heard a thunderous rumble far away, followed by metallic footsteps.

Suddenly a fighter in battle-drawn armor entered the room in a hurry. Amazed Roland walked toward him. With a raised shield he came out of one of the corridors and pulled a tattered orange-red cloak behind him. Slightly bent, he breathed heavily and simply walked through Roland towards the base. He quickly recognized the armor. It was the same knight, who had spoken to him in a dream.

Three black crossbow bolts were stuck in the knight's shoulder and blood was dripping from the visor of his helmet. Breathing heavily, he carried a large oval object behind his shield. It was orange-red in color and glittered slightly when he stepped into the light. He sighed painfully as he carefully placed the dragon egg on the pedestal. Shakely, he tore his ragged coat from his shoulders and wrapped the damaged cloth around the egg. Shortly thereafter, he dropped his shield on the floor and sank coughing to his knees. “They are far too many!” He gasped, his head bowed to the base. “The balist-battering ram hit through the gate with no effort! I didn't get through in time. I have failed, my Lady. Not long and they'll overrun us.” The man trembled and gave a weak cough. There was another brief shock through the floor.

“You didn't fail.” A soft, feminine voice filled the room. “Everything happens just as destiny dictates.” The voice came from the high hall where Roland was last. Her sound brought a calming feeling with it. Two deep blue dragon eyes shone out of the shadow and a bright turquoise glow burned in them. A mighty paw with sharp black claws stepped into the light. Dark orange-red scales enveloped the big dragoness and gave her a faint glow in the light. Long black horns adorned her head like a crown. Two stabbed backwards with a slight curve, while the other two curved behind the ears on each side and pointed forward at the side of her face. Dark gray scales covered her chest and abdomen. She held her long wings, with also dark gray membranes folded on her back. Light blue lines started at her eyes and ran down her elegant neck, spreading in interwoven patterns on her flanks. At the end of her long, strong tail was a black, bony tip. It looked like a sharp straight blade with light blue symbols on it. There was a silver tiara on her forehead that wrapped around her horns. A large, oval gem shimmered with an orange-red color from the setting. Below it burned the same symbol, which Roland had on his right hand.

Kyleth's sign.

She slowly lowered her head to the fighter. The gem in her headdress flashed briefly with a bright shimmer. She nudged his helmet gently and snorted hard at him. The bolts in his shoulder fell to the floor and he slowly straightened up again. “Then will it really happen as you predicted?” The fighter asked, breathing heavily. Straightened he raised his shield again and placed it against the base.

The guardiandragoness looked at the egg on the pedestal with a slightly sad look. “Even if it hurts me, to leave my child alone, I submit myself to the course of fate. There is no other way.” She slowly lowered her head. Her eyes fell on Roland's face as if she could see him. Looking into her blue, shimmering eyes, a strange feeling came over him. “She won't be alone for long.” He heard her soft voice in his head before her eyes went on. With long strides, Kyleth walked over the pedestal toward the corridor from which the fighter had come. A faint light began to shimmer at the end of the path and the faint echo of voices sounded out. She took one last look back at the egg, as a single tear flowed from her eye.

“Keep them away from this chamber, at all costs!” The dragoness ordered before closing her eyes and producing a menacing growl. Her grief fell lonely to the floor as her gaze slowly opened again. The pupils contracted into slits, the blue lines on her body turned glowing red and the tip of her tail began to burn with a bright flame. Hissing, she stormed out into the corridor, where shortly afterwards panicked screams were heard from people, followed by a crashing rumble of thunder.

Roland turned to the retarded fighter. The latter stood in front of the corridor, drew his sword and held it upright in front of him. “Ane barka!” He murmured and swung the blade forward with enormous force. The weapon began to glow light blue and sent a curved shock wave through the passage as it swung. The magic force cut deep cracks through the walls and the ceiling of the corridor began to collapse. Countless rubble stones now blocked the passage.

The same thing happened with the rest of the entrances. Only one passage he left open. Breathing heavily, he stopped at the base. “That should be enough.” He said to himself. He put his hand carefully on the dragon egg. Roland raised his hand in amazement and looked tense at the palm, because at the same moment he felt a warm touch.

A heavy rumble echoed in the chamber and the fighter turned in alarm to one of the tapestries, from which this throbbing echo came. Uncertainly he lifted his hand from the egg and walked slowly towards the tapestry with a raised sword. Loud and pounding noises came again through the fabric. Suddenly, a long spear thrust through the carpet with a loud crack and exposed the door behind it.

“No!” the fighter said and hurried to the door. He pocketed his sword and reached for the tip of the spear. With the weapon drawn in, he flipped it skillfully over and heaved it back into the hole it had come from. A painful groan came from the other side shortly afterwards and the knocking abated immediately. “Form a line! And get the battering ram over here!” An aggressive voice echoed in. The fighter drew his sword again, raised his shield from the ground, and stood ready to fight in front of the gate.

With the shield raised towards the door, a shimmering blue rune began to glow on the wooden entrance. He tightened his grip on his weapon and raised his eyes to the gate. “You will need more, than a battering ram.” His voice gasped from the visor of his helmet. At that same moment the door opened itself and he stormed outside with the shield ahead. No sooner had he left the room, the door slammed shut again. The blue rune on it shimmered brightly and framed the entire entrance in this magical light until it slowly became weaker and finally went out completely. The tapestry fell quietly over the entrance again.

Dull fighting noises came in from outside, which gradually became quieter.

Standing alone in the room, Roland looked down at the egg for a long time. Suddenly the glass of the round window in the ceiling broke and the shards clinked on the floor around him and the base. A deafening roar echoed through the air and Roland sank to his knees, holding his ears protectively. The enormous sound wave ached like pinpricks right into the skull. His heart was pounding in his chest and the symbol on his hand burned red like fire. The floor shook slightly and the light from the ceiling turned blood red. And then everything was silent.

There was an unnatural silence in the air and the room was flooded with this heavy reddish glow. Roland knelt beside the base and slowly took his hands off his aching ears. With watery eyes, he looked at the egg, which trembled slightly in the dim light. In his mind he knew what had just happened.

Time began to pass faster. The cone of light changed to bright sunlight again and kept moving over the mosaic pattern, the base and him. Countless days passed and the colors of the tapestries turned yellow until the fabrics slowly dissolved. Roland could watch the cobwebs and the layer of dust on the floor as they grew.

Until one day the beam of light stopped and a wounded boy walked out of the remaining corridor into the room. With a strained face he pulled his right leg behind him. Roland was still kneeling next to the base and recognized his younger self. With a weak sob and a damp look, he watched his first meeting with Kyndle.

Suddenly the cone of light began strong to flicker and Roland was pulled away. The image grew darker and he completely disappeared into the void.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..


Roland took a deep breath and fell backwards, when he came to himself and looked around confused. He was sitting on the gravel next to Kyndle while Ansem looked at him questioningly. The female looked at him with a wet look and sent a brief sparkle from her blue eyes to him. Cooing softly, she put her forehead on his and helped him rearrange his thoughts.

Only a few seconds had passed, but it seemed to Roland that he had been gone for much longer.

“So Kyleth was really her mother?” Roland asked the magician when he straightened up. “Without a doubt.” Ansem replied calmly. “But.” Roland began quietly and looked at his dragoness. “How did that come about?” He said uncertainly and looked sadly at Kyndle. “Why did her mother have to die?” Ansem’s gaze shifted thoughtfully to the side, while a mischievous grin appeared on his mouth. “I would have to read it again, because I remember it differently.” He explained of course. Shortly afterwards, his gaze shifted to the other side, as if someone were standing there. “Really now?! That doesn’t help the story.” He exhaled heavily, closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly to the side with his hand raised.

He looked calmly back to Roland, who looked at him skeptically. “Exactly. The origin is still controversial. But the resulting conflict increased rapidly and finally found its peak, when the line of the fellows was interrupted by Kyleth’s death. The other guardians ended this war bloody.” A dark veil fell over his eyes as his voice grew darker. “The Hunter-Wars have not only brought the Hunter-Order out of favor.” Breathing heavily, the shadow in his eyes disappeared and Ansem's calm gaze was recognizable again.

“Well. Let's move on. Catalyst, I mean dragon scale.” He added, shaking his head. Roland put these heavy impressions aside and concentrated on his current task. “But I can't just take one away from her.” With half-closed eyes the female looked at him cooing.

“No no. Taking away is not nice.” Ansem confirmed shakily and waved his face to the side. He frowned again at Roland. “It's not like plucking feathers from a chicken.” He gasped. The magician took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Calmly, he opened his eyes and was completely quiet again. “It will be painful for her, even if she gives it voluntarily.” He explained, looking at the dragoness.

Kyndle pulled her head back briefly at his words. Looking at her partner, she walked a little hesitantly towards him and finally nudged her head gently against his. With a bright sparkle in her deep blue eyes, she nodded with her head. Roland looked into the shimmering turquoise edge and put a hand on her cheek, which elicited a low cooing. “Are you sure?” He asked her quietly. The female gave an affirmative “Churr” as an answer and snuggled close to her partner. Roland closed both arms around her and hugged her tightly. “Thank you.” He whispered to her.

Both startled slightly when Ansem clapped his hands together noisily. “Then let's get started.” He announced loudly and turned to the table with the objects.

The magician opened an elongated box on the table and reached inside. He took out a sharp metal chisel and a hammer, which he placed on the plate next to him. Put his hands back in the box, he pulled out two other objects: Between his index finger and thumb, he held a ring made of a green crystal and in the other hand he held a slightly curved emerald dagger.

Roland stood next to him and looked at the tools that were now ready. “Can I do something too?” He asked in surprise and raised both eyebrows. Ansem stubbornly looked straight ahead before turning to face him. “Yes.” He replied shortly, with a nervous twitch in his eyes. There was a dark expression on his face again. “Don't stand in the way.” The magician gasped softly, turning back to his work surface.

With a slightly contorted face, Roland nodded slowly and took a step away from the table. Slightly disappointed, he sat down on the floor next to Kyndle and looked at the magician. Cooing softly, she leaned against his shoulder, put one of her wings around him and together they watched Ansem at his work.

He placed the stone gargoyle in front of him and positioned the cutting edge of the chisel on the forehead. With his peaceful whistle, he raised the hammer and let it fall down precisely onto his tool with a swing. A loud crack formed a long gap on the small statue. After another blow, the figure finally broke in two and a small pile of ashes fell out.

Ansem indifferently threw the halves off the table, wiped the black powder into a metal mold and set it aside. Now he picked up the bag with the obsidian shards. Slowly he turned it over and poured the contents onto the table. The small pieces of metal clinked on the plate like broken glass. The magician grabbed the mortar and threw some selected fragments into it. He worked the material vigorously with the pestle until it was ground into a fine powder. He first checked the ingredient carefully, stuck a finger in it and then licked it off. With a critical expression on his face, he smacked several times with an empty mouth. A quiet nod later, he poured it into the ashes in the metal mold and stirred the whole thing together.

He put the ring on his finger, then picked up the emerald dagger and walked to Roland with the mold. He stared down at him, his right lower eyelid twitching again. Roland stood up in amazement and looked at the man in confusion. The twitch was quickly gone and a strange grin graced his face. “Left or right side?” He asked smiling, holding his head to one side. Roland looked around in confusion and had some problems to deal with this question and that face. “Uhm, left?” He answered hesitantly. Ansems face straightened up immediately and he then held the metal bowl out to Roland. The young man held both hands open to take it from him, but instead the magician quickly pulled it back. He moved at lightning speed and cut Roland in the left palm with the emerald dagger.

Roland felt the quick pain and reflexively pulled his hand back. “Hey!” Kyndle’s left paw twitched tense and with a sharp “Meep” she threw a low growl at the magician’s feet. Bent over, Ansem took a few steps back and held the green blade over the bowl. A few drops of Roland’s blood fell into the ingredients, and finally he mixed it with the dagger. Roland looked startled at the cut in his hand. The bleeding disappeared shortly after. Kyndle sniffed it uncertainly and licked comforting the palm of his hand once. Ansem looked at Roland with an almost delusional stare and jerked his head briefly to one side. “So bad?” He asked mockingly, but he didn’t give the young man the time to answer.

He went back to the table and put the dagger back in the box. Then he walked with the bowl to the oven under the shelter. Ansem opened the upper flap and pushed the metal thing into it. He exhaled, his hand clenched into a fist and the crystal ring began to glow. He spread his fingers apart and a green flame burned over the palm of his hand. With the bottom hatch open, he threw the green fire into the oven and quickly closed the hatch. He looked controlling up at the small chimney and waited for the first columns of smoke to emerge. There was also a faint crackle from inside.

Ansem took a deep breath and the glow of his ring dimmed slowly. “Now we wait for a while.” He said calmly and gave Roland a quick look. The magician pulled a soft cloth and a pliers out of the box on the table and handed them to him. “For the next step, I need the scale.” He announced quietly and glanced at the orange-red female.

Roland took the objects and looked a little empty at the teeth of the pliers. He glanced worriedly into her sparkling blue eyes. “Do you really want to do that?” He asked her again and put a hand on her cheek. Kyndle closed her eyes briefly and cooed softly at his touch, a gentle “Churr” rounded off her gesture.

He nodded in confirmation and opened the pliers. But Kyndle unexpectedly took a big step back from him. She lay on the floor with her back to him and placed her right paw on her chest. She wanted to do it herself. The chosen orange-red scale was on her chest, on the border where the dark gray color began, over her heart. She pressed one of her sharp claws against the larger breast scale and pushed under the edge with vigorous pressure. With a slight twitch, she tilted her head to the side when her body started to send unpleasant signals.

Roland felt a weak tug in his chest and knew exactly what that meant. He took a big step towards his dragoness, but he clearly felt her rejection in his thoughts. With her condescending snort in his direction, she underlined this. Roland looked at her speechless for a moment, but didn't want to leave her alone with that and knelt behind her with his face turned away. With his eyes closed, he put his hand on her back and tried to hold her in his mind.

Kyndle snorted with a low cooing when she felt Roland's hand. She took a deep breath, grateful for his presence. Her claw purposefully drove more under the orange-red scale and slowly began to detach it from her skin. Painfully she closed her eyes and gave a little whimper. Shortly afterwards she felt a slight tremor from her partner.

Roland inhaled, holding his other hand on his chest. His eyes narrowed and he breathed frantically. He felt her pain, as if it were his own. Kyndle paused for a moment and with the soft grumbling of her, his stinging in his chest suddenly stopped. Roland could see it clearly in his mind: his dragoness was just sealing herself off to save him from the pain. His thought voice protested against her mental wall. “You don't have to do this alone! I'm with you!”

But she didn't gave in. With a soft whimper, she put her claw under the scale again. Her skin tore open and warm blood ran from the aching wound. A single tear stole from her compressed eyelid.

Snorting heavily, she tore more at the loosened scale, than another strong wave of pain swept through her slightly trembling body. With her lips raised, she showed her sharp fangs with a faint growl as she continued to pull on the scale. The blood ran down her chest and colored her beautiful scarf with the dark red tone.

Roland's heart literally tore in two as he stood by and watched his Kyndle suffer pain for him all alone.

Laying her ears back, she gave an aggressive hiss. With one last jerk the skin tore off and the scale loosened completely. This last intense wave of pain smashed through her mental wall and broke the short sealing. Roland felt the stinging pain briefly, but then there was only an unpleasant tingling in his chest. Kyndle let her head sink to the floor, snorting heavily, and breathed in and out with long blows.

Comforting he stroked her neck and gently pressed the soft cloth on her bleeding wound. She breathed in terrified when she felt the fabric on her wounded skin. The female raised her head to him and looked at him with a wet look. With his free hand he stroked the tear from her face and looked into the sparkling turquoise breath of her deep blue eyes. “Why did you exclude me?” He asked in a whisper and looked at her warmly. Kyndle gave a low “Chirp” and gently licked his mouth. Roland smiled briefly before they lovingly put their lips on each other. He felt her soft purr and the strong heartbeat under the soft cloth. The loving kiss ended, he gently stroked her nose and looked deep into her blue eyes. Gazing at the sparkling turquoise breath in it, he put his forehead on hers.

“Never do that again.” He said sadly, pulling her close to his body. Holding her in his arms, he listened to her low hum and carefully held the soft cloth against her bleeding wound. Purring, she rubbed her nose against his and enjoyed the comforting closeness.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..


Meanwhile in Ironwing ...

With a serious look, Catherine stared out the window and thoughtfully held her hand to her chin. A tense mood prevailed in the room. On the table behind her was an open letter, which was delivered by a dragon rider.

“I will take the necessary steps for this.” Aaros said calmly and threw a skeptical look at Torben before they made their way outside. “And one more thing!” Catherine interrupted his steps. The magician turned attentively and looked at her with his cloudy eyes. “Not a word to Roland. Only when I say it's right.” He looked at her silently for a long moment. Than he nodded without saying a word and left the study. Torben stood slightly nervous in the room. “You can go now too.” She said, but still threw her particular gaze out of the window. Torben took the first steps toward the door with relief.

“Oh, and just for the future.” Catherine's voice came again and he stopped at the entrance. “The next time, you and Timothy should have a drinking game, do it in the barracks, where I don't have to see the mess.” With narrowed eyes he lowered his forehead, but couldn't help smiling, when he left left room.

There was a faint smile on Catherine's face before giving way to a tense expression again. “Shadows on the horizon.” She muttered under her breath.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..


Back in the Whisper-Wood ...

Ansem lifted the bloody scale from the floor and looked up at the couple with an eyebrow raised. “Hmm.” He murmured thoughtfully and went back to the table with a nervous twitch in his right eye.

Whistling peacefully, he cleaned the scale from the skin and blood. Roland slowly broke away from her and cast a skeptical look at the magician and this inconsistent melody. “Let's hope it was worth it.” He commented softly, stroking his dragoness’ back. “Ohh, it will.” Ansem gasped, holding the orange-red dragon scale in front of his face in the light. Looking at the slight sheen, he chuckled to himself. “Such a nice thing.”

Shortly afterwards the magician put the scale next to the glove and the bottle with the dragon essence and turned again to Roland and his dragoness. Slowly he walked up to the two and looked a little lost in thoughts at the quietly purring dragoness. “Your imprint is powerful, when you two share so many sensations.” He started seriously. “Be careful with that, others could take advantage of this as a weakness.”

Roland gave Kyndle a long look and gazed into the bright sparkle that was only meant for him. Returning this warm eye contact, she purred softly and looked at him with her eyes half closed. Roland had never considered their connection as a weakness. Rather, it gave him stability and security. He never felt like he was alone. She was always by his side, whether physical or mental, and he wasn't going to change anything about it.

“Uhm, okay.” Roland replied somewhat uncertainly and looked at Ansem questioningly. The magician looked back skeptically, the lower lid of his right eye twitching again. “Hmm.” He shrugged and stepped back to the stove.

He quickly opened the top flap and checked the red glowing bowl. A pale blue glow could be seen in it. He nodded confidently to the bowl. “Then we can start.” He said calmly and clapped his hands together.

“I haven't done that in half of an eternity.” He murmured softly, grabbing the bottle of dragon essence. “But it will work out.”

With his eyes closed, Ansem gathered his concentration and took a deep breath. His crystal ring began to shimmer with the greenish light again. Crackling, little green sparks flow from the ring and it looked like it was burning. The magician held up his free hands. The light blue glowing content sloshed heavily in the bowl and flew in a flowing movement through the air and circled the tense, trembling man. The leather glove and Kyndle's dragon scale also floated to him. Roland and his dragoness watched this spectacle in amazement. Ansem flicked the cap of the small bottle off with his thumb and tipped the contents down in one sip.

A little tense, he dropped to his knees, while the empty bottle fell on the ground. Shortly after he exhaled strongly before straightening up again. He waved both hands together in a circular motion in front of his face. The left one above and the right one below. The leather glove hovered between them and slowly turned around its axis.

The light blue liquid mirrored the moving of his arms and meandered around the man and began to rotate around the glove. The light grew stronger and slowly the glowing material was transferred to the leather. Now the glove shimmered with this bright, blue glow, looked almost fluid. Kyndle's scale dipped into the back of the glove and it started to turn faster. Ansem's ring shimmered brightly and he let his mouth fall open when his eyes started to glow white. Shortly thereafter, a blinding shock wave swept across the square with a loud bang.

Kyndle threw herself with her open wings protectively over Roland and held him close to her body. With a soft whistle in his ears, Roland opened his eyes again and looked directly into two beautiful blue dragon eyes. His hand stroked her forehead with thanks. A bit hesitant she lifted her wings and straightened up again. He smiled and looked into the bright sparkle of her sapphires. A little out of breath, he got up too and looked around the square.

Ansem sat on the gravel field and giggled happily to himself. “It worked.” He said in a slightly shaky voice and looked at the now scaled glove with his head tilted. It hovered weightlessly in front of him. Exhausted, he dropped onto his back and exhaled calmly. “Still got it.” He gasped softly when the green glow of his ring went out.

“My medium?” Roland thought with an open mouth, staring at the orange-red scaled glove. Reluctantly he lifted his arm toward it and the medium floated by itself to him. For a long moment he gazed at the scales on the glove, before he pulled it over his fingers. He slowly clenched his left hand into a fist and was amazed to find that it felt like a second skin, as if it were a part of him. He looked at the orange-red scales on it and took a deep breath as a heavy shiver ran through his body. As if out of a reflex, the scales rose on the back of the hand and slowly lay down again. ”Wow!” He thought in surprise and sat on the floor. Kyndle lay behind him and snuggled close to him. She cooed her head against his and looked at his medium with a happy “Meep”. He closed his eyes and put a hand on her cheek and pressed her closer to him. He could feel it clearly in his mind. She had become now a little more a part of him.

Ansem had put on a satisfied grin and got up again. His right eye twitched nervously and he tilted his head slightly to the side. His eyes creeped darkly and a weak gasp came from his mouth. Looking at Roland's glove, he took a step towards him. “The first moment is always ...” He paused and stared at him silently. Roland returned the eye contact slightly nervously. “Magical!” He added slowly, waving his hands open in front of his face before heading back to the table.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and his slight twitching subsided. He calmly pulled the ring from his finger and put it back in the box. With both hands on the plate, he exhaled exhausted, his head slightly bowed. With his hand he rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to Roland and his dragoness. A faint smile grew in the corner of his mouth when he looked at both.

With a peaceful coo, Kyndle was now laying with her back on Roland's legs. Holding her like this in his arms, the female rubbed her nose against his, accompanied by the gentle hum of her body. Her eyes closed, she enjoyed the small pats from her partner. With light pressure, Roland's fingers ran over the area on her chest, which was covered by the bloody cloth. A weak but pleasant tingling ran through her body. Roland felt this impression as well and pulled her closer to him.

Ansem's smile disappeared slowly as he looked up. “Take care of her.” He said softly. Roland heard his whispering words and turned to him. With his eyes fixed, however, he just stared at a tree trunk and suddenly sat with Kyndle in his arms on the earthy forest floor. The hut, the gravel yard and the shelter were gone, just like Ansem. As if they had never been here. Roland looked around in surprise and gazed up at the sky. The sun was steep in the sky. “How long have we been away?” He wondered uncertainly, but his eyes stopped at his medium. Looking at the scaled glove on his left hand, he put on a confident smile. “Looks like we can go home now. Aaros certainly has a lot more to do for…”

His thought voice broke as Kyndle's tongue gently caressed up his neck. Half-closed, he looked deep into his dragoness’ eyes. The bright spark in the turquoise edge of her bright eyes shone toward him. He felt the weak vibration of her purr and ran his hand under her chin down her neck. The eyes closed, they put their lips in love over each other and shared a sensual tongue touch.

For a while, both of them stayed in the clearing looking at each other. With their foreheads close together, they listened to the gentle rhythm of their hearts. The spark of her imprint shimmered brightly between the eyes in love.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..


After a few hours, Kyndle and Roland were on the road towards Ironwing. From the distance they saw the tower of the property. Roland was sitting on his horse smiling confidently, next to him stood Kyndle and nestled her head against his leg. He ran his hand over her forehead as he looked at the property. On a hill beyond, he spotted two shadows.

They just stood there wrapped in black coats. One looked down at the property and the other had his eyes on Roland. Roland briefly turned to Kyndle in surprise. “Do you see that too?” He asked her, pointing with one hand to the hill. But he frowned in confusion when he was surprised to find that the two shadows had disappeared.

A cold shiver flew over his neck as if he were being watched from some hole. Quickly shaken off the moment, he spurred his mount and rode quickly toward the property. With a bright “Chirp”, Kyndle jumped into the air and followed her partner with a few wingbeats.

After a short while he passed the gate and arrived at the stables. He handed the horse over to Timmy, who was staring absently at the sky first. He grimaced slightly when he saw Roland's glove and immediately disappeared into the stable with the horse, when Kyndle joined him.

Roland looked into her eyes briefly and then wanted to turn to Timmy, but he was already gone. A shrug of the shoulders later, he went to the barracks with Kyndle. When both arrived at the training ground, they were already expected by Aaros. The magician eyed Roland's medium attentively. “So you have found Ansem?” He said. “More or less.” Roland replied with a weak smile.

His teacher looked thoughtfully at the orange-red scales of the glove. Then his attention went to Kyndle's chest and the discolored marking cloth. “I thought the list was complete?” Aaros interjected. “Me too.” Roland agreed, looking warmly at his dragoness. “The first catalyst unexpectedly turned out to be false.” He put an arm around her neck and gently stroked the cloth on her healing wound. “Fortunately for me, Kyndle was so generous to help out.” A bright sparkle shimmered from her shining eyes while he kept this nice visual contact.

For a quick moment he saw the picture of her in front of him again, as she pulled out the scale. But quickly shaken off the moment, he turned back to his teacher.

With a long nod, Aaros took note of it. “Do we want to try it?” He asked with raised eyebrows and beckoned Roland to the square in front of the straw dolls.

Roland stood on the line from which he normally shot with the bow and stared at the training manikin. Aaros stood there with his arms crossed. Kyndle lay down in the shade of a nearby tree. Her elegant body covered with her wing, she watched everything curiously.

“First, you take off the glove.” Aaros said firmly. “Hmm? Why that?” Roland interjected in surprise. “I want you to feel the difference.”

Roland pulled the medium from his hand somewhat uncertainly and looked concentratedly at the doll. “Let's try something simple. A fireball.” Aaros suggested calmly. Roland closed his eyes and breathed in and out calmly. He opened his left palm openly when a faint crackle was heard. With a soft rustle, a small orange-red flame ignited over his hand. Looking up at the straw face, he thrust his hand forward and hurled the ball of flame at his target.

When the fire reached the doll, he winked at the flame with a deep exhalation. A loud bang enveloped the doll with the burning heat and turned it to ashes. Afterwards Roland inhaled noticeably exhausted. “Not bad.” Aaros added with praise and looked at his student with a smile. “Now with the medium, the same way.” He demanded. Roland pulled on the glove and clenched his hand into a fist. With his sigh of relief, the orange-red scales rose up on the back of his hand and then slowly lay down again.

He breathed in again with his eyes closed and opened his left hand openly. A bright flame blazed vigorously over his hand. He looked astonished at the fire, which was now burning with a dark orange-red tone much more intensely. Kyndle put her ears up and glanced at her partner in surprise. With the same movement he hurled the fireball at the second doll. A wink later the ball hit and cremated the training figure together with the wooden stake in a dazzling inferno.

Aaros narrowed his eyes slightly to the light as he watched the spectacle. He looked confidently at his student and nodded to him with praise. Roland looked at his medium in astonishment and carefully examined how the scales on it rose and fell with his breathing. “I did it the same way as before.” Roland said in astonishment. “And yet ...” “I am surprised myself at what your medium accomplishes.” Aaros interrupted. Satisfied, he looked at Kyndle and started to smile slightly when the dragoness looked back. “You have a very special girlfriend there.” The magician added and turned back to Roland. He also looked at the female. “Yes, she is.” He thought aloud to himself. “My special imprint partner.”

Cooing, she looked over at him and sent a bright spark from the turquoise color of her deep blue eyes over in his. Roland smiled and followed the shimmer slowly toward her. Hearing the soft hum from her, he approached her, always keeping visual contact. Roland knelt down in front of her and ran a hand down her neck, causing her to purr weakly. But before he could say anything, she yawned in his face with her mouth wide open.

Roland smiled at the subsequent quiet coo and stroked his dragoness over the forehead. She closed her eyes briefly when she felt his hand on her scales. She purred happily, while he looked in her sparkling sapphires.

“You've had a long day.” Roland said softly. “Go ahead and take some rest.” She gently nudged his chin and quickly brushed her tongue over his lips. With half-closed eyes she got up and gave him a look in love. Roland stayed on his knees and watched smiling after his partner, followed her elegant movements until she disappeared behind the hedge.

With a low coo, the orange-red dragoness walked to the entrance of the main house. She stopped short and listened to the air. Loud effects of magic effects echoed through the air. With a soft “Chirp”, she sat in front of the door and tapped softly with the tip of her tail against the entrance. Shortly afterwards the door was opened by Sasha, who eyed her in amazement and got caught on the reddish-colored cloth on her chest.

With a greeting “Meep” the dragoness passed him and looked at the old man with half-closed eyes. “Likewise.” He replied soberly and closed the door behind her again. “Does the lady need help with this?” Sasha asked primarily when he turned to her and tapped his chest with a finger. Kyndle stopped short and looked down at the discolored cloth on her chest. She looked at the old man with big eyes and with a soft “Chirp” and a slow, head-waving gesture she answered him.

Sasha nodded once with his eyes closed and took a slightly bent position with his hands on his back. “Of course.” He replied softly and walked away.

With another wide open yawn, the dragoness entered the room of Roland and her and walked across the large carpet in the room. She stopped in front of the mirrored door of the closet and tugged at the marked cloth around her chest. Cooing softly, she put the fabric on the floor and looked at herself in the mirror. With a paw she stroked the reddish scraps from her wound and skeptically looked at the bare area in her beautiful scale dress. Her gaze slowly faded over it as an uncomfortable shiver shot through her body. She winced slightly when the memory of those stinging waves of pain came back to her. There was still an uncomfortable throb. The moment quickly cleared aside, she turned to the bed and walked wearily towards it.

As always, she sniffed the sheet first and looked for Roland's smell, before jumping on the bed, in their nest. Curled tightly in the blanket, she purred happily while listening to her calm heartbeat. The picture of her mate, holding her in his arms and placing his forehead on hers, in front of her mind, she dozed peacefully into the land of dreams.


After a few hours, Roland trudged up the stairs visibly exhausted, on the way to his room. Breathing heavily, he approached the door.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..


Meanwhile, in a distant, dark place ...

With a low, sinister giggle, a slightly bent man looked into a large mirror. The buildings of the Ironwing estate were visible in the floating area. A threatening violet sparkle shimmered from the empty eye sockets of his silver mask, as he brushed the image with his bony fingers. Behind him stood two people, dressed in black coats, who also looked at the mirror from the shadows of their hoods.

A ghostly figure hovered between the two unknowns. He was wearing an ash gray robe with six different symbols on it. He also looked silently at the image of Ironwing.

“The shadows are growing ...” The figure gasped softly. “And are already visible on the horizon ...” A cold laugh echoed through the room.