The Journey, Chapter 31 = previous chapter
Chapter 32: Greetings
Cassandra turned the ox into a small copse of trees on the outskirts of the forest, a gentle stream flowing by. After checking on Tara and reporting her condition to the Opal Dragon she dropped down from the wagon and started to tend to herself, washing her hands and rinsing her face in the cold water of the stream.
‘Stay here for the night, I am going to hunt for food’ Elqiana said simply through her mind. Cassandra looked up and saw the dragon as a small pin prick dot high up in the sky.
But really Elqiana was trying to mentally prepare herself for the meeting with the Queen of two-legged-wood-dwellers. She fly down into the clearing that was mentioned by the eagle. Folding in her wings she lay down and curled up, the tip of her thorned tail whipping back and forth occasionally.
A few hours passed by, as stealthy as they tried to be, no one was getting past Elqiana’s keen hearing. Not giving anything away, and staying perfectly still pretending to be asleep the Elves walked forward as quietly as they could, many of them seeing a dragon for the first time politely kept their distance but looked in awe.
“Would you but stare at a sleeping woman you didn’t know?” Came an authoritative lilting voice.
The Elves stopped in their tracks and stood up straight to attention, a little ashamed at their actions.
‘Curious little two-legged-pointed-ears they are’ Elqiana projected, the authoritative one, as she opened her large disc-like eyes.
A tall gracious elf with long blonde flowing hair, green eyes, very refined features wearing black armour with a green panther etched on to the breastplate stepped forward. She brought her hand up from her waist in a sweeping motion that had all the presence of grace in the Elvish greeting of respect, following a low bow. “O’ mighty dragon, fairest of them all, my name is Gabija, queen of the wood dwellers, chief of Clan Panther.”
‘Hmm… well met, Queen. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you as such?’
“I’m not sure how much you know, if you know anything at all. The ambush that cost Dyffros his life, was not a coincidence. The tyrant king wanted to kidnap Tara, the first dragon rider in a long time to force her unto his will. He seeks to use you and Tara for his nefarious deeds.”
Elqiana didn’t say anything, she lay still and she listened. Gabija hesitated before continuing.
“We wish to get you all to Edena, to Master Vivi, I believe him to be the only one who might be able to help Tara. For you I have arranged a safe keep in the Termini Cliffs, a point high enough that no one is likely to climb to unless absolutely necessary, from a well hidden path very little known about.”
‘Will I be able to watch and observe from this lofty keep?’
“From all four directions, as well as giving you plenty of cover to stay hidden.”
Elqiana stayed quiet for sometime. ‘I will do as suggested, but hell hath no fury for a dragon's rage unleashed, no one will stop me from rampaging to protect Tarasque and Cassandra’ She warned.
“I wouldn’t expect it any other way. I wish to meet under better circumstances, I wish you well and your rider, that be I might meet her soon.” Gabija bowed, and Elqiana reciprocated.
The Elves set about their business leaving as quickly and as quietly as they arrived. The meeting was short and sweet, but left Elqiana concerned about what might happen in the future. She felt a disturbance with Tara, another seizure and tried to send comforting reassuring thoughts to her, to let her know she was still with her.
‘Cassandra… Cassandra! Wake up! It’s Tara!’
At the sound of the dragon's voice in her mind Cassandra sat up, bolt right. Looking to her side she saw her daughter having a seizure. She grabbed Tara and hugged her tightly until the seizure subsided. Cassandra wiped Tara’s brow with a damp cloth and cleaned her face, gently laying her back down.
‘She’s ok Elqiana, the seizure has subsided. We need to get her to this Vivi as soon as possible.’
‘I agree.’ The dragon replied quietly.
That morning Cassandra woke up, and ate a small helping of dry bread and hard cheese. As she climbed off the wagon to put the harness back on the ox she noticed a tall slender man with light brown scruffy hair sat at the base of a tree.
“Ah, my apologies Lady Cassandra, my name is Timtur, her majesty Queen Gabija has asked me to be your guide to Edena.”
“Oh, ok thank you… and please just call me Cassandra… or Cassie…”
Chapter 32: Greetings
Cassandra turned the ox into a small copse of trees on the outskirts of the forest, a gentle stream flowing by. After checking on Tara and reporting her condition to the Opal Dragon she dropped down from the wagon and started to tend to herself, washing her hands and rinsing her face in the cold water of the stream.
‘Stay here for the night, I am going to hunt for food’ Elqiana said simply through her mind. Cassandra looked up and saw the dragon as a small pin prick dot high up in the sky.
But really Elqiana was trying to mentally prepare herself for the meeting with the Queen of two-legged-wood-dwellers. She fly down into the clearing that was mentioned by the eagle. Folding in her wings she lay down and curled up, the tip of her thorned tail whipping back and forth occasionally.
A few hours passed by, as stealthy as they tried to be, no one was getting past Elqiana’s keen hearing. Not giving anything away, and staying perfectly still pretending to be asleep the Elves walked forward as quietly as they could, many of them seeing a dragon for the first time politely kept their distance but looked in awe.
“Would you but stare at a sleeping woman you didn’t know?” Came an authoritative lilting voice.
The Elves stopped in their tracks and stood up straight to attention, a little ashamed at their actions.
‘Curious little two-legged-pointed-ears they are’ Elqiana projected, the authoritative one, as she opened her large disc-like eyes.
A tall gracious elf with long blonde flowing hair, green eyes, very refined features wearing black armour with a green panther etched on to the breastplate stepped forward. She brought her hand up from her waist in a sweeping motion that had all the presence of grace in the Elvish greeting of respect, following a low bow. “O’ mighty dragon, fairest of them all, my name is Gabija, queen of the wood dwellers, chief of Clan Panther.”
‘Hmm… well met, Queen. To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you as such?’
“I’m not sure how much you know, if you know anything at all. The ambush that cost Dyffros his life, was not a coincidence. The tyrant king wanted to kidnap Tara, the first dragon rider in a long time to force her unto his will. He seeks to use you and Tara for his nefarious deeds.”
Elqiana didn’t say anything, she lay still and she listened. Gabija hesitated before continuing.
“We wish to get you all to Edena, to Master Vivi, I believe him to be the only one who might be able to help Tara. For you I have arranged a safe keep in the Termini Cliffs, a point high enough that no one is likely to climb to unless absolutely necessary, from a well hidden path very little known about.”
‘Will I be able to watch and observe from this lofty keep?’
“From all four directions, as well as giving you plenty of cover to stay hidden.”
Elqiana stayed quiet for sometime. ‘I will do as suggested, but hell hath no fury for a dragon's rage unleashed, no one will stop me from rampaging to protect Tarasque and Cassandra’ She warned.
“I wouldn’t expect it any other way. I wish to meet under better circumstances, I wish you well and your rider, that be I might meet her soon.” Gabija bowed, and Elqiana reciprocated.
The Elves set about their business leaving as quickly and as quietly as they arrived. The meeting was short and sweet, but left Elqiana concerned about what might happen in the future. She felt a disturbance with Tara, another seizure and tried to send comforting reassuring thoughts to her, to let her know she was still with her.
‘Cassandra… Cassandra! Wake up! It’s Tara!’
At the sound of the dragon's voice in her mind Cassandra sat up, bolt right. Looking to her side she saw her daughter having a seizure. She grabbed Tara and hugged her tightly until the seizure subsided. Cassandra wiped Tara’s brow with a damp cloth and cleaned her face, gently laying her back down.
‘She’s ok Elqiana, the seizure has subsided. We need to get her to this Vivi as soon as possible.’
‘I agree.’ The dragon replied quietly.
That morning Cassandra woke up, and ate a small helping of dry bread and hard cheese. As she climbed off the wagon to put the harness back on the ox she noticed a tall slender man with light brown scruffy hair sat at the base of a tree.
“Ah, my apologies Lady Cassandra, my name is Timtur, her majesty Queen Gabija has asked me to be your guide to Edena.”
“Oh, ok thank you… and please just call me Cassandra… or Cassie…”
The Journey, Chapter 33
The Journey, Chapt 32 = previous chapter Chapter 33: Floresith For several months now Nekonata, and his companions travelled by foot, Santaya and Kristolia had grown and become worthy friends. Helping to find and scavenge food for them all to eat. How he knew how to skin and debone animals he...
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