“You can’t be serious! Are you suggesting that I’m a…” Vartan trailed off.
“Yes, that is exactly what I’m suggesting. You may not have been born of scales, but two humans of dragon blood created you, and of course, your brother,” said Karven.
Vartan looked from Karven to Finn and stepped back in bewilderment. Looking upon the dragon Finn once more, he began to see similarities in the features of the dragon’s face; most notable were Finn’s eyes.
Karven addressed him again. “The spell allows this to happen, but you must understand that if you are killed or — should you be lucky — die of old age, you will never be able to return to your human form again. And your dreams are not dreams at all; they are visions.'
Vartan’s face contorted as he asked, “Visions?”
“They are visions of the past, the present and of the future. Although you are as fragile as any other human, you are empowered with many of our gifts. Magic, visions and telepathy are all skills you can learn to harness.”
Vartan put his hands on Finn’s neck and attempted to give his brother a hug. “I have missed you, Finn. I just can’t believe it’s really you.”
“Do you know why Greenhaven has been attacked?” asked Karven. “Why Kassina would take such a bold risk? Have you ever wondered at its beauty, and how such a structure could be realised by human ambition alone as your history books have taught you?”
Vartan released his brother’s scaly neck and turned his full attention back to the King of Dragons. “Of course I have.'
“Many thousands of years ago, the ancients, our allies, built a weapon of immense capability. Talonsphere is an artefact that was created as a last resort to completely destroy the Forces of Darkness.”
“How do you know all of this? Why haven't I been told this before?”
“I know all of this because we helped them to build it. And is it such a surprise to you that nobody would share this with you? Not even the late King Arman knew the full history of Greenhaven and some secrets are guarded for a good reason. This is not the first time in history that we have faced the Forces of Darkness, Vartan, and it likely won’t be the last. However, the prophecy has almost been fulfilled. We have a chance to rid the world of our oppressors forever and experience eternal peace, and it all depends on you.”
“Me? What are you talking about? How do I fit into this prophecy?”
“The prophecy says that a man born of two dragons in human form will unlock the Talonsphere and rid the world of the dark forces that plague us. You are the final hope, for your kind and ours. Finn is unable to fulfil this prophecy, as he has returned to his true dragon form.'
Vartan paled as he stared into the distance. 'I understand. So I am the last hope for Marithia… This is quite the burden to bear. What else can you tell me?'
'Greenhaven was built to designs found in ancient scrolls, and its intended purpose is to protect this weapon, the Talonsphere. However, the language of the ancients is no longer spoken, and the average Marithian is unable to read the written word. Only a few have passed the ancient language on to their children. One of those children was King Arman. Upon his ascension to the throne, he was provided access to the royal library, including the ancient scrolls. After years of study, he located the blueprints of Greenhaven, and learned that Talonsphere was buried at a location hidden in the scrolls.'
“Then Kassina can destroy it?” asked Vartan.
“That is the greatest of all our fears. If the weapon were to be destroyed, then we would lose the chance to rid the world once and for all of the Forces of Darkness. We would all become slaves to the underworld.'
“Surely you could just build another Talonsphere?”
Karven let out a chuckle. “If only it were that easy, Vartan. The ancients disappeared long ago, without a trace: none of those with the necessary skills to build such a weapon are alive. The materials alone would take hundreds of years to collect, even if we had the ancients here to build it. No, this is our only chance. We need to recapture Greenhaven, and we will not be able to do it alone. Even with our powers, we could be overwhelmed by Kassina’s forces. Our numbers are limited; we will need allies, and the strength of our combined efforts.'
“Queen Andrielle and Princess Helenia… They should have escaped to the Elven Woods — I remember the king's commands myself. The elves would prove the strongest of allies. They practice powerful elven magic and should have the numbers we need. I also still have a duty as a knight to ensure their safety, and I must see them again. Can we not travel there now?'
“You are wise beyond your years, Vartan,” replied Karven. “If what you say is true, then we must seek out the elves for reasons other than this war alone. However, you need training in the arts of magic before we even think of letting you leave the protection of our island. Come and eat with us, and regain your strength. If the queen and princess are still alive, then we have plenty of time on our side.”
“I understand, but I need to seek out Helenia soon. I can ill afford to waste time,” said Vartan.
“I understand your feelings completely,” said Karven. “But you must learn to trust in our guidance. We only have your best interests at heart. You will not be misled by any dragon-it is others which you need to be wary of.”
Vartan watched as another dragon flew over to them, a freshly killed calf gripped firmly in his talons. He dropped the carcass in front of them and returned to his position in the circle. Vartan's stomach turned at the sight of the deceased animal. “Thank you, Karven; I appreciate your kindness. I really am starving, but I don't eat raw meat.'
Finn laughed heartily, took a deep breath and engulfed the calf in a breath of flames. “Is that cooked enough, brother? Or would you like it crisper?”
Karven’s face hardened and his voice reverberated in Vartan’s mind.
Vartan, there is something very important you and I need to discuss about Talonsphere. We shall talk about this in private. Just let me know when you’re ready, as I’m sure you would like some time alone with Finn. But we must soon take flight to the Elven Woods. Use this time wisely.
Chapter 6: In Love and War
“Many of our people looked to King Arman for guidance, and he did the very best he could to provide that to them. It was his responsibility as King of Greenhaven to protect them.
With one hand, he held them to his bosom and provided them the love that they craved from their king. With the other, he grasped his sword vigilantly to defend them at any cost, even against his own son.
He gave his life in an attempt to rid Marithia of any threat that would harm them and we will forever remember him as the king of the people, a protector of Marithians.”
The precise location of Veldrenn, deep in the Elven Woods, was a well-kept secret. It was hidden far from the gaze of any prying eyes, and not even the alliance with Greenhaven permitted its location to be revealed. The elves believed that remaining hidden was their first and best line of defence. While Kassina’s forces now searched aimlessly through the many lands between them, Andrielle knew that they had plenty of time before they might possibly be found.
Although they succeeded in keeping their home a secret, they took no chances. Veldrenn was extremely well-protected and it was this protection that had kept its location unknown to outsiders. It was inevitable that they could be accidentally found at any time, and so lookout faeries resided in the surrounding trees for great distances, and would signal an intruder’s presence; in return, the elves provided protection from wild predators that threatened the survival of faeriekind. The great oak trees were also enchanted by elven magic to create a dark canopy that served to confuse even the best trackers. If anyone were to somehow find their way through the great maze of trees, they would then have to face the elven guards, who were permanently stationed around the outskirts of Veldrenn. Each guard was trained to the level of Master in magic, and all were expert swordsmen.
The city itself was surrounded by menacing walls of closely placed oak trees that were under the control of the elven queen, and could be shifted as desired by the elves. Within those walls, the elves had built their homes in
