Here Lies Ezraan
Descendent of Kings
The young warrior could not bring himself to put anything more personal on the stone. The wound of Ezraan’s passing was still open and throbbing, and he had only known his father for a short time. Much of that time, Ezraan had been a nearly insane relic, not the sort of thing you commemorate on a tombstone. So Khollo left the marker at the legacy Ezraan had been so proud of, so desperate to restore.
I’m sorry, father, Khollo thought. I was too slow to save you. The Order will return though, you have my word.
Khollo abruptly turned away from the grave and climbed onto Kanin’s back. We can leave this afternoon, he said to the dragon. There is nothing to keep us here now.
We go to fight?
Yes, Khollo agreed. To war.
It took less than an hour for Khollo to pack. He strapped five water skins to Kanin’s saddle, and two packs stuffed with meat and bread. Kanin had hunted the previous day, and would not need to eat again until after their flight back to the mainland. After he had made his preparations, Khollo ate a small meal from the stores he was leaving behind at the hold, then pulled out a map he had copied from the one in the library. He examined the currents critically, trying to decide.
Where are we going? Kanin asked curiously, looking at the map.
The southernmost route is treacherous in winter, though it is shortest, Khollo reminded him, looking over his notes. The only other real option is the current we took to get here.
And that goes the wrong way, Kanin observed.
Khollo nodded. Yes.
Then the south it is, Kanin decided.
Hold on, that’s the most dangerous, remember?
We can do it, Kanin replied confidently. Besides, is there not a city in desperate need of a dragon near the end of the southern path?
Yes, but-
Then we must do it, Kanin said firmly. If there was a high chance of failure this route would not be marked. We are past the worst of winter anyway, past the most treacherous time for this air path.
Khollo took a deep, steadying breath, then steeled himself. Right, we’ll take the southern path, he decided, rolling up the map and climbing onto Kanin’s back.
Excellent, the dragon replied. To war!
Kanin roared and spread his wings, launching himself into the air. Khollo yelled as well, with the fierce joy of being aloft and on his way back to the mainland.
I sense the current, Kanin reported as they cleared the mountains and started out across the sea. Hold on!
Suddenly, they were climbing rapidly and Kanin was speeding forward, the wind whipping around Khollo’s face, tearing at his clothes and hair with invisible fingers. The sea glittered below, a rippling green expanse full of wonder. And, for the dragon and rider above, danger.
Don’t forget to pace yourself, Khollo told Kanin, laying a hand on the dragon’s neck. He looked back quickly. The island was already fading into the distance, the mountains little more than spiky smudges on the horizon.
I will be careful, Kanin promised. We will make it to the mainland. You will see.
“I hope so,” Khollo muttered, loosening the fighting straps so he could ride more comfortably. “I hope so.”
Khollo passed the rest of that day in a strange mixture of terror and boredom. Every time Kanin lurched one way or the other, Khollo reflexively grabbed the fighting straps and his heart shot into his mouth, thinking that the current had failed them. But each time, his worry was for nothing.
Outside of those momentary surges of panic, Khollo had nothing to do. He ate a light supper of meat and bread washed down with water as the sun fell towards the horizon, but there was nothing else to break up the monotony. In every direction was endless water, each patch the same as the next.
Night fell. Stars brightened overhead before the moon rose and made their tiny lights invisible with its own silver grandeur. Khollo tightened the fighting straps so he would not fall off and slumped forward against Kanin’s neck, trying to snatch a few hours of rest. Somewhere between one bout of dragon turbulence and the next, Khollo dropped off to sleep.
He woke the next morning to find that the sun was well up and they were still gliding peacefully over the sea. Khollo ate a breakfast of bread and water, looking around for any sign of land. There was none, but Khollo had not expected there to be. They were not even a full day into the flight yet, and the notes attached to the map said that this route would take between two and two and a half days depending on the dragon and the strength of the air currents.
We will make it by the end of tomorrow, Kanin promised. You will see.
Are you tiring?
Not at all, Kanin replied confidently. I feel as though I could fly for days yet.
Khollo sighed and sat back, resigning himself to another day of utter boredom. Let me know if anything changes, he told Kanin. And if I fall asleep again, wake me up.
Why? So you can be bored again?
Khollo shrugged. No, I just feel like you’re doing all the work and I should at least be awake.
I am doing all of the work.
