Of Earth & Stars

“There weren’t always dragons in the valley you know Syngen but I thought the council were happy that they had returned.”

“Well, if what we just heard is true, then we were very very wrong indeed.”

“Yes, and we should tell Maladore as soon as possible.”

“I don’t think so," a commanding voice ahead declared.

Syngen and Rinah were caught by surprise, there was nowhere to run in the cavern tunnels that ran along side the valley. They had been made by human hands at the direction of both dragon and elf, in a time when the balance of power teetered and war imminent, their original purpose depended on which side you were on, for the discretion of servants or for communicating secrets and certainly not wide enough for full combat.

“You two spies are going to be the guests of the lower sector out of harms way,” Findork sneered as he reached for his weapon.

“Always the same with you two, sticking your noses in the wrong place.”

“Oh sure Findork, like you aren’t jealous or anything being the spoilt brat that you’ve always been. Your still not actually a full ranking guard, are you?” Rinah sassed with a practiced tongue. For as long as the three could remember they had been at each other. Three elves battling their own war into adulthood amongst the valley, a home and community of dragons and elves, the humans long gone. According to the history lessons, it is unlikely that any ever left the valley, as the great war erupted, they were the most vulnerable, easy prey.

While Rinah kept Findork busy Syngen surveyed their location, true it would not make for an easy getaway as this tunnel was no longer used once the humans weren’t there to serve and at a time when the dragons were made abandon the great halls and their ancestral valley there was little need for them. They had stumbled upon this tunnel recently but usually there was nothing to see or do as it led to the rear of the elven council hall one way and to the valley and the direction they were heading, now blocked by Findork and his shield, the other.

But Syngen didn’t have to search for long as the answer came creeping up behind their capturer, Mishish to the rescue. Mishish with his short velvety soft grey fur and cute white tuft running from forehead and along his back was Syngen’s second best friend, an Ojisum, extremely intelligent and with large claws the colour of onyx a handy one when in a tight bind. With a quick succession of clicks Syngen gave the instruction for attack.

Findork had no idea what had struck him when Mishish attacked him from behind, jumping first onto his back, with claws dug deep and then using the leverage gained pounced again onto his head, scrambling for a hold his claws scratched at Findork’s face, made contorted by the pain. Small droplets of blood emerged, aiding the escape by blinding Findork long enough for them to push past him and they ran for the entry and the safety of the valley.

“You don’t know what your meddling in!” The voice of Findork could be heard screeching at them from behind. At least on that point the three agreed but Rinah and Syngen were going to make sure they found out.

“Do you know where Maladore will be today?” Syngen asked once he had caught his breathe again and they had put some distance between themselves and anyone that might be in pursuit of them. Although at this stage they thought that it would be unlikely that anyone would be paying any attention to Findorks rambling.

“Let me think, we are in the second moon cycle and the weather is fair, so my guess would be making his return from the Taroon Mountain.”

The Taroon Mountain, a sacred place for the dragons, a place enshrined in the secrets of their dwindling race. Elves were no longer permitted there, not since the treaty was made but all knew of its beauty, a place for star gazing. It could only be reached by a winding pathway that was lit by the dappled light made by the ancient trees alongside it or by air. Rinah knew which she would prefer, as an apt flyer she was as comfortable in the skies as any dragon but that knowledge was shared with very few as dragon flight had been forbidden at the time of the treaty, not everyone agreed.

Comfortable in each others company the pair pondered over what they had heard of the High Council plotting and with too many questions yet to be answered, they as yet had no idea as to why. After all, hadn’t they called the dragons back to the valley with a treatise of peace only a century ago?

Lost in their own thoughts neither noticed Mishish drop gently from Syngen’s back, his often-preferred method of transport, and scurry away into the lush foliage of the underbrush as they made their way on autopilot to the base of Taroon Mountain. What they did notice upon arrival were two century guards in full regalia, they barred the way by each maneuvering their staff to meet the other to form a cross.

Rinah with head bowed cast her eyes towards Syngen a sign to let her handle this, he in return rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what that meant because of all her attributes there was one that shone without any effort what-so-ever, tall and elegant were both common attributes of the valley elves but when it came to beauty Rinah had been especially gifted and she knew it and used it with guile. Her long lustrous black hair was set apart by a pure white lock running down beside the left of her face, her grey-green eyes shifted colour dependent on her mood and with a skin tone uncommonly dark for elves she was stunning.

But before she could convince the guards, Lin and Yanik, that they should disappear for a while or turn the other way because she just had to go and pick moy-moy flowers, they were joined by a squadron that emerged silently from above and behind. Rinah lost the practiced smile she had put in placed and grasped Syngen’s hand for strength. Giving her hand a quick squeeze he was just about to ask what was going on, when darkness descended as they felt the rough application of something being placed over their heads, obviously charmed because neither could make a sound once it was on.

Watching the scene from a vantage point along the pathway to the dragon sanctuary was Maladore, as his emotions surfaced mixed and confused he shimmered and in an instant was made invisible.