A flapping of great wings sounded above them, and the birds squawked and flew away.
Fandri’s eyes and nose were all that was left above the tar and Fandri-La lay beside him, her light weight floating. He saw a dragon eat one of the birds in a single swallow and he felt hope rising in his heart. Despite the pressure of the heavy tar on his chest, he took a deep breath.
Large talons dug him and his fairy from the tar. They were flown up through warm air currents.
Fandri-La cheered with elation.
Another dragon could be seen lifting Varl, and a third dragon emerged through the mist to join them.
Three grey dragons cradled their small charges south over the mountain range towards the sea. The dragons gently placed them into shallow water near the beach with their heads above the water.
Fandri scrubbed at the tar and it floated away into the ocean.
Varl was very weak, so when the halfling had cleaned himself and the fairy, he washed his friend as well.
“How do you feel, youngsters?” The husky voice seemed at once both strange and familiar. It took Fandri a moment to recognise it.
“Darna, is that you?”
“Yes, it be me. Here is also President Herraya Grey. She wished to have a brief word with you.” The dragon bent her long neck in respect to the older dragon. Fandri noticed subtle differences in the dragons: Aram was larger, Herraya was quite wrinkled and her spine appeared more arched, and Darna’s big green-yellow eyes were beautiful and ringed by long lashes. Even as a dragon she looked pretty, standing there with her emerald-tinged wings high to her sides.
The President lifted Fandri in one careful claw to study him in front of her eye which had a light cloud of white on its surface. “Hmm…halfling, you be quite the enigma. You be fiercely loyal to this boy, but we cannot trust any of his kind. You are a friend to elves, wizards and knights, and these two dragons also proclaim that you are worthy. If it were just this squire, we would dispose of his body, but you have powerful allies. I am loath to condemn you to death for fear of retaliation. What do you have to say for yourself?”
The halfling took a deep breath to steady the shudders pulsing through his body. He needed to speak well if he were to save their lives. “Your highness, it is true that I have many friends in Reloria and so does the squire here. Varl is also the heir to the Diagro throne, so there would be retribution if any harm comes to him. I know a little of your peoples and have found both the mountain folk and the Diagro people to be honourable and just. However, you are too proud and unwilling to forge an alliance which would benefit you all.”
Aram roared and smoke came from his nostrils.
Herraya waved a claw to settle him. The dragon calmed down, but his eyes still bore into Fandri.
The halfling gulped.
The fairy then took over. “If I may, your highness, what Fandri is trying to say is that if you and King Varan just talked to each other, you could pay him to raise cattle and sheep for you and all would benefit. Your war would end.”
Darna nodded.
Herraya looked thoughtful. “You may be right, young fairy and halfling, but I doubt peace will be welcomed by the Council and I also doubt the king would be amenable to such a truce. There be too much blood spilled on both sides of the Disputed Lands.” She dug her talons into the sand, copying the pattern of her tattoos. “Well, I be gone overly long. Aram and I must return to the Council. Your disappearance will be noted on our records.”
She turned to Varl, who was now fully awake and trying to stand up on the sand, but his leg gave way. “I am sorry for the treatment you received and I do hope that over time our peoples will mend the generations of hatred. Darna Grey will take you to the Western Outpost where you can have your broken leg set. Let your life be a gift from the mountain peoples. Go in peace, Varl of the royal house of Diagro.”
Herraya and Aram nodded to each other and launched into the air, heading back towards the Flame Mountain, the highest peak in the range.
Darna stepped forward and bowed to Fandri and Varl. “I have something which belongs to you.” She lifted a claw and the boys saw her talon was a bit lumpy. With another claw she unwrapped a piece of grey cloth and placed it upon the sand. It turned a golden colour.
Fandri grinned. “The invisibility cloak.”
Darna nodded. “I saw you drop this outside the forum when Aram grabbed you and flew away. I thought you would be in trouble if anyone knew of its existence. I am sure all my kind are unaware that such things exist.”
“As are the Plainsmen.” Varl nodded with an arched eyebrow to Fandri and his fairy.
“It was borrowed from a friend and must be returned.” Fandri-La noticed their raised eyebrows. “Surely you didn’t think I had that kind of magic.”
The halfling shook his head. “No, my sweet Fandy, but you do have many wonderful talents. Perhaps you could help ease Varl’s pain for our journey.”
“I would help if I had my healing herbs with me.” Darna looked disappointed.
Fandri-La smiled. “That’s a good idea, Fandri. I’ll give it a try.” The fairy glowed bright white and spun around in the air above the boy. She sang until her voice was hoarse, but Varl remained with his face contorted with pain.
At length, the fairy collapsed onto the sand beside him. “I’m sorry, but he needs a real healer. My magic doesn’t seem to work on him.”
The halfling sagged as he also felt the drain of energy. He patted his fairy tenderly on her cap. “Don’t fret, my sweet. I know how hard you have tried. It is a long way to the Western Outpost, but I’m sure we can make it.”
“Not a long way when you are a dragon.” Darna’s smile showed many razor-sharp teeth as she scooped them up. “Brace yourselves lads, we be flying at top speed today.” The dragon draped Celdar-Moon’s invisibility cloak over the squire and tucked it around him before launching into the air. Her wings caused swirls of sand to fill the air.
Fandri-La smiled and blinked rapidly as she fought to keep her eyes open in the biting wind.
Yawning, Fandri clicked his tongue absent-mindedly, moments before they both drifted off to sleep.
Artwork: ‘Dragon’s Peak’ acrylic by Brighid Walton