CHAPTER 15
Keeper Dimmel did not call Raef for lessons after sunrise homage the next sun’s journey. The Keepers were busy consoling the village and had apparently forgotten about him. It was just as well to Raef, he had personal matters to settle.
After the Keepers left the Ceremonial Lodge, Raef made straight for the forest and his old secret place. The dragon was there, waiting. Raef realized he had his blue robe on, over his clothes. He took the robe off and tossed it aside before entered the clearing.
“Rail, why did you hurt Prime Rodon?” Raef said, angrily, “You cut his whole side open. He might die!”
The old dragon sat up.
“He is a Warrior. His job is to kill me. If he wants a fight, he will get one.”
“Rodon was not even in the square when you arrived.”
“I came to see you; it was the Warriors who made the first threat.”
“Why…” Raef could hardly think what to say, “why would you come where everyone can see you?”
“Why should I not?”
“But, you can’t…I can’t let people know…and you practically killed my friend’s father!”
The dragon lowered its great head and brought it close to Raef.
“Raef, Prime Warrior Rodon is my enemy,” Rail said, “and I do not believe that Chaz is really your friend.”
Raef looked at the ground, unable to look the dragon in the eye.
“Do you hurt young ones?” Raef asked, “Young like me?”
Rail draped a talon over Raef’s shoulder.
“You are my friend,” the dragon said, “I would never harm you. And I harm no younglings. I have honor.”
Raef looked angrily up at the dragon. But the dragon only smiled back. Raef knew this was all his own fault, but it was too messy. He didn’t know how to fix it.
“How about when I get older?” Raef asked, glaring back at the beast.
“You are my friend. You always will be. I do not hurt my friends, not those who are one of us.”
Raef looked at the ground, arms crossed, and paced in circles in the grass.
“Raef, what kind of reunion is this?” said Rail softly, “I haven’t seen you in over a cycle. How have you been?”
“Why does that matter?” said Raef, throwing his arms in the air, “everything is ruined! They’ll kick me out of the village.”
“Why should they do that?”
“Because I said your name out loud! My mother heard me, probably other villagers too. I am not supposed to know your name!”
The dragon grinned, “It will all be fine. I assure you. Wait and see what the villagers do.”
“Okay! How could it be okay?”
“It will be, I assure you.”
“How do you know?”
“I am very old. Nothing is new to me.”
Raef stopped pacing and hung his head. He hoped Rail was right.
“Come, let’s play. You can ride my tail.”
Raef stood still. He suddenly realized he shouldn’t even be here.
“I am a Keeper now, Rail.”
“Oh, is that so?” said Rail.
“Stop pretending to be surprised. Besides, I don’t play anymore. I’m too old for that now.”
“Nonsense! You will never be too old to play with me.”
He didn’t want to, but he began to feel a warmth grow inside him. An old familiar comfort.
“Are you mad at me, that I’m a Keeper?” asked Raef, “Mother says you hate Keepers.”
Rail snorted.
“Now, how would she know that?” Rail put a talon to its chin, “I do not recall ever discussing the matter with her.”
Raef giggled in spite of himself, then shook his head and tried to look stern. The dragon lowered its head and nuzzled its soft nose against Raef’s cheek.
“Raef, aren’t you Keepers lovers of peace?”
“I suppose.”
“There it is. Let us be at peace!” said the dragon.
Rail nuzzled Raef again. Raef let out a long sigh and leaned his head against the dragon’s snout.
“Now, just you try to catch my tail,” the dragon said, stepping back.
“I won’t,” said Raef.
“But who in this Great Province knows you like I do? Who among all the Keepers cares about how you feel like I? Is there anyone?”
Raef remembered Chaz and Rodon and how they cried together. He felt a tear on his own cheek, not of love, but of sorrow that no one cried for him. The dragon gently stuck out its long tongue and flicked the tear away. The warmth of its tongue sent shivers down Raef’s spine. Raef backed away again, wiping the wetness from his cheek with his sleeve. He began to feel the familiar warmth growing inside his chest. It frightened him that he could not make it stop.
“Maybe I’ll come back later, or something,” said Raef, feeling very conflicted.
He felt the dragon’s tail against his back. It’s furry upper edge caressed him. Raef felt himself relax and lean back. The tail wrapped loosely around him. Raef gave in. He pushed the tail off and ran to Rail’s snout and hugged it. Raef pressed his cheek against the side of the dragon’s nostril. A rush of warmth shot through his body.
Raef had no idea how long he played with Rail before the dragon left and flew back to the dark mountain. As Raef exited the clearing, he saw his robe. His face burned with shame. Keepers were not friends of the dragon. He slowly pulled the robe over his clothes and walked home in silence.
✧
Erif backed away as the image of Raef walking through the forest faded. Erif walked to the edge of the hill and looked to the ocean in the distance. He heard his horse snort behind him where it was tied to a stubby tree. He sensed the presence of the Great Spirit at his side, then felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
“What do you feel?” asked the old spirit.
“I feel…” Erif searched himself for the answer, “determined. I feel determined to do whatever it takes.”
“Good,” said the spirit, coming to stand next to him.
“I don’t want to talk right now,” said Erif, “I think it is time to practice again.”
“As you wish.”
Erif went to the stallion and drew the long sword from its scabbard hung on the horse’s side. Erif stretched, then walked out in the middle of the rocky top of the hill.
“One dragon, if you please,” said Erif.
Zul waved a hand and a smoky likeness of Rail appeared before Erif. Erif pointed his sword at the dragon’s neck and charged. The cloudy dragon swiped a claw at Erif, but he curved his sword to deflect it, then swooped the sword under, bringing it up at the base of the beast’s neck.
“Well done,” said Zul.
Erif did not stop training until it was too dark to see.
✧
“I’ve only seen it happen once before,” said Folor, “when I had fourteen seasons. The dragon attacked my village.”
The family sat around the table, eating last meal.
“It did?” said Raef, his mouth half full of potatoes, “right here in Fir Hollow?”
“No, not here, back when I lived in Crest Ridge, down on the south coast. It was the first time I’d seen the dragon, and the first time in a generation it had attacked Crest Ridge.”
Raef leaned forward.
“The Prime Noble froze at the sight of the dragon,” Folor continued, “and it dove right for him. I ran toward the Noble and reached him just in time to knock him down before the dragon got him. Then the dragon just flew away. We could never figure out why. We were very lucky no one was hurt that time.”
“You must have been a hero in Crest Ridge,” said Irah.
Folor smiled, then looked at Raef.
“You were brave too, Raef,” he said. “Mother told me how you stood, fearless, out in the open, while the others ran. You were not afraid of that old lizard!”
“He is brave, Father,” Irah said, “I know he will be a great Keeper one season.”
Folor began telling more stor
ies of his youth. They were as fantastic as ever, but Raef had stopped listening. He did not feel brave, he felt ashamed. He was not afraid of the dragon, that was true, but not for the reasons his father imagined. What would his father think if he really knew?
That night, Raef called out to Zul in his mind. It was not the time for meditation, but he needed to talk to the spirit.
Zul, he called out, but he heard or saw nothing. Help me stay away from Rail, he thought, into the darkness.
He heard nothing in reply. He tried to sleep, but only tossed and turned. When he finally fell asleep, late at night, he did not sleep well.