Part 22: Battlefront

Within a short time, they were circling above the caves where Dracstan had been held prisoner. Sunkist, Syberia, and Seeth landed in front of the caves, leaving Bloodstone and Goldhawk to circle and watch for any attempting to escape. Krisr was in no condition to fight, but he was disappointed that he wouldn't get to see the action from here. Goldhawk banked around the slope, searching for other exits.

On Bloodstone, Dracstan fumed with rage in front of Ramona. His black eyes narrowed into slits as he watched Indyana and her companions enter the cave. I should be down there, giving that slime their dues.

At first, there was silence, but the sounds of fighting and flashes of colored light soon reached their ears. The battle was short lived; all members of the party were in the habit of taking down poachers, and the only one who would provide any challenge at all was the mage... if he had returned. At some signal that the trio couldn't hear, Goldhawk and Bloodstone turned and made awkward landings on the rocky ground outside the poacher's cave.

Dracstan immediately pushed himself off the black dragon's back, hitting the ground hard and tumbling in his hurry, but he didn't care. The stone shrape galloped into the cave as Ramona carefully dismounted and went to help Raina Lynn and Krisr. His eyes quickly surveyed the scene inside: The mage's thugs had been subdued; several were in the process of being thoroughly bound, and a few were lying on the ground, motionless. Good, some of them are permanently taken care of. Dracstan continued, trotting past Dirn toward Termut and Indyana. *Where is the mage?*

Termut smiled grimly. "There... at least, what's left of him." The silver-haired man motioned to a smoking heap on the floor.

Undeterred, Dracstan slowed to a walk and came closer while Indyana and Termut looked on. He lowered his head to sniff at the pile, which he now recognized as charred fabric and something wet and slimy. It appeared to be the mage's robe... and what had once been the mage himself. *What happened?*

"He wasn't cooperating." Termut spared a glance at the smoking remains. "I attempted to disarm him, and at the same moment, he attempted a rather complex spell. The result was... unsafe."

Dracstan looked surprised. He had assumed that Indyana had set fire to the mage in a magical battle. The entire battle seemed too simple. *That's it then?*

Indyana peered at him knowingly. "Sometimes, things go just as you plan... but it's the next time I worry about."

*It almost seems too easy, doesn't it? A human who caused so much trouble... who seemed so powerful, so great an enemy, gone, a result of his own stupidity. And so quickly... it almost isn't fair.* The stone dragon brooded over the carbonized lump, denied his revenge against the man who had tried to enslave him. The mage was dead... but Dracstan had wanted that honor, and he found himself merely on the sidelines.

*You couldn't have defeated him, Dracstan.* Raina's voice penetrated his dark thoughts, a beam of reason and sunlight. *Not now, at least... and at least he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else.*

Dracstan simply nodded to himself, watching the misty curls rise from the coarse fabric. He meditated for a moment, trying to say goodbye to his first true enemy. It was an odd feeling... almost as though he had lost. *Does it always feel like this?* he wondered quietly.

*I don't know,* Raina Lynn admitted in a small voice.

"Yes," Indyana suddenly said aloud, drawing Dracstan's gaze up from the ground. "But only if you make it that way."

Dracstan tilted his head, suspicious and annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted but curious. *What do you mean?*

Indyana's pale eyes held his. "Hate gives them power, even after they are gone. Try not to hate them."

*How can you not? They are my enemies; I should hate them. You have to hate in order to kill.*

"Try not to kill them, either. Every life you take stays with you. Take too many, and you'll end up with a heavy heart."

*Then what, imprison them? Allow them to escape back into the world, to hurt again? The only way to truly stop their evil is to end them.*

"There is much evil in the world, Dracstan. You cannot destroy it. If you destroy one evil, another will enter to keep the balance. Sometimes, by killing, you make way for an even greater evil to enter our world. All you can do is protect others and make it more difficult for the evil to get their ways. Killing is rarely the answer, and it is a very risky choice."

Dracstan stared, the gears in his head turning, processing the speech. He didn't really understand it all yet. He had been raised to believe that when someone broke the laws, their life became forfeit. But, if it were true that if you killed evil, it was destroyed, then how was there still evil among his own people? Wouldn't it have been eliminated? Perhaps Indyana was correct... but he wouldn't admit it. And he still would have killed the mage, given the opportunity. He tossed his head and walked away from the mage's corpse. *I think you need to make fewer speeches on morality and kill a few more poachers. At least then, you would know they wouldn't be back.*

Indyana shook her head slightly as Dracstan pushed past her and Termut, but she wasn't about to let it go that easily. "You'd be surprised how effective a stern warning can be..."

Dracstan growled softly as he made his way past the bound poachers. Dirn fixed him with a stony, emotionless glare, and the dragon kept walking, his hooves hitting the stone ground heavily. He came out into the sunlight and continued toward Ramona, Krisr, and Raina Lynn, who had apparently remained outside.

"Did we get them?" Krisr asked from his perch on Goldhawk. The boy was looking pale, obviously in pain, but he was making an effort to hide it.

*The mage is dead, and the others are in custody.* Dracstan came to a stop in front of Goldhawk; his head hung below his shoulders.

Raina Lynn, who stood beneath Goldhawk's large wing with Ramona, fixed her sparkling eyes on him. *What about the griffin? And the bear?*

Dracstan's brow creased with annoyance. *I didn't notice.*

Raina glanced up at Krisr, then took off at a trot toward the cave, obviously intending to check on the creatures. Ramona, meanwhile, had her gaze fixed on Dracstan.

He glared up at her, baring his teeth. *Problem?*

She shrugged. "You tell me..."

*No, why don't you tell me.*

"You seem a bit disappointed, that's all," the young woman answered. She idly played with the hilt of her short sword.

"If I'm not mistaken, our stony friend would have preferred a battle on a grander scale. I admit that I find myself regretful that I did not participate in bringing about the downfall of our poacher foes." Krisr leaned over slightly so he could see Dracstan's head, being very careful not to upset his balance. Goldhawk peered down at Dracstan as well, hiding any amusement he might have felt at the younger dragon's sulking.

The Bishel Dragon gave Krisr a shocked look, completely surprised that the man would understand. *You are correct. I would have liked to have had a chance to prove myself.*

"Well, there will be another day, another battle... another set of poachers too, I'm sure. And next time, you will defeat them... and there will be stories, oh yes, and songs... songs that will make the bards of Ithmorson seem trite and pale in comparison. And the lowly villagers will dance in the..."

At this point, Dracstan stopped listening to Krisr's prattling. The human was right, of course. If what Indyana said was correct, there would always be evils in the world, always be more poachers. And Dracstan would be there, ready to take vengeance for those who could not.

In the days that followed, Indyana and her companions hunted down the griffin that had been sold and obtained several more names from the poacher's captured minions. In the following weeks, they worked to undo the mage's work, freeing poached creatures and uncovering others that were imprisoned. Dracstan was even permitted to come on several of the trips, and he was proud to be involved in several scuffles with humans of the ne'er-do-well sort. Meanwhile, at the Refuge, Krisr recovered from his injuries under Ramona and Raina's watchful eyes.

One fine summer day, Raina and Dracstan sat close by as Krisr lay on a reclined chair. The young man sighed and turned to look at them both in turn. "Well... I must say that our first adventure didn't go quite as planned. True, it did lead to the disposal of several poaching circles, and we did rescue quite a few creatures from evil hands... but all in all, not quite satisfying."

Raina nodded and absently poked at the grass between her toes. *Maybe we should plan our next venture a bit more carefully.*

Dracstan remained silent, gazing to the Refuge walls in the distance. He would much rather be out looking for trouble, but he had grown attached to Raina Lynn and Krisr... besides which, they would end up in great peril without him around to protect them. Raina was getting pretty good with her fireballs, but she was no Dracstan. He easily bested her in strength and speed, as well as battle lust. No, he would wait.

Krisr inclined his head toward Raina. "Well, my queen, you can't really plan adventures. They just happen. I suppose that most heroes are dreadfully bored, just waiting for adventures to happen. They must just sit in taverns, longing for trouble to find them. Of course, you don't hear songs about that... hmm..."

*No, Krisr, I think there is a reason for that,* Raina interjected, sensing a bad song about to come on.

Dracstan couldn't help but smile a bit. That human was endearing in that way. Sometimes, you wanted to kill him... but most of the time, you just wanted to make sure no one else did.

Raina continued, mostly to herself. *This adventuring thing is more difficult than I thought...*

*Do not worry,* Dracstan told her. *There are plenty of adventures out there, and they will wait for us. Krisr will get well, and we will find another mission.* Privately though, the dragon wondered. Krisr hadn't seemed quite so eager to depart since their last adventure. True, he was still injured, but Dracstan thought he sensed a bit of reserve when it came to discussing future plans.

"Did I hear someone mention a mission?"

A cheerful voice interrupted Dracstan's thoughts. The trio turned toward Ramona. The red-haired lady was dressed in her usual work garb, but her eyes sparkled with secret news. "Funny you should mention that... I overheard Indyana mentioning something about you and a mission earlier today."

*What?* Raina Lynn demanded, her shiny black eyes going wide with surprise.

"No, I'd better let her tell you herself. She'd get mad if I spoiled her news."

"Ramona, my cold goddess, you can't possibly say something like that and then not give us all the juicy details!" Krisr exclaimed, fixing pleaded gray eyes on her. Ramona just smirked devilishly and leaned in to give him a quick peck on the lips.

"I most certainly can, dearest. Now, you just relax and enjoy the sunshine!" And with that overly cheerful farewell, Ramona quickly walked off, humming to herself.

"Insufferable woman... and she knows that now we'll be thinking about that all day." Krisr shook his head and sighed.

*She's your fianceé,* Raina Lynn muttered, glaring after the leather-clad, retreating form.

Dracstan stared at the distant mountains, wondering what Indyana had in store. Whatever it was, it would bring up the problem of Krisr. Although he could walk now, the young man wasn't anywhere near ready to go journeying about the countryside. That would take a few more weeks, at least... a few more months at worst. A small flock of dragonflits swooped overhead, and the stone dragon watched the light glint on their jeweled hides. He longed to be back in the mountains. But he could be patient. Besides, he had a mission of his own to complete before leaving Bishen Realm.

*Why do you come to me?* The dark red dragon hissed, his jointed armor clicking as his tail swished from side to side. Tr'ynka Valae, resident representative of the Hirgyae Clan, lounged on the rocks near the edge of Bishen Realm, eyeing the Portal curiously with his glinting red eyes. Tr'ynka Valae was a Hirgyae Terran-Arboreal, with tough, scarred armor and sharp talons. To most Machesri, he was intimidating and to be avoided... even Dracstan didn't feel totally at ease around him. Still, the stone dragon held his ground. He had a mission, after all.

*I have come to ask you about magic,* Dracstan began. *I know I could join in the Shantel of the Machesri and likely use a magical object, but this does not interest me. I wish to train, to find my own path. Your Clan demands mastery of the magic by will. I need to know how to acheive this.*

Tr'ynka Valae's demeanor did not change, for he had known what the young dragon would ask. *It is a long path, but I sense you are more fit to it than most Machesri. You have strong mental abilities. You already use them, to track your surroundings and to monitor those who are near. You have used them to connect to other minds, including the boy Krisr's, not to bond, but to search and pry.*

Dracstan's eyes widened slightly. How had the Hirgyae Ambassador known? The older dragon must be quite powerful. Dracstan fleetingly wondered how Tr'ynka Valae's abilities measured up to Indyana's. The Hirgyae gave him what might have been an amused look.

*These mental abilities are the beginning of the willpower you will need to control your magic. First, however, you must known what magic is to be yours. You must know what calls you, young one.*

*That is simple. It is the rocks. The mountains. They have always spoken to me.* Dracstan's answer was direct and sure; the first time he had slithered into the mountains, he had felt as though he was coming home.

Tr'ynka Valae nodded slowly, his armored tail continuing to undulate back and forth. *This is what you must discover, then. You must go to the mountains. Find a place that speaks to you and meditate there. Listen for the heartbeat of the rocks, the voice of the mountains themselves. It may take time. Eat little, and drink only water from the mountain springs. When you can hear the rocks, you will be ready to harness their power. Until then, I cannot aid you.*

Dracstan bowed his head to the older dragon and then turned and walked away. The mountains awaited.

*What do you mean you're going away for a bit? Indyana is going to give us a job to do soon!* Raina Lynn was staring at the Portal, both shocked and disconcerted.

*I have to do this. I need to find my magic. It is time. I will return when I have discovered its source.* Dracstan stood his ground, taking the Red's pleading in stride.

Raina Lynn peered into his eyes, but she could only sense his resolve. Beyond that, there was only a wall. For a long time, his mind had been dark to her. She sighed; he wasn't going to change his mind.

*Do not worry. I don't think Indyana will give you a mission until Krisr is well.* Dracstan tried his best to comfort Raina. To his surprise, she shook her head and her eyes fell to the ground.

*I don't think he'll be leaving the Refuge again,* she blurted, and Dracstan saw the gleam of tears in her eyes.

*What?* Dracstan gasped, feigning surprise. She was voicing his own thoughts on the matter.

*I think he wants to stay... to mate Ramona. He isn't the same since we got back. He had nightmares for a while, and I don't think he wants to have any more adventures. He tries to be kind about it; when I mention leaving, he just doesn't say anything. But I can feel what he doesn't say... I am his bondmate afterall. And if you leave... * She stopped, blinking with determination. *Well, then I'll just have to start from the beginning again, won't I? Imagine, trying to find adventurers in a place where everyone has come to seek refuge? It won't be easy, but I—*

*Raina Lynn, I will be returning. And we will have more adventures. Krisr... can make up his own mind on such matters.* Dracstan resisted the urge to give her a comforting nudge. Such displays were inappropriate, and he knew she frowned on them as much as he did.

*But he is my bondmate, Dracstan. We were supposed to be adventurers together... he wasn't supposed to settle down. That's not the way it is supposed to go!*

Dracstan almost couldn't repress the mirth at that statement. *And you know for a fact how the world's tale is to be written, do you?* He gave her a curious but chiding look.

Raina ducked her head a bit and sighed. *I guess you just wouldn't understand. He's my bondmate. It would be like leaving a piece of my soul behind. I couldn't leave without him...*

*So you will stay here, and allow your soul to suffer for him? A noble sacrifice, I suppose. But it seems to me that perhaps you should reconsider it.*

Raina Lynn blinked. She had been hoping to convince Krisr to leave anyway, but if his heart wasn't in it, would it really make it better? And if he didn't want to go, and she didn't want to stay... but she couldn't leave her bondmate, could she? Suddenly, she had a flash of insight and remembered her father and Indyana. They were bondmates, but they rarely spent time together except when there was Realm business to handle that required her presence. Pierre worked at the Realm constantly, and Indyana always had other matters to attend to regarding the Refuge and trade. And yet, they were still bondmates. They were still close. But could she leave Krisr?

Dracstan watched the young Terran mull everything over. It was a tough decision for her, no doubt. Even he had reservations about leaving Krisr behind, and he wasn't the young man's bondmate. Finally, Raina Lynn turned her face up to him.

*You will be back. In the meantime, I think Krisr and I need to discuss a few things.*

Dracstan nodded. *I will be back.*