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Tamer of Dragons - Part Two

by


JAS

“Listen to me!” the dragon roared with such a force that William’s mouth dropped open. He dropped Mel into the pure white snow.

“Leave me be, dragon,” William said, no longer screaming. His voice was quiet now, and he used a begging tone. “Please, leave me be,” he continued to plea.

“I’m only here because you called,” the dragon informed him. “And only to help you.” William shook his head; he didn’t need help from a dragon! He wanted it to leave so he could break down into tears once more. He and Mel had been so close, and such strange things were happening, too much for him to handle. They heard a low growling. William slowly turned to see what it was. To his surprise, there stood a medium sized dog, its chest pure white and the rest of his fur coal black.

“No, Jorlin!” he yelled in a panic. Jorlin was his dog, a gift his uncle had given him three years ago. It had been his good friend over the years and he couldn’t bear losing another friend for he had so few these days. “Jorlin, stay!” But of course brave, fearless Jorlin would not obey his master this time. He lunged forward, toward the green dragon. “Dragon, please, don’t hurt him!” he cried out fiercely.

The dragon ignored him; the only thing he was paying attention to now was the madly barking dog jumping around in front of him, teasing him. And he happened to be hungry, as dragons were always hungry. The dog looked like such a tasty morsel… He couldn’t pass up the chance, he refused to.

All William saw as he ran forward to try and stop Jorlin, was the flash of white teeth, each one as sharp as a dagger, and blood. Jorlin had stopped barking. He had to turn his head after this. Only when the sound of the dragon gorging ceased did William choose to face the dragon once more.

“No!”

“What?” the dragon questioned, innocently licking the blood from around his mouth. All that was left of Jorlin was a pile of clean shiny bones. The dragon spat out another into the pile and made a grunting, satisfied sound. William wanted to vomit; he gagged but nothing came out. The dragon watched curiously as William struggled to lift Mel’s corpse. Looking up, William shook his head.

“You can’t…” he began.

“Eat her?” the dragon asked. “No, I only eat live food. I only wondered if you needed help carrying her.”

William was about to accept, and then changed his mind. He wasn’t going to set her on the very thing that killed her.

“She was frightened to death,” William informed the dragon. “You frightened her to death.”

“You brought her to the spot I roam,” the dragon answered simply. “I didn’t kill her, I did nothing.”

William hadn’t thought of it that way. He had killed his sister. It had been him that took her there in the first place. But he didn’t think anything like this would happen. William sighed, giving in; he wouldn’t be able to carry her the whole way to the palace anyway.

“Land away from the palace,” William urged as he tried to push Mel upon the bending dragon. As he mounted the dragon’s back, he scraped himself on the sharp scales. As he waited there, he fumbled with his coat buttons. He felt no excitement for his first ride on a dragon, he wasn’t nervous. He felt nothing, he was too depressed to feel anything other then gloom.

The flapping started, the wind whipped at him, blowing his hair in every direction. The wind blew so fiercely it was hard for him to breathe. William didn’t look down, didn’t pay attention to the sights, he only sat their solemnly, waiting impatiently for it all to be over.

“Away from the palace you said?” the dragon rumbled. “Don’t you want everyone to know you’re a dragon tamer, boy?”

William was silent for a moment, thinking of what to say in reply. “If I am what you say, dragon,” he said, “then why couldn’t I stop you from eating my dog?”

“You need training. If you don’t get it, you won’t be able to control your magic,” he answered. “And you’re young, your magic hasn’t grown to its full strength yet.”

“How will I get a trainer?” William wanted to know. “Only dragon tamers can train me and they’re all dead.”

“Did I say they were dead?” snapped the dragon. “They’re not dead! And not just dragon tamers can train you. Books, dragons, those who have studied dragon tamers are also able to. I know a fellow who would be willing.”

“Drop me off here, dragon,” William ordered.

Once they were on solid ground, William dragged Mel off the scaly beast. Without another word, not even a thank you, William started off to the palace. Perhaps he should keep it silent, pretend not to have any magic. That would be best. He glanced over at the dragon; he could pretend none of this had happened. As he looked down at the limp body he held, he realized he couldn’t. He wouldn’t be able to pretend Mel hadn’t died.

“Remember, you must get a trainer!” the dragon called. “You must be able to control your magic or terrible things will happen.”

Why did this have to happen to him? He felt like yelling at the top of his lungs. He tried to run, but couldn’t, for Mel was too heavy. When she awoke he would tell her to eat less. Then he remembered that she wouldn’t wake, she was gone. Pain flooded through him like lava; she was dead.

Only as he approached the palace gates did he begin to wonder if his father and mother would blame him for their lovely daughter’s death. The guards didn’t say a word to him as he walked by; they only stared at the limp body of the princess. As he walked toward the palace doors, every step felt like needles were stabbing into him. His arms ached, his head ached worse.

William didn’t recall how he’d gotten to his bed, what had happened. For a moment he thought it had all been a dream, but no, he could see it too clearly, he could feel it. His body still ached. It had all been too real. Calling out his sister’s name, he got no reply, only the singing of birds.

His sister, his sweet twin sister, had died. He felt as though a part of him had died with her. They’d been close, very close. Images flooded his mind; suddenly he was weeping again.

He watched as Mel dove into the lake, the lake that was now frozen. He could almost feel the cool water upon his skin. Cupping water into his hands, he threw it at Mel. Laughing, she returned the favor. William felt as though he were here again, as though this was happening over again.

“William,” called a soft voice, lightly shaking his shoulder. Mel had a soft voice, a soft charming voice. He called out her name again. “No, Will, I’m Ann.” Mel used to call him Will; she was the only one who called him Will.

William looked up into a kind maid’s face; her soft brown eyes were bright with tears. She wasn’t Mel; her hair wasn’t the right color, not her eyes either. How dare she call him Will? That was Mel’s name for him, only Mel had the right to call him that! Glowering, he yelled at her, he wasn’t sure what, the words were just coming out of his mouth. Ann’s eyes welled up, a tear streaked down her cheek. William didn’t know why she was crying; it was his sister that had died. Holding her breath, trying not to sob, the maid dashed out of the room.

William stayed in bed all that day and the next, eating very little. He refused to see anyone, even his father and mother. The only ones allowed in were maids who spoke little or not at all. He stayed in his room only half of the third day.

His mother, the queen, strode into his room, despite the fact he’d ordered everyone to stay out. She came to stand next to him as he stared at the window. Hesitantly, she sat a hand upon his shoulder. He flinched away, thinking of the frozen hand of the white lady.

“It...” she began in a shaky voice. “It’s not your fault.” He tried to ignore her. “William, come out of here. Your sister wouldn’t want this. What are you hiding from? Your life?” He still didn’t reply. “Come down and eat breakfast with us. Please?”

“Its my fault,” he said. “It’s my fault Mel died, it’s my fault Jorlin died too.” The word ‘how?’ formed on her lips, but she decided against asking it.

“Jorlin died?” she chose the words carefully, as though saying the wrong words would set him off sobbing again. “We’ll get you a new dog.” He didn’t want a new dog, he wanted Jorlin. Just as he wanted Mel back, not a new sister, even though he was going to get a new sibling soon. He peered over at his mother’s swelled belly. Within it was a baby.

“Mother, what happened to the dragon tamers?” he asked suddenly. Although he knew she didn’t know the answer, he wanted to change the subject.

“Why?” she asked, almost sounding defensive. William shrugged. “They all died.” He looked at her in surprise. Something in her voice told him she knew they’d not died, that she knew what had really happened.

“No they didn’t,” he said quietly. “What happened?”

“I told you, they died,” she snapped. “Why are you so curious about them anyhow?”

He began to wonder if he should tell her. There was no reason not to.  “The dragon told me they didn’t die,” he told her. “He said a woman took them away. Where’d she take them, mother?”

“What are you talking about?” she demanded. “What dragon? What woman? You’ve had a bad dream.” He shook his head. “How did she die, William?”

“Mel died,” he said. “She died out of fright…”

“Of what?” the queen insisted, “What frightened her? The dragon?” William nodded. “You’re not a dragon tamer.”

“Did I say I was?”

“No,” she answered. “You’re not one… are you?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?” she asked, refusing to believe it. “You look tired. Go get some rest.” William sighed. “What’s wrong?”

“Where did they all go?” he asked. “The dragon told me I was a dragon tamer, that I called him there.”

“No, you’re lying,” she informed him. “There haven’t been dragons here in - in years! They all went back to their world. Don’t you tell anyone what you told me. Understand? No one!”

“The dragon told me that terrible things would happen if I wasn’t trained,” he informed his mother. Looking closely at her, he figured out what was bothering her so much. “He told me that she already knows. I saw her.”

“No you didn’t,” she objected. “She doesn’t know.”

“I saw her, she touched me,” he went on. The queen shook her head fiercely, not wanting to believe this. “Where does she take them, mother?”

“No one knows exactly,” she answered finally. “But it is a terrible place. A place no one can escape, not even in death.” She paused for a moment. “I was once told by a witch that I would have a dragon tamer for a child. I didn’t believe her.”

“She was right.”

“Yes, and now we must find you a trainer,” she said. “Maybe you can grow more powerful then the white lady and defeat her.” Neither spoke, both knew it was impossible. “We’ll get you the best there is. Two of the best!”

“The dragon said he knew someone…”

“No!” his mother cried out. “Not a dragon! We will not use a dragon for your trainer.”

William looked at her in surprise.

“We shall get the best trainer in all the world!” is the first thing his father shouted after being told everything. Instead of being horrified and refusing what was true like the queen, the king welcomed the fact with open arms. “Even if it’s a dragon,” he added, shooting a glare at his wife. “You will become a very powerful king, my son,” the king said chuckling.

“If he lives long enough to become king,” the queen retorted, unable to help herself.

Ignoring her, the king said, “We shall send out people to begin searching immediately. And William, you go call that dragon back here. You said he knew a fellow?” William nodded.

“But, father, I don’t know how to call him.”

“Nonsense! You called him before, just do it again!” came the reply. “We’ve all got work to do, so go on and get active!” Gloomily, William dragged his feet to the door. He had no idea what to do; he didn’t know how he’d called that dragon before.

As he walked outside, he saw that the sun was coming out and the snow had begun to melt. He heard laughing and turned to see who it was. A girl perhaps a year younger then him scooped up a handful of melting snow, squished it together, and pelted it at an older boy.

William tried to ignore them, to block them out. He had to concentrate on calling the dragon to him. Annoyed, he found he couldn’t just ignore them for they were too loud. He loudly cleared his throat. They didn’t hear, or if they did they chose to pretend they hadn’t.

“Please, will you be quieter?” he asked. “I need to focus.” They looked over at him in surprise; so they hadn’t noticed him before. The older boy, who looked to be perhaps fifteen, let out a laugh.

“And what are you focusing on then?” he asked in a mocking voice.

William scowled at him; perhaps they didn’t know he was prince. “Just be quiet for a while,” he snapped.

“What are you doing?” the girl asked with a grin. “Magic?” William nodded. “Really? What kind?”

He could tell she didn’t believe him, that she was mocking him as well. “I’m a dragon tamer and if you don’t leave me alone I shall call down a dragon to bite off your heads.” This made the two burst out laughing. “I’m serious, if you’ll be quiet for a moment, you’ll see I’m not lying.”

“Fine,” the older boy said. He and the girl sat down on a bench to wait.

“Actually, perhaps you shouldn’t watch,” he told them. “You might be frightened to death.” They gave him looks. “My sister was,” he told them in a softer voice.

“You sister, eh?”

Just as he closed his eyes and began to try and call the dragon, he heard the sound of flapping wings and a grunt. The girl let out a short scream; the boy was too traumatized to do anything but gape.

“How’d you get here so quickly?” William wanted to know. “I just called you.”

The dragon landed directly in front of him. “Eh?” he said, “You called? I didn’t hear anything.”

“What a coincidence. I was just getting ready to call you. Who did you say would be willing to train me?”

“I have him here,” the dragon responded. “I was going to drop him off here.”

“Is he good?”

“Perhaps not the best, but I’d say he’s good,” the dragon answered after a moment of thought.

A short light haired man jumped from the dragon’s back, looking disheveled and dazed. He looked to be perhaps in his thirties. “Ah, hello, Prince William,” he greeted nervously.

“Who are your friends?” the dragon questioned. William turned to see who he was talking about.

“Oh them?” he said motioned to the girl and boy. “I don’t know them.” The two were staring at the dragon; neither blinked nor moved, only breathed very softly.

“Hmm,” he said, his eyes lingering on them for a moment longer. “Well, what did you call me for?”

“Just to ask you to bring me the fellow you talked about,” the prince answered. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” the dragon replied, opening his mouth to show his dagger like teeth. William decided he was smiling. “I should get going now. Goodbye for now.”

“Goodbye,” the prince called as the dragon took off.

“Prince?” stuttered the older boy, first to recover from his fright. He turned his  head to look at William in shock. “Prince William?”

“Yes?”

“You’re a dragon tamer?” gasped the girl. “I thought they’d all died!”

“You poor, simpleminded folk,” William said, grinning. The two watched him, not seeming to have noticed he’d insulted them. “Yes, I’m a dragon tamer, as I told you before when all you did was mock me.”

“Sorry,” apologized the boy.

“Who are you?” William wanted to know.

“Thomas,” the boy answered. “And she’s Kaili. Our father’s a farmer; we came into town to pick up a few supplies.”

“Prince William,” interrupted the short man “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’ve only dreamed about meeting a dragon tamer.” His eyes shone brightly as he ran up to shake his hand. “I knew they still existed!” William didn’t reply. “Oh sorry I didn’t introduce myself before, I’m Geoffrey and I’ve studied dragon taming magic for many years.” He heaved up a large, heavy sack.

“Oh,” is all William thought to say. Geoffrey started toward the palace doors. “Wait,” called William.

“Yes?” Geoffrey asked. “I thought we should start immediately.”

“Well, actually,” William began “My father wanted to see exactly how good you are. You see, he wants the best.” He watched as Geoffrey’s face fell.

“Ah, I see…” he began. “Well then, I’m certainly not going to be the one.” He tried to smile but succeeded in only making a strange face.

“You could be my trainer for now,” William offered “Perhaps a few days…?” Geoffrey nodded, seeming only slightly happier. “You’d be paid handsomely.” At this Geoffrey only frowned and hastily shook his head.

“No, no!” he exclaimed. “I couldn’t possibly! I’ll do it at no cost. You see, my kind doesn’t need any gold.” William looked at him suspiciously. His kind? “I’m an elf,” he said brushing away his yellow hair to show off his pointed ears.

“An elf!” William exclaimed in shock. “That’s not possible!” He turned to Kaili and Thomas but found they’d run off while he was distracted. “Can you do elf magic then? See into the future?”

“Only some elves can do that,” the elf replied, cheery again. “Very few. And I’m not one of them.”

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