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| >> Static Item >> Other >> Fantasy >> ID #1844763 |   |
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  Dragon Wisdom Kearney paced back and forth in his cavern as his rage overtook his senses. Why does anyone keep coming to me for advice? Why can’t they just leave me alone? I’m not any Messiah as all those fools believe. I’m just a humble dragon who wants some peace and quiet. Is that too much to ask for? Kearney roared and the ground shook as if an earthquake had just struck. He tossed the message scroll into the air and used his fiery breath to incinerate it to ashes. He decided to leave before Tainn arrived. He knew that wasn’t the right thing to do, yet he really didn’t care at the moment. # # # # # Moonlight filtered through the trees as Tainn approached the cave entrance. She hesitated as fear gripped her. She wiped her sweating hands on her pant legs, squared her shoulders and stepped into the semi-darkness. Tainn followed the path toward the cavern deep within the mountain wishing she could be anywhere but here. She swallowed the lump that threatened to choke her as she spotted the Wish Dragon. Kearney was the size of a normal horse with a dark purple body and amethyst wings. The underside of his wings were a silvery blue. His twilight purple eyes flashed with anger when he saw her. Tainn took a step back. She wanted to run, yet knew better. Kearney’s eyes are the same color as mine. Is this a good sign or a bad omen? “What does the princess of the Kingdom of Tier want with the likes of me?” Kearney asked. “I need your advice about who I should marry. This marriage would help protect my kingdom from an evil witch.” “I believe one should do her best to solve her own problems and not rely on someone else. I’m tired of everyone coming to me for answers.” “Your wisdom and knowledge is legendary throughout Pandora,” Tainn said. “You don’t need to wed anyone to protect thy kingdom from those who would loot and destroy it. All ye need to stop anyone from invading your lands rides upon thy left wrist. Tis that not the Cuff of Riga?” “Yes, but…” “No! Folks are always bothering me, wanting advice on everything. I wish these folks would learn to think for themselves and stop bugging me with question upon question like lost wee children. Be gone before I loose my temper and turn ye to ash.” “I’m terrified I’m not capable of ruling my kingdom without a strong husband for support.” “Who told ye such nonsense?” Kearney asked. “Adara.” Tainn wouldn’t meet Kearney’s bold glare for several moment, then finally looked the old dragon square in the eyes. “The only soul ye should be listening too stand guard outside this cavern in wolf form. Yerik is the heart and soul of thy kingdom. Listen to his wisdom. Ye don’t need anything from me.” “I know Adara wants to take over my kingdom. I only want a honest ruler on the throne, not an evil witch with revenge in her heart.” Kearney cleared his throat and fire spilled out. Strange shadows danced on the walls from the sudden flare of light. Tainn gasped and began to tremble. Yerik warned me about coming to see this dragon. Did I listen? No, not me, I knew better than Yerik, even though he’s known this creature for half a century. Adara wants to chose the man I marry, so she can try to control me through my husband or any offspring I might have. Tainn thanked Kearney for his time and left without another word. Lightning flashed in the dark sky as the wind began to whip through the trees. A storm was brewing and ready to rip across the lands. A lone wolf lifted his voice to the threatening skies, daring it to cry its icy tears. A flash of silver charged at her and nearly knocked her from her feet. “Yerik, stop acting so aggressively.” The wolf let out a cry of agony before shifting back into human form. He drew on his clothing before speaking. “Kearney refused to help ye, didn’t he?” Tainn nodded. “He claims all I need is this bracelet and ye.” She let her fingers glide over the cuff that rode her left wrist. The talisman had been a gift from her father. He insisted that she retrieve the wooden box as he lay dying. Inside she found a cuff more beautiful that words could describe. A delicate web of golden threads created the cuff. A spider with a pearl white body and amethyst eyes sat upon the web. The spider seemed to be alive, yet sat motionless. With his dying breath her father told her how to use the talisman. “We better return to the palace before Adara sends out the royal guard. I don’t want her knowing I’m more than a wolf.” # # # # # Rain pounded against the windowpane as Tainn paced back and forth around the library. A room she always sought out when she needed to think. Yerik lay by the fireplace snoozing as if he didn’t have a care in the world. She looked at him with longing in her heart. Twas a shame he hide his magnificent body. A miniature mountain that towered over her at six-foot-four and two hundred and twenty-five pounds of pure muscle. “Stop pacing. Ye are making me dizzy.” “Hush, someone might hear ye.” Tainn hated when Yerik gave her his famous glare that she saw dancing in his one blue and one green eye. The fire made his platinum blonde hair seem as if it were liquid moonlight. The hand carved doors to the library burst opened and Adara came sweeping in wearing her favorite blood-red robe. “What is that mangy creature doing in here?” Tainn watched as Adara flipped her hip length royal blue hair around as if it were a cape. She wanted the smack the smirk from the woman’s face. Who does she think she is? Calling Yerik a mangy creature. “Yerik is cleaner that many of the folks who come looking for favors from me.” “I still can’t believe thy father gave ye such a beast as a guardian. Wolves are dangerous. I pray that this creature shall never turn on ye and rip ye to shreds.” “I can assure ye, Adara, that Yerik shall never harm a hair on me.” If he rips someone apart with his fangs and claws, it shall be ye who falls beneath his wrath. “What do ye need?” Pure hatred filled Adara’s vivid green eyes as she turned to face Tainn. Her blood-red robe made her alabaster skin seem old and washed out. “May I speak freely?” Tainn nodded. “There are rumors that someone is planning to overthrow ye and seize thy kingdom. Ye need a strong man by thy side to prevent such an occurrence.” “Who would ye suggest?” Tainn asked. “King Dane of Rennes.” “Why him and not another?” “Dane was loyal to thy father and would protect this kingdom with his very life,” Adara said. Dane would never protect this kingdom. He’d strip my lands of everything valuable then sell the property to some vicious man who would victimize the decent folks who live in these lands. Why would Adara suggest I marry such a man? Does she have some kind of allegiance to him? Tainn shuttered at the mere thought of that man anywhere near her. “I can see from the look in thy eyes ye need time to think things through. Perhaps Kearney can give ye the answers ye seek, yet I believe that old dragon should stop interfering in other folks’ lives. His interference does more harm than good. I wish all the dragons on Pandora would simply vanish, never to be seen or heard of again.” Adara waltzed from the library. “I wonder what Adara shall do when she learns I have no intention of marrying the ruler of Rennes?” Tainn said. # # # # # Dawn arrived with all its glory and found Tainn in a panic. She knew something bad had occurred, yet what she couldn’t say. When she entered the garden her heart sank. Yerik lay on his side. Blood was seeping from his mouth. “NO!” Kneeling beside Yerik, Tainn smelled a strange odor. “I’ve been poisoned.” Tainn closed her eyes and knew what she must do. The pain would be worth it, if it saved Yerik. She placed her right hand over the spider on the Cuff of Riga and whispered the scared words that would animate the tiny creature. Instead of pain, a warm sensation flood her body. Tainn gasped as she felt the spider come to life under her hand. “Place me on Yerik’s neck,” the tiny creature said. “Do it before he dies.” Tainn careful set the Pearl Spider upon Yerik’s throat. Fear gripped her as the tiny arachnid move toward his mouth. The spider spun a golden web the size of Tainn’s fist. “Open his mouth and make him swallow this.” Several minutes passed. Yerik cried out in pain, and stopped breathing. “Ye killed him,” Tainn said. “Nay. The magic takes several minutes to heal one who has been poisoned with what Adara used.” “Adara? Why would she do such a thing?” “She figured out Yerik was more than he seemed and realized he posed a real threat to her plans. She knew no one would really care if your pet died.” Yerik’s body began jerking and he cried out once more. His blue and green eye fluttered and opened slowly. “Tainn, what happened?” “Tia says Adara poisoned ye. She saved thy life.” “Tia?” Yerik asked. “The Pearl Spider from the Cuff of Riga.” Tainn turned to the spider, gave the creature her thanks. Yerik shivered. The Pearl Spider jumped back onto the cuff on Tainn’s left wrist and became unanimated. “We need to stop Adara before she harms anyone else,” Yerik said. “I’ll take care of her just as soon as I make sure ye are going to be fine.” # # # # # Tainn felt her rage bubbling up as she approached the library. She wasn’t sure what she intended to do with Adara. Her hand shook as she reached to open the hand carved doors that led into the library. She could smell the wax the servants used to buff the tables with. Adara would deny trying to murder Yerik. The tiny woman stood by the windows looking out over the sea. Tainn smiled as she thought of all the times Yerik and she had watched the sun come up or go down at the edge of the bluff. A cool breeze waltzing around them. Stop! Adara is far to dangerous to confront her with my head in the clouds, so to speak. Why did she try to kill Yerik? What would she gain from it? What shall I do when Adara lies to me? “Princess, ye seem in distress. What has happened?” “Someone tried to murder Yerik. Ye wouldn’t know anything about it, would ye?” “Me? Why would I wish to harm thy pet?” Adara asked. “Perhaps ye believe that without Yerik to protect me, ye could do as ye please. Steal my kingdom?” “Why would I wish to do that?” Tainn walked over to where her favorite novels sat on a table near the French doors that led out to the bluff that overlooked the sea. She cracked the doors open and took a deep breath. The salty air calmed her anger. We both know that ye believe my father somehow cheated thy father out of this kingdom. Thy father lost this kingdom in a war that my father won. As victor he had to right to assume the throne. “Why indeed?” Backing away from Tainn, Adara glanced nervously around the library as if expecting guards to burst from the bookshelves and seize her. Narrowing her vivid green eyes she whispered quietly, then suddenly a bolt of golden light shot from her hands straight at Tainn. Tainn reacted and the bolt struck the Cuff of Riga. The Pearl Spider jumped from the bracelet and landed on the girl’s shoulder. “What is thy wish for the witch?” “I want her powers stripped. I want to make certain she can never harm another living thing, whether it’s only a flower or a bug,” Tainn said. Adara shrieked when the Pearl Spider began to sing and its magic encased her. “Tainn, please. I didn’t mean any harm. That damn wolf kept following me as if it were a man not an animal.” “Why didn’t ye have one the guards take Yerik to my room?” Adara hung her head and shrugged. “My only desire is to see ye happily married to Dane of Rennes. He shall make a fine husband and a great king.” “I disagree. Dane is a vicious man who is greedy beyond words. He’d destroy my kingdom without a second thought, then leave the moment all the riches were gone. No thank you. I have no intention of marrying anyone. I realize that I have the knowledge and the power to rule this kingdom on my own. I don’t need the protection of a male. Yerik and Tia are all the help I need besides my guards and loyal subjects.” “Who’s Tia?” Adara asked. “Tia is the Pearl Spider of the Cuff of Riga. Her magic is almost as powerful as Kearney’s. What little magic I possess along with hers, we shall be able to defend this kingdom from anyone who wishes to try to destroy us.” Hatred filled Adara’s eyes. “What do ye plan on doing with me?” Tainn ignored the question and picked up a favorite book. The girl strolled over to the French doors and stepped outside. A cool gentle breeze waltz up from the sea and swirled around Tainn. Adara can wonder for a few moments about what I plan on doing to her. She deserves to be killed, yet I’m not a murderer. I shall turn her over to the Council of N’Djamena and have them strip her powers. They can do whatever they please with her. Ten minutes later, Tainn entered the library, closed the French doors and faced Adara. Sweat ran down the tiny woman’s face. Her body shook from fear as Tia keep moving along her shoulders. “Please Tainn get this bug off me,” Adara said. “BUG! Who are you calling a bug,” Tia asked. “I’m an arachnid. Let me kill this witch.” “No, that would only make me like her. I won’t stoop that low. The Council of N’Djamena can deal with her. Until they arrive, you may keep her company, Tia. Unless ye wish for me to place her in the dungeon.” The Pearl Spider smiled and bared her fangs. Adara almost fainted. She sank down into a chair. “Please, Tainn. I rather be in the dungeon than have this creature on me.” “I shall stay right where I am until the council arrives. If Tainn placed ye in the dungeon, I fear ye shall escape,” Tia said. “I agree.“ Tainn walked out of the library. # # # # # Purple began blanketing the sky as day faded. Tainn walked among the flowers lost in deep thought. Lightning flashed right before her. She gasped and stepped back. Kearney appeared. “Tainn, Queen of Tier, I’ve come to say good-bye.” “Why? Where are ye going?” “Mankind has grown to accustom to me solving their problems for them. It’s time all the creatures of Pandora to learn how to solve their troubles without the interference of an old dragon who’s far wiser than he should be.” “I shall miss thy wisdom and thy friendship,” Tainn said. “Yerik and ye have all the knowledge ye need to rule this kingdom wisely and fairly.” Kearney vanished in a puff of swirling fog. A great sadness filled Tainn the moment Kearney disappeared and tears slid down her face. The End 2,673 -- 5,000 words Characters Tainn (TAYN) Native American "new moon" Yerik (YAY-rik) Russian "appointed by god" Adara (ah-DAYR-uh) Greek "beauty" Kearney (KEER-nee) Celtic "warrior"  Tentomushi
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