WHITE DRAGON
Part Six
By Arthur.
Foretelling of the Praedor
He will come bearing the mightiest of hearts and soul.
With raven locks and on his arm shall he carry the mark of Goron.
In darkest times will he rise above all tribulations to again
bring peace to the Followers of The Way.
Mark well his way for he shall not weary with the passing of time.
The years will not condemn him to obscurity but make wiser the
Followers of The way.
Bragill felt Gallands warm scales against his back as he awoke to the strange sound of gurgling. It was still night time and Bragill could not quite orientate himself as the sound permiated the sleeping room.
His eyes fluttered open and an unknown thought made him look upwards, fear, panic and horror overtook his body as he saw the figure of Matise standing over the sleeping duo. The eyes of Matise were staring into a void of his own making, in his hands, held above his head, was the crystal of the Wizards Soul but now it was long and sharp like a two handed sword, its pointed end was aimed at the place where Gallands Dragon heart was sited.
From between the fingers of Matise's hand came the bright shards of glittering light of the supposed Soul. Bragill found himself holding the Claw which had jumped to his hand without conscious thought, it was now in the shape of a sythe that was used by the lowland farmers to cut what small grasses they could find for the feeding of their cattle herds.
The passing of time as Bragill took in the sight above him was less than a blink of an eye but to Bragill it seemed like an eternity of fear. The viscious sword began its descent towards Gallands body as Bragill tried to move in the thick molasses of suspended time.
More strange mutterings and gurgles issued from the throat of Matise as he drove downwards with the weapon in his hands. Bragill gave a conscious thought to not hurting his valued friend as it was obvious he was under the spell of the Wizard of Gestan. Bragills right hand was moving in a blur as he brought his sythe weapon around in a sweeping movement just as the point of the sword like weapon was about to make contact with Gallands body.
Bragill felt in his innermost being the movement of Galland as the Claw made contact with the terrible weapon in the hands of Matise, it sliced neatly through the descending crystal just below the two hands of Matise, shattering the crystal into a thousand glittering splinters.
Bragill became aware of Galland now hovering above both boys as, from the handle, still held in a death grip by Matise, an emerald green mist began to form a shape of the small figure of the Wizard of Gestan before their eyes.
As the mist took on the shape of the Wizard, Matise collapsed where he had been standing, his colour drained from his features and his eyes lost their glassy look to be replaced with the look of the dead.
The mist finally formed into a twisting vapid shape that resembled the Wizard of Gestan and as it wrythed and flowed above the floor the voice of the Wizard emanated from within its center.
"Ah pretty Praedor, I see the Claw protects you both, still it will not always be so. Did you like my little game, pity your friend will not live long, he would have been so much fun to have for a night. Farewell Praedor, kiss your friend for me and I hope you do not miss his company to much."
In an effort to dispatch the Wizard, Bragill swept his weapon through the mist before him only to watch the wraith like mist dissipate before his eyes and the sound of a boyish chuckle die on the night air.
The whole scene had taken less time than it took to walk the length of the large room but now his friend Matise was close to deaths door as his small firm muscles contracted as though in some terrible spasm. Bragill rushed to his friends side not knowing what could be done for the first true friend he had ever had. Gallands thoughts reached through his frightened mind.
"Quickly Brae, take him in your arms and climb into your seat, there is only one, that I know of, that may be able to save him but we don't have much time."
Bragill did as he was bade and with a strength he did not know he had, lifted the body of Matise into his arms and took his seat on Gallands neck. Bragill heard the call from Galland to ready a flight of Dragons immediately. As they left the sleeping room the guards in the corridor were already taking to the air through the open collonades at the end of the passage. Galland sped to the opening and was in the air powering upward as the Bronzes took their place below and behind him. A large phlanx of other Bronzes were leaving the courtyard of the citadel also to take up a guard position around the White Dragon and his riders.
Galland soared higher and higher, his mighty wings sending great gusts of air around his body as he tried for more speed and height. While he knew that nothing could happen to endanger Bragill, his fears for the boy Matise were unpper most in his mind. The Wizard of Gestan had been his usual deceitful self and now an innocent was being put to death for nothing more than being an instrument of that deceit.
While Dragons, because of their size, often appeared to be slow and cumbersome, the true speed could not be counted when they decided to use their full power of flight as Galland was doing at that time. Once he had gained the height he needed, Galland turned towards the rising moon and began a diving swoop earthward to increase his speed. A far off mountain could be seen as an outline in the barely visible light of the new moon.
Bragills thought reached Galland as he swooped in his dive, the sound of the wind whipping past his ears made Bragill realise just how fast a Dragon could fly in times of need.
"Where do we go, Galland?"
"To Kallen, he will know how to help break the spell over Matise."
"Who is Kallen?"
"A maker of spells, he is the only mortal that the Wizard fears but he is now a very ancient man and will not live many more years. We must get Matise to him quickly."
The speed of Gallands flight seemed to increase as he deepened his dive towards the mountain. The dark country below Bragill was now no more than a blur of dark shapes as the mountain reared up before them until at last Galland set his four legs onto a patch of ragged stone near the upper most reaches of the mountain top.
As Bragill slid from Gallands neck he looked briefly about himself and saw that the area was flat and barren, the only things to indicate that there was a life here were some small stone pots holding a rich soil with various herbs and plants sprouting from there surfaces. On closer inspection Bragill saw also a rough brown hide covering an entrance to what must be a cave mouth. At the first sound of Gallands landing, the hide moved and from the depths of the darkness came the figure of a youth, in his hand he held a long staff of ancient wood that had been polished by the hands of many men.
Galland and Bragill looked at the youth in amazement. Galland was the first to break the silence.
"Where is Kallen? we have need of his skills urgently."
"My mentor Kallen has joined the Dragons in Prillian, I am his ward, what need have you?"
"Our friend is in his death throws from the spell of the Wizard of Gestan, we have need of a saving spell but now I see that all is lost, only Kallen had the power to revive him."
"Great Dragon of Goron, I am but a boy, no more than a ward but my mentor taught me a little of the ways of the Wizard of Gestan, would you allow me to look on your friend?"
"Yes, anything you can do to ease his soul would be welcome."
"Bring him into the cave and lay him on my pallet."
The last had been said to Bragill as it was obvious the small cave enterance would not allow Galland to pass.
Bragill did as the boy told him and, as he lay Matise on the pallet he knew by the boys colour that it was already to late as the greyness of death crept over his skin and his eyes drew back into his head.
"Quickly, move aside, there is not much time."
Bragill stumbled back as his eyes became misty with the tears of loss. The boy dropped the rough cloth of his covering and began to rub a strange aromatic oil onto his chest with one hand as he lay the staff on top of Matise's chest until it lay the full length of his small frame from neck to ankle in a long brown snake like line down the center of his naked body.
The boy was now glowing in the weak candle light as the oil was spread over his front and then with a muttering of some archaic language, he lowered himself down onto Matise's comotose body. The boy spread himself over Matise until it appeared to be only one boy laying on the pallet in the dim light.
The smell of ancient wood began to permiate the cave as the boy moved in sensuous ways over the naked body of Matise. A cold draft of air ran past Bragills body as the long locks of brown hair on the boy began to rise of their own volition.
Bragill stood transfixed as the boys muscles began to tighten until he looked like a solid plank of wood, then, with a tenderness unknown to Bragill, apart from that shown to him by Galland, the boy lowered his lips to the gaping mouth of Matise and in a gesture of almost love, blew his breath deep into Matise's open maw.
Once the full breath had been delivered the boy began to suck back the expelled air into his own lungs again. His lithe small frame straightened as if in pain and an ear splitting cry sprang from his lips, his slight frame contorted in agony but as soon as it ended he again sent his breath into Matise.
Three times the boy repeated his efforts until with a scream of anguish he rolled off the body of Matise as they both ejeculated a stream of boy juice over the pallet, but this was no ordinary offering of their juices. Bragill could now smell the rancid and acrid smell of death as the boys sent their streams out of their bodies.
The ejculate was of a yellowish colour and seemed to dry the instant it reached the air to fall as small particles of dust onto the two bodies as they were wracked with pain.
Gallands thoughts reached his mind as he stood unable to move from the scene before him, the two boys twisting and turning on the narrow pallet as the last stabs of pain left them exhausted as though they had experienced an orgasmic climax of monumental proportions.
"Brae, are you alright?"
"Y...yes, my Soul."
"What were the cries of anguish and pain?"
"The boy has given life back to Matise. I think he took the spell of the Wizard into himself to save Matise and then they both sent it out into the open air where it died and turned to dust."
"Then you are both safe?"
"Yes my Soul, we are both safe, I'll wait here until they are awake again."
"Good, I need to take flight for a few moments to organise our defenses above, I feel this is not the last we will see of the Wizard this day."
Bragill slumped to the floor of the cave as he looked at the two forms on the pallet, they both looked to be washed of all strength after the expelling of the Wizards spell.
How much time passed while he waited, Bragill could not tell but the candle burning in the corner of the cave was now no more than a stub as he heard the first moans of the two boys on the pallet as they tried to awaken from their exertions.
The boy of the cave was the first to stir into consciousness and as the spell of exhausted sleep was broken, he gathered his strength and rose slowly to his naked feet before Bragill. In the dim fading light of the candle, Bragill could now see the boy clearly for the first time. he was of a similar age to Matise but two thin lines down the side of his mouth made him look a little older than he was. The strain of his spell making was still clear on his young face, the eyes of deep brown that were almost a copy of his long hair, showed his concern for his spell making and the life he had saved.
"I would ask the name of such a fine maker of spells?"
"I have no name but that which I was called by my mentor."
"And that would be?"
"Just ward, or boy, no other name was given me."
"Then I as the Praedor of Belhadria would offer you a given name in honour of the great miracle you have performed for us, should you so wish?"
"It would be my greatest dream to have a name of my own, great Praedor."
Bragill sent out a thought to Galland.
"The boy has no name, how can we honour him, my Soul?"
"There is a tale in the archives of the Goron about a spell maker, he was said to be above all others in his abilities, mayhap we could give this boy his name to honour him."
"Yes my Soul, it would give him the honour he deserves for his great work this night. What is the name?"
"The spell breaker was called Con-Piz-Rad, breaker of spells and saviour of mortals, this name would surely describe the miracle of the boy this night."
"It is indeed a great name, my Soul, but should we not make it less fanciful, mayhap we could shorten it to Con-Rad so that it was his own name and not that of another?"
"Yes, my Brae, that would indeed be best."
Bragill turned to the boy who was now stretching himself into full alertness, the movement from the pallet also told of Matise's awakening.
"My Soul and I would offer you a name of honour and while it is from another, we have changed it to be yours alone. We the Followers of 'The Way' would offer you the name of Con-Rad, breaker of spells and saviour of mortals. Would this be to your liking?"
"Great Praedor, it would surely be a name to carry with pride, I would gladly accept it from the Followers of 'The Way'"
Matise began to swing his legs off the pallet as the new name was accepted by the boy, Con-Rad reached towards matise to help him stand erect. Once on his feet matise looked around in stunned disbelief at his location as he caught the first of the morning light trying to force its way through the heavy hide at the entrance of the cave.
Looking over to where Bragill stood, he opened his mouth to speakn and at first could only send out a soft hoarse whisper.
"Why are we here? what has happened? who is this? what goes here?"
Bragill spoke up as Matise tried to make sense of his surroundings.
"It is alright, my friend, you were taken by a spell of the Wizard of Gestan and we had to bring you to Con-Rad to be healed."
Bragill saw the first flush of red enter the cheeks of the boy now known as Con-Rad, at the use of his new name. Con-Rad turned to Matise and with a gentle smile spoke to him.
"Come Matise, let me take you out into the rising dawn where I can make a brew of herbs to help you recover."
Unresistant, Matise let himself be lead by the boy until they stood outside with the first of the dawn light showing over the land. Con-Rad went to a small place near the opening of the cave and placed some sticks into a depression in the stone, then, with no more than a movement of his fingers made the asticks into a small fire. reaching through the covering of the door, Con-Rad brought forth a blackend pot half filled with water and placed it on the flames to boil. Con-Rad then went to some of the stone pots placed around the clearing and took different herbs and spices from them and after crushing them in his bare hands, set them into the pot to simmer.
As the water came to a heat, the smell of the concoction began to spread over the small group as they sat waiting. It was a heady smell that sent pictures of gren forrests and open plains into the mind of Bragill although he knew they could not exist in this day and age of destruction but the pictures were a startling reminder of why he was here with his Soul Galland and when they were fully formed in his mind he knew what was to be done to return their country to gooness and prosperity.
A sound behind Bragill made his eyes open and he knew it was his Soul returning from his duties as two human arms surrounded his chest in comfort and love. Bragill knew without looking that Galland was still in Dragon form and that the two arms were his own way of making his rider and Soul feel the love he needed after the torrent of emotion from the night.
"Greetings Con-Rad, breaker of spells and saviour of mortals."
Galland smiled at the way Con-Rad was offering small sips of his herbal brew to the thin exhausted face of Matise as he held the boy he had saved from the Wizards spell by keeping his free arm around the shoulders of Matise and pulling his head onto his shoulder to rest.
"Greetings, Dragon of Goron, I thank you for the naming, it has given me a feeling of import I have not felt before."
"It was well earnt by your duty to our Lord Commander, Con-Rad."
"Matise would be your Commander? I thought he was but a friend in need that you would help."
"Also a friend in need Con-Rad and we thank you from deep within our Souls for you saving of him."
"It was my duty as prescribed by my Mentor."
"So would you stay here in the home of your Mentor and live alone as he lived?"
"There is no where else for me to go so it must be as it was for him."
"Oh, well should you wish a change we can offer you the hospitality of our home for as long as you wished it, but it would be on your own desire and I'm sure that Matise would benefit from the company of another mortal."
"You offer me much of what my heart desires, great Goron, but what would Matise wish, I can not, in all honesty, force myself on him or your hospitality."
"There is no force from you Con-Rad, you are welcome in our citadel for as long as you would want to stay and Im sure that Matise would not object to your move."
As if in answer, Matise turned his face toward Con-Rad and placed a soft kiss on his neck then settled back against the boys shoulder.
Galland gave a snort of humour and looked at the two mortals.
"There is your answer Con-Rad."
Con-Rad felt his cheeks redden as the blush ran through his face and nhis arm tightened around Matise.
"Then it is settled, now Con-Rad, what would you like to take with you, there seems to be not much to take from here."
"Well just my herb pots and staff as well as the kettle on the fire side, I have nothing else to take."
"Then gather it up and we will have some of the Bronzes come to fetch it for you and take it back to the citadel, one of them will give you space to ride with their Soul on his back."
"You mean I can ride a Dragon?"
"Of course you do, it is to far for you to walk to the citadel and besides I'm sure Matise would have something to say about leaving you behind."
At that moment four Bronze Dragons alighted onto the small space of the clearing and, at the command of Galland thyey sent their Riders to help Con-Rad carry his possesions to the waiting Dragons.
The gleeful looks on the faces of the Redheads went unnoticed by Con-Rad, as he had eyes only for Matise as he settled himself behind Bragill on Gallands neck, the sigh that escaped Con-Rads lips was whistful and a little sad but then his eyes brightened at the thought of riding on a Dragon and spending much time in private with Matise when they got to the citadel.
Once everyone had mounted their Dragons, the flight took to the air leaving the small confines of the the cave mouth far below as they gained height for their flight back to Belhadria. As a last thought, Con-Rad realised he was as naked as the riders, after an initial start of embarrassment he gave a light shake of his body and settled into the warm skin of the Redhead in front of him, he also noticed that the Rider did not object to the closeness.
Con-Rad, while it was good to be feeling the small hot body in front of him, had only thoughts of Matise on his mind as they flew at a more leasurely speed back to the castle in the sky.
TO BE CONTINUED: