The Dragons of the Mountain, Chapter 4: Mysteries and Lies
Finally the translation of this chapter is finished! Sorry for the late, these days I've been very busy with school exams and so on...
I have planned this story to have seven chapters in total, so this one is a sort of turning point of the plot. I have to say that there is a prevalence of dialogues over actions, so it may not be so "exciting"... but the last chapters will be much more compelling, I assure you! I have already finished writing the next one, I hope to submit it as soon as possible because I think it's currently the best! ^^
As usual, loads of thanks to :iconHildale: for his vital help with the translation: how could I do without him? xD
THE DRAGONS OF THE MOUNTAIN
Chapter 4 - Mysteries and Lies
Left alone, the turquoise dragon took some minutes to gather his ideas. For the moment he was safe, and that was much more than what he could hope. The talk with a member of the Fieryclaw's, maybe unique opportunity, had instead resulted in a failure. He didn't manage to discover nearly anything new about the enemy tribe and, as if it wasn't enough, once returned home he would have to pretend that his encounter with Ashel had never happened.
Blizzard was seized by a sudden tiredness due to hunger, but a long flight was waiting for him; he decided to rest up for a while before leaving, so he set down on the grass. The warm sunlight was pleasant on his hide after so much time plunged into the humid darkness of the cavern, and a gust of breeze shook the pines' foliage producing a relaxing rustle.
What would he have told chief Xavor? After meditating on it, he made up a convincing story and hoped it was worthwhile. As to the rest, he had to wait to know the outcome of the war he couldn't have seen.
Who was the mysterious character who had caused the lightning storm and the earthquake? What was the meaning of his action? No, it was pointless trying to figure it out now. Ashel said that...
As he thought back to the red dragon he felt again a sense of uneasiness. "What's come over you? From the moment he went away he went back to being your enemy. You'd better forget him" he thought forceful. He was worried about himself. To solve the problem he decided the break was over and got up to return back to his sister.
He examined the Sun's position to get his bearings. His wings' condition was better now; he took flight and headed towards the direction opposed to the one taken by his companion in misfortune.
Blizzard tried to keep himself hidden while flying, following the recommendations given by his master Hazarkan during the last trainings. Sooner than he expected, the canyon's outline appeared to him in all its grandeur. He thought that lingering where a battle had just been fought wasn't prudent, even if that place looked deserted now, so he flew over it and after reaching the opposite side he felt better already. It wasn't the area where he had fought: the rocky walls were lower, surrounded by vegetation, and the river course was slower and still. There were no signs of recent landslides on the ground. Blizzard didn't pause over there further on; he continued flying and stopped to rest only when he believed he had put enough space between himself and that place.
The Sun's blazing disc was about to reach the horizon when the borderlands of Blizzard's native valley appeared: he saw his fellow creatures coming in and out the dwellings, as usual, without expecting the return of one member of theirs escaped death.
He landed at the border, because there were always sentries lying in wait near the braziers placed all around the village. Blizzard knew that his look would have made them understand immediately who he was and what had happened to him.
"Who goes there?" said one guard with imperious voice, a tall and dark blue-colored dragon named Alevar.
The young dragon cleared his throat. "It's... Blizzard" he said, getting closer to the rudimental path among the shrubs. The advantage of living in such a small civilization was that almost everybody knew each other, making identifications easier.
The guard peered at him carefully and opened his eyes wide. "Blizzard? Aren't you one of those who went to the river this morning? We reported you missing!"
"Well, I'm not" he explained wearily, stopping in front of him. "I managed to save myself, but I had fallen into a faint. When I regained consciousness everything was already over".
"Oh..." faltered Alevar, "this is really a good news! Chief Xavor will be happy... Well, I bet you'll want to return home. You have a sister, don't you? She's probably worried over you".
"Yes, that's right" agreed Blizzard hastily, overtaking him. "Goodbye, Alevar".
He came down the short escarpment delimiting the glade; he had no doubts about the first thing to do. Nobody was in the area near his dwelling: Blizzard landed and run inside, hoping that Eileen was there.
"Eileen! Hey, Eileen! It's me!" he shouted, entering the room his sister used to sleep in; no answers. He looked everywhere but Eileen wasn't there.
"Where's she got to?" he thought worried. Hazarkan had certainly told her that his corpse hadn't been found, proving his death: and if he knew his sister well, he had to expect her not to lose hope until the last moment. But where she could be now? And the answer occurred to him immediately, simple and clear as if someone had whispered it in his ear.
He run outside and took flight. He knew where he would have found her: in her favorite place, where she loved to retreat alone or in Blizzard's company when she wished tranquillity.
Not too far from home there was a rocky hillock surrounded by a grove and covered in monoliths offering many protected spots. Being young, Eileen wasn't allowed to go away from the village alone, so she often used to go there, by the forest's border, to admire the landscape.
Blizzard settled on the ground and leant over a huge boulder: Eileen was there as anticipated, sitting on a small meadow, turned towards the pinkish sunset.
The dragon got his breath and pushed himself forward; "Eileen, little sister!" he called.
She turned immediately. "Blizzard? Is it really... Is it you?" he said with trembling voice. She blinked again and again, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
Blizzard nodded smiling: "I promised I'd have come back, didn't I?" She leapt up, run towards him and hugged him, then she burst out sobbing.
"It's been horrible... You can't imagine how I felt when I came to know that... my worst fears were realized..." she faltered, her snout sunk into Blizzard's shoulder; judging by the humidity he was feeling on his hide, his sister was crying copiously.
"Don't think about it" he said sweetly caressing her head, unable to keep tears from coming down his eyes too. "We both have suffered. But now it's all over". They stayed embraced, without speaking, until Eileen calmed down.
The dragoness' eyes were still brimful with tears when she separated from Blizzard. "What a fright, what a fright I had..." she repeated, her shoulders shaken by sobs.
"I risked death, but I saved myself eventually. This is what matters" he murmured shaking his head.
Eileen rubbed her eyes with her hand's back. "I was so scared... and so angry... I told Hazarkan that he's an idiot, that they're all idiots, that they only care fighting and don't think... I'd lost my head! I said other things, that I've never said in my life..."
"Seriously?" said Blizzard, surprised in spite of circumstances. "And what did Hazarkan answer?"
"I don't know" she confessed, looking down. "I run away immediately, after telling him that I wanted to stay alone. I stayed home for a while, then I came here".
"I knew where I'd have found you" he said softly.
She gave him a wet smile. "Our special place. I still had hope... and here I was under the impression that it was stronger".
He shrugged his shoulders. "In some way, you were right".
His sister rubbed her eyes once again, then she took his hand. "Look at yourself... you're covered in dust. And that wound? It's horrible, it must hurt you a lot! And you're probably hungry... let's go home!" she said thoughtfully; Blizzard nodded and let himself being led.
Two Moonfang's were waiting for them in front of their dwelling's entrance: Hazarkan and no less than Xavor bodily. Blizzard heard Eileen sighing next to him.
"Blizzard," commenced the chief with solemn tone, "as soon as a guard told me that you're back to the village, I came here immediately. What occurred at the canyon... nobody would have ever expected that, such a thing has never happened before now".
Blizzard straightened himself up; only stock things came to his mind, so he didn't say anything and let him continue. Hazarkan's expression was undecipherable while he was waiting with his arms folded as usual: Blizzard noticed that Eileen, glowering and resentful, looked determined to pierce him with her gaze, but he was gazing elsewhere with as much obstinacy.
Xavor ignored them. "Obviously we've sought you as best as we could, but it hasn't been easy. That cataclysm prevented me from speaking with the Fieryclaw's chief and irreparably damaged the circumstances, so we had to withdraw. The situation was too dangerous".
"Of course, chief... I see" answered Blizzard. "But you couldn't have found me anyway, considering where I was. And I was unconscious".
The chief paused briefly. "I'd like to ask you some questions, Blizzard. You may be very helpful to us" he said.
Before he could answer, Eileen preceded him: "With due respect, chief... Could you wait? My brother needs food and rest. Tomorrow you can ask him whatever you want". She spoke with mild and polite voice, but quivering with annoyance: the sight of Hazarkan seemed having revived her anger.
"Listen, little girl... Eileen" grumbled the battle master as if he couldn't restrain himself, "it's about very important matters, way more than how you're able to understand..."
Xavor interrupted him beckoning him with one hand. "She's right" he adjudged quietly; Hazarkan fell silent with a grunt and got back to crossing his arms on his chest.
"The return of a missing member is a unique event; it's advisable for us to handle it calmly and in the best conditions. You can go, Blizzard. We'll meet tomorrow" decided the chief beckoning Hazarkan again, this time to invite him to go away with him.
Blizzard nodded grateful; Hazarkan looked at him as if he wished to tell him something while about to leave, but he didn't.
"I'll speak with him tomorrow. I bet he feels guilty about having risked to cause my death" he thought. And Eileen's bluster was to be added to that; going by what he had seen it must have been memorable. Normally the battle master went ahead regardless of everyone and pursued his objectives with methodical aloofness, but he had feelings like everyone as well.
When the two were gone, Eileen dragged Blizzard inside their dwelling.
"You must have come on strong with Hazarkan. I've never seen him like that" he said ironically.
"Eh, I made him feel like sh... well, you can't blame me! But since you are alive, I think I'll take back something I've told him later" she murmured, already looking for a medication for her brother's scraped hip.
All the evening long, the dragoness didn't ask him any kind of questions except if he needed something: she wanted to make him feel at ease, happy that their little family was reunited again.
The following day Blizzard woke up rested but a little bit uneasy: all what he remembered of the dream he'd had were blinding flashes and the rumble of a collapsing mountain. But after all, nightmares like that were the least he could expect from the event which he had risked death in. The wound on his hip had stopped throbbing thanks to his sister's loving attentions; his wings were instead aching due to the knocks and efforts he made the day before.
The young dragoness saw he was awake and sat down by him, embracing him.
"Hey," said Blizzard smiling, "when has been the last time you treated me like this? It's worthy risking my life more often even just for this".
She quickly grabbed one of his horns and tugged it hard towards herself, forcing him to lower his head. "Don't presume upon me, my dear big brother! I'm doing this as an exception. Apart from this, you are the one who should take care of me!" she replied with an ironic smile, without letting him go.
"Okay, okay! I was just getting to like that" he said, his neck still tilted in that awkward position she had forced him to. Things had already returned as always, which on balance was a good thing.
She loosed her hold. "I bet chief Xavor is looking forward to question you" she added becoming serious.
"Yeah. I have to ask him some questions too" he sighed, getting up.
"Shall I come with you?"
"It's okay for me. Thus I'll avoid to repeat myself, I'd have told you everything anyway" he answered, stretching out.
As they were ready they went out and headed towards the chief's dwelling. That morning was dewy and sunny, a bit windy; few Moonfang's were animating the village.
Obviously Xavor wasn't at home, but given that he was going to turn up soon they stayed there waiting.
The chief landed in front of them ten minutes later. "Hello, Blizzard... and hello, Eileen. Thanks for coming. Master Hazarkan will be here soon" he said serious. "How are your wounds?"
"Well enough, thanks" answered Blizzard affable.
"I'm glad to know it. Unfortunately one of us yesterday didn't survive... and other two died a few hours ago: their wounds were too grave. They will be honored as they deserve. Moreover," he continued gloomily, "there would be another issue on that matter, but it requires Hazarkan's presence". The battle master appeared few moments later: he greeted Blizzard kindly and Eileen definitely coldly.
"Where shall we start from?" he said impatiently.
"Let's enter my house, we can talk comfortably" decided Xavor.
Blizzard had never seen the interior of the chief's dwelling. The main room was large and airy and there was a sculpted stone table in the center; everyone took a seat. No noises were heard: his mate Lydia was probably elsewhere, as well as his daughter Ailea.
"Blizzard..." commenced Xavor, "you had been sent upstream with another one. Those lightnings started from there: what can you tell us about it? What are the last things you've seen?"
The turquoise dragon inspected his modified version of the facts. "There was a thick fog... Niktohal had left me stranded, so I was alone. After a while I decided to come back, when I saw a silhouette on the other side of the river..."
Hazarkan interrupted him: "A silhouette? What kind of...?"
"Let him speak" Xavor reproached him, following Blizzard carefully.
"Well, I was unable to see it clearly. It made some gestures, then the lightnings appeared! They struck everywhere, causing an earthquake and making the river overflow the banks. I fell into a chasm... and the water dragged me away" he explained, looking at his hands leant on the top of the table. Next to him, his sister was staring at him wide-eyed; the other two were motionless.
"I know this sounds nonsense! I myself wouldn't believe such a story if I was told, but I saw it! Those lightnings appeared from nothing!" insisted Blizzard, afraid that they would take him for a visionary.
"We believe you" murmured Hazarkan.
"What, do you believe me?" he said surprised.
His words seemed to have confirmed their hypotheses. "What you've witnessed isn't either a miracle or a figment of your imagination. It's a work of magic" said Xavor with very serious tone.
Blizzard and Eileen wrinkled their foreheads in unison. "Magic? What's that?" he asked. Not only they believed him without refuting, but also they knew with certainty what the miraculous phenomenon was; the last thing he would have expected.
Xavor sighed as if he was about to reveal a precious secret. "Magic is something powerful and mysterious. It's the capacity to control the forces of nature bending them to one's will, to create, to change... and to destroy what is around you" he said with strange tone.
Blizzard was more and more confused. "But... how can it be possible? That is, I saw it... but I'd have never thought that..." he faltered.
"It's an unknown practice among us now" pointed out Hazarkan abruptly. "And among the Fieryclaw's as well, we thought that..."
"It must be so!" Blizzard hastened to agree, sensing danger. "It couldn't have been one of them, they would have never risked of killing their own companions that way..."
"Exactly" said Xavor; Blizzard felt relieved: therefore the chief hadn't leapt to the worst conclusion.
"They've been caught unawares like us. The fact remains that when I was heading towards the Fieryclaw's chief all hell broke loose, so we had to look after the injured before they could get involved. Whoever caused that disaster wrecked my only attempt at speaking with them" he said vexed. Hazarkan's expression while Xavor was speaking didn't look too much displeased, but it was nothing to marvel at.
"One who can use this thing... magic..." murmured Blizzard absorbed.
"Why haven't you ever told us about it, chief?" asked Eileen trying not to sound accusingly.
Xavor weighed her question up as if he was thinking about how to answer in the best manner. "Magic is very dangerous. People who know its secrets have an immense power at their disposal, but it's hard to control. A shaman - so is called someone who can use magic - is a danger for both himself and the others. Up to few generations ago there were some shamans in our tribe, but disasters were too frequent: this is why, years ago, we decided to ban magic" he explained haughtily.
"An excellent decision. All that power in the hands of only one person can go to one's head easily. And if that person was the wrong one, we would be in serious trouble" commented Hazarkan gruff.
"How is magic used? Is it something doable by anyone?" Eileen wanted to know, somewhat intrigued.
Her question seemed to have bothered the chief. "I don't know, and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you. History taught us to distrust that power and especially those who can use it" he replied concise.
"That's right, and you don't need to know more" added Hazarkan. "What matters now is finding out who interfered with the battle yesterday... if we dismissed that it was work of the Fieryclaw's, obviously".
The two brothers understood that posing more questions about it would have been useless; but Blizzard was burning with curiosity. If he hadn't had valid reasons to believe it, the dragon would have considered the matter to be a colossal prank.
Xavor stood up and started wandering around the room. "We'll investigate as best as we can about this mystery" he murmured. "A new battle with the Fieryclaw's seems to be still a long way off, so we have time, but I'm sure we have to be on the alert. For now," he added, stopping to look Blizzard first, then Eileen, "don't tell anyone what we've told you. It's of vital importance".
"Why?" asked Blizzard suspicious.
"Because we must not spread panic! Those who know about magic have already been ordered to keep silent about it. I don't want to frighten the tribe before it is necessary, given that the only clue we have is your story. And it's not enough" he answered, a bit more irritated.
Blizzard's face darkened, but he didn't show it. "Of course, chief" he accepted eventually.
Xavor started to walk slowly around the table again. "Very well. Now, Blizzard, there's another question I'd like to discuss with you. Can you tell me what you've done from the moment of the earthquake until your return to the village?"
The dragon wondered the reason of that request; Eileen looked at him encouraging. So he took the floor and told them his adventure accurately, but avoiding naming Ashel and everything concerning the ruins hidden inside the mountain. Hazarkan would have never believed in the goodwill of the Fieryclaw he had joined forces with, considering it just a fleeting alliance solely directed to self-interest, and since Xavor didn't think the red dragons were responsible for the use of magic, it was no use quoting Ashel's words; as for the ruins, Blizzard had in mind a better way to involve them.
When he finished, Xavor rubbed his jaw and murmured: "So, haven't you seen Niktohal anymore from that moment on?"
Blizzard nodded. "Maybe it has been better for him. But now, as soon as I meet him I'd like to give him a piece of my mind..." he said to himself shaking his head.
"He's disappeared" Xavor interrupted him, serious in a sinister way. "After Hazarkan had sent him with you, nobody knows where he's got to".
"What? He's disappeared?" repeated Blizzard; Ashel, during their first encounter, had stated that he hadn't met anyone while heading upstreams too: but the turquoise dragon was convinced that the explanation was different. "Maybe he had been struck by one of those lightnings... maybe he fell into the river and the current dragged him away like what happened to me!"
The battle master crossed his arms. "It may be. But if you're to be believed, he had all the time necessary to come back, or at least to reach a visible point. It's impossible that nobody has seen him!"
"Moreover," added Xavor, "this isn't the first time that some of our fighters disappear from the battlefield without a trace. And you know it well..."
Eileen bowed her head; Blizzard gritted his teeth: "Yes, of course... Our parents, right?" he whispered without looking neither they two. "Does this mean that you have a suspicion that they might just be missing?" he inquired, now addressing Xavor.
The chief sighed. "It's objectively hard to have suspicions regarding this, I'm sure you understand. It might be a series of coincidences, given that the canyon is very wide and you've just proved that it's also more intricate than how it looks. And what is more, Niktohal isn't the only Moonfang who disappeared yesterday".
Eileen raised her head: "Do you mean that others disappeared?" she asked surprised.
"To be more precise, a female" clarified Hazarkan. "Those who were with her affirm that they've lost sight of her during the fight. She might have fallen into the river too, of course, but we always manage to recover the corpses. And the last time she has been seen she was very distant from the water".
Blizzard leant his elbows on the table. "Chief... in your opinion, are the Fieryclaw's subjected to losses like ours?" he asked.
Xavor kept walking. "I'd like to know this too; I don't know what to answer you. By the way, Blizzard... did you understand why I was in urgent need of talking with you? You are the only one of the missing people who has come back. Your story was very meaningful... it could indicate us where the missing corpses are".
"Maybe, but there's still something that doesn't quite add up. Besides, perhaps my brother would have never ended up inside that cavern if it hadn't been due to the earthquake" objected Eileen.
Xavor looked like he expected that sort of retort. "At least we have now something to start from. Which it's better than groping in the dark" he said.
A short time after, Blizzard and Eileen were walking alone through the sundrenched village. The talk had ended rather hurriedly, with Xavor thanking Blizzard for his account and inviting him to keep ready for future recalls, after which he and his sister were dismissed.
"Am I the only one who doesn't feel satisfied with what we've heard?" said Eileen while they were crossing the main square without a specific destination.
Blizzard looked at the bright sky among the clouds. "Obviously you aren't. I think they have some plans, but we aren't allowed to know them" he answered evasive.
"Why am I under the impression that you don't care about it?"
"Well, I didn't say just everything either".
She stopped. "And why did you do that?"
The turquoise dragon looked around quickly to make sure there were no Moonfang's in the vicinity. Those present were few and far and weren't paying attention to them, but he got closer to her anyway. "Let's keep walking in the meanwhile. Listen to me first, then you'll understand..." he whispered in a low voice. "Actually, I wasn't alone inside that cavern..." then he told her about Ashel and how he had persuaded him to cooperate with him.
Eileen was struck with that revelation. "A Fieryclaw! I can well believe why you haven't told Hazarkan..."
"In return, thanks to him I know for sure that they have nothing to do with magic. But if it was one of them anyway, therefore the responsible would have done it unbeknown to the others" he replied.
"I don't know which of the two possibilities is the worst" she said with a false smile.
Blizzard assented. "I'm only sorry that I haven't managed to make him tell me anything about the relic which, according to them, we've destroyed. That guy seemed a good person, but he was a bit stubborn" he said.
"In your opinion, is it true that Xavor doesn't know anything about it? It's strange that the Fieryclaw's have accused us even though they were sure their secret was safe from us" she claimed with conspiratorial tone.
"Xavor has lied. Ashel... the Fieryclaw said we've discovered it years ago" he answered.
Eileen's eyes dilated. "Xavor has lied?" she repeated. "Why should he have done it? And what if the Fieryclaw's chief had lied instead, to play off his people against us?"
"Beats me..."
Wandering through the village, they reached the limits. Beyond there was a wild plain strewn with ponds, then forest as far as the eye can see.
They stopped. "And yet," said Blizzard after a short pause, "finding out what our chief really knows about this matter sounds interesting".
"Perhaps he would answer you, if you asked him please" answered Eileen ironically.
He didn't get flustered. "I was thinking to do that. I'd have some more information for him, and if I use them well..."
"But he would never tell you about the relic, providing that he really knows something!"
"I know! In fact I want to ask him another question. But as for the relic, there may be another way..."
"Really? Tell me, I'm curious".
Blizzard looked her in the eye. "Xavor would never speak, that's true; nevertheless, it appears to me that Hazarkan is informed too. And what if we tried to make him speak?"
Eileen's expression was skeptical, but also reflective. "Hazarkan? Uhm... it's certain that we would have a chance with him. In some sense he's attached to us, even though he doesn't show it. And there are things that can easily distract him..."
Blizzard kept silent, sure that she would have understood by herself what he was driving at.
The dragoness pointed her finger at him. "Ah! I should have expected this! You want me to do the dirty work, don't you?" Despite she was shaking her head with disapproval, she looked amused.
"You can be very charming when you feel like... Nobody can resist you! I bet some right words at the right time are enough to make him answer any question without even becoming aware of it" he alluded flatteringly.
Eileen looked convinced enough. "You're asking me to flirt with Hazarkan... I'm considering it a cheap shot, I tell you!" she murmured half-closing her eyes.
"It's only pretend, it's obvious!" he hastened to explain. "You don't really have to do anything with him... that is..." he faltered embarrassed.
"Well, I must admit he's very attractive... even though a bit too old for me" she whispered smiling enigmatically. Blizzard was astounded.
Eileen laughed at his expression. "Don't worry, big brother: he's not my type. Lately I can't say I get on like a house on fire with him, as you've noticed, but there's no problem. I have a plan..."
One day passed. In the Moonfang village the injured of the last battle had been attended, and the least serious ones had already almost recovered. The trainings of the fighters, as well as normal tribe occupations, were resumed as usual. Rumors circulating about what had really happened by the canyon were contrasting: some hypothesized a natural event, while others suspected of the Fieryclaw's but without having idea how.
The two brothers had discussed about what to do. Blizzard was still unable to make complex efforts due to his wings and the wound to his hip not yet healed, so Hazarkan had temporarily exempted him from the trainings. The young dragon went with him and the other apprentices on the mountain to attend anyway, avoiding accurately mentioning the talk with the chief. Once Migorn, who was Niktohal's best friend, took Blizzard to one side and told him that he was regretting his disappearance very much, hoping he would have reappeared miraculously as Blizzard did.
That evening, at dawn, Eileen went to the cave where Hazarkan lived alone: the master's tiredness would have made her task easier.
The entrance was a long tunnel situated on the rock face of the mountain, one of the highest in the village. The dragoness settled on its treshold and saw that the braziers inside were lit, indicating that the owner was back, so she called him. Few seconds after Hazarkan appeared with a questioning expression.
"Eileen?" he asked with distrust. "What are you doing here?"
She showed her most natural attitude: "Good evening, Hazarkan... I'd have something to tell you. May I come in for a moment?"
The big dragon looked at her, drumming his fingers on his biceps. "Odd request... I wasn't expecting visitors" he murmured.
Eileen took a resolute step forward. "Really? But you should have. Please, it's very important for me!" she said, trying not to sound too insistent.
"I... Well, if it's so important, then come in" yielded Hazarkan, but he was still wary.
"Thank you" she answered. Blizzard was right: the battle master was unable to resist kindness combined with charm. He led her inside the entrance and the dragoness, to give the scene more naturalness, decided to stop there touching Hazarkan's forearm lightly. The feeble and flickering light of the braziers was creating moving shadows on his body, but giving him a less threatening look.
"You see, Hazarkan..." she commenced in a low voice, "I believe I owe you an apology... for how I've behaved, for what I've told you... I've been unjust".
Hazarkan looked at her, feeling a bit lost. "Sorry? For doing what? I haven't got offended" he replied.
It was now time to resort to a little expedient: Eileen would have never dared to do that under different circumstances, but it was necessary to restrain him from having suspicions. Without notice, she pelted on him and embraced him.
"Hey! What's come over you?" protested Hazarkan, caught unawares.
She held him closely to her; she was surprised at her own audacity. "You need to understand that in that moment I wasn't myself... I was desperate because I believed I'd been left alone... I'd lost my only brother..." she murmured with her snout against Hazarkan's chest. Her sorrow was more genuine than how she expected.
Hazarkan was motionless, his mouth half-closed, stunned.
"Of all those who have attended us during all these years, you are the one we're attached to the most. I couldn't tell you, but it's true. And there are other things I can't understand..." she continued irrepressible.
The master leant his big hands on her thin soulders in a weak attempt to separate her from himself. "I'm... well, I'm glad this is what you think of me... but I don't know how I could help you" he grumbled.
Eileen turned her head sideways against his chest, naughtily. "What do the Fieryclaw's want of us? It's their fault if I've lost my parents... and almost Blizzard too" she whispered without seeming addressing him directly, as if she was thinking aloud.
"It has always been so" jabbered Hazarkan, still trying to move the young dragoness away. "If they want war, we give them war".
Obviously, she supported him. "And now... all because of a stupid relic. What could it be that important to them? In my opinion it doesn't even exist!"
"Actually... it does exist. That is..." faltered Hazarkan feeling awkward.
Eileen exulted inside herself. Therefore Xavor had lied. The plan was working, but she was feeling petty.
"I don't believe it" she claimed with obstinate tone. "The Fieryclaw's are just scoundrels".
He hesitated, as if he wanted to convince her but without revealing too much. "We have... well, we've discovered the relic's hiding place many years ago, by chance, during an inspection. Xavor realized what it was, and we went away immediately. But the Fieryclaw's saw us... they were many, and furious... we had to run away".
Eileen parted from him, even if she was rather sorry. "It must have been really precious" she murmured with carelessness.
"Xavor said that... it had to do with magic... it had some kind of power... something like that. I don't know!" he grumbled, feeling more and more ill at ease, and he turned his back to her. He looked embarrassed; Eileen wondered if she had exaggerated the coaxing. "Magic?" she repeated.
Hazarkan was still having his back to her. "Indeed. This is why we've kept this matter secret. Humph, damnation, I shouldn't have told you. But you... I like you, in a word, you've surely understood this. And I'm happy if these things can help you... but do you promise you'll keep the secret?" he murmured, his voice more hoarse and deeper than usual.
"Of course I do" she answered hastily, to reassure him. She would have never expected to see him, Hazarkan the tribe's best fighter, so embarrassed. "Thank you very much. I was really needing to take back what I've told you unjustly" she justified herself. Her mission was accomplished; she started thinking about how to leave him without suggesting that she had come there solely for the information.
Luckly, Hazarkan murmured: "Very well... don't worry. Now, if you don't mind, I'm busy..."
"Oh! Sure" said Eileen smiling affably, and she stepped back. The dragon gave her a last, turbid glance and made for his dwelling through the tunnel, with stiff steps.
Eileen went outside, satisfied with her success. It had been easier than she thought, however she kept feeling vaguely guilty. She was aware that she had a fair amount of suitors and that Hazarkan was one of them, but she had never thought of taking advantage of that fact.
"I didn't do anything wrong" she said to herself. "On the contrary, if I and Blizzard succeded in solving this situation we would even be thanked".
In the light of the new information told by Eileen, that night Blizzard had difficulty in sleeping. He kept rolling over on his bed and thinking about Ashel first, then about the mysterious individual, then about magic, until he ended up fantasizing about having magic powers.
The following morning he decided to undertake his part of the research: talk with chief Xavor. He felt duty bound to keep hidden the fewest notions possible, but he intended to use them as best as he could.
He discussed it with Eileen, who said she was optimistic: "After all, you don't have to ask him anything inconvenient. For me it was different".
"Good! I'd make a fool of myself if I tried with him what you've done with Hazarkan" he commented ironically, making her laugh.
"You just have to hope he won't lie, otherwise it would be useless" she observed then.
"But it's still worthy trying" he concluded.
After a while, the turquoise dragon flew to the main square; he knew where to find the chief at that time. Xavor was under a large centuries-old tree, in the proximity of a cluster of dwellings close to the square. He had just finished listening to the sentries' reports, who were now going away.
"Hello, Blizzard" he said with his powerful voice as he noticed him coming. "Do you need something?"
"Chief... I'd like to talk with you" he commenced courteously.
"Tell me, boy..."
"Well, I remembered some things I've seen in the subsoil of the mountain. They may be of interest to you" said Blizzard.
If Xavor was careless before, now his attention was aroused. "What is it about?" he asked.
"While I was looking for a way out, I found some ruins. They looked like dwellings like ours, but they were surely very ancient".
He brought one hand at his nape, beneath one ear. "Ruins? Do you talk seriously?"
Blizzard nodded. "What do you think about it?"
"I must admit you never cease to surprise me, boy! Unfortunately I don't believe I know more than you. They might be the remains of an ancient settlement of our forefathers... or of the Fieryclaw's. Who knows how many secrets the mountain is guarding..." he murmured between the teeth. The young dragon was expecting a more interested reaction.
Xavor gave him a slap on the back, conciliatory. "Thanks again. I'd like to investigate, but you understand that it's no occasion in this period... We have something else to think about. Isn't it, boy?"
Blizzard nodded again, automatically. "As you wish, chief".
While the dragon was spreading his wings to take flight, he said: "Be ready. Hazarkan may call you back more often now that we are in state of belligerence" and took off.
"Well, what did you expect?" told Blizzard his inner voice; the same words Eileen would have told him.
"It's plain that we're wasting our time" grumbled Blizzard to his sister, the evening after. The two were in their special place, sitting on the grass side by side and admiring the flaming slice of Sun over the treetops out of the village. Up to a short time before they had been busy in various ordinary public tasks. Blizzard carried out the orders as always, but his mind was elsewhere.
"I suppose I know what you refer to" sighed Eileen patronizingly, letting herself fall lying on the grass. "In pratice, you've been asked to be a good boy while the adults take care of everything. And to pretend nothing happened. Reasurring, isn't it?" she said, looking at the sky.
"Indeed" he grumbled; he tilted his bust backward and stretched his hind legs out, standing with his arms. They stayed so for a while, plunged into the sunset's quiet but which wasn't able to quieten Blizzard's mind.
The dragon broke the silence. "Listen, Eileen..." he murmured resolute, "I decided: I'm going to return to the canyon. The more I think about it, the more I convince myself that I should do it".
Eileen kept looking at the sky. "Well, it was long clear that you had something in mind. What's your plan? You're definitely not returning over there for the panorama" she said. She didn't look appalled, but enthusiastic either.
He straightened his back, losing the eye contact with her. "I must find Ashel. The guy... I found myself trapped with inside the cavern. I must speak with him" he revealed, and his voice trembled when pronouncing those words.
He heard a feeble rustling: his sister had sat up too. "Okay," she said with diplomatic tone, "let's suppose yours is a good idea and you already know what to do. How will you find him? You surely can't go to the Fieryclaw's village! I don't want to imagine what they would do to you..."
"I don't need to go to their village" he replied. "I believe he is encamped nearby the river. He had let out something like that" he explained. Ashel had said it absently, but Blizzard remembered it with unusual clarity. "I'll go there and look for Ashel covertly. Sooner or later he'll go away from his companions, and it will be my chance".
"It's dangerous!" she objected. "There's an infinity of things that might go amiss. If they capture you? Or if Ashel didn't care what you have to tell him?" Her clear, bright amber eyes were brimmed with anxiety.
"I have no intention of running useless risks, and then... he will listen to me. I know it" he replied calm. He didn't know what his certitude derived from either.
But Eileen didn't give up. "I almost forgot... Doesn't Hazarkan always repeat 'no personal initiatives'? Xavor has made himself clear too. If the Fieryclaw's don't blow you away, they will remedy when they'll find this out!"
He smiled. "You will see about that, little sister! I'm returning back by dawn anyway. In case should somebody ask about me in the middle of the night, make up an excuse. Tell them I'm ill, for example..."
Even if sitting, the dragoness had crossed her arms on her chest in a way that made her look like a rejuvenated Hazarkan. "This is a crazy idea" she grumbled. But then she shook her head. "Who am I kidding?... Why am I criticizing you, since this is exactly what I would do too? We'll never manage to resign ourselves and keep quiet, right? So... very well then" she concluded, reciprocating the smile.
Few hours after they were there again but the sky was black, lightened by the stars and the almost-full moon radiating a pearly glow. In that zone, sentries were positioned far-between and there were many hiding places, thus Blizzard could leave the village and return back without being noticed.
"Please... be careful" murmured Eileen again while he was unfolding his wings.
Blizzard winked his eye at her. "I'll be back soon. I promise".
"Humph. I believe this will be a long night for me too. I wish I could come with you..." she complained.
"You have an important role from here as well. See you soon!" he said, and took flight. She waved goodbye to him; in a moment the turquoise dragon disappeared plunged into the silvered semidarkness.