The Knights of Erador by Philip C. Quaintrell

Author:Philip C. Quaintrell [Quaintrell, Philip C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quaintrell Publishings Ltd
Published: 2020-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

27

A Dark Knight in Dhenaheim

At the top of the world, Vengora’s snow-capped tips welcomed Inara and Athis to a land of inescapable beauty and never-ending cold. Beyond Illian’s northern border, the white plains stretched in every direction, halted only by Vengora’s twin sister: The Whispering Mountains. Between the two ranges lay the vast and mesmerising valley that was Dhenaheim.

Inara cast her eyes to the north and the end of any map she had ever seen. The Whispering Mountains sprawled to the west and curved south, mirroring Vengora. They were distant and small from the Dragorn’s vantage in the sky. It was in those distant mountains, however, that the dwarves had carved out their majestic halls of stone and left their mark on Verda for all time.

They were all empty now…

They had both witnessed the last of the clans following the Largo River, heading for Illian soil. With no dwarf to call it home, Dhenaheim was once again an untamed and desolate realm. The ability to traverse the barren land was a testament to this invader’s tenacity and strength.

Having cleared the Vengoran mountains, Athis glided through the centre of Dhenaheim. So immense was the valley that they could see everything and anything that might cross the snows. What they failed to see, given that they weren’t looking, was anything crossing the snows via the sky.

Inara instinctively ducked as Malliath’s hulking form descended from the heavens, narrowly missing Athis’s head. The black dragon displayed his enviable speed and cut through the air, quickly putting distance between them. Athis huffed and beat his wings with all the force he could muster. No dragon enjoyed being shown up.

What are they doing here? Inara asked.

Getting in my way, Athis replied with obvious irritation.

When the two dragons were finally side by side, Inara reached out through her bond with Athis to connect with Malliath and therefore Alijah. They were well aware that the black dragon would say nothing while they were all bonded, a fact that only made their interaction an awkward affair.

Alijah turned in his saddle to look at his sister. His black cloak whipped about behind him, flashing the red interior. He looked so confident astride Malliath, a contrast to fifteen years ago when they had both been new to flying together. The saddle was still an odd sight to Inara, who had been trained in the ways of a Dragorn, an order which believed that dragons were not to be ridden, as a saddle would suggest. It certainly looked comfortable though…

What are you doing in Dhenaheim? I thought you were with the king…

Alijah would have replied straight away if he wasn’t laughing to himself. Hello Inara, he finally said, his tone suggesting there was sarcasm to come. We’re fine in case you were wondering, despite the fact that we haven’t stopped since leaving Velia. How are you? It must be nice to see a familiar face.

Inara caught herself and let her brother feel some of her embarrassment. Sorry. I am glad to see you.

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