Phoenix Destiny

Twelve

Jaron released Ivy and watched her take her holding pattern above him. Circling above him, she whistled, but she didn’t return to him. Instead, she stayed aloft and circled out of sight. Jaron frowned. A whistle usually indicated she wanted him to see something.

“There you are,” a familiar voice startled him.

Jaron turned to see Dak astride a chestnut gelding. Still lean with gaunt cheeks, Dak nonetheless had a sharp gaze that rarely missed anything. Likewise, his horse wasn’t flashy, but it was reliable.

“How was your winter?” the soldier dismounted, offering his hand for a firm handshake, which was certainly the warmest welcome any of the other soldiers had given him.

“Tolerable,” Jaron answered. “Yours seems to have treated you well. Did you return home?”

“Home? What’s that?” the soldier laughed. “Nah, ‘fraid I wasted most of my coin on mead and company. Couldn’t wait to return to work.”

Jaron nodded, thinking the soldier didn’t look worse for wear regardless of what he said.

Dak noted the secluded surroundings before asking, “What are you doing out here?”

“Nothing really,” Jaron cast a quick glance at the sky. Ivy was nowhere to be seen, but he had no idea when the dragon would make its appearance. “How did you find me?”

“The others told me you disappear into the forest for most of the day. Arranging secret meetings with someone or just hoping to see one of those fairies you sing about?”

“No, just…making up some new songs.”

“Without your lute?”

The soldier waited for an answer as Jaron hesitated. Dak seemed rather amused and naturally curious. In fact, the soldier was a lot like Ivy in that way. Jaron almost smiled. The soldier had a quick wit and good eyes.

Jaron wondered whether he should tell Dak about the dragon. Of all the company, apart from the General, he was the most friendly and accepting. Teaching Ivy to come to another person would be useful in passing messages.

“Ah, jester!”

Dak and Jaron turned to see Dorrall astride a black destrier. The gelding was a poor specimen with too-large ears and a short, thick neck. Next to Gambler, it looked like a mule.

“Finally, caught you alone,” Dorrall dismounted. “No General to protect you here.”

“Dorrall—”

“Stay out of this, Dak. I’ve waited long enough for this moment. Jester, are you ready?”

“Do I have a choice?” Jaron calmly faced the soldier.

“Dorrall,” Dak stepped between them, “you can’t be serious.”

“Out of my way, Claney.”

“Jaron is one of us,” Dak refused to back down despite the warning.

“One of us! He’s not even man enough to hold a sword. Out of my way!”

“You should do as he says,” Jaron muttered, his gaze not leaving Dorrall.

“What?” Dak looked over his shoulder. “Are you serious?”

“If you don’t move, he’ll kill you,” Jaron warned. The situation seemed all too familiar. His skin prickled with memory.

“Out of the way, Dak!” Dorrall unsheathed his sword.

Instinctively, Jaron stepped forward. In one movement, he grabbed Dak’s sword from its scabbard and pushed the soldier out of harm’s way as Dorrall attacked. Jaron raised Dak’s weapon, blocked and deflected the blade. Jaron spun past Dorrall.

The soldier stumbled, turned and charged, wildly swinging his sword. Again, Jaron deflected the intended blow and side-stepped around the soldier. He watched Dorrall’s feet and moved instinctively.

Dorrall was careless, leaving himself unprotected in his rush. Despite growing exhaustion, he charged again. Jaron parried and stepped to the side, tripping the soldier. Dorrall fell into the dirt and lay a moment before slowly rising to his knees. Jaron caught his breath.

Dak helped the soldier to stand, saying, “Come on, it’s time to return to camp.”

Dorrall shoved the other soldier away as he got to his feet. He stepped toward his horse, paused and spun, throwing a dagger. They heard a screech as a green streak dove between them, snatched the dagger out of the air and disappeared just as suddenly.

Dorrall blinked at Jaron, who calmly met the gaze. Fury rose in the soldier’s eyes. He sneered, leapt into the saddle. The stallion whinnied as its rider yanked its head around and spurred it into a reckless gallop, leaving them.

“I thought you were a jester,” Dak said after a moment.

“I am,” Jaron rubbed his temple as his head pounded. It was as if something strained to break free. He felt hollow when the ache faded.

“You hold a sword like a soldier.”

Jaron looked down at the gleaming blade. He raised it, felt its weight and stared at it like someone discovering a new limb. Swinging the sword, he decided that it was too light for his taste.

“Where did you learn to move like that?” Dak asked.

“I must have picked it up from watching you and the others,” Jaron handed the sword back to its rightful owner.

“You can’t learn like that,” Dak shook his head, accepting the weapon as if unsure he was still worthy to wield it. Sheathing it, he looked at the sky and said, “We should leave before whatever creature that was returns.”

“We have nothing to fear,” Jaron replied, raising his arm.

“You might not mind the idea of strange beasts, but—”

Leaves rustled. Ivy swooped out of the sky and landed on Jaron’s outstretched limb. The little dragon perched with Dorrall’s dagger between her jaws. Dak stared as Jaron calmly took the weapon away from the small reptile. Ivy chirped, knowing she had done well.

“What is that?” Dak stepped forward. There was a spark of fear in his eyes, but his curiosity won.

Ivy looked at the soldier. She leaned forward, her nostrils twitched, and her tongue flicked out of her mouth. The wind played with the tendril like spines hanging from her chin and lower jaw.

“Dak, this is Ivy. She’s a Castle Dragon. Ivy, Dak.”

The dragon whistled.

Dak studied the dragon and asked, “Where did it come from?”

“I found her when she hatched a year ago.”

“Where have you kept her?”

“In my tent. She grew quite a bit over the winter.”

Ivy purred as Jaron scratched her chin.

“What do you feed her?”

“Part of my meals and rations. She hunts for herself at night.”

“So, this is why you are gone all day,” Dak hesitantly reached out to touch the dragon’s delicate wing. Ivy turned and hissed. The soldier quickly withdrew his hand.

“I’ve been teaching her falconry. I think she’ll make a reliable scout.”

“You’re jesting.”

“No,” Jaron shook his head. “She’s taken to the training well.”

“Jaron, this is a wild thing. You should turn it loose.”

“She’s imprinted on me. Even if I did release her, she wouldn’t go far.”

Dak looked at the dragon. At last, the soldier spoke again, “She could be useful for carrying messages.”

Jaron nodded and said, “I think so, if she was trained to fly to more than one person.”

Turning, he held Ivy near Gambler’s saddle. Obediently, the dragon stepped onto it and perched there, watching them. Dak already wore a set of wrist-guards. Jaron was sure they were good enough to protect against the dragon’s claws, and he was eager to test his theories.

Jaron maneuvered Dak in front of the dragon and said, “See if she will come to you.”

Dak held up the protected arm. Ivy crouched on the saddle and stared at him. She stretched her head and sniffed the leather guard. Then she sat back and hissed.

“I don’t think she likes me,” Dak said.

His voice sounded relieved, but there was also a hint of frustration. His gaze shined with awe. Of all the soldiers, Jaron thought he was the most fanciful. This was the first time he ever met a creature he would consider legend.

“You’re a stranger. Here, try this.”

Jaron took off one of his gloves and handed it over to the soldier. Then he nodded to Dak to try again. Ivy leaned forward again and flicked her tongue over the arm as her nostrils twitched. It smelled like her master. Ivy’s hackles curled as she judged the man offering his arm.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jaron instructed. “If she senses fear, she will not come to you.”

“You say that as if that is a bad thing.”

Ivy growled.

“Just be calm.”

Dak forced himself to focus the same way he did in battle. Ivy’s head swayed. Then she paused. She lowered her hackles. Her growl calmed to a purr. Sniffing the outstretched arm again, she stepped on to it. Dak’s arm wavered, unaccustomed to the weight. The dragon spread her wings to aid in balance. Dak slowly let out a breath.

“What did you say her name was?” Dak asked, staring at the gleaming green creature.

“Ivy.”

“Ivy,” Dak repeated.

The dragon blinked ruby eyes, calmly meeting his gaze.

“Strange,” Dak said. “I’ve looked into the eyes of many creatures: man, woman, horse…but her eyes are somehow more alive. It’s like she’s really looking into mine.”

“You can see the thought behind her gaze,” Jaron agreed, wondering if this new lesson would divide Ivy’s loyalty.

Hesitantly, Dak raised a hand to touch the dragon. Ivy made a rapid clicking sound Jaron knew to be a warning.

“Careful, Dak—”

Dak paused and Ivy relaxed. He reached out to touch her again. Ivy’s nose twitched. Suddenly, she struck his fingers and took wing as he yelled. Her needle-like teeth cut deep.

“Easy!” Jaron calmed him, wrapping his fingers in a strip of fabric pulled from Gambler’s saddle blanket.

“She bit me.”

“Of course she did.”

“Has she bitten you?”

“No.”

Ivy circled then landed on Gambler’s saddle. She blinked and purred, looking smug. Ivy cleaned her claws and preened her scales.

“You two just need a little more practice,” Jaron said. “Time to learn to understand each other.”

“Right,” Dak stared at the dragon and seemed anything but inclined to make another attempt.

“I’ll teach you,” Jaron said. He was eager to continue expanding Ivy’s training.

“And you let me train you in sword-fighting?” Dak asked, his expression suddenly brightened with a smile.

Jaron hesitated. Dak seemed genuinely eager for the exchange. Well, it wouldn’t hurt to expand his own skills. Finally, Jaron shook the other’s hand. If he was going to stay with the company for now, it made sense to learn sword-fighting, and he doubted this would be the last time Dorrall tried something.