Rise Of Orthros

Chapter Eight

She raised an eyebrow at him before he spoke, "Someone is here to see you? She refused to tell me who she was, but I think I noticed the mage necklace she was wearing."

She nodded, "Thanks." Stepping outside, she closed her bedroom door and headed down the corridor. She wondered who that person was.

She hasn't seen or spoken to a mage in 7 years, something she avoided more times than not. Aesthra made her way to the front door, humming to herself as she did. As she stepped on the last step, her head turned to the right where she noticed a girl was standing.

Erasto was right. She was a mage. She was wearing a mages coat that was covering most of her face from us. Something we were taught to do, Aesthra also thought it was strange that she was here, no one knew where she was. So, how was she tracked down?

"Who are you?"

"How did you find me?"

Questions flew from Aesthra’s mouth, as she had a million questions. Who wouldn't?

The mage let out a chuckle, removing the cloak from her face so Aesthra could have a good look at her, the mage had emerald green eyes, pale skin, and she had long brown hair that was french braided and twisted to the side.

"Please, Aesthra, calm down. My name is Abigail Stronghold. Your family has sent me, they need your help."

Aesthra let out a chuckle, "My family needs help, good. Help them because I sure the hell am not." Anger boiled inside of her. She couldn't believe this.

"You don't think we wanted to do that, but they insisted that you come."

Aesthra looked at Abigail for a few more moments before sighing, "What do they need help with?"

Abigail shook her head, "Unfortunately, they wouldn't tell me the details as to why, but they say it's urgent. You know they wouldn't call on you unless it was desperate."

Aesthra rolled her eyes. Of course, her parents wouldn't express why. It was unnecessary for Abigail to waste her time by coming here when she herself had no idea what was going on. It had to be a trick.

As she looked into Abigail's eyes, she knew she was telling the truth, "Right, my parents wouldn't either way." She felt a little calmer as she felt Ruvaen's hand come to the small of her back.

"Aesthra? You alright? Who is this?" Ruvaen asked.

"This is Abigail Stronghold; she has come here on my parent's request."

"Request?" He asked a little shocked; he knew that something had gone down with her parents and to why she never spoke about them or to them.

"Please just come, Aesthra; your parents won't be happy that you declined, please?" Abigail pleaded; she knew it would be hard to get her to help.

Aesthra took a deep breath as she rubbed her forehead in thought, biting her lip ever so gently, "Alright, fine, but I'm not going alone. I will bring Ruvaen and Cyrelle with me."

Ruvaen nodded, "Alright, let me go tell Cyrelle, I'll meet you in the stable."

She nodded and looked back over at Abigail, who looked happy that she had even agreed. This was something Aesthra was hoping to never do. See her parents and brother again.

"So how did you get here? And find me?" Aesthra asked.

Abigail looked at Aesthra before smiling a little, "Well I've heard stories of dragon riders around and assumed that you were with them, as you inspired a lot of us back home to become better and seeing you and what you did helped us and well as for getting here, I had to get aboard a ship that was heading past Cafled to another dock in Gandor before getting here. Only took me 2 and a half days."

Aesthra was shocked to hear that some people followed her and wanted to become better. What she remembered is horrible and never thought anyone would change.

"Come, I'll show you the dragon stable," Aesthra said before leaving the house with Abigail as they walked the streets. No one seemed to mind that there was another mage since Aesthra has earned her place here.

As they arrived at the dragon stable, Abigail couldn't believe her eyes at the different variety of dragons, some were tall and some were small, Aesthra walked over to Ethiopia's stable who was laying down on the hay beneath her. She took a few big steps towards Ethiopia, which made her lift her head. A happy whine left her mouth, only for her mood to change when she saw Abigail, Ethiopia flared her nostrils puffing out bits of smoke while guarding Aesthra with her wing

Aesthra gently stroked Ethiopia’s face as tears formed in her eyes thinking of Cafeld, the one place she never wanted to return. From a young age, she was classed as an outsider due to her having a love for dragons. She always wondered where she got her love of dragons from, and that was simple.

Her grandmother Adriana had a love for dragons just like her, Adriana wanted to show everyone that not all mages were bad and she began to make a difference, Adriana began showing a side mages thought was evil and unlike them. Adriana grew so many followers until they realized that only certain people could ride dragons.

People with good hearts, since Adriana was sweet and gentle lady dragons and other animals, loved her. Mages didn't approve of this, so they tried to take away her pure heart, which backfired, killing Adriana in front of everyone in town, especially her loving husband Richard. A few elders at Cafeld still adore Adriana even if she was no longer with them. Aesthra heard stories about her grandmother around town as she killed when she was only a year old.

"It's alright, Ethiopia; she isn't going to harm you. We have to go back," Aesthra whispered gently towards her dragon, who whined in pain.

Wiping her tears away before looking over at Abigail who was awkwardly standing in the corner, she motioned her hand towards Abigail letting her know to step forward, "Ethrinria needs to feel your touch so she knows you aren't a threat."

Abigail whimpered a little before taking a gulp as she stepped forward towards Aesthra and Ethiopia, slowly Abigail placed out her hand and gently got closer, only for Aesthra to roll her eyes before grabbing Abigail's hand, guiding it towards Ethiopia's norstrils.

"Let her pat you, Ethiopia. I know it's hard," Aesthra said as her dragon gently nudged Abigail's hand shortly after.

Abigail gasped and opened her eyes, "Oh my, your scales feel amazing. How could someone harm something as gorgeous as you?" Abigail looked into Ethiopia's eyes to see the fear that both she and Aesthra were feeling, not to mention the pain those two had been through.