Light & Dark: The Awakening of the Mageknight

Chapter 5

The sun had just crept below the horizon when a silver car pulled into view. The wind had grown cold, whistling with an intent to chill.

Danny followed Sabrina hesitantly as she walked toward the car. On the opposite side, a tall, slender man opened the car door and stepped into view.

His hair, long and silvery, draped down the slope of his neck. He wore a form-fitting, silver pinstriped suit. Walking around the front of the car, he slung a silver-hilted blade over his shoulder, sheathed in an ornate scabbard. The hilt formed a grand dragon, the head and neck making up the pommel, and the wings outstretched to form the handguards. Holding a piece of black leather tied around the sheath with his left hand, he allowed the longsword to rest against his back with the hilt peeking over his shoulder. His eyes were as blue as the sky.

"Are you okay, my daughter?" he asked, stopping next to Sabrina, examining the bindings on her right shoulder.

"Yes, Father."

Danny had noticed that since their encounter with the Shadow, Sabrina's carefree and playful demeanor had become more serious. He had the distinct impression that he was seeing her true personality for the first time.

"I would like to introduce you to Danny Firoth, Father," as she motioned Danny closer with a flick of her left hand.

Danny stepped closer to the towering man, unable to meet his steady gaze.

"Greetings, Danny Firoth," said Sabrina's father, unaffected by Danny's shyness. "I am Tyramear, Dragonic Knight of the Light, pureblood of the Dragonic." He presented his right hand in greeting.

Danny hesitated before reaching out as Tyramear reached past Danny's hand and grabbed his arm at the wrist. Unsure of the gesture, Danny did the same and winced from the strength of the grip.

"You have a strong grip, young Firoth, but we have much to talk about and little time to dawdle. Come with me," releasing his grasp. Turning toward the car, he opened the door for his daughter.

"Wait a minute," Danny said to himself more than anyone else while un-slinging the pack from his back and digging through the contents. He pulled out a slightly worn card. The picture portrayed a huge, silver-scaled dragon, captured in the moment of breathing a billowing cloud of blue flame. The caption at the top of the card read, Tyramear, Dragonic Knight of the Light, in bold black letters. Holding the card up in front of him, he compared the picture to Sabrina's father, switching his focus between the two several times.

"This is you," his voice jumping in pitch.

Sabrina's father stepped forward and took the card from Danny's outstretched hand. Rubbing the point of his chin, he examined the card for a few moments. "It's not a bad likeness, but they got my stature wrong." Handing the card back to Danny and smiling, he added, "I'm much bigger in real life."

"Are you coming or what?" Sabrina asked.

Yanked out of his daze, Danny nodded, put the card back in his bookbag, and walked toward the car. Once inside, Sabrina's father closed the door behind him. The car was warm and comforting, a welcome change from the frigid air outside. He watched as Sabrina's father walked around the front of the car, got in, and secured the silver blade in the backseat beside Danny.

"Here," said Sabrina's father, swiveling in his seat, extending a silver phone. "You should call your mother."

"What should I tell her?"

"You can try to tell her the truth, or you can lie," said Tyramear. "Both will be difficult, but it is your choice."

He turned the ignition. The car roared to life.