Dragon's Blood

Quiet

The castle became very quiet once the various leaders had left. Alona had returned to Haven to arrange a scouting mission to the Dark Lands; Iyla's archery lessons were on hold and, despite the castles vast size, she was beginning to feel claustrophobic, as if the world outside the castle was pulling her towards it with a tight and unrelenting grip. The initial nervous anticipation that had hung in the air when she arrived had gone, Kade was hardly mentioned to her and, if she was completely honest, Iyla felt a little bored.

"Penny for them," Sam sat down beside her, she was watching Bill and Faine at sword practice yet again, "The lack of activity is getting to you isn't it?"

Iyla nodded, "I know I should be grateful things have been so quiet," she said, "but I just feel..." she didn't know how to explain.

"Bored? Cooped up? Like after everything that has happened and been said, this all feels like a bit of an anti-climax?" Sam suggested.

Iyla smiled, he always knew what was going on in her head, even when she wasn't sure herself.

"Is it awful of me to feel like that?," she said, "I mean, obviously I prefer my life not to be in danger and I'm happy that everyone around me is safe, but is a little excitement too much to ask?"

Sam laughed, "Not at all," he said, "But do be careful what you wish for." His face was serious again and he sighed, "Kade hasn't gone anywhere."

"I know," said Iyla, "I suppose we really should be grateful for this time to get a bit more prepared." She had one of her daggers in her hand, absently twirling it.

Sam nodded down to it, "You have become very deft with those," he noted, "And your archery skills are impressive, you've been working hard, I'm proud of you."

Iyla grinned, "I had no idea I even had some of the muscles that have been aching," she admitted.

"You're having to grow up fast," Sam said, with a hint of regret in his tone and Iyla knew he didn't just mean she was getting stronger physically. Mentally of course, finding out your future might involve trying to save an entire world makes the problems of a normal almost fourteen year old seem a bit trivial. "Do you miss home?" He asked, the question surprising her.

"I kind of don't," she realised. "I miss Mr Kalam, other than that, everything I could have missed came with me."

"I miss Alan too, he was a good friend," Sam sighed again, "You don't miss school friends? Or TV? Mobile phones? Electricity?" he was smiling again now, "Rock music? Jeans? Trainers? Junk food?"

Iyla left, "Some of those things I suppose, but you know I didn't have any friends apart from Bill."

"And what a friend he's turned out to be eh?" Sam looked over at Bill and Faine who were sparring, Bill had disarmed Faine and was offering him his sword back with a grin. Faine took it, they shook hands and then Bills grin turned to an expression of pure focus once more as they began again, "He's put himself between you and danger a few times now."

"I know," said Iyla, "Hopefully with all the training, I'll be able to help myself out a bit more next time," neither of them said anything for a moment, hoping of course there would not be a next time but knowing in their hearts there would be.

"He's got some real skill you know," Sam noted finally, "You both do."

"There's not much else for us to do but practice is there?" Iyla said ruefully. Bill and Faine walked over and caught Iyla's last comment.

"Don't forget it's my birthday soon," Bill winked at her, "I'm expecting presents, balloons, jelly and ice cream – the works."

Faine looked confused, "Jelly and ice cream, is that a kind of food?"