The Dragonriders

Chapter 3

New Directions

Celeste

Weeks after Shirley came to first study with me I go to the meeting of the council while she is in my study. I discovered very quickly I'm safe to leave her alone during her study hours as even if she does try to use magic, she is lousy at it. She definitely isn't a born mage and maybe she isn't meant to become one either. She can use some spells and with training she can grow but a full blown mage... no. Not without one of two events taking place.

When I enter the council chambers I see the meeting is already ongoing. It seems my own occupations made it to where I'm late. 'Ah, council. Forgive my late entry.'

They acknowledge me and instantly continue the meeting. It isn't very interesting until the subject changes. 'Now, miss dragoness. You have a new student, don't you?'

They are definitely talking to me. 'Ah yes. Indeed. The stranger that was brought in from the village. She is an... interesting character.'

The council member of the Dragon Guard speaks. 'Why though. Why waste your precious time with some human woman?'

Oh, I want to roast him. 'I have my reasons. For once she survived a dragon raid. Secondly she stood alone against said dragon without fear. Thirdly since my race cost her everything I think we have a debt to repay. And yes, she may not be the best mage but she is determined. Just like with her archery, she keeps practicing and evaluating her own performance until she mastered the task at hand. Yes she is slow at progress but progress is showing.'

The dragon guard council member speaks softer now. 'Why not let her learn under one of your mages then? You could take apprentices of so much more worth. We have to be harsh when picking who we spend our time on.'

I sigh loudly, which causes a flame to push past my lips. The council members nearest to me step backwards knowing I'm annoyed now. 'Yeah we can be harsh. Like I can choose to be harsh towards you right now and turn you into a flambé special for wasting my time on telling mé who í should pick to teach. However I decided that wisdom isn't in being harsh. She has forgiven the attacker after seeing why he did it. She has dreamt about his attack in his perspective.'

The council falls silent. My perspective is always respected as I see the world differently. How much they know about me, I cannot say for sure. But they all know I'm not just any random dragon. I continue pushing my point. 'Shirley, as is her name, seems to have a serious case of wishing to proof herself worthy. For what? I don't know. Probably some backwater belief. I have a strong feeling that she comes from an area where women are not learned or respected. That doesn't matter though. She is though and definitely a fighter. I wish to guide her on her path, wherever it may bring her.'

The council member of the scouts speaks up. 'I know one reason you like her, Aelderash. She has your knack of causing problems. Some of my scouts saw her bow skills while she was training and are now asking for better training. She is better with the bow than any of the scouts, including the trainers. I kinda wish not to interfere with her but please, try to make it she doesn't show off.'

I get up. 'She can't any more. Her bow is broken. I haven't offered to replace it yet, but it has seemed to have snapped something inside her. Something that kept her from changing.'

Weeks turn into months and months into several years as I take care of Shirley. I see she isn't to good at the magic but she does attempt to get better at it. I do encourage her in her efforts though I know she needs help from at least a single artifact before she can properly learn magic. However I have a different plan. As I expected the council is still attempting to hunt down the dragon that caused all this. They don't know the dragon went where they didn't expect: his own nest. My plan is to, when I'm sure she can handle it, bring her to the dragon and have him be confronted with her, and more importantly, her with him. I want to see what she will do when she has the power to kill him.