The Dragonriders

Chapter 12

Armed As Royalty

Sha'iva

It is later in the evening when I'm moving back to the palace. I'm tired from the long journey and don't feel like spending any more time with the celebrations than necessary. While walking back I hear her voice. Mother. I hide behind a tree and listen. 'You have seen her today, yourself. Now you may already know what I'm going to ask of you but I will still do it. Give her armor the enchantments of our people.'

I then hear the second voice. It is more raspy. The keeper of our races magic. 'My queen, you know how I am in the aftermath of the Celebration of Unity. You know I cannot work magic for a decent time.'

They seem to stop. Then the queen talks with a more venomous tone. 'Do as I ask or I will find someone who will. That you are the oldest to use magic doesn't mean you are irreplaceable.'

The Keeper of Magic grumbles. 'Your majesty, your first daughter is dead. Nothing can bring her back. This... human archer is not your daughter.'

I hear my mother move rapidly. 'What do you know about it? Nothing. I have seen her use a bow. HER bow. She is almost as natural with it as... my daughter was. Not only that... she saved my life using a bow made by the outcast. She is an archer yes. And yes she is also a human. But she shoots like an Elf. Now for the last time. Will you fulfill my request?'

The Keeper of Magic is slow to answer. 'Fine. I will do it. However don't expect me back at work before the Solstice though. This will wear me out even further. And again, she isn't your daughter.'

The queen responds angrily. 'Why would you even care about it? In the end it is my choice and not yours. She saved my life and that makes me indebted with her. Despite her boldness and recklessness she hit the right notes. I never know if I should give her a hug or a punch in the face.

The Keeper grumbles again. 'Well, at least not a set of armor of our people that is enchanted. No matter how she saved you.'

I hear mother reaching the point of rage. 'She shot the outcast with a bow he made himself in front of my guards, the moment she heard an arrow. She was quicker than me with the bow.'

He responds with a honing tone. 'And you want to do what? Make her a guard? Have her stand at your front doors for ages doing nothing but listening to the sound of the birds in the trees? She is a Dragon Guard. She flies into combat after combat, slaughtering hundreds on top of an armored, flying beast that spits fire and claws dozens to death in a single strike. The Elven lifestyle isn't for her.'

The queen seems to turn on her heels. 'Not all Elves are guards. There are more positions than that where you need a full armor set. Which one is best for her I have yet to decide. However my point remains: with your age has come blindness. She may not be an Elf in body or heart, but she is in spirit and whits. It is not coincidence she was assigned to my daughters squad. I know the Dragon Guard long enough to know it is all about uniformity and getting rid of your identity. Every squad leader advertises the same. All the squads from the moment they all got their dragons wear the same armor. Except hers. They wear the armor and weapons of their people. I heard the Dwarves build a makeshift forge in their quarters and are forging as we speak. She took the time to learn our greetings and traditions. Even as we speak she is participating in the festivities as if she were an Elf. Yet she seems to not take on any identity yet. I think we should give her an identity worth living and fighting for. Reward her for the respect she is showing us.'

Shirley

In the morning the queen invites both Sha'iva and me for breakfast. I choose to wear one of the more simple Elven tunics that I got supplied, though it does not look any less elegant. After breakfast I start exploring the palace. I didn't get any specific permission to do so but more critically I didn't get told not to. After wandering from room to room, admiring the flower gardens and armory, I reach some kind of place that showcases what must be Elven treasures. As I walk through the hall looking left and right, I then see what is at the end of the hall. A set of beautiful armor is on a stand at the end of the room.