The Dragonriders

Chapter 17

New Body, New Problems

Celeste

Right after the reveal the leader calls a council meeting. I'm surprised he didn't call Tara'li in as well with the information she just revealed to the council and her Wing. When he speaks I hear the distress in his voice. 'We have a big issue here. All of you heard her words. She is the daughter of a traitor and sees the traitors actions as her own. However... you all saw how she is now. Without a leader of the Dragon Guard wing we have no way to direct her efforts.'

The council member of the supply lines speaks softly. 'You knew her mother, leader. We all did. When we were younger and still out there... we all flew and fought with her. When I look at her daughter... I'm not seeing the same person. I'm unsure if that still is the case now that the queen of the Elves worked her magic, but she never seems to follow the rules.'

The Dwarf of the forges slams his hammer into the railing in front of him. 'Her mind of her own leadership is a different matter. We need to know if she is strong mentally again. If she is still fit to lead. If she falters in battle she could kill much more than just herself.'

The leader speaks softly. 'That she is. The queen did much more than just change her body. Her mind is no longer what we remember it to be. Almost all her early memories are no longer there. She now is an Elf. She can remember it all if she truly wishes so, but I suspect she doesn't. The queen and her decided it is best to rewrite her identity.'

The Elf in charge of the farms speaks very softly and has his eyes closed. 'To think that but two months ago we scolded her in here for letting the queen adopt her. We have fallen low to not foresee that the queen had an important role to play in her future. I'm ashamed of myself to even think the queen would break the rules without a good reason. And I'm even more ashamed to think we did all this to the daughter of the former queen. We could have pushed her right into the claws of the Demon Lord...'

The leader lowers his head. 'We have all made mistakes. Mine was not trusting her judgement. Both Tara'li and Sha'iva are next in line to the throne. I thought she could never balance leadership of a wing with leadership of an entire kingdom. However she needs both. I should have let her lose and let her discover her direction herself.'

I snake my neck towards the leader. 'She still cannot lead both. I know the queen wishes to face off with her sister as well. If she dies then Tara'li is the new queen of the Elven kingdom. This means she has to lead her wing into battle while also being in the kingdom. She cannot be at two places at the same time. No one can.'

The leader nods. 'That would be true, if we kept her in line as if she is any other Wing Leader. When the queen dies... she should be released. Her destiny was never to be a normal Dragon Guard. It was to be a unique one. We have tried to push her into line but that is not how she should be. She should be her own leader, in time. Her destiny is to lead the Elves from the back of a dragon. Her squad is the making of a legend. I could be wrong and will evaluate my theory in time, but this is my believe.'

Tara'li

Miss. How do I miss with my bow? I try again. I hit the target but not center. What is wrong with me? Another arrow. Finally a hit. Annoyed I collect my arrows and try again. I used to be so good with bow and arrow and now look. I'm missing shots. I then hear mom and Sha'iva approach me. Mom speaks softly. 'Less tension, Tara'li. You are tensed up. Let your emotions flow. Let your self be in the now.'

Once again I knock an arrow on the bow and draw the string. I take a couple of deep breaths and let the arrow fly. Now I hit. Next target. Empty mind, one arrow... hit. This is it. This is how I shoot. After three more targets I collect my arrows again. Then I turn to Sha'iva. 'Can we train with swords again? We have not trained like that for months...'