The Dragonriders

Chapter 31

The Demon Lord And The Truth Revealed

Tara'li

After finalizing the plans we go to the council meeting. It is weird to see the entire council in full armor, but what is even weirder is that both Dwarves and one of the Elves dropped the Rider armor in favor of the armor of their people. So they listened to me... it is strange. Then the leader starts the meeting. 'We got one person here with a request. Council member Tara'li?'

I step forward. 'All of you know we are preparing for one final battle. The Demon Lords palace is ahead. According to Tresh'ta, who will be coming to, the Demon Lord is powerful. I will need help with defeating him and I would like to ask... can you all come with me to face him?'

At first none speak. Then the two dragons nod. One of them speaks. 'Our Riders may not agree but we will come. We will face the Demon Lord.'

One of the Elves and one of the Dwarves look at the dragons and nod. The other Elf and Dwarf grudgingly say they will come. Surprisingly it is the leader and Celeste who don't respond. I turn to them. 'Celeste, leader, without you this battle is hopeless. I can still go to battle but I need you two to support me.'

The leader speaks softly. 'I won't be of much use in this battle, Tara'li. I'm not as powerful as I used to be.'

Celeste speaks to. 'Tara'li, you are the new generation Rider. You are in your prime, ready to strike at a moments notice. The leader and I are old. We are slow and not as battle ready as you are.'

I shake my head. I can't believe this. 'Both of you got powerful magics. Use those! You can still strike just in a different way. I need all of you!'

The leader again speaks softly. 'This battle I will be more of a hold up than a help. You should go without me.'

I break etiquette and walk straight towards the leader, putting a hand on his paw. 'You will only hold us up if you believe it. With both of you and Tera'shi to counter the Demon Lords magic, my squad to fight off the guards... I can fight the Demon Lord. All I need is a gap. A small hole to get a spear or sword through. We can do it if we all work together...'

Around me the council makes agreeing noises. Finally Celeste nods. I will do it. I will face the shadows of my past. I hope you all will forgive what you will learn...'

The leader looks at Celeste with a studying look and then sighs. 'I will face the Demon in my past as well. To get rid of the evil in this world, we not just have to face the Demons on the battlefield but also those in our past. All here will learn parts of our histories that are less than likable. I hope to have the courage to face all of you at the end of this.'

So both Celeste and the leader have something dark laying in their past. I wonder what, and why they don't share it now. Around me I see the other six wonder what as well. I close my eyes. 'The mage shared one piece of wisdom with me years ago that I think applies here. The sands of time keep flowing. As they shaped you in the past, so they will reshape you in the future as it becomes the past. Who we were in the past is not who we are now. People change, and I should know. Look at Tresh'ta. Her past is terrible yet she is now one of us again. Whatever your pasts hold, it matters little to what you are now.'

Celeste speaks softly. 'It does matter to those around us, Tara'li. After this battle you will never see me... or the leader probably, in the same light. Our path to redemption is still not fully walked. It never will be probably. You will know soon enough why. Please, none of you bother yourselves with it for now. Soon enough there will be time to talk it through.'

I nod. 'After this battle I do want to know the full story. Why things came to be the way they are and how you... redeem yourself. You made me curious.'