A Cave Tale

Chapter Three

In the cave, the heat and smell of the forge in Ägidhardt's dream became another familiar heat and smell, and the dim lamps of the shop became the low light of the cave. Turning towards the mouth of the cave, Constance saw someone walking in.

It was a dragon! They had gleaming golden eyes under bony ridges, and sharp front fangs. Their scales were the color of shadows deep in the forest, and faintly glittered a dark green; the dragon had large wings that were tucked into its wide and strong chest, and a long tail. He breathed out a puff of smoke from his nostrils. "Constance! You've brought guests over again," The dragon said, in the hissing and clicking language of its kind. It looked over at Han-bi, who stared at it in awe while the aérylle puffed out its chest and spread its wings in front of her.

"The girl has traveled from Lékka Krúvos in the South and needed rest, Oròsavel," Constance said to the dragon.

"Yes! From the lake," added Han-bi, snapping out her surprise at seeing a dragon. "I was writing a poem for Mister Ägidhardt," She said, holding up the poem.

Oròsavel eyed Han-bi's writing, intrigued by its style. "My kin once wrote great odes, but their echoes have faded from the air," Said Oròsavel, "Which brings me to my point: I have heard from other aérylles and beasts that my sibling Josathiel has yielded up the King's sword."

The news surprised Constance, who laughed. "Ah, how he loved that sword and his treasure! I wonder how many came to him for it before he let it go."

"It was almost certainly not a matter of number," Oròsavel huffed. "No good dragon lets their treasure out of their sight unless they have a very good reason."

Constance nodded, smiling. They looked over at Ägidhardt, who was curled up under the blanket on the rug. "He still sleeps. But, I think you two will have a beautiful friendship when he wakes."

Han-bi looked between Constance and Oròsavel. "Will that be soon? Maybe I should leave before then."

Sighing, Constance thought of the private conversation they had with the King's Son when they first were charged with watching over Ägidhardt. "...There will be much for him to do when he wakes, but you can stay if you'd like," Constance said to Han-bi. She hesitated for a moment, then handed her poem to Constance.

"It was fun, but it was a lot of work for me and Valor to help people across the lake," Said Han-bi, glancing at Oròsavel. "There were storms and waves and wind, and... well, I don't know what Mister Ägidhardt will do, but I think he'll be okay if he has a strong dragon and one of Valor's siblings with them," Han-bi said with a smile. She took a deep and slow breath, looking back out of the cave. "I've been wanting to go to the city to meet the King ever since Valor told me about him. I... think I'll leave." She bent down to pick up her book and pen and ink, and put them back in her bag. "It was very good to meet you, Mister Constance and Mister Oròsavel." Han-bi bowed and walked away with a wave, the aérylle following her.

"Ägidhardt will need to meet the King at some point, as well," Said Oròsavel after watching Han-bi leave the cave. "There are things he will need to learn about my siblings and I from him."

"The King always has a plan," Constance said with a small smile. "And as it happens, there is a good chance the King's Son and his Minister will be coming by the cave. That girl Eulanthe and the donkey with her were actually going to spread the news of their return."

"'The King has a plan', indeed," Oròsavel noted, with a chuckle like dry leaves swirling together in the breeze. "I will attend to my treasures. Summon me if he wakes or if the King's Son arrives." Constance nodded, and Oròsavel slowly walked off into the dark depths of the cave.

Seeing the dragon slowly disappearing into the shadow reminded Constance of when the King's Son first introduced Ägidhardt to them. They looked at Han-bi's poem briefly, then set it down next to the rug and watched over Ägidhardt quietly. "He's so much more than he dreams of being," Constance whispered to themself. Ägidhardt's red hair was still messy, but Constance could see hints of more that slept beneath his features, and traces of the King's plans that would shine through. Sighing, Constance took Ägidhardt's hand in theirs, and closed their eyes and looked in on his dreams.

They were still holding hands. Ägidhardt had tripped and fallen down on the muddy field, the heath not doing anything to cushion his fall. "We have to keep going!" He shouted over the horns and cries and drums sweeping around them. Constance pulled them up, and they continued running. "There's no way all of us are going to get away," Ägidhardt said glumly.

"If enough of us do, that could make all the difference," Constance replied. "Surprise attacks like this are the best they have."

"Hopefully the optimists like you are the ones that survive," Ägidhardt said with a bitter laugh. Constance saw how he was grown now, his features no longer quite so boyish, though Ägidhardt had spoken like someone far older.

"Listen, Ägidhardt," Said Constance, "I'll stay with you no matter what. I promise."

"...Thanks," Ägidhardt said after a few breathless moments of running. He turned to look over at Constance, but flinched back as an arrow whistled between them. "They're gaining on us!" Ägidhardt and Constance tried to put on a burst of speed, but the field was too muddy and uneven to go much faster.

Looking over their shoulder, Constance could see the army approaching behind them, the enemy soldiers breaking apart the low mists, tall banners poking up above; off to the side behind Ägidhardt, he saw the hiding places in the trees. "To your side!" Constance pointed out.

Ägidhardt glanced at the forest, and caught a glimpse of more enemies moving through it. "They're sweeping in from the side to cut us off!" Cried Ägidhardt. "Coming from the forest!" The warning spread up towards the other men on retreat, some of whom were able to switch their shields to their other side. Ägidhardt was struggling to switch his shield over, as he was left-handed.

"Here!" Constance said, handing Ägidhardt their own shield as they saw another soldier trip and fall down. Constance sprinted over, the man's face seeming familiar as they helped him up.

Checking the forest again, Ägidhardt saw another enemy archer taking aim at Constance. He dropped his own shield and ran as hard as he could to get there, but he couldn't raise up Constance's shield fast enough. Like it was in crystal clear slow motion, Constance watched the arrow come in as the man they'd helped up stumbled and then ran away, and then the arrow hit Ägidhardt in the chest.

Ägidhardt cried out, falling down to his knee and then on his shoulder. He blinked, his adrenaline spiking and masking some of the pain- but, looking down, he could see it was much more serious than it felt. His chest ached deep inside, and it got tighter and hard to breathe. "I know- I know you said... but... you can't carry me and get away-"

"I meant it, I'm staying with you!" Constance interrupted.

"There's no time, someone has to keep going!" Said Ägidhardt, clutching his wound. He looked up at Constance, who hadn't moved an inch. "I'm so far from home," Ägidhardt said quietly. "They don't even speak the language of the people on our borders-" Ägidhardt groaned in pain as he turned over onto his back. "I was just a nothing boy from a nothing village; no one knows me here, no one at home will know what happened to me..."

"Don't talk like that! You matter to me, I won't forget you," Constance said.

"But it's too- its... You saw the archers in the forest, and I- we're... I'll understand..."

"Why would it matter what I swore to everyone at our home if I just left you here?" Constance said, their eyes stinging with tears.

"How do you do it?" Ägidhardt asked, closing his eyes for a moment. His hearing had sharpened in a way, being able to make out every small sound nearby, but the other noises of the battle faded away. "I always felt- I could always feel that there was something... that there had to-" Ägidhardt felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to speak much more. He opened his eyes, and looked up at Constance: they had dark short hair, and eyes full of compassion and suffering. "It's strange, but... right now, I feel like I've known you my whole life..." Ägidhardt tried to take deeper breaths, but it was hurting more to do so. Though he was in pain and the enemy soldiers were fast approaching, he began to feel calm, and at peace with Constance kneeling at his side.