arin's beginning

Chapter 5 - Training

The silence is palpable. I look around at the faces of the men, the Riders, in the semi-circle. All eyes are on Daris.

"I have two questions," I raise my right arm, "one, Leandros said he was going to be my mentor since he was sent to retrieve me and Brann. And two, since you all clearly have things to discuss, can Brann and I go? I'd like to have my arm stop throbbing, and Brann needs some sleep." I point at her with my right hand while she is mid-yawn. Her jaw snaps shut with a loud click and she glares at me. I shrug.

"Yes, Arin, Brann, you may go for the night. Taggart will collect you in the morning Arin to begin your training." Daris waves us off leveling a stare around the rest of the Riders. I turn to leave and match my pace with Brann's.

"Thank you, Brann. I couldn't have done that without you. You gave me the strength I needed." I look over at her. Away from the firelight, her scales are dark, the same shade as the dried blood on Master Randerick's surgery floor. The way her scales change hue is fascinating.

You gave me the strength I needed too, Arin. Axlan told me today that this would happen and I wasn't allowed to move. She nudges my shoulder with her jaw. What are you going to do about your wrist and training?

"I don't know. All I'm thinking about is dressing it, and then taking a drop of poppyseed oil in my water so I can sleep." I look down at my wrist, the skin is angry red from the middle of my palm to halfway up my forearm. The brand itself is swollen and the skin where the metal touched me is black and flaky. I gingerly touch the outer edge. And feel nothing. Not from the brand mark itself. My right hand can feel how dry the mark is. Brann leans her head over and sniffs at the burn, then before I can move my hand she licks my wrist. The abrupt movement sends lighting up my arm and I jump back. "Son of a," I groan and shout into the night. I turn in circles while the pain subsides. "What'd you do that for? That hurt!" I glare at Brann.

I- I don't know. Brann blinks and her head draws back over her body. I didn't mean to hurt you Arin.

"She is trying to help you, Arin. Draconids and their riders share a very unique bond. One that not all of us understand the workings of. Even Daris and Noam get surprised by the bond on occasion." Taggart and Axlan are suddenly by our side. They must have crept up while i was distracted by Brann licking my arm.

Brann was guided by instinct, Arin. Axlan says. Like Tag said, the bond is unique. One of the ways that it is is that Draconid and Rider will find their strength combined. This often manifests in accelerated healing for both parties. I imagine that come sunrise, your brand will be far more healed than you expected it to be.

"Just like how Brann will be much closer to perfect health tomorrow morning. Speaking of which, your dressing of her hindquarters. Tell me about that." Taggart guides us toward one of the smaller fire pits that line the edge of the courtyard. He grabs two stools for us, and Axlan and Brann settle in the grass next to us.

"She hasn't told me what happened, but what I know is that she has been running from a group of poachers for a long time. I can confirm that she ran into some atone point cause she had an arrow lodged in her. A bodkin point. I removed the arrow and gave her a dressing of willow bark and ginger to stave off infection, and I sealed it with eucalyptus leaves." Taggart stares into the coals bracing his arms on his knees. We sit in silence for several minutes, before I ask, "Why did Daris send Leandros to find us if you are going to be my mentor?"

Taggart leans back and looks up at the night sky before answering, "I don't have an answer for that. He caught us all by surprise with that. If I had to guess, I'd say he thinks that you will learn more from me than Leandros. Or maybe it's something that you have to teach me. Only time will tell." He smiles and laces his finger behind his head. "I heard you were apprenticed to Master Randerick before Leandros found you, right?"