SoW S4

Chapter Five

PART I

THE RIGHT THING

Monisha couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts. Rowan snored quietly next to her. It wasn't like he would die without her. Besides Alpheus had offered to pay for all the medicine and treatment. Why did he have to be so difficult all the time, when it was her who did all the hard work. Monisha looked at Rowan, she was going to accept Alpheus' offer. Not for Rowan's sake but for her's.

PART II

THE DRAGON STONE

The sun had just risen, and dew coved the soft grass beneath Gwen's feet. Her fishing rod on her back, as she neared the pedestal where the dragon egg was placed. The Cydonian council had decided to place it on the Trinity Isles, here it wouldn't be stolen as easily. Gwen had always wondered what it was like to ride a dragon. She had many dreams of becoming an Enderknight, but that would never happen.

Gwen snapped out of her thoughts and stopped staring at the egg. She trudged down to the beach. The ground beneath her shifted for grass to sand and she drew out her fishing rod.

The water formed rings as the bobber hit it. After a while the string tugged hard. Gwen dragged hard to catch the fish.

Suddenly the rod snapped, the large fish pulling one half into the water. "No", she exclaimed, rushing down to the waterside, her boots slopped through the water. Her efforts didn't matter though, and she just stared into the water after the fish.

Gwen walked home, dripping wet, with no fish and half a fishing rod. The door creaked open, and she walked in. "Gwen why are you home this early", her father called from the living room. He walked out to properly greet her. "You look like something the cat dragged in", he laughed. "Anyways, you're back right in time, we have a visitor", his face suddenly seemed serious. Gwen quickly took off her wet boots and put up her tangled hair.

An ardoni was sitting by the dinner table. Gwen had never seen an ardoni before, only heard stories about them and their mighty songs of war. "She came all the way from Conchord in search of potential Enderknights", her father announced. "Yes, I am Thora Sendaris, and I am here in search of Enderknights", she said. Gwen's heart skipped a beat.

"You father has told me about your hopes", Thora said, her voice warm and empathetic. Gwen stared at her father, who had a wide smile on his face. "And the Enderqueen Abbigail wishes to see you". "Really, me?", Thora nodded. Gwen looked to her father, a pleading look in her eyes, "can I go?". He father put his hand on her shoulder "who am I to stop you".

The broken fishing rod didn't matter to her anymore. "When do we go", Gwen asked trying to keep calm, she felt like her excitement was going to kill her. "As soon as possible", Thora answered. "Will tomorrow morning be fine", her father broke in. Thora agreed.

Gwen waved to the young Sendaris as she left the house. Gwen walked back inside. She couldn't believe it; she was going to meet the Enderknights!

PART III

THE END

Abbigail, Saxon and Trevor had just arrived in The End. A dragon egg had recently hatched and The Enderknights had brought the new baby dragon back into The End. It didn't have any owner, so this would be the perfect time for Saxon or Trevor to train their own dragon.

PART IV

AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS

Senn's body ached, but the pain was not what he worried about. His mind was clouded with worry; about Ria, about the Voltaris and that Nestoris. The Voltaris in the village had escaped and ran to one of the other nearby villages.

Senn, Kratos and the young Voltaris travelled to the rest of the Voltaris. Kratos sad eyes fell on the abandoned village, he felt his guilt swell inside. He should have been there; he should have helped them. A few Voltaris lay in the village, they would never stand again. The kids among them would never run around playing again and that was all because of him.

The clicking of the horse's hooves filled the air as they rode on the stone-path that led up to the village. The air in the village was tense, a few ardoni rushed from the different homes with medication and ointments for the wounded Voltaris. Kratos jumped of his horse and helped the young Voltaris down. She instantly ran over to an adult Voltaris hugging him tight, Senn noticed their very similar markings and figured him to be her father. Some of the Voltaris walked up to him and some peeked out of their homes to listen in. Senn swallowed and looked over his shoulder. A large trail of smoke filled the sky.

"Ky'Senn", a young adult Voltaris broke the silence. "I, I am-, yes", Senn stumbled over his own words. Their faces were filled with only worry. "What will we do", they asked. Everything had happened so fast that Senn hadn't even thought about what was to come. Senn wanted to speak but his voice was nothing but a little squeak.

"We should wait until the village is safe to return to", Kratos then said. "Until then any ardoni who is in condition to fight should stand guard and protect the wounded".

The Voltaris had returned to their duties. Senn, Kratos and a few others had gathered to discuss their long-term moves. "We should send word do the other ardoni clans, and perhaps ask for help", a female Voltaris said. "Asking for help would just escalate the situation further", Kratos objected. "What if this is not just one attack and it is just the tip of the iceberg", she continued. "I am not saying that you are not right, Nessira, but we do not know how much more trouble this one Nestoris will stir up", Kratos said. Nessira just looked at him, "This one Nestoris?", "You did not see the rest of them?".

Senn looked at Kratos whose eyes had turned deadly serious. "I will send out messenger birds immediately", Senn said as he stood up. "Then I will ride out and spread the word to the other villages", Nessira said.