Discovery

Discovery - Five

What’s that supposed to mean? Taylor thought privately so that only Lapis could hear her. 

You are here, not only to reclaim the eggs, but to battle a man named Silas. 

Who’s he? Taylor thought. 

A man trying to take over our lands and enslave the dragons, if he can find them, Lapis answered. 

Taylor sighed, knowing that not only did she have to find six dragon eggs, but she had to battle some evil guy. 

Terrific, Taylor thought to herself. 

I heard that, Lapis rumbled. 

Taylor rolled her eyes at her friend’s now familiar chuckling. Aiden laughed aloud when he saw her do this, and Steven just smiled. 

The four of them continued walking, with Lapis in the lead, and the three humans walking side-by-side after her. 

“So, Taylor,” Aiden said. “Have you ever used a sword before?”

Taylor laughed musically. “I’ve never even touched a sword!”

“What?!” he exclaimed. 

Taylor laughed again, and he flashed her a smile. 

The four approached a camp. A man was sitting on a log, poking the small fire with a long stick with a black, burned tip. The man had silver hair, and a lot of smile-wrinkles. Deep concentration was etched deep in his face as he stared at and prodded the fire. He looked up as they approached, and Taylor had guessed that he had heard their footsteps. The man greeted them with a wave and a smile, and gestured to the logs around the fire. 

“I’m sorry, Felix, but we can’t stop now. I’ve just came back to get my bow and sword,” Aiden said to the older man. 

The man chuckled and let out a sigh of relief. “I thought I’d never see the day that I got rid of you,” his gold eyes sparkling with amusement. “Have a good adventure. You can expect me here, in my next life, waiting to hear the story.”

“And I will be here. I promise.” Aiden held out his hand to the man and the man swatted it aside, stood, and engulfed Aiden in a big bear hug. 

“Goodbye, Felix. You have been a great teacher.”

“Farewell, my young friend. You have been a wonderful student.”

Felix and Aiden shook hands one last time, and Aiden turned and faced his new companions. 

“Wait,” he said, thoughtfully. 

He picked up another sword that had lied next to Aiden’s, and handed it to Taylor. 

“You sure that you’ve never held a sword?” 

She nodded, and looked it over in awe. Aiden withdrew his out of its sheath, and brandished it in front of his face. Copying him, Taylor did the same. Then, they bowed to one another, and strode back a few paces, then turned to face each other once more. Taylor let her sword hang at her side as she waited for Aiden to attack her. He came. He swung his sword at her feet, and she jumped gracefully to the left. As she landed, he aimed another blow at her stomach, and Taylor knocked it aside with ease. 

“Are you going easy on me?” she asked. 

“Maybe,” he replied, trying to move closer. 

Taylor thrust forward and tore through his tunic with her blade. Surprise covered his face as he looked down. Taking this chance, she slashed another hole in his sleeve. 

“What are you holding back?” Taylor said, tauntingly. She had the voice of her past life speaking now. 

Aiden moved, he landed blow after blow, but none hit the mark. Taylor knocked each attempt aside, some narrowly missing, others crashing just in the middle of the blade. Seeing an opening, once again, Taylor flashed her foot out, kicking him in the stomach. Aiden dropped his sword and fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. Picking up his blade, she crossed it with hers at his neck. Then she leaned forward so that her lips were to his ear and whispered, “Don’t underestimate your opponent, Aiden. It could lead to your death.”

Taylor threw the swords to the side, and helped Aiden up. “Don’t underestimate somebody. Especially not their past lives,” Taylor muttered into his ear as he stood, her voice still lower than normal. 

Aiden looked at her in disbelief. 

“What’s wrong?” Taylor asked curiously, voice back to normal now. Breaking away from her helping arms and confused stare, he ran back to Lapis and started rapidly whispering to her. Lapis’ eyes grew wider, she turned to Taylor and attacked her. Taylor cried out in alarm as the now 75 pound dragon landed on her.

How dare you show your face here, Lapis growled.