I Dream of Dragons

3. Dragon

"Follow me," the dragon said, and swam away. At first, it seemed to be swimming toward nothing, but as Ailysia re-focused her eyes, she saw a faint glimmer taking shape in the distance. The light did not permeate through the water, but hung there suspended, wavering like a piece of veil. The dragon passed through it, and disappeared.

After a moment of hesitation, Ailysia followed. It didn't seem like there was anywhere else she could go. She swam toward the glowing veil, which gained more detail as she got closer. She could see an image through it, purple sky, a bridge, and a shiny tower in the distance. The moment she passed through, cool air rushed at her, and her foot pitched forward to land on white stone.

The stone rang hollow, and there was a crystal clarity to its ringing, almost melodic. She stumbled forward a couple of steps before regaining her balance, her arm hooking around a stone pole for support. She saw that she stood on a bridge about fifteen feet wide, paved with smooth white bricks. There were solid barriers on either side rising to just above her knee, and taller poles every fifty paces.

But when she glanced at what was beyond the barrier, she almost jumped back in shock.

The bridge was very, very high up in the sky. Ailysia wasn't afraid of heights, but the brief glimpse she took below still made her momentarily dizzy. There were mountain peaks below her, snowcapped spires rising through a sea of clouds. She couldn't see land through the clouds, never mind cities or people.

If she had to guess, she must be three, four miles above ground. No. She grimaced, holding onto the pole a little tighter as a gust a strong wind blew over her shoulders. Better not think about that.

She looked around for the dragon. It had asked her to follow, and hopefully, it was leading her out of this place. But she couldn't see the dragon anywhere. Behind her, the bridge sloped down gently, disappearing into the clouds. And ahead of her, it led up to a floating island, on which stood a crystal palace.

Ailysia briefly forgot her fear as she marveled at the sight. The palace was forged in deep blue crystal, with arches and pillars grander than anything she had ever seen. Sunlight sifted through its translucent walls, casting a prismatic halo over the domed top. Behind the dome was an octagonal tower, stark in its simplicity, with a hollowed room on top. She could see an enormous golden bell hanging in the room, still and silent.

It seemed she would have get to the island in order to find a way out. Ailysia gulped. The polished stone that lined the bridge seemed too slippery, and the winds too strong, for her to walk safely. But she had to get moving. Steeling herself, she let go of the pole, and walked.

Once she got over the psychological barrier, it didn't seem so hard. "Just imagine walking on the ground", she told herself, planting one foot in front of the other. She stayed near the center of the bridge, and gradually made her way forward. The stone bricks rang with every step, a pleasant rhythm that helped calm her nerves.

And then, when she was only one hundred feet from the end, an especially strong gust hit, blowing her feet out from under her. She dove to the bridge surface, grasping for purchase, but the smooth stone had no seams to hold onto. She slid all the way to the edge, screaming, until her back slammed into another pole, and finally stopped.

Panting, she crouched there, waiting the wind out. And as soon as the gust died out, she sprang up and ran all the way to the island.

"Never doing that again!" She swore, feeling drained. She dragged herself to the doorstep of the palace, and couldn't wait to find the dragon and give it an earful.

The place felt oddly quiet, deserted even. Ailysia passed through open doorways and spacious halls, never coming across a single person. Her footsteps echoed though wide corridors, amplified in the stillness, and her shadow dancing across the shimmering walls was the only thing that moved. Were there no one who lived here?