The Last Dragon Riders (Part One)

The Frost Dragon Rider

"So, you two know each other?” Ralem asked when the crowd dispersed as the promising aroma of chocolate and other treats announced that it was time for dessert. Daemon slid off his icy blue mount and maneuvered through the crowd to meet them. The ice dragon’s eye crest was about hopping off his face as he ogled Arianna, following his Rider. Arianna rushed toward him, crushing him in a hug, ignoring Ralem’s statement, “Daemon! It’s been so long! I had no clue you would be here!” Daemon was almost as surprised as Ralem, standing awkwardly before Arianna detached herself from him.

“I missed you too,” his face turned serious, “Are you here on your father’s orders?”  

Arianna blanked for a second before hurriedly saying, “No. I’m here on… vacation.” She changed the subject quickly, “Where have you been all these years? Do you have any idea how much I missed you? Father nearly tore the kingdom apart trying to find you.”

Ralem could see red creeping up on Daemon’s pale face even in the poor light from the flickering torches, “Really? You missed me?”

“Of course I missed you! We thought the Julnor had gotten you,” she trailed off.

“Julnor? There was a sighting of one? I thought we had dispatched the last one years ago.”

Arianna’s face turned dark as she looked away from the light, “Yes… “

Ralem was completely lost. A foreign memory of flying assaulted his mind but he pushed it away, forcing his overworked brain to concentrate. “What do you mean? Can somebody please explain?” Arianna blushed, but looked happy to be interrupted, “Oh I’m sorry! Ralem meet Daemon,”-Daemon nodded and looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. The expression he made displayed that he didn’t think much of what he saw. Ralem knew that he probably looked terrible right now. His shirt was torn and bloody and he didn’t know the last time he had had a bath. Arianna gestured to him- “And Daemon this is Ralem, my friend.” Daemon glared at him more intensely at the last word, giving Ralem a warning look like get away from my girl. “Can we talk in private?” he asked, placing a hand on Arianna’s shoulder, “We have much to discuss.”

Arianna stepped back, “Why can’t we talk here? Ralem is a good friend. He… he saved my life.” Ralem could see Daemon’s jaw working like he wanted nothing more than to throttle Ralem then and there. The ice dragon inched closer to him as if waiting for the signal to fight.

Ralem heard earth-shaking thuds on either side of him and realized that his dragon was towering over him. The dragon swiveled his head down to glare at the new Rider and dragon. Jaydon’s snout was dripping with pie as he tried to look as ferocious as he could. The ice dragon glared back frostily as only ice dragons can do, even though you could tell he was trembling like a Chihuahua. Arianna watched, wide-eyed before finally saying, “How about we get some dessert? As Jaydon has already found out- there’s pie! We can all talk together!” She gestured for them to follow. As she started walking toward the dessert table the four of them followed, determinedly not looking at each other.

 Do you want me to scare him off? Jaydon asked.

No, I’m fine. You can get back to your pie.

Jaydon replied If you need me I’m nearby before sauntering off to return to the enormous pie that had been made in his honor.

They grabbed a couple desserts and followed Arianna to sit on the winding stairs. Ralem actually didn’t grab just a couple desserts but a whole bunch, including several tarts and glazed fruit galore. Daemon looked at him with disgust as he daintily picked a few out with a fork. Ralem didn’t care, he was so hungry he just grabbed them by the handful.