Storm Rider

Chapter 3- Feanaro

Stepping back into his own world, Feanaro opened the scroll back up again. Studding the design on the floor, he started to commit it to his memory. Paint, and brushes would be the next thing that he would have to get. Grabbing a nearby quill, he started his own list of materials that he would need.

'...So, are you going to come see me today or are you just going to sit there all day like you do every day?' Greystone cut into his thoughts.

"Of course I am going to go see you. I am just finishing up my list of supplies that I am going to need soon." Feanaro said.

'Mhmmm, or you are stalling. We need to try that sould weapon again. We didn't have enough time last time we attempted to actually manifest something.' he said continuing the line of thought from the princess.

"You too? I don't think that's the case Greystone. Look at us. When have we ever measured up to the legends? Never. "Feanaro said.

'You are hands down the most powerful magic wielder ever to walk this land in recent Rider memory. Don't kid yourself, Alexandar Feanaro. I know you as well as you know you.' His dragon hotly replied.

"You call me a mage like the rest of them. I do not deserve that title. I am but a Warden of Dared."

'As was your ancestors before you. As were the Five Riders of Fate. You have literally overlooked the exact history that you have studied for your entire life. " Greystone replied.

"Fine. We can try it. I should have more time with you. What object were going to use?" Feanaro said giving up a bit.

'I do not know. Your bracers? Or the leather on your upper arms? ' the other suggested.

Feanaro nodded and looked at the intricately designed bracers that matched the leather bindings on his upper arms. "We can try the bracers. They are my only weapon after all."

'With you, anything could be a weapon. You are a mage. You are magic itself. '

Taking off one of the bracers he traced the tattoos that he kept hidden under cloth and the leather. "I wonder..." He whispered to himself.

"Greystone...do you think we could try it on one of my tattoos? If I put some magic to lift the ink off my skin...it could become a temporary solid object. I could then just put them back in place"

'I don't know. You think you could manage both tasks at once? It takes a lot of energy to make a soul weapon. And concentration'

"True, I think I know a way. If not we can focus on the ink in the skin. "

'Well, it's worth a shot. If you would ever come visit." Greystone sighed.

"Yeah, that would probably be helpful wouldn't it?" Feanaro said.

'Mhmmm' Greystone hummed and exited the other's mind.

Feanaro smiled a bit and looked over the gate one last time before he made his way through the lower city and to the Lower East Vale where the great grassy nole was blocked off. The Lower East Vale, considered the main training grounds of the Riders. Feanaro walked through the tall gate into the empty knole that was still under his own domain. A good sized dragon bathed in the sun, it's grey scales glimmered like polished stone.

"Greystone" Feanaro sung out as he walked up to the sleeping dragon poking the hard scales.

The great dragon opened its scaly eye looking at its rider.

'Took you long enough Warden. Do you want to ride or get right down to business'

"Down to business. We agreed to get this done. You know how I am with flying." He said

The dragon rolled his eye 'You are going to be my undoing. A dragon is supposed to fly with his master.'

"You know that is not going to happen anytime soon. You also know that I labeled you as a wild dragon. You are free to do what you want. " Feanaro said drily.

Greystone sighed internally and shook his great head ' and I take advantage of that. I have even talked to other dragons, both wild and companions of riders. Like Gladair. Who by the way. You need to talk to.'

"I will put the two on my list. So are we going to try this or not?" Feanaro said

'Yes little one. Yes. We shall do this. Now, show me what it is that we are putting our power into.'

"Well of course." Feanaro said.

The young man rolled up his lightly colored sleeves and quickly took off his bracers. Underneath a series of tattoos covered the pale skin. Intricately designed dragons covered his forearms that wrapped up to his elbows. The dragon covering the left arm was flying within the elements whereas the dragon on his right arm was wrapped around a detailed cross.

'Well, I have truthfully never seen those before. Remind me when you made them?' Grestone said moving his head to take a closer look.

"Right after I became the Warden. A reminder of the things that I protect and where I come from." He said.

'Then yes, I think they should be perfect.' Greystone said pulling back. 'Let's start.'

"Right." Feanaro said as he focused his energy. Lifting the ink off the skin the old casting circles appeared just above the skin.

The two tattoos yawned and started to move on their own as Feanaro moved his concentration to start the process of making the soul weapon. Greystone closed his own eyes and leaned his head forward, touching his nose to the animated ink. The air thickened and the ink became charged. Feanaro gritted his teeth and forced more of his power into the ink. Everything went white and he slowly opened his eyes, staring into the sky.

'Welcome back to reality, young one. You ok?' Greystone asked calmly.

"Yeah I think so. A bit of a headache but otherwise ok. What happened?" He asked

'Well, it worked. Your ink changed color and as we finished, the force of the tattoos going back into your skin knocked you out for a minute or so. ' Greystone said.

Feanaro nodded and got up looking at his forearms. His previously black inked skin turned a silvery grey color. "So it really worked. That was one of the few times of pushing my magical abilities to its limits in a long time" He said softly.

'Lier. You do every day. And that was not your limit. It just feels like it because it is a different power that you accessed. ' Greystone said glaring at the other.

Feanaro rolled his eyes and pulled on his bracers, covering the new shiney tattoos on his arms. "I will try these out at a later date in a more secure place."

'Of course you will. Well it has been nice to finally see you again. Do talk to Gladair and his rider.' Greystone said.

Feanaro nodded and walked across the grass back to the safety of his walls.