Spirit Fire - Amos

Chapter 20 - Missing

To my surprise, the house was empty, no one was inside. I ran around and looked everywhere but no one was there, even outside when I checked the barn. As I walked back inside a second time, I noticed that there was a note on the counter in the kitchen. I walked over to it and looked at it. It read:

Dear Aaron,

If you are reading this, it means that we have already left. There was an accident during your father's trip back to Dareth, so we went to find him. Your father ran into a few bandits along the roadside, apparently, so take caution around the farm. He was ambushed. Luckily, he survived and sent us a messenger who happened to be passing by. We shouldn't be too long but if you come or not, we will understand why.

Love, Mom.

After I finished reading the note I quickly grabbed my stuff and ran. I searched for my map from my pack, my hands fumbling as I did. I had to decide quickly. Should I go find him or should I tell Vitalli instead and fly with Icarus to find Dad? I didn't have much time, nor did I know how old this note was, so I decided to go to Vitalli.

It took me the rest of the day to get to the mountains, but when the peaks poked out from the treetops, I quickened my pace. In the clearing between the mountains, I saw Vitalli's house. Out from behind one of the mountains, I saw a large black figure, a dragon, flying towards me.

Eldon? I stared and tilted my head. He wasn't that big when I left.

Aaron, replied a voice softly. Eldon spread out his wings to their full length and roared proudly.

What happened? I gasped.

I'll explain later. Come.

Eldon landed heavily in front of me and lowered his wings, so I could get on his back. His scales glittered brightly but still swallowed the sun's rays and his body rippled with muscles. He opened his maw to yawn and an array of white razor-sharp teeth were displayed.

We flew up to the house and went around back to the dragon stable. There, I hopped off Eldon's back and ran to Vitalli who was sitting at the table bouncing his leg and tapping his head furiously while looking at the wooden floor.

"What's wrong?" I asked quietly as to not disturb him.

He looked up at me and said flatly, "Eldon," and then went back to staring at the floor.

Okay? I stared for a while, expecting a little more information. When it did not come I walked into the stable and asked Icarus what happened. He gladly told me everything that happened, including some visual presentations mentally.

Satisfied, I went back to Vitalli and urgently told him what I found when I got to the farm.

He lifted a brow but neither moved nor spoke. Finally, he stated, "I cannot let you go chasing your father around with a dragon. People will see you."

"Eldon and I will fly low over the trees," I started to argue.

"That is not enough. No. I will not let you go! You can wait until your family gets back, then you can ask them what happened and only then!" he pointed sternly at me. "Otherwise, you can walk your way back and search on foot!"

Rage boiled inside of me that he would not let me go to my own father. Who was he to tell me what not to do? After all, I'm a dragon rider too. I should be able to do what I wish. I thought, angry.