Tales of Nyandor 4: The Blood Hunt

Chapter 9

They all huddled around Dura as Eldarin and Morrigan used their very recently used knowledge of blood magic to heal up her scrapes and cuts as she told them of the battle.

'I have never felt so alive before. Slaying that dragon made me feel like I could take on the world.' 'It was the greatest thing I have ever seen my entire life! Like...I don't have the words!' Rebecka was besides herself. 'Here you are! A trophy for your victory!' Elena had finished making a necklace out the dragons teeth. Dura removed her dark hair to give Elena access to her neck as she tied the string. 'That looks pretty good on you.' 'Thanks. How is the skull lover doing?' 'Just fine I'll have you know! This is even older than I imagined it! Its definitely over a million years old! A creature from a prehistoric time right here. Fascinating! I'm naming this the Gargantuan!' 'Strangely fitting. Now how about we get out of here before dark? If viking lore is correct yet again then we shouldn't be staying here.' 'I agree with Rainar. Lets go.'

They left the same way they came trough the narrow passage out into the tundra where the sense of normality returned. Despite the enormous pride of Dura's victory they all hoped that they never had to return to that place.

*

The stars shun brightly on the night sky as they surrounded the campfire. The heat felt nice on their skin, countering the cold night air. Morrigan and Eldarin sat next to each other leaning against the mountain wall. After the battle mist the vials broke so Dura filled her satchel with blood instead claiming she could easily make a new one. Robert was eager to study the black substance she found at the claw tough. He claimed it had very similar color and texture to oil but he had his doubts it actually was. 'You're traveling with some pretty amazing people.'

'Ya. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for them.' 'How did you meet them by way?' 'Well we met Robert in Nyandor as is an old friend of Rainar. Dura rescued me from a pack of trolls lead by a cyclops, the rest I have known my whole life.' 'I see. When did you learn you were a mage by the way?' Eldarin's eyes suddenly grew cold and sad. As he remembered that night.

'I lost control once....and that cost me my family...i would have died if Rainar hadn't seen the fire from a distance and came by swiftly.' 'Shit...I'm so sorry.' 'Its ok. It took me years to even attempt to use my power as I was always to scared. Its not until recently when I have began to realize that I have to control it in order to prevent it happening again. My own selfish fear stood in the way far to long.' 'I know how you feel. I also lost control when I was very young. My mother payed the price..'

'I'm sorry.' 'Things never were the same after that. My father had to remain strong to for the holds sake. And I was kept far away from the other children growing up just in case it happened again. I spent all those years by the lake or in the forest by myself. The children called me a witch and said I would curse them if I got to close, it was a pretty lonely life, just me and my so called gift.' 'What about your father?' 'He rarely spoke to me after that day. He put on a face but I could see he was badly hurting. He had to force himself to remain strong everyday to keep our people together and strong. But the grief was killing him as much as me..'

'Its hard being like us. Being mages.' 'Ya, people don't seem to realize what a burden it is. To always have to remain in control all the time, to walk the fine line between balance and chaos.'

'Yet we have no say in it. Its either control or...death.' they both sat there silent for a while just looking at the flames dancing wildly over the logs, reaching for the sky.

'Well its late, goodnight.' Eldarin said as he went over to his tent. 'Goodnight.' Now Morrigan wished she brought hers. To bad she was in such a hurry to pack.

*

After wandering for a few hours the air started to get even colder. Some light smoke came from their breathing, nothing they hadn't seen back home and they started to feel light snowflakes falling from the sky ever so slowly.