The Champion *ON HOLD*

Chapter 23- Epiphany of War

A/N: Sorry this took so long to get out, I've been swamped with school work. But, it's out now so please don't be upset with me! Also, I was inspired by the Game of Thrones series while writing this chapter. See if you can spot where I utilized some of G.R.R. Martin's ideas and leave it in the comments! Anyway, please enjoy Chapter 23 of The Champion!

Leovar had not gone far, and in fact, was still technically within sight of the tower. If Avery had looked to the other side of the lake instead of up to the clouds, she would have spotted a white mass, and a smaller, glimmering, metallic shape beside it.

When Leovar had left Avery and Galen at the funeral pyre, he had indeed mounted Sila and flown for a ways, letting his grief course through him, telling himself it was the wind whipping at his face that caused the tears to spring from his eyes and flow down his cheeks. However, after a while, when he could clear his head, he turned back and returned to what was left of his dead mentor and his mighty dragon.

Looking at the remaining ashes reminded him of Avery's song and he could still almost hear the echoing notes followed by the deep, braying howls of her dogs, if they could even be called that still, that somehow added to the harmony of the song. He could still see the fire blaze impossibly high, consuming the entire pyre within minutes, and the sight of the smoke forming the shape of a dragon with a rider on its back flying high into the sky, following a trail of floating embers would be forever engrained in his mind.

How had she done it? He felt her magic change, become something else when she sang. Was that what sent the soul of his mentor and his dragon to the afterlife? The thought both comforted and concerned him. He was relieved that his mentor had found peace on the other side, but that Avery had sent him on left him feeling somewhat awestruck. If she could do that by simply singing a song, what else could she do if she set her mind to it?

He decided not to worry about it. Despite not having physically known Avery for very long, he felt he had a rather firm grasp on her personality and decided she probably was not even aware of what she did. Instead, he focused on more pressing matters.

Kaelvar had been sent to kill him, he knew that, and he had an idea of who the person was that sent him. However, he did not know why Kaelvar decided he should sacrifice himself rather than deal the "justice" he was sent to do. It told Leovar that Kaelvar believed him innocent. But why had he killed himself? He could have simply called a truce, or refused the order in the first place, or for gods' sake he could have talked to him about it! Leovar just couldn't understand why his mentor would kill himself.

Sila, hearing his inner turmoil, decided to interject, Leovar, you know as well as I that anything other than what he did would not have ended it. Only the gods can decide a person's innocence. You know that our law states that if the person charged with a crime survives the battle, then it is the gods' way of saying he is innocent. If they die, then surely they were guilty.

You know that if Kaelvar returned back to Dragonstone and simply stated that he believed you were innocent, his pleas would have gone unnoticed, and more champions would have been sent to kill you. With his death, the Dragon Knight cannot send another champion to mete out justice for the crime. However, that does not mean she will not send another champion for a different imagined crime.

Leovar sighed. She was right. He knew she was right. She always was; it seemed. That still didn't explain why Kaelvar simply allowed himself to be beaten in battle.

"I know. What do you think convinced him of my innocence?" He wondered to his dragon.

I cannot be sure, but I believe it was because he knew you. He knew you would never forsake your vows. The woman, Avery, was also rather convincing as well. She was so angry on your behalf. It was rather flattering. Leovar smiled faintly. She had been livid with rage, and it had been glorious, that rage, but he had been so shocked by his mentor's declaration that all he could do was follow protocol and mount his dragon. He had truly been ready to die by his mentor's hands, and Leovar knew it was because he could not kill him. He had cared for the man too much to even think about killing him and had rose into the air thinking he was going to die.

It had been Sila and her will to live and her knowledge of his innocence that allowed him to put up the little fight he did against his mentor. It had also been the knowledge that if he died, he would be ending her life as well that finally kicked in his tactical instincts and made him actually start thinking.

But Kaelvar had made his win easy, and that was part of his anger toward his mentor. The only time he bested him, and it was because Kaelvar had let Leovar win, had sacrificed himself so that Leovar could live. That left a bitter feeling in his heart and deep down he knew that as much as he loved him, he would never forgive him for that.

You know that Raenavan will send more champions after you. First Jhakkahvar, although I think that may have been the work of King Adhemar, and now Kaelvar. Someone wants you dead, Leovar. Sila stated, interrupting Leovar's thoughts. He sighed and raked a hand through his unruly hair. He knew that.

"Yes. What I do not understand is why. Both times I was charged for siding with King Owun, even though I had not. Many dragon riders have been taking sides in the war and none of them have been charged with forsaking their vows. But come to think of it, the riders that have taken sides have all sided with King Adhemar." He frowned, trying to figure out why that was important.

Yes it seems lately riders have been siding with King Adhemar under the pretense that he is defending the realm, although it is quite obvious to see he is the invading force in this war.

Leovar nodded and stated, "Yes, it makes me wonder." He could feel there was something he was missing but he simply could not grasp it. Suddenly it hit him and he shot up, his eyes wide, his breathing ragged. It felt like there was a stone in his gut and his chest constricted with the revelation. Leovar sincerely hoped he was wrong; fervently wished that it was not true.

What is it? Sila asked, sensing that her rider had come to an epiphany but unable to discern what it was from the roiling emotions that were coming from him.

"Siladhiel," He stated, using her full name that only he and the dragon knew, "I think our Dragon Knight is helping King Adhemar in the war and wants him to defeat King Owun. I think she is using her influence to trick the other dragon riders into thinking that King Owun is some evil being trying to destroy the realm and King Adhemar is protecting it. I think she wants me dead because she thinks I have sided with the man she has deemed the enemy." The dragon huffed and smoke sizzled out of her nostrils. She did not want to believe it any more than her rider did, but once realized, the more probable the idea seemed.

You know what that means do you not? She asked her voice straining to remain calm. It did not go unnoticed by Leovar and he felt the stone of fear tighten his gut.

"Yes. We will have to go to war with the Dragon Knight."

And if we go to war with the Dragon Knight-

"We go to war with the Dragon Riders."