The sun was rising above the horizon, we had been flying all night. Cerridwen was fast asleep, arms still wrapped around me. I was too paranoid of falling so I stayed awake the whole flight. I figured I'd make use of this time while Cerridwen was asleep to get try and get some answers.
"What did you mean back in the cave when you said that Cerridwen is 1058?" I said dryly, breaking a so-far completely silent trip. Ciaran turned his head slightly to look at me out of the corner of his eye.
"She's fast asleep if that's what you're worried about." I spoke sharply. I was not going to back down from getting to some answers with this dragon. Ciaran sighed heavily.
"Because she is. She was 1042 human years when she was taken." Ciaran grimaced at his own words; he had said too much.
"That's impossible. She was my size when we found her, I was three! How could that tiny person be a thousand years old?" I was becoming more confused, the questions were forming in my head faster than I could register them.
"Because she was that old in human years, but she is very young in Illean age." He winced again at his lack of filter.
"She's Illean? How old is she in Illea?" The questions were just tumbling out now.
"Yes, she's Illean. That is why she can communicate with me. And the Illean people don't have ages really, you age at the speed you mature at. There's not a set scale."
"Wait, but then how can I understand you?" It felt like everything I knew was being put into question.
"Because you're a Viking. Viking's were original Illean defectors who wanted to warn the human realm of the dragon's existence. Most Viking memories of dragons have turned into dragon hunting legends, but these legends were originally told by Illean defectors."
"So... the dragons don't want to be found out?"
"Precisely. It would endanger our kind."
"And did I hear you say that you age at the speed you mature? What in Thor's name does that mean?" Ciaran rolled his eyes at my ignorance but didn't have a chance to answer me before my next question came out.
"You mentioned that Cerridwen was taken... Why would someone do that and leave her on a boat?" Ciaran fell silent, pondering his next answer. Just then, Cerridwen yawned and squirmed behind me.
"Did you say something about a boat?" Ciaran and I both tensed up at her question. I didn't think she was ready to hear all of this, not yet... not from me.
Ciaran, as smooth as a snake, flipped the topic around like it was a flapjack.
"I was just telling Iasc about how the Viking people originated as Illean defectors. They wanted to tell humans about dragons in hopes to overrun the dragon realm. They thought we were too dangerous. What you heard was me explaining to him how there's a second group of defectors, but this group left to protect the dragons. I believe you humans call these people Chinese. They left the dragon realm, swearing to protect it. So, they sealed off all of the entrances to the realm, but left trials for those who were worthy of entering the forest."
"Is Fuji a trial?" Cerridwen inquired groggily.
"Yes. It is the trial of the guardian Chidi. Each one of the guardians is welded to a dragon, Chidi's is the red dragon. He is the essence of fire and summer, hence the reason the trial is in a volcano."
YOU ARE READING
Princess of Illea
FantasíaIn Iasc's viking world, all he had to worry about was food, gold and future glory, but never did he imagine dragons. After his village is destroyed by a group of dragons, Iasc and his best friend Cerridwen find refuge in a cave where they find the k...
