The Dawning of Truth--2

    Each movement of the horse shoved a metal ring from the saddle into Elise’s ribs.  She didn't notice.  She didn't care.  All she knew was that she had been taken away from her mother.  Tears continued to roll down her cheeks unchecked. 

    She lifted her head limply at the sound of pounding hooves.  Riders dressed in nothing but black clothing rode towards them, swords drawn.  The man pulled his horse to a stop.  “Oh, no.”  Before his words registered in her mind, he kicked his horse and they took off through the woods.  Wild yells filled the air as the men followed them.  Elise's teeth jarred wildly each time the horse’s hooves touched the ground.  Just as she was certain her breakfast was about to decorate the man’s shoes, he grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground without slowing his horse down.  Pain shot up her side.  She gritted her teeth and dug her hands into the moist dirt trying to move out of the way of the other riders.  Most of the men managed to swerve their horses or jump over her, but there was one who just looked at her and smiled.  He didn't even try to check his horse's pace.  The next moment hooves battered her around and around.  A screech ripped from her throat.  The ground rumbled as the riders disappeared from her view.  She closed her eyes tightly against the oppressive pain enveloping her body.  “Mother…” she groaned.  Fat tears began to roll down her cheeks.  “Mother…”

    Elise opened her eyes.  She was lying on her back looking up at a patchwork of leaves and sky.  Darkness was beginning to fall.  She placed one hand on the ground and tried to sit up.  Pain exploded through her body.  “Ah!” Sweat pooled on her forehead as her breath came in ragged gasps.  As darkness began to overwhelm again something appeared in her view.  She gasped.

                                                                             Ten years later…     

   

    The skin was all smooth except for the white scar that puckered up rigidly from her arm.  Elise sighed and allowed her sleeve to fall back down.  With her chin resting on one hand she studied the evening sky as it exploded into an array of orange, pink, and purple.  Down below a waterfall cast the final rainbow of the day across a shimmering pool of water as small birds flitted from treetop to treetop letting out evening songs.  Around her cliffs dotted with trees, grass, and the occasional cave rose up towards the sky.  It was all so beautiful.  So peaceful.  It was her home. 

    “ Isn't it lovely Andreagan?”

    The waist high red dragon raised its scaly head slightly and nodded from the cave floor.  “Of course.”

    “You know,” she paused and once again fingered the scar on her arm, her face hardening, “It was ten years ago today that I got this.” 

    Andreagan remained quiet her large ruby eyes studying Elise intently as if she could read her mind. 

    “He smiled as he came towards me, he didn't care.”

    “It is best to not to dwell on the past.”

    “Yes, well,” Elise smiled tracing her finger in the dirt, “If I didn't  I wouldn't be able to remember you dragons rescuing me.”

    The dragon snorted.  “Perhaps I should have said it is best to not dwell on bad things of the past.” She stilled and looked out at the sky.  “There comes Vaender.”  A large pale dragon flapped its wings, its lithe body twisting one way then another, as it let out a bugle.

    Elise lept to her feet.  “Perhaps he brings news.  Vilma!”  Elise called to the purple dragon happily perched on the other side of the gorge. 

    The dragon sent her a toothy grin and spread her wings out as she lept into the air.  Elise stood on the edge of the cave, narrow eyes surveying the other dragons taking wing and following Vaender towards the meeting place.  She gripped her sword impatiently, they would not start without her, but that did not keep her from wanting to get there right away.

      Vilma swooped down and hovered at the edge of the cave.  With a nimble leap, Elise landed on her back and wrapped a hand around one of the many ebony spikes that stuck out of her neck.  Behind them Andreagan lept to flight as well, her smaller body coming abreast them.