Daryn looked up at the high walls of stone on either side. They’d come a long way already, and had reached the mountains. “Cil, what is this place?”
“This is Drikae Lishi.” Came the reply. Cilen walked beside Morion, having shifted out of his hawk-form when they reached the pass.
“Dragon Pass?” Daryn asked. Cilen nodded. “Why’s it called that, Cil?”
“There used to be dragons that lived around here.” Briyen spoke up from where he rode in front of Shanaya. “Some people say there’s still one or two, But I’ve never seen one.”
They rode on in silence for some time before the ground dropped off, and they found themselves looking into a hidden valley. There were trees, a small wood, in fact, the leaves a vibrant emerald green. The grass was dotted with what looked like silver roses. Those in the shadow of the mountains seemed to glow slightly. Down the middle of the valley, a small river ran, bubbling over stones. The place radiated peace. Briyen jumped down from Celehalda and ran to the edge.
“Briyen!” Cilen said, but the boy didn’t listen.
He pointed to a point in the surrounding walls where the rock had been worn away. “Look, there’s a path here!”
“That’s a path?” Daryn said, skeptically.
Shanaya dismounted and walked over. “he’s right, Dar” she said. “It is a path, cut into the rock, but it’s been made to look like it’s natural, so no-one would notice. Come on, let’s go.” She started down, leading Celehalda.
Daryn watched her go, then sighed and started after her, dismounting and leading Morion down the steep path to the valley.
When they had all reached the valley floor, Daryn looked around. The feeling of peace was stronger down here. The flowers they'd seen from the top were in fact silver roses, and they did glow. Cilen shook his head in amazement.
“Silaras…” he said. “I thought they were just legends…”
“Yeah, well, so is the Dagger.” Briyen told him. Cilen just smiled.
“Silaras...That means Silver Rose, right?”
Shanaya asked.
Cilen nodded. “Yeah. They’re supposed to have healing powers, if the legends can be believed.”
“Well, as much as I’d love to stay here, we’ve got a mission to carry out.” Daryn said, starting for the opposite end of the valley. Shanaya sighed and started after him, Cilen and Briyen following.
They were walking through the woods near the center of the valley when they heard a noise behind them. Cilen turned, but saw nothing. Shrugging, he walked on. The noise came again, louder this time, from the left. Shanaya glanced over and thought she saw something moving through the brush.
“Hold up…” she said. “I think something’s following us…” Even as she said this, an arrow came out of nowhere. Daryn yelped in surprise, Cilen echoing him. Briyen said nothing, looking at hos left shoulder. The arrow had gone through to the opposite side, the point sticking out of his back. He looked up as his brother, then fell to the ground. Cilen ran to him.
“Bri!” He said, then ducked as another arrow whistled past. It hit the ground beside him, and he got a good look at it. “Oh no…”
“What is it, Cil?” Daryn said, his hand on his sword.
“Elflings.” Cilen said, half growling.
“Elflings?” Shanaya asked, looking around.
“Think of a cross between an elf and a goblin, with a dash of imp thrown in for good measure.” Cilen said.
“What a combination…” Daryn said.
"Yeah." Cilen nodded. “They’re small, and can move as silent as the wind. And they’re excellent archers. Their arrows are almost always poisoned, too…” He broke off, looking down at Briyen. The boy was pale, his eyes wide with fear and pain.
“So what do we do?” Shanaya asked, her dagger in her hand.
“I don’t know…” Cilen began, but was cut off.
There was a roar, and a sound as of the wings of a great bird.
“What was that?!” Daryn yelped. There were shouts and cries from the underbrush, a note of fear in them.
“I don’t know, but whatever it was, it scared the elflings away.” Cilen said. “Come on. We have to go back. Maybe the silaras can help Bri…”
Daryn nodded, and they started back the way they came, Shanaya acting as rearguard, and Cilen carrying Briyen. He came to the edge of the wood, then stopped dead, staring. Daryn almost ran into him, then Shanaya hit her brother, knocking him into Cilen, which almost made him drop Briyen.
“Don’t be afraid.” Said a melodious voice. Shanaya turned, and gasped.
There, sitting in the field, was a silvery-blue-violet dragon, its iridescent scales shining in the sun.
Go to Chapter Nine