The air was still and cold. The sun, just peeking over the horizon, cast its ever brightening light on the sleepy village of Del-Gamring. The small clusters of homes were packed tightly together, alleys and streets curving around them. On either side lay great forests marching down the mountain side like a shadowy army. Before the town the ocean rolled in it's endless tides. Waves crashed up on the sandy shore and lapped against the long dock and ported ships. Few creatures stirred. A light frost spread itself at the foot of the trees. Most creatures had begun their long sleep from the cold and would not stir until the warm spring sun again shown down on the land. This is what Elmíhísië woke to. He shivered as he gazed out the window. Winter's cold death was beginning to take over the woods and its cold fingers were working their way into the village. He turned from the frosted glass and prepared himself for the day. Warm clothes would be essential. He pulled on a pair of thick blue pants and a warm gray shirt. Stomping on his boots he leaned down and stroked the tiny gray Caagon that sat looking up at him from the bed. He chuckled softly as the creature arched its back and yawned, spreading its wings wide. Scooping Cyl up, Elmíhísië stepped quietly out of his room and closed the door. Just across the hall Isilsulë was nearly ready. She was wrapped in a thick wool dress her mother had bought her. Its dark brown color was not her favorite, but it was warm. She studied herself in the mirror. Her long honey blond hair was in a long braid looped over her brow to form a golden crown. "So what do you think?" She asked Rïon, the small blue flit perched on the top of the mirror. The blue just cocked his head with a chirp. "Well I guess that's as good as I'm going to get." Taking one last look, Isilsulë called Rïon to her shoulder and turned to go. She made her way down the dimly lit hall and into the kitchen. Rïon silently flew from his mistress' shoulder and glided to the sill of a small window high up on the dark plastered wall. "Good morning, Father," Isilsulë greeted solemnly. Geldor was sitting quietly at the small oval table in the middle of the room. Elmíhísië was already seated as well. "Good morning," Geldor replied with a sigh. Isilsulë took her seat silently. She glanced up at her brother. His dark gray eyes told her nothing. "Well, how did you sleep, Isil, dear?" Isilsulë's mother asked cheerfully as she brought stemming hot plates of food to the table. "Fine, thank you," She answered quietly. "And you, Hísië?" Lidáma asked. Elmíhísië shrugged. "Fine." They all began to eat in silence. Finally, Geldor broke the silence. "I've thought about what you said, Isil," Geldor began. "You made a very strong argument." The big burly man let out a sigh. "And I've decided that you should go to the Caer as a bounder." "Thank you, Father!" Isilsulë said with a broad smile, leaping up and hugging her father. Then regaining her composure she stood tall, her hands folded in front of her. "I'll go begin my packing." "Oh, no you don't!" Lidáma told her sternly. "You are going to sit down and finish your breakfast!" Elmíhísië didn't think anyone could polish off a whole plate of food as fast as Isilsulë did that morning. Though he was not surprised. His twin sister had been debating with their father for the chance to go for nearly five years now. Though he had forbid her to ask again two years ago, Isilsulë was stubborn beyond her years. The night before she had confronted her father about it. He had not heard much of the debate, but what he did hear told him, and apparently Geldor as well, that Isil would not give up. Hísië was almost jealous of Isil. He had been with her all those years ago when she had first seen the shadow of a dragon over head. He had seen the twinkle in her eye and understood her longing. For he had felt a similar urge rising within him, the longing for flight, freedom and love. Finished with his meal, Hísië stood and placed his smooth dark brown clay dish in the sink. Cyl was perched on his shoulder, cleaning crumbs off of his paws and face after stealing bits of food from his master's plate. "Hísië, I want to talk to you," Geldor said bringing the youth's attention back to the oval table. The old fisherman sat back and studied his son before speaking. "My thoughts have not been completely absorbed with your sister. You do not voice your thoughts, but I see them none the less." He paused again. "I think you should accompany your sister to the hatching and, if chance allows, bond a dragon as well." Elmíhísië was taken back for a moment. The chance of bonding was more than he had hoped for. His heart leapt at the thought: To have an enduring friend, to fly between earth and cloud! But his duties suddenly snapped back into his mind like a wave of cold ice. "What about the ship? You were training me to captain it one day," Hísië said feeling the elation of getting the chance to bond slowly dwindle and fade. "No, Elmíhísië," Geldor interrupted. "I know your heart is in the sky. I see you, even when we are at sea, watching sea birds high above. You belong with your sister. Don't worry about the ship. I still have many years to add to my days at sea. There are many young men who would jump at the chance to captain, too. Go my son and be happy!" Hísië nodded solemnly but Geldor could see the joy in the young man's dark gray eyes. It was decided that they should leave the next morning at sunrise. They would arrive at the Caer three or four hours before sunset. Isilsulë packed as lightly as she could. Even so, Elmíhísië's was quite a bit smaller. Sitting at the end of her bed, Isilsulë glanced around her room. The dark plastered walls, the long woven rug on the floor at the foot of her bed, her long mirror in the far corner. It had not hit her until that moment how much she would miss this place. She would be able to come back again, she told herself, but still... Isil shook her head, stop being so sentimental! I'm going to the Caer to bond a dragon! Ah, a dragon. The girl's thoughts were filled with the memory of wide spreading wings and shining jewel eyes. A thought passed briefly through her mind. What if she didn't bond? Isilsulë laughed shaking aside the notion. Of course she would bond! This was her dream, her life. She would not fail. And with that thought Isilsulë leapt from her bed snatching up Rïon, who lay stretched out on her dresser, slung her pack over her shoulder and strode purposefully out. Never again to have a second thought of failure. Elmíhísië glanced down at his things. It all seemed to be there. He began to stuff the pile into his bag. Suddenly Cyl swooped down playfully attacking the hand in the bag. Hísië chuckled brushing aside the small winged cat, but the little creature wouldn't take no for an answer and pounced again. Hísië scooped him up scratching his chin as the Caagon purred contently. "I'm never going to get anything done with you!" He said with a sigh. He couldn't help but smile at the small gray fuzzy thing in the crook of his arm. Cyl was distracted for a moment by a small insect crawling across the floor. Hísië took advantage of the opportunity and quickly finished his packing. Finishing, he slung the pack over his shoulder and glanced around the room. Everything was in order. The bed was made, the window closed and locked tight, the rug on the floor strait and beaten clean. Hísië whistled for Cyl, who immediately left his new toy and followed his master out of the room. Things or places didn't concern Elmíhísië much. He would miss people more then places. Familiar faces more than things. Lidáma and Geldor stood out on the porch to see their children off. Isil was wearing a dark green cape over her warm trousers and shirt. Hísië was dressed similarly. The morning was colder than the previous one. Frost had reached the foot of the porch. The two travelers could hear the grass crunching underfoot. Isilsulë and Elmíhísië said good-bye to their parents. Lidáma broke down into tears of pride and sorrow saying that her babies were all grown up. They traveled down the road and out of town. Ruts in the road that had filled with water were know shimmering with a thin layer of ice. The sun had just appeared on the western horizon as they entered the forest. Isilsulë glanced back one last time on the town of her birth. The sun set the roof tops ablaze with light, the frosty grass sparkled with frozen jewels. Then turning Isilsulë trotted to ketch up with her brother and they disappeared beneath the shadowy branches. They traveled along the well worn path for well over a hour before resting. Their path was silent except for the sound of the wind in the trees and the quiet chatter of Rïon circling above. Elmíhísië didn't make small talk very well and Isil felt like she was jabbering if she did. Stopping under a large evergreen, Hísië tossed Isil a bite of bread and cheese. Rïon landed on her shoulder complaining about the cold and not having a warm fireplace to sleep on. Cyl had wormed his way into his master's pack and lay fast asleep. "So how much further?" Isil asked stroking Rïon to soothe him. Hísië shrugged. "A ways." Isil glared at his cryptic response. "How far is 'a ways'?" "Once we get out of the forest.... I'd say about five or six hours to hike the mountain. That path isn't as well used as this one." Isil sighed and both travelers stood and began again down the path. The sun had rising far above the horizon sending small beams of light here and there onto their path. It was warming up a little. It would be almost pleasant if they were out in the sun. At the moment though, the sun was hidden from them and Isil rubbed her gloved hands together in hopes of warming them up. They made their way slowly up the steep mountainside, finally escaping the gloom of the forest for the long steep path that led to the right and wound up to the top. The air grew thin as they climbed, but the time they made was still good. As they reached the top, they saw that the top of the mountain was hollow. The remains of an old volcano that would never shadow the land with ash or soot again. The twins looked on in wonder. The walls of the crater were speckled with dragon dens. Small colored dots appeared in many of them, sunning themselves in the afternoon sun. The top of the cliffs stuck out like monstrous teeth, jagged and rocky. In the very center of the floor of the Caer they saw a shining plate of smooth glass, mirroring the sky above. Young Caerlings splashing and frolicking in the liquid sky. Beneath their feet the head of the path lay, it's body snaking slowly down the slope branching off in many directions. Isilsulë and Elmíhísië began down the winding trail. Though the ground was frozen and patches of snow could be seen in the shadows, a dark brown almost black earth could be see. The cliffs were also blackish, but in it were imbedded hundreds of thousands of crystals. Each one shimmering like silver stars on a sky of black. They followed the main trail around the small lake and towards a set of caves on the opposite end. As they passed the lake a young black haired girl ran up to them. "Hi!" She greeted smiling up at them. "Hi," Isil replied bending down to be more on the child's level. She couldn't be more then six or seven. "Do you know where we can find someone in charge?" The girl's eye sparkled. "That's my mommy! Come on. It's too cold out here any way." The girl turned and began skipping along the path. The twins heard a splash. Who would be swimming in this weather? But when they glanced over towards the water front they saw that the humans were far back from the edge, only the colorful dragon body could be seen in the water itself. Isil chuckled as Rïon took flight to join in the marriment with other flits. "My name is Anna. My mommy's the Caerlady, her name is Morel. She has a really pretty silver dragon, her name is Loselth! And my daddy's the Caerlord, his name is Mithkal and he has a blue dragon named Mírëth! Kaliel is head of the kitchen. She's nice..." Anna continued to name different people in the Caer until they came to the group of tunnels. "Anna! Are you scaring off visitors again?" An older boy questioned sarcastically, coming out one of the door ways. "I am not!" Anna told him sharply, sticking her tongue out. "That's my brother," She said turning back to Isilsulë and Elmíhísië. The boy stepped forward and bowed politely. "I'm Tinco, welcome to Caer Umbar." "I was taking them to see mommy!" Anna said proudly marching passed. Isil exchanged amused glanced with Hísië and followed. "Don't get lost!" Tinco call after. But he disappeared before Anna could form a rebuttal. Isilsulë and Elmíhísië followed the girl through the winding caverns passing by many storage rooms and apartments. Finally Anna stopped in front of a large door and gave it a soft knock. A voice inside commanded them to enter. Anna opened the door and slipped in motioning for them to follow. They entered a medium sized room, book shelves lining every wall and a long table down the center. Behind a large pile of books and loose papers sat a middle aged woman. She had the same black hair as Anna but Isil could see a few flecks of gray mingled with it. She glanced up at them and smiled. "Ah! Visitors. I'm sure Anny here has given you a warm welcome, I'm Morel. Thank you Anny," she said dismissing the girl. "What brings you to Caer Umbar?" Isil stepped forward. "We're here to sign up as bounders for the next clutch. I am Isilsulë," She said with a slight bow. "And this is my brother Elmíhísië," she motioned to her twin standing behind and to the right of her. "So you think you have what it takes to be a rider, do you?" Morel asked leaning back in her chair. "We do," Isil said bluntly looking the woman straight in the eye. Morel lifted her eyebrows in surprise. Hísië lightly touched his sister's arm. "We were hoping you had an opening that we could fill." "As a matter of fact we don't. But..." she paused for a moment eyeing the two. "We had a search rider here a few days ago requesting bounders for their clutch." "What Caer?" Hísië asked before his sister could, giving her a look that told her to remain silent. "Actually it isn't on Alskyr. Ryslen is what they call a 'nexus world'. There are always some interesting," she said tilting her hand back and forth. "characters at Ryslen." "I don't care who else is there, I only wish to bond," Isil spoke up. Morel surged. "It's your choice. Should I have one of our riders drop you off?" She asked glancing from Hísië to Isil. "Yes," Hísië said again cutting his sister off. "When do we leave?" "As soon as possible. The clutch should be hatching a few days from now. But you would probably like to get settled a little before the hatching. I'll have Gilcollo and his brown Elmoth take you this evening." "Thank you, Caerlady," Hísië replied. Then both turned and made their way to the kitchen to warm up and get something to fill empty stomachs before they left. Back Next