It's a strange thing, she thought.
Two boys practiced swordplay in a small clearing, stabbing at each other with blunt, wooden staffs.
Do I feel it, or don't I? Maybe I do feel it. The young girl leaned against the railing skirting the open platform, watching the boys display their skill. One of them looked up, his golden hair catching the sun, and saw her standing there. She leaped out of sight, trembling.
"What is wrong, child?" A dragon stood behind her.
"Mama!" She spun around. "I didn't hear you coming."
"Did not, Tiriel." The dragon's golden eyes showed slight disapproval. "Mind your contractions."
"I'm . . . I mean, I am sorry, Mama."
"Better." She led Tiriel from the high platform edge. "Why did you jump away from the railing, child? It was most ungainly."
Tiriel lowered her head in embarrassment. "I do not know. Felarof saw me watching him, and I did not want him to see me."
"So you fled from his sight? He cannot hurt you with his eyes, my dear."
"I know, Mama, but he makes me feel strange, in a wonderful way." Tiriel glanced down nervously. "As I was watching him, I wanted to go
down and be near him more than anything, but I was afraid to at the same time."
The dragon's tail swished in surprise. "Perhaps you should retire to your chamber, Tiriel. I must speak with Ceralon." She gave a strange call, rather like a cow.
Tiriel sighed. "Yes, Mama." She started towards the stairs but paused in the doorway as a larger green dragon swooped towards the open
platform.
"What is it, Vatara?" He looked concerned.
"I am not sure yet, but I think Tiriel has discovered her stronger emotions early."
"It's Felarof, isn't it? I can't imagine her feeling that way for Aleroc. Don't get me wrong; Aleroc's a nice boy, but, you know, definitely not her type."
Vatara's twitched her ears in annoyance. "I wish you would mind your contractions, dear, as well as your use of slang. Yes, it is Felarof,
if it is anyone at all. Are you quite sure he has a noble parentage?"
"Absolutely." Ceralon looked surprised that she thought he could be mistaken.
"This is not a trivial matter, darling." Vatara stretched her deep yellow neck to look her carefree husband in the eye. "Their dear Majesties would not be pleased if they found out that we had allowed their daughter to be attracted to a common orphan boy from the country."
Tiriel had heard enough. She ran up the stairs, sat on a velvety, cushioned stool, and pulled out her journal from an elaborate desk drawer. Dipping her quill in the inkwell, she paused before she put the pen to her parchment. Dare I write it down? She shrugged aside her doubts and began to write.
Tiriel Mavian
July 23,
In the 78th year of the reign of my father, Kiranor Mavian
I have had the most curious feelings all day. Everything about Felarof
I find endearingly wonderful. His smile, his laugh, how he talks, and
even the way he spins his sword before going into en guarde. I have
always admired his eager yet gentle spirit, but now I notice it more
than ever. We have been friends for more than five years. Why am I
feeling this way now? Vatara said that I might have discovered my
deeper emotions early, but I do not think it is early. After all, I am
fourteen, and he is nearly seventeen. What if this is love? Is this
what it feels like?
Tiriel sprinkled powder over the page to set the ink before closing the book. I wonder if he feels the same way for me, or if he ever will. A rapid and none too gentle knock sounded outside her room. She shoved the journal into the drawer and slammed it shut while shouting, "Who is it?"
"It's me and Aleroc," answered a familiar voice. "Vatara wanted us to ask you if you wanted to go riding."
"That would be lovely, Felarof. Please give me a moment." Tiriel quickly changed into a green riding outfit and tied her long, raven hair back with a matching ribbon. She glided down the stairs and spotted Vatara watching her graceful descent with a pleased expression.
"It seems that your lessons on poise have finally been remembered." She glanced at Tiriel's attire with an appraising eye. "The color suits you. Now go have fun, remember to mind your manners, and never sit astride the horse."
Tiriel gave her a quick curtsey and walked as gracefully and as fast as possible to where the boys were waiting with the horses.
Felarof handed her the reins of a beautiful paint and helped her mount. Aleroc had already mounted a skittish, white mare and seemed as eager
to start as the horse itself. Felarof mounted his own horse, a tall, coal-black stallion with a frisky spirit. As soon as Felarof's hands touched the reins, the horse took off at a trot and the other horses followed him.
Tiriel steadied herself as her mare pranced beneath her, sensing her excitement. Breathing in the sweet, fresh air, she gazed around. Although she rode often, Tiriel never ceased to marvel at the beautiful forest and the marshes surrounding it. Tall, airy trees towered above them, swaying in the wind. Their leaves floated down like feathers and created a soft, pale green carpet for the horses' hooves. Birds darted across the path in flashes of color, filling the air with their sweet chirps and trills.
Felarof rode ahead, whistling a tune of his own. Suddenly, he halted his horse and twisted to face her. Tiriel studied his expression carefully. He looked worried, but fiercely excited at the same time.
"I've found derkinas tracks." He strung his bow. "It's not safe for you anymore. You should go back."
"I want to come with you." Tiriel let a hint of a smile play about her mouth. "I have never seen a derkinas before."
Felarof chewed his bottom lip. "You really don't want to."
"Why not, Felarof?" Aleroc moved his mare alongside Tiriel's. "It's just to break away from a boring routine. You know that. Why can't she come? It'll be fun!"
Felarof shook his head uncertainly. "This is a mistake . . ."
Aleroc had ridden ahead and motioned for them to follow.
Tiriel looked down and fiddled with her reins. "If you really want me to go home . . ."
Felarof shook his head. "I'm going to regret this, but I suppose you can come if you want." He kicked the black stallion into a walk to join Aleroc. As Tiriel caught up to both of them, she glanced at the ground and saw the tracks. Although the prints themselves looked small, the claw marks extended about a hand's width beyond the toes. She shuddered to think of the creature that made them. Aleroc stayed a few lengths ahead of Tiriel and Felarof, a wild light of adventure in his eyes. Felarof checked his horse to match the paint mare's pace, keeping an arrow on his bow. The farther into the forest they went, the tenser he
became.
The quiet of the forest, so peaceful before, seemed sinister. Even the graceful trees could harbor any number of fearsome beasts in their
shadows.
Tiriel broke the eerie silence, causing a startled wince from Felarof. "What do derkinases look like?"
Instead of answering, Felarof held his finger to his lips and jerked his head to the right.
Tiriel peered into the dense forest and bit her lip in fear. A dark, cat-like creature darted among the trees, stalking them. Its yellow eyes glinted in the shadows as it bared its long fangs.
Felarof turned Tiriel's face away. "Don't look at it. We don't want it to know we've seen it."
"How long has it been following us?" Tiriel's voice quavered.
Felarof shrugged slowly. "I noticed it about half a mile ago." He slipped a hunting knife from his belt and handed it to her. "Just in case," he whispered.
At that moment, Aleroc turned his horse with a confused expression. "The tracks double back and head the way we came, but we would have
seen it . . ."
The derkinas, startled by Aleroc's voice, attacked.
Aleroc's mare threw him in terror and bolted down the path, but the derkinas flew after it, tearing at its flanks with its long claws.
Felarof loosed the arrow as the creature darted past, but his shot only grazed the tip of its tail.
It spun around and hissed at Felarof, who had drawn another arrow from his quiver. He fired it, striking the derkinas' chest. The animal screamed and spat, throwing itself against Felarof's horse. The stallion reared and twisted away, sending Felarof to the ground. He drew another knife and held it towards the hissing creature. Aleroc recovered from his fall and shot an arrow at the derkinas, hitting it's shoulder.
The creature gave a gurgling scream and dragged itself towards Aleroc as Felarof raised his blade for the final blow.
As it collapsed, lifeless, Tiriel dismounted and hid her face in her horse's mane to block it out. She felt sick and wished she had never come.
Aleroc shouted, "It's a good thing you held onto your horse, Tiriel. Can we use it to bring the derkinas home? I hear they taste very good . . ."
Next thing Tiriel knew, she was sitting on the ground with her head between her knees. Strong hand gripped her shoulders, keeping her upright. She heard Felarof's voice saying, "Why did you say that, Aleroc? You saw as well as I did that she was about to fall over and then you had to mention eating the thing!"
"It's true. They do taste good," Aleroc defended.
"You didn't have to say it out loud."
Tiriel stood slowly, fighting a wave of dizziness. She pressed her hand to her head, her face red with embarrassment. "Did I faint?"
"Yes, you did." Felarof released her shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I am fine." She spotted her horse. "Ugh. You did put that creature on her."
Aleroc grinned boyishly and rubbed his stomach, mouthing something like, "Crunchy and good with ketchup . . ."
Felarof shrugged apologetically. "I tried calling my horse, but he and Aleroc's are both probably back home by now."
"It is alright." Tiriel took another glance at the cat-like animal while wrinkling her nose.
Felarof glanced at the sky. "Do you hear flapping?"
"I can." Aleroc cupped his hands around his ears. "There they are!" He pointed at two flying figures appearing from across the forest.
Tiriel placed her hand on Felarof's arm to get his attention. He flinched slightly, and she pulled away. "Is it the dragons? They would have come after us since your horses went home without riders."
Ceralon and Vatara folded their wings and plunged into a steep descent. Braking at the last second, they landed beside the three teenagers.
Aleroc held tight to the paint mare's reins. He had no intention of letting the horse run off with the derkinas.
Ceralon arched his long neck to sniff at the dead creature. "Is this what you've all been up to?"
Vatara swished her tail in motherly anger. "I never want any of you to do this to me again. When Aleroc's horse returned with claw marks all over it, we feared the worst. Do you know how much danger you put yourself in?"
Aleroc looked up at her with an innocent face. "It attacked us first. What were we supposed to do?"
She shook her claw at him. "If I know you, you leaped for joy at the first sign of the beast. And Tiriel, you should have known better. If
anything happened to you, who knows what would become of the royal family. You are the last."
Tiriel could only think about how glad she felt that Felarof was too decent to say I told you so.
A few minutes later, Tiriel gripped the base of Vatara's wings tightly as the dragon soared over the treetops. Aleroc and Felarof both rode on Ceralon and had persuaded him to do some dives. Tiriel gazed at Felarof, watching him smile as the rush of wind whipped his hair around his face. He caught her gaze. She did not look away. Suddenly, she knew she loved him. Perhaps someday, when they were both older, she would tell him.
Someday.
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