“Perhaps,” Myka feigned indifference, “but then I didn’t disturb anyone’s sleep. I do not like the air tunnel that you use to waken me. It can enter my cave without permission. I cannot even smell it arrive. Have you no respect for naps?”
“I am sorry for disturbing you,” sighed Rejji, “but this is important.”
“Isn’t everything important to you?” retorted the dragon. “What great catastrophe has struck this time?”
“Emperor Marak will be arriving any minute,” explained Rejji. “You remember that he requested to meet you?”
“You woke me up to meet some human?” roared Myka, smoke rushing out of her nostrils. “I said that I might be willing to meet him some day, but I did not promise to wake up for it.”
“It is more than just a meeting,” Rejji said hesitantly. “He needs your help getting someplace in a hurry. It would take days for him to go by ship and return. He cannot afford that much time.”
“Do I look like a horse?” snarled the dragon. “My back was not designed for the comforts of humans. Forget it. I am going back to my nap.”
“You can’t,” pleaded Rejji. “Marak is counting on your help. He will be here any minute.”
“Perhaps I should stay and eat him when he arrives,” mused Myka. “That would teach you a lesson. I am not your pet, nor am I a trained animal to do your bidding. I am a dragon, and I am to be feared and respected.”
“You are already feared and respected,” came a new voice as Emperor Marak exited the forest trail and walked towards Myka and Rejji. “I saw your dive as I was leaving the city. It was most impressive. All of the citizens scattered and fled for their lives.”
“Except for you?” snapped Myka as her eyes bored into the Emperor. “Why is it that you do not fear and respect me?”
Marak walked right up to the dragon’s snout and bowed low before Myka.
“How could I not respect the Queen of the Dragons?” asked Emperor Marak. “It is said that you are the oldest and wisest species in the world. The old tales state that you were around at the beginning of time.”
“Finally,” huffed Myka, “someone who appreciates me. But what about the fear, warrior? Why are you not trembling in your boots?”
“I hide my fear better than most men,” declared Marak. “When half the world wants to kill you on sight, it is best that you do not tremble at all.”
One of Myka’s eyes closed while the other peered intensely at the warrior. She could not make up her mind if she liked him or not. He was certainly different than the others.
“So you wanted to meet me,” Myka said condescendingly. “Well, you have met me. Now, I will return to my nap.”
“Please,” Emperor Marak said softly. “I have wanted to meet you for some time now, but many people depend upon me. I just haven’t been able to find the time. I need your help today. That is why I have come to see you.”
“Honest to a fault,” shrugged Myka, “but that earns you no points in my book. My services are not available to strangers. Go find a swift horse.”
“A horse?” echoed Marak. “To fly across the ocean?”
“Then take a boat,” snapped Myka. “I do not give rides.”
“There is no time for a ship,” Marak replied stubbornly. “I must get to the elves and back quickly. The Time of Cleansing has begun.”
“Elves?” echoed Myka with sudden interest. “Rejji knows an elf, although she claims that she is not one. What was the name of the baby maker?”
“We used to call her Mistake,” Rejji answered.
“She is now known as Princess Alahara,” added Marak. “Her father is King Avalar, and it is who I must speak to.”
“Mistake is a princess?” chuckled Myka. “Now that is rich. We must have pity on the poor elves, if any still exist.”
“The elves still exist,” insisted Marak. “When we get to Elvangar, you will see for yourself.”
“You presume a great deal, friend of Rejji’s,” retorted the dragon. “We are not going to Elvangar or anywhere else. I am returning to my nap.”
Myka was preparing to take off when Rejji responded, “He is more than my friend. He is the Torak and should be treated with respect, the same as you demand.”
Myka’s head swiveled around, and she gazed at Marak again. Slowly she turned around to face the humans.
“The Torak?” she asked. “By what right do you take this name?”
“It is the name given to me by Kaltara,” declared Marak. “You have heard of it?”
“Kaltara is the elven god,” the dragon said suspiciously. “You are not an elf.”
“Kaltara is everyone’s god,” corrected Marak. “Perhaps the elves did not lose faith in Kaltara as the humans did, but we are relearning that faith. Don’t you believe in Kaltara?”
“What a foolish question,” replied Myka. “You already acknowledged that the dragons have been around forever. How could we not believe in Kaltara?”
“We?” questioned the Torak. “Are there more dragons still alive?”
“I would hope so,” mused Myka, “but I have not seen another in many years. Someday I will go looking for them, but not today.”
“Perhaps we will find some on the way to Elvangar,” smiled Marak. “That would be exciting.”
“That would be exciting,” nodded Myka before catching herself. “You are tricky, Torak, but you have not fooled me. There are no dragons in Elvangar. You are trying to trick me into helping you.”
“Perhaps,” shrugged the Torak. “I have never been to Elvangar, so I honestly do not know if dragons live there or not. Do you know?”
“I don’t,” admitted Myka. “And if there are no dragons, the trip will be boring and a waste of time.”
“And if there are,” countered Marak, “and you don’t make the trip, you will never meet them. Dragons live for many years, Myka. I am asking for only one day. Where is your sense of adventure?”
“Adventure?” echoed the dragon. “Flying with a human on my back is supposed to be adventure?”
“Can you imagine swooping down on an elven city?” grinned Rejji. “And with a human on your back to boot? That would stir some excitement in Elvangar. There has not been a human there in thousands of years.”
“There haven’t been any humans in Elvangar?” Myka asked suspiciously. “Will we be attacked when I carry the Torak there?”
“No,” answered Marak. “I have spoken to King Avalar about the journey. He is quite excited to meet one of the ancient winged warriors.”
“Winged warriors,” grinned Myka. “Now there is a term that I have not heard in a long time. The elves always knew how to respect dragons. This King Avalar sounds wise indeed.”
“Then you will take me?” smiled Marak.
“Climb on before I change my mind, Torak,” snorted Myka. “I hope you have a good sense of balance. The winds are quite strong today.”
“She will dive unexpectedly,” Rejji whispered to Marak as Myka turned her back. “It is to scare you, but she will not let you fall.”
Marak nodded and scampered up Myka’s back. Before Marak could get situated, Myka launched off the ground. Marak grabbed a scale and hung on as the dragon soared into the air. He did not move until the dragon leveled out high in the sky.
“Do you know where Elvangar is?” shouted Marak as he removed a knife from his belt and began carving a slit in one of the large scales.
“Of course I know the way,” replied Myka. “I am a dragon after all.”
When Myka did not react to the knife, Marak dug deeper until the blade was firmly entrenched in the scale. He held onto the knife with both hands.
Myka had soared high in the air before leveling out, and Marak now looked down. The ocean spread out in a seemingly endless blanket of blue. He turned and looked back and saw the landmass of Fakara. The ancient city of Angragar was sparkling white and appeared very small as it faded behind them.
Unexpectedly, Myka dove towards the water. Marak tightened his grip on the knife and hung on as the wind began to rush past him. His body felt as if it was floating freely as the sea rushed up to meet him. Tears flowed out of his eyes and were instantly swept away. He shut them tightly as began to feel lightheaded. He could hear the dragon cackling, but he kept his mouth tightly closed so that he didn’t accidentally bite his tongue. Just as suddenly as it began, Myka leveled out again. Marak’s body slammed against the scales of the dragon, and his arms felt like they were being torn from his body as he kept a tight grip on the knife. When he opened his eyes, he saw the waves not more than ten paces below him. The dragon was laughing hard.