Legon Awakening

Epilog

Propositions

“Our journeys never seem to end. That is what makes life enjoyable, or at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m camped out in a rain-soaked tent. If I thought of that more on the sunny days, maybe I wouldn’t need to journey for happiness.”

-Tales of the Traveler



Legon’s feet were sore as he made it over the lip of the dome. he had his arm around Sasha, supporting her and also not wanting her to be too far away from him. After what he’d seen and done he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight. As they entered the dome Iselin flew overhead, just a little closer than was strictly necessary. he knew he was in for it. Ankle nearly rolled out of the way.

“She didn’t come that close, retard,” Barnin said.

“Easy for you to say. you’re what, five-three?” Ankle retorted.

“More like five-four,” Sara said, holding her hand above Barnin like she was measuring his height.



Barnin gritted his teeth. he hated short jokes. They were making their way down the staircase to the floor of the dragon dome. As they entered the large circular room they were met by the sound of Elves working to get mangled armor off the dragons.

They were almost to Iselin’s hangar when they heard a loud clanging of metal and then a crash. There were similar sounds across the floor as dragons shook off their armor into heaps onto the ground. They rounded the corner of Iselin’s hangar and entered. she was still in her dragon form, but within a few seconds she was back to the beautiful blonde with blue-green eyes. His heart gave an involuntary jump. there wasn’t a scratch on her. she walked over to them; no, it was more like a glide. When she was close there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes. she glared at him for a moment.

“I’m out of here,” Keither said, not even coming up with an excuse. Sara called after him, saying she needed something. Cowards.

Legon wished that Iselin had stayed in her dragon form. oddly, that was far less intimidating. He felt Ankle and Barnin standing stone-still with terror. neither said anything, which was saying a lot for Barnin. Legon opened his mouth to speak, but Iselin hit him hard on the arm.

“Ouch!”

“You idiot!” she roared.

“What? I saved your…” Legon started.

“Don’t you dare say you saved my life. I had him, and now you get partial credit for the kill!”



Now he got partial credit for the kill? She seriously wasn’t mad about that, was she? She hit him again.

“Ow! Ise, you were about to get eaten! I saved your life, and I’m the a-” Legon started again.

“Language,” Sasha said sharply.

“Yes, Legon. Language. Don’t befoul the air with your vulgarity or stupidity! I was faking. you have to be used to women doing that!”

Sydin was by them now. “Iselin, that’s hardly appropriate, and you were about-”

“Don’t you back him up, Sydin, or so help me-”



To his amazement Sydin was backing away with his hands up in a placating gesture.



Sasha attempted to intervene. “Iselin, come on, you saved Legon’s life there at the end, and if he wouldn’t have done what he did you wouldn’t have gotten that spectacular kill, and that was all you.”

Iselin paused for a bit. Sasha went on. “And you’re not actually mad at Legon for helping you with a kill, are you? It’s actually kind of sweet if you think about it.”

Now Iselin looked a little embarrassed. She turned to Legon. “What if you had gotten killed? Do you know what you mean to people?”

“Look Ise, I’m not saying what I did was smart, but it was better than the alternative.”

“Fine. I forgive you, but you owe me.”

He laughed, feeling better. “Fine, but not much, because you almost rolled on me.”

She rolled her eyes at him, but he knew she was fine now. Sasha’s mind was working overtime, he could feel it. she was plotting something.

“Maybe I could make it up to you over dinner?” he blurted.

Did he just do that? Sasha was smirking. Sydin and Barnin were looking away, but he thought he saw them both smile. Iselin looked dumbfounded, but not upset.

“Well, you don’t know any good places to eat in our land, so it would really be me taking you out, and I don’t want to go to Salmont right now…”

Ankle spoke. “Well, you’ll be sailing south from Manton won’t you?”

Sydin jumped in. “Yes they will, and I will be accompanying them.”

“It’s settled then. There is a great restaurant in Manton. you guys will love it, and it’s a great first date spot,” Ankle said jubilantly.

That made it final. he had asked an Elven dragon on a date. he wasn’t nervous around women, but still, he had just asked an Elven dragon on a date. Iselin smiled, and he suspected that she was hoping Ankle would be saying something like that.

“Fine, but I’m getting the most expensive thing on the menu.”



And with that she turned around and walked off.



As they left, Ankle sidled up alongside him and held out his fist. Legon tapped it with his own, but he wasn’t sure why.

“What are you doing, Ankle?” Legon asked, perplexed.

“Good work,” Ankle responded conspiratorially. “Barnin said that you were a cool guy.”

“Thanks, but what was that fist thing?”

“What? Don’t you do that back home?”

“No,” Legon said.

“You don’t? Well, it’s like a high five, you know?”

“No, I don’t, but thank you. so, what kind of restaurant is this?” Legon asked, changing the subject.

“It’s one that his parents own,” Barnin said.

“You’ll love it and so will she. just tell them I sent you, and tell them you want the table in the back corner. This is so great! Elves are going to eat at my family’s restaurant!”

Barnin chuckled and murmured something about Legon needing to borrow money.

* * * * *

Sasha knew that there was going to be plenty of time to bother Legon about his date and for her to rub in her victory, but right now they were on their way to see Arkin. As they walked she held a little green pod to her mouth that Sydin had given her. he had given four or five to all of them.

Barnin and Ankle were biting the tips off and squeezing something that looked like sap into their mouths.



She frowned at the little pod. “What are these?” she asked.

“Power packs,” Barnin answered.

“Power packs?” Sasha repeated.

It was Ankle that spoke this time. “Yeah. That’s not what the Elves call them, but that’s the nickname they have with the humans. they taste great and they give you energy. lots of vitamins, nutrients, all that stuff.”

She nodded and bit the tip off of one and squeezed it into her mouth. It was sweet and tasted a lot like honey. as she swallowed it her belly felt warm. She had another.

“See? They’re good and they act fast, too. you’ll be feeling better in just a minute,” Ankle said.

It was true. by the time they made it to the hospital tent where Arkin was she had a lot more energy. When they found Arkin he was awake and looking sulky. his chest was wrapped in bandages and he looked a little pale. He gave them a weak smile and started to get up. sasha pushed him back down.

“Sasha, I’m fine. The staff here-” Arkin started.

“Needs to change your dressings, and they’re done all wrong. let me take a look at you. Sit still,” Sasha commanded.

He didn’t argue with her, and she suspected that he was happy to have her there. She looked him over and then told him to sit up so she could have a look at his chest. He sat up and she unwrapped the dressings, which really did need to be changed.

“Barnin, would you be a dear and get me some hot water, a cloth, and more bandages?” Sasha asked.



Barnin looked doubtful. “They won’t give them to us normally.”



She looked at him. “But I’m sure they will be happy to give them to House Evindass, don’t you think?”



He looked happy about being able to use the power of their name, but then she thought better.

“On second thought, just the hot water and a rag.”



There was a large laceration across his chest. the wound was bleeding slightly and she knew that it went almost to his ribs. It wasn’t a clean cut either. she peered closely at it. the blade that had done it was only moderately sharp, but otherwise it was straightforward. Soon Barnin was back with the requested supplies and a smile that told her he had taken advantage of being her errand runner. She took the water and rag and cleaned around the cut. When she was done she looked at it appraisingly.

“Sasha, there’s no way you can fix this with magic. you don’t have enough strength,” Arkin said.

“But he does,” she said, pointing to Legon.

“But I don’t know how to fix it,” Legon said.

“But I do,” Sasha responded.

She smiled and accessed his mind and then his magic. she hadn’t ever done this before, but she knew that dragons often used another’s minor in their own spells, so it should work. Legon’s reserve, while depleted, was still vast compared to her own. The power felt clumsy to her, but she concentrated on the spell and a ruby glow appeared under her hand. She moved her hand over Arkin’s chest and the muscle and veins flowed together. When she was done she popped another power pack and looked at Arkin’s healed chest.

He smiled broadly at her. “Thanks Sash, but I think you missed a mole. There used to be one right there.”



She rolled her eyes. “You’re welcome, and I didn’t miss a mole. those things are horrid. you’re better off without it.”



He laughed and directed his words to Legon. “So, Un Prosa, I hear you were good in the fight, and that you have a date with Ise.”



They talked for a while and then Arkin decided he felt good enough to get up and leave. They went back to the dragon dome and spent the rest of the night talking about anything other than the battle.

After a few hours Sasha’s vision started to blur with fatigue. she leaned back on the couch and her eyelids began to droop. The others were talking about their coming trip to the Elven lands, and she wanted to stay awake, but eventually and reluctantly she closed her eyes.