Dragon Rider

"What Reyan means to say is that we need your help," Aurora called. 

 "Mother?!" Mairwen's voice rose in pitch. 

"Yes! Your father, and Brinn are here too! We are all safe and sound," came the happy reply. 

The people on the platform looked at each other in shock. 

"How did you get into the Storehouse?" Alaron tried not to sound as suspicious as he felt. 

"There's a stone here that transported us from the South. Please get us out. We have the Seed!" Aurora spoke with urgency in her voice.

"That sneaky...He made his own door!" Hanna caught herself and nodded at the people with her, "What Aurora says makes sense."

"Can we even get them out?" Renat looked at the stone and tilted his head. 

"This is the physical home of the Storehouse...more or less...the door should work like a normal one. With enough men, we should be able to shift it enough for those trapped to escape." Hanna looked at the soldiers. "I hope your backs are good and strong."

"Couldn't we just ask a dragon?" Alaron looked over his shoulder at the few dozen lying around. 

"We could, but I think a more delicate touch would be better. If the stone breaks too much, it could crush the people we are trying to save." Hanna began to direct the men around one of the smaller pieces.

The stone was still extremely heavy, but thankfully they were only trying to shift it to create a gap. As soon as one edge was over the lip of the outside, everyone moved to slide it across the roof of the building. It was slow but steady work.

The two stones ground against each other.

"Stop!" Reyan pressed his body through the new hole. "If my fat body can make it through, the others can as well."

His assessment turned out to be true.

Brinn climbed up through the opening and immediately turned around and dropped to her knees.

"I need a rope immediately!" The elf ordered.

One was passed over and Alaron and Renat joined Brinn in pulling up the third member of the group.

Aurora shivered as the air hit her, but that did not stop her from making sure the precious cargo in her hand remained free of injury.

"Mother!" Mairwen helped the Empress onto the platform and hugged her neck. "You are here!"

"I'm glad you are as well. The rumbling and smell made us concerned that you hadn't made it." Aurora looked out and spotted the dragons and the pile of dead monsters. "…that explains a lot."

Behind her Devrim was making his debut. "Ah, fresh air!" He coughed. "Sort of." He adjusted his face covering and looked at those around him. "We made it!"

Hanna stared at the 'flags' sticking out of the crack. "Is that the Staff of Unclaimed Wind?"

"Possibly," Brinn grinned. "If you are upset about that, don't look too closely at what we used for flags. I'm sure those tapestries near the exit were purely decorative…"

Hanna bit her tongue. "I am glad you are back. And you have the Seed! Can I see it?"

Aurora held out her hand with the white flower. "It is inside the vessel."

Hanna looked at the flower. "Hm, it is smaller than I remember."

"Well, it bloomed and seeded again. So that may explain the difference." The Empress smiled at the small but mighty bit of magic.

"It did what? Nevermind. The point is we have it." Hanna would save her questions for later.

"Where do I need to plant it?" Aurora's fingers were growing tired. She had switched the grip between her hands many times, but it was still becoming a burden.

"I assume you would need to return it where the Source should be." Hanna looked up to the Spires looming overhead. "That means the pool of the waterfall."

"Alright. Can we ask one of the dragons to fly me up there, and I will do it right away?" Aurora looked at the stars peeking out in the dark sky.

She had really hoped that they would make it before the sun went down, but the long trek through the Storehouse and the time it took to get them free from the stone had taken every last bit of daylight.

"It isn't as easy as that. There is a barrier that no dragon can get through. At least not without their magic." Mairwen began to explain.

Hanna cut her off. "I might know of a way. But we will need to find a very big reward if we ask this favor."

The people looked out at the field. Even in the starlight, a bounding baby was disturbing the peace of the dragons trying to slumber. He looked in desperate need to burn off some energy and they knew the perfect way. 

After forming their plan, the humans came down from the Palace White and joined their group. The Empress and her company were welcomed into the camp with open arms.

No one was more welcoming than the trio of elves who had returned from the hunt.

"Your Highness!" Lilith bowed low before Brinn. "It is very good to see you alive. The Queen mother has been most distressed by your absence."

Brinn resisted the urge to reply that she doubted it. Her relationship with her mother had improved. Lanassa had always cared for her. She was just not good at showing it.

"I am glad to know she is well. And my father, brother, and sister-in-law?"

"When we left, His Majesty and his wife were quite well," Nath supplied. "As for the king's father…"

Brinn held up her hand. "We can discuss that after the Magic is restored, I think."

Relieved, the three elves bowed and backed away. If they had noticed the absence of Prince Alvar, they had not spoken of it. Uri hadn't spoken at all, feeling tongue-tied in front of his ruler's charismatic sister.

Aurora found a stool and took a much-needed rest while Hanna and Devrim went to speak with the Dragon King. The Emperor was hoping to convince Smokey to take both himself and Aurora to the Spires so that he could help her climb the stairs. 

Aurora pulled at her skirt to look at her brace. It was in pretty bad shape, but the stays were somehow holding. She didn't want to think about how smelly and gross her skin must be under all that cloth and wood. The Empress planned to take a long bath very soon. 

"You are hurt!" Mairwen gasped as she brought her mother some food.

"So, I hear, are you," Aurora replied with her eyebrows raised. Renat and Alaron, who were sitting on either side of the Empress, looked away innocently. 

"It's nothing," the princess hedged.

"Really? Headaches, dizzy spells and sleeping all the time don't sound like nothing. We will have the doctor look at you when we get home. Or maybe one of the elven healers before then." Aurora hoped that whatever was wrong could be fixed. 

For more than just Mairwen. For all of them.

A short time later, the Emperor and Hanna returned with news. The Fate's expression was neutral, but Devrim's was decidedly sour. Behind them, Smokey landed with a snort. 

"Edjer thinks that with how much water his son has consumed, the child can break through the barrier and reach the lower part of the tower. There is no way to reach the opening to the falls. Even he struggled with that at full power." Hanna told the others. 

"We expected that. That is one of the reasons that Devrim was going to come with me." Aurora watched her husband's face sour. 

"I am not able to go. Smokey does not want a man riding on his back, and his father says the choice is up to him." Dervim struggled not to give the baby a piercing scowl. They still needed his help. 

"But I need someone to accompany me. Justum likely would oblige, but we are not sure of the health of the Fate. I am told that no one has heard anything from him in a day or two." Aurora furrowed her brow. 

"Smokey has chosen someone to accompany you," Hanna's smile seemed pained. 

"Oh? What lady is to be my helper?" Aurora looked toward Brinn. The agile elf would be a solid choice.

Devrim eyed Alaron and Renat with an apologetic expression. "Smokey will only accept Empress Aurora...and Princess Mairwen as riders."