Above the Keep, Volume 18

Above the Keep - By Lorelai Silvermoon Volume 18

Two more practice arrows flew away from the silver dragon and arced toward the stationary ground targets yet once again, Thaylis leaning to his left and looking back as he tracked the shots he just fired from his bow.

"One hit, one miss," Skyla called back to him as she banked left and began climbing again to start another run at the targets, this time from a different height and angle. He nodded once to himself as he reached down and retrieved another arrow from the quiver at his right side.

The pair had recently begun weapons training in earnest, joining the skirmishing group Cole had identified. Skyla and Thaylis took to this new phase of instruction eagerly, continuing to hone their skills in flying in formations with the small group of dragons and their riders as time allowed throughout the day. The skirmishers continued to work hard and diligently, many offering guidance to Thaylis and Skyla in the days that passed. Archery and swordplay were stressed, with flight formation flying in various numbers filling out the remaining time. Thaylis could see that he and Skyla were working well together, each beginning to anticipate the others movements in the air as they learned these new vital skills.

The Hunter drew back on the bowstring once more, waiting for the targets to come within range as Skyla started her next run.

The day wanes ... sun setting upon the western sky, coloring the world above a warm orange; flares of brilliant red and fading streaks of purple ... cupping and accenting the day's last kiss, as the dusk moves to cloak the world ...

Upon the white walls, glowingly tinted now with the display above, sees a lone figure upon its southern reaches. The young man in silvers and earth tones looks Southernly with emerald eyes, forearms planted easily upon a parapet.

Seemingly from nowhere, he is joined briefly by another ... a figure hooded with mouth covered, wearing Le'Megen colored leathers, two Champion-esque shortswords in cross-sheathes upon his lower back. The Champion does not move, nor seem surprised ... and simply listens to the quiet report of something or another, nodding. A brief word is shared then, and the hooded Templar disappears on his way.

... a short time later, as the last wedge of the sun sits on its last gasps and the colors fade to grey, the contemplative figure sees another visitor step behind him.

"Treading a bit late, aren't you..? With training and all the wedding business though you might be rumbling snores throughout the Abode by now..." he greets the scholarly shaped dragon.

Arching a brow slightly at the eyeless recognition, "Thought I did quite well in soft stepping, your ears growing to match your eyes Cole..? And I thought I would check back on you this eve ... only really one princess to mind at the moment, Avivya is kept quite otherwise busy as you would imagine."

"Bevoodai, of course," the watcher chuckles softly, "and no ... but you have a distinct smell Lymon ... incense, bit of saffron ... airs a bit less muddled up here to lose it ..."

"If you insist ... though it is my thought you 'cheated' ..."

"Well, I did not say I knew by the smell, just that you carry it ..."

Dragon and man then share a mirthful smirk and a quiet chuckle, before the dragon in men's clothing breaks the silence.

"You're worried about MJ."

"No ... she is a soldier, as is Tryphena. Both stand capable and able to keep one another safe, to find the others if they can, and return ... I'd not have sent them otherwise ..."

"True on all counts, young master, but I was not stating a question."

"Now who's cheating ..?"

"Call it measured care for your well being."

"... Appreciated ..." comes the dry response, "... But fen ... I miss her. And after Atalya and Kisshet ... aye, I am worried."

"They are safe, they will return soon, you shall see.."

"Optimism and confidence is near uplifting, I fear I may soon float from the walls.."

An eyeroll and a moment of silence comes from the dragon, before he changes the topic.

"I did hear you left early the other afternoon ..."

"... mm, fen. Celebration and mourning mix as oil and water to me, in close proximity ... I'd just brought back word of another dead avariel daughter ... Wilsash set me through these scenes already ... I do not care for the second walkthrough."

Nodding softly, Lymonious moves to the side of Cole upon the wall, "Have faith, hm?"

Drawing a long look from the champion, then a brief chuckle and shake of his head at the reversal of fortune, with turning of that phrase.

The two figures talk through the early hours of the night before one explodes into the sky and strong wing beats trail off toward the east. The other disappears into the depths of the Castle.