Tamers.com

II

 

Tagori returned to his house. When he entered he made sure to keep the sword hidden. Tagori didn’t want anybody to find out about it. When he got to his room, he packed a bag with things he might need for the next day's hunt, then laid on his bed. Tagori thought about what Tarin said, ‘By knowing what you want and what you fight for.’

Then he drifted into sleep.

 

            Tagori was lying down, and felt as though something was squeezing the breath out of him.  He looked along his body that was covered in black armor.  A giant yellow claw was standing on top of him.  It was connected to a large Yellow dragon that was looking down at him, flames rolling out of its mouth.  Tagori brought his arms up to defend himself from the flame that Tagori was sure was coming.  He felt the weight of the dragon come off of him.  He opened his eyes to see why only to find that Emrila had rammed the dragon.

            Tagori stood up and looked around for anything he could use as a weapon.  Only a few yards away he saw a strange looking blade.  He picked it up.  The sword was light in his hands.  He thought he knew the sword, it felt somewhat familiar, but he was taken from his thoughts and drawn to the roar of the two dragons fighting.  Tagori raised the sword above his head and ran to the yellow dragon.  He saw the dragon tear a gash in Emrila’s side and part of her wing.

            “NO!” Tagori said as he woke up. “Emrila?”

            Tagori waited for a response.

            “Emrila?” Tagori screamed inside his head.

            Tagori ran outside and yelled for his dragon to come to him.

            “Is everything alright?” Emrila said as she flew from over the trees.

            “I wanted to ask you the same question,” Tagori told her.

Treth and Roz came running out of the house.

Treth said “Is everything allri—, Tagori what is tha—“

As he said that a fireball came and hit the house destroying it. There was a whisper, Tagori couldn't understand what it said, but he thought that he heard No.

“No,” Tagori said as he fell to his knees. “NOOOOOOO”

Tarin then came from behind him. Beasts that were pure black revealed themselves from behind the house. The beasts had wings and strong arms. Their legs looked like those of birds. Their heads were covered with their black cloak. They, also, carried a white sword in their hand and a black battle ax on their back.

Tarin said, “Tagori, I need help fighting these creatures called Xen-Reths.”

Tagori stood up took his sword out of its sheath and said “Let’s go.”

“Tagori put your hand over your sword like this” Tarin held his two middle fingers together and the others apart “and say ‘Erono Riorin’ then ‘ignite,’” Tarin told him.

Tagori put his hand over his sword and repeated “Erono Riorin, ignite.” Tagori’s sword started on fire.

The flame was bright and hot, greater then anything Tarin had ever seen, but it didn’t burn Tagori.

Tarin asked “Tagori, What are you fighting for?”

Tagori told him “I don't know...”

“Erono Yarega, freeze,” Tarin said over his sword. His sword burst with a water jet then froze into a pillar of ice. “Tagori these beasts will try anything to win so don’t let your guard down,” he paused, “Good luck.”

As Tarin said that, Tagori ran into battle with one of the Xen-Reths. Tagori slashed, just missing it. Then the fire came around, like a whip, and burned the monster. The Xen-Reth screamed in pain. It flew up, took out its ax, and held its ax and sword in the air. The Xen-Reth dove towards Tagori, its sword pointed strait at him and the ax ready to strike. Tagori put his sword up to defend himself and closed his eyes. Tagori realized that he wasn’t dead, so he opened his eyes. Emrila stood in front of him, Xen-Reth in her jaws.

The boy and dragon looked at one another and they knew they wouldn’t let anyone hurt them.

Tarin was fighting another Xen-Reth. It jumped back and prepared to strike with its sword. It slashed its sword, but Tarin jumped out of the way just before it hit him. The Xen-Reth prepared to strike with both weapons.

“Nooooo” Tagori yelled “Rioria.” A fire ball flew towards The Xen-Reth. It turned just to see the fire collide with its body. It then collapsed.

“Tagori,” Tarin said, “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know, I guess that I didn't want to lose anybody else,” Tagori said.

“Tagori,” Tarin told him, shocked, “how did you know that word?”

“I don’t know, it just came to me.” Tagori said looking at his sword, “How do I put this out?”

“Sheath it,” Tarin told him, “Then if you want the flame back, all that you have to do is say ignite. Tagori meet me back here at sunset tomorrow, and bring your sword.”

“What do I do in the meantime?” Tagori asked him, “My home has been destroyed.”

Tarin threw Tagori a bag that clinked as he caught it. “There are one hundred ryngs in there, buy some food and a room at the inn.”

“What about Emrila, where will she stay?” Tagori said.

“I’m sorry but she will have to stay on the outskirts of town," Tarin told him.

“Tarin I don’t know why, but you seem familiar in some way,” Tagori said, “like a long lost friend.”

Tarin was shocked. “I’ve never met you before yesterday. I don’t know why you would think that.”

“Well, wherever you go,” Tagori told Tarin, “good luck.”

Tagori bought a room at the inn. As he was lying in bed, he thought of why he thought he knew Tarin. He just couldn’t think of why. Tagori drifted into sleep.

 

 

He awoke in the middle of the day.

“Emrila, I’m going to the remains of my house. I’m going to see if I can salvage anything,” Tagori told her.

When he finally got to the house, he tried to move the rubble. Some of the blocks were just too heavy.

“What are you trying to do?” Tarin asked.

Tagori jumped. “I’m trying to see if there is anything still usable in here. So far I haven't found anything.”

“If you need an easier way to do that, then I have a spell. Move earth, is Kerighan Sento,” Tarin told him. “Like this,” He held his hand at a rock. “Kerighan Sento” As he lifted his hand the rock started to levitate. He moved it to the side and set it down. “Do you have your sword Tagori?”

“No, I didn’t think that I would need it,” Tagori told him.

“What? You’ve been attacked twice in three days. What makes you think that you wouldn’t be attacked?” Tarin asked. He held out his hand “Cenpentra Zanik,” A ball of light appeared in his hand and formed into the sword. “Here is Zanik. Now try your best to defend yourself. Keep it sheathed though.”

Tagori raised his sword. Tarin did a slow slash. Tagori easily blocked it. Tarin slashed faster. Tagori blocked the attack. Tarin slashed again this time Tagori had difficulty blocking it.

“Is that all you got Tagori?” Tarin said mockingly

“Well this is my first sword. All that I’ve ever used is arrows,” Tagori told him.

“Tagori, I’m not the best teacher, and I think you would be better off if you had someone that knew how to train you.  I’m going to take you to a real teacher. Tagori grab your things and meet me at the East side of town in an hour,” Tarin told him.

Tagori went into town and grabbed his things. He took one last look around the town. Then sadly, he departed. Tagori made his way to the south side of town. Tarin was already waiting for him there. He was standing on the hill and looking at the town.

After a long pause, Tarin said “I’ve tried to never get too attached to a place. I always end up leaving it. But this place is different, it feels like… home. I always feel like this when I leave this place. Norico, I will return here eventually.”

Tagori looked at Tarin like he was a stranger. Tagori felt the same way about leaving. The travelers turned around and headed out on their journey.

“Tagori, I am taking you to The Gilrund,” Tarin told him.

“The Gilrund!” Tagori said shocked.

Tarin explained “The Empire has been trying to make them seem evil, but they are actually the good guys. I know it seems like they aren’t but they are. We don’t know why they are framing The Gilrund, but with you on our side we will find out.

Tagori had heard things about The Gilrund, but it wasn’t good.

“Could you tell me more about The Gilrund?” Tagori asked.

“They will take anyone that shows that they want justice in the empire. They have swordsmen that have greater skill then anyone you have ever seen. They have, over the years, had many tamers,” Tarin told him. “We don’t know how but all of the Tamers disappeared. We looked all around Sonon, but we couldn’t find a trace of them.”

Tagori was only half listening to what Tarin was saying. Tagori was just thinking of what was happening. He was wondering why these things were happening to him. Was it because of Emrila? No, Tagori told himself to stop thinking about the past and think about the future.

Tagori asked Tarin where they were going. Tarin said that they were going to the town of Kyata.

“A friend of mine is there and we are going to The Gilrund together. He has been away for a while and he needs to check in with them so they know that he is all right,” Tarin continued.

“What’s his name?” Tagori asked.

“His name is Darith, but everyone just calls him Arrow,” Tarin told him.

“How much farther is it to Kyata? I heard that it isn’t close to Norico,” Tagori asked.

“Well there is one town between here and there. It’s called Verton. It isn’t very big but we can get supplies there,” Tarin said.

“Tagori, I’m going to go into the forest and find something to eat,”

“Okay, meet us near the city later,” Tagori told her.

“The city isn’t but half an hour away now,” Tarin told him.

“What else can you tell me about magic?” Tagori asked.

“Well those marks on your arms, the Geth-zhan marks, they link yours and your dragons energy. This link of energy allows for the greater level of magic, Majyn. That is why it is only usable by tamers,” Tarin explained.

“How does that weapon magic work?” Tagori asked.

“Well there are many elements that can be in the weapon. Each one of those has a different ability. Your flame, for example is like a whip. My ice makes ice crystals form where I slash. It is timed to form then disappear,” Tarin explained. “Look, you can see the town from here, it's not much farther now.”

At the town Tagori and Tarin bought supplies and stayed for the night. When Tagori awoke, Tarin had already left. Tagori exited the Inn and started to explore the town. He had never been anywhere but Norico. He was amazed at the architecture. He had never seen such buildings.

“Tagori” Somebody yelled. Tagori looked around. Running towards him was Tarin. “Good, I found you. Are you ready to leave?”

“No. What were you doing,” Tagori asked.

“There was a matter that I had to attend to. Nothing that you should worry about,” Tarin told him.

Tagori went to the Inn to get his things and the two of them went along on their journey. While outside of the city, Emrila joined them. She was now much bigger than Tagori. They stopped every hour or hour and a half to rest. Tarin was full of energy. When they stopped Tarin didn't rest at all. He was swinging his sword in practice. Emrila however was always asking Tagori to translate questions for Tarin who answered them in full.

Tagori learned from that experience as well. He learned that in about a week she should be able to carry a person, although Tagori wasn't brave enough to try it.

They soon saw the city walls. As they came to the drawbridge, the guard stopped them.

“I can't let you in, it is too late. Why don't you come back tomorrow,” The guard told them.

“But we need to get into the city,” Tagori told him.

“I'm sorry but I can't let you in now, good night.” The guard said.

The drawbridge went up and Tarin and Tagori set up camp outside of the city. They made a fire and ate a rabbit that they caught. Emrila was curled up next to the tent eating a deer. The three of them sat around the fire and talked. Tagori began to get tired. He laid down to sleep.

 

 

“Tagori, get up quickly there is a savage,” Tagori heard Emrila say.

Tagori grabbed his sword and rolled away, narrowly escaping an attack by the savage. He stabbed at the savage, but it jumped out of the way of the blade.

“Ignite,” Tagori said but nothing happened. “Ignite,” still nothing happened. “Tarin, why won't the flame come back?”

“I don't know but focus on defeating this enemy,” Tarin said.

“Right,” Tagori said.

He slashed at the enemy but every time it dodged and retaliated. Tagori, dodging few of the Savage's attacks, was becoming more exhausted with each attack. Then as it jumped to deliver the final blow, Tagori felt something fly past his shoulder. Then he heard the Savage's scream of pain. It's body laid motionless on the ground with an arrow sticking out of it's head and heart. Tagori turned around and on the cities wall was a person with a bow. Tarin had turned around too. The man jumped off the wall and began running towards them.

The man was shorter than Tagori. He had light brown hair, and a large quiver on his back. He wore a red tunic, and seemed slow, but as he approached, Tagori saw that he was not.

“Arrow,” Tarin yelled.

“How have you been R...”Arrow was cut off.

“How many times do I have to tell you, my name is Tarin,” he said.

“But why are you...,” Arrow began, “Oh,” he looked at Tagori, “who is this?”

“My name is Tagori.” Tagori said.

“Oh, so you are the new Tamer then,” said Arrow.

“How did you know to come?” asked Tagori.

“Well I was just walking around the wall and I saw that fight,” Explained Arrow.

“Tarin, where do we go now?” Tagori asked.

“We have to follow the Grand River,” Tarin said, “Then at the Resting lake we will find the gate to the Gilrund.”

“I know some people that would like to join the Gilrund. They are pretty trustworthy and they seem sincere about joining,” Arrow said.

“Where do they live?” Tarin asked

“They live along the Grand River in a town called Areno,” Arrow told them.

“Right, we will leave in the morning,” Tarin said.

 

Continued in part 3