Ascension
Dragon Valley
There weren't always dragons in the valley. The first to show up was a smallish green beast with glittering golden eyes. When it came flying in it dove for the livestock and scared old man Gareth to death, quite literally. It couldn’t carry off one of the cattle, but the poor thing had to be put down due to the deep furrows the dragon’s claws had rent in its flesh. Circling back the dragon grabbed a large ram and flew west towards the sea as Missus Anderton came running out screaming for her husband. The appearance caused quite the commotion in our little village, and it was the catalyst that turned my world upside down and changed us all permanently.
The village of Aserith is nestled in the foothills of the Veriti Sans mountain range. It is a fortnights journey to the sea and Seahaven, a port town where the villagers trade for goods. To the east is Elmrock Forest. Some say it's haunted while others laugh at such foolishness. Haunted or not, most don't travel in too deep before they return. Those that have traveled into its depths have never been seen again.
Izadora Graylock, a 17-year-old orphan training to be a blacksmith, walked out of the forge swiping back the stray wisps of black curls that had fallen into her eyes. She left a soot smudge across her face, but no one bothered to tell her as she walked through the village towards the home of Calista & Hagar Strongbow. She was lucky that her aunt Calista had lived in the same village, or she would've most likely been driven away when her mother died. Izadora stopped and stared at the building that had been her home since she was 10 years old. It no longer looked like the nice home it had been, but it was hard to keep anything nice with the frequent dragon sightings and attacks. Izadora sighed tiredly and made her way up the steps and inside
Poking her head into the kitchen to see if Calista was home from the market Izadora was surprised to find that she was indeed home and was at that moment beating the evenings bread dough to death. Izadora's was about to step into the kitchen when she heard her uncles rumbling voice.
"What did the dough do to upset you so?"
Izadora stepped back and listened; she knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, but she would hear more truth if she did then if she asked her aunt what was bothering her. Calista always insisted she was fine, but seven years had gone by, and Izadora was grown up enough to recognize the strain it put on her aunt & uncle having her as part of the household.
"Wasn't the bread, it was that old biddy Margarie Thatcher!" she exclaimed as she punched the dough down again. "She doesn't know how to keep a civil tongue in her head. I wish this dough were her it would serve her right."
Izadora frowned; her aunt was one of the gentlest souls she knew so it must've been bad for her to speak so. Uncle Hagar was silent for a moment then asked quietly "Do you want to talk about it?"
Calista sighed loudly, "More of the same trash they've been spewing since Kiera died. If it weren't for you and your brother championing them, I think they would've driven Kiera and Izadora out the moment Killian died... may his soul rest with Na'alai."
"Your brother was a good man, my best friend, and though I didn't agree with him marrying Kiera, I never would've allowed them to drive her or Izadora out. Kiera did well, but the people could sense that she wasn't quite like them. I think perhaps they sense that in Izadora too" He sighed, and it seemed like he would've continued but Izadora bumped into the small entry table knocking off the vase of flowers Calista had placed there. She cursed quietly and grabbed at the vase just saving it from the fall. She heard her aunt's voice raise "Izadora is that you?"
"Yes ma'am" she called as she quietly opened the door and then closed it so they could hear. It would sound to them like she had just walked in the door. She didn't want them to know she had been listening and that she was exceptionally curious about the things said. She wasn't surprised about the village gossip, that was nothing new, but what had her uncle meant? She poked her head into the kitchen and smiled at them both as if it were just another day and said, "I'm heading upstairs to bathe." They smiled and her aunt waived her on with a floury hand.
Lowering herself into the hot bath she couldn't help but drift into memory. It was in one of the early dragon attacks that her mother was killed. She and Kiera were living alone on the edge of the village. Her father Killian had died from a fever when Izadora was 8. Kiera had tried to save him, but nothing she did helped, and it broke her heart when he died. Izadora believed that her mother only stayed in the world for her and the thought of her mother giving up made her heart break too. She missed her mother’s quiet smile and woodland eyes. Kiera had been strong-willed and kind, and Izadora often heard the village people whispering about her and how she was too much like her mother. Izadora didn't mind that. She had loved her mother very much and she remembered that Kiera was a compassionate soul that would help anyone that asked. Her simples healed and her dreams and visions were often sought after, even if it was done quietly. When the Council had met to discuss the coming of the dragon Kiera had begged the elders not to send a group of men to hunt it down.
"Dragons are sacred," she said "it was a blessing to have laid eyes on such a magnificent beast and my dreams tell me it would do more harm than good. Please let this go for everyone's sake."
Those that knew of her visions looked pensively at the elders to see their response. The family of old Gareth had looked enraged at the suggestion that the dragon's coming had been any kind of blessing.
"We have lost our family patriarch and one of our best breeding stock due to that dragon and we want vengeance!" spat Phineas Anderton, old Gareth's nephew and son of councilman Bertold. With those words Bertold's face hardened and Kiera knew that the man would never be swayed. That was lucky for the Anderton clan and their desire for vengeance, but very unlucky for the rest of the villagers and most of all for Kiera & Izadora.
After her bath Izadora dressed and went down for supper. They all sat and ate in silence until Izadora could take it no longer. “I’ve heard that my mother was different, some even say a witch. How was she different? I’ve heard people say I’m like her.”
Her uncle had stopped with his spoonful of stew half way to his mouth at her questions. He and his wife exchanged a significant look. At that Calista began, “oh child you know you can’t put stock into what the villagers say, they gossip terribly.”
Izadora frowned and little did she know when she did she reminded Calista of her brother Killian. She faltered at that look then sighed and looked at her husband again. He finally nodded and said simply “she’s 17, it’s time.” She could tell Calista wasn’t sure, but after taking several deep breaths she spoke.
“This can never leave this house Izadora, what I’m about to tell you. If it get’s out you would be in a massive amount of danger. It is imperative that you obey me on this. Do you swear to keep what is told a secret?” Izadora looked from one to the other with a feeling of excitement and apprehension in her gut.
“I understand.” She said then corrected herself “I swear to keep your words a secret.”
With a nod Calista continued. “Your mother was not human; she was an elf. She was in fact an important woman in her clan, a high ranking noble. That all changed when she was captured and treated very ill by King Borien.” She paused delicately. “Killian was in the woods hunting that day and when he saw what had happened, he was appalled. He waited until the king was sleeping and he snuck into the tent where she was being kept and he rescued her.”
Izadora broke in incredulously, “She couldn’t have been an elf. She didn’t look like an elf; they have pointed ears and she didn’t!”
Calista smiled slightly, “She did in fact have pointed ears, but she wore a talisman that kept her appearance human. She wore that always. Do you remember the necklace she always wore? The twin of your own?”
With that Izadora’s hand reached up to the necklace at her throat. She never took it off. It had been a gift from her mother and Kiera had insisted she never take it off. She had told her it was magic and that it would protect her. “I remember” she said in a soft voice.
“Well she didn’t believe she could return to her family with the shame she felt for what was done. She stayed on with Killian in secret, never leaving the house. They came to know each other and fell in love within a very short period. She created the magical talisman that kept her looking human and they got married in the human fashion in Seahaven.” Calista shrugged as if to say that was all there was to it.
“Is that everything?” Izadora asked running her finger over her own ear. She couldn’t help but wonder if she too had pointed ears. She wondered if the face she saw in the mirror was truly hers or if some glamour made her look human. At Calista’s silence she looked up and saw the two of them communicating quietly through looks and shakes of the head. Finally her uncle sighed and took up the tale.
“It wasn’t long after the wedding that they realized she was with child. It was hard to say if the child was Killian’s or the King’s, but as far as your father was concerned you were his.” Izadora felt her eyes widen at the implications of his words. “It was a hard labor for your mother, elves don’t usually have many children, and after you were born it was deemed likely she would never have another. Calista was the midwife that helped bring you into the world because she was the only one Killian would trust with Kiera’s secret.”
Calista nodded in confirmation then continued, “You looked more like her than your father. Your ears were delicately pointed, your eyes were large and the color of the sky on a warm summer day. Once she was strong enough to do so she made another talisman, this one for you. To curb the magic you likely had and to create the illusion of being fully human.”
Izadora’s mouth had gone dry. “You’re telling me that my mother was an elf, that my father may not have been my father and that I not only look like an elf under this illusion but may posses inherited magic as well…” Hagar’s eyebrows furrowed. “Killian was your father. Whether it was his seed or the king’s that made you, he was your father and he loved you more than you know.”
Izadora swallowed hard and nodded. “Do you know where she came from? Who her people were?”
Calista nodded, “Her full name was Kieranaivara Iydril and she came from a clan across the sea by the name of Anairë. Killian had been there doing some trading and had decided to go hunting. That was when he found them. He brought her back here to be as far from King Borien and her people as possible.”
After a few moments Izadora nodded and said hoarsely, “Thank you, I… I think I’m going to go on up to bed. I’m feeling incredibly tired.”
After she left Calista and Hagar spoke quietly. Calista had wanted to go after her to make sure she was alright, but Hagar had insisted that she give Izadora space. They had told her a lot and he was sure she was overwhelmed and needed to sort it all out in her head. They quietly finished their supper and then he helped her clean up. They too went to bed and hoped that tomorrow they would find Izadora unchanged.
About the Creator
Nikky Affolder-Walker
I am a wife, a mother of 3, a pet mom & I have a B.A. in Psychology & Womens Studies. For many years I've put off my dream of writing to take care of my family & I'm grateful to have found Vocal. It's never too late to live your dream.
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