Dragon Stones

“Tell me again, pappa! Tell me about the dragon stones!”

Kjetil smiled as his feisty little daughter, golden red locks flying, jousted with an imaginary dragon.

“Well, you better settle down if want to hear the story again or your mamma will be scolding us both.”

“Ok, pappa,” Amberlyn said, as she dove under the pile of quilts. Winters were cold in Norway, especially in the northern region of Halogaland.

Kjetil tucked the covers around his daughter as he began the tale.

“The legend began thousands of years ago from the Island of Straghorn, home of the dragons. It is said that when a dragon dies, part of their essence stays with the island, in the dragon stones. These stones can only be found on Straghorn. They are deep red and when you break them open there is an amber gem inside with steaks of gold running through it.”

“Just like me, pappa! Amberlyn Gold Tarldson!”

This was the part of the story that she waited for - the part that had her name in it. Kjetil had only seen a dragon stone once in his life, and it was mesmerizing. There was an energy that you could feel when you held it in your hand. It was said that a dragon stone would protect your household from evil. It seemed there were constant wars and conflicts between Halogaland and the neighboring tribes of Norway and between Norway and other countries. The continuous search for more land, which meant more hunting and foraging, and especially control over Halogaland’s vast coastline, brought more and more fighting. Kjetil, though fierce in battle, was weary of the bloodshed and wanted his family to be safe. It was also said the amber gems were worth a fortune. Maybe he could move his wife and daughter south - to Denmark or even Scotland. Either way, he was determined to find a dragon stone. He would set out for the island again in the morning in yet another attempt to find one of the elusive treasures.

“Pappa, can I go with you? Pleeease!” Amberlyn’s eyes – almost the same color as her name, and eerily beautiful – pleaded with him.

“We’ll see, my child. Now let’s finish the story.”

“The dragons use these stones to line their dens and the lair, where there is a huge alter of amber. It is said that when there is danger nearby the stones let out a low hum, warning the dragons of evil. When the dragons come to Halogaland to hunt, they bring the stones with them, so they know if humans are nearby.”

Kjetil looked down to see his daughter was fast asleep.

“Goodnight my little dragon slayer,” he said softly.

~

The next morning Amberlyn woke to the whispered, but heated, sounds of her far and mor arguing. She spang out of bed and dressed quickly.

“Here I am! I’m ready to go, Pappa.”

Asa looked at her little daughter and back at her husband, a man as big and strong as a tree. Of course, he would protect her, but she was too young.

Asa sighed. “Maybe next year, Amberlyn. It’s too risky.”

Amberlyn tugged at the bottom of Kjetil’s vest. “Pappa, I’m not too young. I’m brave and I’m strong and I will stay right by you. Please, Pappa, please take me. I’m Amberlyn Gold! I will bring you fortune.”

“She will be fine, Asa. It’s winter and the dragons are in the lair where it is warm. I don’t go anywhere close to their dens. I’ve done this many times and never seen a dragon. We will look for stones in a couple of places and I will bring you back some of the mushrooms you like so much. We’ll be home for supper.”

Asa looked again at Amberlyn and took a deep breath. No matter how much she loved that girl, she could not compete with the bond that Amberlyn and Kjetil had. She was outnumbered and she knew it. With reluctance, she knelt and took Amberlyn by the shoulders. “You stay right by your pappa and do exactly what he tells you.”

“Thank you, Mama,” Amberlyn shrieked, as she threw her arms around Asa!

“Let me weave your hair before you go,” said mamma.

“No, it’s good. Let’s go, Pappa!”

~

The sea was covered in mist as they got down to the dock. Pappa put several furs in the bottom of the boat and told Amberlyn to cover up – they had a long way to row. Amberlyn was determined to see everything, but soon the rhythm of her pappa’s rowing and the warmth of the pelts lulled her to sleep. When she woke, Straghorn Island loomed in front of them, and Amberlyn gasped. It was creepiest place she had ever seen. There was a gigantic mountain in the center of the island whose peak was a series of razor-sharp points jutting out of a black cloud. Or was that smoke? The few trees that she could see were windblown and twisted and mostly dead. Ravens circled between the dead trees and the smokey cloud. Below the mountain were massive rock formations with what looked like caves creating jagged black holes here and there. The trees along the shoreline looked black and stiff. Even the dirt was the color of charcoal.

“We’re going around to a cove on the back side of the island,” her dad said quietly. “There are a couple of caves that you can row into and the mushrooms your mother likes grow inside.”

Amberlyn wondered how mushrooms could grow in the winter and then she realized how much warmer the air felt. The island was giving off heat. It should have been covered in snow, but instead it was a massive ebony monolith rising out of a nearly frozen sea.

As they entered one of the caves, Amberlyn said, I can feel them, Pappa.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, like a thrill in my tummy.”

“Are you scared? Do you want to go back?”

Amberlyn was quiet for a moment and then she said, “No, I’m not afraid.”

After they had gathered a big bag of the rust-colored mushrooms for mamma, Kjetil rowed into a small cove and pulled the boat up on the shore. Amberlyn stood very still, closed her, and inhaled. “I can smell them, pappa.”

“You can? What do they smell like?”

“They smell like sour ashes and raw meat…. and the pitch you use to seal the boat.”

Kjetil pondered his daughter’s words as they walked along the shore trying to spot a deep red rock. Was it just a vivid imagination or did she have more of a connection to the dragons than just her name? He knew the island had a different smell but would never have described it the way Amberlyn just did. He wondered, also, if she felt in her tummy what he felt those many years ago when he held the dragon stone.

They had walked nearly to the far side of the inlet, when an ominous shadow crossed over them, and an ungodly screech split the air.

“Run, Amberlyn! Run and hide,” Kjetil bellowed.

Amberlyn bolted for the dark forest as fast as her little legs could carry her. She felt the whoosh of air from the dragon’s wings and heard her pappa let out a war cry as the metal of his sword rang out against its sheath. When she was at the edge of the trees, she turned to see her pappa dodge a stream of dragon fire that instantly set the boat to flames. She sprinted into the forest and ran until she could barely breath. Amberlyn darted behind a clump of trees and fell to the ground, gasping. When she had gulping in several lungs full of air and her heart had slowed just a bit, she sat up and listened. Silence. No sound of a battle or the dragon and no sound of her father. She wondered if she should go back, but her pappa always told her that if she was in trouble to hide and he would find her. Pappa would find her. She curled into a ball and let her hair cover her like a blanket and strained to hear any sound. Would the dragon come for her or had her pappa slain him? And when pappa found her, how were they going to get home without a boat? Mamma was going to kill him.

Amberlyn woke to someone poking and sniffing at her. She didn’t move, but through her hair she saw a scaley foot and could smell the sour, burnt meat, and pitch. He came closer, and she could see he wasn’t very big. Then he poked her again, hard.

“Knock it off,” yelled Amberlyn as she jumped up, tossing her hair behind her! “That hurt!”

The dragon, obviously a juvenile, jumped back and let out a low growl.

Then he took a step back towards her. “What are you?”

“I’m a human, stupid!” “What…., wait…., you can talk?”

“Of course, I can talk,” he snarled. “Dragons have been around, and talking, for longer than humans.”

They stood glaring at each other, neither one too sure what to do next. Amberlyn knew she should be afraid, but for some reason, she wasn’t. She didn’t know how to describe it, but she felt like she was supposed to be here.

After a long moment, she asked, “So, what’s your name?”

“Tik.”

“Tik? That’s it?”

“It’s short for Baltik. What’s your name?”

“Amberlyn.”

“So, what are you doing here?”

“I came with my pappa to get mushrooms for my mor. Do you know where my pappa is?”

“No, but there’s a burnt-up boat on the shore. He’s probably burnt up, too,” Tik said with a snear. “Why would you come all the way to Straghorn for mushrooms?”

Amberlyn hesitated, trying to ignore what he said about her pappa. “I don’t know. I just wanted to go on an adventure with my pappa and now I don’t know where he is or if he’s……” She chocked back a sob, and a tear ran down her cheek.

Tik had never seen a human and had certainly never seen one cry. He didn’t like it. He knew she had to go; she had no right to be on Straghorn. He should just leave her and let a bigger dragon find her, but some part of him didn’t want her to get hurt. She was just a kid, like him.

“Come on,” Tik barked. “My father will know what to do with you.”

Amberlyn stood stock still. “What if he wants to burn me up, like the dragon that attacked my pappa?”

“Well, if you stay here, you probably will get fried,” Tik said bluntly. “Suit yourself.”

At that, Amberlyn ran to catch up to him. “Why do dragons hate humans so much?”

Tik grunted and a small puff of smoke escaped his nostrils. The smell was putrid, but Amberlyn held her breath and tried not to gag.

“They don’t hate humans. They just don’t want them taking our ancestry stones. That’s why they come here. That’s probably why your father came.” He stopped and turned to her, disgust in his eyes. “No one comes here just for mushrooms,” Tik said mockingly.

Amberlyn knew that was true, but she didn’t want to get her pappa in more trouble than he might already be in. “What are ancestry stones,” she asked? She was curious to find out if the legend was true.

“Straghorn is the birthplace of dragons. Every dragon colony around the world can trace its family back to this island. When a dragon dies, anywhere, its spirit comes back to Straghorn and an ancestry rock is formed. Inside each stone is an amber and golden gem. We put them in our caves and in the grand hall where the elders gather. The stones keep us safe and remind us that our ancestors are watching over us.”

“Why do humans want them,” Amberlyn asked?

“My father says they think the stones will bring protection to their homes. For thousands of years,” Tik continued, “humans and dragons have gone to war over the ancestry stones. They’ve attacked our home and stolen our sacred stones. They don’t understand that the protection is for us, not them. For a human, having an ancestry stone will bring doom, because we will always bring our ancestors back to Straghorn.”

~

Dorte was pacing back and forth in the cave. The stones had been humming for hours now and Tik was no where to be found.

“I told him to stay close to the cave. He never listens,” she hissed!

“He’ll be alright,” said his father.

“Rudnor, he can’t even throw fire yet!” “I’m going out to look for him!”

Dorte left the cave and was just spreading her wings to take flight when she froze. There was Tik and beside him a human child with flaming golden hair.

“Move Tik,” she roared! “Get away from her!”

Tik felt conflicted, but he moved away from Amberlyn anyway. The look on his mother’s face told him that he was already in trouble.

Amberlyn was frozen in fear. She had never seen anything as terrifying as a real-life dragon. No pictures that her father had drawn came even close. If eyes are the window to your soul, this dragon’s soul was pure evil. Tik had said dragons don’t hate humans, but this one hated her. ‘I’m going to die,’ she thought.

Just then Tik’s father came out of the cave.

“Kill her,” Dorte growled, “kill her!”

Rudnor turned on his wife, letting out a quick blast of fire. “Stop,” he roared!

Tik’s eyes grew wide, and Amberlyn began to cry. Dorte fumed, puffs of smoke coming out of her nostrils.

Then the strangest thing happened. The low humming sound changed into a beautiful high note, like the sound of a violin, and the gems around the cave entrance began to glow and pulsate. Tik’s eyes widened even further, and his mouth fell open as he sucked in a breath.

Dorte looked at Rudnor in disbelief. “What is happening?”

Rudnor had watched the girl fall to the ground and bury her face in her hands, quietly crying. “What is your name, child,” he asked her?

Amberlyn shuddered, wiped her arm across her face and said, “Amberlyn,” in a soft whisper.

“What did she say? You’re telling me this frightened slip of a thing is the one the legend talks of?” “Hmph,” snorted Dorte.

Amberlyn didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt anger rise up in her. She stood to her feet, looked Dorte in the eye, and said, “My name is Amberlyn Gold Tarldson and I’m just a kid and I want to go home!”

Tik felt an urge to smile. He couldn’t help but like this wild haired little girl, even if she was a human.

There was a stunned silence and then Rudnor spoke. “How did you get here, Amberlyn?”

“My pappa and I came to get mushrooms for my mamma.”

“There’s a burnt-up boat down in the cove,” said Tik. “I found her hiding in the woods.”

“I need to find my pappa,” said Amberlyn softly, blinking to hold back more tears.

Rudnor was thoughtful for a moment. “I need to go speak to Agnar. Tik, take Amberlyn into the cave.”

Dorte scowled at Rudnor, “You want her to stay in our cave?”

“Just till I speak with Agnar. You know the legend. Our ancestors will send someone to bring peace between the us and the humans and when that person comes the stones will glow.”

“But she is a child,” Dorte exclaims!

“I know,” says Rudnor, pacing back and forth. “I am surprised by that too, but you cannot deny that the ancestor stones shone like fire when she arrived.”

“And her name,” said Dorte, acquiescing to the reality that this fire-haired, spirited little girl might be the one to bring harmony to the land. She shook her head in dismay, but said, “Go! I will watch over her.”

~

“Rudnor, my old friend,” boomed Agnar! “What brings you here?”

Rudnor always marveled at Agnar’s powerful voice and how it commanded attention. He had no idea how old Agnar was, but he was nearly all white now and did not leave the lair very often. Nonetheless, the centuries of leading the dragons had afforded Agnar with much wisdom and Rudnor knew he would know how to proceed.

“Agnar, I’m glad to find you here,” said Rudnor.

Agnar chuckled, “My old bones don’t like the cold anymore. I stay in the lair, where it is warm. How can I help you?”

“Something happened today. Something quite astonishing. You remember the legend that says one day someone will bring peace between the humans and the dragons?”

“Of course,” says Agnar. “It says we will know who it is because the ancestor stones will glow.”

“Earlier today my son, Tik, found a human child in the forest. She said she had come with her father to get mushrooms, but I’m sure he was looking for one of our ancestor stones.”

“Yes, I heard about this. Vigdis came upon them in one of the coves. She was going to incinerate the man, but when she saw the small child, something told her to stop. She burnt up the boat and brought the father here. He’s in the dungeon.”

“She was probably right to hesitate,” said Rudnor, “I think this child is the one.”

Agnar stared at him for a long time. “What do you mean?”

“When Tik brought her back to the cave, the stones came alive, not only turning radiant gold, but they began to sing.”

Agnar opened his mouth to speak, but said nothing, turning his head in deep thought. He had heard this story his whole life and yet all he had known was constant warring between them and the humans. He remembered his many-times great grandfather telling him there was a time when humans and dragons worked together, but he couldn’t even imagine it.

Rudnor spoke again, breaking into Agnar’s thoughts. “Her name is Amberlyn Gold, and she has hair that falls to her knees and is the exact color of the gems when they were glowing.”

“We must convene the counsel. Bring her here in the morning.”

Agnar turned brusquely, bellowing for Tallak, who was his second in command. Rudnor thought he saw an agility in Agnar that he hadn’t seen in eons. Something had stirred in the old firedrake.

~

The next morning, as they approached the entrance to the lair, Amberlyn hesitated. “I’m afraid,” she said.

Rudnor imagined she was afraid. No human willingly walked into a den of dragons. He knew there was one thing that would make her keep going.

“Your father is in there,” he said.

Amberlyn’s face lit up! “My pappa! He’s alive?”

“Yes, he lives.”

Amberlyn stood as tall as she could and walked bravely toward the entrance. As they got closer, the faint echo of a musical note could be heard. There were a few torches burning inside, but it was dark and like being inside a burnt-out volcano.

“Follow me,” said Rudnor.

They walked to the center of the room, stopping in front of a large circular area covered in the amber and gold gems in the shape of intertwined dragons. To the right of the dragon motif was a gigantic altar, also covered in dragon stones. Across from Amberlyn stood seven real dragons. To her amazement, the one in the center was entirely gray, almost white in color. Once her eyes adjusted, she realized there were dragons everywhere – hundreds of them. She was shaking in fear and feeling like she might faint, when she spotted her pappa, in chains to her left.

“Pappa,” she screamed, and without a second thought, she ran toward him.

The moment her foot touched the first stone, a blazing, golden light surrounded her. She stumbled and fell, feeling disoriented. The entire cave was lit up like liquid gold. She stood, once again letting her sight adapt, not understanding what was happening. Then she watched as every dragon, including the old gray one, knelt down and bowed their heads.

After a long moment, Agnar rose up and began to speak. “Amberlyn Gold, you have been sent to bring peace to our world. The ancestors have spoke of this time for many centuries. As you can see, I am old and I did not think this day would ever come, but our forefathers have deemed me worthy and sent you in my time.”

Amberlyn did not really know what he was talking about, but she knew one thing – she wanted her pappa. Her little fists were balled up at her sides. “Let my pappa go,” she said, trying to sound much braver than she felt.

“Release him,” barked Agnar!

Kjetil ran to his daughter and scooped her into his arms, nearly squeezing the breath out of her. Then he turned to Agnar, “What is going on? What does this mean?”

“It appears that your daughter is the one that the legend speaks of. She has been selected to bring an end to the animosity between our two species. It is a promise that has been passed down for many hundreds of years, through many generations.”

Tallak stepped forward and began to speak. “What you humans call ‘dragon stones’ are a living part of our families. Straghorn is the birthplace of all dragons. Whenever a dragon dies, a part of them comes back to this island and an ancestry stone is formed. They are a part of our colony and essential to our well-being, yet men come continually to try to take from us what is not theirs.”

Then Vigdis addressed Amberlyn and her father. “Humans have believed the lie that the stones will give them protection, but the opposite is true. If we locate a lost stone, we will get it back, not matter what the cost to the person. They are sacred to us.”

Kjetil hung his head in shame. “I did not understand. I am sorry. I just wanted to have protection for my family, an end to the constant fighting.”

A heaviness hung in the air and then Agnar spoke again, “It appears your motives were in the right place. That is probably why you daughter was chosen.”

Amberlyn had been quiet, taking in all that was said, but now she spoke. “What can we do to make it better; to be friends again? Tik and I are friends, so I think we could all be friends.”

Tik was surprised when she said this, but he had to admit that he liked her. She had taught him how to play a funny game with x’s and o’s using a stick in the dirt. He had tried to make smoke rings and they had laughed when he coughed out a stinky cloud.

“Hmmm,” said Agnar, “we need time.” “Dorte, take Amberlyn and her father with you. Rudnor, please join the council in my chambers.”

~

Agnar breathed fire onto some dying coals and stared into them for a long while. No one spoke, knowing their ancient leader was forming his thoughts, gathering wisdom from his forebearers. The golden amber gemstones were still pulsating with light all around them.

Finally, Agnar spoke. “I am in wonder that it is a small child, a little girl that has been sent to us, but perhaps it is that innocence that we need. It appears that she and Tik did not have trouble forming a bond in a short amount of time,” Agnar said, glancing at Rudnor.

Rudnor nodded thoughtfully.

“Possibly,” continued Agnar, “it is because they are not really a threat to each other. Being so young, neither of them have learned to fight, learned to throw fire.” “Although,” Agnar said with a chuckle, “the girl certainly has some fire in her.”

Tallak stepped forward then. “I think you are on to something here, Agnar. We fight back because they are threatening our way of life by taking what is not theirs.”

“And they probably feel the same when we hunt for food on their land,” said Rudnor. “And there have been reports of dragons taking sheep and cattle from the farmers, even though this is not supposed to happen.”

“Yes, but if they would allow us to hunt without attacking us, we would not need their livestock,” argued Vigdis.

“So,” said Agnar, “how do we eliminate the fears that run between us? How do we learn to trust each other as Amberlyn and Tik do?”

They were all thoughtful for a moment and then Rudnor spoke. “According to the girl’s father, he wanted the stone to protect his family. “What if we become the protectors, in exchange for the humans vowing to never try to take another stone?”

“And they let us hunt in their hills and forests in exchange for a vow that we will not take from their herds,” added Vigdis.

“This could work,” said Tallak, and they realized that the amber gems had grown brighter.

“I believe the ancestors are pleased with this idea,” said Agnar, ”but everyone must come to an agreement; we must form an alliance with all of Halogaland.”

The council continued to discuss their plan and how to implement it till nearly dark. When Rudnor got back to his cave, Amberlyn and Tik were curled up next to each other, fast asleep. Kjetil was sitting by the fire eating some dried meat that Dorte had given him. Rudnor sat by the fire and let out a slow breath. It had been a long day, but an amazing one. A day he would probably tell his great, great, great…. grandchildren about. Dorte brought him some meat and he chewed it thoughtfully, marveling that he was sitting here eating with a human.

Kjetil didn’t know if he should speak or not, but when Rudnor looked at him, he said, in almost a whisper, “Thank you for not hurting my daughter. If something happens to me, will you get her safely home?”

“Amberlyn is safe. No harm will come to her, or to you. Now, we should sleep. We will go back to the main hall in the morning and hear the plan that the council has devised.”

With that, Rudnor laid down and closed his eyes.

~

As they entered the huge cavern the next morning, the gems immediately glowed, turning the black lair into a beautiful amber hall.

“Amberlyn,” said Agnar, “will you come forward with your father.”

When they were assembled in front of the elders, Agnar spoke. “The council has come up with a plan that we hope can bring peace to both our lands. This plan will require the agreement of all people in Halogaland and all the dragons of Straghorn. We propose that in exchange for the promise of your people, Amberlyn, to never take one of our ancestor stones, we will patrol your borders and protect your land. Furthermore, in exchange for allowing us to hunt on your land without fear of attack, we will vow to never take any of your cattle, sheep, or other livestock.”

Amberlyn stepped forward. “There are just two more things. Can we still have some of the mushrooms my mamma loves, and can I come visit Tik sometimes?”

Agnar smiled. “I think we can add those two things to the contract.”

~

That afternoon, Rudnor and a small band of dragons flew Kjetil and Amberlyn to their village. Seeing the dragons approaching, the men immediately took up their weapons and ran out. Then, to their astonishment, they saw Kjetil and Amberlyn, each calmly sitting upon a huge dragon.

“Put down your arms!” shouted Kjetil, and the men reluctantly did so.

Then, to their further amazement, the largest dragon spoke. “We will not harm you. We have come in peace.”

In the stunned silence, an anguished cry came from the back of the crowd and Asa shoved through the men and ran to her daughter and husband.

“I thought you were dead!” Asa choked through tears.

“We are not dead, and it’s going to be ok.”

Then to the crowd Kjetil said, “Get your families and meet me in the church.”

~

It took many weeks, but eventually Kjetil, along with several men he chose to accompany him, traveled with the dragons to every village in Halogaland. By the time spring had arrived the alliance between the two factions was complete. The people grew used to seeing the dragons flying overhead or roaming the hillsides. There had been no fighting or conflicts in their land. The dragons also were enjoying the ability to hunt with out fear and glad to have their birthland left in peace. In May, Rudnor brought Amberlyn to visit Tik, who was starting to learn how to use his fire. They laughed each time he choked, and smoke blasted out of his nose. Amberlyn taught him how to play hide and seek and some of the other young dragons joined in. When Rudnor brought her home, she had a big bag of mushrooms for her mamma.

As the years went by, the alliance between the people of Halogaland and the dragons of Straghorn grew stronger and stronger. Amberlyn and Tik would tell their story to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Because of them, the land, the people, and the dragons lived in harmony.