Up and Away

A snarl of clouds came towards them while they returned to a split in the trail.

Roscrow stared at the sky with a troubled expression. Hearing S’re come up behind him, he let out a sharp exhale, looking down at her from the corner of his eye.

Feeling a little unnerved by his stern stare, she said the first thing that came to her mind. “Are, uh– are you worried about the rain?”

Brow pinching in irritation, he shook his head, looking back at the sky. “Quite the opposite. I happen to like storms. Besides the night, it’s the only time the Glimmers are dormant.”

“You ... don’t like Glimmers?”

He swiped his head once. “No. Since the Q’Ra didn’t evolve for this planet like everyone else, the Glimmers are particularly painful for the Q’Hu. And they always seem to know when my detectors aren’t working. Like one of the gods has it out for me,” he muttered the last part under his breath.

S’re peered up at him before tittering softly. “Sounds a little silly.”

Sucking in his breath, he glared at her again, wiping the smile right off her face.

“S-Sorry,” she offered. She glanced back at the shelter with the intention to leave him alone when another thought crossed her mind. “Well, um, speaking of silly ... it, uh, it’s normal for Tamers to, uh ... see spirits, right?”

Now he turned towards her fully, his body like a wall in front of her. “Did Mire teach you nothing?”

Recoiling, she tensed up, stammering in response. “W-Well, yeah ... at least, he tried to. I ... can’t say I was a very good listener at the time.”

Pressing his lips together, he released his tension with a sharp sigh. “It is normal for Tamers to see the spirits of dragons, yes. Part of your Purpose as a Tamer is to help their souls find peace. That would be rather difficult to do if you couldn’t see them. By extension, it means Tamers can occasionally see the souls of the Bonded. Healing the Bond is the most important part of a Tamer’s Purpose, and that’s what you did. Don’t let yourself consider it as any other scenario.”

A little smile brightened her face at his reassurance. “Oh, that’s ... a relief. Um, so ... will, uh, will I always pass out when I ... see the spirits?” She let out a dry, little laugh. “I don’t think you’ll want to be catching me all the time.”

“No,” he agreed flatly. “Once was plenty. But, it will subside as you grow stronger. It’s due to your age at awakening. It’s rare for Tamers to be awakened so late in life. Had you been raised by Bladen, trained as a Tamer and awakened at 16 as tradition, it would be unlikely to happen more than once, if that. There’s a great deal of power coursing through you when you touch the Beyond. If you aren’t ready, it drains you quickly.”

Clutching at her stomach when it interrupted with a groan, she gave him a humorless little smile. “I’m, uh, certainly feeling that drain.”

Turning away from her, he watched Granger lag further behind. The old dragon panted and limped along, taking a dozen steps for every one of Randel’s.

“Once we get to Vala’s tavern, we’ll be able to get something warm and substantial to eat.”

“How ... how do you know them if you’ve never been here?”

He kept his focus on his dragon while he answered her. “Bultaj gave me a list of his associates before I left. They have all been informed to watch for me–and not ask any questions.”

“It sounds nice to have powerful friends,” she replied softly, looking at her feet.

Now, he turned his head to fix her with a stern eye. “You are powerful in your own right. Bultaj is a flamboyant twig that would get stuck between a dragon’s teeth. His power only extends as far as his political influence. Your power has made all Tamers the most revered and intimidating group in the history of this planet. You can tell dragons to die, and they will. They cannot refuse any command you give. You should not disparage yourself.”

She smiled up at him with a coy tilt of her head. “Well, that’s nice of you to say.”

Raising a brow, he snapped his attention back to his dragon. “You allow what humans think of us elf-kin to influence how you think of yourself. That mindset won’t serve you as a Tamer. You can’t exert your will on others if you see yourself as lesser than them.”

Letting out a sigh, she hung her head. “I don’t want to ‘exert my will’ on anyone.”