Post by Jagan on Aug 2, 2005 0:33:37 GMT -7
BRD
He yelped so loudly it made me jump.
“Dammit woman what have you done to me?!”
“Shhh…be still. You are scaring the blacksmith. Such a lot of fuss.”
Earlier that day…
I watched as he faced the young dragon, unwavering in his stance and his courage. He attacked repeatedly with his beloved staff. I was concerned for his safety and with no shield to deflect the magic and fire of the dragon, he had to be hurting. I knew he was acting the protector but he was barely a cadet and I was the stronger warrior. I cast the best magic I knew to try to keep the damage to a minimum. He held steadfast and I could see the dragon was starting to weaken. Just then another dragon joined the fray and I turned my attention to fighting the winged reptile. It’s scales had an opalescence that reflected the sunlight in a subtle mingling of every colour one had ever seen. The young ones never really take on a real colour until they mature a few years.
I held up my shield and fought a hard battle to weaken the beast. Saving my magic to heal, I checked on my hunting partner’s status to make sure his strength was holding. Then he cast a martyr spell at me and smiled. I knew then, that he would be fine.
We fought dragon after dragon and in the end all the dragons and their treasures were at our feet. Weary and singed, our faces almost black with soot and dirt and our armour dull with the blood of these beautiful creatures, we started to pick through weapons and gold and take the wondrous pelts that were worth far more than all the rest. I watched as he drew a large dagger from his pack and expertly carved the skins from the carcass.
As he worked he related to me the legends of the dragons, of the many varieties and special powers they possessed. How some could read your thoughts and others had a sort of telepathy amongst themselves that they used to summon help if ever in jeopardy.
And as he spoke his words had a certain rhythm and cadence that was both calming and mesmerizing and I knew he loved these creatures before any other.
I knew instinctively then that he had a magic spirit that somehow calmed the fearsome beast as he plunged the last blow deep into its chest. Never any fear. Only love and respect between vanquished and victor.
“BRD, when we get back to town, we are going to the blacksmith, you have earned your dragon brandings today”. I laughed.
“Show me yours”, he demanded. And I rolled down my gloves to show my forearms.
“That is clan insignia,” he said examining the reddened outline of a dragon.
“Partly, yes but also an honour bestowed on favoured hunting partners and friends”, I replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now it was many years later. And we were once again at the blacksmith. I smiled as he yelped when the hot iron touched the sensitive skin of the forearm and added the insignia of the CTC to his wrists.
‘You always were a baby about a little pain”, I teased.
I changed to a more serious tone, “I am proud to officially call you brother BRD, but then, you always have been like a brother in my heart.”
He examined his new brands for what seemed like a long time and looked up and beamed a huge grin.