Traitor

The daughters of Kothar walked on either side of Anash as they approached the home of Pineaphelus. They had had a wonderful day with Anash. He had taken them up high in the sky upon Garthlac. After getting back to the ground they found that they were having to get used to walking again. This made for a lot of teasing from Anash. Actually Anash got a lot of ribbing from the other soldiers when they got back due him being naked and had to hide behind Garthlac while someone brought him his clothes.

Pineaphelus the Dragon Keeper lived on the side of the mountain. Not like many of the others whose homes were cut into the sides of the crevice that went all the way up the eastern side. His home faced the south. There were many ways one could take to his home, but since it was such a lovely evening, the three walked a path along the side where they could look out over the valley. The sun was just beginning to go down and everything look beautiful with the long shadows and the light reflecting off the lake.

The front door opened as they walked up to the house. A servant let them in. Next to the open window they found Pineaphelus sitting as usual. These days one rarely saw him stand without some support. He waved them over to sit with him.

“We’re having fish tonight. Dragons brought it in fresh from the deep sea today. When I was young, my father took me for a ride out over the sea to watch the dragons dive into the sea to catch them. That was my first dragon ride and I wanted Yrandora to take us high and dive into the sea like the others. I was very persistent. My father said I was crazy and that we could be killed. I still insisted.”

“We took our first dragon ride today,” Monorra smiled.

The old man raised an eyebrow, reached under his chair and pulled out a pair of dragon riding pants, “I heard about it.” He then tossed the pants over to Anash. Both girls blushed. Anash smirked.

“Did you ever get the dragon to dive?” Anash asked.

“Yrandora told us to hold on tight as she took us up. She did not go as high as the dragons diving for a catch. I wanted to put my hands high in the air as we began to dive. The wind rushed like nothing I had ever felt before. Not even in a storm. Father made me get secured in the harness. He yelled for me to take a deep breath and then just as I got a lung full, we hit the water,” he looked right at Avris. “From what I hear, I would not be surprised that you would try something like this. Yrandora still flies out with the fishing dragons.”