Chapter 19

Crystal had learned a valuable lesson in what her duties meant for those who don't always have a voice.

It is said only a few riders have the ability to communicate with different species. Almost all of the riders can only communicate with their bonded animal.

Crystal couldn't help but wonder what really happened in Golsend and if it was as destructive as they say it was.

That night at the palace Crystal found Nylla waiting outside the dragon stable, Crystal had the uneasy feeling that something was wrong.

As soon as she saw Crystal she asked, "where have you been?"

Crystal was dismounting Starmist but replied, "the forest close by, I needed fresh air and a clear mind to think, sorry if we worried you."

Nylla looked at Crystal and asked, "do you miss the forest that much?" Crystal looked around and said, "I think its because I am half elve and a dual rider. These walls do become too much at times." Crystal replied.

Nylla looked at Crystal and said, "I am coming with you next time, in fact, let me into the rider bracelet, I am tired of these small stables besides we might have to leave quickly."

Crystal was puzzled and asked, "what happened today?" Nylla looked around and said, "a dark dragon showed up today, some guards have been saying that we brought the dark dragon here."

Crystal looked around and said, "that's not possible, where we were wasn't any dark dragons only the storm dragons."

Nylla looked at Crystal and said, "they do not believe that," Crystal headed to her bedroom once she let Nylla into the riders bracelet.

Starmist decided to sleep on the balcony outside Crystal's bedroom.

She too wasn't at rest in fact Callions war was still fresh in her mind. She didn't know why she decided to share such a painful memory with her rider but she felt a little better after talking about it.

Starmist found herself looking at the stars for a long time that night. It was early the next morning when Starmist awoke with commotion in the palace courtyard and decided to go and investigate.

What she found shocked her. A group of guards and villagers was demanding Crystals death.

Starmist rushed back to the balcony and awoke Crystal from her slumber. Crystal got dressed and packed really fast.

"Thank goodness I don't have to go and fetch Nylla," Crystal replied as she mounted Starmist outside the balcony and took off.

Crystal and her team hid in the forest and watched the situation unfold from the silence of the forest.

"The dark dragons can be freed with a green beryl?" Crystal said. "Yes, what's your plan?" Starmist asked.

"Let's go and find a green beryl and free any dark dragon we find?" Crystal said Starmist looked at Crystal and suddenly Nylla appeared.

"What are you thinking?" she said. "I am thinking those dragons aren't dark dragons by choice they are forced to change so maybe we can free them." Crystal said.

"That's not a bad idea the only problem is, the green beryl is a protected stone guarded by the elves and its said they do not give you a stone you have to earn it."

Starmist said "Well it's not like we have another plan besides I am also thinking since Nylla is stronger maybe we should go to Golsend to see for our self what has happened there if we understand what happened maybe we can find a way to end the war," Crystal said.

The group had a long discussion on what to do the problem with getting green beryl is that the elve's only given them to those that are elves or descended.

Crystal would have to prove that she indeed is a descended and for that, she needs to train.

The problem with going to Golsend is that very few gets unnoticed going threw the storm and even if they make it there might not be a place to rest for miles before they find land.

"Do either of you know a place that is abandoned where we can live and train for a while?" Crystal asked.

Starmist thought about it and said, "the only places, most people do not go to, is hard to reach places and they are hard to find." Starmist said.

"Then let's go and find one," Crystal said. The group decided to travel on foot to avoid being seen.

Nylla stayed inside the riders bracelet most of the time for she was too big to travel on foot threw a forest.

Crystal and Starmist travelled deeper and deeper into the forest. They started seeing dangerous creatures and poisonous plants but continued to look for an isolated location where they could train and live for a while.

"I wish there was a way we can work things out with the kingdoms but with everyone constantly becoming our enemy why try."

Crystal said out loud while they rested. "As the future dragon queen you need to gain their trust but even I know trust is something you earn," Starmist said.

"If we find a way to heal the dark dragons I think we will be on our way to earn peoples trust but I think if I am going to be the dragon queen I want to decide how I rule and right now I want to know what is Eoine thinking and how we can stop him but I also think we might be the only ones fighting so we need to be the best at what we do," Crystal said.

Starmist and Crystal travelled for three days and found a hidden cavern hidden deep within the forest and upon inspecting the cavern they found a waterfall and a lake with several trees and plants that are strangely edible.

They also found an empty cave and plenty of ground to train. Nylla was happy that she found a place to rest that wasn't small and Crystal found ways to make a bow and arrow a weapon she chose to train with.

Crystal practised every day how to navigate threw the forest. If she can sense danger and which animals lived close by and within a few months she mastered most of her powers.

Learning to use the bow and a sward all through her opponents at times was Nylla who now is fully grown and has mastered her powers.

She could reach great speeds in a matter of minutes despite her size. Starmist has also mastered new powers and like Crystal has learned to see things around her.

Crystal never took more from the forest that she needed and resected the ways of the forest.

Crystal realised one evening that there are hunters in the forest hunting animals and all though they were hidden the group of hunters was looking for the rare crystal dragon to hand.

It was said that their scales could be sold on the black market for a lot of money. It was during the night that Crystal heard a dragon screaming, instincts let her save the dragon from the hunters.

The dragon was a rare silver dragon who was one of the last of her kind in the kingdom of Callion.

Crystal helped the dragon get better who in turn gave Crystal a silver dragon scale and said, "thank you for your kindness, this is all I can give you may you use it wisely."

The dragon said and left for saver grounds far away from any hunter. Crystal was walking back towards the place where they have been camping for the past few months.

When she sensed another elve at there camp. Crystal hid within the trees for a few minutes and studied the surrounding area for a while and after being sure there were no other dangers she approached her camp again.

The elve looked at Crystal who landed and asked, "what are you doing here?" Crystal looked at the elve and realised there are more elves hiding around the area.

"Don't tell me you are the one who trapped that silver dragon?" Crystal asked. "I will be asking the questions here?" the elve asked.

Crystal was annoyed and really angry. She looked towards the forest where Starmist was waiting, she suddenly realised Nylla was sleeping inside the cave and with the skill to turn invisible what would happen if the elve found an elder dragon looking at her.

"You know you shouldn't give me ideas," came a message inside Crystal's head. "I see your awake" Crystal asked.

"Yes the nuisance on top isn't quite at all," Nylla complained.

Crystal looked the elve and smiled. "What are you smiling about?" the elve asked. "I thought elves could see better than normal humans," Crystal said.

"We are the best at sensing danger." the elve said. "No your not, try again, I'm not alone you know and I know of someone that is about to lose her temper with you all." Crystal said.

Starmist came over to Crystal and the elve said, "She doesn't look that angry you know?" Crystal smiled and said, "she isn't the one I was warning you about"

Nylla suddenly appeared out of the cave and breathed a blue and white fire at the elve. The elve had to jump into the river and Crystal realised Nylla let her anger get out of control again. Crystal calmed Nylla down and looked at the elve who was in shock. "I believe I warned you to be careful."