138 Back to Ulfric

"Step on the columns that have fallen," Daryn said as he ran ahead of Dawn. "Don't step on the courtyard floor."

Dawn stashed the ruby inside her shirt and rushed after Daryn. 

The main entrance of the temple was covered with debris and there was no way they could get out. 

"Call Quetz," Daryn shouted over the top of his lungs. He sprinted nimbly over the circular surface of the fallen columns and reached the topmost part. 

Before Dawn could call him, Quetz was already flying above. He dived to a nearby tree hoping to find a place to perch, but on a second thought he said, 'Hold your hands up.' 

Dawn conveyed it to Daryn. Quetz scooped down and caught both of them in his claws and with powerful strokes flew out of the temple. As they ascended, they saw that the entire structure had crumbled. Only the ruins remained. When they reached the periphery, he placed them on the ground gently.

Excited, Dawn jumped high in the air like a baby. "We made it! Both of us got the stone!" 

'You have the stone with you?' Quetz was stunned. He stopped moving. 

"Yes!" she yelped and ran to hug his neck. "Now no one is going to part us, Quetz!" She sounded as though she had saved her child from the kidnappers. 

Quetz brought his head down and leaned in his rider's face. Daryn walked over to them and wrapped his arms around Dawn. He patted Quetz's triangular head. His large blue eyes were soft, filled with an inner glow. Warmth and a feeling of appreciation expanded in his chest and flowed through him to his rider. Quetz was overwhelmed. There was a feeling of connection and love and gratitude. 'I don't know how to repay you Dawn,' he said in a choked voice. It was as if he wanted to drink that moment of achievement, the moment in which his rider showed that she wanted to be with him, no matter what. She had risked her life too many times just for him. 

'You don't have to, dragon,' she said and hugged him tightly. 

From behind Daryn wiped a tearful joy that came out of Quetz's eye. 

Quetz ducked his head further and closed his eyes to hide his expression. He brought his wings forward and closed them upon the most precious thing he ever had. 'We must leave,' he said in a throaty voice. 

"Yes," Dawn said and looked up at her pet fondly. 

Quetz opened his wings. Daryn walked out. "We have to find Izar," he said with a frown suspecting that his horse must have left after the ponies. 

Dawn caught hold of Quetz's spike and jumped over him. Suddenly, she was feeling too tired. She missed Bainsburgh. She turned flat on her back over Quetz'a neck sprawled. "I am not going anywhere to find Izar. My pet is here. You go and find yours," she declared lazily rubbing her hands over his neck.

Daryn laughed at the two. He whistled out loud twice and called Izar. Within minutes they heard the sound of hooves. Izar galloped to be with his master. He neighed around him. Daryn held his leash and winked at Quetz. 

'Humph!' Quetz scoffed. 

'What are you harrumphing at?' Dawn asked in a drawling voice. She had heard the horse's whinny. 

"Should we find the portal now?" asked Daryn. 

Dawn turned and sat on Quetz. "Yes. Hop on." 

"Sure," he said and mounted him. 

"We are going to keep low." 

"No, we have to stay clear of the mist!" 

"Okay!" 

Quetz spread his wings and once again took to the sky. 

While they were flying, Daryn said, "I think that the prophecy part is true Dawn. The Shaman's do not control the magic of fire. They can chant the spells, but not control it. It's an element, which only the mages can control. And so the prophecy exists and has something to do with you." Daryn shouted when he noticed that Quetz had flown a little far off. "What about Izar?" 

'Ok, ok! Tell him not to panic. We will get his stupid horse.' 

Dawn shook her head. Quetz turned to the left and then steered back to where the horse was. He dived at it, picked him up in his claws and flew towards the north. 

When they were high up in the air, Dawn said, "I don't know much about prophecies. There may be something about them, but I don't want to give it too much of a thought. Anyway we won't go to the barrens again." 

"Don't worry..." Daryn tightened his arms around her and kissed her on top of her head. When he removed himself, he noticed a thin streak of green hair. He had seen the same green streaks in Brantley's hair. His skin had pebbled. Was it because of her magic? Or was it because the dragon's magic flowed through her? Dragons were magical creatures and possessed strength beyond imagination. He stroked her hair and thought of not telling it to her at that time. 

They reached the portal, which was a whorl of mist interspersed with lots of leaves. The whorl increased in size as they approached and just before entering, Dawn shouted, "Ulfric!" 

When they were out of it, they found themselves in a familiar location. Quetz placed Izar on the ground and then landed in a clearing. 

When Dawn got down, she said to Quetz, 'Now listen to me carefully. I suspect Brantley's intention. We are going to call him, but I am scared that he might try to play another dirty trick. However, I will force him to open the magical seals around the forest. You stay near the periphery. The moment they open, dash out.' 

'He won't play with any trick. He made a pact with you. And what about you?' he asked. He couldn't leave her.

'A man like him is a formidable enemy. I can't trust him. Don't worry. I have a plan in my mind.' 

'Okay,' Quetz nodded. He flew away. 

Daryn called Izar and the couple went back to the cottage. 

Nusgroth was sitting in his room when heard clomping on the outside. When he walked out to see, his eyes became wide as shock registered on his face. Both Dawn and Daryn walking in the lobby. He gulped and his hand went to his bald head. "Y— you?" he asked. "S— so soon?" With the way Brantley had said, he was sure that he would stay in Ulfric, in this cottage for his entire life. He was so sure that these two would never return and be dead. But seeing them return in just a few days, was the most shocking part. 

"Prepare us a nice meal Nusgroth," Daryn ordered in a raucous voice, "and call Brantley. We have to discuss something with him." 

"Have you found the Stone of Solaris?" he asked with amazement in his eyes. 

"We—" 

'Don't utter a word Daryn,' she cut him in mentally. 

"We want his audience," she snapped. "And now make our food. I am hungry!" She held Daryn's hand and walked back to their room. The stone was safely stashed in the buckle of her jeans under her shirt. 

The couple took a long bath with warm water. It was almost 4PM and all they wanted was to sleep. Both of them were too tired. 

"I wish we would leave this place before the sun sets," said Dawn. "I miss Cole." 

Daryn closed his hand around hers. "First let us have food, and then sleep. I think Brantley will come by tomorrow morning." 

"Hmm," she hummed. 

However, when they went outside, they found Brantley sitting on the table, which was laid with exotic food. There was a dish of fresh fruits and herbs that were glazed in red sauce, fowl slivers roasted and stewed in white gravy, dinner pie and vegetables in sweet and spicy curries. 

Brantley looked up at them with a grin that split his face into two. "That was quick, Dawn," he said as he gestured politely for them to take the seat opposite him. "I am highly impressed." He wasn't expecting them to arrive at least a month later. He had estimated that they might meet the Shaman, but did they? 

They stopped in their tracks upon seeing him. He looked curious and very excited. 

Brantley raised an eyebrow questioningly at their hesitation. 

Daryn narrowed his eyes at him, walked up to the table with Dawn and the two sat down. Without a word, Dawn served herself with food. She was extremely hungry. 

Brantley also served food for himself. "So where's the stone?" he asked. 

Dawn ate a mouthful, chewed it slowly and closed her eyes to savor the flavor. When she opened her eyes, she found Daryn cutting the meat with his knife quietly while Brantley was staring at her. His face was turning stoic.