The Final Exam-Complete!

[Raneth]

Thanks a million for the comments and crits, guys. Here's the next part.

Chapter 4

The air grew cold as they flew on. Not cold enough that Aran thought he needed to use any spells, but he could feel his hands stiffen with chill as he gripped Leath’s fur. He waved an arm, and Aurora dipped lower, Leath following, the patchwork ground beneath them gaining definition.

His stomach churned as the river came into view, the water burbling over rocks the size of marbles. Every milestone and landmark brought a new wave of anxiety.

This was it. He was truly on his own. He almost wished this exam was as quick as the preliminary. He didn’t know if he could stomach the stress for an entire year.

“Go on, Leath.” He cast a quick air spell, the winds guiding Leath to follow the river. Upstream, Kelly had said, and he wouldn’t miss the village. He had forgotten to ask how long he’d have to follow it, however.

The river widened as they flew on, and Aran’s eyes widened as chunks of ice could be seen, clinging stubbornly to the rocks. The forests underneath them began to thin, trees giving way to bushes and then to scrub that clung stubbornly to the ground. Small hares, their fur a patchwork of brown and white, startled as Leath flew overhead, and once or twice a deer with white fur would bound away under the shadow of the direcore.

Aran’s breath plumed in front of him. They must be getting close.

Sure enough, as the ice began to thicken around the stream, a small village came into view, the entire square and surrounding houses barely large enough to fit one quarter the size of Synara, the walls made of mere planks. Aran began to circle, and waved as a man came out of his house, looking up.

Time to find Kelly’s parents.

“Down, Leath,” and the direcore circled lower, Aurora following. They touched down outside the village walls, Aran blowing on his hands to warm them as he dismounted. Leath shook himself, but didn’t pant. It was too cold for that.

“C’mon, you two.” He patted Aurora’s neck, the pegasus’s tail swishing. “Time to meet some new people.”

“Hold there!” A voice called, and Aran turned to see a man with an arrow knocked, aiming it right at him.

Aran froze, his magic flaring through his senses to Leath and Aurora, a silent command. Leath knelt down, and Aurora stopped moving. Aran didn’t raise his hands, keeping them firm at his side. He didn’t need to move them to use magic, but ethics and diplomacy lessons had taught him that many non-magi might consider a magi raising their hands as a threat.

“Don’t move,” the man called. A few more people exited the village, holding spears at the ready. They began to approach, and Aran desperately hoped he wouldn’t vomit on any of them. This was not how he expected his first foray into Arkene to go.

A weathered older man came over, peering intently into his eyes and grabbing at his hair. “Open your mouth,” he commanded. Aran swallowed hard, then obliged. The man looked at his teeth before turning and nodding to the rest. “He’s just a regular mage.”

The group relaxed, the man with the bow lowering it. Aran blinked a few times to avoid passing out. Why hadn’t Kelly warned him about this?

“Sorry about that, mage,” the elderly man said. “Please, come in.”

***
The gates swung shut behind him as Aran entered.

This was no Synara. Every house had only one story, the roofs starkly sloped and constructed of thatch and layered wood. The largest building stood in the center of the square, smoke billowing out of the chimney, and the houses themselves were placed almost randomly, the streets wide and clear. A few goats meandered, munching on the tough grasses that crunched underfoot.

“This is Nyack, the first village on the border of Arkene,” the elderly man spoke. “We haven’t seen a magi here in some time, not since the last time Kelly visited.”

“I know Kelly,” Aran said. “She’s a friend of mine-she sent me here to stay with her parents, for a time.”

The man’s rheumy eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say so? Any friend of Kelly’s is a friend of ours!”

“Well, it was a bit difficult to speak with an arrow pointed at me,” Aran rubbed his throat with one hand, and Leath barked. Even Aurora stamped her hoof on the cold ground.

“I apologize. Truly. It is just…not everyone who befriends creatures is friendly. Demons are out there.”

Aran narrowed his eyes. “Demons?”

“Aye.” The man motioned for him to follow, leading him down the wide streets. “Demons who ensorcelled creatures. Made of snow and ice they are, with yellow eyes and fangs, and they drink blood.”

Aran just nodded. “…Of course.” It must be superstition. Many small villages had such superstitions, usually borne out of ignorance of the world beyond their small part of it. In some places people thought certain creatures could steal souls or were the ghosts of the dead. Not everyone had the benefit of an education at the keep, and he kept his doubts to himself.

The man led him down to a small house, where smoke billowed from the chimney. A man who looked close to Aran’s age was chopping wood as they approached, and he straightened and waved as they got close, his eyes widening when he saw Leath.

“What on earth is that?” He came forward, kneeling down and patting Leath’s head. “I’ve never seen such a thing.” He laughed as Leath licked his face.

“Johann, this is…”

“Aran,” Aran said helpfully. “I’m mostly just passing through, but Kelly informed me I could stay with her parents for a time. Uh, you-“

Johann laughed. “I live over there.” He pointed to a house on the corner. “I just help out the Skims when I can. Mr. Skims is getting too old to chop wood these days. I’ll take you inside, though, and introduce you. I assume they know you’re coming? ”

Aran hoped so. “She should have sent a letter.”

“Well, show him around then, Johann.” The old man waved. “I’ll be watching the walls.”

Johann waved as the old man wandered off. “Old man Dockson,” he said when the man was out of earshot. “Let me guess-he got the boys to hold you at point when you came in?” Leath whined when Johann stood up.

“He does that to others?”

“About a year ago, he came running into the village square, terrified. He says he saw a demon, drinking the blood of a white wolf. According to him, it attacked him, hungry for more blood.” Johann snorted. “Enough people believed him. You know how panic goes-people say they saw tracks in the snow, or heard howls at night. So they set up a watch. This guy,” he knelt down again, petting Leath’s ears, “must have frightened them.”

“Have you been to the keep?” Aran asked. He seemed to know more than the average villager, and Leath seemed to like him, wagging his tail as Johann scratched his ears.

A flash of pain crossed Johann’s features. “Once. I went with Kelly-I wanted to try and become a magi. But I couldn’t. When she and the others all got their first egg, I got nothing. Nothing ‘called to me,’ as Belmos put it. I like creatures-but I have no magic.”

“Oh.” Aran wished he hadn’t asked.

“It’s alright,” Johann stood up. “Like I said, I should introduce you. And maybe later I can show you around the village.”

“I’d like that,” Aran said. “Like I said, I’m just passing through, but…” he ran a hand through his hair, “I don’t know much about Arkene. I’m supposed to go far north, but…” He left out the ice dragon, for now.

Johann grinned. “Maybe I can teach you about cold survival too, then. I’ve traveled pretty far myself, and its about time I left home. If I can’t be a magi, I could try my hand at being a guide. If that’s alright with you, of course.” Leath barked.

Aran’s heart lifted. “Yes. I could definitely use a guide. I mean, let me get situated first, but…yes. Definitely.”

Johann kept smiling as he led Aran inside, and Aran breathed deep, some of his anxiety fading. A guide. Why hadn’t he thought of that before?

Sure, his first foray into Arkene hadn’t gone perfectly-who knew he’d be mistaken for a demon?-but now things were looking up.

_________

TBC

Comments always appreciated!

[Chess]

*waits eagerly for more*

Love it so far, Raneth. I can't wait to read about how he bonds with the dragon.

[duskfall]

i REALLY like and can't wait for more.

[LightningDragon]

Ohh, do want more. c:

[Munin]

I was happily surprised to see the note in your sig that you had started a new Magistream story and so far I definitely enjoy it as much as the last one. Can´t wait to read more.

(In the second chapter you called Leath Lethe a few times)

[HellFyre]

Love it! Can't wait for more

[Foleo]

Awesome! I love this!

[ellebellie]

I love it! Please write more!

[PumpkinPie]

Awesome job Raneth!

[BaneofRugaard]

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
SO AWESOME