Wyvern Rider (A story in the Ravenglass Universe) - III

An orphan girl and an orphaned wyvern find shared a destiny...

Before dawn, Irina crept from her bed, careful not to wake Mat. She gathered her cloak and a small bundle of provisions, then slipped out the cottage door.

The village lay silent, shrouded in mist. Irina hurried through the empty lanes, her heart pounding. She reached the old forge and eased inside.

Nim stirred, blinking up at her. Irina knelt beside the wyvern.

“We have to go, Nim. It’s not safe for you here.”

She wrapped the wyvern in her cloak and lifted it into her arms. Nim nuzzled against her as she stepped out into the morning chill.

Irina skirted the village and struck out toward the forest. Shadows pooled thick beneath the towering pines. Branches snatched at her clothes as she pushed deeper into the woods.

Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves, set her pulse racing. She clutched Nim tighter.

What was she doing? She had no plan, no idea where to take Nim or how to keep the wyvern hidden.

As she stumbled through the underbrush, doubts swirled through her mind. How could she protect Nim from the likes of those hunters?

Just as the sun breached the horizon in a wash of golden light, she staggered into a small clearing.

She sat on a fallen log, cradling Nim. The wyvern chirped, peering up at her.

Tears pricked Irina’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Nim. You’re better off without me.”

Nim wriggled free of the cloak. It butted its head against Irina’s hand.

A twig snapped at the clearing’s edge. Irina shot to her feet. She snatched up Nim, ready to flee.

A figure emerged from the shadows, hands raised. “Peace. I mean you no harm.”

Irina squinted at the woman. She wore a dark green cloak, the hood thrown back to reveal sable hair shot through with silver. Her angular face bore a calm, almost amused expression.

“Who are you?”

The woman inclined her head. “I am Ksenia. A friend to wyverns.”

Irina frowned. “A friend? How do I know you’re not a hunter?”

“A fair question. But your wyvern knows I can be trusted.”

Irina glanced down at Nim, who gazed back at her with serene black eyes. No fear. No distrust. Only a profound connection that transcended words.

She swallowed and looked back at Ksenia. “Why are you here?”

“I sensed your bond with the creature. A rare gift for one so young.”

Irina’s eyes widened. “You know about our connection? How?”

Ksenia stepped closer. “I have spent my life watching over wyverns and those destined to be riders.”

Irina gaped at her. “A rider? What’s that?”

Ksenia smiled, her eyes glinting. “Protectors. Guardians. We form deep bonds with our wyverns. Together, we serve a purpose greater than ourselves.”

Nim chirped and Irina absently stroked its neck. “I don’t understand.”

“Your natural bond with the wyvern tells me otherwise. You could be trained. Your wyvern could grow in safety. You could become who you were meant to be. You could join the Academy.”

Irina bit her lip, her mind whirling. Leave her village? “What about my family? My uncle needs me.”

Ksenia laid a gentle hand on Irina’s shoulder. “I will speak with your uncle. With your aunt. They will understand your calling, Irina.”

Irina inclined her head. “How do you know my name?”

Ksenia smiled. “Because this is what you were meant to do. This is why I am here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“If you agree to me guiding you, the answers will come.”

Irina wavered, caught between two paths. The weight of Nim in her arms, the warmth of its trust flowing between them, anchored her. She took a deep breath. “I’ll do it.”

Ksenia beamed. “You’ve a challenging journey ahead. Be patient. Trust your bond. I will walk beside you and guide you.”

Irina nodded, a tentative smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you.”

Ksenia approached Irina and Nim, her movements slow and deliberate. “May I examine your wyvern?”

Irina nodded.

Ksenia ran her hands over the wyvern’s scales, inspecting its wings and tail. Nim remained calm, seemingly at peace with the woman’s touch. “Wyverns heal much faster than humans. And this little one looks like a healthy hatchling.” She looked up at Irina. “When did Nim emerge from his cocoon?”

“Cocoon?” Irina shook her head. “I don’t know. I just found Nim by the stream, injured.”

“I see.” Ksenia nodded. “Based on his size and development, I’d say Nim is probably less than a week old. He will require food and protection to grow.”

“You said ‘he.’ How do you know Nim is male?”

Ksenia chuckled. “You can tell by the shape of its tail barb. Males have a slightly more curved barb than females.”

Irina looked at Nim’s tail and marvelled at the woman’s knowledge.

“Tell me about the bond between you and Nim. How does it feel?”

Irina paused, trying to find the right words. “It’s like...like we’re connected. I can sense his emotions, his thoughts, even.”

Ksenia nodded. “That bond is special, rare. I can help you strengthen it, if you’d like.”

“You can?”

“Yes.” Ksenia sat down on the fallen log, patting the space beside her. “Come, sit with me.”

Irina settled next to Ksenia, Nim curled in her lap.

“Close your eyes. Shift your mind, open it up for Nim, but close it off to all others.”

Irina did as she was told, focusing on her connection with the wyvern.

“Now, visualise a thread between you and Nim. See it glowing, growing brighter and stronger with each breath.”

As Irina followed Ksenia’s guidance, the bond between her and Nim intensified, like a river flowing between their minds, deep and powerful.

“Good. You’re doing well, Irina. The bond is strong, more fluid now.”

Irina opened her eyes, blinking in the dappled sunlight. “That was…incredible.”

Ksenia smiled. “You have a natural gift, Irina. But be cautious. Don’t open yourself to other wyverns. You must learn to control your abilities. Some wyverns are not good, not like Nim.”

Irina nodded, a shiver running down her spine at the thought of connecting with a malevolent creature. “What should I do now?”

Ksenia stood, brushing off her cloak. “I will walk back to the village with you. I’d like to speak with Rurik.”

“What will you tell him?”

“The truth.” Ksenia laid a hand on Irina’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He will understand.”

Irina nodded, and together, they set off back through the forest.