Chapter 9

            Cody looked through the page of contents, until something positively fascinating caught his eye. Without a second glance, or telling Inferno what it was called for that matter, he flipped over to the page that it had indicated. As he made sure that it was the chapter he wanted to read about hat day, he told Inferno about it. He agreed that it was something worth looking into, and Cody began reading.

Magic

Dragons are very well-known for their magic and people around Semiones have wondered how they got their abilities, as well as how their riders managed to possess the same power. The answer is simply; the dragon scales. If anyone, rider or not, wears the scales of a dragon that has been slain or is still alive, they can conduct magic through their thoughts. The more scales that someone is wearing, the more magic they possess. However, a dragon’s magic abilities rely completely on his or her rider’s abilities, unless it is a wild dragon which actually grows more scales as it ages.

Magic can be used to heal, destroy, protect, strengthen, weaken, and many other valuable things, but a rider’s first use of magic is usually through magic motes. Riders and dragons can produce magic motes by converting energy into balls of magic which are the things called magic motes. These motes can then be laced into weapons and armor to increase their durability and strength. However, after a certain amount of damage is done to these invisible aids, they vanish and the rider is left with normal armor and weapons once more.

However, armor and weapons can be made to be similar to using magic motes, by making them with dragon fire, and a mixture of ground coal called dragon scale coal, and twigs called golden eggshell. Plus, this enhanced armor can be boosted with motes as well, making them many times stronger.

            “Does it say how to use magic aside from the scales thing?” Inferno asked when he had finished reading the topic.

            Cody shook his head disappointedly before replying, “No, I assume we’ll have to speak with Argos and his rider about that. Since we can’t really progress with that topic until we can talk to Argos and his rider, what do you want to do now?”

            “I want to fly, but I can tell you are tired, and that you haven’t eaten much since I hatched. Perhaps you should eat something and then get some sleep.”

            Cody suddenly realized he was right, he had only eaten occasionally, and did it completely without noticing. He decided that it was another thing that was happening to him, much like the increased strength, speed, stealth, and who knows what else. He got up, put the book under his bed, and left his room. He walked through the hall until he met up with his parents in the kitchen. He grabbed a piece of ham, slice of bread, and a piece of cheese before gobbling it down and returning to his room without his parents asking anymore pesky questions.

            Cody settled into his bed, feeling very tired despite the fact that it was only a few hours past noon. He said good night to Inferno and pulled his sheets up to his neck, suddenly feeling the cold autumn air seeping into his bedroom through the broken window.

            Just before he fell asleep, he muttered to himself, “I’m going to have to fix that blasted window.”

            Cody was incredibly surprised, yet pleased when he discovered that he was dreaming again. He felt conscious, like the dreams he had had before, so he instantly assumed that Argos’s rider was contacting him. As if on queue, the man came out from behind a tree nearby. He paused to let Cody soak in the scenery.

            They were standing in a valley completely surrounded by mountains and trees. There was a light mist swirling around the entire valley, enveloping the area in mystery, yet comfort at the same time. Finally, the rider was ready to speak.

            “Cody,” He began, his voice echoing through the trees, “it is time that you seek me and Argos out. While you aren’t nearly ready, we have no choice, and must make haste. Go to the nearest town to you, and bring your best armed forces with to protect you until you’re strong enough to protect yourself. In the town you will find shelter and food, and then you must continue in whatever direction you feel is the correct direction.”

            “How will I know what direction to take?” Cody asked.

            The man shook his head as he looked down at his feet before replying, “You will know the way. The world outside your town is dangerous, far more than you realize or can even imagine, so you must disguise your name. You will find many allies and enemies along the way, and they will easily recognize the name Cody, but only your allies will recognize Blackscales. I can not explain why the enemies seem so stupid and foolish, but trust that they aren’t. The people you bring with to guard you are fine with their names, but do not mention where you came from, or where you’re going to anyone unless you know they are your allies.

            “Take care, and be careful, for the world is not as it seems. You are not ready to learn of our foes, though I fear you will before your time is come. Take the book with you, and come search for me and my dragon. Make sure you bring along people you trust, and know that if you are careful and wise, you will return…and sooner than you think.”

            Before Cody could ask anything further, the dream faded and he awoke with a start at midnight. He felt Inferno’s presence right outside the window, and he could also feel that he was very troubled and concerned.

            “So you know that we have to leave as soon as we possibly can?” Cody asked.

            Inferno reluctantly agreed and said, “And I’m assuming that you know that you can no longer be called Cody?”

            Cody nodded, grabbed the stolen book and map, and left his room quietly. He went into a room by the kitchen where there was a small desk with parchment, quills, and ink, and Cody began writing:

Dear mother and father,

I have decided to go explore Semiones and uncover all of its mysteries. I don’t know when I’ll return, or if I will return at all, just know that I will come back if I can. I will miss you both dearly, and regret that I have to leave so soon, but it is necessary.

Sincerely, Cody.

            He put the note on the kitchen table, and heard Inferno say, “Are you going to be okay? You seem very saddened.”

            “It’s just happening so…suddenly,” Cody said as he got his boots and coat on.

            He left his house and raced away to the stables to get Skeletar and Chase. He put a saddle on both of them, a halter on Skeletar, and a bridle on Chase. He quickly mounted the black horse, and rushed off with the other following close behind. He tried to go slowly and steadily so he wouldn’t wear the horses out, but he also remembered that he was supposed to be quick

            Suddenly, Inferno broke in and said, “From what I’ve heard about horses, it is best to go slow and steady on long journeys. They are wonderful animals for long expeditions, but if you push them to their hardest, you can only go maybe ten miles a day. If you go slow and steady, you’d probably make it about 15 miles and the horses wouldn’t be too tired then.”

            Cody reluctantly slowed the horses down a bit, but he still had to get to the town quickly enough to get Omen and have a good head start on travel. Just then, Inferno was combing through his thoughts and stopped abruptly on one subject.

            “You don’t intend to go with Aval and Autumn.”

            “Of course not, Argos’s rider said to bring the people I trust, and I still can’t trust them,” Cody replied harshly.

            Inferno responded, “I’m sure he also said to bring powerful people to protect you, and Omen is a mere blacksmith. While his strength will definitely prove useful, he can’t protect us from many dangers. We have seen that Avalsmokes and Autumn are fantastic warriors, to some extent at least, which is what we need most. You must realize that life outside your town is harsh, dangerous, and far from hospitable.”

            Cody growled but agreed, and decided to go to their house first. As he was riding, he thought about what Argos’s rider had said about his name.

            “Do you think he meant that my name should be permanently changed to Blackscales, or just until I find Argos and his rider?” Cody asked Inferno.

            Inferno replied after some thought, “I would assume permanently, but if not you should still call yourself Blackscales for the time being, at least until you’re told otherwise.”

            “Alright, Blackscales it is!” Blackscales said, somewhat enjoying the name. “I think it’s a little weird that I would be named after your scales though, which I think is largely what Argos’s rider had in mind.”

            “If I can read your mind correctly,” Inferno began, “Then he did it so that our enemies wouldn’t notice us, but our allies would.”

            Before he could continue with the conversation, he reached the town and its usual still and quiet. He went over to Aval and Autumn’s house, and reluctantly rapped on their door. A very tired Avalsmokes came to the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

            “Cody? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” He asked after a large yawn.

            Blackscales shook his head and replied, “First of all, you can’t call me Cody anymore because I’m Blackscales. I can’t explain much else except that I want you and Autumn to come with me and Inferno on an adventure around the world. I will explain it in more detail once we get going, but you better decide quickly whether you’re going or not because we have to leave immediately after we get Omen.”

            “So you’re saying I’m supposed to leave my house in the middle of the night with no notice whatsoever and without the reason why I have to? Doesn’t sound very promising, can’t it wait until morning?”

            Blackscales grabbed him by the front of his shirt and glared at him through stern eyes, “I thought we agreed that I would reveal everything you need to know when the time comes, and that you can trust me.”

            Aval returned his gaze as he considered what he said before saying, “Let me talk to my sister and see what she says, Blackscales.”

            He turned around and walked into the house, returning a few minutes later with Autumn following closely behind, appearing much more wide awake than him. She looked Blackscales up and down, probably gauging whether what Aval had told her was true or not.

            “We’ll go with you at least a little ways. You can tell us all of the major details when we are well on our way. I’m confident enough in what you say, but I want to know everything before the sun goes down tomorrow,” she said.

            Cody was relieved; he didn’t expect her to be so trusting, even after he explained the day before that she should be. He smiled at them and thought for a moment.

            He looked at them carefully before saying, “Write a note explaining things to your mom in as little detail as you can, then pack your horses with supplies for a long journey and meet me at Omen’s house.”

            He raced away before they could ask him anymore questions, and he hopped on his horse before going to Omen’s house, placed right outside the forest. Again, Blackscales stepped up to the door and nocked. Omen came to the door looking a little tired, but not quite as much as Aval was.

            “What do you want at this hour? I thought I wasn’t going to hear from you for a week anyway.”

            “Long story short; me, Aval, and Autumn are going on an adventure to seek someone important out, and we need you to help us. I know I haven’t provided you with much information, but please realize that I wouldn’t hide anything from you unless I had to.”

            “Relax Cody, I trust a dragon rider’s word, even if he’s only 18 years old,” Omen said.

            Blackscales laughed a little bit before saying, “I also want you to call me Blackscales from now on, apparently we’ll be in danger if anyone finds out where we’re from, what my true name is, or that we’re in the company of a dragon. Just prepare your horse for long travel, and be sure to bring lots of money in case we have to buy some things along the way.”

            Omen nodded and disappeared inside his house; probably grabbing some supplies, and came out with a sackcloth bag filled with various items that Blackscales didn’t have the time to look over. He followed Omen to the stables where the palomino horse, Inheritance, was comfortably sleeping in one of the few stalls. Cody felt a little sorry for him as he woke up to the sound of the doors opening.

            The blacksmith put a saddle and bridle on his horse, then tied the sackcloth bag to his saddle before climbing up onto his back. He looked around a bit and grinned suddenly. Blackscales turned around just in time to see Avalsmokes and Autumn riding with all three of their horses.

            “We didn’t have enough space for everything, so we’re packed mostly with money and a few bags of food and a bit of water. We’re packed just enough to make it to Starling, that town about 20 leagues away,” Autumn said as she pulled the horse she was riding, Misty, to a stop.

            Blackscales mounted Chase before saying, “I have plenty of room in my horses’ saddlebags if you want to go back to get a few more things.”

            Aval nodded and they all set off back towards Aval and Autumn’s house. When they arrived, Aval and Autumn jumped off their horses and raced inside. They came back out with a few small bags of supplies, which they either dumped out into Chase’s saddlebags or tied onto Skeletar’s saddle. Then they clambered back into their saddles.

            As they began the shorter journey towards Blackscales’s house (since it was the general direction of the town of Starling) Omen asked, “When are we meeting up with your dragon?”

            Blackscales put his head against Chase’s neck and sighed before replying, “If anyone refers to him as ‘your dragon’ again, I just might strangle them. His name is Inferno, and he will be joining us in the forest after we pass my house.”

            Autumn chuckled at his threat, then nodded when he shot her an evil glare. Then everyone suddenly turned to look at Aval, who had started snoring quietly from atop Myrtle’s saddle. He started, and gave them all an innocent look, making them laugh.

            “I can’t guarantee that I’ll be awake the whole night, not when I got such short notice,” Aval said.

            Blackscales laughed and replied, “We all got very short notice, including me and Inferno. But we should get some good shelter in Starling, at least that’s what me and Inferno were told. We should probably be there before the sun goes down tomorrow, and by then I will have told you everything you need to know.”

            “Like who told you we would get good shelter in the town? Who sent you to come and take us on this wild cross-country trip?” Autumn asked, clearly irritated about not knowing what they were even doing.

            “Exactly,” Blackscales replied.

            She gave him nothing but a bored sigh as she slumped in her saddle. They continued to ride along at a steady pace when they got to Blackscales’s house, then passed it and left it behind. Inferno suddenly took off into the sky, soaring above them and startling everyone except Blackscales.

            Blackscales looked behind him to take one last look at his house before it disappeared behind the trees, and sighed, “Thus begins what will quite probably be the longest journey of our lives.”