Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf
Chapter 23: Riding a Draken

“A ride on what,” Rachel asked.

Hannibal looked around sheepishly at Aeolus, slyly pointing at him, saying, “On his back, if he will let us.”

Rachel’s heart leapt into her throat and her fear doubled. “I...I don’t know. I’m scared of high places,” she said fearfully.

Hannibal turned and asked the great draken, “Would you honor us with a little ride, Aeolus? You know, to show us the island?”

Aeolus smiled slightly, showing his teeth. “It has been nearly thirteen thousand cycles since I gave anyone a ride,” he admitted, “But yes, I would be honored. Is Selina coming too?”

Hannibal looked at Selina, who now showed signs of hesitation. “What about it, Princess?” he asked. “Are you up for a ride with me and Rachel?”

Selina looked at Rachel and saw her fear. “I’m not sure,” she replied warily. “What if we fall? I’ve never flown on a draken’s back before, and neither has Rachel. I’m just not sure if we should.”

Hannibal looked both of them in the eyes and said without hesitation and with extreme confidence, “You will not fall. I’ve ridden on Argus before and he didn’t let me down. Also, Aeolus is quite a bit bigger than Argus. I know he will not let us fall. Come on. It’ll be fun. You will get to see many things much closer than you can from here, and it’ll help you both overcome your fear of heights.”

“Hey,” Selina blurted out angrily. “You know better than to broadcast my fears like that, Hannibal. I should beat the tar out of you for that.”

“Is that so?” Hannibal asked, smiling wryly. “Sorry, princess. You’re right, of course. But don’t you think these drakens and Kida already know you have trouble with extreme heights? You know you can’t hide it from them or me.”

“Mistress Selina,” Aeolus rumbled softly. “You have nothing to fear. We would never divulge your fears and secrets to anyone without your consent. Master Hannibal said what he did because he knows we have his confidence and yours. No one will know of your fears from us, but he is correct in pointing out a flight would help you tame that fear of heights. I would be honored to participate in helping you and the little one to overcome your fears.”

Hannibal held out his hand, saying to both of them, “Please, trust me. This will do you both some good. And again, forgive me for blabbing about your fear of heights, princess. I’m sorry. Forgive me?” He put on a pleading face that was almost comical.

Selina’s anger waned at his plea. A chuckle escaped her lips as she reached out and took his hand. “I just can’t stay mad at you with you looking like that,” she admitted. “All right; I’m game; what about you, little one? I’m going to try it and Hannibal has apparently already ridden on Argus before so he must know what he is talking about.”

“He has indeed ridden on my back,” Argus stated. “It was a very long flight from Acheron to Antilla, and I kept both him and Nathanael safe, though at the time he was still Hanna. You can trust us to keep you safe when you ride on our backs. We’d never let anything happen to our riders. It’s part of our code and honor.”

“Indeed, it is,” Aeolus agreed. “And as guardians of Amacia and you, it’s our sworn duty to help you in any way we can, including the taming of the occasional fear.”

Rachel looked at Hannibal with fear in her eyes, asking, “But I’ve never ridden on a draken, dad. Is it safe?”

“Honey, it’s as safe as Selina’s lap,” Hannibal said confidently. “Aeolus will not drop us. He’s our friend. Trust me, sweetie. You will love this.” He picked up Rachel, taking her into his arms and walking right up to Aeolus. “Go on and touch him. Even though he’s a lot bigger than Argus, he is just as gently.

Rachel slowly reached out and touched Aeolus’ snout and he briefly touched her telepathically, letting her know it was safe to ride on his back. “I won’t let you fall, little one. I swear it,” he assured her as he settled down on his belly so they could mount his back.

“Are you ready for the ride of your life?” Hannibal asked Rachel. She remained fearful, but nodded, trusting in his ability to keep her safe. “Then let’s climb aboard,” he stated. “Kida, could you help your sister up on Aeolus’ back?”

“Sit on the center of my back, just in front of the wings,” Aeolus ordered. “It’s the safest place.” Hannibal clambered up on Aeolus’ back with Rachel, sitting exactly where Aeolus had told them.

Kida looked at Selina and asked, “Well, sis. Are you ready to ride?” Selina nodded, stretching her arms out so Kida could pick her up. In less than a minute, Kida sat Selina in front of Hannibal. Shifting Rachel into Selina’s arms, Hannibal wrapped his arms firmly around both of them as Kida slid off Aeolus’ back. She moved away with a smile saying, “Have fun, you guys.”

“We will,” Hannibal called out. Then to Selina and Rachel, who were very uncomfortable with the situation they found themselves in, he cooed, “Relax. This isn’t nearly as dangerous as you think. Besides, as I said, it’s a great way to conquer your fears. All right, Aeolus. Anytime you’re ready.”

“Okay then,” Aeolus replied, rising to his feet. “Hold on and enjoy the ride.”

Terror began to rise in Rachel’s face. “Momma!” she whimpered, clinging to Selina and Hannibal’s arm with her new hand.

Selina felt ill at ease as Aeolus lumbered forward to the edge of the tower. “I’m here, Rachel,” she said, trying to hide her own fear.

“It’s going to be all right,” Hannibal said gently as he held them firmly. “I went through the same thing when I first rode on Argus’ back. As soon as we are airborne, you will find your fears are not justified. Trust me.”

Aeolus stopped at the edge of the tower and asked, “Are you ready? I’m going to take off now.”

“Do it,” Hannibal ordered quickly as he saw fear rising in both Selina and Rachel.

Aeolus billowed his wings and jumped in one fluid motion. Just like with Argus, Aeolus fell almost forty feet before his wings caught the air. Rachel cried out in terror at the free-fall, burying her face in Selina’s chest. Selina cried out too in terror at the fall. However, Hannibal let out a shout of exhilaration as they plummeted off the tower on Aeolus’ back. This cry from Hannibal surprised Selina and no more than he had said it Aeolus was gliding toward the center of the island. He flapped his wings and gained altitude, asking, “How you doing back there?”

Selina was astonished. Her fear had vanished completely once Aeolus was airborne.

“All right, my friend,” Hannibal chimed, “We’re all right. Rachel is still a bit scared, but I believe that will pass in a few minutes.”

“Where do you want to go?” Aeolus asked.

“I don’t know,” Hannibal said, “Surprise us.”

Aeolus grunted as he climbed to about three quarters of a mile, circling out over the coast.

Selina was now becoming exhilarated with the flight, saying, “This is incredible. Never in my wildest imaginations did I ever believe I would be riding on a draken’s back with you. Just look at that view. It’s gorgeous.”

Hannibal squeezed her, having never let go of either of them, saying, “I told you that you would like it. Rachel. Rachel. Look at where we are.”

“I don’t want to,” Rachel cried in terror, keeping her eyes closed. “I’m too scared to look. We’re up too high!”

“Come on, honey,” Selina purred. “There is nothing to be afraid. We are not going to fall. Aeolus would never drop us.”

“That’s true,” Aeolus called back to them. “I’d never drop my friends.” He flew out to sea roughly a mile before turning to follow the coast. Slowly dropped in altitude to about a half mile, Aeolus circled around the north side of the island. Pteronadons glided on thermals as they flew past. The island was like a jewel from their vantage point. The Tower receded in the distance. It took Hannibal and Selina nearly ten minutes to get Rachel to look at the wonders around her. Once she realized that they were safe on Aeolus’ back and not going to fall, she began to relax and enjoy herself somewhat, looking at the beauty of the island. She saw great herds of mastodons grazing on the north side of the island on the plains. Both Rachel’s eyes and Selina’s eyes sparkled as they wondered at the beauty and abundance of life they were seeing. Suddenly, they found themselves in a flock of pteronadons. They flew around, behind, above and below Aeolus, seemingly following him, but giving him a wide berth. The flying reptiles occasional screeched to one another. Rachel and Selina were awed with the flying dinosaurs. Aeolus changed course on the north end of the island, turning inland. The pteronadons kept going north out to sea as they headed toward the volcano that had a solid column of steam rising out of the crater vents.

Aeolus dropped in altitude to just a quarter of a mile once over land. They all looked at the volcano and Rachel asked, “Why is the mountain smoking, dad?”

“Because it is an active volcano like Mt. Ragnarok in Amacia,” Hannibal replied. “There is lava inside the mountain that is making the water turn into steam.”

As they passed to the west of the summit, the ruined city of Antillia suddenly came into view. Much of it lay overgrown with forests, but a good quarter of the city nearest the volcano remained uncovered with its concentric circles obvious. Many of the buildings were only ruins, thrown down in the cataclysm of the Kragonar. Selina gasped at the sight. “What is this place?” she asked.

“This was the great city of Antillia, one of the provincial capitals of Atlantis,” Hannibal stated.

Suddenly, they found themselves surrounded by Aeolus’ brood. They were flying along with them. The appearance of the other drakens stunned Rachel. “Who are they?” she asked.

“That’s Aeolus’ family,” Hannibal replied. “They were with Aeolus and Tethys in the citadel of Acheron.”

One of the older females flew closer and called out, “Beowulf!”

Hannibal let go of Selina briefly and waved, calling out, “Calliope! How fair you today?” He immediate latched back onto Selina and Rachel to reassure them.

“Very well,” Calliope replied, flying closer to Aeolus. “Is that your wife and daughter that we’ve heard so much about?”

“Yes,” Hannibal answered. “I thought a little ride would lift their spirits a bit being that they’ve been cooped up for so long.”

“It’s good to see you out. Later maybe we can speak of things,” Calliope suggested.

“Of course,” Hannibal said as they flew over the city. “Has Argus been teaching you well?”

“Yes. He is a wonderful teacher,” Calliope replied.

“Pay attention to him. He has much experience dealing with the world,” Hannibal stated as Aeolus banked eastward, heading back to the Tower.

“I will. See you later, Beowulf, Selina, and little one,” Calliope called out, banking away with her brothers and sisters. They remained over the city as Aeolus flew towards the Tower.

As they approached the Tower, Selina finally started getting a good comprehension of its size and magnificence. The majestic spire of red granite seemed to strike the very sky itself as if it were a bridge between heaven and earth. “My God that’s big,” Selina breathed. Rachel was without words. “I had no idea it was that big. It’s beautiful,” Selina added.

“That it is,” Hannibal said as they approached it from the city. They saw a small city of people outside of the tower on the peninsula that it stood on. The people milled about, seemingly getting along very well with each other.

“Are those our people?” Selina asked.

“Yes,” Hannibal replied. “That is the Lord’s remnant in this place. He’s put them into our hands. We cannot fail them. We must not fail them.”

Selina looked around at Hannibal, laying her head on his shoulder as she held Rachel. “We won’t,” Selina said sweetly as she looked up in his face.

“Our little ride is almost over,” Hannibal said as they approached the Tower. It loomed in front of them. Without warning, a rumbling explosion roared from the direction of Antillia. The Tower started swaying and the people on the ground rushed into the open in a panic. Seconds later, a mild concussion blast hit them, making Aeolus falter in his flight.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Rachel asked, becoming instantly terrified.

Everyone, including Aeolus looked back towards Antillia, seeing an ash column rising from the volcano. “Oh, that can’t be good,” Hannibal declared.

“No, it isn’t,” Aeolus stated. “The volcano is erupting. What you felt was the concussion from the blast. It’s best I let you off now.”

“Sure,” Hannibal stated. “I was about to suggest the same thing. We need to check on the people to see if anyone got hurt.”

“I agree,” Aeolus replied. “Hold on while I land.” He glided in and after crossing over on to the top of the Tower, he raised up on the front as he landed, billowing his wings, using them like parachutes. They settled on the Tower with a thud. “End of the line, my friends. I hope you liked the ride. Sorry it was interrupted by the volcano,” Aeolus said to Hannibal, Selina, and Rachel as he lumbered over to where Kida and Enoch were waiting with Selina’s chair. They all saw their faces and immediately knew something was wrong. Aeolus settled down, asking, “Is there something wrong, Master Enoch? Does it have something to do with the volcano erupting just now?”

“It does. Another quake hit just before the eruption. It injured a number of people who were exploring the ruined city, some seriously,” Enoch said grimly as Kida helped Rachel off the draken’s back.

“How bad is it?” Hannibal asked as he slid off Aeolus’ back with Selina.

“Bad enough; you need to come right now,” Enoch urged as Hannibal set Selina in the chair. “Among those injured were Jacob and his family: they fell in the quake. We need your guidance on how to deal with this.”

Hannibal immediately remembered Jacob as the man who found and returned his hat from the Zarukar ambush. “Where is he now?” Hannibal asked, his face falling with great concern.

“They’re in the edge of the city near where you found the cylinders,” Enoch reported. “He broke his back and neck when the side of the pyramid they were on gave way in the quake. I don’t know how he survived the fall. But you need to come now.”

Hannibal looked at Selina and Rachel, saying, “I have to go help.”

“I’m coming too,” Selina insisted. “Rachel, I want you to stay with Kida for now.”

Rachel nodded, saying, “All right, momma.” She didn’t fuss because she liked being with Kida. Kida had been very kind to her and was helping her adjust to her crippled status.

Hannibal turned to Aeolus with the obvious question. “Climb on,” Aeolus said without hesitation. “I’ll take you.”

Hannibal picked up Selina and said, “Enoch, you know where Jacob is. Climb on.” Enoch immediately jumped on Aeolus’ back and received Selina out of Hannibal’s hand. In seconds, they were seated on Aeolus’ back with Enoch in the back, Hannibal in the middle, and Selina in the front. Hannibal wrapped his arms around Selina to keep her steady as Enoch put his giant arms around both of them. Aeolus rose and moved quickly, jumping off the Tower without stopping. In less than two minutes, Aeolus landed at the sight where Jacob lay dying and another twenty people lay injured. Most of the injured had been pulled back from the step pyramid and the other crumbling buildings where they were receiving treatment from the bystanders. However, a crowd thirty people gathered around a pile of debris at the base of the pyramid, moving the debris with their bare hands. When Hannibal saw the scene, he knew something very bad had happened. Aeolus landed away from the crowd and wounded, letting Hannibal, Selina, and Enoch off. Enoch carried Selina as Hannibal rushed through the crowd around the debris pile. Aeolus approached to see what had happened. The crowd immediately parted, letting the four up to the accident site.

“Not good,” Aeolus commented, seeing the people frantically removing debris as he scanned the accident sight and the ruins. “Not good at all; no one should have been here anyway. These ruins are very unstable.”

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