Allologue 2

*22 Shakari, Dragonsfall 534 (Before Calamity 3)*

“Teer,
what is it *like* down there?” Evelynn asked suddenly. She was
teetering halfway over the second rail of the perimeter fence that
edged Soma va-Arel’s park, looking down at the canopy of trees far
below the floating rock isle upon which they resided.

“I
do not know,” Ondo ar’ Thond Tira responded. “I have not been
sent down there.”

“But
you’ve been down to the ground before?” She asked.

“Yes.”
Ondo ar’ Thond Tira moved into conversational distance.
Incidentally the distance that, while unnecessary with the wards and
guards that contained Soma va-Arel, he would be able to catch her
should she slip through the railing.

“What
was it like?” She asked.

“It
was… the ground,” Ondo ar’ Thond Tira responded. “The ground
is the same everywhere, is it not?”

“No!”
she said, “There’s deserts and forests and ice and rocks and
mountains and swamps and… and all sorts of things!” She rotated
back on the railing, stamping her feet and looking up at him. “Don’t
you know *anything*?”

He
looked down at her. “I do not know. The ground where we were
stationed, where we were trained, was similar to the ground here.”
He said. “Though there was a river. The ground at its banks was
muddy.”

“*Muddy!?*”
Evelyn squealed. “Was it a lot of mud?”

“A
lot.” Ondo ar’ Thond Tira confirmed.

“Did
you get stuck?”

“I
did not.” He said. “But our observers told us that an earlier
Ondo ar’ Thond Tira stood watch too long in one place and became
rooted there.”

Evelyn
laughed, and pitched forward onto the rail quickly enough that he
almost instinctively moved to catch her, but the child was graceful
and nimble, and did not need his assistance. “That’s silly.”
She said.

Ondo
said nothing while she watched the trees pass below as the floating
city of Soma va-Arel drifted lazily through the skies, bound for no
particular destination save remaining right where they were, relative
to the invisible arcane ley-lines that ran like ocean currents
through the sky. He watched as a red-winged shape took flight below
them, soaring upwards at a gentle incline. A very young red dragon,
Ondo ar’ Thond Tira surmised, from the clumsy way it caught the
wind. The dragon was far and not travelling in their direction, but
the sentinel clenched his fist in anticipation anyway.

Evelyn
caught sight of it moments later, and once again squealed in delight,
“A dragon! Look! Can we go see it? Please please *please*?”

“No,”
He said firmly. “Dragons are dangerous creatures. We should leave
them alone.”

“You
say that about *everything* cool.” Evelyn said, leaning back
and pouting up at him. He did not meet her gaze. It was also
dangerous.

“That
is because there are many dangers in the world.” He said. “We
must stay here.”

“But
nothing ever *happens* here.” She said

“Things
happen all the time,” Ondo said. “The new year is in 34 days. We
will have a festival then.”

“But
there’s a new year *every* year,” she whined. “Why can’t
something *exciting* happen? Why can’t we go see what’s out
there? You’re strong! You’ll protect me!”

“Part of protecting you is making sure nothing happens,” Ondo
said. He placed a hand on her head. “Maybe when you are older, if
your parents approve.”

“Do
you mean it?” She asked, suddenly delighted by a prospect that may
not happen for decades yet. “You’ll take me places!”

“*If*
your parents allow it.” Ondo said. “I’ll take you wherever you
want to go, within reason.”

“We
can go see the dragons!?”

“…Probably
still no.” He shook his head to her sudden and abject
disappointment. “But maybe a phoenix? They are like dragons in that
they are also incredibly dangerous, but we have a treaty with them."

“Fiiiiine,”
She pretended to pout, but couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
She was quiet for awhile as they watched the dragon wing away across
the horizon. When she finally spoke again, she seemed resolved. To do
what, Ondo had no end of worry. “When I leave, I wanna see it *all*.”
She said. “Promise you’ll come with me, Teer?”

“I promise.” Ondo said. “I’ll always keep you safe.”