Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure by Larry Forkner (dark books to read .txt) 📕

For several moments, it looked like a game of deadly, high-speed, dragon “chicken”, each daring the other to turn away from the imminent, fiery collision. At the last possible moment, Sean executed a perfect barrel roll which allowed him to land on top of her. He nipped at her neck and shoulders, just enough to let her know he had won, and then rushed out across the sky.

Ashling felt exhilarated, as she watched him loose a series of fireballs into air. She could still hear his exultant roars, when he was only a red dot on the horizon.

Sean quickly circled back, ready to go again, but she was already heading for the ground, dropping in slow, graceful circles. He felt his heart ache as he watched Ashling’s elegant landing. Whether in her human form or her dragon self, she truly entranced him.

Moments after Ashling’s soft, graceful landing, Sean shot toward the ground like a fiery bullet, slamming his large, clawed feet into the earth beside her.

“That’s how a fiery-red dragon comes in for a landing!” he shouted, as he turned back to human form.”

He noticed that Ashling was laughing as she turned away from where Sean was standing. “What?” he asked.

“That’s how you end up standing around buck naked in farmer O’Leary’s field,” she said, chuckling.

Sean gasped and quickly turned back into his dragon self. In a burst of speed, he rushed back toward Ashling’s home.

“I’ve got to remember to transform to my human self, where I’ve got a little privacy,” he muttered, after landing in her back yard and sprinting down the basement stairs.

* * *

“I should have explained that to you earlier,” Ashling said later, while they shared a bounteous supper.”

“You think so, Ashling?” Eamon said, smiling. “I know it’s been a while since I had to teach you the facts of life about your dragon self. Still and all, you should have given poor Sean fair warning.”

“Aye, that I should have, but he was showing off something awful. I thought it might do him some good to enjoy a good dose of humility,” Ashling said, smiling.

“Well, perhaps that is so. I know I needed to be taken down a peg or two when I first came into my dragon-self,” Eamon said. “There was nothing like landing in the middle of a village, while changing into my naked human self, to bring me back to reality.”

“As I recall the story Mom told, there were more than a few young maidens who got an eye full on that grand day,” Ashling said, laughing out loud.

“Oh aye,” Eamon said, chuckling along with his daughter. “Don’t be forgetting that your own sainted mother was among the gawking, young lasses.”

All three of them burst into raucous laughter over Eamon’s predicament. “I don’t feel so bad now,” Sean said. “At least there was only Ashling there to witness my humiliation.”

It took Eamon a moment to stop laughing, but finally he said, “It’s not that tricky once you get used to it. You just have to store extra outfits of clothing here and there around Rundimahair.”

“And you don’t land and transfer back to your human-self until you’re sure there are no prying eyes about,” Ashling said.

“Not to worry,” Sean said. “I’ll not be making that mistake again.”

“On the bright side of things, I believe we’ve found a trigger for you to easily become your dragon self,” Ashling said.

“Do you mean when you transformed and leapt into the air?” Sean asked.

“Indeed so,” she agreed. “Now all we have to do is plant that memory deep in your mind, so you can use it anytime you need your dragon to appear.”

“Is it that simple then?” Sean asked.

“It usually is,” Eamon said. “Once you’ve planted the thought in your mind, the trigger seems to be instinctive after a few tries at it. The fact that you have more than a passing interest in my sweet daughter should help it work all the better.”

Sean didn’t bother denying his ever growing attraction for Ashling. No one would believe him, even if he tried denying the truth.

“Once I stash a few changes of clothing, here and there, I’ll give it a go,” Sean said.

* * *

The days passed by quickly, turning into weeks of very exhausting training for Sean and Ashling. Occasionally, Eamon would join them. His dark blue scales gave Eamon a very different and fierce look as he roared through the sky. On those rare days when Eamon could join them, they would push Sean even harder, as he learned to fight two powerful dragons at once.

It was obvious that they weren’t using all their powers while attacking Sean together. He was grateful for their patience in training him. It was all he could do to keep up with them when they were fighting at half-speed. He thought it would take years to catch up to their knowledge and ability.

Whenever they bested him too easily, Ashling and Eamon were quick to remind him that they’d been at this for hundreds of years. Sean had only discovered his dragon form a few months ago.

As summer turned into fall, Ashling realized that Sean’s potential as a warrior–whether in human or dragon form–was truly amazing. What had been considered impossible, in Ashling’s long lifetime, now appeared inevitable. Sean would one day surpass her powers as a magician and as a dragon.

She had to admit to a touch of jealousy at the thought of anyone surpassing her great powers. Beyond any small resentment, Ashling felt tremendous gratitude and relief. Besides, she was sure he’d never surpass her matchless skills as a healer. That didn’t appear to be one of his gifts.

With the warriors of her father’s generation aging, Ashling had long felt the burden of picking up the mantle of power for her generation. Until now, no one in her generation had come close to matching her powers. This left her feeling alone in carrying on the fight against Grainne and her many powerful