Dragons' Truth

Chapter 8 – Ghadshyk Comes of Age

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “This is an important day for you, Ghadshyk.  You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”  Mendykkha congratulated him as they headed to the proving ground.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Perhaps more than most know about,” replied Ghadshyk, anxious about the ceremony, but more anxious that he was planning on revealing what he had been doing with Merle these past ten years in front of everyone.  He did not know what would happen, but it didn’t seem fair to keep Merle away from the enclave any longer; he had worked so hard to be ready for this day.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “What’s that, Ghadshyk?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Nothing, Mendykkha.  Just thinking about the ceremony.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “The ceremony will be a breeze for you, you know this stuff better than anyone I know who tried it.  You’re a natural.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I appreciate your confidence in me.  We shall see how I actually perform, and then we shall see what the community has to say about it.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “You are two hundred years and one day old today.  I think the community will be showing you as best they can how amazing what you’re about to do really is.  I know we say that the coming of age cannot come before a dragon’s two hundredth year, but most dragons do not feel they are ready for the ceremony until they have seen three or even four centuries.”  Mendykkha smiled at Ghadshyk with pride, “You have been ready for this for years, and would have passed the proving grounds long ago if you were allowed.  If there is anyone who doubts your abilities, patience, and wisdom, they need only speak to Tyllym immediately after the ceremony.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Ghadshyk was surprised, “Really?  Tyllym wants me?  I hadn’t heard anything!”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “It was supposed to be a secret, but he told me I could let you know before the ceremony, so you would be more confident.  You deserve the apprenticeship, Ghadshyk.  You are the first young dragon I have seen in a long time who already has a sense of the true nature of reality.  You may even surpass Tyllym one day.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I don’t know about that, Mendykkha, but I shall certainly have a few surprises for everybody before too long.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Some new ideas you’ve been cooking up?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 They arrived at the edge of the proving ground.  The entire community seemed to be gathered around its circumference, and a lone dragon stood at the center.  Mendykkha indicated good luck to Ghadshyk as he stepped onto the proving ground, and then the ceremony began.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 First Ghadshyk walked around the edge of the proving ground, making eye contact with every single dragon as he passed by them.  Then he lifted slightly into the air and flew in tighter and tighter concentric circles, spiraling in toward the dragon standing in the center.  He stopped almost instantly as he reached the designated spot in front of the other dragon, just lightly touching the ground there.  He was looking directly across into the other dragon’s eyes, and their gaze did not break, even as the other dragon, Tyllym, spoke.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I can see you.  You are … not entirely present, are you, Ghadshyk?  You have a connection to someone who is not standing here.  You know you were supposed to have every dragon you have a connection with present, so you could be judged not only on who you have grown to be, but on every connection you have made with another dragon.  Every relationship counts here, so we can be assured that the dragon you have worked so hard to become is the one represented in every relationship, and is a dragon we as a society, as the dragons who know you best and are connected to you, consider an adult.  Who is it you are so connected to, but does not show his face?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Ghadshyk knew what Tyllym was seeing, but had dared hope that it would not become an issue.  Tyllym apparently could see that this was what Ghadshyk was thinking somehow, as he spoke again.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Ghadshyk, I know you are aware that someone with true sight, as I have, and as any dragon who performs this ceremony must have, can see everything about you, including your secrets and intents.  They shine out like a great black light, breaking through an otherwise pristine example of what a dragon should be.  I see nine small secrets, strung together, and I see that the one who is not here, who is …” Tyllym looked over Ghadshyk’s shoulder to the high peak in the distance, “that way, likely watching from Shadower’s Peak is entangled with the biggest lie of all.  Tell us, Ghadshyk, who is hiding, and what is your secret?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Ghadshyk did not speak to Tyllym, but closed his eyes and tried to open his conscious thoughts to him.  Ghadshyk had never been able to communicate this way before, but he knew that dragons with the true sight were often able to see the surface of another’s thoughts, and hoped that if Tyllym could see his, he might not just cancel the ceremony altogether.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 As if in response, there was something strange going on in Ghadshyk’s mind.  It was almost like he was thinking the thoughts, but they clearly had not come from inside his own mind.  Tyllym had apparently inserted them there.  He communicated this:  “I have known about Merle for three years, Ghadshyk, I know your secret, and you have brought it to the ceremony, knowing the possible consequences.  Now you must be the one to reveal it to all, or face my revealing it and losing access to the proving grounds for at least a century.  You must make up your mind.  NOW.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Ghadshyk turned back to face Shadower’s Peak and shouted out with the full depth of his great voice, “Approach, Merle.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Every dragon’s head turned away from the center of the proving ground to face the dragon that now flew towards them from Shadower’s Peak.  Soon, a collective gasp moved across the crowd as they saw that the approaching dragon was not the same pale blue as the rest of them, but instead a pale pink.  Merle no longer looked like a mirror image of Ghadshyk in his dragon form; he had learned and experienced so much about dragon culture, that instead of having to mimic the form of another, he simply made his internal understanding of dragons an external representation of his dragon-self.  He knew all about the ceremony and the proving ground, as though he were a dragon like any other present, and belonged there.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Tyllym spoke again, “Begin the ceremony again, Ghadshyk, now that the circle is complete.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Ghadshyk walked back to the edge of the ground and again made his slow walk around that edge, making eye contact with every dragon there, and finally he came to Merle and his strange eyes, so familiar now, the last eyes he met before taking to the air.  He flew the spiraling shape again and set down in front of Tyllym once more.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Much better, Ghadshyk.  Now I see all of you, inside and out, and all around and through every dragon – and human – present.”  Another gasp moved around the ring of the crowd.  “I can see clearly now that all ten of your secrets are woven into Merle.  More importantly, I can see that you never once lied to anyone present about Merle.  You never tried to cover him up, and looking deeper I can see that had anyone thought to ask you, you would have told them all about your experiences with this human, outside of the enclave before your time.  This is merely a reflection of the greater light that is the dragon you are, Ghadshyk.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Until they understand more fully, it is likely that the rest of our community will not take your interactions with a human lightly, but within the context of the proving ground, I may only address it as it relates to who you are, Ghadshyk.  The way you showed your maturity, how you guided this human from being dangerous and ignorant to being more like a proper member of dragon society than most true dragons your own age…  Your lack of prejudice against humanity in general, coupled with your kind nature, has had good results.  It is quite possible that had Merle had another dragon guiding him, he would not have become the being he is today.  While keeping the matter a secret does not show proper respect for your elders on the surface, it shows a great deal of respect for Merle, his safety, and the great potential that he showed from the beginning.  It was a wise decision not to reveal what you had been doing until Merle was clearly either a threat to us, or an ally.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Based on everything I can see here today, I have no choice but to declare that you, Ghadshyk, are already an adult, and should be welcomed and treated as one by all dragons, everywhere.”  Tyllym and Ghadshyk, with the proper flourish of their twin wingspans, formally bowed to one another, and a hushed murmur of derisive speech rose all around them.  Many were still looking only at Merle, the incongruous pink dragon.  Tyllym looked also at Merle.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Merle,” Tyllym said to him as Ghadshyk walked to his place at the edge of the ground, “You may now begin.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Merle had not been expecting this.  He had not known exactly what to expect, but this had most certainly not been it.  All eyes were on him, and that he had expected, but were they expecting what he thought they were?  Merle stood stock still and mumbled “Wha…”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Merle?  You know what to do.”  Tyllym did not blink or look concerned or confused, he just looked expectant.  Eventually Merle stepped onto the proving ground.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 As Merle walked around the edge of the ground, looking each dragon in the eye, he was surprised by the fact that he recognized many of the dragons there.  He did not miss his step, he performed the ritual on the ceremony exactly as it was meant to be done, but as he walked from dragon to dragon, seeing recognition in more faces than he thought possible, his mind was racing.  He reached full circle, where Ghadshyk was standing, and met his eyes.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 A feeling stronger than from any of the others flowed to him from Ghadshyk in that moment, and he felt at ease again.  He took to the air and flew the careful spiraling circle towards Tyllym that was just as important a part of the ceremony as the rest, and landed in front of Tyllym with ease, looking him directly in the eye, no longer nervous.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Tyllym looked Merle in his strange eyes much longer than he had Ghadshyk.  Then, just as the crowd around seemed to have stopped breathing altogether, Tyllym closed his eyes.  “Merle, you have come far, across the Earth, and across the infinitely vaster distances that separate body and mind from spirit.  Today you are four hundred years and two days old, exactly twice as old as Ghadshyk, without whom you would have died at the age of eighty-five, just ten short years ago, when you would have stumbled onto the enclave unprepared.”  Tyllym’s eyes opened.  “Today, Merle, you come prepared.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 A louder muttering washed across the gathered crowd.  Only Tyllym, Merle, Bryyt – the oldest of the dragons – and Ghadshyk remained quiet.  Even Mendykkha was trying to get answers out of Ghadshyk.  Tyllym waited until the silence returned before he continued.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I can see you, Merle.  You have connections with many dragons here, some of whom have never even met a human before.  Your connections, such as they are, are as pure as can be expected.  Your education has not been wasted; you truly came to know these dragons through their words, and there are permanent connections to them in your soul.  Your behavior has not always been pristine, Merle, but in the recent years you have learned patience, temperance, and all the virtues valued by dragons.  Your inner being shows me that you are now ready to become a person of your own, instead of the remembrance of another man, long dead.  I can see all of you, Merle, inside, outside, all around, and through many dragons present here today.  In the presence of all of them, and in light of what I can see of you, I have no choice but to declare for all to hear that you, Merle, a human, a wizard, but also a dragon, have proven yourself here today.  I declare you an adult dragon among us, and that you should be welcomed and treated as one by dragons everywhere.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 Merle was almost too shocked by what had just happened to properly flourish his wings and bow before Tyllym, but he pulled it off as though he really had lived his entire life as a dragon, growing up and looking forward to this moment, to the bow that signified that he had made it – he was really, truly a dragon.

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Before everyone disperses, I would like to say one more thing,” Tyllym had the attention of the stunned audience as Merle walked back to his place at the edge of the ground, “I am extending an open offer of an apprenticeship under my wing to Ghadshyk, who I believe will someday surpass my gift of the true sight in ways I cannot even imagine.  Ghadshyk, what do you say?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Dear Tyllym, I am flattered by your offer, and by your praise, but I must politely decline your offer at this time.  Instead of moving directly into an apprenticeship of any kind, I would instead like to take my place beside Merle.  He will need guidance and companionship in his first years here in the enclave, and I owe it to him to stand by him, at least until he is accepted by everyone here as he has been by me.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I understand, Ghadshyk, and agree that that is a wise and loyal decision.  My offer will be open to you whenever you decide you are ready.”  Tyllym lifted lightly off the ground and swung around in the air to address everyone again, “thank you, witnesses, and fare well.”  Tyllym flew smoothly away, in the direction of his meditation center, and Bryyt was the only other dragon who took immediately to the air, flying in the opposite direction.

• • • • • • • •

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I thought you said you got into trouble.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Trouble followed the two of us for a great long time, Larry, but that is a story for another day.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “But what if they say I can’t study with you after the meeting on Sunday?”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “Then we shall have to get together at least one more time for me to tell you the rest of the story, and you shall have to use the skills of study I have already taught you from now on, without my guidance.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “I hope it doesn’t go that way, Ghadshyk.  I so enjoy these times with you.  Your stories, sure, but learning too.  For the first time I can remember, I enjoy learning.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “And for that I am glad, Larry.  You deserve nothing less.  But now it is time for you to go home.”  Ghadshyk had meant to tell the rest of that day’s story to Larry, but had noticed that Larry’s clothes had begun gradually to shift in hue to match his own scales.  “I know it’s a little earlier than usual, but I’ll be seeing you again on Sunday.”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 “No problem, Ghadshyk.”  Larry stood up and gathered his things together, “I’m sure everything will go fine on Sunday.  At least as good as your coming-of-age ceremony day turned out, with Merle being accepted and everything!”

Permalink for this paragraph 0 They began up the stairs, and Ghadshyk was glad to see the edges of Larry’s clothes re-appear as they ascended.  “I’m sure everything will be fine, too.”  They reached the top of the stairs and crossed the room, and as Larry stepped into the sunlight, Ghadshyk could see that his clothes remained a little bluer than they had been when he had arrived that day.  “I’ll see you Sunday.”