Young Writers Society

Chapter 9

After a quiet supper, Jarid and Airel entered the waiting room of the dragon dome. A small hall just below ground level where they would prepare for their turn to select a dragon.

They were instructed to don their flight suits and tuck their helmets under one arm. There were two instructors watching over them. One showed them how to put on the armor while the other stepped in to help if either of them were having difficulties. Once they were ready the instructors began giving them the finer details of the ceremony.

“First, you are not to put on your helmets until it is your turn. The gems connect your mind to the dragon’s as well as to anyone else wearing a green gem. We want to avoid any interruptions for the student currently trying to select their dragon.

“Second, as you have most likely already seen, the dragons are restrained for your safety, but don’t get too close until we instruct you to do so, or they may still hurt you badly.

“Third, both of your tests will be slightly different from everyone else’s. We will be administering an additional test to determine your ability to control them despite not being completely broken in.

“Finally. If you cannot make your dragon bow to you, we will bring out a selection of less resistant ones. At least, that will be the case for one of you,” He concluded ominously.

The second instructor stepped up and looked them over. His expression was professional and showed neither compassion nor dislike.

“Due to the experimental nature of this test, we will not be allowing any spectators. We will also require that you do not reveal the details of this event to anyone unless given express permission to do so by the academy commander or the head of the dragon trainers. Do you both understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“Good.”

He walked back to stand by the door and leaned out to check if everything was ready.

Not long after he called for Airel.

She smiled nervously. “Good luck.”

“Yeah… Good luck.”

He wanted to say something more to reassure her but couldn’t find the words. Then she was through the door and into the arena.

Jarid waited for what felt like an eternity, hoping for, and worrying about, Airel’s success. Then the instructor motioned for him to come forward. It was then that Jarid realised he’d been so worried about how Airel was doing he hadn’t even thought about his own trial.

He shrugged it off. No point in worrying about it now anyway. He had to focus on the trial ahead. He chuckled to himself. It seemed ridicules to be worried about asking a friend to do simple things like walk around the arena a few times.

He trusted Smolder. Even if Smolder hated humans. Jarid knew that deep down, underneath his anger and hurt, Smolder had the heart to help others. That’s what he was counting on.

Jarid smiled as he stepped into the arena.

Let’s do this Smolder. Time to prove to everyone that you are not the monster they think you are.

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Jarid stepped onto the arena floor with his helmet still tucked under one arm. Smolder stood on the opposite side of the nearly empty arena. He was bound in what seemed like twice the chains the other dragons had been encased with. There were also many instructors on standby in case anything occurred. Strangely, quite a few of them were wearing masks and odor suppressing charms.

Jarid walked across the arena until he was less than stone’s throw away from his friend.

“Are you ready for this?” He whispered in dragon.

“Not like I have much choice.” Smolder snorted.

Jarid smiled. Despite how nervous he was, he also felt just as excited as the day he arrived at the academy. He was so glad to have met this hot tempered dragon.

“Here we go.” Jarid said, putting on the helmet. Suddenly he could feel Smolder’s mind.

This must be like how Shadow feels someone’s mind. He thought as he reached out to connect to Smolder’s mind. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Smolder panicked.

No! Stop! Get out of my head!

He jerked back and struggled against his chains while at the same time a wall of panicked emotions came up like a wall around his mind. A mixture of pain and absolute terror filled his mind and threatened to take hold Jarid’s mind as well.

Then Jarid heard one of the instructors shouting to stop the ceremony. Fear of his own expulsion and the terrible fate awaiting Smolder turned the river of fear pouring from Smolder into an ocean of terror.

“No!” Jarid shouted, causing the instructors along the arena wall to pause. Jarid resisted the mounting fear and stood trembling before Smolder’s panicked thrashes. Cold sweat pouring down his face as he tried to control the mounting panic.

“I can do this!” He shouted, mostly to himself, but loud enough for the instructors to hear. Then he forced himself to calm down with great effort. He quickly backed away from Smolder’s mind to gain a brief respite.

Smolder had obviously learned to fear and guard against anyone trying to control his mind. As Jarid’s mind touched his it must have brought back the trauma of the trainers trying to break him.

As he was now, Smolder was too full of fear to think rationally and realise Jarid was there to help.

Then Jarid remembered how Shadow’s mother had shared her courage with him when he was scared that night.

Ok. Calm. Think calm.

Jarid took a slow, deep breath in and out. He thought of all the times he had wanted to help Smolder and let those emotions fill his whole body. Then he connected to Smolder’s mind again.

Immediately he was almost overwhelmed once more by the fear and pain emanating from him. He couldn’t share anything with Smolder while he was resisting the emotions pouring from the dragon’s mind.

Then Jarid came to a decision. He stopped resisting and let his friend’s fear and pain flow into him while letting his compassion and love for his friend flow out. He stopped caring about avoiding the pain his friend was feeling and instead focused on how much he wanted to help him. As Jarid felt more and more pain flowing through him his desire to help only grew.

I am here for you Smolder. It’s ok. It’s ok. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’m here for you. Jarid repeated over and over as tears started pouring down his face.

Slowly it began to pierce Smolder’s panicked consciousness.

Jarid? Do you really want to help me? You won’t make me do something terrible? You won’t take anything from me? Smolder whimpered through the mire of fear and despair.

Yes. I will never take anything from you. I will never hurt you. I will never force you to do anything. I am your friend, remember?

Suddenly it was like a cloud lifted from Smolder’s mind. He stopped thrashing and collapsed in exhaustion. Then he took a deep shuddering breath.

“Thank you. My friend.” He whispered as he shakily got to his feet.

Of course. I promise that no matter what, I will not use this gem to control you.

Jarid breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Smolder had calmed down, the instructors backed off slightly.

Try talking to me using the connection in our minds. We should get used to talking like this while we are here at the academy.

Smolder nodded, still trembling slightly. Very well.

I’m sorry to ask you to do this so soon, but the fist thing the instructors asked me to make you do is bow to me, so they know I’m in control.

Smolder looked at him with a scrunched up face as his fear seemed to grow dull. Replaced by a feeling of incredulous sarcasm. Are you serious?

Jarid nodded awkwardly. He could feel Smolder’s internal sigh at the idea.

Ugh, fine. Whatever you say, dragon rider. Smolder thought sarcastically as a slight smirk crossed his face.

He bowed. The fear and panic from just a moment ago seemed to have vanished, though Jarid could still feel slight traces of nervousness under the sarcasm.

Jarid knew the sarcasm was just a way for Smolder to protect his soft heart, but he found himself longing for the vulnerable side of Smolder he had just glimpsed. Even so, he was glad to have his friend back, and grateful for his cooperation.

Thank you Smolder.

“Alright. I’ve got him under control!” He shouted to the instructors nearby. One of the non-masked instructors walked up with a clipboard in hand.

“Alright. I’m going to give you some instructions for your dragon. You will have your dragon follow the orders I give you to pass the test.”

“Yes sir.”

“Very well. First we will have him raise his right front talon…”

The instructor gave very simple instructions for Smolder to follow and Jarid relayed them to him.

Smolder did as Jarid asked although he had some sarcastic comments about what they were asking him to do. Mostly about how they were dumb, too easy, and how only a human would come up with something like that.

Then the instructor tucked his clip board under one arm.

“This will be your final test. This dragon has been aggressive to humans for the entirety of it’s time here. If you can keep him from attacking someone then it will be proof that he is safe for you to command.”

Jarid nodded. He was fairly certain that Smolder wouldn’t attack a random person unprovoked.

One of the masked instructors carefully removed the chains around Smolder’s mouth and neck. Then stood back as another one of the masked instructors walked up to stand directly in front of Smolder. Then he removed his mask.

It was Brom.

The one who had personally attempted to break Smolder for the last few years.

Smolder hadn’t recognised him standing outside his cell when he and the commander had found Jarid sleeping in there. But now Jarid felt an old and deep-seated hatred welling up inside Smolder. Like a volcano about to erupt.

This was the one who had put him through such torment, and now there were no chains preventing him from burning his torturer to ashes. Nothing to stop him from taking revenge for all the pain he had inflicted.

Jarid knew there was no way to convince him not to attack the one person he hated above all others. Even if it were possible to calm him down there wasn’t time now.

This wasn’t about being expelled anymore. Jarid couldn’t bear the thought of the fate awaiting Smolder if he took his revenge now. He couldn’t allow the one trainer at this academy who gave dragons a chance, to see Smolder as a monster.

With no other choice he calmly stepped between them just as Smolder was about to unleash his fire. Smolder’s view of the one he hated was blocked out by the serious face of his only human friend.

“Stop.” Jarid growled quietly but sternly. The command echoed like a wave through the mind gem connecting them.

Smolder coughed and sputtered as his fire breath caught in his throat. Then Jarid quickly, and firmly laid his hand on Smolder’s snout. His own eyes tearing up as he stared into Smolder’s.

I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to force you like that, but I couldn’t let you hurt him either.

I know that man has done terrible things to you but that is only one side of him. He was willing to give dragons a chance when nobody else would. Not only for his sake but yours as well, please don’t do this!

Smolder growled and hissed at Jarid even as Jarid held his snout to prevent him from breaking eye contact.

“Never! He is a cruel, evil human. He sees us as no more than animals! He beat me and all the other dragons without batting an eye,” he retorted as images of all the terrible things Brom had done flooded into Jarid’s mind.

He knows dragons better than that. Let me show you. Jarid replied.

He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead into Smolder’s. He brought up his own memories of finding Vapor in the torture chamber, how his friends had tried to help her for his sake, how Brom had been willing to give dragons a chance, and how he used his authority to end Vapor’s suffering.

As Jarid came back to the present he noticed that Smolder had stopped pushing against him and the raging inferno of Smolders anger had dimmed slightly, though not completely. His plea may have helped Smolder bring the raging blaze under control, but the slightest spark could easily set him off again.

Jarid leaned back, releasing Smolder’s snout, and was about to speak when Brom came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. Smolder hissed at him again but this time it was more protective than vengeful.

Ignoring Smolder, Brom looked down at Jarid with a wide smile.

“Congratulations! He may need a bit more time, but I can see that you will be capable of preventing him from harming anyone else. That is more than enough to convince me you have passed this test, and not only that. You have proven to me that it is possible to tame a dragon without force as well. Though, your friend was proof enough of that.”

Jarid spun around. “Airel passed?!”

Distracted by the thought of his friend overcoming her trial he missed the murderous gaze Smolder was fixing Brom with.

“With flying colors,” Brom said, smiling. “Oh, I still need you to keep our little deal and the results of the ceremony a secret though. The commander and I still need to convince a few others to get this approved. I’ll allow you to share the results with the rest of your squad but no one else. Understand?”

Jarid nodded excitedly.

“Good. Now why don’t you get your new dragon to his stables, hmmm?”

Jarid grinned and turned back to Smolder. We did it Smolder! We passed!

But Smolder couldn’t share Jarid’s joy at the achievement. His eyes never left Brom. His rage still simmering just beneath the surface.

Good for you, he growled in his mind with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.

Then Jarid realised that Smolder what Smolder was probably feeling and felt terrible for being so happy after what he had done.

I’m sorry. I was just… he sighed. Not knowing what else to say.

As he led Smolder to his pen in the dragon den Jarid tried to explain himself.

I want to help you and be there for you because I know what it’s like to feel alone. I don’t want you to have to feel that way. I’m sorry. There will be times that I’m going to make mistakes and you’ll have to forgive me, but I promise that I will always do my best to help you in any way I can.

Smolder wouldn’t even look at him.

Now that they were alone Jarid tried again using his words. “Listen, Smolder, I’m sorry, ok? I understand how painful it must be to see him.”

Smolder turned and glared at Jarid with barely controlled rage and pain still clear in his eyes.

“Don’t think you understand me, human. You may think dragons and your kind can work things out, but you don’t understand our pain. Don’t promise that you will always be there for me. Because you won’t,” Smolder hissed.

“When it comes down to it, you will always choose to side with humans like him! You always see the good in others. Even when it’s not there. How could you possibly understand how I feel?!” He roared.

Then Smolder lowered his head with a dejected sigh.

“Sorry. I know it is not your fault. I’ve just had a long, hard day and I need some time to rest and think. Alone.” Smolder crawled inside his cage and curled up on the straw covered floor.

Jarid wanted to say more but he couldn’t find the words. In the end he decided it was best to simply let him rest. With a sorrowful goodbye Jarid left the dragon den.

When Jarid got back to the dorms the other members were asleep, so he simply dragged himself up to his room.

As he flopped onto his bed he thought over everything that had happened. The more he thought about it the more self-hatred built up within him until he finally punched the bed in frustration.

I promised that I would never use that stupid gem to control him, and what happened? I forced him not to attack Brom just a few minutes later! I couldn’t even keep my promise for one day!

He wished he could punch himself for promising something like that. Sure, it was what he wished for, but now he had betrayed Smolder’s trust. And just when he was finally starting to open himself up too!

“Arrrgh!” Jarid vented his frustration into his pillow. As the short burst of frustrated energy drained away, all he was left with was a lingering sadness.

Jarid took out his scale necklace and rubbed it sadly. He really wished Shadow was here. Maybe then he wouldn’t have betrayed his friend.