The Fish Dragon, Fin, swooped low over the outer buildings of the city taking those who had not seen it by surprise, their wares scattering across the streets as they looked up in awe. He flew to meet his kin, his movement one long, graceful rolling motion that drew no relationship between itself and the form of the Bird Dragon, Quill. As the newcomer gained upon his brother, Quill beat his wings and leapt from his perch to meet his guest. Arching through the sky the two entwined and danced a greeting rarely seen by the ordinary people of the Dragon Empires.
As they motioned their welcome a strange noise radiated out from between them, an ululating scream, not unpleasant, but alien to those that still found the sight of these strange creatures fascinating in their majesty. As the dragons rose higher and higher into the sky the sound continued until both it and they disappeared beyond the clouds. The final sight of them came when, at an almost suicidal speed, the two descended toward the centre of the capital, veering away from the ground mere feet before they hit it, vanishing amongst its many buildings.
The great meeting hall doors opened to the courtyard, the drapes and tapestries flapped in the breeze as the visiting dignitaries, advisors and chiefs of the Redwing and Greenwater Empires filtered through. The cool outside air rushed to meet the warmth of inside. It was only as the visitors shook themselves free of the chill did they notice the presence of something massive nearby. Those who considered themselves sensitive to such things would say that they felt something strange upon their arrival at the capital building. The sensation was strange, as if those who felt it could not discern whether the ‘vibrations’ were mental or physical, whether they were heard or felt or even smelt. Only a handful of those that formed the entourage knew what these sensations meant, the rest would soon come to find out.
Filtering into the courtyard they were met by a sight that only a handful of humans had ever seen. The two dragons of the Greenwater and Redwing empires sat perched there, one at the eastern side of the courtyard the other at the west. In the centre there lay rows of banqueting chairs carted from the hall usually used for more human guests. Placed opposite the chairs was a large pedestal housing a table and chairs at which sat now several important empire clan-chiefs ready for whatever proceedings the curious meeting had been held for.
The presence of one dragon was enough to stir up strange sensations in any human, their effect caused different effects in different people; some felt nauseous, others confused, others felt nothing, no single person had the same reaction when first in their presence. Two, however, was different. It was almost as if combined the strangeness of the vibrations magnified. The atmosphere was almost physical; an ethereal humming permeated the air hinting of the true majesty and power that the dragons possessed.
Silence held sway as the dragons began to speak; the strange sound that had earlier filled the skies of Rigor permeated the hall. Several of the entourage winced with pain as the noise pierced their eardrums, others became bilious and were forced to leave. Those that remained did not hear actual words but rather felt the sensation of the words form in their minds as if they were thinking them, as if each person in the courtyard were being spoken to individually. The words formed:
‘Many years have we seen all and been all on this world, many years have we stood as guards to its balance. We know all that came before you and will know all that comes beyond. You are visitors here and while you stay we are your keepers, we wish only the balance to remain, if you respect this then we will be bound by respect to you.’
‘Many years have passed since our sister and those of her marshal-ship fought those from before and beneath. Many years has she held a secret that we all share and in our sharing know. Our sister troubles herself with her burden, she knows it cannot remain but she knows it cannot be undone as those from you that live far to the west will testify.’
‘Now that those in the west have spoken of the secret it becomes known to both of us; the plight that may befall the secret’s becoming. We know you here and in our trust, trust you know of what we speak. Our code prevents us from breaking with our sister for to break with her would be a violation of the code.’
‘Balance, equilibrium, stability.’
‘Our sister empathises with her charges because she is the closest to you and in her closeness she cannot observe the severity of the problem. We have spoken to her of this but she cannot break free from her aspect, as we can no more from ours. To find this problem that lies before and beneath we must ask you to form a solution as in your forms you are alike.’
‘We may give aid but only in the manner of advice and a catalyst to start these actions. Since your forebears came on their Crossing it has opened only once since, opened to reclaim those same forbears that brought you here. Just one remained and we have known him through the ages, also searching for the balance that we seek to maintain. Indiscretion had often been his vice and in this lays a key for Fortitude’s salvation. His unknown progeny grow now, two, who have a great role to play in this world’s future. You must protect them in their innocence and wait, for although the burden grows the instance when the weight becomes too grave is still unsure. The two now linger close at hand, growing with their foundling mother; you will know them when their importance comes to light as the thoughts of them now come to light in some of you here now.’
‘This is all we can say of the moment; we will add our assistance when the time is right. Now leave and bear in mind the severity of what the future may hold. You must protect that which you hold dear now.’
Both Dragons spread out from their prone forms, unfurled their wings and rose to greet the edges of the meeting hall. Shaking free a number of pillows that had become stuck to them in their period of recline they padded toward the grand double doors that exited from the hall. With a shout from the clan master the doors were thrown open, a gust of cold air catching the drapes and tapestries that hung around the great room. With a simultaneous shake the dragons paced beyond the threshold, beat their wings and disappeared beyond sight of all those that sat there. To many the meeting had began an enigma and had concluded that way, their thoughts mulled through a fog of obscure references and notions. For others that which the Dragons had spoken of had stirred up the knowledge of their meaning, they clearly knew of who and what the dragons spoke. It was now time to act.