The journey took Cedric over hills and mountains, and across plains. On the second day of his journey he round a hill and saw the city of Attewood. He entered the city around noon. He asked around and finding where he could buy a horse. He entered the stable to the familiar smell of leather and hay. He noticed a man barking orders to some of the workers.
Cedric walked over to him “ Excuse me sir but I need a horse that is sturdy and will last during the long days of traveling and full tack to go with” “I have the perfect horse for you, she will do anything you put her to.” He went to a stall and brought out a pure white mare, as he brought her out she pranced in place.
“This is Ansariah, she is as sturdy as they come. Her father carried a man across the plains in one day and never tired. She may look fragile but she’ll surprise you.”
“How much?” “For her and the gear it’ll be 6 shillings” Cedric counted out the coins and gave it to Neal. He handed him the reins and Cedric mounted up. “I hope you journey is quick and you stay safe.” “Thank You” He said as he rode out of the barn. He turned her head south and urged her into a gallop, flying by houses until all that surrounded them was farmland. He pushed Ansariah so they could put distance between them and the town. The faster they traveled the faster he could be reunited with Mistfyre. When it started to get dark she slowed to a walk while he looked for a place to stay. He found a secluded clearing in the curve of the Murom river. He dismounted, allowing her to drink from the River. He tied her to a tree and then set about making camp and cooking food. Lucky for him, his sleeping bag hadn’t been torn to shreds so he wouldn’t have to sleep on the cold ground. He gathered sticks and created a small fire cooked himself some dinner. Later as he lay staring at the stars he was trying to fall asleep. He couldn’t stop thinking about Mistfyre and what Askeladden could be doing to her. When he finally managed to sleep it was full of dreams of Mistfyre chained in a dark chamber.
When he woke he felt like he hadn’t gotten any sleep at all. He pulled himself up and got ready to leave. He saddled Anasariah and mounted up. He was going to take it easy on her today, she had done well like Neal had said. After the third day he could see the faint outline of Askeladden’s castle on the horizon. He would be there by the next day he realized when he camped for the night. The next day he would see Mistfyre and hopefully leave with her. He slept better that night but he had the dark dream again. He woke with a burst of energy. He cooked breakfast for himself and saddled Anasariah as fast as he could. He mounted up, riding her out of the clearing.
“Wanna have some fun Anasariah?” Cedric asked her. She tossed her head in response. He took that as a yes, digging his heels in. Anasariah shot out of the space in the trees he had stopped in. He let her have her head leaning low over her back. She tossed her head and put on more speed. Within minutes they were close to the entrance, he slowed her to a walk. Anasariah tossed her head in impatience, she loved to run and wasn’t happy to stop but now was not the time. He walked her through the gates. When he was by the entrance a servant came running out. “Sir my master wishes me to take your horse and for your to meet him in the library.” Cedric nodded and turned to walk up to the doors, he was about to open the doors but it was opened by a butler. “Right this way Sir” Cedric followed him up a winding staircase and through a door into the most magnificent library he had ever seen.
“Glad you could make it Cedric” Askeladden said setting a book down on the desk. “I’m not going to waste any time come right this way for you first task.” Askeladden led him to a room with a closed door. “My pet rabbit has gotten loose, he is running around inside this room and you need to catch him for me.” As he finished explaining this he unlocked the door shoving Cedric into the room. As his eyes adjusted he saw the blasted rabbit at the end of the room. He went to take a step forward ducking at the last second as a booby trap almost took his head off. ‘I must be wary of where I walk’ he thought to himself. He picked his way slowly across the room, when he reached the rabbit it struggled as he picked it up but it calmed down. He took a step to go back towards the door and he accidently set off another trap. He hit the deck as arrows shot out of crevices in the wall.
He waited till he was sure they were done and he got up. He checked to make sure the rabbit was okay and then he ran for the door. When he stopped to catch his breath, he made sure that himself and the rabbit where alright. He banged on the door and it was opened by the butler who took the rabbit. There was clapping, he turned and saw Askeladden with a huge grin on his face. “Very nicely done Earthsword” He said then he led him outside, as they walked out the door Cedric noticed a holding pen with ten white horses in it. “Now for your next task you must find your horse and my own from these here.”
‘Oh joy’ Cedric thought to himself as he walked to the corral. He walked into the corral thinking about how he was supposed to figure out which one was Anasariah, which one was Askeladden’s. As soon he walked in all the horses came over to him wanting to be petted. He slowly made his through the horses narrowing them down to four horses. The other six he called to the stable hands and had them returned to their stalls.
He mounted one of the remaining ones to see if it would carry him. As soon as he settled the horse reared trying to unseat him. He held on with his knees as best as he could, after a while the horse landed and shook its head. Cedric carefully got off indicating a groom to come and take it. He went over to the other three and called put tentatively “Anasariah?” The middle horse took a step towards him and nuzzled his head. “Hey Girl” he said indicating she was his. ‘Two to go’ he thought to himself. He walked over to the other two looking at them. He chose one of them hoping his guess that it was Askeladden’s was right. He called a hand over and he took the other one. “There your task is finished!!” Cedric roared fed up with the useless games. Askeladden inspected the horses making sure he had chosen right. “Very good.” He said as he motioned for the hands to take the two to their stalls.
“You have done extraordinarily well, young Cedric. But for your final task you and your dragon must battle me and my dragon to the death the last one standing wins.” Askeladden said leading him to a large building he hadn’t noticed before. When they reached the doors Askeladden threw open the doors. All of a sudden there was a deafening roar and a black as night dragon flew out soaring up and then landing behind them. Askeladden walked over and patted the dragon on the shoulder. “Go and fetch your dragon Cedric.” Askeladden said waving towards the building. Warily he stepped inside; ‘Mistfyre?’ He called ‘Over here young one.’ She called throatily. He rushed over to where she was, quickly pulling the chains off of her ‘Thank you’ she said laying her neck on the ground so he could ride. When he was seated she flew out and landed in front of the black dragon letting lose her own deep roar.
“We are ready” Cedric said coldly. “Not quite” said Askeladden indicating a pile of gear including Mistfyre’s saddle and Cedric’s sword. Cedric quickly saddled her, climbing on, and she quickly took off doing a few aerial maneuvers in anticipation of the battle.
The black dragon soon joined them in the air. “Your move” Askeladden called. Cedric quickly formed a plan sharing it with Mistfyre and she agreed. She dove at the other dragon turning at the last second dragging her claws through his wing membrane. At the same time Cedric managed to inflict some damage on Askeladden. Mistfyre barely had time to back up before Askeladden attacked, the black dragon’s mouth clamping down on Mistfyre’s neck and Askeladden left a gash in Cedric’s arm. Mistfyre managed to rake her tail spikes across his stomach. He let go with a roar of pain falling a few feet before he regained his altitude. ‘Nice work’ Cedric congratulated ‘Thank you, you have done well as well young one.’ Cedric suddenly had a brilliant plan, he told it to Mistfyre and she agreed enthusiastically. They waited letting them think they were stumped, after a little while Mistfyre flapped her wings as much as she could then she folded her wings dropping onto him and grabbed his legs with her claws. Cedric somersaulted over her head landing behind Askeladden, placing his sword across his neck. “We are finished.” Cedric said calmly.
Cedric backed up and climbed over Mistfyre’s nose and sat back in the saddle. As soon as he was settled, Mistfyre let go and pushed off from the other dragon. ‘I need to pick up a friend, Mistfyre’ Cedric said telling her to land by the stable. When she did he jumped off and ran inside grabbing Anasariah’s gear and saddling her. He mounted up digging his heels in. When they were outside Cedric was suddenly pulled off of her. He looked up in time to see and block Askeladden’s sword with his own. “You will finish this Cedric!” he said striking him again. Cedric got to his feet returning a few blows of his own but they were blocked. A roar came from above them. All Cedric saw was a green flash and Askeladden was in her mouth and she was flying up.
When she came down Askeladden was dead in her jaws and his dragon had taken
off. ‘I’m sorry young one he struggled and my teeth pierced him, he bleed out’ ‘It’s all right you were protecting me. Let’s go home’ he said mounting Anasariah and he rode off into the distance with his green protector following in the clouds.
