After many years, I introduce you to the first chapter in Rhynn's origin story. Please enjoy! (name pending)
The Sunbringer: Chapter One
The sky was a deep grey-blue, devoid of clouds. The heat of the long day was slowly dissolving, giving the inhabitants of the city below some welcome relief riding in on light, cool breezes. Golden scale lords drifted lazily on the thermals high above while desert crickets below shyly began the first peeps of their evening chorus. Dusk was preparing to settle over the city oasis of Arashin. Citizens of the great Dromoka clan bustled around the streets, finishing off any final tasks of the day. Shops were closing and many were finishing their preparations for an evening meal. The relaxed feeling of the city was palpable to all. All except for two teenagers sneaking around the back alleys on their secret mission.
A human girl lead the two. She walked quickly and confidently, hoping she was giving off an aura of ‘I’m supposed to be here.’ An aven boy trailed behind her much less comfortably. His vulture head darted behind them frequently, looking every bit as guilty and nervous as he was feeling.
“Eternal above Emre!” Exclaimed the girl in a forced whisper without breaking stride, “You’re acting as jumpy as an antelope near a cobra nest. Calm down or someone will think we’re up to something!”
The aven snapped back forward looking a little embarrassed. He tried to straighten his back and emulate his friend’s posture but to no avail. “But Rhynn,” he said loudly as he dared, “We are up to something,” He had been looking down and hadn’t noticed she stopped and bumped right into her. “Oh! Sorry Rhynn, I—“ she put one finger on his beak and one over her own lips. Emre immediately stopped talking and listened as a couple of people walked by the other side of the building they were sneaking behind. The two stayed still until they could no longer hear their chatter and both sighed with relief.
“Emre, you don’t have to come with me,” Rhynn said softly, “I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I can go by myself,” she finished and gave him a gentle smile.
“But… but we’re stronger together! A dragon with a single scale can’t endure the desert. It’s just…” Emre trailed off and looked down, idly poking his talons into the sandy ground.
“It’s just that we’re breaking a rule and you don’t like that,” Rhynn finished for him. His head hung lower at her words and Rhynn frowned. She put one hand on his shoulder and the other she put under his beak so she could raise his face to look him in the eye. She put on the most reassuring smile she could and kept her voice soft.
“Emre, I’m not mad or upset at you, I promise,” He looked a little relieved and she continued, “ And truth be told we’re breaking several rules technically and I don’t love that either. It’s just,” she took her hands off him so she could try to articulate her thoughts, “I know the rules are there for a reason but this is something I need to do. Or at least try. The Foremost denies every request I make for missions and I know he’s giving me special treatment. Whenever our garrison gets assigned any kind of remotely dangerous route, somehow I’m needed somewhere else and I’m left behind,” Rhynn had been gesturing while she talked and now that she stopped she didn’t know what to do with her hands so she just bunched her fists and let them awkwardly drop. She looked over to Emre lamely. “I’m sorry. This sounds so dumb and selfish now that I’m saying it out loud. Let’s just go back,” she said and took a couple steps with her head hanging low. Emre grabbed her arm and turned her around to look at him this time.
“It doesn’t sound dumb, Rhynn. You’ve always wanted to explore the further borders, especially the ones near the northern forests,” his eyes got wide and he gulped, “Even if that is close to Atarka lands.” Rhynn knew her friend was terrified of Atarka. Rumor said she preferred ainok and aven as favored meals. Emre steeled himself and continued, “And I guess technically it could be selfish to add yourself to another caravan just because you want to,” Rhynn frowned at that, “But it’s not like you would just be tagging along as dead weight. It never hurts to have an extra Sunbringer and you’re one of the best in our age group! If, if anything this would be good training for you!” Emre beamed at his friend and she smiled back.
“Thanks Emre,” she said and pulled him into a hug he gladly returned. When they broke apart Emre looked like he regained his confidence.
“Ok! So. We’re almost to the building where they keep the route schedules. Let me, let me see if I remember the plan” he began, “You’ll sneak in and I wait by the window outside.”
“Good so far,” Rhynn said.
“Then you add yourself to Adi’s caravan going north in a week and make only that change,” Rhynn put her hand over her heart.
“Sunbringer’s honor,” she replied and Emre nodded.
“And finally you sneak back out like nothing ever happened! Oh! And I’m here keeping watch. If anyone enters the building after you, I’ll—I’ll whistle!”
“The perfect plan,” Rhynn concluded and Emre cocked his head to the side.
“Before we do this… Are, are you sure you want to? It is a dangerous route. Maybe you could merge our caravan with theirs instead…” Emre trailed off. Rhynn looked at him fondly and put her hand on his shoulder.
“I know you’re worried but it’s best this way. They’d notice a change that big and besides; I wouldn’t risk the lives of our brothers and sisters just for me. You and Reyna would be in extra danger and I think a smaller group has a better chance of being undetected. Besides, our caravan was due for a long rest anyway. It’s something I need to do though, Emre. Real, proper forests. Trees bigger than dragons! Strange creatures none of us have ever seen before! I need to see it, something there just calls me to it. I,” she struggled to find the proper words, “I don’t know. I can’t explain the feeling.” It was true. Rhynn didn’t know why she was so drawn to the northern border but the thought of the ancient forests up there never failed to give her shivers. She looked helplessly at her friend and he chuckled.
“Well we better finish this if we’re still doing it,” Emre said with more resolve.
“Right,” she replied and they clasped arms in typical clan fashion. The two crept the final bit left of their journey and wound up outside the records building. The sky was shifting from a brilliant orange to a dusky violet which meant not many people should be within. Rhynn darted into the front while Emre took a position near the window of the room that the schedules and routes were planned and kept, but remained within eyeshot of the front entrance. He was conspicuously trying to look inconspicuous.
Rhynn got inside without attention and quickly made her way along the halls. While it wasn’t exactly an honorable talent she had always had a knack for sneaking and it was coming in handy now. She made it to the caravan schedule room without seeing anybody and slipped inside. Once inside she just needed to find the right book. Let’s see are they sorted by Scalelord family groups? Maybe location of travel? Hmmm. After perusing a few she found what she was looking for. Ah-ha! The trip to the northern-most aerie! Now just to add an extra Sunbringer. She scribbled her name onto the list of people on the caravan and just as she was placing the book back in its spot she heard a raspy whistle from outside.
With a new sense of urgency Rhynn slipped back out of the room and began cautiously making her way back to the front of the building. She didn’t hear anybody and thought maybe she imagined the whistle when she turned the corner and barreled into somebody.
“Oh sorry,” she stammered and tried to speed away.
“Sunbringer Rhynn?” The deep voice questioned and Rhynn had no choice but to stop and turn around. Of course it was him. Why would it be anybody else?
“Oh Foremost! Sorry sir. I didn’t see you there. I’ll be getting out of your way now,” she said while standing as straight as her spine would allow. The Foremost stared down at Rhynn, his expression unreadable. She thought about bolting but knew it would be better to wait until she was properly dismissed.
“And what would you be up to in the records building at this time of day?” He finally asked. Rhynn’s heart skipped a beat. She forgot to come up with a cover story. She was bad at lying even when prepared, but to come up with something on the fly like this? She was doomed.
“Oh! I was just, uh…” she stammered, desperately trying not to break eye contact as she strained her neck to look up at him, “I thought I saw Adi come in here and I had a question for them,” she finished, looking down.
The Foremost didn’t say anything, he just stared at her. Rhynn began to fidget and he sighed. “Why don’t we have a little talk. Please follow me to the records room,” he said with formal air and began to walk away. Rhynn just hung her head and followed. She knew she had been caught and didn’t see the point of arguing; it would only make things worse.
The Foremost closed the door behind them and gestured for Rhynn to sit in one of the chairs. So this was going to be a long talk. She hoped Emre had followed the plan and skipped out. She didn’t want him to miss dinner on her account. The Foremost grabbed a book off the desk and sat across from Rhynn.
“Posture, Sunbringer, you’re slouching,” He said without looking up as he thumbed through the book. Rhynn snapped her spine straight until it ached and looked forward. Somehow the Foremost always looked perfectly at attention, even now as he peered down into the book. She wondered if he even knew how to sit comfortably. She resisted the urge to tap her foot.
The Foremost stopped on a page and ran his finger up and down and his brow furrowed. “Huh,” was all he said.
“Is something the matter, Sir?” Rhynn asked, concentrating on her posture and keeping her voice politely disinterested. Was she supposed to look at him or straight ahead in this situation? He glanced up at her briefly and back down to the page. She thought she could detect some irritation on his face but she couldn’t be sure.
“It seems,” he began slowly, “I owe you an apology.” That wasn’t what she expected. She cocked her head in genuine confusion.
“Sir?” She asked.
“You see, I had believed you had snuck in here to mess with the caravan routes,” Rhynn flushed at the words but tried to keep her face neutral. He held up the book he had leafed through. “But it seems your caravan is intact. No missing personnel, no last-minute route change.” Rhynn stared at him, unsure what to say. He had it half right and she didn’t want to make him suspicious. He sighed and shook his head.
“I would like to let it go, and yet the guilt is plain on your face. Explain why you were really here,” he said in a commanding tone. His hazel eyes bored into her own. Rhynn took a deep, steadying breath.
She didn’t know how to respond so she decided to go on the offense. “Why do you treat me differently?” He looked taken aback by this.
“Excuse me?” he said, his normally confident tone now mixed with a touch of uncertainty.
“You treat me differently than everyone else in my age group, especially in my caravan group. Why?” She did her best to keep her head up, chin forward, and feet still.
The Foremost narrowed his eyes and answered, his voice suddenly gruff. “That is absurd. I treat you as I treat all young Sunbringers. As all young members of our Clan. You are all equal and will earn treatments based on your merits. Nothing more. Nothing less. You are avoiding my question. Now Sunbringer Rhynn, tell me what you were doing here.”
Rhynn knew she should probably drop it, but now that she asked the question that had been burning her tongue for so long, she didn’t want to.
“If you don’t treat me differently, how come I’m the only Sunbringer my age that isn’t allowed weapons training?” she spat at him and he actually sat back with raised eyebrows.
“You’re allowed the training, it just isn’t necessary for you as a mage. It would be a waste of time and resources.”
“Just like it is for all the other mages that do basic combat training? If I’m really allowed it, how come I’m shoo’ed away when I try to learn on my own down time?” The Foremost scowled but Rhynn pushed through. “How come whenever I face a punishment, it’s usually working in the stables, or some other activity I actually like? How come I get extra attention from you despite you being a warrior and strategist and I’m a healer? How come whenever my caravan gets assigned a route that’s so much more exciting than our usual ones, but it’s slightly more dangerous I, alone, get called away to help with something else and get left behind? How–”
“Enough!” Rhynn startled back as The Foremost slammed his palms on the desk and stood over her. She had lost control of herself, when had she stood up? Meekly she sat back down under the hardened glare of the soldier before her, holding her hands together to try to keep them from shaking. He took a deep breath and also sat back down.
“So many damned questions Rhynn. Always with the questions. Keep it up and maybe we’ll have to send you along with our next trades with the Ojutai.”
Rhynn was pretty sure he was attempting to relieve the tension with a joke. Probably. Part of her wondered if it would actually be nice though. If the Ojutai actually liked that you asked questions, that would be a welcome change, maybe she could convince Emre to come too…
The Foremost cleared his throat and Rhynn looked back at his face, his expression was unreadable.
“I… try to keep you from dangerous activities because I don’t want you getting hurt. I’m not trying to be unfair, I’m trying to protect you,” he kept his voice even but his eyes betrayed a look of sorrow that confused her. Rhynn knew this was supposed to make her feel better but it actually filled her with shame and anger.
“That’s not protecting me though! We Dromoka are supposed to be prepared for anything and I’m only allowed to learn safe things? That’s dangerous for me and my clan siblings!” She was trying to keep her voice even, but she could feel her voice rising involuntarily. “Plus you say you’re not trying to be unfair, but you are! I should face the same dangers and responsibilities as everyone else. I can’t just stay in Arashin my whole life only tending to the same animals and those with the same routine injuries, I–”
“With this insubordinate behavior, maybe you should!” Rhynn’s heart sank at the words. “That is as important a job as any other, even if it is safe and boring as you imply.”
“But–” Rhynn tried but he kept going, voice slowly rising.
“One of the most gifted Sunbringers of your age. Even some of the dragons request your services specifically, even over more experienced healers because of your innate gifts at healing and natural understanding of scales and draconic physiology. Do you understand what an honor that is?” The Foremost ran a quick hand through his hair as his lecture picked up pace. “And yet you would want to throw that honor away traipsing along the foothills of Atarka lands? Or permanently injuring your arms or hands in a weapon training accident? You get the same physical exercise and evasive trainings as everyone else, you don’t need to risk injury with swords and spears. You’re being selfish Rhynn. We all have a part to play and you should focus on what you’re good at.” His voice was even again; he knew he was right. Rhynn suspected he was right too, even if it hurt to admit it. She could feel her eyes stinging with unshed tears but she managed to keep her composure.
“I… I have other strengths, I could help others way too,” she offered cautiously. The Foremost didn’t stop her so she timidly continued. “Extra healers only make a caravan more safe. And I always hear complaints that we don’t have enough information on the creatures beyond our borders. I’m good at understanding animals, I could help with healing, even learn more from non-routine injuries and illnesses! I could practice more bolstering magic! I could even study the animals as well, I could make our clan a bestiary! I could–”
“We don’t need bestiaries of exotic beasts!” The Foremost raised his voice but wasn’t truly yelling; still it stopped Rhynn mid sentence and her brief excitement deflated in her chest. “Our Scalelords’ hides are strong because each scale falls neatly in its place. A loose or damaged scale compromises the whole dragon’s well-being. Each member of our clan represents each of those scales. That’s what makes us the strongest and most enduring clan in all of Tarkir. You should know this only works if we all do what we’re supposed to do. Do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” Rhynn managed, stifling a sniffle. She would do anything for her clan, but that didn’t stop the sinking feeling she had in her stomach right now. Like her future could never be her own.
“Now that we’ve got that out of our systems, I’d like you to answer my question you so expertly dodged around,” The Foremost snapped her back to the present, “And please sit up,” he added with a hint of exasperation.
“You never answered mine,” she replied sullenly. He sighed again.
“We just went through this Rhynn,” he rubbed his forehead as he spoke.
“You dodged the question too though! You just said you treat me the way you do because you want to protect me. Shouldn’t you be protecting us all equally? Reyna is a mage and she does martial training. Emre is a scout and he learns more than observation. Adi is a Sunbringer, but they get to learn almost everything!”
“That’s different, none of them–”
“Are your daughter?” Rhynn cut him off and then blanched at her own words. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, it was just a theory she and her friends had. If she had been in trouble before, now well… maybe they really would send her to the Ojutai. Hopefully it would be in one piece. The Foremost just stared at her with eyes wide and his jaw dropped. Rhynn bowed down her head and spoke frantically.
“I’m so sorry sir! That–that was out of line. I shouldn’t–”
“How did you know?” he asked, barely above a whisper. Rhynn snapped her head back up to look at him. It was her turn to look utterly dumbfounded.
“It’s… it’s true?!” she squeaked out. The Foremost rested his forehead onto his hands and began to massage his temples. He looked tired.
“You’re a clever girl Rhynn, I know this wasn’t a lucky guess. How did you figure it out?” His voice was coming back to him. He looked over to her and his expression swirled with different emotions.
Rhynn was so certain about her theory and yet hearing it confirmed out loud was surreal. It took her a moment to find her voice. “Well I look a lot like Keeleh, everyone who has eyes can see that. And it’s not like bondkins from the Atarka clan are common enough to say it’s a coincidence. You’ve been married longer than I’ve been alive so it makes sense. Plus…” she added sheepishly, “I have your eyes. Oh and the obvious special treatment.”
He had been looking at her with equal parts sorrow, affection, and pride until her final addition; then anger won.
“Damn it Rhynn!” he yelled and slammed the desk, causing Rhynn to flinch. She figured she should be done pushing her luck for tonight. “I’ve been trying to do what’s best for you! You have no idea what it’s like to have your children ripped from you and raised by other parents!” Rhynn was shocked by the conviction of emotion in his voice. “Sure we got to be there and help, but to not have you with us each night? To know we couldn’t be there every time you were sick or hurt or sad? It should be voluntary, it shouldn’t be this way. It didn’t used to be,” he trailed off at the end.
Rhynn was puzzled at that. Children of the Dromoka clan had always been raised together, had always been one big family. She fidgeted. She didn’t understand. She was feeling confused, frustrated, and angry. None of that was supposed to matter, but she had never seen the Foremost so upset.
“But… it’s always been this way,” she dared to offer in a soft tone, her brow furrowed.
“No. No it hasn’t. Not before–” the Foremost cut himself off and snapped his head back up, looking alarmed. This only made Rhynn more confused.
“Before what?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Nothing. I misspoke. Enough damned questions,” The Foremost was giving in to his temper. Rhynn was pretty sure he was doing it to hide something.
“But–”
“No buts! Enough of this. You were sneaking around like some thief and refused to state your intentions. Your punishment will take place in the armory.”
Rhynn dared to hope against reason at that, but her heart dropped as he continued.
“Crack of dawn before the first birds wake. You will clean and polish all arms and armor. I’ll let Brak know to be expecting you,” his voice was lower in volume but the heat was still there.
“But that’s not–” Rhynn began to protest but was cut off when The Foremost stood up, voice raised once more.
“No buts! No more questions! You will do as you’re told just like everyone else; no special treatment. Now get out of my sight and I would recommend going straight to your bunk. You’ve got an early and long day ahead of you tomorrow.” He glared down at her in her seat while she tried not to squirm. She opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it. She wasn’t sure any words would have come out anyway. Tears stung at her eyes but she managed to keep them from falling and merely nodded. The Foremost stood straight and addressed her more calmly now.
“You… are dismissed,” he said with an even voice and an expression Rhynn couldn’t read. Her vision was beginning to blur from building tears and that certainly didn’t help either. She stood up as straight as she could and managed to choke out a ‘Yes sir’ before she practically ran out of the room.
Once she got out of the building the tears began to fall. She wiped them on her cowl as best she could, she didn’t want to attract attention. She looked around for Emre but couldn’t find him. Good, that meant he followed the backup plan and should have set off for dinner. At least that way only she got in trouble.
Rhynn began speed walking to her bunk. She was too upset to eat, plus she didn’t want people to notice she had been crying. Her thoughts and emotions kept swirling around her head that she barely registered changing into night clothes and hiding under the covers of her bed. Her breathing hitched as she replayed the conversation with The Foremost in her head over and over. She loved healing but was that really all she would ever be allowed to be? Would handling animals one day be considered too dangerous for her? What did he mean when he let slip that families apparently weren’t always raised this way? Was he lying and if so, why? Would things be better or worse now that she confirmed her suspicions about their connection? Dozens more questions burned at her for the one that had been extinguished. She should be happy though. Her mission was a success; he never caught the change she made to the caravan. Emre was never caught. She finally got a punishment that seemed like a real one instead of something she actually enjoyed disguised as a punishment. Not that she wanted a punishment at all, but not getting special treatment is what she wanted, wasn’t it? Then why did she feel so awful? She curled up into as tight a ball as she could under the covers and tried to keep her breathing as even as she could as she started to cry herself to sleep.
