Chapter 19: Edelmer

Edelmer was in the tukhtaash prison cell, which was a small room with a bed and a latrine with a screen. Edelmer was asleep, and his daughter slept on a bench outside the cell. Laylith didn’t want to leave her father alone, because tomorrow will be the court hearing.

“Aah,” Edelmer jumped up.

“Daddy?!” Laylith woke up as well.

“I had a strange dream that I was a giant snow-white argiphone fighting a huge fire dragon, and the fire dragon defeating me, incinerates me, and I felt the white feathers burning, burning my skin, I felt like dying... so I woke up.” He laid down on the bed again.

“It’s just a dream, dad.”

Suddenly a bright, beautiful woman appeared before them, her purple-violet hair turned blue near her chin, and her eyes were bright blue, and her hair at the tips was a delicate turquoise color. There was a scar on her left cheek. Her clothes were white and grey, resembling both dress and armor at the same time...

“My brother!” Lisandra exclaimed.

“What?!” Edelmer jumped up, “Who are you?”

“I am your sister!” Lisandra smiled. “My name is Lisandersterna Forbrandermedlis and you are Nordavindurrin Snavepaktunaljush! My brother!” And she opened the prison with a touch, and then flew up to Edelmer.

“Get away from him!” Laylith shouted and was already preparing to cast a spell, Edelmer stopped her with a gesture.

“Sorry, but you are confusing me with someone! I’m Edelmer Arnwaldskar! I have no sisters, I have a cousin Ingerbert Ragnwaldskar, and no more brothers or sisters.”

Lisandra held out her arms.

“Brother, hug me, and you will understand. Trust me, this is just a hug.”

Eder reluctantly decided to agree. And when he hugged her, he began to feel something, but he didn’t understand what. After a minute, he patted her on the shoulder and parted the embrace.

“I haven’t understood anything yet, Lisanderst…

“Lisandra,” askaldenfirst helped him, she smiled and looked at him with a love.

“Dad, do you know her or not?” Laylith was confused.

“Come up child,” asked Lisandra, “daughter of my brother, you are like my own child. I don’t know why your father can’t remember who he is. But the worst thing is that I feel something different, I feel like he is not a dragon.”

“Dragon? What are you talking about? Wait, wait! Maybe it has something to do with the dream that my father had, “Laylith realized. “He just told me a dream in which he felt like a huge snow argiphone.”

“Argiphone?” Lisandra was surprised. “It has never happened. I feel a kinship with both of you, I feel a connection, but there is something wrong. We, the askaldenfirsts, have already forgotten when we saw the last time our awakened brother. There are eleven dragon mothers in total!..”

“Dragon mothers?!” Laylith exclaimed. “You want to say that you’re the mother of those terrible and deceitful creatures?!”

“Yes, my children are not perfect but don’t call them like that, please. We are family now,” Lisandra said. “And they are not all my children, I am the mother of the Talanjir clan. And one of the renegades, Erbalartalanjir fought in the battle of dragons with his brothers. But the dragons, fighting among themselves, saw another horror, the return of the dragon Gaaldalksirin, a fire monster that has ceased to be sentient and is burning Ermir right now.”

“You mean he’s doing what your kids wanted to do?” Laylith asked.

“No, my children wanted to burn Ermir, it’s true, but they might have stopped when they saw their awakened mothers, but so far I awakened alone. But Gaal, led by some kind of killing mania, is so ruthless and powerful that he incinerates his brothers in a second! We need to unite and stop him!” Lisandra concluded. “But for now I have to save the arqilunians!”

“Arqilunians?! What’s happened?! Do you know where my mother is?! Her name is Lanialis Arnwaldskar-KelGalanod,” Laylith suddenly panicked.

“No, child, I do not know, but the forest elves are now waiting for me, I can no longer hesitate, I must save them, as I promised. Maybe your mother is among them… But I’ve already spent a lot of time arguing, debating and discussing.” She turned to Edelmer, “But I couldn’t get past my feelings, brother. That’s why I’m here. But now I must rescue the forest elves, and you’re free to go. My brother cannot be imprisoned!” and Lisandra walked away.

“Dad, do you understand what does all this mean?” Laylith asked, looking at her father.

“I don’t know, daughter, I don’t know. Hope Lanialis is all right. I’m worried for your mother.”

“Me too.”

“The only thing I know, Laylith, is that I love you and your mother! And what about this woman… I don’t know. But I know that Nordavindurrin translates from the ancient snunorf language as “north wind”.

“North wind is a beautiful name!”

“Yes, daughter, it is,” Edelmer agreed and hugged Laylith.