#vayl

Threads in the Vayl: “Convenant, Chapter One”

Our first episode is live! Catch a new chapter every month on Nerdsmith.org or wherever you get your podcasts!

Aelwynn ran through the living room, nearly tripping over Taerel as he played with his blocks. Elle looked up from where she had an assembly line of sandwiches going and frowned. “Wynnie! No running in the house, you know the rules!”

Normally Aelwynn would have slowed down, or at least made a show of slowing down until she got around the corner, but she didn’t even bother this time. “I can’t! There’s a dragon outside! I gotta get my sword!”

Elle frowned and shook her head, continuing to work her way down the line of sandwiches, layering sliced meats and cheeses. There was a crash from one of the bedrooms and then Aelwynn came back, brandishing a wooden sword Seridyn had made her.

“Don’t worry mum, I’ll protect us!”

The six year old ran outside and Elle just chuckled, turning to grab the lettuce from the other counter. She could hear Aelwynn shouting at whatever imaginary foe she was facing off again, but when there was an audible thwack and a deep growl of pain, she frowned.

She looked out the window and inhaled sharply. There was a young blue drake in the front yard and Aelwynn was hacking away at his leg fearlessly. The lettuce was dropped to the floor, forgotten and Elle, heavily pregnant as she was, ran around the counter and to the front door. She threw it open and as the dragon reared its head back, her hand whipped forward, ice encasing the dragon’s legs and wrapping around its snout to keep it closed.

It let out a grunt,a growl and shook its head back and forth, trying to dislodge the ice, but she continued to layer it around the cracking ice, reinforcing it. “Get in the house!” she snapped at her daughter, and with that tone, Wynnie finally buckled and ran inside.

Elle grimaced, focusing on the dragon she knew she was going to have to release. “I’m going to let you go. I apologize for what my daughter did. She’s young. I mean you no harm, but I could not have you retaliating against her…” She eased up, the heavy hum of magic in the air dissipating and the dragon broke free easily, first his snout and then each leg in turn. Her hand fell to her stomach and she tensed her jaw. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Attacking a dragon was never a smart decision but what else could she have done?

The dragon settled bright, burning eyes on her and huffed, seemingly in amusement. “I wouldn’t have hurt the girl.” he rumbled and Elle visibly wilted in relief. “I wouldn’t hurt you either. I’ve been looking for you…”

“Looking for me?” she asked, not understanding. She had ties to dragons, of course, but she didn’t recognize this one.

He chuckled deeply and beat his wings, a mix of sand and blue smoke swirling around him, and when it cleared the young drake was gone. Instead a man in dark, simple clothing was standing in its place. His eyes were a bright, navy blue, his hair only slightly lighter. He watched, waiting for some form of recognition from the woman in front of him, but he got none. “You don’t remember me?”

Elle shook her head curiously, searching his face. He was familiar, but not visually. Rather there was something deep inside her chest that recognized him. Something that had the hair on the back of her neck rising up. All at once, a memory flashed into view, a small whelpling curled around the back of her neck, fast asleep as she worked on her alchemy. “No…” Her eyes snapped up to meet his and the smile on his face was telling. “Light… Vayl?!”

He huffed when she finally remembered and nodded. “I go by Vaylagos now… but yes. It’s been a long time. I didn’t think I--” He was cut off by the small, pregnant elf all but throwing herself at him, hugging him tightly. With a warm smile, he hugged her back, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair.

She stepped back and cupped his cheek, looking over him. “Look at you! You’re all… grown up! I’ve missed so much…”

“You’re not the only one.” he chuckled, poking her stomach.

“Oh… this one isn’t mine.”

“...What?”

Painting Vayl, Disciple of Everblight – Part 2 #privateerpress #legion #painting

This is a continuation from Part 1 of this series, which may or may not end up being a regular thing, I don’t know. It might be though, given that I have a bit of a theme for some painting that I think is fun. We shall see.

Last time, we left off with Vayl looking like this.

Still has work to be done, but she’s looking pretty good.

The next step is to apply a wash to the cloak. I used Druchii…

“I can’t. Mom, please believe me, I can’t. I can’t tell you. I took an oath. I can’t risk it; just know that I love you both and I’m..I’ll be fine.”

She hung up without a goodbye, slumped against the headboard, and stared ahead.