The Urn

Chapter Six: Conspiracy

After taking off the robe, and stretching her arms, Ariana sighed. "He's right. The robe won't cut it." She smiled. "And as much as I might enjoy not wearing a shirt, it's not exactly like me."

She started looking through the chests, hearing Simon talking with someone on the other side of the door. She ignored it, and found a shirt she liked. A silk white shirt with two blue dragons each embroidered on the back and front. "Not as unflashy as I like, but it will do." She pulled it around her and buttoned it up, sighing. "Not exactly the best fit." She stretched again, smiling as she felt the shirt grow tight. "But as long as I don't need to do much of that, it should be fine."

Then she heard a shout from outside, Simon apparently in a minor rage. "NO, Dream! Not in your wildest imagination." She opened the door and stepped out . . . "Not in his wildest dreams what?"

"Greetings Ariana." Dreamspinner bowed his head politely. "There are some things to discuss if you will join me?"

"What were you talking about earlier?" she looked from one person to the other, shifting uncomfortably.

"Nothing," Simon shot angrily at her, and glared at Dreamspinner. Then he turned away and walked up the passage slowly, taking deep breaths. She could almost feel the rage he had been worked into cooling slowly.

"Nothing that concerns you, Ariana." The dragon seemed cooler about the conflict, as if it had never happened. Dreamspinner nodded up the passage. "If you will join us, then?"

"I guess . . ." Ariana looked uneasy, and Simon seemed oblivious to her uneasiness, still walking ahead.

Simon and Dreamspinner entered ahead of Ariana, both looking angry, but not quite with each other. Feeling a tension between Dreamspinner and Simon, Ariana wondered if she had caused them to fight. She realized that whatever they were talking about has something do to do with her. Following both down a long corridor to one of the many rooms in the cave, she let out a sigh that escape her mouth as she tried to put what she witnessed between them behind her. She hoped no one would make a big deal about the latest change that occurred.

Looking around she noticed everyone had been waiting for them. Dreamer and IIth glanced up at Ariana as she walked in. Their eyes met hers and Ariana flashed a faint smile to them. She heard them whisper, making her feel uncomfortable about her recent change. Dreamer took a second look, raising one eyeridge with interest. Ilth seemed to stare, but Derra took no surprise. Timat looked at Ari and tried to smile. "See, you weren't turning into a dragon . . ." Timat said, trying to comfort Ariana, letting out a sigh. Was that . . . dissappointment?

Dreamer spoke at last, not being able to contain her curiosity. "Why that form, lady Ariana?" Carefully Ariana stepped further into the room and found a place to settle. She smoothed her shirt and gave everyone a smile as she pondered the question before her.

"Well..." Ariana paused. "I think this shape adds freedom and mobility. I am not sure why it came into my head. Lots of images did. This form seemed to just stay with me and it is not too bad." Her answer seemed to satisfy everyone who was looking at her as she spoke. Timat grinned at Ari, inching closer to 'The box', careful not to be noticed by Dreamspinner.

Giving Ari a nod of approval says, "I think it's fine Ariana. I know a couple of centaurs myself." At this Ariana returned the smile and started to feel better. Seeing everyone settle in the meeting room, Dreamspinner cleared his throat, preparing to speak. "There is something I'd like to ask of you all, and none of you know it yet." He looked around. "We all know that Gevillan has tried to destroy me, and my family. So far, he has only gotten to Spinner."

He continued without stopping. "Spinner is in hiding somewhere else and cannot be here, therefore he cannot tell what he knows so far. I need some help in dealing with Gevillan, who has more power than I at the moment." He tapped the box and it opened, the lid tilting back. "If you do not wish to risk yourselves to help, I can understand."

Timat looked at the box as Dreamspinner spoke, wondering what was inside it. Everyone was now looking at the box. Ariana tried to see inside by moving closer to it, but she still could not see its contents. Everyone seemed eager and waiting for Dreamspinner.

At last, Dreamspinner walked around behind it, and steped up on a boulder behind the box. "Please tell me now if you don't wish to be involved." He looked straight at Timat and Ariana as he said this. Ariana sensed the question was directed at her even though he mentioned all of them. She could tell Timat felt hte same way, from the way the dragon-woman grimaced.

"I'll help Dream." Timat replied and smiled lightly.

Ariana looked up and over at Dreamspinner. "Dreamspinner, I will be glad to help you and your friends. I feel it is why I am here."

Dreamspinner nodded in agreement and smiled. "Then the die is cast." He moved to the box and bent down to gather what was inside. "Inside are objects of power that were stored above." He pointed, "We are in actuality in the deepest caverns of Sethan Peak, hidden beyond wards of ancient age and great power."

Dreamspinner continued, smiling. "What is in here will help you, perhaps." He looked around. "We're going to try to take this closer to Gevillan's lair. I found a cavern system nearby, that will serve."

Simon looked up at last, frowning, but still silent. There was an almost chilling silence now. No one spoke, but instead waited for Dreamspinner to continue. Ariana could feel her skin fill with goosebumps at the deafening silence. Dreamspinner made a motion and Timat looked up at him.

The blue dragon pointed at a place where everyone could see; a picture appeared, of a mountain. Directing everyone's attention to the picture he started to lay out his plan. "This is where Gevillan has his lair, and as I said, there are caves that lead into it from underneath. The exit is close, hidden in the woods nearby. I think that it would be possible to sneak in quietly."

Timat looked down at Simon. "What's the matter?" she asked with some concern. Then she glanced over at Derra.

Simon shrugged. "What exactly will we be taking with us?"

Ariana stepped in with her question as well. "How far is this place?" Ariana looked at Dreamspinner and then at Simon, sensing something between them. It was an almost tangible tension . . . something that was still there from only a little while ago. Timat turned back to Dreamspinner, folding her wings and listening.

"It's not too far, actually. There is a portal that will take us to a place nearby the cave exit." Dreamspinner answered both questions and continued. He looked in Derrintha's direction. "Derra is going to be the one to lead the attention away, since she's rather good at it."

The little black dragoness smiled and bows her head. "And I'm proud of it."

Ariana started to laugh but held it in, allowing herself only a smile. As she looked around the semi-circle of people, she saw similar expressions on everyone's face.

"What we will be taking is as dangerous to us, Maiya, Ilth, Dreamer, Timat, Aurous, and myself as it is to Gevillan and whomever he has watching the forest." Dreamspinner looked around, calmly.

Simon now stood in protest. "You said nothing about Aurous. If he goes, he's going to be with me the entire time. . . are we agreed, Dreamspinner?" Simon seemed almost angry but was insistant.

Timat nodded. "Um . . . are we going to split up?" She turned to Ariana and whispered a short statement. "I wonder if Derra could find her way out of a sack."

"Agreed, since that would still be best." Dreamspinner looked around, then smiled. "If any of you can think of something better to do instead of this idea, then I'll listen."

Ilth looked to Dreamspinner, then to Simon, a slightly puzzled look on his face. Maiya looked at Dream but stayed silent. No one spoke for a long time. Then Ariana broke the silence, surprised at herself. "What is it Dreamspinner? What is it that can hurt you?" She took note that only the dragons were mentioned and not her or Simon. Ariana frowned and looked at the box. "What exactly is going on here? What are you planning Dreamspinner?"

Dreamspinner silently turned to the box and took out three ancient swords, each one alike. "These weapons are made to kill dragons. They will cut through scales like a knife through water, and the wounds cannot be healed magically. They are old enough to be impervious to most spells of today." He handed the longest sword to Timat, and Ariana noticed the sword was really much longer than it looked . . . Timat took it in both her hands.

"Nice sword." Timat said neutrally.

Ariana leaned closer to Simon, and spoke spoftly. "Are these the same ones I saw before? When I was taken and you came to rescue me from that other dragon?" She shivered, remembering the weapons which had sliced through solid rock.

Simon nodded. "Yes. He has quite a collection, in order to keep them out of the wrong hands."

Derra walked over to Ariana, and held out a longer sword. She unsheathed it and held it in one foreclaw, drawing it along the inside of her other foreleg with slow precision. It sliced cleanly through the scales, though the wound closed up immediately afterwards. Timats eyes widened as she watched Derra, and seeing that ability of the sword worried Ariana even more.

Derra looked at her and explained. "I'm not a real dragon, just a construction made to look, feel, and act like one. Except anti-dragon artifacts don't affect me."

"This is dangerous..." Ariana trailed off as in thought. She took the sword and frowned at it.

Simon looked at Ariana and smiled slightly. "This was dangerous to begin with. Now all that's changed is that we can be equally dangerous." He stopped. "Well, me anyway."

"If these weapons are not handled right, you all will be hurt if not killed. This is not something to be taken lightly." Ariana said with concern, looking at each of the dragons in turn. "What happens if you use them and get hurt? You are the last of your kind or family. I don't want anything to happen to you or anyone here." Ariana was very strongly against it, but had no other plan to take its place.

Dreamer shook her head at Ariana. "We are not the last. Spinner's daughter is still alive, as well as others. But they are away, and it seems best if they stay that way."

"No one wants that Ariana, and hopefuly nothing will" Timat spoke hoping to calm Ariana a bit.

It had the desired effect, and she was calmed again when Dreamspinner handed her a suit of ornately made scale mail which glittered in the dim light. Ariana looked at it, and froze; the armor seemed to be made of dragonscales of silver!

"I had a master-smith make this, to look and act like dragon's scales." Dreamspinner said. "It will be the best protection you will have ever had until now, I guarantee it." Ariana slipped it on and agreed that it was confortablke, but missed her old suit of armor she was wearing not less than a week ago. It knew her about as well as she knew herself, and had never failed her.

Dreamspinner took a few steps back and addressed the group as a whole. "I know you all will do your best, so I won't urge you to do any better." He looked at each one in turn. "You all are needed in this, andI wish it was otherwise."

Ariana took a moment to reflect on what she could offer the group. "I know or feel in my heart I shall be using more magic, though I hope I won't need much. I will do what I can to help though." She said this, not realizing her tone of negativity. In the back of Ariana's mind was the thought of more changes. She seemed caught up in this thought and wondered what more could happen to her.

Dreamspinner and Dreamer exchange glances. "It's entirely possible."

Ariana looked at Dreamspinner. She had the feeling something was not being told about this trip. "Are you telling us everything? Nothing is left to chance, not like this. Is there anything you are leaving out that anyone needs to know?"

"Um, I have a question. What exactally are we going to do to Gelvillan when we find him? Kill him? Well, I guess that not so bad." Not noticing that she answered her own question, she smiled contentedly. Then she glanced at Simon. "How long has he had that thing in his head. I didn't even have that long before, well you know" Timat frowned slightly looking down.

"Gevillan has had the Crystal for only, oh . . . . five days at most. And that means he has some measure of the Gift's negative aspects." Simon looked at Dreamspinner, who nodded agreement.

"Yes, he has been changed for the worse; warped, as you were beginning to be. But with the Crystal being corrupt with the strange magic which is allowing him to use it, it's not as severe for him."

Ariana spoke up, quiet but forceful. "So the Crystal warps anyone? Then aren't you warped, as well?" When she heard silence, she swallowed.

Dreamspinner's eyes moved to look to Ariana. "This is what you need to know . . ." He started finally addressing her inquiry. "The Gift the Crystal bestows upon those it chooses can corrupt the minds and bodies of the ones that remain in contact with the Crystal itself for a long time.

"You see . . first the person becomes possessive of the Crystal and anything else he or she treasures. Then the Gift is used when they least want to, and that over-use begins to twist their bodies into odd circumstances. Luckily, Timat didn't get that far before I was able to get the Crystal out of her"

Ariana could see that her comment of warping made Dreamspinner uneasy. She did not mean to judge anyone and certainly not him. Wanting to take the words back she spoke, Ariana hung her head down.

Then the blue dragon spoke gently, but firmly. "My dear, if change means being warped by the power, then that is true of me." Dreamspinner sat there, and smiled at Ariana. He moved his claw to gently move her head to meet his eyes. She now looked straight into his deep mystical eyes. Ariana listened to Dreamspinner, sensing she was in for a lecture of sorts.

"I've told this story only to those I think need to know it or those that want to know it and can hold the secret." Dreamspinner shifted a bit and continued "I don't know if Simon mentioned it, but I was not always a dragon, but human for a fair portion of my life. It was the contact of the Crystal the first time that changed me into a dragon, as well as five others. You see, you aren't the only one to lose part of your human self."

"You seem comfortable with being who you are now. How long did it take you?" Ariana started in, not relizing she needed to listen. She looked over at Simon and then back at Dreamspinner. Simon smiled and remained silent.

Dreamspinner could see that Simon did not get far enough in the dragon's own story. So he smiled again and took a long breath, letting it go slowly and began his tale. Ariana got comfortable and listened to the words unfolding to her.

"It took me about a year with a friend, searching for a way to undo it. We finally discovered the only way was death. and neither of use wanted that. Instead, I was content to remain what I had become, using a human shape when it was needed.

"Soon after that, however, I learned of the dark side of thie Gift I have been given. If someone uses it in the wrong manner, to destroy or to kill, it takes a piece of their 'selves' and doesn't replace it. In order to replace it, they become more attracted towards the things that misuse the Gift."

Ariana started to wonder if she could just will herself to become human again. How long would it last, and would she be the same as before if she tried it? She drifted off in thought and did not notice glances from the others.

Dreamspinner looked at Timat, nodding as if in acknowledgement. "One of these things is using the Crystal as a conduit for power regularly. That itself twists the user enough to make a major change. He paused and turned to Ariana. "Changes similar to what you experienced before, as Simon tells me." Suddenly he looked away for a second. "I had three of the others who had been 'Gifted' become twisted that way, and I killed them all, to release them."

Hearing this perked Ariana and she had terror fill her. She began to back away from Dreamspinner and more to Simon for protection like she always had done. She felt like running but knew there was nowhere to go.

"They were barely as I had known them, and they refused to reason. Therefore, I used the Gift in self-defense." He shook his head. "Since then I took the Crystal and kept it hidden where they could not reach it anymore. Until recent years, only I have had access to it,and I rarely let myself use it."

"Are you," Ariana began and gulped fearfully, "going to kill me as well then? I mean when all this is all over?" She was shaking and wanted badly to leave.

Simon smiled and touched Ariana gently to calm her. Dreamspinner only chuckled at her question. "The other two are as myself, entirely in control of the Gift. There are others now that have developed the Gift either naturally or as exactly that. Therefore, I can't kill evey person who recieves it . . . that is misuse of it and would destroy me."

Dreamspinner walked over to Ariana and led her over by Timat. She sensed, now, that he would not harm her. She was still uneasy but felt a little better.

"You will not be harmed. I see both you and Timat as in need of a fine control of the power you have. I believe I can help that come to pass."

Simon snapped his head up suddenly. "No." He stood slowly. Everyone turned in Simon's direction. Not a one said anything though. The dragon looked slightly amused, but abandoned that line of conversation.

"So, you see, there is nothing to fear from me killing you. That is, unless you allow it to warp you . . . then I won't be killing Ariana."

Understanding his reasoning, Ariana walked to him. "Well I am glad to hear I will not be slain by you." She gave Dreamspinner a weak smile and then turned to Simon, knowing he is bothered by something that was said. "Simon?"

Simon shook his head. "It's nothing." It was silly of him to try to hide it; there was something wrong with him, and she could feel it.

Dreamspinner cleared his throat. "A difference of opinion, that's all."

Simon shook his head. "He's right. It's just a difference of opinion."

Wanting to pursue this matter, Ariana spoke, trying to get to the bottom of this. "Nothing is never just nothing with you Simon. What is it?" She realized now that the tale of Dreamspinner is part of the matter between them. Seeing this could tear friends apart, she tried to bring them together. "How can we fight a common foe to save all if you two can't agree on simple things?"

Dreamspinner exchanged glances with Dreamer. "That is far from simple, Ariana. Far from it. Put it out of your mind for now."

"If it concerns me then I will not leave it." Ariana said, almost in a rage.

The dragon now looked at Simon, who shrugged slightly. "There is a place that is currently unsafe, but after this is over, will be safer. There you might learn how to use the power you have."

Simon waited until the dragon was done, then spoke his piece. "What I think is that the book should be all you need, since it is relevant to the power you are using. Dream admitted that not even he could be sure about the Academy."

Ilth and Maiya exchanged glances to one side of the cavern, smiling slightly at some private thought. Timat simply looked confused, and set to examining her sword. Ariana noted the three of them and returned her attention to the matter she had dug up. "Well?"

The blue dragon shrugged, "It's only a small problem, since neither option can be useful until after."

She sighed and then spoke clearly. "We should not be fighting with ourselves. We all need to focus on the matter of the crystal. Everything even me should come later." When she finished, she sighed and looked at Dreamspinner. "I'm feeling tired . . . is there someplace I can rest?"

Simon's light tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality. "Let's go, Ariana. You even look tired." He smiled reassuringly, and gestured for her to precede him. She shook his head and he shrugged, walking alongside her after the three dragons ahead. "Not quite your average day?"

"Far from it." She had to laugh at his statement, and smiled. "I just hope I can have average days when this is all over." Her mirth vanished with her thought, and she closed her mind and herself. They walked on in silence until they reached Ariana's room. Ariana smiled at Simon and walked into the room, closing the door and letting out a breath.

She looked at the bed, then down at herself, and sighed; this wasn't going to work easily. She stepped up onto the bed and attempted to lay down on her side. After about five minutes of trying, the sheets got entangled around her hooves and she slipped. A resigned sigh followed another minute of thrashing, and she closed her eyes, too tired to exert herself anymore.