Eldhrimmer returned the next day, along with two other dragons. The Trio and Saphira met them on the terrace yet again. Not one of them looked pleased. Greetings, Eldhrimmer said and proceeded to introduce his companions. This is Fildr, he said, pointing towards a dragon with scales the color of clouds in the sky. And this is Hothamna. The other dragoness had dark brown scales and glared at The Trio with a frown.
We have discussed the matter, Fildr said. I am sorry, Aiedail, but the presence and activity of your minds can a likely will be destructive to the harmony between dragons and Riders. We cannot let that happen. Some dragons just can't be left alive...
You can't be serious! Saphira growled. She is just a child! Surely there is another way to prevent the mistakes in the spell from being exploited! If only we look a little bit deeper...Surely killing would be an overreaction. Maybe she can just stay here and have no missions in Algaësia!
Saphira, digging into the spell might create more problems than we already have. And even if she stayed here - dragons and Riders come and leave, the info about her would get out before we could do anything to prevent it. In Ellesméra, they already know! Hothamna protested. She seamed eager to get rid of Aiedail as soon as possible.
We can just let her leave, Flauga growled. She doesn't have to die. Eldhrimmer sighed as Fildr answered. That doesn't guarantee that she'll never come back. We need her gone definitevely.
Aiedail rose from her silence. I have an offer! Everyone turned to her, waiting for what she had to say. I fight one of the wild dragons. I don't care, who. If they win, I will die and no one will ever speak of me in Algaësia again. The corners of Hotamna's mouth rose, barely noticably. Aiedail could tell, that her idea seemed ridiculous to her. It was ridiculous. She was still just a hatchling. You know what? Sure, the brown dragoness exclaimed, choking back laughter. I will gladly fight you. There is no way I could loose anyway. Aiedail smiled. Alright then. Let's meet here tomorow. We can fight in that lowland over there.
And so everything was settled. The wild dragons left and headed back to their nesting area a few miles to the west. Flauga and Amma had many questions to ask Aiedail. You have a plan, right? You won't actually fight the dragon, will you? But Aiedail just shook her head. I do have a plan. It's gonna be okay, don't worry, but I need to talk to Saphira about something first. She opened her wings and just like that, she was gone. Flauga and Amma could only guess what she was planning.
The next moring, a group of wild dragons arrived to watch the battle. The Hall's residents gathered around the tiny plain near their home. They too wanted to see, how everything was going to end. Some wanted to help, but Aiedail insisted, that she had to do this on her own. She seemed confident, but Amma could sense an air of fear in her.
Hothamna was ready, standing in the grass. She glared at Aiedail, making her look even smaller, than she was. Eldhrimmer circled above them, checking if they were ready. Then he landed in the grass. Counting down from five, he started the battle.
Hothamna roared and lunged at Aie, but she was too quick. Circling in the air, she carefully looked and tried to determine Hothamna's next move. The dragoness growled and leaped forward. But Aiedail moved through the air like a hawk and kept avoiding Hothamna's attacks. The brown dragoness took off as well and the battle moved to the air. Hothamna snaped her jaws, but Aiedail, once again, escaped.
It took several minutes for the dragonesses to even touch. Aiedail took a few blows and scratches, but she was still holding up in the air. Hothamna was fuming. She was supposed to be done with the little hatchling in seconds. But instead, she was struggling to even touch her.
Aiedail's mind was buzzing with energy. Flauga could feel it even from that distance. The anger-filled dragoness spat out a flame and just like that, Aiedail was gone. She disappeared in a ball of light and nothing was left of her. Everyone seemed confused, even Hothamna. Even if the fire burned Aiedail, there would be something left. Some ashes, at least. But there was nothing. Hothamna's fire was simply too powerful.
The brown dragoness smiled as Eldhrimmer announced her victory. The battle was over. And the wild dragons won.
Amma recalled when Glaedr told her what it feels like to loose a partner of heart. She imagined the pain to be different, certainly. But it hurt no less.
The most confusing thing was the lack of closure. What was Aiedail's plan? Why didn't it work? Or... did it?.. All Amma and Flauga understood was, that now they'd never know.
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