The Guardian Spirit Ch5: The Taming of Union

That evening Jimgar received a summons to meet Medeevie in the Tower’s observatory. Dancing Bob escorted him down the long  corridors and up the curving staircase without a word (although his dancing moves were becoming increasingly elaborate). They emerged at the top of the Tower (Bob landing with a thump after a  dizzying triple pirouette) and found Medeevie waiting.

“Bob, have you brought the speckled feather?” asked Medeevie with a raised brow.

“Of course Sir,” said Bob producing from his sleeve a feather that was indeed rather speckled. “Wonderful,” said Medeevie.

He took the feather and started stroking it. At first nothing happened. Medeevie  seemed lost in his thoughts. But then Jimgar heard a flapping of wings. The flapping seemed to be growing  nearer and louder until it reached crescendo peak just above his head. Jimgar was scared to look up. The flapping sounded angry, like that time his mother had come at him with a knife in her flip flops.

“Here he comes!”cried Medeevie, “Hear he comes! The sky is  filled with him. Look up Jimgar, look up and see Union and marvel at his  beauty.” Jimgar looked up. Above his head was a tiny sparrow. He was hovering and at the same time flapping one of his wings into a megaphone attached to the observatory wall. He was laughing. A lot.

“Fooled you again Medeevie,” shouted the sparrow. “How many times is that now? Ten? He’s  going to be another five minutes yet. Ha ha. Your face.” Then, looking almost contrite,  “Anyway can I help out instead perhaps?”

“Get away with you Sid,” shouted Medeevie angrily. “I wish to god I’d never bought you that megaphone. You are  only meant to using it when coaching the relay team. You know that. It’s not supposed to be used for fun.”

Before he could continue there was a louder flapping, this time more clearly emanating from a much larger figure. Jimgar looked up. Oh jolly good.  Not only was the figure larger, it was also  dragon shaped figure. The sparrow looked over at the dragon then turned back to the group,”Well the big guy is here. I’ll be off. Although I could probably give that one a lift.” He pointed at Jimgar. “Weedy looking fella isn’t he?” “Hey!” said Jimgar, but the sparrow was already flying away – although every now and then he’d stop, turn back and flex his muscles,  as if making his point.

The dragon landed. He was a startling blue with red streaks all over his body – the brightness of the colours was rather blinding. Jimgar was tempted to cover his eyes but  worried at what sort of impression that would make. He’d never seem a blue and red dragon before. In fact he’d only ever seen one dragon before, a ruby dragon, and all that had  been rather awkward – I mean you it’s not something you expect to wake up with, no matter how much wine you’ve drunk the night before. Luckily she was pretty cool about the whole thing – didn’t take offence when he didn’t ask if they could do it again. In fact she even apologised for the burn marks, which was rather nice.

He looked at the blue and red dragon. The dragon looked back at him steadily. And then growled. It seemed to be a warning.  Jimgar looked at Medeevie.

“Well,” said Medeevie, Do your thing.”

“My thing?” asked Jimgar.

“Yes, your dragon thing.” Jimgar gulped. Jeez what had that ruby dragon told people. But hey ho. What Medeevie asked Medeevie got. He started undoing his belt.

“No no not  that thing! Good god boy what are you thinking? Your other thing.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Jimgar. And that was true. Jimgar didn’t have many things he could call on and none were currently springing to mind.

“The magic thing,” said Medeevie. “What else?”

“What magic thing?”

“You are actually  in the Curran Dor aren’t you?” said Medeevie exasperated. “You aren’t just a cleaner are you?”

“Oy!” said Dancing Bob indignantly, but then, remembering how little Medeevie disliked insolence (in fact very few people actually like the stuff), began clearing his throat in an exaggerated fashion, “I mean Oyychh – ooh  this phlegm, I just can’t get shot of it.”

“Yes I’m studying to be a mage as you know Sir,” said Jimgar patiently, “But I don’t know what you want me to do.”

“Mind control,” yelled Medeevie. You know. The woobie boobie stuff. How else are you going to ride that thing?”

“Mind control? I’ve never done mind control in my life!” said Jimgar. “That’s degree level magic now.”

“Degree level magic! We learnt that stuff in high school when I was a lad,” said Medeevie.

“Oh it’s all changed now Sir,” said Jimgar. “They don’t go anywhere near that in high school. Too much abuse  – making teachers strip to their underwear and go around the class on hands and knees howling at the moon- that kind of thing. It’s strictly degree level now.”

“Hmph. Any teacher worth his stripes would know how to resist the old Strip and Howl control spell,” said Medeevie scornfully. “You do a quick mental mirroring but with triple the power – the individual is forced to flail themselves to death – you know- stripping to the extreme. They don’t ever do it again. 100% success rate.”

“Umm I think the school governors wanted to reduce the flailing too Sir,” confessed Jimgar. “Some of the parents were complaining.”

“Reduce the flailing!! What is education coming to these days. It wasn’t a good term if we didn’t have at least ten fatal flailings. It’s natural selection. Filters out the weak. No wonder this world is going to rack and ruin. In fact no wonder I’m going to destroy it.”

“About that Sir…”

“No time no time. Right…well you’re going to need to learn fast aren’t you? No time like the present. Come Bob let’s leave young Jimgar here with his new acquaintance.” Jimgar looked at Union. The dragon narrowed his eyes and hissed at him. “Yes you’ll find he’s not the friendliest of dragons and the power of the feather will not last long. You have about three minutes  to learn how to  control his mind and get him to do your bidding. If not…well…I’m afraid he’s rather hungry.” Medeevie turned to Bob. “We still have that  list of other mages from the Curran Dor don’t we?”

“Of course Sir. Always several back ups. And some…” he looked pointedly at Jimgar “…are rather less demanding when it comes to dietary matters.”

They started walking away. Jimgar heard Medeevie say, “Might be some mess up here though- that will need attending to Bob.”

“Yes Sir but look there… remember last month Tomas …you can’t even see the stains now.”

“True true,” said Medeevie, fast disappearing down the stairs. “Good luck Jimgar,” he shouted over his shoulders. “Hopefully I will see you again. Bob – make sure that door is locked.” Bob looked at Jimgar and smiled. He waved the key- rather triumphantly it seemed – and then also disappeared through the doorway. Jimgar’s heart sank. He heard an unwelcome click- the door locking. His heart sank a bit more- it was now in hugging distance of his toes.

So the two had left Jimgar alone on the observatory roof with just a dragon for company. He looked at Union. This time the dragon was looking away. It did not make him seem any less threatening.

“Ok ok calm down Jim boy,” he muttered to himself, slowly approaching the dragon. “So I somehow need to learn  mind control. Right where do I start? Where do I start.  How do I get this dragon to let me ride him?”

“Let you ride me,” interrupted the dragon. He started laughing. Jimgar stepped back. “No bloody way are you riding me. That’s not happening.  Ride me! Are you having a laugh. Ha Ha.”

The dragon moved towards Jimgar. Jimgar took a step back. It occurred to him he might have  to throw himself off the Tower to escape. It also occurred to him this would be a rather bleak escape – a fast plummet to his death. He cursed himself for not selecting Flight in his options last year. Then stopped himself. A mage- even a trainee- should never curse himself. It never ended well.

He looked back at Union. He noticed the dragon was still speaking, seemingly to himself. “He wants to ride me. Hark at him. I’m one of the hardest dragons of the land. No one rides me- I ride them- and I crush their back when I do it. And then I laugh. Ha Ha. I’m  only here because of that bloody feather. But it’s already wearing off.”(At this he did look at Jimgar and Jimgar was convinced the dragon licked his lips.) He continued, “ No it would  take total mind control before I let someone on my back. And it wouldn’t be  easy. I can close of my my mind like this.” The dragon loudly clicked a scaly talon.He looked at Jimgar, “Oh yes it will take total mind control before you’re on my back. Ignore the saddle and reins I’ve placed there. Yes I know they look like they’d fit you perfectly. Umm …I always put a saddle and reins up there – it’s to tantalise you- this is what you can’t have- you know- that sort of thing. So you hear me boy. No  bloody way are you getting up here. Yes I know these stirrups look like it would be easy. And the saddle- softest leather in the land. But I would have to be  mind controlled for that to happen- totally mind controlled.” Union waited. He looked hard at Jimgar. “Did you heard me boy. Mind controlled.” He stopped. Waited again. And then, “Come on. It’s not that hard. Lots of people can do it. I bet you can too if you put your mind to it.” Then quickly, “Not that I want you to do it mind, but if I’m forced to endure it so that you can go on a nice long ride and we…I mean you… can have lots of fun with a dragon who is jolly good company even if I do say so myself, then so be it. If I’m mind controlled what choice to I have? All the boys will realise that. So come on Jimgar . I know you can do it. I’ll make it easy for you I promise.” At this the dragon smiled in a manner he clearly thought was reassuring, baring all his teeth. It was not reassuring. Not one bit. Jimgar stepped back further. He was now nearly at the edge of the Tower. “No don’t be scared.  I’ve made my mind totally blank. Look.” The dragon’s eyes glazed over. He face took on a rather bewildered look. “Ooh what’s happening. My mind is so blank. Oh I hear your voice. It’s coming to me in the  air. It’s saying, “Union you  will let me ride you. Repeat after me Jimgar, “Union you will let me ride you.””

“Ok,” said Jimgar slowly,  “Union you will let me ride you.”

“Good enough,” said Union quickly.  He reached out, picked  Jimgar up by the scruff of the next and plonked him on his back. “Congrats Jimgar – you’ve learned mind  control. You really are a powerful mage aren’t you. Right where are we off to? Let’s have some fun!”

And with that they sailed into the air, Jimgar holding on tight to the reins attached to the dragon’s neck and feeling rather proud that he had indeed mastered mind control with such relative ease. Medeevie would be proud.