In Episode 3, Buffy and Superian were startled by a large pack of wolves and fled into the night. Attempting to leap a river gorge that was far too wide, they found themselves out of airspeed and ideas. Acadian urgently asked his ancient and long dead dragon mount for help. Phantom did not disappoint as she forced her spirit from within Acadian into Superian. She then used the mare's body to transform herself into an ice dragon and flew Buffy to safety. Once on the ground and the shock began to wear off, Buffy demanded to know what happened to her precious mare.
ghastley- The last episode was a ‘jump off the cliffer’! I enjoyed introducing Phantom with a roar – er, shout. Thank you.
DE- Thank you for noting how important Superian has always been to Buffy. Their bond of mutual dependence will grow even stronger moving forward, introducing new benefits and challenges.
mALX- By Azura, thank you, my friend! Kind words indeed. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
hazmick- Thanks! Not to worry – Superian is in there. . . somewhere.
Lopov- Aww, thank you. That scene where time stopped and horse transformed to dragon in the air was an emotionally important one for me to depict as you say, picturesquely. I so appreciate your supportive words.
SubRosa- Bark biters, tree huggers and now, leaf wearers! I’m glad you recognized the dragon speech. Though Phantom may shout again someday, it won’t be in this book. That said, I could think of no better way to introduce her physical presence.
Renee- Thanks for joining us! Aedra, Daedra, wolves, dragons – yes, all the poor little elf wanted was a bath.
* * *
Episode 4
“Phantom and I have sacrificed our bond,” explained Acadian soberly while I stared at the imposing ice dragon before me. “This allowed her spirit to join - rather forcefully - with Superian. Dragon and mare are now bound as one. Just as she and I once were. Just as you and I have always been.”
“I’m sorry that you and Phantom were forced to take such drastic measures. I-I wasn’t paying enough attention to our surroundings. Perhaps if I had tried to hold our ground back at that meadow with my spells instead of fleeing in panic. . . .”
“Don’t second guess yourself,” admonished Acadian gently. “You made the right choice to use Superian’s speed and escape. You were surrounded by nearly a score of wolves. What brought such an unusually large pack to our location I have no idea, but before you could have cast your fear spell in the several directions required to affect them all, I’m sure some would have been upon you.”
The paladin was right but that did little to ease my apprehension about exactly what ‘dragon and mare are now bound as one’ meant. Slowly, I approached the beautiful winged creature. “Superian?” The massive head lowered, turning sideways so I was looking directly into one of the dragon’s glowing eyes. I placed my hands on the cool scales of her muzzle and looked deeply into that eye. After a moment, I smiled. “Yes, my precious mare, you are in there with Phantom.”
“She has little time left in this form,” said Acadian.
“What do you mean?” I replied. “Will she turn back into Superian? Can Phantom do this again? Do I have a flying mare now? Are we -”
“As you know,” the paladin interrupted, “Phantom and I died long ago. Her spirit is but a shadow of her former self - and this transformation has drained her mightily. I don’t know if she will ever be able to accomplish this feat again. I do know that her ability to sustain the physical presence of a dragon will soon fade and she will doubtless try to turn back into Superian.”
“What do you mean, ‘try’?” I said with growing concern.
“Phantom did what she needed in order to save us but. . . I confess I am unsure of the consequences.”
I suddenly noticed the moons and stars had faded. A growing glow on the horizon heralded the beginning of a new day. The day after I almost died. The first day of a new life shared by Phantom and Superian.
As the sun peeked over the eastern treetops, the ancient dragon that had saved Superian and I from certain death touched me gently with her nose, then lifted her head and moved back a step or two. Her ponderous movement over the ground reinforced that the sky was her natural domain.
She opened a maw filled with imposingly dagger-like teeth and spoke. “Lokkendovsonaak?” I instantly recognized her deeply powerful and husky voice that now filled the air around us. It was the same one that had commanded time itself to nearly a standstill.
“She understands us perfectly, but speaks only in dragon tongue,” explained Acadian. “The word she spoke means sky-warrior-priest and refers to me.” Acadian raised his voice slightly to address Phantom, ”Yes, old friend?”
“Nid krosis. Dahmaan Vensahliz.”
“No sorrows,” translated my paladin. “Remember Phantom.” He then added, “Dragon names generally have three parts. Vensahliz is her name and it means wind-phantom-ice.” He then replied to her, “Agreed. We have seen each other through many battles and will share many more. Elf, paladin, horse and dragon will remain together.”
Phantom’s eyes slowly blinked and she tilted her head. A deep but gentle rumble escaped through her teeth in a small cloud of cold mist. A sigh, I decided . . . of relief? It was then I fully realized that the actions she took to save us were motivated by selfless devotion to Acadian without regard to consequences. She was likely now as concerned - even frightened - about the unknown ramifications as Acadian and I were. I was glad my paladin’s words had helped sooth her – just as he always seemed to know how to reassure me when I needed it. The ice dragon then looked down at me. “Malkroronin. Nid krosis.”
“Little-sorcerer-archer. No sorrows,” Acadian said. “That must be her name for you, followed by the same admonishment she gave me.”
I nodded, hoping she would continue.
She did. “Dovah gro key nahlaas mahfaeraak.”
“Dragon bound horse alive forever,” translated Acadian.
“Does that mean what I think it does?” I asked.
“Phantom seems to think so,” replied Acadian. “The potential lifespan of a dragon is long enough that some would indeed say it defies time.”
Phantom slowly nodded. Her whole body then began to glow until her brightness rivaled the rising sun. As the light gradually began to dissipate, I could see her shape changing, decreasing in size, wings evaporating. My relief was boundless when the indistinct shape began to resemble a horse.
When her glow had faded away, I stared in disbelief. “Superian. . . y-you’ve changed.”
The horse that stood before me now looked dramatically different than the Superian I knew and loved. From a rather tall sixteen hands at the withers and trim weight of eleven times my own, she now stood at what I estimated to be a towering eighteen hands and a heavily built twenty times my weight. Her hoofs – the size of dinner plates - were heavily feathered in white fur. The mare’s mane and tail were the color of my own ash blond hair. The upper portion of her formerly black coat was now a palomino-chestnut hue. Her face, throat, chest, underbelly and legs were cream colored.
I slowly approached. The mighty mare lowered her head. Eyes that overflowed with the blue glow of draconic magic looked into mine. She nuzzled me and I hugged her as joyful relief flowed between us. “Yes, you are Superian, and you now carry Phantom within you. Thank you, mighty dragon, for saving and returning my precious mare to me.”
“I might have anticipated her physical changes,” said Acadian somewhat sheepishly, “were they not forced upon us with such unexpected urgency.”
“I will not protest, my paladin. What you and Phantom did – what you sacrificed – you both did out of love for me. If you doubt your decision for one second, just imagine how Superian would look now had you not intervened.” I shivered slightly. “Our broken bodies would have been tossed among the river’s sharp rocks until they settled on the bank somewhere to become food for the mud crabs. Besides, how could you have forecast these changes?”
“Well,” Acadian began, “I expect her size is influenced by the fact that Phantom was created in Skyrim. Her frame of reference is from a land where horses are larger than those found in the southern provinces. Dragons are unfamiliar with hair or fur so I’m guessing she took inspiration for Superian’s coat from you – a blonde often covered in buckskins.” After a moment he added, “Overall, I’d say she did well. There are no horns, scales, wings or talons on your mare. The only visible evidence that Superian carries the spirit of Phantom is her eyes - and I’d wager we’ll not encounter anyone who has ever gazed into the glowing blue eyes of an ice dragon.”
“I’m quite sure I will grow to love her new look,” I said. “In fact it is with great relief that I realize her lifespan now is much closer to my own. The thought of losing her to age in the blink of a couple decades has always terrified me.”
I conjured the mare’s grooming equipment and heaved a sigh. “Your coat is a mess, and just look at the tangles in your mane and tail!”
To my delight, a pale green butterfly joined us – the kind I had often seen around sunrise or sunset as far back as I could remember. The small creature slowly fluttered all around Superian and I with what appeared to be great interest as I went to work on the mare. I giggled. “Are you here to help or simply supervise this morning?”
“While the care you take of our dragon-mare is admirable,” commented Acadian, “have you forgotten that your magic satchel with its shoulder strap is the only thing you are wearing?”
I frowned. “Are you afraid our butterfly friend here will fly off to tell its friends about the naked elf grooming a horse?” I did, however, pause long enough to pull out a tattered set of buckskins from my mage satchel. As I donned the tunic, I couldn’t help but notice it did indeed match Superian’s primary color. My hands then returned to the mare. “You know, Acadian, I think I may have peed myself about the time she transformed into a dragon.”
“I’m sure she didn’t mind, Buffy. Besides, I expect our skim through the rapids washed everyone quite thoroughly.”
“So,” I mused, “are you going to tell me how Phantom brought time itself almost to a standstill with her voice?”
“Perhaps. But not today.”
*
From Buffy’s Scrapbook