5Chapter 6- The Palinder
Trumpets sounded. Caley's heart pounded in her chest, as she stared at the exquisitely carved mahogany doors of the great hall. Holding her chin high, she tried to steady her breathing.
Everything's fine. You'll do fine. She determinedly recited to herself.
Then the doors gracefully opened and Caley saw what made the great hall so very great. The room was long and encased by huge walls carved out of the precious shimmer stone. The hall was lit by torches that reflected of the stones, making the light dance and sparkle. The looming, green tinted, glass ceiling was held up by great pillars like statues, fashioned into the forms of men, elves, dwarves and other creatures alike. They all wore circlets on their heads, so Caley assumed they were sort of leaders or royalty. Looking up at the ceiling, she thought she saw large figures and faces through the glass. Then realised they were dragons. They were here to watch the show! At the very front of the hall, stood Shyla (and other important people). Behind them was an enormous golden statue of a dragon, standing regally on all fours almost as tall as the ceiling. It was made out of some unknown gem and its gorgeous scales looked so realistic, Caley almost thought it was alive. But Caley could not take her eyes off one thing, as soon as she saw it. It was on an altar-like stage. A large ruby encrusted goblet, holding the thing that was the point of this whole ceremony. Gold and glittering, it sat on its throne in a majestic but curious manner.
The palinderyle- the prophecy egg.
A nudge wakened her from her hypnotised trance. Caley looked beside her and saw a 40-something brown haired man. She didn't know him, but felt calmed by his kindly face and warm hazel eyes.
"Go on, girl. You'll do fine" he winked, then smiled reassuringly at her and with that she stepped out onto an oval shaped wooden disc that hovered into the air. It slowly flew her down the through the hall. She was doing her best not to fall off the silly thing. Why walk when you can use magic? She rolled her eyes.
The hall was littered with people of all shaped and sizes, seated on cushions. Elves, humans, dwarves and other creatures sat in their groups, all excited, but all equally not mixing with those other races. They watched her murmuring to each other. Caley caught some phrases as she glided by.
"There she is!"
"A human child! And female too.."
"Do you really think she's the one?"
"Doesn't she look wonderful" Caley heared some women purr, noting to the golden, flowing robes they had placed on her before entering.
"CALEY RAVENSBANE" a commanding voice boomed as Caley realized she was already at the front. She shuddered at her family's name. Shyla helped her down off the disc and they walked together to the goblet. Grinning at her, in floating blue robes, and a silver circlet on her forehead, Caley thought Shyla looked like a waterfall. All so different to when she wore her harsh, battle worn leathers. Caley could now understand that the she-elf was both the fighting leader of the dragonarmy, but also the caring leader of its people.
Shyla recited the words all in the hall remembered from their own experience- but not in a grand ceremony like this one "Do you Caley Ravensbane accept that you are now in the possession of this precious dragon egg?"
"I do accept." Came the reply.
"And do you promise that you will care for, trust in and protect the hatchling from it, to the best of your ability?"
"I do promise." Caley responded. Then came the extra part, which was not included in the usual ritual.
"And do you consent that you are the Palinder and bear all responsibility it entails?"
"I-I do" a crack came in Caley's voice, now barley a whisper. Shyla beamed and held her hands up to the air.
"Then, should the palinderyle deem you fit, take your egg, and with it, your new life, as member of the dragonarmy!" the elf thrust her hands down and the whole hall became silent in anticipation of whether the egg would glow, and if all Shyla had said would become truth. Caley walked to the beautiful egg, her hand raised over it. She closed her eyes.
Please, please glow. She mentally pleaded. Suddenly she thrust her shaking hand down on the crest of the egg. Nothing happened. She frowned. The crowed started muttering unhappily as Caley's confusion became clear on her face.
"This can't be it. After everything that happened to me, after all everybody expects, and you don't think I'm the Palinder! Come on, this can't be over" she begged with the egg under her breath. Caley frowned and her sea blue eyes burning with disappointment and anger, flickered orange. "Come ON! DO SOMETHING!" she yelled at it, still touching the top. All of a sudden the egg blazed to life and lit the whole hall with such radiance most had to shield their eyes. Caley yelped but could not take her hand or eyes away from the palinderyle. Then the egg zoomed into Caley's arms with such force that flung them both across the hall into the golden dragon statue. Steam emerged from where she was sprawled at the base of the statue. She desperately and protectively clutched the egg. Her egg.
A melodic, pure voice echoed from the egg into Caley's mind, but she did not fear it. It was the other part of her.
"Caley. Eons I have awaited you. What took you so long?" A mischievous and teasingly gleeful, hint edged into the last part. Caley was mesmerized and a bit taken back. She looked around and grasped that no one else had heard it speak.
Shyla, shocked at the exaggerated splendour of the whole ceremony, tried to regain calm. She was now happy that it had finally happened. Feeling the relieved sigh of her dragon, she turned to the masses as she loudly proclaimed:
"People! The Palinder is here... Now we are ready to begin."