Aldris, the Dawnbearer

Aldris, the Skymane You Speak To

"You do not ride Aldris. You tell him what needs doing."

Temperament

Aldris comes from a line of Skymanes so ancient and so rare that barely a handful remain today. He has kept its power, its courage, and above all its intelligence. Like every one of his kind, he judges whoever approaches him and turns away from those who are unworthy. He carries the High Warden of the Ordo Aurorae, which is why men call him the Dawnbearer.

Handling him

Reins and spurs teach him nothing; he understands words. "Get him to safety," "take him back to the castle," "wait for me at the ford": he carries out the whole task without being guided. He never flees for his own sake, but he will carry whoever you entrust to him as far as it takes.

Rewards

He does not eat from the hand. He does not let himself be flattered. What he expects is to be spoken to plainly. Tell him why, and he will do better. Lie to him once, and he will remember. For a long time.

At the table

A wounded companion to carry out, a message to deliver, a road to find alone at night: Aldris is the one member of the group you can send far away with no one on his back. When nothing has been asked of him, he stands apart from the camp, head high, one ear turned toward whoever will speak first.