by Mary Vee
Gilbert could. He’d felt the same way after leaving the castle. Fresh sea air blew inland as he rode with his arms open wide. He nodded.
“The wind pushed the sails as far as the lines would give. I wanted to let go at least with one arm, reach out and feel the air propel me in the same way. I grabbed onto the stay and coiled my legs around the rope then released one hand. I flew like a bird soaring high above the blue depths.
“Out of nowhere came a powerful storm. It ripped the support line from my hands and hurled me around the spar. My stomach threatened to spew its contents on the crew that appeared with the first mate’s order. I dangled upside down, flailing around for a ratline or a stay or anything to snatch a hold.
“On the deck below me, the crew called out my name. They searched the entire deck looking for me. ‘Philip. Philip is missin’—anyone seen Philip? This storm will sweep him overboard.’
“Another yelled louder over the roar of the wind. ‘Thar he be! He’s on the mizzen.’
“I heard Father’s voice next. ‘Yes, Philip’s missin’. We need to get him below to safety, have you seen him?’
“‘I say, man, he’s up there. On the mizzen,’ shouted the other voice.”
Gilbert and Ben burst out in a guffaw. Philip wiped his laughing tears. It took a few breaths before the story continued. “I dangled there for quite some time before Father understood what the sailor said. To give him some credit, the storm boomed, echoing off the water. He ordered the crew up the ratlines in that horrific storm. They untangled the ropes and helped me down.
“Father decided I needed to learn how to scrub the entire deck…for the remainder of the voyage.” He looked at both sides of his hands. “Nearly every inch of my body had calluses on top of calluses.”
When the laughter died down, Ben asked, “You said that voyage had a special mission. What was it?”
“We took the body of Emperor Stephanas to the Crystal Sea.” He stood and stretched. “And now, sire, I am ready for sleep. I’ll take the second watch. Who will take first?”
Ben picked up a stick and stirred the fire. “I will.”
Gilbert arranged his blankets and let his head hang out of the tent. Stars filled every corner of the heavens. “Diamonds.”
“It is amazing, sire.”
“My tutors showed me Orion and the Big Dipper, but those are the only ones I remember.”
Ben leaned back. “One night after you returned to the castle for your evening duties, the trainer took us to the highest tower and taught us the constellations. He said, ‘One who knows their constellations will never get lost.’ He then told a story about a small group of men who discovered a bright, new star. They studied its movement west in the night sky and knew it would lead them to a special king. The men packed supplies and expensive gifts, unsure how long their journey would last or where it would lead. Their expedition ended when the star stopped over a stable. Inside, they saw a mother, a father, and a child.”
“Right. A crowned king cradled in a stable. Next, you’ll say the baby’s parents put the king in a feeding trough. Very funny, Ben.”
“Had you heard the trainer tell the story, it wouldn’t seem so weird.” Ben stirred a few embers. “Anyway, what shapes do you see in the stars?”
“Far to the left, I see two flowers, one above the other.”
Ben looked to the left. “Yes. I see them now.”
“The lower flower is dull and looks like a thistle but the higher flower shines like a rose with fresh dew. Weird.” Gilbert stared a little longer in silence then rolled over and pulled up his blanket. “Have Lord Philip call me for my watch.”
“Sure. Sire?”
“What?”
“That constellation you pointed to really is different. The tutor never taught us that one, and he said he showed us all of them. I’ll ask him about it when we get back.” Ben picked up his stick to stir the fire again. “Rest well, sire.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A faint strip of gold lined the eastern horizon. Gilbert yawned. He stretched to keep alert for the remainder of his watch.
Beyond the glowing embers from his camp, darkness shadowed the valley where the two riders had stopped for the evening, all except their fire. A tall animal’s silhouette, one much larger than a horse, appeared in their light.
Gilbert stepped away from his own campfire to get a better view. The shape strolled before their flames. It had wings, a dragon shape, and was tall enough to be twenty feet. He squinted, looking for the two riders and when he didn’t see them, he thought the dragon had attacked.
Gilbert raced to Lord Philip’s tent. “Wake up. Wake up.”
The knight pulled his blanket over his head. “Sire, when yellow and orange paint the eastern horizon and the sky above is no longer black, please rouse me again.” His snoring restarted with only missing a beat.
“Ugh. Fine.” Gilbert rushed to Ben’s tent. “Wake up. Wake up.”
“Huh? Time to go already, sire?” Ben rubbed his eyes then gazed at the sky. “It’s still dark.”
“Listen to me, Ben. I checked on those two riders you’ve been tracking and saw their fire burning.”
“You woke me to say that, sire?”
Gilbert shook Ben’s shoulders. “There’s more. Between the shadows in the valley, I saw a giant dragon. It moved around that campfire then circled the coals like a vulture.”
Ben rolled up to his knees. “Are you joking? What about the riders? Did you see them?”
“No sign of anyone down there. Come on. I’ll show you.” They crawled to the hill and peered out at the valley.
“I don’t see their camp, sire.”
“Look closer. It glowed a few moments ago.”
“I’m trying.” He stretched his neck forward. “Can you see it?”
Gilbert checked every shadow below. “No, I can’t, but a fire glowed right where I’m pointing a moment ago. I’m serious.”
Ben scooted closer to the edge. “Maybe they left. We can check for footprints when we get down there.”
Someone had put that fire out fast. They might have seen him spying. “We should wake Lord Philip.”
“I agree. I know how to wake him really fast.” He stood and walked toward the knight’s tent.
Gilbert looked for the camp in the valley again and saw only darkness. “What did you have in mind?”
Lord Philip lay peacefully snoring an aria, very much off key. Gilbert signaled a count to three. They leaped on top of his tent crushing it down on top of him. The knight looked at the sky and huffed. “Oh, come on. Can’t you two occupy yourselves until the sun rises?” He jammed the blankets tighter around his head.
Ben curled his fingers around the edges and shook the blankets. “Lord Philip, you must listen. We have news. King Gilbert saw a problem while on watch.”
He rubbed his eyes. “All right. What is the problem, sire?” He shoved his blanket aside and sat, keeping his hand on his scabbard.
“I saw a fire burning in the valley where the two riders camped. A silhouette of a dragon stepped in front of the flames and paced back and forth. I looked again but didn’t see the man and woman, not even their shadows.”
Lord Philip moved his hand away from his weapon. “Perhaps you couldn’t see them in the dark, or because it was so far away. My experience with dragon sightings has convinced me to be cautious and examine all the information. Often what appears to be a dragon turns out to be something else. For example, perhaps the man put his cloak on, and a slight breeze made it look like wings.”
Gilbert turned toward the valley. Dark blanketed the travelers’ camp. “That’s possible, but the creature had to be twenty feet tall.”
“Well, sire. Heat from a fire can distort appearances. I’m not out to prove you wrong. I only think we need to check the evidence before drawing conclusions.”
Gilbert rubbed his temples. A week ago, he would have said it was nothing more than a bad dream. “Okay. Let’s break camp and g
et down there.”
They grabbed a quick breakfast from the supplies then packed. Lord Philip gave Gilbert a boost up to his saddle then sprang up on his mount.
Riding down the steep, winding path and crossing most of the valley floor took most of the morning. They dismounted at the outskirts of the strangers’ campsite.
Lord Philip pressed his fingers in the footprints and walked through the site. He stood. “Sire, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my conclusions verify your sighting. Look at this mark and that mark. These are too large for human shoes. And these tiny pocks, one-two, I count four, line up like claws. The space between the two marks indicates the height of whatever made them. I’d say the creature stood eighteen to twenty-four feet high.”
Ben measured with his hand the distance between the indentations. “Can you tell if it harmed the riders?”
Lord Philip motioned beyond the fire pit. “Here are prints from two horses. Overlapping these are two human footprints. If the dragon used its fire, we would see something burned or singed. If it attacked, on a clear night as we had, I would say King Gilbert would have heard their screams.”
Ben sighed. “So, they rode away?”
Lord Philip tracked the prints farther up the road. “It appears so.”
“Maybe the dragon crept up on their camp and ate them before they could defend themselves. Since the horses didn’t know what to do, they trotted away.”
“Sir Ben, if the dragon attacked in such a fierce manner, wouldn’t the horses flee in fright? These tracks show horses walking not running. I suggest the riders rode on to Vista.”
Gilbert touched the prints by the campsite. “Then what happened here? It’s like the dragon and that couple knew each other.”
Lord Philip touched his sword. “I don’t know, sire. But I’m prepared to protect you from any foe, human or dragon.”
“And I’m prepared to fight.” Ben nodded. “You can count on me.”
“The sun is nearly overhead.” Gilbert walked to Promise. “Someone help me mount. Even with their head start, we might see them on the road.”
By midday, they arrived at the top of the next hill. Gilbert commanded Promise to stop. Far off, on the other side of an open field, something red stood out among the brown. “Lord Philip. Ben. See that small red dot? It’s like the roses in the paintings hanging in the portico.”
Lord Philip pulled beside them. “That looks like—” He blinked. “It’s one of the special roses.” He laughed. “I haven’t seen one in such a long time. I remember the days when roses bloomed everywhere in Aerlis. It was a magnificent sight. No one saw dragons, and everyone lived in peace. Healthy crops fed the citizens. Yes. Those were days to treasure.” He leaned forward, looking to the left and across to the right. “We’re close to Vista, perhaps nearer than I thought.”
Ben shaded the midday sun from his eyes. “Where are the two strangers? I don’t see them in the valley.”
Lord Philip hopped down from his horse and picked up a handful of dirt. “These tracks don’t belong to them. They are days old. I could go back and investigate where they deviated from the road.”
“No,” said Gilbert. “I allowed myself to be distracted once and went into Malum. We need to go straight to Vista and forget about those riders.”
Flocks of starlings lighted in the distance. Rabbits hopped from bush to bush. Nature seemed happy, unlike at home.
Gilbert commanded Promise to continue down the hill. “Keep watch for dragons.”
A sweet scent slipped into the air. The change between the breeze in Aerlis and here surprised him. Growing up, he’d never noticed a staleness in what he breathed. Now he did. This air smelled fresh and brought a sense of calm in him.
They rode into a field sprinkled with flowers. Colorful, fragrant flowers like lilies, lilacs, hyacinths, and all sorts of field grasses. His mother would love to come here, and he’d bring her, once the knights rescued her.
He stroked Promises mane and instructed her to gallop forward. The rose seemed like an invitation to enter a land filled with milk and honey. He couldn’t wait to see Vista and talk with wise Uncle Roland. His answers were sure to transform Aerlis to the peaceful and prosperous kingdom it once was.
The closer they rode to the rose, the louder his heart beat with excitement. At last, he had control of his life both as king and knight, working to save Aerlis.
Lord Philip sped up to ride alongside Gilbert. “Sire, there’s an unusual beating sound in the distance behind us.”
Gilbert looked at the wide-open sky. “I don’t see or hear anything unusual.”
Ben, who now rode on the other side of Gilbert, turned back. “I can’t see anything, but I hear it.”
They brought their horses to a halt and sat perfectly still.
A flock of quails suddenly appeared from the east darting to the earth’s surface and back to the sky. They screeched frantically then disappeared. Not far behind flew a great heron. Its lean lengthy body careened across the skies as though attempting to dodge another creature.
Gilbert drew in a breath. “You’re only hearing the birds.”
Lord Philip, the master hunter, turned back to the hill. “There. Sire, our predator is back there.”
Far in the distance, a dragon flew toward them. “Ride. Hurry,” commanded Gilbert. They raced their mares toward the woods beyond the rose.
Ben chanced a peek back. His eyes widened, and he gasped. “Hurry. It’s coming.”
Promise lengthened her strides and ran for the cover. Gilbert pressed hard with his knees against the horse’s sides to keep his balance. He flopped front to back until grabbing a handful of mane to steady himself. A huge bird-like shadow moved in front of him. “It’s gaining on us. We’ll never reach safety in time.”
Before Lord Philip could respond, the dragon swooped down.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gilbert drew his sword.
The dragon flew near and released a puff of hot breath that stank worse than the basket of rotten eggs found in the corner of the Great Hall last year. Gilbert raised his sword.
The shadow darkened over him. He plunged his sword high into the air. “Lord Philip, help!” The dragon swooped lower. Sharp claws dug into his scalp and ripped. “Lord Philip!” Sharp knife pain seared through his head. Thick sticky liquid dripped down to his ears and onto his face. He swung his blade but didn’t make contact. The dragon yanked its claws free then soared up to the sky.
Gilbert wiped blood dripping down his cheeks and onto his sleeve. “Come back,” he shouted. “I’ll be happy to cut out your heart.”
Lord Philip caught up to him with his sword aimed for battle. “Sire, are you all right?” he called. “Something spooked that creature. Leave it be.” He looked toward the sky then back at Gilbert. “Rush to the woods.”
“Hurry,” Ben galloped next to Gilbert.
The dragon flew ahead then turned about. Its large jaws opened wide. A ball of fire spewed and landed a few feet in front of them. It stared with villainous green eyes daring them to proceed. The creature hovered near the rose. It didn’t seem to want them to get near the flower.
The valley sprawling between them and the woods offered no trees, boulders, or tall brush for protection. Gilbert stopped his horse. The others rode close and scanned the area with him.
Lord Philip’s brow furrowed. “This dragon is like none other I’ve faced. Here take this cloth and wrap it over your head wound for now. It only pecked at your scalp when it could have plucked you up and taken you away. It could be playing with you before waging a full attack.”
“Or wanting a three-course meal,” said Ben. “Where should we go?” He yanked on Pokey’s reins to catch her up. “If the dragon is that interested in you, sire, we can give it your share of the food.”
Gilbert tied the cloth around his head and rolled his eyes. “Our friendship is made of quicksand.”
“Just kidding, sire. By the way, your new scalped haircut is very be
coming.”
Lord Philip cleared his throat. “As I was saying, why didn’t the dragon kill us? And why is it hovering over that rose?”
“Waiting for lunch to be served. Perhaps it prefers tableside charbroiled food.” Ben pressed his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, sire, it slipped out.”
Gilbert sighed. “We need a plan. How can we get past that creature into Vista?”
No sooner had the words fallen from his lips than the dragon let out a roar. The stench from its breath whooshed through the air straight at them, permeating their clothes.
Ben shook his head. “Testy, isn’t it?”
“I’m not going to sit here forever,” said Gilbert. “Draw your swords.” He commanded Promise to attack. The three knights rode side by side, straight at their enemy. Weapons the ready. They raised their swords and shouted as they neared the battleground.
Their foe leaned its head back and blew a river of fire into the air. Then, strangely, the creature’s head suddenly wobbled as if hit by a powerful force. The dragon spiraled to the earth and landed with a great thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air. The creature stared at the rose. Only the rose. Panic not fear flashed in its detestable eyes.
Gilbert checked behind them. The dragon pumped its wings, righting itself and preparing another attack. He refused to become a tasty morsel. “Charge, Promise.” He thrust his sword forward and screamed at the top of his lungs.
The dragon’s chest lunged forward as its head flopped back. Gilbert and the others commanded their horses to halt. Green ooze spurted from the creature’s mouth and showered down, soaking the earth below. The monster groaned the sound of death and fell to the ground.
Lord Philip clapped his mouth closed. “Who killed it? Did someone attack from the other side?”
They rode closer. Slowly. Cautiously. Then dismounted and tiptoed toward the dragon. Lord Philip poked its side with his sword. It didn’t move. Gilbert stepped over the mammoth legs and watched the belly for breathing. It didn’t move. “It’s dead. What killed it?”