by Charles Lamb
“Oh cousin, what did you do?” Abrianna commented as she closed her eye to better concentrate on her work. She stayed like that for a long while everyone watched. Finally, she sighed and straightened up while opening her eyes.
“Well, that should help some, but you are going to be quite sore for a few days. I hope the other guy looks worse,” she replied with a concerned look on her face.
“Thanks to Kinsey,” Cassie said, pointing to the wolf laying on the floor nearby as she flexed, testing her cousin’s work.
At the mention of her name, she opened her eyes, without raising her head. Her tail beat out a steady thumping displaying her delight.
Leander, Abrianna, and Kelby then retired early, leaving Alex and Cassie alone to go up on deck and enjoy looking out over the harbor at night. The torch light reflections danced on the calm waters, with the warehouses closed, but the taverns and inns full.
“Why is Kelby still here?” Cassie asked, as they sat together. Alex didn’t detect any jealousy in the question, just curiosity.
“Leander told me about the fight with the dragon at the lake. Kelby nearly died. After the dragon was driven off, she returned to the water to search for signs of your mother, though she could hardly walk,” he replied.
Cassie seemed to think on the description of Kelby’s heroics, and the search for her mom, before speaking again.
“Do you think Tantalus knows where the dragon might go? Do you have any ideas?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I don’t know about dragons, but I do know greedy men. There is no way all of Tantalus’s wealth was that lair, in the Dragon’s Teeth. He would never risk losing everything by keeping it all in one place. Placing half his wealth in the Northern Mountains ensures he has a place to retreat to, no matter what the local politics. Should things go bad for him here, I could see him escaping there, where people are obliged to help him.”
Cassie nodded in agreement before taking Alex’s arm and wrapping it around her. The two sat in silence, watching the activities around the harbor until they decided to call it a night and head below.
----*----
The following morning found all five of the on the dock, just after breakfast. Alex had conferred with Captain Yeagars and, with his assistance, selected five more of the crew particularly noted for their fighting skills. With everyone armed, including Kelby, who had selected a long dagger from the ship’s weapons store, they all headed into town.
The trip to the warehouse district was uneventful, although they did draw a stare or two from the early morning crowd. By the time they reached the House of Drakon, most of the shops and warehouses were open and starting their workday. Alex had the armed sailors hang back at the mouth of the street, suggesting they keep watch and come running should he signal for them.
As they approached the loading dock, there were two wagons at the House Drakon warehouse loading dock, with several men busily loading crates from inside the building. Stepping forward, with the others spread out behind him, Alex hailed the man he recognized as Tantalus’s assistant in Freeport.
“We wish to see your master,” Alex declared, in a tone not intended to alarm the man. Should Tantalus still be unaware of the activities in the mountains, he wanted to catch him by surprise. If he was already informed of the losses there, no eyewitnesses could identify them as the perpetrators.
“The master is away,” the man replied without even looking up from his papers.
With a boost of magic, Alex pressed a force shield off the roadway, propelling him up onto the loading dock as if he had made the leap in one stride. His booming landing caused the man to start, tearing his eyes off the paperwork and onto the man now standing a head taller than he.
“Can you tell me where he is?” Alex asked in a far less pleasant tone.
“I do not know, Sire, he had a large ship hastily prepared the day before yesterday, and sailed with the evening tide, last night after dark.”
“And you have no idea where he is headed?” Alex asked again, noticing everyone had stopped work to watch the exchange, but none had stepped forward to intercede on the man’s behalf.
“He gave no destination to the ship’s captain while I was with him, but he took one of our largest ships, so I would speculate he was headed east, across the sea,” the man replied, now visibly nervous.
The man appeared sincere , and Alex doubted a search of the warehouse would turn up anything of value. Tantalus had obviously been told of the events in the Dragon’s Teeth and was running.
“Thank you,” he replied to the man as he took the steps down to the street to rejoin the others.
“What now? He’s got half a day’s start on us,” Cassie asked after they walked out of earshot from the men on the dock. They all had heard the exchange.
“Other than Windfall, where would a ship that large make landfall?” Alex asked as they headed back to the docks and Cassie’s Quest.
“There is a seasonal port in the north. Half of the year it is frozen over and unusable, but currently it is free of ice,” Abrianna replied, clearly tying all their clues together. Between the oath of obedience from the Northern Lords, the grant in the Northern Mountains and the need for a deepwater port, it was the likely destination.
“Kelby, I am sorry, but I fear we will not make port in Freeport. Can I book you passage on another vessel to take you home?” Alex asked as they reached the docks.
“Why?” she asked, clearly not interested in the offer.
Now it was Alex’s turn to be confused. Stopping, he turned to face the little redheaded mermaid.
“Kelby, you risked your life in search of Cassie’s mom, something we appreciate very much. We cannot ask you to continue to do so.”
“Wizard, you are no fool and know damn well I joined this to try and avenge my mother’s death. In that effort, I would have died, had it not been for my companions. They risked their lives in defense of mine, and after I treated them so poorly. Now, the dragon still lives and I am in the debt of others. I will continue on this quest until we succeed or perish.”
With that, she turned and started for the ship, with the others close behind.
“Technically, I’m a mage, not a wizard. I am apprenticed to the Wizard of Great Vale,” Alex confessed as he caught up and then followed behind her.
“That’s OK, I’m only a junior mermaid. We are required to work in the bar until we can demonstrate the ability to control men to get what we want from them.”
“Interesting, and how is that going for you?” Alex asked as they reached the boarding ramp.
“I think you just got me a step closer,” she replied with a smile, as she slipped past him to be the first onboard.
----*----
Cassie’s Quest set sail within the hour of their boarding. Alex was pleased that Captain Yeagars had anticipated their departure and added fresh provisions while they were away. They were still stowing cargo as they exited the harbor.
“Set a course for home,” Alex instructed.
“Will we be stopping at Freeport?” Yeagars asked, glancing at the mermaid.
“Kelby will be going to Windfall with us,” Alex replied,
“Will there be more dragons, sire?” Yeagars asked quietly so the men didn’t overhear.
“Let us hope not,” Alex replied, knowing the Sea Dragon was still out there somewhere, doing Tantalus’s bidding.
----*----
Alex knew the voyage home would take longer than their trip to Freeport, as they were now traveling against the wind. Tacking back and forth across the chosen course would get them home a few days longer than the original trip west.
It had occurred to him that it might be possible to catch Tantalus at sea; their schooner was surely faster than the merchantmen Tantalus was in. Though it likely held three masts, to their two, it sat deeper in the water and was made for hauling cargo, not speed.
Unfortunately, it was a big ocean and, without a good idea of their precise course, the
y would probably never find them before they made landfall in the north. He had also considered making a run directly for the northern port, but without men to fight for him, they would be in a poor position to take on Tantalus and his crew.
On the plus side, Cassie and Kelby appeared to be getting along, although certainly not the best of friends. A ship this small ensured that they were in close proximity most of the time. Abrianna helped with any potential conflicts, though Alex had noted a tinge of possessiveness in her own interactions when Leander was involved.
Alex took the opportunity to go through the entire cache of documents they acquired in the dragon’s lair. As he did so, he set aside several exceptionally damning documents, intended for Ben’s review. There were several outlining the deals between Renfeld and Tantalus. One in particular described the sections of the Great Vale Tantalus was to gain dominion over as well as another suggesting a possible union between Renfeld and Abrianna, should she survive the war.
Another document went on to propose a marriage to Amelia would gain Tantalus a royal standing while giving Renfeld the ally he needed. Alex shuffled those specific scrolls aside, not wishing Abrianna or Cassie to happen upon them unnecessarily. He suspected Leander would be even more irritated at the suggestions contained on the parchment, including references to creating an heir.
In his off hours, Alex frequented the ship’s workshop, where he fashioned new arrows, utilizing objects taken from the dragon’s lair with the documents. Alex wasn’t sure they were what he thought they were; they were completely different from what he had seen, so he chose not to tell anyone what he was up to.
----*----
Cassie was at the bow of Cassie’s Quest, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the sea. Alex had been busy below, working on the pile of scrolls they had taken, and she was more than happy to let him handle things there.
Kelby was nearby, appearing dreamy eyed as she gazed out over the open sea. While Cassie comprehended the mermaid probably better than anyone aboard, she doubted they would ever be more than acquaintances. The mermaid had been helpful, and Cassie certainly understood her desire to avenge her mother’s death.
So long as she kept her references about, and distance from Alex, they could coexist just fine. With all this on her mind, she watched as the expression on the mermaid’s face went from relaxed to worried. She seemed to pause, as if straining to see something below the surface of the water.
“Dragon!” she suddenly shouted. No sooner had the words burst from her lips than the water off the starboard bow erupted with a winged serpent. There was a mad scramble, as sailors hurried to their stations.
“Alex!” Cassie shouted, watching the creature approach the ship, its head bobbing as it moved closer. Cassie looked on as the serpent raised its head high, and it opened its mouth. She saw the ball of flame gathering there and then watched it spring forth, driving right for her. The small flying form of the redheaded mermaid hit her side, creating a shooting pain and sending both skidding down the deck.
Glancing back, just where she had been standing, flames bathed the decking from the dragon’s head above. No sooner had the dragon began to spout fire, than Alex appeared from the stairwell, bow and spear in hand. She had no idea what he thought the bow was going to accomplish, however there was no time to ask.
Alex tossed the spear to a nearby sailor, then drew an arrow from his quiver as he focused his attention on the dragon. Cassie could see him scan the deck ahead, apparently planning his next move.
Rushing past her and Kelby lying on the deck, she watched as he deflected the second fire blast, diverting the flames down into the water. At this point, the ship had come abreast of the beast, giving everyone a good view of the scaly hide and leathery wings, as the dragon spread them in anger.
The beast turned to keep pace with the ship, this time directing its blast high, catching Alex off guard, and setting the upper rigging alight.
“Douse the fires!” Cassie heard Captain Yeagars bellow from his station at the helm. Turning, she watched Alex nocked an arrow in his Elf bow. Knowing full well the power of the weapon, she still didn’t understand the action as she expected the missile to simply bounce off the dragon’s hide.
Closing in on the ship’s railing, the sailor with the spear was able to jab at the dragon’s head, startling the beast and causing it to back away from the ship. Cassie could see the beast reassess its attack and it raised its head high once more.
As she watched, the dragon began to release another fountain of fire, just as Alex released the arrow. It flew at a blinding speed, flying directly at the dragon’s throat. To both Cassie and the dragon’s surprise, the arrow drove through its scaly hide and buried deep into the creature’s neck, halting its actions as it clawed at the injury.
Taking advantage of the pause in the attack, Alex let fly with a second arrow, and then a third, each driving deeply into the dragon’s hide. Cassie watched as the dragon thrashed about, flailing as it tried to remove the arrows embedded deep in its skin. A forth arrow drove into the dragon’s exposed eye, causing it to howl in pain and rage before descending into the sea, disappearing from sight.
“How was that possible?” Cassie called to Alex as she and Kelby joined him at the rail, looking for any signs of a return of the creature.
Alex smiled and pulled another arrow from his quiver, not risking the one nocked and ready for use. Taking the arrow that Alex passed to her from his quiver, she noticed the tip was not of metal. Instead, it was a polished reddish glass, fixed in place with brass wire. The smile he had on his face gave her the suggestion Alex had just attached it to the shaft. She passed the shaft to Kelby for examination, who then returned it to her.
“What is that?” she asked passing it back.
“Fire glass, I assume, but nothing like Leander’s spear,” Alex replied with a smile.
“From where?” Kelby asked in return.
“The dragon’s lair. Tantalus had a small box full of it. I grabbed the box with the scrolls before we left. I thought it might prove useful.”
She watched as Alex displayed a quiver full of the modified arrows, all with razor-sharp, red-glass tips. Turning to the mermaid, Cassie paused before embracing her. While holding her tight, she knew Alex could see her squeeze the mermaid before she finally released her. Taking a step back, all heard her say, “Thank you for saving my life.”
Chapter 15
Cassie’s Quest made port in Windfall a few days later. After the dragon attack, they had seen nothing more of the creature, attributing its absence to Alex’s injury to its eye. Alex was gratified that his fire glass tipped arrows had been as successful as he hoped. He was also thankful he had many more; he suspected he would need them again.
The fire damage to the ship had been minimal; most of the broken and burnt rigging had been replaced while underway. Overall, it had delayed them less than a day, so everyone was happy to be home on time. Kelby was the exception, as she appeared ambivalent to the homecoming.
Captain Yeagars was able to expedite their docking, pulling royal privilege in commandeering space along one of the commercial piers. Alex could see several of his soldiers clearing workers from the pier, allowing others room to help the men warping the schooner into place.
“Alex, uncle is here,” Cassie said as she pointed to the banners flying above the castle keep. While still very new to the whole social protocol part of his job, he knew that when royals visited, their banners were prominently displayed for all to see.
“Look there,” Leander announced, pointing to a small group of men approaching from one of the streets than ended at the waterfront. Alex could make out Ben and several of his military commanders.
“The Ranger Guild Master of Tazmain had dispatched a message when we returned there, informing His Majesty we were coming home. He felt obliged to notify the king that Princess Abrianna was safe and well. I suspect King Ben wished to meet us here rather than waiting for us to reach Great Vale,” L
eander added.
By the time Cassie’s Quest was secured to the dock, Ben’s party had arrived and all were patiently waiting for the ramp to be put in place.
“Father!” Abrianna proclaimed, as she was the first to descend, embracing the man at its base.
“I am glad you are home safe,” Ben replied returning the hug warmly. After they separated, Alex could see Ben scanning the group as they disembarked, stopping at Kelby for a moment, and then looking to Alex.
“We have a guest?” he inquired as he returned his gaze to the mermaid.
“Sire, may I present Kelby of the Freeport mermaids. She was instrumental in the search of Lake Vishap for Lady Amelia and has been a great asset in our continuing pursuit,” Alex announced with some fanfare.
“I thank you for your assistance,” Ben replied as he took the mermaid’s hands in his and gave them a warm and welcoming squeeze.
Before leaving the pier, Alex turned and gave instructions to the captain on returning Shadows, Rose and their other mounts to the stables, a welcome change for them, he was sure. He could also see Ben eyeing the sack and spear he carried, but felt that explanation could wait.
He caught the tail end of Cassie’s embrace with her uncle before the nymph took the mermaid, and arm in arm, led her away up the dock ahead of the others. As Alex and Ben watched, she seemed to be excitedly explaining all the sights around the bay.
“I am guessing that there is a story there,” Ben commented quietly to Alex.
“If you have anything to contribute, I am all ears. Those two have gone from the fiercest of enemies to the best of friends,” Alex commented as he shook his head in disbelief at what he was seeing.
“Is there a reason the two appear so similar they could be sisters?” Ben asked as they headed away from the activity at the ship as it was being unloaded.