by Liss Thomas
“Stay here!” Charlie yelled to Missy as he followed his father. The other cabas bolted, giving the enraged caba a wide berth. Atian corralled the other animals, getting them out of the way, while Charlie helped contain the little beast. Missy knew at first glance that this was the right sized cabayo for her, but how could she control the little terror? The animal’s temper would be a challenge. He snorted and raged around the pen, knocking over the bulls and biting anything that came near. Charlie cornered it once but a swift kick landed him on the ground. He lay there stunned and muddy as Atian ran after the still out of control animal. Missy hopped the fence and ran over to Charlie.
“Are you ok?” she asked, stifling a chuckle.
“Great,” Charlie said between clinched teeth. “He’s been this way since birth. He was the last of an unusually large litter. His mother had four young before she died, he being the smallest. Other nursing cabas adopted three of the orphans, but he was so small he couldn’t reach the milk source. We fed him by hand for many months, hoping he would grow with the right care. After weaning him, we set him out to pasture again to see if one of the other cabas would adopt him. They ran him off and would have nothing to do with him. We set up a separate corral for him, thinking perhaps he could be used for young bulls to ride and gain experience before riding the larger cabas. We couldn’t break or tame him. Father wanted to get rid of him from the start. I always thought he would change.” Charlie sighed, sitting up slowly brushing his arms to dislodge some of the mud. Missy helped as best she could.
The whispered words in her head stopped her movements. Curiosity overrode the unnerving alarm as she listened intently to locate the source. She looked around the corral, eying each of the Bullclan within hearing distance, not them. She looked for Atian who ran behind the small cabayo as it came closer. Her eyes fell on the rampaging animal, and she heard another whispered exclamation. She didn’t hear words, but Missy heard or felt his emotions. He felt irritated, upset, disheartened.
“Charlie, can you hear him?” she asked, as she stood up facing the approaching animal.
“I hear him screeching and he’s coming this way,” Charlie said as he righted himself quickly and grabbed hold of Missy’s arm. “You need to get out of here.”
“I can hear his thoughts, I think. He’s upset because he’s unwanted.” She broke free from Charlie’s grasp and walked toward the charging animal.
“Whoa! Missy, no way, get out of here!” Charlie reached again for her arm. Missy dodged him then ran toward the small cabayo.
“Stop!” Charlie called, as he ran after her. Missy ignored him. She focused intently on the emotions flowing off the caba; rejection, unfair, unloved. Missy wondered briefly if he could sense her thoughts or emotions as well. She tried projecting a few towards the animal.
“I want you,” she thought. The caba made eye contact with her as he came closer. His ears perked up and he increased his speed.
“I need your help for my quest,” Missy thought hard, as she slowed and waited for the caba to reach her. She held out her hands for him. “Stop,” she thought automatically, as the charging animal closed the gap.
“Missy, get out of the way!” Charlie yelled as he too closed the gap. Missy whirled, gesturing Charlie away. She turned back to the caba and beckoned him. She heard the whispered emotions change. Wanted? She heard the emotion as a question in her head.
“Yes,” Missy sent back to him. The cabayo stopped hard just short of where she stood, sending up a cloud of dust and sand that coated her boots and leggings. He snorted and stomped then inched forward. Missy moved closer until they were face to face. Missy looked up and smiled at the wary creature, then gently reached out to stroke the animal’s snout. He leaned down and met her hand with his head.
“Good boy,” Missy whispered aloud as she stroked the animal. “You want to be my caba?” she cooed, rubbing the animal’s thick brown and white fur. She heard a happy whisper in her head and smiled. “Good! You want to go for a ride?” The caba bend his front knees allowing Missy to climb onto his back. He straightened and she took hold of his thick mane. “I’ve never ridden a cabayo before so go slow, ok?” she told him. Sensing his acknowledgement, they started walking around the corral. Charlie watched in stunned silence as Missy and the little cabayo walked past.
She smiled. “Do you have a saddle my size?” The whisper in her head assured her she would not fall off. “Never mind,” she called back to Charlie as they continued around the area. The cabayo increased his speed and whispered to Missy how to hold on. It felt strange to have his emotions in her mind and even stranger that she understood him. She laughed richly and leaned low, feeling the icy wind blast her cheeks. Soon, another cabayo came into view. Charlie rode with a saddle and reins. He moved with caution as he came up beside them.
“How?” Charlie asked, his eyes wide with wonder.
“I told you. I can hear his emotions. We needed each other.” Missy patted the caba’s head as she spoke. “Does he have a name?” She asked.
“Egan, it means ‘little fire’,” Charlie said.
“Good name,” Missy said. They rode around toward the gate. Atian opened it to allow them to leave the corral.
“Nice job, Missy,” he said, shutting the gate behind them. Charlie led them out onto the worn path leading away from the complex. They rode at a leisurely pace toward a meadow. The sun finally warmed the air and the wind lost some of its chill.
“So tell me about dragon country,” Missy said. Charlie glanced her way; reluctance and fear were open in his expression. He blew out a long sigh then began.
“There are two adult dragons at all times. They are the mother and father of all dragons. When the young are born, they are raised in dragon country until weaned. Then they move through worlds to find a home. They have the blue light of monsters also. The jackals are especially resentful that they don’t have this power. They have tried to take the power or produce their own. So far they have been unsuccessful but they have developed terrible magic in the process.”
“Why do they want the power so badly?”
“They want to rule. Not only this world but any others as well. We can’t seem to keep spies in their territory for long, so we don’t know what they are up to. What we do know is that there is something going on in dragon territory, and we can only suspect that it has something to do with the jackals.”
“So my mission is to find out what is happening in dragon country?” Missy asked. Whispered tingles of excitement skidded across her mind as Egan’s muscles rippled with joy.
“Yes. If you succeed, you are one step closer to becoming a monster,” Charlie said.
“Well, Egan is ready for a little excitement. When do I start?”
“Not so fast, Cabayo Goddess, you still need more training. Sir Alastaire and Vrag are en route to help you. Sir Alastaire will continue to guide you through the remaining quests.
“And Vrag?” Missy asked.
“A mystery. He’s never offered to train before; we’ve asked.”
“He trained me for several hours the night after my defeat.”
Charlie raised his eyebrow at that news. “Well, a few weeks with them and you should be ready for anything,” Charlie said.
“Can you come with me this time?”
“No, but I’ve already asked my father to help me send my reflection as before. With his help, I will be able to help you more in this quest. I think I’ll be a bird this time so I can help you scout the terrain.”
They rode in silence for several more miles before turning around and making their way back. Missy dismounted and assured Egan she would return later with carrots and treats. He bristled with anticipation before a stable attendant led him calmly to the heated stables.
Chapter 12
The arrival of Sir Alastaire Henry and Vrag meant Missy’s days were filled with sword play and staff fighting. She met them at the outer door and inwardly laughed as Vrag complained of being harassed by a trol
l to cross the bridge near his dwelling. He cut his eye at Missy who tried to look serious and astounded at the news.
With her increased strength, Missy held her own against her instructors as they crammed centuries of technique and skill into a few short weeks. Ginger and Elyen also came along to help coordinate Missy’s wardrobe for travel. Although there would be mostly outdoor accommodations on the journey, they insisted she take at least one evening gown, ‘just in case’. Missy rolled her eyes at the notion but took their advice none the less. Sophie brought in fabrics of all kinds as they set to work hand-making garments for Missy’s quest. When completed, she had several warm pairs of leggings with matching tunics, coats of heavy wool, and waterproof skins (of questionable origin) with matching boots, of course.
Charlie tried to busy himself with other things and not on the pending quest Missy would embark upon. Even if assisted by his father in sending his mirrored image along with her, it didn’t compare to actually being there. He could not help her fight or protect her from danger. He hit his fist on the wall in frustration sending a reverberation through the room. Moments later a knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Charlie called. He knew it would be his father.
“So what’s on your mind, and don’t say nothing, you shook the entire second half of our dwelling,” Atian said.
“Just worried, I guess. I’m stronger now, father, why can’t I go with Missy to dragon country? I could help her so much more if I went along.” Charlie had to ask even though he knew his request would be denied.
“Charlie, you know why you can’t go, and it’s not because your diminished strength. She has to accomplish this task with as little interference as possible. You are not an objective companion. Not to worry, Alastaire is going with her, he’ll be able to help and coach her through the quest without interfering,” Atian said.
Charlie sulked around the room as he contemplated his next question and the real reason for his agitation. Moving to the window, he looked out and spotted Missy in full training mode with Vrag. The Devil stood several feet taller, but Missy had agility on her side. She moved with swift and fluid moves against him. Alastaire stood on the sidelines shouting instructions as the duo practiced.
“Charlie, what is really bothering you?” Atian asked, breaking his son from the distraction. Charlie glanced back down once more then turned to face his father. He dropped his eyes as his thoughts caused his face to flush. Atian grimaced at his son’s obvious nervousness.
“I see,” Atian began. “You want to take Missy as your mate before her next quest, is that it?”
Charlie nodded but didn’t meet his father’s gaze. “How is it you know my thoughts so well? Charlie asked.
“It is not hard, son. You look at her the way I look at your mother. It is not hard to guess, but you are too young, Charlie. And she’s even younger. It’s not as simple as going through the ceremony. You don’t know what you want yet.”
“I know exactly what I want, father.” Charlie’s fierceness charged his words with unnecessary venom. Atian whirled on his son, lips pulled back and snarling.
“Have you mated with her?” he spat.
“No!” Charlie shouted back.
“Then why your impatience to wait? You are barely seventeen by human years and she’s not even sixteen yet. Perhaps in four more years you may join.”
“Father, please, I don’t want to wait.” He held up his hands to stifle his father’s interrupting questions, “and it’s not about the mating part,” he finished.
“Then what, Charlie?” Atian’s hard voice showed no signs of letting up, but then his gaze clouded a few seconds before he snapped back. He refocused his eyes, now softer, and rolled them.
“My mother agrees with me,” Charlie hedged.
“She wants me to listen with a more open mind,” Atian scowled.
“I want that. The silent communication you and mother have. I want to know if Missy’s upset, or hurt, or disappointed. When she tells me she’s fine, I want to know she means it. And when she’s on this quest—” Charlie stopped, a catch in his voice betraying a depth of emotions he couldn’t hide from his father. His father moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“She’ll be fine, Charlie.”
“We don’t know that. She could get seriously hurt, or worse,” he croaked.
“Charlie,” Atian started, “we won’t let anything happen to her. Sir Alastaire will protect her. Vrag and I will be ready to come to her aid in case anything should happen.”
“How will you know when she’s in trouble?”
Atian sighed and shook his head. “Well, if you join with her you will know, won’t you? But would you still want her if she fails in her quests?” Atian asked.
“Yes, father, I would still want her. There is no one else. Is there any other reason why I should wait? Just to see if she passed the quests and becomes a monster like me? I never wanted her to change for me. I envisioned myself as a human like her. I would change for her in a heartbeat if it meant we could be together forever and she wouldn’t have to face anymore danger. Even in a weakened state, I would be happy. She is all I want now, father.” Charlie watched his father’s face. He didn’t fear his father would reject his request now, but would Missy? She proved to be strong for a human, even when he’d know her in her world, sickly and bedridden, she had been a fighter. He didn’t see her backing down from her quests just because of his fear of her getting hurt.
“I have no doubt that Missy will join with you now, but I doubt she will leave off her quests afterwards.”
Charlie couldn’t help smiling as his father voiced the same concerns he had.
“So? Either way she decides, may we join?” Charlie asked.
“We’d have to work around some issues, but the answer to your question is yes.”
Charlie blew out an audible sigh of relief.
“Housing is the main concern; we’ll have to find a suitable space for you within the compound then add a few special amenities. A place you can both be human when you’re together. Your mother and I will find a place before Missy leaves on this quest. You might want to ask the girl tonight if she will have you though.”
Charlie couldn’t contain himself; he hooted loudly, embracing his father. “Thank you, father. I need to arrange a special dinner,” he said mostly to himself now. “I need a ring or something. I need clothes!” Charlie sank onto his bed, overwhelmed by the challenge ahead of him.
“You need your mother. I’ll send her in to help you. Females love this sort of thing.”
The day had been long and exhausting. Missy dragged herself to her quarters and closed the door behind her. Elyen waited inside, already running a bath for the girl.
“You did well today, my child. This bath will help take away the aches and pains.”
“And the smell,” Missy added. Elyen smiled, her doe face bright. Missy undressed then slipped into the water. Elyen dropped in perfumes and minerals that bubbled in the water. “Soak for an hour dear one, I will attend to your clothing. Dinner will be waiting for you when you’re done.”
“Thank you, Elyen,” Missy said. She closed her eyes and slid deeper into the water. Her muscles loosened as the minerals worked their magic. After an hour, Missy felt like herself again. Reluctantly, she left the soothing waters behind and went in search of dinner attire. Elyen was back with Sophie laying out a cream dress made of linen. The thin straps worked a crisscross design around the bodice and down the back.
“What’s with the flirty little dress, girls?” Missy wanted to know.
“You’ll see,” they replied in unison. Knowing that was all she would get from them, Missy obediently dressed in the short little number. She pulled her hair up in an elegant pony tail while the two women picked out a light wrap for the outfit. Thirty minutes later, they stepped from the room. Missy caught her breath as she stared in awe at Charlie arranged in semi-formal attire. His hair looked silky about his face and he wore a
tunic and leggings of elegant blacks and grays. He flourished a regal bow then took Missy’s hand, leading her away from his mother and the Doe.
After walking in silence down several hallways, Missy had to ask. “Ok, so what’s the occasion and where are we going, Charlie?”
“The occasion is a private dinner for two and we are going to the courtyard. I don’t think you’ve been there before. It is a most wonderful place,” Charlie told her.
“I don’t think I’m dressed for dinner outside,” she said.
“Trust me, you’re perfect.”
He guided her down several stone hallways, far past the cooking fires. Commenting on sections of the dwelling where interesting stories could be told, he continued the tour for almost an hour. As they turned the corner an arched doorway lay before them looking out onto a green meadow with plush grass, manicured flower gardens, paths, and a large lake creating the perfect scene.
“It’s beautiful,” Missy whispered as she took in the view.
Charlie led her through the opening and onto the path. Missy instinctively pulled her wrap close about her to ward off the chill of the air only to find the air warm and spring like. She looked up and noticed birds coming two and fro from the meadow. No ceiling, yet warm air blew here, not unlike the frigid temperatures elsewhere.
“How is this possible?” she asked, then gasped as Charlie’s bull like features melted away to reveal the human boy she remembered from her world. She ran her fingers through his hair, touching his cheeks and lips. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. She felt his strong arms encircle her waist possessively. When she finally pulled back Charlie smiled, kissed her, and continued their tour.
“This place is two square miles and is always warm.”
“I’m surprised no one else is here,” Missy said.
“Most of us are adapted to the cold. It doesn’t bother us nearly as much as the heat. I’m an exception; I prefer the warm weather to the cold. Tonight, we have the courtyard to ourselves. Come.”
He led her through the vast meadow, stopping by the lake to watch the geese for a moment as they dipped their heads below the surface of the waters in search of food. Moving on, they made their way to a gazebo surrounded by fragrant flowers. Missy gawked at the size of these blossoms, many larger than she. They didn’t look like any flower she had ever seen before, with their cylindrical appearance. She leaned in and inhaled their scent, sweet and airy. As she walked near another bed of oddly shaped white flowers that reminded her of jellyfish, they seemed to lean in and take in her scent as well. Their long tendrils lightly brushed her skin, face, and hair.