Dragon Fool

by Delaney Walnofer

I hate keeping secrets. Rib groaned inwardly yet again as he flew closer to Cliffport with Damara on his back. Especially from Gavin.

  Before they left the hunting lodge early that morning, Damara had made him promise not to tell anyone about their agreement. He'd protested at first, but knew she was right. Mortaug probably wouldn't let them come if he knew what they were planning.

  "Land here!"

  Rib heard Damara yell at him over the wind.

  Fine, fine?

  Silently, he spiraled down to land on a hill overlooking the port. Everywhere, slopes were smothered in a lumpy pelt of grass, interspersed with rocks. Thin green blades stroked Rib's talons, as though admiring their smooth downward curve.

  Damara dismounted from his saddle, walking around to face him. Her scarf was hanging loose around her neck, for the dust and ash had all been swept away from here by the coastal winds.

  "Remember," she said, arms crossed, "I only want to come as a passenger. We haven't met before now, yes?"

  "Yes," Rib sighed. "I know. You've made yourself clear as ice."

  And just as cold.

  Damara nodded brusquely. "Let's go then."

  It irritated Rib how she walked on ahead to the port, even when there was no way she could know where exactly they were going. He found he didn't have to keep a slow pace around her as he usually did when walking with humans. Instead, he quickened his step to come up beside her.

  "One thing I forgot to tell you," he murmured. "Mortaug's mute. But his son and Gavin can translate for you-"

  "I'm not worried about it," Damara cut him off tersely.

  Rib relaxed his wings in exasperation. I'm going to be stuck on a boat with this woman?

  What does she hold against me? She's not rude to Damon or Tyrone or Theo?She was positively loving in that message to her brother.

  He remembered seeing Damara with Ivory that morning speaking a message for the wyvern to repeat.

  'I'm so sorry to do this to you again,' he had heard her saying behind Tyrone's stablehouse. 'I know you'd try to stop me. But I promised I'd get a cure for Cath. I have to?Don't worry about me, I'll be back. In time. I love you.'

  Rib wondered how her brother would feel when Ivory found him and gave that message to him, telling him his sister had gone off overseas without a proper farewell.

  Perhaps she is difficult to everyone after all.

  As they cut through the town towards the docks, people parted along the streets and stared, as was usual. Rib thought he saw a number of wary looks cast towards Damara as well, though, as she strode through, slate blue dress and short brown hair ruffled by the breeze. The young woman held herself straight, narrow shoulders squared, hand rested on the pocket of her belt where the precious vial was stored.

  It surprised Rib when an old woman stepped from the crowd, walking up to Damara despite Rib's presence.

  "I know you," the woman creaked. "They called you the Dragon Witch, but you saved my grandson, Baxter." She took Damara's free hand and patted it gently, beaming. "I will never forget what you've done."

  What is she talking about? Rib was baffled.

  Damara appeared likewise surprised, but her expression quickly became neutral again and she nodded silently.

  The old woman smiled broader and stepped aside.

  "Be careful, dear!" she called after them as they continued down the street.

  "What was that about?" Rib whispered to Damara, but she only shook her head. He wasn't certain whether it was a refusal to answer or a claim of ignorance.

  In the streets, children dressed in rags sang to entertain themselves. They didn't seem to notice as Rib and Damara walked by, but continued to sing their verse.

  "Quiet, silence

  Can't even move

  Let's not go to sleep yet

  We have dust to remove"

  On the second line they would let themselves collapse on the ground, then got up on the third to brush themselves and each other off for the fourth. Rib watched, charmed by their little game, until an adult rushed over and shooed them into the crowd of wide-eyed people.

  Everyone looks so scrawny, Rib thought, letting his gaze run over them. There used to be more people here.

  The image of men dumping a cart full of bodies into the mass grave flared up in his mind again but he cursed at it to go away and glanced up at the sun as though to cleanse his eyes.

  We're going to help them, he promised himself. We just need to get the cure.

  As they came upon the dock where their boat was tied towards the far end, Rib spotted Mortaug and Gavin around a pile of things.

  "That's them," he said and approached, trying to read Gavin's expression as the young man spotted him and Damara.

  Damara walked right up to Mortaug and held out her hand, which he took to shake.

  "Hello," she said. "I am Damara. I was told you were headed to Crageria."

  Gavin raised his eyebrows at Rib as Mortaug nodded.

  Damara looked down at her hands, removing a white ring from her finger. "I haven't anything to pay with but this." She gave the small treasure to Mortaug. "Please accept me on as a passenger."

  The expressive side of Mortaug's face was surprised as he studied the detailed ring. Looking her up and down as he carefully passed it back to her, he motioned something for Gavin to translate.

  Gavin gave a nervous laugh.

  "He apologizes for making any wrong assumptions, but must ask?Are you running from some kind of trouble? How did you get your hands on such an expensive ring?"

  They think she's a thief? Rib held his breath. What if she is? What if she's been fooling me all this time?

  No?Tyrone and everyone else trust her.

  Damara smiled somewhat. "I didn't steal it. It's been passed down in my family for years."

  The Captain shook his head, his rope-like hair dragging over his shoulders.

  "He couldn't rob you of your family's treasure."

  Damara bit her lip in frustration.

  "Treasure is nothing to me when my family's in jeopardy."

  Gavin blinked in surprise.

  "What? What kind of jeopardy?"

  Rib could hear Damara grind her teeth as the questions drove deeper. She exhaled, seemingly ready to give up secrets.

  Don't tell them the plan! Rib begged her silently. We might not get to go at all!

  "Rib told me he was going for the cure," she admitted, her hands playing with the ring she held. "I need it?for my family."

  To Rib's relief, she stopped there.

  Gavin frowned. "We can make sure to get it to you. There's no reason for you to come with us."

  No, Rib wanted to say. Just let her come. She's my chance to free Memory!

  Damara set her mouth at a firm line and held out the ring with even more persistence.

  "I'm not the one to wait and worry. Please. You have to let me work towards it myself."

  Reluctantly, the man received the ring, pocketing it in his vest.

  "Welcome aboard," Gavin said with a slow-growing grin. "We just have to finish loading the boat and we'll be on our way."

  They've accepted.

  Rib felt anxious as he thought of his and Damara's secrets.

  Only, they don't know to what?

  . . .

  "We're bringing a woman with us?!" Jasper's shrill voice echoed over the rippling green waters. His small frame sat bolt upright on the bench towards the front of the boat as Damara came down the dock, carrying a crate.

  Rib saw the young woman narrow her eyes at the child, passing her heavy container to Gavin.

  "That's right," Gavin answered humorously, bending his legs to set the crate down in the belly of the boat where he stood. "And look! She's doing even more to help than you are!"

  Jasper leapt to his feet at this remark, then gave his deformed hand a self-conscious glance and sat back down, hiding it in the folds of his tunic.

  "Where did she come from?" Gavin asked Rib, coming close as they watched Da
mara stride back up the dock.

  Rib shook his head. "I don't even know."

  This, at least, was not a lie. He'd only found her crossing the bridge. From where she came, he still wasn't sure.

  "My guess is the moon," Gavin said. "Her skin is just as pale."

  "The moon!" Rib laughed aloud.

  "So," Gavin picked at a strap around Rib's chest, "you know you're wearing a saddle, right?"

  Rib nodded slowly, his mouth going dry.

  It's for Damara! Do I tell him that?

  No, he shouldn't even know she can ride me?

  "Um, yeah?" he droned. "Tyrone let me take it. In case anyone needs to ride me."

  Gavin snorted. "Well, don't expect me to get any use out of it."

  Rib laughed uneasily, thankful for his friend's unsuspecting nature.

  Gavin gave him a funny look, patting the boat's side with a grin.

  "The person that sold Mortaug this boat told us the name of it," he said. "You want to know it?"

  Somewhat surprised, Rib nodded. Humans like to name everything, don't they? Their boats, their pets, their children?

  Gavin's grin grew broader. "Blood Serpent."

  "What?" Rib nearly gagged. "That's what they called it?"

  "Sure is." The young man rubbed his thumb over a small metal plate nailed into the ship's flank, a series of lines scored into it. "I'm guessing this is it in Huskhn. Not that I can read any language."

  "I don't like it," Rib said distastefully. "Can't we name it something else?"

  "No," Jasper objected. "Its name is Blood Serpent."

  Gavin scratched his chin, a thoughtful look on his face. "How about the Merry May?"

  "The Merry May," Rib repeated after him. It sounded nice, cheerful. He smiled. "Perfect!"

  "No," Jasper groaned and let himself slump back into a stuffed burlap sack.

  Just then, Mortaug came rolling a barrel.

  "Ah, the much needed water," Gavin said, helping to lower it onto the boat's floorboards. He stood it up, knocking his knuckles on its side. With his finger pointed at one of his monigons, he said, "You'd better tell me when you need some, Hesper. Don't go drinking saltwater behind my back."

  "Wasn't it father that ordered you not to drink the saltwater, Gavin?" Jasper jeered, but Mortaug snapped his fingers at him to be quiet.

  Rib looked at the five exquisite monigons sprawled out sunning themselves on the dock. Hesper lifted her head to the sound of her name, then rolled over with a drowsy groan. The reptilian hound was roughly the same size as the rest of them, but her hide was the only one that reminded Rib of a pinecone, reddish brown, each scale containing its own highlight. Tough fringed flaps hung down to her lower jaw as ears, and her tongue, pink and forked, lolled lazily on the dock.

  "We're really bringing them?" Rib questioned. "Won't they damage things?"

  "Nah." Gavin leaned back on the barrel. "I've got some ideas on how to control them."

  "Like what?" Rib inquired, but his friend just grinned. Instead, he asked, "What are you bringing them for?"

  "To sell," Gavin answered simply. "You'd be surprised. Here in Wystil they're plenty, but out there," he nodded to the ocean, "there people are really willing to open their purses for them. Especially these special lizards of mine. You know how astounded I was to find their clutch just lying out in the hills?" He gave a long-winded whistle.

  Another few barrels were placed into the boat and Rib waited, uselessly watching.

  "Is that all?" Damara asked, coming back with a thick coil of rope hung over her shoulder and stepping onto the vessel's deck.

  Mortaug nodded, signing something to Gavin, who called his monigons into the boat. Four of the dog-like creatures lifted themselves up and sprung in as their master commanded, but Hesper remained on the dock.

  "Hesper," Gavin grumbled, stepping out of the boat to go to her. The monigon opened her eyes as he blocked out her sun with his broad shoulders. "Come on."

  Hesper wriggled out of his shadow to continue basking.

  "Oh no you don't." Gavin squatted down and heaved her barrel-chested body up, wrapping his strong arms around her. The monigon growled, kicking her clawed legs, but the man only laughed. "Hesp, you know I can't leave you here."

  Mortaug cast the riled monigon a misgiving look as Gavin carried her into the boat, then motioned for Rib to join them.

  This is it, Rib thought as he crossed over the vessel's shallow sides to step in. The fore-half of his body bobbed awkwardly with the waves, until he left the dock completely and found himself standing in a boat for the first time.

  Whoa.

  He thought it strange to feel the water tilt him back and forth. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before.

  "One thing," Gavin said, now standing beside him. "You know not to tell anyone we're from Wystil, yes? There's a reason no one ever sails here anymore. They're afraid of-"

  "The plague, I know," Rib interrupted. "But who do you think I'd tell? It's not as though anyone will be wanting to talk to me anyway."

  Seemingly sensing Rib's bitterness, the young man shrugged and walked to where Mortaug now beckoned. As the Captain motioned for Gavin and Jasper, and even Damara at times, to do things, Rib began to feel useless.

  "Can I help?" he asked, but Mortaug just gave him a dismissive wave.

  "Move!" Jasper snapped at Rib, trying to pull one of the mast's ropes past him as his father ordered.

  Rib pressed to the side and watched everyone working to get the Merry May, out into the open sea.

  This is how it'll be the entire time, Rib told himself, intimidated. I won't have any idea what's going on.

  He finally found that the best place for him to stand was towards the back, close to where Mortaug sat using a stick to direct the small ship, or at least so it seemed to Rib's limited knowledge.

  Hesper was also back there. Planting her foreclaws on the brim of the boat, she gave a gravelly bark at the quickly disappearing port. Rib, too, watched Wystil with all its blossoming trees and spring green fields begin to shrink away as the sail caught a strong gust of wind.

  I can hardly believe we're doing this, he thought. It gave him a knot in his stomach, but out of anxiety or excitement, he couldn't be sure. I've never even flown this far out at sea before?

  And we've only just started the journey.

  . . .

  At some point, when land had long ago vanished and Rib had finished gawking at the ocean expanding in all directions, he and Gavin came up with a game to entertain themselves.

  "Honestly, Rib, it's not fun if you peek," his friend told him.

  "I'm not!" he argued and closed his eyes the rest of the way.

  "Alright," there was a pause, "where do you think?"

  Rib flicked his tongue inside his mouth, concentrating hard. But no matter how hard he tried to detect where on his face Gavin was touching, he couldn't. His scales weren't sensitive enough for the young man's feather touch.

  "Are you even touching me?" Rib questioned suspiciously.

  "Yes," Gavin answered.

  With a quick jolt, Rib pushed his face against Gavin's fingertip to better locate it.

  "My nose!" he declared, opening his eyes. "You're touching my nose."

  Gavin shook his head and withdrew his hand. "Clearly you've tired of this game if you won't even play it fairly." He leaned back on the inner side of the ship, fingers knit behind his head. "You know, it's times like these I'm reminded of just how young you are."

  "What does that mean?" Rib protested, but was interrupted by a frisky monigon which tore between them to snap at another monigon's tail. Those two started squabbling and that got the lot of them riled. Soon all five monigons raced in circles around the deck. Apparently the hours of sailing were finally making them restless.

  "Gavin!" Jasper shouted as one nearly clipped him, leaping past. The scrawny boy could hardly keep his balance avoiding the animals.

  Gavin sighed and stood up, taking on a
n authoritative pose as he commanded, "Be still!"

  Rib saw how little effect his order had. The monigons didn't even look at him, but continued on with their game of chasing each other. Towards the back, Damara frowned, tucking her long dress around her legs where she sat. Mortaug didn't look any more pleased than her, signing something to Gavin, who observed his pets contemplatively.

  "I suppose now is a good time to try my idea," he murmured and crouched down, arms at the ready.

  As one monigon came tearing towards him, he snatched it up and, with a great heave, tossed it overboard.

  "Gavin!" Rib exclaimed in horror over Jasper's wild laughter.

  The thrown monigon resurfaced, snorting water out of its nostrils with a surprised look.

  "What?" Gavin laughed. "He likes swimming. Look."

  Rib wasn't sure if 'like' was the word, but the animal seemed to be paddling alongside the boat well enough. The other monigons had clearly noticed their pack mate in the water, for they stopped their playing and peered over the edge at him.

  "How are you going to get him back in?" Rib asked worriedly.

  Gavin sat down, resting an arm on the wooden side. "Couldn't you lift him out?"

  "Me?" Rib looked again at the swimming monigon. "Why should I have to?"

  "You don't." His friend shrugged. "I'll find a way once he's good and tired."

  It wasn't long before the monigon began to lag behind. Gavin stood to see him paddling after them. Four monigons stood at the back of the boat, barking at him.

  Rib looked to Gavin, who looked back at him, eye brows raised.

  Rib sighed. I suppose this is something I can do.

  "I'll get him?"

  He moved out from under the sail and opened his wings. Lifting off from the deck, he flew to the monigon and picked him up as he would a deer carcass, hauling him back into the boat. As soon as the reptilian hound was set down, he shook water from his hide and joined Hesper on the floor, panting slightly.

  "There, see?" Gavin grinned when Rib returned to him and lay down. The young man motioned to his monigons, all of which were calm. "Now that was a good idea."

  "You're not even going to say thanks?" Rib muttered.

  "Sure, sure," Gavin assured, but never actually did. Instead, he took out his flute and blew softly through it.

  Rib closed his eyes. I guess music is thanks enough.

  After a while of Gavin's melody, Jasper's irritable voice interrupted, "Will you play something different for once?"

  What?

  Rib only just realized that Gavin had been repeating the same tune all this time.

  "Sorry," Gavin apologized, and mumbled, "I'm working on something."

  When Jasper began complaining about hunger cramps, Mortaug had biscuits and dried meats taken out of storage, distributing them to each pair of hands. Rib took one look at the unappealing food and thought it an appropriate time to go fishing.

  Flying out over the blue waters, he was able to find a great number of fish and ate until full. With his stomach feeling as though ready to burst, he managed to catch a few more and unloaded them into the boat. Immediately, the monigons stopped pestering the humans for what little food they had and leapt on the pile of fish.

  Rib smiled in self-satisfaction, until he saw Jasper hungrily reach for one of the fish as well.

  I thought he didn't like raw fish, he thought, and yet there the boy was, hastily using his fingers to pick meat off the bones. He must be starving?

  Even the others, he realized, were eyeing the fish that rapidly disappeared down the monigons' throats. Their small portions of dried meat and biscuit were long gone and hunger seemed to haunt their gaze, seemingly awakened by the presence of food.

  Of course. The famine?

  Rib cursed himself for forgetting.

  "Anyone else want fish?" he asked, ignoring his uncomfortably full stomach as he splayed his wings. They all nodded dazedly and he took off, determined to fish until they were full.

  Now this is something I can do.

  They won't even remember what hunger feels like by the time I've finished with them.

  . . .

  Rib dreamt he was lying on his back, gazing up at the golden canopy. Locks of his dark hair rested on his lashes, moving every time he blinked.

  Human, he thought, relishing how he felt, hands clasped over his stomach, legs stretched out with feet pointed to the sky. I love being human.

  Rib, Damara spoke and he sat up to see her approaching him from behind a tree, arms full with a small dragon. I found her. Isn't she what you wanted? Quick, we must hide her.

  She knelt beside his dragon saddle on the ground and began stuffing the poor creature into one of its large compartments.

  Hey, stop! Rib cried when he recognized the little dragon to be his sister, Memory, no larger than a cat. Hurriedly, he pushed Damara aside and took Memory up in his arms. She looked up at him with big eyes.

  Memory! Rib laughed with delight, stroking the top of her head with one gentle finger. He sat down again with her in his lap. It's you. I finally have you.

  Great, Damara said as she picked herself up, eyes glaring. We're all so happy for you.

  As she spoke, the trees around them turned to ghastly-looking people. Memory hid herself inside Rib's vest when they began applauding him, rotten flesh flinging from their decaying hands.

  What's wrong with them? Rib scrambled back and held Memory close.

  The plague, Damara answered. You've failed them all.

  But no! I'm getting the cure still- I am!

  Are you? Because you're headed the wrong way. Tell us, can't you feel it?

  I?I can?

  The dream faded as Rib awoke from his nap, aware of a feeling he hadn't sensed in the several days they'd been sailing. Slowly, he stirred, opening his eyes and blinking to adjust them to the brightness of the overcast sky above. Veiled by clouds, the sun looked like the moon, round and white. Rib appreciated being able to see it without its blazing light assaulting his eyes.

  Repositioning himself, he lifted his head and looked around. Blue waves whipped with white splashed against the sides of the boat, sending up spray into his face. Beside him, laying on his back, was Gavin. Rib couldn't tell whether he was asleep or not, but his eyes were closed, his expression neutral, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. His monigons were also lying around, like lazy dogs.

  Across the deck, Damara sat cleaning her nails with the tip of her knife despite the boat's constant rocking. Mortaug managed the steering oar with Jasper at his side, both looking at a map.

  This feeling?

  "Why have we changed direction?" Rib asked, standing up to approach the Captain and his son and peer down at the squiggly map.

  "What are you talking about?" Jasper asked. "Father's been following the compass."

  The boy held up a small object. Rib squinted at its tiny parts but didn't understand.

  "What? What does that do?"

  "It shows us which way to go," Jasper retorted, a black curl of hair falling into his face.

  Rib lifted his head, looking to see where they were going. Everywhere, the deep blue water reaching out as far as he could see was all the same to his eyes, but his body told him something was different.

  "Well, this isn't the direction we started off at," Rib said confidently.

  Mortaug furrowed half of his brow, signing something.

  Jasper looked at his hands, then turned to Rib.

  "He says you don't know what you're talking about!" the boy announced. "And you should just leave the navigation to him, because he's the Captain and you're just a dragon that-"

  Mortaug clapped a heavy hand over his son's shoulder and pushed him over, shaking his head. This wouldn't be the first time the boy tried putting words in his father's mouth. Jasper picked himself up again, looking upset. With angry wet eyes, he watched Mortaug's next gestures and turned obediently to get Gavin.

  Gavin got up as the boy prodded hi
m in the side with his foot.

  "Alright, alright," the young man said, brushing Jasper away.

  The child went and sat towards the foremost part of the boat, arms crossed as he stared intensely out at sea. A monigon came to nuzzle him in the ear but Jasper snapped at it to go away.

  Gavin came over to Mortaug and Rib, rubbing one eye.

  "What is it?" he yawned.

  Mortaug made another series of hand gestures, motioning to Rib.

  Gavin sighed.

  "He's asking why you think we've changed direction," he interpreted.

  "Well," Rib hesitated, "I don't know. I can feel it."

  Damara scoffed from the side.

  Gavin smiled wryly and looked to the Captain.

  "He says the compass says otherwise, sorry."

  Rib frowned. "But why would you trust that? I mean, I'm the one with the mind!"

  Gavin laughed and punched him in the shoulder wing. "Rib, we'll get to where we're going. Don't worry about it."

  Rib shut his mouth, hurt by his companions' disbelief.

  Tyrone would trust me, if he were here.

  We're sailing the wrong way.

  . . .

  That night, all the clouds moved away to a stunning display of stars. Rib gazed up at the sky, enchanted by its many colors and bright specks. His eyes could almost get lost in the glitzing dome of lights above.

  "What?!" Jasper's voice cried out. "What do you mean?"

  Rib looked to the back of the ship, where the boy was again beside his father at the steering oar. Except this time he was standing up, watching the Captain's hand motions in clear indignation.

  "That cheat sold us a broken compass?!"

  Jasper snatched something from the floor and, before Mortaug could stop him, chucked it over the side. Rib watched the small object fly through the air to hit the water with a small plip!

  "What's happening?" Rib asked, crossing over to their end of the boat.

  "You were right," Gavin said, leaning back with fingers knit behind his head. "Mortaug just read the stars. We've gone off course."

  "No!" Rib fretted. "What'll we do?"

  Gavin laughed. "Easy, it's fine. We haven't gone far."

  Mortaug motioned something with his hands to the young man.

  "So," Gavin said, "he's asking which direction you think we're supposed to be going."

  Rib turned his head around, searching. Just as he could sense when he was upside down without having to open his eyes, he could feel where directions were without any landmarks to help him.

  "We started in this direction," he answered, pointing his snout to the left of the prow.

  Mortaug checked the skies, then nodded.

  "Well," Gavin grinned broadly, "I guess that means you're our new compass. Better not break though, else Jasper might try to throw you over too." He laughed again.

  I was right.

  Rib smiled, relieved the others' understood at last.

  And now they need me so we don't get lost again.

  He looked to Damara, remembering how she had scoffed at him before, but was disappointed to find that she was curled up with a blanket over her, seemingly asleep.

  "You'll have to work with Mortaug now, alright?" Gavin got Rib's attention. "You know, if something feels wrong again."

  Rib nodded.

  That's better, he thought as Mortaug changed the direction of the boat.

  Memory, we're coming.

  Chapter 8