“That should have killed him, too.”
“Maybe.”
They fell silent as Micah took a long draw on his pipe and then blew a big smoke ring up towards the stars. He commented on how bright they were.
“Imagine what they look like to these people,” River said. “They have never seen stars like this before.”
Micah glanced at her. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“For us, things are just getting back to normal, but to them, the whole world has changed. No more dragon’s breath. No more dragons.”
“I heard they are leaving,” Micah said. “One of the soldiers said half of them have already disappeared. Where do you think they’re going?”
“South, into the crater. According to Socrates, the dragons need starfall to survive.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go next?”
“I suppose. Socrates said the tracks are clear for the next four hundred miles, at least.”
“What will we do if we find it?” Micah said, gazing up at her. “I mean, I know we found a good supply here, but what if we find enough starfall to last forever?”
“There’s no such thing,” River said. “Not unless we find a way to go to the stars. That’s where starfall came from, after all. But if we stay here, it will eventually run out. And then we will move onto something else, and then that will run out…”
“That’s a pessimistic attitude.”
“That’s reality,” River said grimly. “You wouldn’t understand. You didn’t live with the Vangars.”
“I’ve seen them. They’re not like us at all. They’re cruel and violent.”
“And still they’re more like us than you know. Remember the man King Dane threw into the lava the other day? That man was a rapist. Back in New Boston, a constable tried to rape me, and he threatened to kill me. So far, everywhere we’ve gone, people have been the same. You say we’re not cruel and violent like the Vangars, but enough of us are. Enough that someday they will take control, and when that happens, we will be slaves again.”
Their conversation drifted into other topics. They wondered what the queen would do to bring peace back to her people. They wondered what life would be like in Dragonwall, now that the dragons were leaving. Eventually, as the silver moon vanished behind the mountains and the night air grew damp and cold, they fell asleep. The black dragon did not return.
Chapter 37
Two days later, the queen gave a speech. She stood on the plateau overlooking Stormwatch with a handful of loyal soldiers behind her. Kale helped Aileen onto a wagon, and then stood behind the queen with her children.
The people of the city lined up in the road below, and the occupants of Dragonwall went out onto their balconies and terraces to listen. Aileen was truly regal in her blue robes, with a jeweled crown on her head and a long sword hanging from a silver chain around her waist. She was every bit as strong and inspiring as her husband had been, but also beautiful, and their hearts went out to her.
The cliffs acted as a natural amplifier to her voice as Aileen began to speak:
“This is a sad day for us all,” she said. “We have buried the bodies of our kinsmen and sent their spirits on to the next life, but much work remains to be done. Many of you have had your homes destroyed, your businesses burned, and your livelihoods ruined. You have lost everything, and now you look to me and ask what will happen next. Let me tell you.
“For the first time last night, my children looked up at the night sky. Do you know what they saw? They saw stars shining down, clear and bright! In that moment, they forgot everything they had lost and they remembered what it means to hope. Looking at them, I couldn’t help myself. I too, began to hope. I know you have suffered. I have as well. But now I see the future rising from the ashes of the past. I see a future without the dragon’s breath to terrify our children!”
The crowd cheered, and Aileen gave them a moment before she continued.
“I see a future without dragons to burn our homes and businesses!”
The cheers became a roar, which continued as she tried to speak over the cacophony. It came in waves, like the tidewaters pouring over the rim of the crater behind Dragonwall. The sound echoed against the cliffs, until the very earth seemed to shake under their feet.
“I see a future that is whatever we choose it to be!” She shouted. “I see fields full of crops and harvest bins overflowing. I see machines planting and harvesting, building our homes, making our lives easier and safer. I see cities rising up where once stood bare land, and I see wealth and opportunity where only there was famine and despair!”
By this time, the volume had grown so loud that Aileen had to stop and wait for it to subside. They began chanting “Long live the queen! Long live the queen!” and refused to stop. Every time she began to speak, they started cheering again. Several minutes passed before they quieted down enough for her to continue. Aileen raised her voice again:
“I have an announcement to make. As you know, my husband’s death leaves us all in a difficult situation. We must begin rebuilding, but we can’t do that without lumber and materials. We can’t farm without supplies. And most of all, we need to make sure the land is kept safe, both from dragons, and from those would might be inclined to take from us the things we have worked for. Toward that end, I’m appointing a new general in charge of our militia.
“The man I’m talking about was a good friend to my husband, and continues to be a great inspiration to our soldiers. It is my hope that under his leadership, the dreams of King Dane will live on. I would like to introduce you all to High Commander Kale, General of the Dragonwall army!”
Kale stepped forward and waved at the crowd. The soldiers cheered, and the crowd roared. Halfway down the mountain road, River’s jaw dropped. She turned to look at Socrates.
“Did you know about this?”
He shook his head.
River glanced down at Micah, who looked every bit as shocked as she felt, and then over her shoulder at Thane. The bard wore an unusually grim look on his face, but he said nothing. River clenched her teeth together and pushed through the crowd, making her way back towards the train.
“No!” someone shouted up on the plateau. The crowd went quiet. The queen turned her head, seeking out the source of that voice.
“Who said that?”
“I did.”
One of the knights appeared. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and fair hair, and he was dressed in plate armor and wearing a long black cloak with gold trim.
“Sir Brandt? Do you challenge my appointment?”
“I do,” he said loudly. “Neither I nor any man in this militia will submit to the leadership of a civilian. He must swear the oath!”
The knights and soldiers up and down the mountain cheered. A slight smile turned up the queen’s lips. She took Kale by the hand and guided him forward.
“Kneel,” she commanded. Kale dropped to one knee beside her. “Do you swear to uphold and protect the laws of Dragonwall, and of the kingdom of Danaise?”
“I swear,” said Kale, gazing up into her face.
Aileen drew her sword, holding it aloft so that the sunlight glinted off the blade. “And do you swear by the blood of your ancestors and the throne of heaven that you will serve the people of this kingdom, and protect them with all of your heart, mind, and strength?”
“I swear it,” Kale said.
Aileen tapped him in the shoulder with the blade of her sword. “Then rise, Sir Kale, and take your position at the head of my army!”
Kale rose, and the sound of their cheers shook the mountain.
Chapter 38
It took several more days to finish emptying the cavern of starfall. During this process, Socrates activated two of the train’s steamscouts and loaded them down with vats of pure distilled fuel. He programmed the scouts to return to Sanctuary with their load. Using the radio he had taken from Thane, and then modified into a telegraph, Socrates sent a message back along t
he rails, notifying the leaders of Sanctuary that the fuel was on its way.
Not long before their departure, a young woman dressed in dark clothing and a veil approached Socrates. He was alone, standing up on the rails along the boiler, cleaning the brass smokestacks with a soft brush and a cloth. He was wearing his vest and the wire-rimmed sunglasses he favored on bright days. He didn’t notice her at first.
“May I have a word with you?” the woman said. Socrates stopped what he was doing and looked down at her.
“Of course. How can I help you?”
“I would like to join your crew.”
Socrates bent down, caught the bottom of the rail he was standing on, and swung down next to her. He landed on the packed earth with a solid thump, and the gears in his legs made a whining noise as he straightened.
“I’m Socrates,” he said, reaching out to take her hand.
“Yes, I know. You’re the commander of this train, are you not?”
“I am. And who might you be?”
She glanced around as if nervous about who might be watching, and then lifted the veil from her face.
“Morgane?” he said. “I don’t understand. What happened to you? The entire city has been searching for you.”
“I couldn’t face them,” she said, averting her eyes. “To be honest, if they knew the truth, they wouldn’t want me here anyway.”
Socrates considered that for a moment. “Morgane… Burk didn’t kill your father, did he?”
“You don’t understand,” she said. She pulled a tissue from her sleeve and dabbed tears from her eyes. “My father… he sold me to Burk. I was supposed to be Burk’s reward for killing you.”
“Lord Fenn said this? When?”
“Two days ago.”
“Burk met with your father before he died?”
“Of course. It wasn’t the first time. Burk first met my father before you arrived. Lord Fenn hired him to kill King Dane, but then you showed up. That complicated things.”
His eyes widened and he stared into her face. “The baron released Burk from my railcar! How could I not have seen this?”
“My father was a deceptive man. He was my father, and I loved him -I couldn’t help that- but I still knew what he was.”
“To some, you might be a hero.”
“And to others an assassin. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“It was the dragon’s breath that caught Burk off guard,” Socrates said thoughtfully. “Were it not for that, this entire story may have been different.”
“Not so different, I think,” said Morgane. “There was only one solution between the two of you. Even I can see that.”
“It is not my custom to invite murderers into my crew,” Socrates said.
“Please, I have nowhere else to go-”
“And yet,” he said, cutting her off, “I find myself with a fraction of the crew compliment this train requires. And you certainly wouldn’t be the first unsavory character I’ve taken aboard.”
“I will do whatever you ask,” she said, apparently taking no offense at his slight. “I’ll learn to cook if you want, or I could help River with her machines...”
“Perhaps,” Socrates said. “You’ll find accommodations throughout the train. We have bunkrooms of various sizes. Most have wash bins and a few even have showers. Personally, I recommend something close to the dining car.”
“Thank you.”
Morgane lifted her bags and Socrates watched as she wandered down the train. Behind her, a wall of fog was moving in from the coast, sliding down the mountains toward the plains. This was real fog, not the dragon’s breath, but he was sure it gave the occupants of the city a moment’s hesitation when they saw it coming.
A few minutes later, Socrates gave the last boarding call. He adjusted the pressure valves and pulled the steam whistle, giving it three long blasts. The Iron Horse left Stormwatch with little fanfare.
Inside the dining car, River and Thane sat at the bar nursing tankards of ale. They hadn’t spoken much, save for a few words to Vann as he tended bar, or a quip to Pirate, who had hardly been seen by anyone in the last few days. River wondered aloud if this was due to his natural fear of dragons or his ever increasing girth. Vann of course, denied having anything to do with it.
“I can’t believe they really left us,” Thane said as they rolled down the tracks and Stormwatch shrank in the distance.
“I can,” River said. “It’s just like Kale. He doesn’t think about anything.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Seems to me that he’s taken on a lot of responsibility, trying to help all those people. Sounds like the kind of thing you always say he should do.”
River glared at him. “And what about Shayla?” she said. “What was her excuse?”
Thane took a long drink. “Said the women needed her. I think it had to do with that character Dane killed.”
“The rapist.”
“Yes.”
“He’s dead. What’s she going to do about that?”
“I don’t know,” Thane admitted. “It didn’t make any sense to me at all.”
“Did she ask you to stay with her?”
He took another long drink and slammed the empty tankard down on the bar. He waved for a refill.
“Me either,” River said.
“Maybe the two of them just wanted to be together,” said Vann, pulling another draft. River and Thane both glared at him. He shook his head and headed for the kitchen. They went back to drinking.
Ten minutes later, the train’s whistle blew and Socrates hit the brakes. River caught Pirate as he went sliding across the bar, and Thane caught their empty tankards before they fell off the end. They exchanged a confused look.
“We can’t be more than a few miles outside of town,” River said.
“Do you think it’s them?” Thane said. “Do you think they came back to us?”
River glanced out the side window, back towards Stormwatch. “I don’t see anybody. I’m going to talk to Socrates.”
She left the dining car and went racing down the passages towards the locomotive. Thane went after her. A few hundred yards down the line, River caught a flash of something outside the windows. She stepped out onto the platform and saw Socrates walking away from the train. She called out to him, but he kept going. The couple hurried after the steam-powered gorilla, only catching up to him as he circled around the edge of a saddle between two small hills.
“What’s going on?” River said breathlessly. “Why did you stop the train?”
Socrates glanced back at her and then stood aside, gesturing towards the bottom of the ravine. There, in the shadows between the two hills, lay the black dragon. The creature’s breath came in shallow, rasping pants and only his eyes moved as they approached him.
“He’s dying,” Socrates said.
“Did we do it?” said River.
“He may have sustained internal injuries from our battle. More relevant perhaps is the loss of starfall. These creatures have evolved in such a way that they require the element to survive. Do you remember how he attacked Burk in the courtyard?”
“Of course,” said River. “I’ll never forget that.”
“The dragon wasn’t interested in Burk until he was injured,” Socrates said. “When he began to bleed…”
“The dragon smelled the starfall?” said Thane. “Is that possible?”
“Burk had been drinking the stuff. It had permeated his bloodstream and muscle tissues. Even without the dragon’s help, I suspect it would have killed him within a few days. When Burk began to bleed, the dragon zeroed in on him. That’s what saved us.”
“Ironic,” said Thane. “If Burk hadn’t stopped you from killing the dragon, he might still be alive.”
“It ends the same for the dragon,” River said. “It’s sad, seeing him like this. We should put him out of his misery.”
Socrates glanced at her. “How? We don’t have any tanks or cannons, River. Iron might
do it, depending on how quickly it absorbed the starfall from his bloodstream, but that would be a grisly death.”
“Leave him,” said a voice behind them. They all turned around to see Micah standing there. “Let him die in peace.”
No one argued. They returned to the train, and within minutes the Iron Horse was rolling down the tracks once again.
Epilogue
From the private journal of Micah Longwalker, Cartographer of the Iron Horse:
Day 130
Things haven’t been the same since Kale and Shayla left the train. We all miss them, but no one more than their best friends, River and Thane. Watching these couples over the last few months has provided plenty of fodder for the gamblers and the gossips among the crew, but I don’t believe anyone foresaw this end, least of all those at the center.
I’ve hardly seen Thane in the last few days, and River rarely leaves the engineering car anymore, except for a meal and a few drinks at night. I’ve spoken to Socrates about all of this and he tells me that this is the way of humans; that they must heal their internal wounds and let the memories of the past fade before they will be ready to move on.
Meanwhile, the landscape outside has quite suddenly changed into a dense forest that the humans call “jungle.” The creatures here are strange, and large… so very large. The plants even! I have seen ferns taller than a man and bushes with leaves so big that one leaf could cover an entire steamwagon. And the animals: brightly colored lions and tigers that could swallow a man in a single bite. Reptilian creatures that remind me of the dragons, but some so large that their heads vanish above the canopy of the trees. And dragons… yes, there are dragons here, too. Some of them perhaps from Dragonwall, though it is impossible to say for sure.
The one thing we have not seen is a male. I am ever more convinced of their rarity, and of their importance to the survival of this species. I can’t help but believe I have done the right thing.
The Dragon's Breath (Aboard the Great Iron Horse Book 3) Page 24