by Jill Nojack
"Fantastic, thank you. Why don't we set up over here by the pool, with the dragons in the background. Let's get a couple of these deck chairs and a table, maybe something to drink?"
"Captain Collins has been kind enough to provide a barrel of water. There are a number of cups. I will share with you, if you are thirsty."
The reporter walked to the water keg and placed a glass under the tap. "I was thinking of something stronger, but when in Rome..." When the glass was full, he took a long swig of the cold water and then turned to Avenall, his eyes only briefly darting to the dragons beyond so that he didn't give his true audience-grabbing interest away. He sat down in one of the deck chairs and waved his hand toward the one across from it for Avenall. "Get comfortable, and let's begin."
***
James and Lizbet shared a pillow on the couch where they lay snuggled up together watching television. Tanji sprawled across both arms of the big padded chair beside it.
When a promo for the nightly news started, Lizbet got up and went toward the kitchen, "Either of you want some hot chocolate?"
"Sure, thanks," said James. "Whoa, wait up. Look at that. Is he an elf?"
"Yep, he is...and wow! Those are dragons in the background. What's an elf doing on a cruise ship?"
"What's an elf doing on TV? They hate our technology and try to stay as far away from it as possible."
Tanji broke in then, suddenly sitting up straight and primping, "Guys, the important question here is—where has he been all my life? Oh my my, he is one sweet-looking elf-boy. And right there, did he say he's coming to see the queen?" She winked at Lizbet. "You lucky girl."
Lizbet shushed her so she could hear the TV. When the spot ended, Lizbet replied, "Tanj, seriously? You only broke up with Thomas like five minutes ago. Get a grip!" She got more serious as she continued. "Did either of you catch what he's wearing around his neck? It's a dragon claw, the insignia of a Dragon Tender. The elves would never let him out of the compound he's from, much less let him go on TV. Man, Morgan's going crazy in here!" She tapped the side of her head. "You'd think it was the end time instead of a few dragons."
James grabbed her suddenly and pulled her close to him, giving her a huge kiss. He held her so tightly that the matching medallions that held the magic to remember all of their lives came together with a metallic clank. The kiss surprised her, but she liked it and gave him a huge kiss in return.
Tanji stood abruptly and flounced into the kitchen. "Goll-ee, people! Not in front of the kids."
When Tanji was gone and James gave her her mouth back, she asked, "So what was that for?"
"I just wanted Tanji to decide to leave for a minute. Not that it wasn't fun. But you know the legends about Dragon Tenders, right?" James asked.
"Uh, sure...what fae queen worth her crown doesn't?"
"Thing is, they're true, according to Myrddin's memories. Some Dragon Tenders can speak to others and influence them with their minds."
"What? I thought there was no fae magic for mind-reading."
"It's not mind-reading. Not really. But they can communicate with other fae and humans the same way they do with dragons—they send a thought and can receive a thought back. It's not mind-reading because it's limited to thoughts the other creature is willing to share." James stopped talking for a moment, collecting the next thought from his past life treasury. "But more importantly, the very strong ones can influence the thoughts of others. They can force them to do things. The elves killed the stories because of what could happen if a Dragon Tender discovered a talent for mind-control. That's some power there. That's why Elves with the ability to communicate with beasts are prohibited from trying to access the minds of people. If they're even suspected of trying to invade the mind of another fae, they're put to death quietly by their local council. Pretty much, Dragon Tenders are kept at the bottom of society so they obey the elders without question. It usually works. But Myrddin has memories of one who went rogue and had a lot of fun until they caught him."
"So, you think this guy can make other people do things? Like, why do you think that?"
"'Cause I just saw him do it. Didn't you see off to the side where a guy with a camera was walking closer to the dragons, and the elf turned and looked at him, then the guy just turned around and walked away with this blank expression on his face? He can push people. Plus, he has a bunch of dragons with him. So, already a potentially dangerous guy. You need to find out what's going on with him as soon as you can. Like tonight."
"Well then, say hello to my heavy sigh. I planned to have one Saturday night where we just got to hang out together, and I didn't have to go running around all over the world keeping track of the fae. Eamon and I weren't going to go out looking until tomorrow. I want to stay here with you guys tonight until my mom throws you out. I never get to be just me anymore! But one last thing, did you notice..." She stopped talking, not wanting to put her impression into words, sure it was just wishful thinking.
"...that kid has a strong resemblance to..." James supplied.
"Yep. Arthur—right?" Lizbet saw in his eyes the answer was yes. "Glad it wasn't just me. Tanji didn't seem to notice, though."
"Langoureth didn't know Arthur when he was young, only when he was older and beardier and more beat up from battle. That's probably why Tanji didn't catch it."
"Makes sense. But this coincidence is all the more reason to let go of you and get on with it. I really want to find out if he has anything else in common with our old friend. If it really is him, and he's coming to join us, it better be for good reasons, because I'm all out of energy for the other kind. The elves have been a real pain in the butt for the past month or so."
"Just don't say anything yet about who he is if you feel like it's true once you meet him."
"Why?"
James's expression was suddenly serious. His hands moved to the ancient medallion that hung around his neck. They cupped the unfeeling metal that had brought his past life into this one as he asked, "Has knowing who you are made your life any easier or made you any happier?"
Lizbet froze, feeling guilty again about how James got stuck with a bunch of memories and history he never asked for, then gave him a sad smile instead of an answer. She called out a goodbye to Tanji, who was still going through cupboards noisily in the kitchen, and quickly aethered away.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Smiling Faces Sometimes
"The dragons are noble creatures. They aren't machines of war—it's my people who've trained them to be weapons. They're intelligent, and the herd takes care of its members in the same way that elf and human families do."
"Sure, that's interesting," the reporter said, "but let's stay with the question I asked—what about the incident in France when they attacked that guy and burned him so badly?"
"He shouted and threw stones at them. They thought they were being attacked. Any creature defends itself against attack."
"But he was just trying to get them to look his way for a picture."
Why couldn't this man understand? "They are dragons. They do not reason as fae and humans do. They simply react."
"But just a moment ago, you said they're intelligent."
"Yes, and they deserve respect. But they are beasts all the same." Avenall tired of the man's refusal to understand. "I could leave you alone with them now, if you like, to demonstrate. You would be completely safe as long as you didn't threaten them in any way." He stood as if to leave.
The other man looked suddenly less composed. "No, I'm good." He signaled to the cameraman. "Maybe just a couple of pictures of you with the dragons to wrap up?"
"Certainly. As long as you promise not to shout or throw stones."
After he said it, Avenall felt unsettled. He should not have given in to his temper that way and spoken sarcastically. But the reporter had stirred bad memories. There had been something hungry and dishonest in his eyes. Avenall thought Johnny would fit in well among the sons of Bacchus. His hand went to the dragon claw a
round his neck as his thoughts turned back to the sad days the reporter had forced him to recall.
Durian had tried to hold the dragon back as the man shouted, waved his arms, and tossed stones toward her, but Harul was terrified. He'd been unable to calm her. Avenall didn't tell the reporter that the Dragon Tender had lost his post because of the incident and that he, Avenall, had replaced his master. Nor did he wish to explain that the council didn't care that a human had been injured. They cared only that their Dragon Tender might not be able to keep the dragons focused on the commands of the Dragon Riders in battle. He was sent to tend the horses, pigs, and dogs.
After his disgrace, Durian left to live alone, deep in the forest. It is not the elvin way to be so alone. Avenall had long hoped he would return. He eventually gave up that hope.
Avenall stood looking out across the ocean in the fading light of the setting sun. Just before he turned to finally rest for a while on his small cot, a movement among the waves caught his eye. What was it? A fish? No, it didn't have the silver glint of scales. It was mist, moving rapidly and keeping a discrete form, unmistlike. Not mist, then. A wisp. And there—he saw more movement just beyond.
He quickly scanned the surface of the water in the dying light. There were more. There were at least a score of them. And all of them were moving in the same direction as the ship, toward the American continent. But wisps prefer spaces near humans. Why would they travel the ocean?
***
"Och, do you remember the time I pulled that prank on young Molly? Sneakin' up on her like, glamoured up to be a fox?"
"Aye, I do, Hamish..." Eamon laughed as he stood to throw another log on the campfire, "What a kickin' you got that night! I never would've thought a sweet-tempered heifer like Molly could get so angry."
"She forgave me, though, over time, dinnae ye think?" Hamish asked, then spooked when Lizbet abruptly appeared from out of the aether a few feet from where he sat. Eamon had gotten used to his queen suddenly materializing from nowhere over a period of over a thousand years. Hamish was not as experienced with the ways of the auraes: his reflexive move backward toppled him off the stone where he sat. He sprawled ungracefully on his back.
"Sorry Hamish, I didn't mean to frighten you." Lizbet hid her smirk as she offered him a hand up.
Hamish was up and brushing himself off quickly, bowing low. "Dinnae concern yourself. Nothing harmed but my pride, and that was small to begin with."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay. And I'm sorry to break up your reunion, but I'm going to have to take Eamon away with me tonight. We just got an extra stop on our tour."
"How so?" Eamon asked, standing and shouldering his bag in preparation for their departure.
"There's an elf on a cruise ship heading for the US. He's apparently coming to see me, according to the news report. And he's got a herd of dragons with him. I mean, really? When he gets here, where's he going to put a herd of dragons? Anyway...it's probably better if I just go to meet him now. With everything that's going on in Europe, I don't want to wait around for surprises."
Eamon made his goodbye to Hamish and urged him to go to James if he needed anything in Eamon's absence. Then Lizbet threw a handful of pixie dust above his head, took his hand, and they were gone.
***
Captain Collins looked out of one of the bridge's rear windows to the stern of the ship. The security guards posted at the foot of the stairs were doing their job well. He could see the young elf lit up by the deck lights, guarding his charges as the dragons slept. He'd offered the boy a first class cabin, but he'd accepted only a cot and bedding and had barely used them.
He wondered if the youngster had any idea of the stir he and his dragons made by landing on the ship. He seemed to understand that the cameras pointed at him recorded his every move, but he didn't seem to understand their power. And those cameras loved him—he was handsome, composed, and polite. He spoke careful English with a strange, melodic accent. The only time his composure broke was when he was concerned about his dragons. He seemed attuned to their movements, even when his back was to them.
Whatever else it was, the dragons landing on his ship was a publicity-maker. The marketing department couldn't have come up with anything more effective. All eyes were on the ship now.
It couldn't get any better than this for his career.
And then it did.
A pretty girl with long red hair materialized on the deck with a short, ugly fae in tow. The elf went to one knee and bowed his head deeply as she started up the stairs toward him. Even from a distance, it didn't take long to figure out who the visitor was.
And now we're visited by a queen. Man, I hope I convinced the kid to stay the course. If he does, I can ride this one all the way to the captaincy of the best ship in the line.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I’ll Never Forget Your Face
When they materialized on the ship, Lizbet said quietly to Eamon, "When you meet the guy, don't say anything about who he looks like, okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just don't," she answered sternly, as she continued up the stairs toward the pool deck.
Eamon said, "Right. No need to get testy." When he reached the top of the stairs and could see the deck beyond, he added, "Och, Would you look at those dragons? Not somethin' I'd like to meet in a dark alley, I can tell you that."
Lizbet continued walking briskly toward the young elf who awaited her on one knee on the landing. She knew there were cameras on board, and she didn't want to look hesitant when she approached him. She whispered out of the side of her mouth, "Sheesh, Eamon, you act like you've never seen a dragon before."
"Aye, I've seen one. But not this close. Never this close. I'm not a fool."
When she reached the top step and stood before the elf, he remained on one knee. She knelt down, too, and said, "Look, get up. Seriously. I hate that stuff. And call me Lizbet, okay?"
He stood up, but he kept his head bowed slightly. "As you say. I dedicate my service to you, Lizbet," He looked up and inclined his head toward the dozing dragons, "and the service of the dragons, my queen, if you pledge that you will treat them respectfully."
"I'm like the last one to be dissin' on a dragon. So, look, stand up if you want to talk to me—and you should probably introduce yourself." Lizbet held out her hand to shake. He took her hand in his. "On the news they said your name is Avenall, right? And this is Eamon, my bodyguard for this trip."
After shaking Lizbet's hand, Avenall bent down and stretched out his hand to Eamon, who shook it, but not without his eyebrows arching up in surprised recognition when he looked into the elf's face. He recovered his composure quickly. "So, right, watch your p's and q's, laddie. I've got my eye on you."
"Is it safe to move closer to the dragons? I'd like to be out of sight of the cameras, and it seems like the only place to do that is around the back of the chimney, close to where they're perched."
"Yes, it will be safe. The dragons have been calm since we landed here. They are well fed from the sea. They are content."
"Okay, then. I like a happy dragon!" She walked behind the chimney stack and out of sight of the cameras, followed by Avenall and Eamon.
When they'd all seated themselves in deck chairs, Lizbet looked directly at Avenall, keeping her eyes fixed on his, looking for any hint of dishonesty, and asked, "Why did you leave your compound to come see me?"
He kept his eyes on hers and replied, "Because I promised Oriane I would find you and..."
Lizbet broke in, "Wait a minute. Oriane of the French fae court? The dryad?"
"Yes, that is my friend Oriane."
"So, you're that Avenall. She's talked about you. You're a very unusual elf. She loves you like a son."
Avenall's composure broke for a moment, and his face showed his upset. A son—she thinks of me like a son? Then he took back composure from the upset and said, "Yes. I am, as you say, that Avenall."
"If she sent you, I know I can trust you." She didn't add tha
t Morgan's memories were nearly screaming for her to go to him, throw her arms around his neck, and tell him how she'd missed him. "So, tell me, is Oriane all right? We've been to the French court, and everyone is gone."
"I believe she is. She went to the far woods, and a dryad can hide easily in the woods if she wishes not to be found."
"Good. I'm relieved to hear that. Why did she send you?"
"Because I know where Euphemia—the one you call Mona—is. She's in grave danger, but Oriane believes she can be saved if you have a healer powerful enough."
"Mona? Fantastic!" Then the rest of what he'd said hit her. She felt a tug in her chest. "What do you mean by her needing to be saved?"
"She stands in the forest with an arrow through her heart. If she returns to her flesh form, she will die from loss of blood. However, if she remains much longer in her nature form, she will harden into a thing of the forest. There is still at least a fortnight before she is lost. Oriane made this map for you to follow." Avenall removed the map from the hidden pocket inside his tunic and handed it to her.
Lizbet opened the map and moved from the chair to the deck to spread it out in front of her. The drawing didn't look like any map she'd ever seen. It might represent trees and the forest floor, but it wasn't a very good sketch if that's what it was supposed to be. After she studied it for a while, she looked up and said, "I don't get it. How are we supposed to understand this? It doesn't look like a map to me. I don't see how we'll find Mona from this."
"It's a picture of what Euph...Mona would see around her. I fear it makes sense to a dryad because of the way they view the forest but not to a human or an elf." He sounded so sad. "I hoped you'd understand it because you are also a nymph. Perhaps I've failed my friend, after all."