by Diane Rapp
The next morning felt chilly and Jordan appreciated the warmth of the red cloak. Felesia jumped into the boat carrying a picnic basket. “Isn’t this wonderful?” Gold highlights gleamed in her tawny hair as it floated in the breeze. Dressed in a white blouse and dark pants, her bare arms looked golden in the morning sun.
“Won’t you feel cold?” Jordan asked.
“I brought a sweater and spent many cold days in the forest.” She grinned and her hazel eyes twinkled. “I wore less than this.”
Jordan nodded. “I remember how beautiful you looked. Don’t you need to say good-bye to the animals?”
“I spent time with them this morning. They’re all in the forest, except for Killer.” She motioned to her pack and the mongoose poked a pointed nose out. “I want him to see the otters.”
“We’ve always got a chaperon.” Jordan flashed sparkling white teeth against olive skin and black hair.
“Get the sails up or Killer will show you some teeth.” Felesia threatened with a smile.
Jordan muttered as he repeated the steps Brandon taught him and soon the skiff skimmed the calm water. Felesia dangled her fingers in the water, mentally calling the otters. Before long, round heads bobbed alongside the boat. Sleek dolphins leaped from the water and raced the boat.
It felt difficult steering around dolphins and otters. “Couldn’t you wait to visit until we drop anchor? I’m new at this,” he grumbled.
Felesia giggled and sent a mental message to clear a trail, and the animals drifted out of the way. The couple enjoyed lazy hours basking in the warm sun and cool breeze. Killer, intrigued by the otters, scampered along ropes that dangled over the water and chattered.
Tension drained away and Jordan relaxed. The skiff seemed easy to handle in the gentle waves, and they made good progress toward the cliffs. Felesia spotted a beach and Jordan maneuvered near the shore.
“Let’s climb up that cliff and eat our picnic while we watch the dragons.” Felesia scrambled out of the boat and waded to the beach. “Hurry, Jordan.”
“Sure, I love climbing cliffs while carrying food,” he grumbled. “Don’t run too far ahead!” He pushed the anchor over the side and felt satisfied the skiff would stay put. Lugging the picnic basket, he followed Felesia up a natural trail to a gentle hill overlooking the beach.
The climb wasn’t hard, and Felesia sat on a blanket as he arrived with the basket. “The cook prepared a feast for us,” he said and plopped the heavy basket down.
The rust colored cliffs looked rugged from their vantage point. They noticed pockets of sink holes among the jagged spires, and dragons emerging from the natural openings.
Felesia pointed and said, “Can you see the dragons? Don’t they look beautiful?”
Jordan grinned. “They’re incredible. I love watching Flash, but a flock of dragons flying in formation looks extraordinary.”
Felesia slipped her hand into his. “I knew we’d enjoy a day alone. Touch their minds and help me learn the meaning of their colors.”
She and Jordan contacted dragon minds while the creatures hovered over the ocean. Stretching long necks two dragons flashed green and gold through their wings. Other dragons echoed the message and swooped toward the water in a group. An eel raised its ugly white head out of the water, its body rippling across the waves.
Immersed in the wild draconic mind, Jordan became one of the dragons. He stretched his wings and shrieked as he hit the eel. The satisfying crunch of talons piercing bone vibrated up his legs. He felt a burst of red and gold spread through his wings. His flock dropped from the sky and grabbed the body of the thrashing giant eel. Wings pumped in unison as they lifted the heavy creature out of the water.
Working together, the dragons hauled the writhing body over the water, and Jordan smelled the stink of the eel’s breath. The creature struck at his underbelly but he ignored the sting. They flew higher and angled toward jagged rocks along the beach. Hovering over the spot he chose, they opened their talons and wings flamed with yellow and orange as the hissing eel dropped onto the rocks.
Jordan heard a loud thud. He watched the thrashing eel die and landed on the beach near the head. The other dragons granted him first feeding rights, and tasting the pungent flavor, he gouged out chunks of soft tissue.
He gagged and choked as his mind returned to his human body. Felesia clutched his hand. “Jordan, I lost you inside the dragon’s mind and couldn’t reach you.”
He gulped from the wineskin to force the foul taste from his memory. “It seemed real. I hated that eel and enjoyed making the kill.”
“Be careful! Don’t let your mind get lost in a wild animal.”
Jordan laughed. “Listen to you! Your mind hid inside Marra and nearly stayed. Now you understand how hard I fought to make contact with you.”
Felesia nodded. “I learned to trust you and left Marra’s mind. Marra and I linked minds often when we hunted, but you never linked with a wild mind before. Please be careful.”
“I promise to be more cautious. Where’s lunch? I’m starved and need to erase the memory of raw eel.”
Felesia opened the picnic basket. Jordan felt ravenous and wondered if linking minds drained energy. Perhaps the dragon’s hunger fueled his appetite, but food never tasted so good. While they ate Felesia marveled at colors flashing across the filmy dragon wings. The sky darkened and Felesia shivered.
Jordan reached for his cloak.
“Here, slip this over your shoulders. You’re freezing!” He stroked her cold cheeks. “Where’s your sweater?”
She laughed. “In my haste I left the sweater in the boat with Killer. He’s probably snuggling inside that sweater right now and it takes effort to get rid of his hair.”
Jordan frowned and shoved the red stocking cap over Felesia’s cold ears. “You never listen to me! Let’s head back.” She grinned and tucked her mane of windblown hair into the cap.
They packed the basket, and Felesia skipped down the trail as Jordan carried the basket at a sedate pace. After she disappeared around a corner, Jordan heard her muffled scream. He dropped the basket and vaulted down the trail, straight into a pair of husky men grappling with Felesia. A hairy fist knocked him flat. A heavy boot hit his head and the sky spun into a black void.
He floated on a lumpy bed, irritated when he tried shifting positions. Sharp rocks jabbed into sore ribs and Jordan woke with a start. Nausea made him gag, and he saw the skiff bobbing in the surf.
He felt alone and wretched with a throbbing head and aching ribs.
“Felesia!” he shouted but the call echoed through the cliffs. Killer chattered from the boat racing back and forth. Jordan waded through the surf and leaned over the rail to stroke the quivering animal. He pulled himself into the skiff and doubled over in pain.
Killer chattered into his face, close enough that whiskers tickled his nose. “I know, those men kidnapped her…but which direction did they go?”
He searched the dark sky. Empty waves crashed over the narrow beach, disappearing quickly with the rising tide. An arc of foamy seawater hit the skiff and the belly of the boat scraped across rocks. Jordan realized the skiff dragged the anchor closer to the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff and worried it would get thrown onto the rocks soon. He’d be stranded while Felesia’s captors got away.
Wet and sore, he heaved the anchor into the boat and climbed back into the surf. He pushed the bobbing skiff toward deeper water and scrambled over the rail with a wrenching pain. He lay still until the throbbing eased and saw dragons overhead. Gazing into the eyes of a large dragon, Jordan watched color ripple across the creature’s wings in a curiosity pattern he recognized from Flash. Fear gripped him. He remembered how the strong talons grabbed the eel and sharp beaks gouged pieces from the dead carcass.
He grabbed an oar and shoved against the rocky seabed until the boat floated in deep blue-green water. The waves threatened to send him back toward the beach. He gritted his teeth and rowed over rising swells, determined to put distance between h
is fragile vessel and the dragons’ cliffs.
It felt like an eternity until the boat drifted into calm water and its bow turned into the current. As the reflection of a silver moon rippled across the water, Jordan followed the shore. He saw nothing but rocks. Would the current drive his boat onto a treacherous reef? He untied the ropes and unfurled the sail. A steady breeze filled the sail and the skiff glided over gentle swells as the dragon cliffs disappeared. Moving sent jolts of pain through his battered body, but Jordan forced his muscles to obey. He pointed the bow into the silver crescent and tethered the wheel. He relaxed for just a moment against the hull and closed his eyes. He’d let his aching muscles rest until he decided what to do.
Killer curled his furry body against the sleeping human, but kept alert eyes riveted on the eerie black water. The first rays of sunlight woke Jordan. He bolted upright and pain shot through his ribs. Killer scolded him from a coil of rope, stopping his chatter to groom his mussed fur. The sail still billowed against a gentle breeze, propelling the boat across sapphire blue water that stretched into an empty horizon.
Jordan’s heart sank. He saw nothing except rolling waves and clear blue sky in every direction. While he slept the boat sailed into open water and he had no idea which direction he traveled.
“Idiot! You’re lost at sea and someone kidnapped Felesia!” he said. Killer chattered a stream of abuse. “What can I do?”
Jordan studied the situation, desperate to gain control. A steady breeze filled the sail and the sun rose on the horizon—to the east. The bow was pointed west with the wheel lashed tight, so he sailed west all night. If he reversed direction into the sun, he might find land again. Waves rippled along the boat and he wondered how much the current affected his direction. In a tackle box he found a long piece of fishing line, tied the line to a piece of cork and tossed it into the water. It drifted away from the craft at an angle.
“The wind fought against the current all night. If I sail in the same direction as the current, I might make better time.” He untied the wheel and awkwardly turned the skiff into the current.
Killer chattered and Jordan nodded. “I’m hungry too, but we left the picnic basket on shore.” Killer darted to a small door and stood waiting. “What’s in there?” Jordan unlatched the door and found a bucket covered with burlap. Killer darted under the cover and emerged with a small fish dangling from his mouth.
Jordan chuckled. “You found a bucket of bait. I should’ve known you’d sniff out something to eat.” He rummaged in the boat and found a fishing pole and net. “With any luck I’ll catch something befitting my size.”
Jordan baited the hook, released the catch on the reel, and fed a long piece of line over the edge of the boat. He rested the pole in a u-shaped piece of metal and waited. While he watched the pole, he wondered how he could find Felesia. Sniffing the breeze, Killer chattered and raced up and down the length of the skiff.
“I wish I understood what you wanted.”
Killer gazed into the sky and Jordan stared in the same direction. A bird circled overhead. “Arrow!” He called and a shrill keen pierced the air. “It’s Arrow!” he shouted with glee.
Jordan calmed his mind and let his thoughts touch the bird. He felt Arrow’s loneliness and desire to find Felesia. Arrow dipped her wings and landed on the mast. Jordan filled his mind with pictures of land and a desire to walk on solid ground. The hawk cocked her head and stared down. He tried again. “Where is the land?” he asked aloud.
Arrow launched her body into the breeze, flying a direction a few degrees north of the direction the boat pointed. Jordan saw land in Arrow’s thoughts and whooped with joy. “You beautiful creature!” he shouted. “Lead the way. We must find Felesia.”
When Jordan caught sight of land, a familiar shape flew toward the boat. “Flash!” He shouted.
She responded with colors of happiness in her wings. “Careful, don’t land on the mast, you’ll tip us over.” He sent the thought to Flash and she hovered over the small craft craning her neck. Worry filled the dragon’s mind. Jordan sent pictures of Felesia’s capture and Flash keened mournfully. Her cry echoed across the ocean and Jordan heard an answer.
Flash flew in sweeping circles around the sailboat, shades of purple shimmering in her wings. Soon dragon wings filled the sky and dread filled Jordan’s mind. Flash tilted her wings and flew with the same elegant grace of her larger cousins.
Jordan watched, mesmerized, as the dragons performed an aerial ballet. Was this a greeting ritual? Air from their wings buffeted the skiff, rocking it like a toy in a pond but Jordan felt calm. Iridescent colors swirled over filmy wings, and Flash crowed with happiness.
She swooped close, and Jordan’s mind heard the message. The dragons wanted to help Flash find her human, Felesia. He saw pictures of dragons searching for a human with golden brown hair. Gold colors spread across dragon wings, and Jordan felt excited as the dragons formed an aerial search team.
Jordan sailed toward the docks to muster human search parties. With the dragons’ help he felt sure Felesia would be rescued. Jordan docked the skiff and raced up the winding path to the manor.
Arrow landed on his shoulder and Marra bounded up, snarling and batting at his moving feet with her paws. Jordan scratched the panther’s head, and urged her to return to the forest before he entered the building.
Anxiety filled Krystal’s face. She descended on him with the wrath of a mother who’d spent a sleepless night worrying about her daughter. Brandon looked surprised to see Jordan. Crossing the room with long determined strides, Jordan grabbed Brandon and shook him.
“Who’d you send to steal Felesia?” Jordan growled. “Did you think you could force Felesia to marry you or just ask for a fat ransom?”
“I didn’t hire them to capture Felesia!” Brandon sputtered. “They were supposed to grab you!” His voice echoed through a hushed hall as Jordan’s fist slammed into Brandon’s pretty face. The lordling sprawled across the marble floor with a bleeding nose. His father’s guards watched without interference.
Jordan dragged Brandon to his feet. “Your henchmen took Felesia in my place, so tell me where they’re going!”
Krystal shouted, “Tell him or forfeit your life!”
Lord Dartmouth advanced on his son. “What coward hires thugs to dispose of a romantic rival? Where’d they take the girl?”
Brandon sobbed, “I don’t know. I hired Chad to capture the man dressed in my red cloak and make him work as a sailor. I didn’t ask where the ship was bound.”
Lord Dartmouth grimaced. “You disgrace us with your stupidity! You’re banished from court until that girl returns to her family. Help us restore a measure of honor to this family!”
Brandon cringed under his father’s rage. “No one was supposed to get hurt, least of all Felesia. Captain Chad made the arrangements. Ask him where the ship’s bound.”
Lord Dartmouth turned to Krystal. “I offer my deepest apologies. I’ll personally interview Captain Chad. I guarantee every ship will be drafted to aid in the search.” He glowered at Brandon. “My son will sail with Captain Chad as a kitchen boy until he learns how to behave like a grown man. Guards, take this refuse from my sight and fetch me Captain Chad!”
*****
Felesia groaned and tried to sit up. Ropes bit into her wrists as she examined the dark hole of her captivity. Light filtered from overhead gaps in the wood ceiling. She saw crates stacked against the sloping wood walls and coarse bags filled with grain piled on the floor.
Her head ached and her nostrils burned. She yanked against her wrists and discovered they were bound to her ankles with rope. Struggling tightened the knots, and she soon gave up the effort. Frustrated and angry she lay in the stinking hole until heavy boots pounded overhead.
She shouted, “Hey there, untie me!” A hatch opened, and she blinked against bright sunlight.
“Ready to join the crew?” a guttural voice shouted.
“Get me out of here!” she demanded.
“A spunky one we snatched. We’ll teach him a few manners before the day’s done!” A rope ladder dropped and a stocky man scampered down the rungs. Rough hands lifted her body. He slung her over a broad shoulder, climbed the rope ladder, and dumped her onto a slimy deck.
A slim man poked her with his foot. “He’s too skinny for heavy work so we’ll make him swab the decks and ferry the garbage from the galley.”
“Untie me!” Felesia shouted.
“Manners now!” The stocky man grinned with gaps in his teeth. “Ask polite or we don’t listen.”
She bit back an angry retort. “Please untie me. I’d really appreciate it.” Felesia tried to sound reasonable.
“Sure enough, mate!” The thin one slipped a knife from his belt, squatted and touched the tip of the knife to her throat. “But there’s rules you need to hear, mate.”
Felesia’s anger simmered.
“You be the low man on this here scow. We’re all higher then you, so you’d best listen to us higher ups and obey orders. If Scully here, asks you to fetch a cupper from the galley, you hop to and fetch it right smart. If old Bosk, that’s me, orders you to polish the brass, you whip out yer rag and put muscle behind it. Don’t give us none of yer lip neither.”
Scully sniggered. “What happens if he don’t do as he’s told?”
Bosk pressed the knife against her throat. “I takes me pig sticker and slices off something that don’t matter none, like an ear or a nose. If he gives us any more guff, he loses a finger or an eye.” Bosk wiped blood off the blade with a filthy rag. The rag smelled tangy and made her nose burn. “Do you catch our meaning? Obey or yer fish bait.”
Felesia nodded and considered his words. He called her “lad” so he thought she was a boy. A lump of fear formed in her chest. She thought, What happens when they discover I’m a girl? Bosk jerked her up and slit the rope, letting her drop onto her face. Hoots of laughter erupted.
Rolling to avoid a foot that snaked out to connect with her ribs, she scrambled to her feet. Once on her feet, she dodged the heavy boot again, and Bosk lunged at her swearing.