The Stones of Fire and Water

by V. M. Sang

  Pettic tried to tell the people the sacrifices did not appease the dragons, it was just they did not need to eat very often, but the people did not believe him. Neither did they believe that dragons were not inherently evil, just very . self-centred. The general view was that if dragons were not laying many eggs then it was good. If they died out altogether, then it was even better.

  Eventually, Pettic found out about a mad man who made a study of dragons. People all agreed that, while he did not do anything else to make them call him mad, studying dragons must mean he was insane, surely? He discovered that this man lived in the next but one town. The roads were good and Pettic could get a ride on one of the steam vehicles that passed between the towns.

  The next day saw Pettic riding a vehicle propelled, not by horses, but by steam, along roads that were smooth. He enjoyed the journey. It was certainly quicker than travelling by a coach pulled by four horses.

  At first, the speeds that the vehicle reached made him afraid. It must have gone at the speed of a galloping horse and he thought they might tip up at every bend, but he soon got used to it and settled down to enjoy the journey.

  They got to the next town by mid-day and to the one where the mad man lived by evening. Pettic alighted, sorry the journey had ended, but pleased he would have another trip when he returned.

  He found an inn and booked a few nights and then, after eating, went to bed.

  It took Pettic several days to locate the mad man. People seemed reluctant to talk about him, but eventually he found himself standing outside the door of a rather grand-looking house. It had four storeys altogether. Steps led up to the front door, and by the side of them steps went down to a basement. He looked down and saw a window and a door down there too.

  While he stood looking at the house, a man with some packages came and went down the steps. A few minutes later he came back minus the packages. Pettic deduced that area was for tradesmen and servants and so climbed the steps to the front door.

  He knocked, and in a few minutes a man in uniform opened the door. Pettic told the man he wanted to see Harrik Blunfod, for he had learned that was the mad man's name. The uniformed man told Pettic to wait and he would see if his master would see him. Would Pettic mind giving his name and business?

  This Pettic did, and the uniformed man disappeared into the house. Within a few minutes the door opened again and a tall middle-aged man stood there. He looked as if he had not brushed his fair hair in months as it stood out all around his head. His blue eyes were clear and intelligent though, showing no signs of madness. He opened the door wide and beckoned Pettic inside.

  `So good to have someone to whom I can talk without them thinking I'm mad,' he told Pettic. `I get very few visitors nowadays. What's so wrong with studying dragons? The more we know about them, the more we can understand them and the easier it will be to live alongside them.'

  Pettic stepped inside the house to find himself in a long hallway. There were two doors on the right, and on the left a staircase went up. At the end of the hallway was another door with stairs to the right, going down.

  Harrik introduced himself to Pettic and told him to follow him.

  `I've converted what was the dining room into a study and laboratory,' he said, opening the second door.

  He led the way into a room that was what Pettic could only describe as a mess. Papers lay everywhere, and where there were no papers there were books. Different kind of scientific instruments littered the surfaces not covered by books and papers and bones of various animals, too, although there seemed to be a lot of enormous bones that Pettic assumed came from dragons. It reminded him of Blundo's room. Were the rooms of men who studied things always untidy?

  `Now, what is it you want to know?' Harrik asked.

  Pettic decided, on meeting this man, to tell him the whole story. At least, the part about him coming to the world of Ignis. Harrik listened intently and then became excited.

  `So there are other worlds, then,' he exclaimed. `There are theories among the scientists that it may be so, but there's never been any proof. At least, not before now.' He ran his hand through his hair, making it even messier, if such a thing were possible.

  `This could make my name, you know. Tell me, which worlds have you visited? Are they all related to the elements?'

  Pettic then told this man all about Terra and how there were no dragons there. Harrik's eyebrows rose at that, but he went on to say it was not necessary to have the same flora and fauna on all the worlds. Perhaps the stories of dragons on Fusionem and on Terra were of dragons that had somehow passed the barrier.

  The young man told of his adventures on Aeris. The thought of humans with the ability to glide, if not actually fly, made Harrik quite excited.

  `And you flew down to the ground strapped to one of these aerials?'

  He was equally excited about the way the creatures helped the revolution, too.

  `That shows that these creatures are intelligent, and can understand what's happening. Of course, many of them are just stories on Ignis. They are creatures of air, not fire.'

  Pettic went on to tell of his recent encounters with the dragons. Harrik nearly jumped up and down at the thought of a dragon crossing the sea. He told Pettic that as far as he knew, almost, if not all, the dragons lived on this side of the sea.

  `There are more volcanoes here, you see. They seem to like volcanoes. I suppose it's something to do with the fire in the volcano and the fire in the dragons.'

  `Actually, I think it's more to do with myth,' Pettic told him. `Monarlisk told me the dragons believe they were formed by what they call the Mother Volcano, and so liked to be near them, like a child likes to be near its mother.'

  They talked for some time, Pettic relating what he had learned from his time with the dragons.

  `This is amazing,' said Harrik. `Someone who has spent actual time with dragons and come back.'

  `It's not quite as you think, though, Harrik. The dragon, Monarlisk, has my dog. He sent me off to bring him back some of his treasures from his old cave. He said he'd eat Cledo if I didn't return within a year! Then I found his old cave is now the preferred cave of his old mate, Crinilisk and her new mate, Bladmisk, and they've sent me on a quest to find out why dragon fertility is getting so low.'

  `Is it?' Harrik exclaimed. `That would be a pity. They could die out then?'

  He sighed and looked downcast.

  `Yes, that's a real possibility. Crinilisk only laid three eggs this time. From what she says, it's affecting all the dragons.'

  `Only three eggs,' mused Harrik. `That's very serious. The hatchlings don't all grow up, you see. There are many predators that like eggs and hatchlings. The babies don't have fire until they're several years old and their talons and teeth are weak. The parents look after them and chew up food to feed them until their second lot of teeth come in at about four years old. During that time, wolves, eagles, wild dogs, pumas, lynx, bears, yes, and even other dragons will take them given a chance. And as you found out, if another male overcomes the father of the eggs, he'll destroy every last one.'

  `Do you have any idea as to why the fertility is decreasing?'

  `Look, this will take me a while to research. I think the best place to start is with other, better known animals and find out what will lower their fertility and then we can see if we think any of those things could be the problem. You should stay here with me until we have some ideas.'

  Pettic agreed to stay with Harrik while he did his research and contacted other scientists, as he called his colleagues.

  Harrik went out almost daily. There was a university in the city of Gerdep, as this place was called. A new faculty of Science had been set up in this institution, but most scientists worked alone. Many people from the University thought science somewhat suspect and not serious enough for a faculty. The Faculty of Magic, however, they held in great esteem. Magic could achieve most things, after all, so why did the university meddle in science?

  People l
ike Harric, however, pointed out that it was through the study of science they had the steam-powered vehicles and good roads as well as gas lights in the streets, which had helped lower the incidences of attacks at night. The everyday people, also, seemed to like this new discipline of science over the old one of magic.

  Harrik came in one day after a much longer absence than usual.

  `I have, at the suggestion of the Professor of Science, been to talk with some farmers. They're the experts in fertility, after all. I've some ideas to put to you.'

  Pettic looked up from the book he had been reading. It was about the production of a gas from the rock called “coal”. He found it quite fascinating how this gas could be used for heating, as well as cooking and lighting.

  `There are five suggestions I have to put to you,' Harrik began. `First, there are some infections that cause infertility in farm animals. Perhaps this may be the case in the dragons. Second, the farmers tell me if their animals are not sufficiently well-fed their fertility declines. The third thing is the pollution. That can cause all kinds of things, including lowered fertility. Now fourth, if animals are too inbred, that too can have an effect as well as causing too many birth defects.'

  Harrik swept some papers off a chair and sat down.

  `This one I've left until the last,' he continued, because there's little we can do about it. At least, I don't think there'll be enough will in the people to do anything. You see, I told some other magicians and scientists about your experience on the world of Terra and Aeris.'

  He leaned forward, becoming excited.

  `They had hypothesised about the existence of the other worlds, of course, except for your world of Fusionem. That was a surprise to them that there could be a world where all the others seem to meet. Anyway, that got them thinking. They all, magicians and scientists alike, think the existence of dragons and all other magical creatures is threatened by, not so much science itself, but by the lack of belief in magic that goes with it.'

  Here he paused for a moment, leaned back, then continued.

  `The scientists and magicians argued long about this. The world of Terra seems to be low in scientific achievement, but a lack of belief in magic is strong, you said. At least until you arrived, it was. We all believe, and that's everyone, with no exceptions, that in order for magic to exist then people must believe in it. Most of us think that is why there are no magical creatures on Terra.'

  Pettic then broke in. `So you think the decreasing dragon fertility is linked to the dying belief in magic here on Ignis?'

  `Put simply, yes, we do.'

  Pettic thought hard then. `If you stopped all scientific research, would that help?'

  `Probably, but the people aren't going to give up their comforts for the dragons. Most of them hate them and would be glad to see them go.'

  `What about the other creatures? Would they be glad to see them go too?'

  `Probably not, but if it came to them or the comforts of the people, then the people would go with their comforts. I'm afraid.'

  It was a problem. Pettic thought Harrik was probably right in this. The dragons had shown no signs of infection of any kind. They both, no, all three, including Monarlisk, seemed healthy. Starvation seemed unlikely as they did not need to eat very often.

  Inbreeding was one likely possibility, of course, but no more likely than in any other wild creature. The young were often driven away by the parents when they became old enough to fend for themselves. Although Pettic had no real idea if this happened in dragons, they were intelligent creatures and would realise this themselves. That left the pollution idea and the magic idea.

  Pollution was a good thought. There were certainly a lot of horrible gases around where the dragons lived. Pettic told Harrik this, but the scientist reminded him of the tale that Monarlisk had told of the dragons being created by Mother Volcano and how they seemed to like being near them. This infertility was recent. If pollution were to blame, then the problem would have arisen almost immediately.

  They discussed the issue long into the night and came to the conclusion that the only way to keep the dragons alive was to move them to a world that believed in magic.

  Pettic was not too keen on them moving to his world, if a way could be found, and he did not know if Aqua had a strong belief in magic. Certainly, magic was alive and well on Aeris. It kept the Cities flying. Which of the two words would be the best for the dragons?

  It was a great problem to him. If he did not find a way to save them, then Crinilisk and Bladmisk would eat him, Monarlisk would eat Cledo and Prince Torren would remain a prisoner, leaving a cruel usurper to inherit the throne of Ponderia. Pettic went to bed that night and tossed and turned, getting very little sleep.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning when Pettic woke up, he had decided where to move the dragons, if possible. He spoke to Harrik about it and the scientist said he thought it was a reasonable idea if Pettic could get the dragons to agree.

  Pettic set off that morning on one of the steam vehicles to return to the city where he first landed on this continent. From here he made his way back to the cave where Crinilisk and Bladmisk had made their lair.

  On his arrival, Bladmisk called out to him. `So, human, you have returned. I didn't think you would, you know. Come up and tell us what you have found out.'

  Pettic reluctantly climbed up to the cave. In it he found Crinolisk guarding her three precious eggs.

  `Here's a human with honour,' said her mate. 'I never thought there was such a thing.'

  `Humans have as much honour as any thinking creature,' he replied somewhat indignantly.

  `Be that as it may,' said Crinilisk, `do you have a solution to our problem?'

  Pettic then told them all Harrik had told him. The dragons considered each idea in turn and, as Pettic thought they would, rejected it.

  `We dragons are as healthy as we've ever been. We rarely get sick.'

  `Harrik told me there are some sicknesses that don't show as illness, but can affect fertility just the same. They're caused by tiny creatures too small to see. I found that hard to believe, but he has a wonderful instrument called a microscope and he showed me some of these creatures.'

  `Would such an infection affect all the dragons? I doubt it.'

  They scuttled that idea.

  Similarly the idea of inbreeding. In fact both dragons were incensed the idea should have been put forward.

  `We aren't stupid, Pettic,' said Crinilisk. `We know about the dangers of inbreeding.'

  They also threw out the pollution since the dragons were, as they said, “born from Mother Volcano.”'

  That left only the death of magic. The dragons frowned. It was, as they saw it, the most likely scenario. Bladmisk said they had noticed a variation in magical fields. That dragons could fly was due to their magical nature. Creatures of their size would not normally be able to get airborne. They had not yet noticed flying becoming difficult though, just some spells seemed to be going wrong.

  `And you say it's because of this “science”?', Crinilisk asked.

  `Not quite. It's more that people aren't using magic, but turning to science and their belief in magic is declining as a result.'

  `Then we're doomed,' sighed, her beautiful head sinking down.

  Bladmisk was all for going and blasting the towns and cities, but Pettic told him that would not make people believe. They needed to believe of their own free will and they seemed to think science offered them more than magic, if they still believed in magic, that is.

  Pettic then made his radical suggestion. The dragons could move to Terra. Belief in magic was growing on that world and there were no native dragons for them to contend with. It was a pity that other magical creatures could not be taken, though, but Pettic thought there had to be contact between the wearer of the key and anyone else passing through.

  It would not help all the dragons, and it may not work at all. He suggested he try to take them through the portal to Fusionem and the
n show them how they could get from there to Terra.

  `Where's the key?' queried Bladmisk. 'I assume you have it somewhere?'

  `Ah! That's the problem. I don't actually have it. It's hidden somewhere on this world of Ignis.'

  `Then your proposal is no proposal at all.'

  Pettic saw the fire in Bladmisk's eyes and took a step backwards. Annoying dragons was not good for one's health.

  `I really have no idea where to start, but I understand that Monarlisk had some treasures here. Perhaps I could start by looking through them? All I know is, it's an artefact with a large ruby in it.'

  `We haven't examined Monarlisk's treasures,' Crinilisk told him, `but you're welcome to do so. If you want to take anything you may as a reward for your honesty and help. They aren't our treasures after all.'

  She laughed at the thought of giving away Monarlisk's treasures.

  `Dragons like to collect their own loot and aren't really interested in another's,' Bladmisk told him.

  The next morning found Pettic in the cave of the dragons. They warned him to stay away from the three eggs, sitting at the back of the cave.

  He found the treasure scattered all across the floor. Pettic looked for the things that Monarlisk had asked him to bring and placed them in a bag.

  As he approached the back of the cave he felt his earring begin to grow warm. He could hardly believe it. So easy. The first place he had looked. He began to think the gods were truly on his side.

  He crept quietly towards where the eggs lay. His earring got warmer the nearer he got to the back of the cave. He looked round but could see no further treasures. Perhaps it was a ring and not easy to see on the floor. But no. He saw nothing.

  Crinilisk had swept the treasures aside to make room for the eggs. As he walked round the eggs the warmth increased at one spot and in the dim light Pettic noticed a small crack. His earring got to its greatest warmth as he stood in front of it.

  The artefact was somewhere in that crack. He stood sideways and squeezed himself into it. He could barely get in, and twice he thought he was stuck. He almost panicked and gave up the second time, but then he came out into a wider cave. It was not as big as the outside one, but big enough so he could not touch the sides with outstretched arms.