Kethril

by Carroll, John H.

  “Very good point,” Purple agreed. “It’s best that the tortured one is dead. Let’s celebrate by nomming both princesses. They aren’t covered by the treaty after all.”

  Tathan didn’t know if the dragons would make good on the threat. If they did, he might be able to complain to King Cranwer, but he wanted to spare the princesses the fate. An idea came to him. He whispered over his shoulder to Anilyia. “Call Yebisu as loudly as you can.”

  “What? Why?” she whispered back.

  Tathan answered with a question. “Do you want them to nom you?”

  “YEBISU!” Anilyia yelled at the top of her lungs.

  “What did she say?” Black asked. “She didn’t say what I think she said, did she?”

  “I believe she called for Yebisu,” White verified with a pained look on his face.

  “Not the Yellow Bonehead of Stupidity.” Orange flopped to the ground and rested a cheek on a claw. “Of all the archangels, why did she call that one?”

  Light flooded the clearing from above, drowning out the dawn sky. Everyone shielded their eyes from the brightness, even the dragons. Yebisu streaked down on a ray and perched upon Vevin’s head. She faced the princess. “Your Highness! Why are you not back in Mayncal?!” She turned to Tathan. “Why haven’t you taken her home, you thief of light? And where is the Flower Child?”

  “I can’t stand the sound of her voice,” Black said to Purple, who nodded vigorously.

  “Liselle is underneath your perch.” Tathan pointed. Yebisu hopped forward onto Vevin’s snout and looked down at the exhausted flower child. Vevin was glaring at the humiliation of having an archangel on his nose.

  “Well, there you are. Why haven’t you delivered the princess? It’s been far too long and the world might go poof at any moment!” She made a yellow ball of light go poof, eliciting giggles from Vevin and Liselle as well as a chuckle from Tathan.

  Vevin couldn’t resist. A string of purple light bubbles flew from his claw, each going ‘poof’. Yebisu turned and glared. The sight of the sunshine bird looking intensely at the dragon from atop its snout was one of the funniest things Tathan had ever seen. Apparently, the council felt the same way, because they were chortling behind claws, trying hard not to lose their seriousness.

  “It doesn’t look like we’ll be able to bring her highness home. These dragons want to eat the princesses,” Liselle informed her, gesturing to the four large beasts that suddenly looked guilty.

  “WHAT?!” Yebisu exclaimed in outrage. She flared brightly for a moment causing everyone to shield their eyes again. “You may not eat the princess, you terrible creatures! If you try, I will . . . I will . . .”

  Black sneered. “What will you do? Set your beak on fire?”

  “I will . . . tell the Goddesses on you,” Yebisu finished with her beak in the air.

  The dragons sat there for a moment without responding. Everything went silent. Tathan honestly had no idea if it was a real threat or not.

  “Just the goddesses?” Purple asked in curiosity.

  “Yes. I don’t like the Gods. They’re jerks,” Yebisu answered, conceitedly turning her head to the side.

  More silence. Then White turned to the others, “Do we even care what the Goddesses think, or any of the Gods for that matter?”

  Orange shrugged. Purple answered, “I honestly don’t know. I’m not sure that they could or would do anything.”

  “If she tells the Goddesses, then it’s a problem. They might not do anything right away, but females do tend to hold grudges and remember things forever,” Black pointed out.

  “Very true.” White nodded as did Orange.

  Purple glared at Black. “I’ll remember that.”

  “My point precisely,” Black replied, pointing a talon. Tathan liked the dragons in spite of the fact that they were trying to nom his lover. The banter was completely unexpected.

  “I really want to nom the princesses,” Orange pointed out.

  “No.” Tathan, Yebisu and Liselle said in unison. They didn’t yell, but their voices were firm.

  Tathan took a step forward, dragging the reluctant ladies with him. “Sheep were being stolen from Kethril. That dragon,” Tathan pointed at the dead body of Vevin’s father. It was difficult due to the fact that Anilyia was still holding onto the arm, “kidnapped that ship’s children.” He pointed to Aermoirre, which was difficult because Emmaoen was holding that arm. “And then he forced it to steal sheep from citizens of Kethril. King Cranwer charged us with stopping the thefts. He sent his niece to ensure it was done.” Tathan pointed at Emmaoen.

  Summarizing things was a strength of Tathan’s and he was on a roll. “We captured the ship and it brought us here.” He spread his arms out, indicating the clearing. The ladies moved with them. “Vevin’s father came out of the cave and threatened to hurt us.” He gestured with the arm Anilyia held again. “We fought and killed him, then rescued Aermoirre’s children.” He gestured with the one Emmaoen held. The ladies were determined to restrain him, but even with as tired as he was, Tathan was subtly strong.

  He wrapped things up. “Vevin will get back the treasure that his father stole from him and the rest of us . . .”

  “Excuse me?” Purple interrupted, craning her neck forward. “What do you mean the treasure his father stole from him?” The four huge dragons appeared angry all of the sudden. It was an intimidating sight. “Is this true?” Purple asked Vevin.

  The smaller and paler dragon’s only response was to nod slowly. Yebisu readjusted her footing after the movement.

  “Why did you not report it?” Orange asked. “It is a high crime punishable by death for a dragon to steal another’s treasure, and to steal from your own child . . .” He couldn’t finish. The others shook their heads in disgust.

  “Where is your mother?” Black asked with concern.

  “She’s . . .” Vevin couldn’t say anymore. He sat there in sorrow. The Council waited for him to finish.

  Liselle spoke for him. “Vevin’s father beat her to death.”

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is not good at all,” Purple declared.

  “No. It’s not,” Orange agreed. “Dragons must not murder or steal each other’s treasure. We will not act like humans.” He let out a great sigh. “I suppose that settles it then. I move that they did a deed in the favor of dragonkind by killing the murdering and thieving monster.”

  “Are we certain they’re telling the truth?” Black asked.

  “Yes,” Orange said. “I see the truth in their words. Everything is as they say.” The others nodded in acceptance. Tathan wondered if Orange could actually judge truth by supernatural means, or if it was just a gut instinct.

  “I concur with Orange,” Black said formally.

  “As do I,” agreed White.

  “So be it,” Purple declared. “These individuals are not guilty of the murder of a dragon. It is declared that they are in favor of dragonkind for killing the murdering and thieving monster. As reward, we won’t eat the scrumptious princesses that are so cutely hiding behind a shadow.” All four looked disappointed by the decision.

  Tathan didn’t like how she called him a shadow. He also didn’t like the way his cousin looked at him after the phrase was spoken. “I would also like the mark of the dragon as a reward,” Tathan said. It was a long shot, but worth a try.

  “And what do you know about the mark of the dragon, you ill-behaved little human?” White asked, stretching his neck forward dangerously.

  “Not a great deal, but we’ve rid you of a blemish on dragonkind and it’s only fair.”

  “No, it is most definitely not fair,” Purple disagreed. “You have brought two princesses into our presence and we are using extraordinary restraint to overcome our hunger for them. That is as great a reward as has ever been given.”

  “I am concerned that he even knows of the mark,” White said. “I’m concerned that he knows many things about dragons that he shouldn’t.”

  Orange contributed his
opinion. “He is a verified thief, and therefore not covered by treaty. As such, we could eat him instead.”

  “And take his sword,” black suggested eagerly. Tathan was beginning to regret saying anything at all.

  “No. He’s interesting, and I’m not willing to let you have the sword,” Purple said with a shake of her head. She turned to Tathan. “You don’t know much about the mark, else you wouldn’t have asked for it. Yet you do know more than you should.” Purple moved forward and pointed a sharp talon in Tathan’s face. “I charge you, Tathan of the Shadows, with keeping secret all you know about dragons.” Then she sat back and waited for his response.

  Normally, Tathan would just lie, but lying to dragons didn’t seem like an especially good idea. Orange made the decision a little easier. “Let me clarify. If we find out, or even think you’ve told our secrets, I will personally put a different mark on you. It will show that you are an enemy of dragons and whatever dragon finds you will torture you and keep you as a plaything.”

  There was something about the way Orange spoke that let Tathan know it wasn’t an idle threat. It was as though the creature had made an oath. “I promise I will keep secret all I know about dragons,” Tathan agreed with a sigh. It was a hard choice to make, but he was very good at keeping a secret when necessary. He just didn’t like being forced to do so. It also occurred to him that they didn’t insist the same from his companions.

  “So be it. Is there anything else?” Purple asked his companions.

  “The pup should be given back his treasure as well as that of his father and mother,” White said.

  “I’ll take it if he’s busy,” Black offered helpfully.

  The others ignored him. Purple said, “The tortured one may have stolen from others. I will assign a committee to account for all items in his hoard. The audit is to be done within ten years, at which point the pup may take possession.”

  “Let’s make a seal over the lair and then get out of here before I lose restraint and nom the princesses after all,” Orange suggested impatiently.

  “I concur,” Black said.

  “So be it.” Purple flicked her wrist and a glowing purple light flew from her claw to the cave entrance. It expanded in size before appearing as a large circle of concentric rings with runes scattered throughout. The rings circled in alternate directions and varying speeds. It was easily the most complicated ward Tathan had ever seen.

  “Show off. You had that ready, didn’t you?” White asked suspiciously. Purple merely smiled. Orange followed with a circle of jagged lines. The entire thing spun in one direction, but the runes moved within. Black’s followed. It was in shadows and blurred. White’s was a web with interlaced strands that the runes crawled along like spiders. Emmaoen buried her face into Tathan’s back.

  All four wards connected to each other and then attached to the rocks around the mouth of the cave. They became transparent and disappeared, although Tathan could sense the power still radiating from them. In a thousand years, he would never be able to bypass a seal that strong.

  Purple waved her claw once more. Tathan heard a sizzling sound behind them and turned to see the body of Vevin’s father bubbling in black acid. In less than a minute, all that remained was goo on the ground. The stench was terrible, but white cast a spell and the goo began to glow a light blue and sink into the soil. Orange created a gust of wind that blew by them and removed the odor.

  Without another word, all four launched into the air and flew away to the south, splitting into different directions.

  Yebisu leaned over Vevin’s snout to glare at Liselle. “Get the princess home NOW! And don’t let her get eaten by any stupid dragons!” She also shot into the air, flared brightly and beamed away towards Mayncal.

  Chapter 27

  Tathan wanted to fall down and go to sleep, but it wasn’t the time yet. He staggered toward his cousin, who lurched toward him. Vevin gave the sky one last look to make sure the others were gone and then transformed back to human. He looked miserable.

  Liselle and Tathan collapsed together in a hug. Anilyia and Emmaoen joined in, neither willing to give up an arm yet. Tathan gestured for Vevin to join and the five stayed like that for a few minutes, holding on for emotional support.

  When they separated, Tathan looked toward the fallen knight. “Is he . . .”

  “He’s alive,” Liselle reassured him. Exhaustion was evident in her voice. They all walked to Sir Danth as a group. Tathan knelt and put a hand on the chest plate. Liselle put a hand on Tathan’s shoulder. “I’ve . . . calmed him. His soul is swimming in fluffy white clouds. The armor is still broken and the pain would drive him mad otherwise.”

  “Can you release him to death?” Tathan asked in concern. He felt that his friend would want the peace.

  “No. When they made this armor, they attached him to it. It was done in such a way that he can’t be released unless the armor is destroyed on such a minute level that I can’t even comprehend it,” Liselle explained. “The power it would take could obliterate him as a being too.”

  “Is there no way he can escape it?” Tathan was alarmed. It sounded like an eternal prison.

  “No. I have to fix him, Tathan, but I don’t know how long it’s going to take. The armor is so different than a body.”

  “Alright. Can I carry him?” Tathan asked her. “I’d like to leave now.”

  “Yes, he can’t feel anything,” Liselle said. “Be careful though, there are still some jagged edges that I haven’t finished.”

  Tathan paused, wondering how he was going to carry the knight when he could barely carry himself.

  Vevin stepped forward. “I’ll carry him.” He slung the suit of armor over his shoulder. “He doesn’t weigh much and the armor stays together.”

  “Let’s board the ship and decide what to do.” The horses Tathan and the ladies had ridden out of the cave were already back on the main deck, causing Tathan to wonder how the ship convinced animals to get on. Aermoirre’s children were floating safely next to the foremast.

  Once on board, they went to the aft deck near the wheel and rested around the railing. Liselle and Vevin sat together while Anilyia cuddled up in Tathan’s arms nearby. Emmaoen sat a short distance away on Tathan’s other side. Now that the big dragons were gone, she didn’t need to hold onto him, although she stayed close just in case.

  Sir Danth lay near the wheel with arms crossed over his chest in a pose more like death than rest. Tathan stared at the armor, trying to fight off the heaviness on his eyelids.

  ***

  Tathan was cold and his face felt wet. He opened his eyes a crack. The first thing he saw was little tiny flakes of snow falling from the grey sky. Beyond that, he saw a sail flapping on the aft mast above. Only the lowest of the three was open to catch the wind.

  Every muscle protested in aching pain as he stretched. Opening his eyes more, Tathan could see that he was lying on the deck of the ship. Anilyia was curled up next to him with her back against his chest. Someone had covered them both with a blanket. Liselle and Vevin were asleep and a blanket covered them too. Someone had even covered Sir Danth. Tathan gingerly rolled to look behind him. A low groan escaped his lips much to his chagrin.

  “You are awake. I thought I saw you move.” Emmaoen was huddled against a thick post of the railing, her blanket wrapped up to her nose. She pulled it down to uncover her lips. “You fell asleep fast, so we covered you up. Everyone else decided to sleep too.”

  “Where are we?” Tathan asked with a raspy voice. He tried to shift a little, but the deck was just too uncomfortable.

  “We’re in the sky over Kethril. I asked Aermoirre to take me home.” She gave him a firm look with a hint of challenge in her eyes. “I’ll tell my uncle that you succeeded and that the villages and sheep are safe.”

  “That’s an excellent decision. You’ll pardon me if I don’t want to stick around though,” Tathan told her with an impudent smile.

  Emmaoen winked. “My uncle’s pardon
will only be valid if you don’t stick around.” Both of them were keeping their voices soft so as not to disturb the others. “I told Aermoirre where my estate is. I think we can get there easier than trying to make it to the castle. I have no idea how long it will take though.” She glared at the sky. “I’m not ready for snow yet.”

  “I think I remember a healer in Rethram talk about winter coming early and being harsh. How long has it been falling?” Tathan wiped more moisture off his face. The flakes were getting larger.

  “It was cloudy as soon as we came down out of the mountains. That was two days ago. The snow just started. It may be rain lower to the ground, but we’re pretty high up right now.”

  “Two days? I slept that long?”

  She nodded. “The princess woke up a few times. There’s a cabin underneath this deck, but it’s magically locked and we have no way to get in. We found hatches on the main deck, but they’re sealed. Aermoirre ignored us when we asked her to open them.”

  Anilyia groaned and wiped her face with a hand before sitting up. Tathan also sat up and leaned against the railing. Anilyia put her head against his chest and wrapped arms around his waist. “Snow? It’s only autumn. I hate snow. Daddy has a hunting lodge in the mountains and it snows there. It’s too cold and wet.”

  Tathan pulled the blanket up so she was better covered. He suddenly wished they were alone so he could warm her up in other ways. Instead, he thought about carnivorous fairies.

  “I need a bath,” Anilyia mumbled petulantly. She sniffed. “You need a bath even more than I do.”

  “I’ll get right on that,” Tathan responded dryly. “Maybe I can strip my clothes, dance in the snow and get clean that way.”

  “Mmm, please do,” Anilyia replied with a mischievous smile. “I love watching you dance naked.”

  “Eww!” Emmaoen put her finger in her mouth and made gagging noises.

  Anilyia stood up and stretched. Tathan watched appreciatively. He had to think about carnivorous fairies again before he could get up and join her. Luckily, the cold air helped.