A Dragon’s Tale

Falkaan leaned over the side of his airship and peered through the spyglass at Lord Borden’s airship.  Despite the only illumination coming from the crescent moon, his dark elf eyes could see well enough.  There were shadowy figures moving on the deck of the other airship, many of whom looked to be carrying large boxes.

”They’re running alright.”  He said to no one in particular.  ”Lord Delmar certainly knows his enemies.” 

”Orders sir?”  Damon asked.  The grizzled first officer looked like he was sixty although he hadn’t turned forty yet.

Falkaan closed the spyglass and dropped it into his coat pocket.  ”Give us some height Mr. Damon and put us directly over them.  We’ll attack once they reach cruising height and before they deploy their sails.”

”Aye aye captain.”  Damon said, and turned to the ship’s wheel.  Moments later, Falkaan felt a momentary tug of gravity as the ship started to gain altitude.

”Get the mercenaries ready for boarding.”  Falkaan added.  ”And remind them that Lord Delmar won’t cough up the coin unless we get both targets.”

”Don’t need to remind them of that sir.”  Damon said.  ”They haven’t had a drop of rum all day and are itching for some action.” 

”They’ll get plenty.”  Falkaan said.  He put his hand on the railing and looked down at Gralden sprawled out before him.  He calculated the outcome of the coming battle as he absent-mindedly stroked the stump of his left arm, which ended just above the elbow.  The sleeve had been sewn over so it didn’t swing freely, but that didn’t mean he liked it.

”Something on your mind captain?” 

”Why do you ask?”

”Because you always stroke the stump there when you’re worried.”  Damon said. 

”We’re likely to lose a few men, so we’ll need more before we seek out our next job.” 

”Well, I won’t complain about a bigger share of the bounty.  Besides, there are always more mercenaries where they came from.” 

”True.”  Falkaan said after a few more seconds. 

”Most of them weren’t too keen on going legit anyway.”  Damon continued.  ”I mean, accepting a job from a lord is a bit unusual in their line of work.”

”Again, true.”  Falkaan said.  ”Do the men have a problem with making an honest buck?”

”Like I said, they’re not too keen on the idea.”  Damon said.  ”Most of them got into raiding because they don’t like lords, laws, and such.  But I think they’ll follow your orders.  As long as you keep them in rum and gold, they’d follow just about anyone.”

Falkaan was silent for a minute before responding.  ”That’s what worries me.”

”I’d never turn on you, and you know it.” 

”I know you won’t old friend. I know.”  Falkaan smiled.  ”It’s the men I’m not too keen on.” 

Damon lowered his voice.  ”Yeah, but we didn’t have a choice, right?  We can run the ship with just the two of us, but not capture our targets. Besides, these are bloodthirsty brutes who are itching for a fight.  Just the sort we need to bring two criminals to justice.”

”No, they’re just the sort who’ll slaughter anyone for coin.”  Falkaan corrected.  ”I’m just aiming them at criminals.” 

”In a few hours, those criminals will be dead and Lord Delmar will make us rich men.”  Damon replied.  ”Who knows, maybe I’ll finally settle down and find myself a nice lass.” 

”You mean the kind you don’t have to pay?”  Falkaan replied with a wry smile.

”I’m getting ambitious in my old age.  You should try it sometime captain; might help ease some of that tension.”

”A woman who can be bought isn’t worth having.”  Falkaan replied, and then turned back to observing Lord Borden’s airship.  ”Get the men on deck; I want to remind them-”

”A wood elf in a green dress and a young dragon with a disguise gem.”  Damon finished.  ”They already know.  Them two are as good as dead already.”

”Good.”  Falkaan said with a smile.  Two less parasites living off society was a good thing in his mind.  

* * *

Alana unstrung her bow and flopped down on her bed with a sigh.  Despite the obvious signs of the fight, she hadn’t missed that Beth had been wearing only a sheet.  She wasn’t surprised, especially given the emotions coming from her bond with Ethan earlier that night.  However, she was surprised by how she felt about it. 

That is, she only disliked it a little.  Ethan had just taken Beth to bed and -- while she wasn’t exactly happy about it -- she didn’t feel sad or upset with him because of it either.

It made no sense.

She should be mad, furious even.  Ethan -- the man she loved -- had married another woman and taken her to bed.  She was supposed to be hurt.  There was the old elven proverb about Saidow’s lair having no fury like a woman scorned.  The only right and proper thing for her to feel was anger, rage, betrayal, a desire for revenge, etcetera. 

And yet...

She sighed.

She wasn’t happy about it, but it didn’t bother her nearly as much as she thought it should; certainly not as much as it had two weeks ago.  Two weeks ago it had felt devastating to think of him with another woman.  Now?  She found it hard to get very upset about it.  Yes, she was a little upset -- especially after seeing Beth clad in only a bed sheet -- but it was more like a dull, unpleasant ache than the searing pain of two weeks ago.

What had changed?

Why had it changed?

Her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door.  She ignored it, but they knocked again.

”It’s Ethan.” 

She was out of bed and halfway to the door before she stopped herself.  She teetered in indecision for a few moments, before deciding she didn’t want to see him.  Not tonight of all nights.  He was about to leave the city forever -- leave her forever -- and she wasn’t sure she could take another goodbye.  She was tearing up just thinking about it.

”Go away.”  Alana said.

”I can’t.”  Ethan said.  ”We need to talk.”

”No we don’t.”  Alana said, although she took a step closer to him.  She could almost feel his presence on the other side of the door.

”If you won’t let me in, I’ll just talk through the door.”  Ethan said. 

”I could cover my ears.”  Alana said with far more playfulness than she intended.

”They’re too pretty to--” Ethan stopped.  ”I mean please don’t.  This is important.”

”Okay, I’ll keep my ears uncovered.”  Alana had almost said ’pretty ears’ instead of just ’ears’, but didn’t think the flirting would be appropriate.

”First I wanted to thank you.”  Ethan said.  ”Anthiel told me you fired that arrow.  I might not be standing here if you hadn’t, so thank you.” 

”You’re welcome.”  Alana replied.  She leaned her back against the door, smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief.  ”I’m glad I could help.” 

”Me too.”  Ethan said.  ”But that’s not all.  That girl -- Rachel -- said Lord Delmar is after you too.  Apparently, he’s marked you for death because you helped me escape him.”

”I can leave the city.”  She sighed, but she had no idea where she could go.

”Not really.”  He replied.  ”His dragon slayers are camped outside and they’ll see you leave.  Anthiel says if you stay in the city you’ll meet an ’accident’ before the week is out.”

”Yeah, that’s how Lord Delmar does things.  So basically, I’m doomed; is that what you’re saying?”

”Actually, there is another way out of the city.” 

It only took Alana a moment to figure out what he was getting at, at which point her heart soared.  ”You’re not serious.”

”I am.”

Alana took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  She wanted to, with everything in her she wanted to.  But Ethan was married; the last thing she wanted to do was get in the way of his marriage.  Plus, Lord Borden had made his opinion of Beth sharing a husband perfectly clear, and he wasn’t the kind of man you wanted as an enemy. 

She could feel a tear forming at the corner of her eye as she replied.  ”I don’t think I can go with you.” 

”But you’ll die if you don’t.”  Ethan countered. 

Alana turned around so her front was pressed up against the door.  She put her hand flat on the wood, closed her eyes, and reached out while enhancing her senses with magic.  Ethan was pacing on the other side of the door.  She could feel his concern for her over their bond.  It was like a warm blanket on her heart, soothing her fears and making her feel safe, loved, and cared for.  She cut off her mana-enhanced sense and lowered her hand.

”What about Beth, what about your marriage?”  She countered.  ”I don’t want to die, but I’m crafty.  I could slip out of town and I have...” She smiled as she thought about all the protection her birth parents could offer her.  ”I have places to go where I’ll be safe.” 

”I talked to Beth, and she’s okay with you coming.”

”She is?”

”I mean, she’s not thrilled with the idea but yeah; she’s okay with it.  She’s way more okay with it than I thought she would be.”

”You’re sure?”

”I am.”

Alana took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  It was too good to be true.  It just wasn’t possible that she would get to leave with him.   The tear at the corner of her eye had started as a tear of sadness, now it expressed an altogether more pleasant emotion. 

Her heart felt light as a feather. 

”I’m not saying you have to follow us everywhere.”  Ethan said when she didn’t answer.  ”Just let us get you out of the city.  By morning, we should be far enough away that you could safely leave if that’s what you want, but you can’t stay here.  Please?”

”Okay.”  Alana wiped the tear from her cheek and opened the door. 

Ethan stood on the other side with a pained smile on his face.  She couldn’t help but smile back.  She had never found dragons attractive before, but there was just something about Ethan.  His disguise gem was activated, but she could see right through to the person underneath. 

She found her eyes wandering his scaly face and the twin horns that gently spiraled out of the back of his head like an antelope.  His lopsided, toothy smile -- pained though it was -- was endearing and spoke only of concern for her.  His cat-like eyes clearly belonged to a predator, but they looked at her with fondness and caring. 

Ethan was the best man she had ever known and he was clearly deeply in love with her.  She would never come between him and Beth, though she couldn’t help but wonder what could have been.  Even setting their bond aside, she found it hard to believe she could ever love another man as much as she loved Ethan.

”Sorry.”  Alana looked down when she realized she had been staring.  There was an awkward silence for a few moments before he broke it.

”You should probably grab your stuff.”  Ethan said.  ”We’re leaving soon.” 

”And I should leave a note for Lord Borden.”  Alana said, and then a thought occurred to her.  ”I’m not sure you’re good for me, mister; you’ve turned my life upside down two or three times and I haven’t known you a whole month yet.”

Ethan laughed.  It was a strained laugh, but genuine.

”I’ll try to do less turning upside down from now on.”  He said. 

”That sounds like a plan.”  Alana replied, and then she went about packing. 

* * *

”Just a little deep mana?”  Ethan asked. 

”The tiniest bit would work.”  Alana replied.  ”If your deep mana was a lake, a single drop of water would do.”

Ethan felt a little silly and looked around.  The deck of the airship was covered with bleary-eyed men loading cargo and rations.  The main deck was sixteen feet wide and about a hundred feet long, including the raised quarterdeck at the stern.  Above him, the upper main mast towered sixty feet above them and it was topped with a crow’s nest for a lookout.  Ethan knew there was a similar arrangement underneath the vessel with the second mast.

Anthiel was in her element, and called orders from the quarterdeck behind the ship’s wheel.  Beth was looking surly and winced when she moved her back. She glanced at Ethan and Alana occasionally, but there was less jealousy in her glances than he expected.  Rachel was still bound and gagged, but they had locked her in a storage room to keep her presence a secret and out of the way. 

”Come on, I promise you won’t regret it.”  Alana said.

Ethan picked up the war hammer.  Despite looking like a large framing hammer, it felt very good in his hands.  He closed his eyes and felt for his deep mana.  It pooled under his regular mana in a different layer without mixing, like oil and water.  Ethan applied his will and forced the tiniest drop to travel from his hand into the war hammer.

The result was instantaneous.

Ethan could feel the war hammer instantly.  It was almost like he felt when Alana was near, but this was even closer -- more like feeling his arm or leg than feeling her.  He was aware of its presence the same way he was aware of the rest of his body.

”Good.”  Alana said.  ”Now, set it down on the deck and call it to your hand.”

Ethan felt a little stupid, but set the hammer down anyway and took a few steps back.  ”How do I do that?”

”I’m not sure, I’ve never done it.”  Alana replied with a sheepish grimace.  ”But it’s supposed to be pretty easy.” 

Ethan rolled his eyes, opened his hand, and thought at the war hammer ’come to me’.  It didn’t move.  Ethan tried the same thing again, but again it just lay there like an ordinary hammer.  He tried again, this time putting all his mental force and willpower into the command.  Still, nothing happened.

”I think it’s broken.”  Ethan said. 

”Can you feel it?” 

”Yeah.” 

”Then it’s not broken.”  Alana said.  ”Think about it like this.  You don’t tell your arm to move, you just move it.  Pretend the war hammer is just another arm and move it.” 

”I can try that but--” Ethan started to say, but stopped.  The war hammer had wiggled.  Not much, but it moved.

”See.”  Alana encouraged.  ”Try again.” 

”Try what?”  Ethan said with a puzzled expression.  ”I have no idea how I got it to move.”

Alana raised an eyebrow at him in a challenge, so Ethan turned back to the war hammer.  He could feel it, and right now he wanted to hold it.  He closed his eyes, opened his hand, and called to it.

Nothing happened.

”You’re overthinking it.”  Alana said.

”Probably.”  Ethan replied with a sigh. 

His mind drifted to the Avengers movie and how easily Thor wielded his hammer.  He just opened his hand and it came.  He figured he’d try something.  In his mind’s eye, he remembered a scene where Thor was fighting the Hulk and opened his hand and his hammer just came to him.  Ethan closed his eyes, opened his hand, and remembered that scene.

A moment later, he felt the war hammer hit his palm. He opened his eyes and smiled.  ”That was awesome.” 

Alana and Beth -- the latter of which had just wandered over -- both clapped. 

Ethan set the weapon down and again called it to his hand.  He had been overthinking it.  He just needed to want it in his hand, and it came.  It was so incredibly simple. After calling it back to his hand several times, he picked it up, held the head close to his mouth, and whispered.  ”Whosoever shall hold this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” 

”Who’s Thor?”  Alana and Beth asked at the same time.

”A fictional god from my world.”  Ethan replied.  ”So, how does this work anyway?  I mean, aren’t I violating some law of physics about the conservation of energy or something?”

”Conservation of mana, and no.”  Alana said.  ”Think of it like a magnet.  The spell creates a bond that allows you to pull the weapons like a magnet.  The only difference is, there’s no real limit on distance because it travels through the ether.  Besides, it takes a little mana every time.  You just probably didn’t notice it because it takes so little.” 

”I suppose that makes some sense.”  Ethan said.  ”It sounds like it works a little differently than back home.  Although, I suppose this is my home now.”

Alana opened her mouth to reply, but Beth beat her to the punch.  ”It is your home.” She put her arm around Ethan’s and glanced at Alana.  It wasn’t a mean glance, but it definitely felt like Beth was staking out her territory.

Alana swallowed and put on a smile that didn’t look quite genuine.  ”I’m sure you’ll be very happy.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to...  I mean I have a thing to...”  She turned and walked very quickly. 

”You could be a little nicer.”  Ethan said.

Beth wouldn’t quite meet his gaze as she responded.  ”I know, it’s just...  I know you’re bonded to her and it’s hard because I know there are still feelings there.”

”I won’t deny that, but I married you.”  Ethan replied.  ”I’m going to be the best husband possible and I promise my feelings for Alana won’t change that.  Do consider how she’s feeling though.  This is really hard for her.”

”You’re right.”  Beth bit her lip and then began to examine her shoes rather intently.  ”I promise I’ll be nicer to her.”

”Good.”  Ethan said.  ”I know it’s hard for you too, but I think it’s worth it to save her life, don’t you?”

”Absolutely.”  Beth replied.  ”It’s just hard knowing you’re bonded to her.”

”Unless you know how to break our bond, I think it’s something we might have to live with.” 

”Well, the mages in Arcanum might know.”  Beth said.  ”If you want to learn anything about magic, there’s no better place in the Ten Kingdoms.”

”Then maybe we’ll head there.”  Ethan said, although he didn’t like the idea of breaking his bond with Alana.  He secretly hoped they wouldn’t have a clue, or better yet would tell him that bonds couldn’t be broken.

”It might be easier for all of us.”  Beth offered. 

He couldn’t say she was wrong, but still didn’t like the idea. They talked for another minute and then Beth wandered off to indulge her curiosity about how the airship was operated. 

He picked up the spear Alana had given him and put a drop of his deep mana into that too, although he found himself enjoying the war hammer more in the confines of the ship.  He found himself dropping it and then calling it back to his hand over and over.  He even threw it a few times and called it back.   It was oddly satisfying and strangely comforting to know he could call it to his hand from anywhere.

* * *

Ethan saw the last of the supplies being loaded twenty minutes later.  Lord Borden led his family up the gangplank onto the deck.  Beth had a tearful goodbye with them and Lord Borden walked up to Ethan when they were done.

”I told Anthiel you are in charge.”  Lord Borden said. 

”I appreciate the vote of confidence sir.”  Ethan said.  ”But, I don’t know anything about this world or being on the run.”

”I didn’t become the owner of the largest bank in the Ten Kingdoms by being a poor judge of character.  Use your best judgment, rely on those you can trust, and never be afraid to ask for advice.  Do that, and you’ll be fine.”

”I will.”  Ethan said.

”Oh, and one more thing.”  Lord Borden glanced at Alana and then back at Ethan.  ”If you ever hurt my daughter, I will hunt you down, pull out all your scales one at a time, forge them into a sword, and use it to remove your appendages.”  He momentarily glanced in the direction of Ethan’s groin.  ”All of them.”

He swallowed. 

The banker’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest.  He still looked pleasant, as if they were merely discussing the weather.  He also didn’t say anything else and let an uncomfortable silence hang in the air until Ethan replied.

”Understood sir.”  Ethan replied with a gulp; though the dragon vehemently disagreed.  He had to resist the urge to growl at the banker as his dragon instincts screamed that no mere human could prevent him from claiming his mates.

”Good.”  Lord Borden smiled as if nothing had happened.  ”Then enjoy your travels while you can, because peril will follow you everywhere.”  Ethan nodded, and Lord Borden left the ship. 

”Captain, you’re needed on the quarterdeck.”  Anthiel called. 

”What’s up?” Ethan asked after joining her and the others on the quarterdeck.

”Orders sir?”  Anthiel asked.

Ethan looked around.  Alana, Beth, Anthiel and two sailors he didn’t know were all standing on the quarterdeck looking at him expectantly. 

”I don’t know.”  He said, then remembered Lord Borden’s advice.  ”Any ideas?” 

”How about Arcanum?” Beth suggested.  ”The mages there might know how to break your bond with Alana.”

After a moment, Alana nodded, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.  ”Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.” 

Ethan felt his stomach turn and he sincerely wished they couldn’t help.  But since he didn’t have a better idea, he turned to Anthiel and spoke in his best Captain Picard impression.  ”Make it so number one.”

Anthiel gave him a confused look before she turned to the two sailors and started issuing orders.  Ethan understood the part about weighing anchor, but the rest of the orders went over his head. 

Once the anchor and the mooring lines were removed, Anthiel put her hand on a panel next to the ship’s wheel.  On the panel, there were about two dozen gems of varying sizes, half of which were currently glowing very softly.  Anthiel ran her hand over the board, Ethan felt the slight tingly sensation in the air as she used a hint of magic, and two more of the gems lit up.

Almost instantly, Ethan heard a loud, creaking groan of something in the belly of the ship shifting around.  Moments later, the airship slowly began to drift upwards into the sky.  

”Wow.”  Ethan said as he watched the ground slowly pull away from him.  He was seeing it, but he almost didn’t believe it.

”Yes, it’s pretty amazing.”  Alana agreed as she looked over the railing nearby. 

”You’ve never been on an airship?”  Beth asked.

Ethan shook his head.  ”We don’t have them where I come from, remember?  We stopped using them over a hundred years ago, and even then they weren’t like this.”

”Your world has no idea what it’s missing.”  Beth said. 

”Agreed.”  He replied as he stared at the ground.  Lord Borden and the rest of Beth’s family slowly grew smaller as the ship got higher.   As the town of Gralden got slowly smaller, he realized he didn’t know the airship’s name. 

”So, what’s the name of this ship?”

”That depends on what you decide.”  Anthiel replied. 

”Me?  It doesn’t have a name yet?”

”No.”  Beth said.  ”This is its maiden voyage.   They finished building it for father a couple of months ago, but he hasn’t had time to take it out yet.”

”So, what’s the name captain?”  Alana asked.

”The Fluffy Bunny.”  Ethan said the first silly thing that came to mind.  ”No wait, the Pink Unicorn.”

Everyone laughed.

”How about the Squirrel’s Revenge?”  Alana suggested with a chuckle.

”Or the Deadly Harp?’  Anthiel smirked.

”The Pretty Broach.”  Beth was clutching her side laughing and barely got it out.  This went on for some time as each one tried to come up with more outlandish and silly names than the rest. 

Finally, Ethan said, ”I’ve got it: the Hindenburg!” And he burst out laughing again.  Everyone stared at him blankly.

”It’s an airship from my world that met with an... unfortunate fate.”  Ethan explained.   ”I was kidding.” 

”I thought you didn’t have airships?”  Beth looked at him suspiciously.

”Not many anymore. And certainly not airships like this.”  Ethan replied.  ”Ours are more like massive bags of gas that are lighter than air.”

”You say the strangest things sometimes.”  Beth said.  Her head was cocked to one side and he wasn’t sure she quite believed him.

”In all seriousness though, you should probably pick a name.”  Alana suggested.

Ethan thought about it for a minute before responding.  ”How about the Argo?  It’s from the mythology of my home.  They built Argo for a sacred quest to recover a sacred item and the ship was blessed by the goddess of war.  I realize we’re not doing anything that grand, but I do like the name.”

”The Argo.”  Alana repeated.  ”It sounds different, but I like it.”

”Me too.”  Beth chimed in. 

”The Argo it is.”  Anthiel said to the two men.  ”Get ready to...”

Anthiel trailed off as she glanced upward.   Ethan saw it too.  A hundred yards directly above them, another airship was swiftly and silently descending on their position.  Peering over the edge were at least a dozen men who didn’t look like the sort you’d want to meet in a dark alley.

”Pirates.”  Anthiel said.

”They must have been waiting for us.”  Ethan observed. 

”I’ll bet that’s why Lord Delmar made an appearance at your wedding.”  Alana said.  ”He was trying to scare you into leaving so he could get us away from Lord Borden’s army.”

”Well, it worked.”  He turned to Anthiel.  ”Suggestions?”

The high elf frowned.  ”There’s no time to deploy the sails so we can’t run, and there’s no way I can land while we’re under attack.  I say we fight.”

Ethan nodded and took a deep breath.  ”Prepare to repel boarders!”

(End of chapter 5)