Why aren't we on the sea serpent? Rib thought, finding it difficult to keep his body lax, surrounded by a dozen Huskhns on each side of the long war ship. They rowed with intimidating strength behind each stroke, all in unison. Right behind them, the sea serpent followed, its head still cloudy with magic.
"So why is it that your firebreather's wings are stripped?" Captain Sprague asked Damara. The Huskhn was sitting at the back, leaning forward in interest.
"I only had so much rope," she answered, casually tucking her dress under where she knelt.
Sprague laughed. "Yes, but why do you need to disable it at all? It's under your power."
"She wasn't at first. I had to earn her obedience before I could make what little bewitchment magic I had the ingredients for."
"Because dragon fire is required," Sprague connected.
How does he know that? Rib wondered.
"Yes," Damara said. "Even now, I'm not sure how long the bewitchment will last, which is why I keep her jaws bound as well."
Damara's good at thinking of these things.
"Oh, I see." The Captain glanced at Jacinth on the ship beside them. She was lying down, skeleton wings folded against her sides. "And what if the magic wears off all your beasts?" Sprague raised his eyebrows.
Damara snorted. "That won't happen. Trust me."
She expects him to trust her? Rib was doubtful, but the man smiled and nodded.
"Of course," he replied. "I know I'm not one to understand magic. But you- you are like our Chief's nephew, Zheal. He understands magic as you do."
Zheal? Rib tried not to be too obvious as he perked up at the name. Silently, he begged Damara to ask about him. Does Sprague know anything about Memory? Are she and Zheal at Husk?
Rib fought the urge to speak. Damara seemed to sense this, for she reached out to Rib, beckoning him closer. He inched forward.
"Lie down," she ordered, and he did. With one gentle finger, she traced the scales atop his head, as he'd seen Gavin do with his monigons.
Ask Sprague about my sister! he tried to tell her with his eyes. Or at least about Zheal.
The young woman barely even looked at him before facing Sprague again.
"What magic does Zheal craft?" she questioned.
"Oh, none," the Captain admitted. "He has no access to dragon fire, you see." Sprague grinned. "But he'll be happy to see you. You have exactly what he needs."
"He's in Husk, then?" asked Damara.
Please, please, please, please?
"Yes," Sprague confirmed, his face beaming. "I think you'll get on with him quite well. He is very fond of his own dragon steed, as I see you are with yours."
Memory! Rib nearly jerked his head up, but refrained himself as he felt Damara's hand rest on him firmly. Ask him more!
To his disappointment, Damara stood. "Well, I look forward to meeting him. If you will excuse me, I'd like to take my steed out for a flight. He's getting restless."
"Certainly." Sprague smiled.
No! Rib thought as Damara mounted his saddle. Now's the perfect time to ask about Memory.
"Come on," the young woman said with a clap of her heels against his scales.
He dared not hesitate long with Sprague watching. Bitterly, he obeyed and leapt off the ship before beating his wings to carry them far enough away from the Huskhns.
As soon as they were out of earshot, he turned his head to the side and asked, "How can you do this to me? You should have asked more about my sister!"
From the corner of his eye, he could see Damara's unsympathetic expression.
"I won't go pressing him for information," she answered. "And you need to better control your body language. You were looking far too interested in that conversation. They'll be suspicious of us."
Rib clenched his jaw in frustration. "I'm doing all this for my sister," he growled. "I need to know what I can about her."
"We'll meet her with Zheal," Damara replied. "That's all you need."
Who is she to tell me what I need?
"You can't try to free her the moment we see her, either," she said. "Not until I've crafted enough powder for the way home. Understand?"
Rib bared his teeth in the ocean mist. Who is she to tell me what to do?
Thankfully, Damara did not demand a response, but mentioned, "The serpent's following us."
Of course it is. The dragon wheeled around and landed atop the serpent's head.
"Get off," he muttered to Damara. "So I can fish."
There was a pause, but she dismounted onto the large scales of the serpent as he said.
"Just don't get the saddle wet," she warned him. "The book-"
"I know," Rib interrupted and took off before she said another word.
When will we reach Husk? he brooded, his eyes scouring the waves. Because I haven't a friend left on this trip.
. . .
This storm!
Black waves rose beneath the Huskhn ships, tilting them precariously far. Rib had to plant his feet to keep from staggering. Damara leaned into him as she retied the rope around Jacinth's muzzle after giving the firebreather a drink. The hem of her dress was swept by the miniature current of the water sloshing around on the deck.
How can the Huskhns row in this? Rib was astounded by the men's hard-set determination. They chanted over the rain and the thunder coursing through the clouds overhead, moving their oars together as one.
"Take me to the sea serpent," Damara yelled to Rib as the wind howled between them. Her short hair stuck to her forehead and water pelted her bodice. He could feel the difference of weight when she hoisted her soaked form into the saddle.
Skittish of the lightning, Rib flew to the serpent that stuck out in the storm like a wind-bent tree. Though water crashed against its slender body and wind ruffled its frills, the beast appeared little troubled. Rib wondered how it would act if not bewitched and checked through his inner eyelids that its head was still clouded as he ascended.
It was, but Rib could see that the magic had cleared significantly since the serpent was first bewitched. He wasn't sure what they'd do if the bewitchment completely wore off before they reached Husk.
We should be there soon.
When he alighted on the swaying serpent's head, Damara got off and curled up at the base of its webbed crown, looking miserable. Rib gazed at her passively, then went to lie down at the base of the frill across from her.
Soon.
. . .
"Land!" Damara exclaimed quietly under her breath.
Only now she sees it?
Rib kept his confusion concealed, having gotten better at acting mindless over the past week of sailing with the Huskhns. He and Damara were back on Sprague's ship, looking ahead at the distance in front of them. For a while now, he'd been watching with his keen eyesight as land slowly appeared, stretched along the horizon. It started as looking brown, but Rib could recognize the red and orange of autumn colored trees on some crests of the otherwise barren hills.
More Huskhn ships were coming into view as they approached the land. Rib noticed the crew of the nearest one gape at their docile sea serpent passing by.
What are we going to do with it at the port? he began to wonder. Damara can't just tie it to the dock like a boat, can she?
"Damara," Sprague said, grinning up from the oar in his hands. "We will be arriving shortly. I'll send for Zheal and the Chief as soon as we reach shore."
How long will it take Memory to get here? Rib felt as though a thousand worms squirmed inside him.
"Very good," the young woman replied. "And the ingredients? I need them quickly."
"Yes, yes," the Captain agreed with a nod. "Those as well. I still have written down what you requested."
As they narrowed in on the port, Rib was reminded of old times when people feared him, seeing how Huskhns now fled the docks, some even crying out and pointing at the sea serpent. The surrounding boats of men stared at the massive serpentine beast that hung behind as the water got too shallow
for it to follow.
The moment they had docked, Sprague's crew and the others began unloading the boat. Huskhns came rushing to meet some of them. Captain Sprague laughed merrily as two young girls ran to him and threw their arms around his waist. A woman missing an arm also came and kissed him.
Rib watched, reminded of Gavin's reunion with his family.
Except Sprague is our enemy, he reminded himself. He's friendly now, but only because he's fallen for our ruse.
"Damara!" Sprague said, turning to the young woman as she stepped onto the dock. "Meet my family."
Rib noticed the man's wife grip Damara's hand roughly.
Sprague introduced the woman, boasting, "Lost her arm to a pack of wolves. Still didn't stop her from driving them away with her sword. Five dead dogs that night. All her doing."
She fought off wolves with one arm? Rib could see an intensity in the woman's eyes and was glad she focused her gaze on Damara instead of him. The same look, however, was replicated in the two girls' eyes as they stared up at him without fear. One bravely extended her little fist to him but he tried to ignore it, not even sure as to what she wanted.
"And these are my daughters," Sprague told Damara, resting a hand on the young girls' shoulders. "They're going to grow up just as strong as their mother."
Damara smiled. "No doubt."
What is it about Huskhns and their fascination with intimidating women? Rib wondered. These girls, their mother, Damara? Huskhns admire them so much, Zheal even named my sister after one-
Rib's thoughts were cut short when he remembered that he was closer to Memory now than ever.
"Oh, look!" Sprague startled Rib. "Here comes Zheal now!"
What?!
Rib stared in the same direction as the Captain to see a young man of twenty or so striding down the dock towards them, an inquisitive smile frozen on his face. No dragon accompanied him, but his wavy black hair and broad shoulders were all too familiar. A heavy white fur cloak hung around his neck and a close-fitting coat of purple hung to his mid-thighs, fastened by a belt around the waist.
The man who took Memory.
Rib had trouble containing himself. He wanted to leap forward and pin him to the planks. Demand to know where his sister was. Demand that he set her free.
Damara turned to Rib with a startled expression, wordlessly pointing to her own eyes. Rib peered through his inner eyelids to see what she saw, and realization dawned on him as he glimpsed the magic in Zheal's eyes.
He has the Eyes of Kings too. Which means?he can see that Jacinth and I aren't bewitched! He can see straight through us!
Zheal stopped when Sprague met him halfway down the dock. The Captain spoke in Huskhn tongue, grinning broadly as he pointed in Rib and Damara's direction.
Oh no. Rib was tense, prepared to grab Damara in his talons and flee on wing.
Zheal peered at them, then shouted in surprise as he saw Jacinth step off the other ship.
He knows!
All the surrounding men turned on Jacinth at Zheal's command. She was staring down at her feet, chest heaving.
Then, snarling, the firebreather tore the ropes off her muzzle with her foreclaws.
"She's going mad!" Damara gasped and jumped up on Rib's back just as Jacinth erupted with a ground-shaking roar. "Go!"
Rib took to the air when Jacinth rushed for him, flames dashing through her jaws. The moment he was out of reach, the firebreather wheeled on the Huskhns closing in on her and attacked. Rib glimpsed through his inner eyelids the firesap flashing inside of her, coursing through her body.
"Rib!" Damara barked at him.
He started. We have to get out of here!
Wildly, he stared ahead at the land and saw mountains in the near distance.
There! As he sped for them, leaving behind the battle on the dock, he saw Zheal wave his arms at them and yell something else. No, no, no! Don't call attention to us!
Rib scanned the ground in fear of archers, but saw none. People were running for cover, while others picked up weapons and charged for the battle. They didn't seem to give Rib much notice with a maddened firebreather on their dock.
What do we do now?! Rib panicked as he headed for the mountains. They could kill Jacinth!
If Damara can't make more powder then we'll have no way of escape!
Rib soared over barren hills, struck by the nippy blast of wind that hit him head on. He thought he heard Damara yell something but he didn't quite hear.
Turning his ear to her, he shouted, "What?"
"We're being pursued!" she repeated.
We are? Rib glanced back, and saw-
Is that?
Memory?!
A ways behind, a single dragon flew after them with a rider. Rib had to look where he was going, but he kept glancing behind him, trying to make out the pursuer's color.
Grey, brown?I can't tell. But it could be her!
A thought occurred to Rib and he closed his inner eyelids. With another look back, he saw that bewitchment magic did not cloud the dragon's head.
No?then it can't be her. This must be someone else!
Having determined this, Rib beat his wings faster, locking his gaze on the mountain range. When he got close, he saw that a glacier spilled between two peaks in a dozen icy ridges. It was massive, and down towards the bottom arched an opening.
A cave! We can hide in there, Rib thought and swooped, banking around a cliff in attempt to confuse his pursuer. He ran off the landing and bounded for the ice cave, his feet sending up splashes of melt water that streamed from the opening. If it's anything like the underground caverns in Wystil, we'll never be found.
"What are you doing?" Damara objected as he sprung onward with her still on his back, entering the cave to find that an entire tunnel was there. He didn't answer, but peered into the darkness ahead.
We can't turn back now, he thought, and hastened further in. He searched the sides of the narrowing tunnel, looking for some off shoot to hide in. Water dripped all around him, rushed past, glistened on his scales. He knew their pursuer would reach the entrance of the cave soon.
Are we trapped?!
Rib found himself staring at an ice wall.
"Turn around!" Damara hissed at him. "We have to fight."
"But-" Rib stared at a corner of the tunnel, terrified by the thought of fighting.
What if that is my sister? What if I hurt her?!
Shifting his position, he saw that there was a wide gap in the ice at a hidden angle.
"Quick, in there!" He nearly shook her off his back before she slipped out of the saddle and crept into the chink. There was a splash when she dropped in, followed by a small gasp. Rib wasted no time squeezing himself through after her.
He found that it was little more than a pocket of ice, half full of frigid water that reached up to Damara's ribcage. She was shivering violently, gripping herself with soaked arms. Rib could feel the cold seep through his hide, slowing his movements. The top of their cramped cavern shone blue.
"Damara?"
Rib stiffened as the voice of a man echoed inside the entrance tunnel.
Who is that?
Damara's eyes were wide and she covered her mouth to stop her teeth from chattering.
"Please, come out!" the man called. "I am Zheal, the Chief's nephew."
Zheal! Who was he riding? Where is Memory?
"Captain Sprague told me about you, and I know you lied to him. But I understand that there are other ways of controlling dragons. Truly I tell you, look at my own dragon steed, Tairg. I've never used magic on her either."
Memory? Rib felt his chest tighten. What?!
"Please, Damara," Zheal continued, his voice growing louder. "My men have caught your firebreather. She's all I need to execute my plan, but I still want your help on this. We can take the Island together!"
My sister is out there, Rib told himself over and over again. Right outside this hiding place.
He wanted to jump out and e
scape with her, but his body was slowed by the chill and he couldn't make sense of what Zheal had said.
She isn't bewitched? Why does she do what he wants?
Rib looked at Damara, who'd stopped shivering by now. With eyelids fluttering, she was searching the ceiling of their ice pocket endlessly.
"What should we do?" he whispered to her.
"Gavin-nn-n," she mumbled, "wantsss me t-to sing wi-with him."
What?!
Rib stared in horror as the young woman's eyes rolled to the back of her head and she sank deeper into the water, her knees bending.
No! Rib pushed her back up with his muzzle and moved her towards the gap through which they'd gone. He managed to lay her upper body on a ledge. She was unconscious.
What's happened to her? He looked through his inner eyelids, trying to understand as Zheal went on reasoning with her from outside. Rib could see the magics in Damara's body growing sluggish. Her heart was beating slower, and she hardly seemed to be breathing.
It must be the cold! Rib feared. Is she going to die like this?
What do I do?!
"Damara, I beg of you," Zheal spoke, sounding even closer than before.
Rib stared at Damara and knew there was nothing he could do to help her on his own.
I have no choice.
Carefully clamping his teeth around the hood of her dress, he backed out of their hiding place, pulling Damara up after him. As soon as he got her out, he heard the echoing of running feet and turned his head to see Zheal coming up the tunnel towards them.
The man barely glanced at Rib before kneeling beside unconscious Damara. Rib heard Zheal say something under his breath, but was too distracted by the dragon creeping hesitantly closer.
Memory?
She held herself like a fearful fox, with large eyes staring at him. Her body was low to the ground, her chest splashed by water where she crouched. White saddle straps adorned with green and blue gems were clasped over her plates. Her wings, she kept folded close to her flanks. She took another half step nearer.
My sister.
Rib was struck by the sight of her. It felt like his dreams.
Does she recognize me?
Memory seemed captivated by him, at least. She never took her eyes off of him.
He wanted to say something to her, but Zheal was right there and he couldn't think of anything. Only when the young man picked up Damara was his attention broken away from his sister.
Wait, but he?
Rib watched speechlessly as Zheal took Damara to Memory. He had wrapped the young woman in his thick fur cape and now laid her gently over Memory's saddle, sitting behind her to hold her upright against his chest.
For a moment, he looked at Rib, then ordered, "Come," and turned Memory around. Rib followed out of the ice cave right behind them, anxious in a layering of ways.
Is he going to save Damara? What will he do then?
How do I get Memory to remember me? Does she already?
And what about Jacinth? She's been caught.
How will we all escape?
Chapter 23