All this death?
Rib lay alone on the sheer cliffs of the coast, on the other side of the narrow mountain range from Cliffport. Beside him was a trickle of a waterfall that leaked off the land all the way down to the ocean below.
Seems nothing can stop the plague.
It'd been two months since Rib watched helplessly as the muffle moths descended on Wystil's largest zikkerwheat crops, the kingdom's main source of grain. Clouds of the moths' dust also blew into the surrounding towns and villages. Those who breathed it in or ate of the contaminated zikkerwheat lost their voices in minor cases, but continued exposure to the dust would lead to the crippling of their bodies and even death.
When people realized their precious grain could not be saved, they burned the moth infested crops. But this only made things worse. The ash of the incinerated moths that clouded over the kingdom proved just as perilous as their dust, and it settled over the land, entering the lungs of not only the Wystilians, but their animals as well.
With so many people unable to farm and tend to their livestock, famine was beginning to cause just as many deaths as the plague itself. Rib couldn't bear to ask how many were dead already. He only had to remember the moment he saw a cart of dead bodies being dumped down a large pit near Cliffport to be silenced with grief.
The poor goose girl that used to run from me?The old couple that would help each other carry pails of water?
The streets are so much emptier now.
No one close to Rib had been badly touched by the dust yet, but there was always a chance for it to happen. Especially with the recent lack of rain, which left the air dry and perfect for the harmful particles to be picked up by a breeze.
Rib had been anxious to get Gavin with Mortaug and his son to a safer place, but it soon turned out that the location of the Salten Gust Inn was as ideal as anywhere in the lower kingdom could get. Due to the frequent ocean mist, the Wystilian coast was cleared of almost all the ash and dust.
Out on the horizon, the sky was light orange as the sun sank. The ocean was calmer than usual, coming close to lulling Rib to sleep in his sadness. He was lying on the very edge of the ocean cliff, tail drooping over, head on a clump of wet moss.
A tiny, insect-like monigon flitted towards him, undoubtedly attracted to his firebloom hide. Humorlessly, he watched it land on his nose and circle about, barely able to feel its long tongue that tasted his scales.
His eyes were nearly closed when he noticed strange movement behind the little creature, out across the ocean. With a blink, he shook his head a bit and the monigon flew away, giving him a clear view.
In the distance, something long, tall, and thin pushed through the water. Rib stared at it without moving from his resting place, baffled by the vine-like thing.
Am I really seeing this?
Whatever it was, it appeared to be coming closer. And, as it did, he realized it was even bigger and taller than he could imagine.
Sea serpent!
Rib felt his muscles tighten. He wanted to fly away from the cliff, but his body seemed as immobile as the rock he lay upon.
As the massive water beast approached, it blocked out the falling sun, casting shadow over Rib. Its narrow head, adorned with a vast webbing of frills, towered at an indescribable height, supported by a long slender body that trailed behind in a number of arcs. Its scales, in all shades of greens, blues, and purples, were easily half as big as Rib, some even bigger.
Rib gaped in awe, hoping the serpent might turn and glide in its elegant ways along the coast. But instead the serpent stopped.
Heart pounding in his chest, Rib had to crane his long neck back to see it. Its skull must have been the size of a house.
Somehow, the beast didn't seem threatening. All it did was poise there in the water, swaying slightly, gazing out at the land as others gazed out at sea.
But still, its colossal figure was terrifying.
Something told Rib this was what the humans' fear of him felt like.
What's that on its head?
Standing on the serpent's dome was what looked like the silhouette of a dragon.
It was a dragon! Rib gawked as it spread its wings and began gliding down from the impressive height.
When the dragon did, the sea serpent flattened back its frills and dipped its graceful snout into the water, slipping into the ocean as though it had never been. Rib was suddenly blinded by the sun without the beast there to block it, and struggled to watch the mysterious dragon above, who swooped towards him.
The stranger, Rib came to realize, was larger than him, though before it had looked miniscule atop the serpent's head.
Who is this?!
Rib was speechless when the dragon alighted before him. Sunlight glinted off his silvery white scales, making him almost painful to look at as he folded his wings against his body with a radiant smile.
"Greetings!" the stranger said. "I am Clyde- heard from the distance!"
Clyde?Rib gawked at the dragon, finally recognizing him. They'd met before, but never had Clyde arrived on a sea serpent.
"Ah." The newcomer grinned. "I know you. How could I forget the one dragon that bears the memorable hue of the firesap flower? How are you, Rib?"
"I, uh?" Rib choked out. "Fine, thank you. Was that a- a sea serpent?"
The brilliant dragon beamed. "Impressive, isn't she?" he said. "The Great She-Serpent of the Sea! I've had the honor of traveling the world with her, far and wide."
"But?" Rib stuttered. "How? What do you eat? What do you drink?"
Clyde straightened.
"Icebergs and fish are my life!" he answered with pride. "Although," he bent his head, "I do miss a fresh bite of venison at times, I will admit."
"Where- where did you just come from?"
"The splendid kingdom of Crageria!" Clyde declared. "Say, have you heard of what happened there? Of how Lord Griffith cunningly usurped the throne from his older brother?"
Usurped??
"The usurper himself told me his story," the dragon said before Rib could respond. "When the Great She-Serpent of the Sea brought me to Crageria, I was soon invited to Lord Griffith's Fairy Realm. And, my! What a sight to behold! There was a towering cliff, against which a castle wall was built. Inside was the royal forest of wonders beyond imagination. I shan't tell you of the many trees and creatures and servants?To describe them would be to draw a sunset in sand. How could one convey the sheer beauty, the splendor? But ah, how they dazzled mine eyes!"
How different could a forest be from here? Rib wondered, though declined to ask.
"When I arrived, Lord Griffith met me with his companion, Oriole. This dragon I already knew, and I dare not fail to mention the intriguing pattern of her hide. Truly I tell you, no night has been darker and no light has been brighter than the black and white of her scales. And oh, how the canaries must weep in envy of her yellows. But I digress?
"Over the finest of feasts a king could ever throw, Lord Griffith showed me his book of potions. Its pages appeared blank to me, but he assured me they were filled with potion formulas all written in magic, by his very hand."
No, that must be Damon's book, Rib thought. Griffith's a thief and a liar!
Still Rib did not speak up, wanting to hear the rest of the story. Any distraction to get his mind off the plague was like a blessing.
Clyde grinned mischievously as he went on. "It was from that book he crafted a potion that would forever change his kingdom. A potion he so slyly slipped into his king brother's goblet. The poor man! One sip of his wine and he fell to the floor."
Griffith poisoned his own brother?!
But Clyde was not finished. "His servants could do nothing as he writhed in agony. The king's legs changed, growing bonier while his knees turned backwards. Coarse red fur soon coated his lower body, tufted at the tip of his new, short tail. His feet were compacted into sharp hooves that scratched and clacked against the marble floors of his dining hall. As a final touch, his ears lengthened with pointed ti
ps. At last, his transformation was complete and he was able to stand, half-man and half-goat."
What?!
"A faun, a faun!" Clyde declared in delighted shouts. "Lord Griffith laughed at his brother's shame. Not another day passed before the king went into hiding, unfit to rule in his new body. Immediately taking the throne, Lord Griffith ordered for a castle wall to be built at the foot of the cliff, so he could begin on his Fairy Realm forest. He drove his people mercilessly until they at last had the curtain wall finished, with a moat dug around it and filled by the water of heavenly falls."
Clyde finally fell silent, smiling broadly, but Rib was too stunned to say anything.
All that happened since Griffith and Oriole stole Damon's book?
Why did Damon even make up such a potion? The thought was disturbing to him. He'd always believed that Damon's potions were meant to help people, like the cure for the muffle moth dust.
Griffith must have twisted the potion somehow.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Clyde said as Rib failed to give him an audible response. The sinking sun flashed on his wings when he flexed them.
"It's horrible," Rib breathed, realizing some of the blame fell on him.
If I had gotten the book back, none of it would have ever happened.
But now? Now someone has goat legs because of me.
"One could see it that way," the silvery dragon agreed. "Oh, but I've almost forgotten! How much dragonkind owes to His Majesty!"
"What?" Rib screwed up his face.
What could we ever owe him?
Clyde inhaled with emphasis. "Not long after his castle wall was built and his forest secured, Lord Griffith went about crafting much of one potion. It took him days, he told me, but in time he finally had enough powder to send with his servants to the Island, where the Colony lives. When they reached there, the servants searched for the precious Royal Wells growing in the bogs. And after weeks of tireless hunting, they found two dozen or so and were able to carry out their lord's commands."
Two dozen? It took Damon years to get even just one!
"Carefully combining the powder His Majesty gave them and the liquid of the Royal Wells, the servants at last held the firesap cure in their hands- enough to heal all the firebreathers on the Island. Swift on wing, Lord Griffith's head servant made quick work of distributing it and the servants left, a fleet of grateful icebreathers bidding them farewell. Indeed, dragons have Lord Griffith to thank."
He really healed all those firebreathers? Rib couldn't help but be filled with a sudden appreciation for him. Maybe he's not so bad, willing to make cures for?
Wait!
"That's it!" Rib gasped. "I can ask Griffith to craft the cure!"
Clyde cocked his head. "Oh? What cure?"
Rib told him of the plague that seized Wystil. The facts, usually so heavy on Rib's heart when he spoke them, now bathed in his new found hope for a solution. His spirits were almost as high as though Griffith had just handed him the cure in person.
"My," the strange dragon said when Rib finished giving him the details. "That sounds dreadful!"
Rib nodded adamantly. "But Griffith can craft the cure, I'm sure of it! And he's already invited me to his kingdom so all I need is to get there and ask."
Clyde closed his eyes with a chuckle. "Sounds like everyone wants a potion from him," he said humorously. "First Zheal, and now-"
"Wait, what?" Rib's spirits were yanked back down to the ground. "Zheal? He's in Crageria?!"
"Oh, yes," Clyde responded. "Was recently made the ambassador for Husk there, I believe."
"Was my sister with him?" Rib's mouth felt numb with anticipation. "My size, lavender grey?known as Tairg?"
"Ah, so she's your sister, is she?" Clyde grinned. "Yes, she was there. Sported a stunning white saddle, lucky one. Positively lovely! Never heard her speak a word, though."
My sister?in Crageria. Rib's head swam. He saw her.
"What was she doing?" Rib stammered. "Why was she there? What was she like?"
Clyde laughed heartily. "My, aren't you inquisitive! I wish I could tell you, but Lord Griffith requested that I leave as soon as Zheal came asking for help in making a potion."
"So you don't know what happened to her, my sister?"
"Afraid not." Clyde gave him a sympathetic smile.
Rib could only whisper, "Could she still be there?"
"I should think so!"
Rib was dumbstruck.
My sister could be in Crageria right now.
"Alright, then!" Clyde said suddenly, gazing out at the land with a look of expectancy. "I think I will go and catch myself a deer. I'd hate to stay the She-Serpent for long."
"She's waiting for you?" Rib perked up as a thought came to him.
Clyde beamed. "All I must do is sing for her and she surfaces. She is very attentive to my voice."
"Could?" Rib tried to figure out what he was about to ask. "Could she take me to Crageria?"
"Oh, no!" the odd dragon laughed. "She doesn't take requests. But I am happy to go wherever she may take me."
Rib blinked, his mind still racing with thoughts of his sister. If the serpent could not take him, he'd need some other form of transportation. Without a moment's hesitation, he took to the air.
"Farewell, Rib!" Clyde called after him, but Rib didn't respond.
He could hardly compose himself as he flew with Cliffport as his destination. He hadn't a plan or even an idea, though one thing was prominent in his head.
I have to get to Crageria.
. . .
Rib stared at the boat, amazed.
"You bought it?" he repeated just to be sure. "It's yours?"
Mortaug gave his typical half smile and nodded. He looked significantly thinner now, because of the famine. Everyone did.
"He sold the inn for it," Gavin said. "I know this is hard for you to hear, Rib, but we're leaving Wystil."
Leaving Wystil?
Rib stared at Gavin's deep blue eyes sunken slightly in his gaunt face.
"Where?where are you going?"
"It's more the question of where we won't be going. This is a cargo ship. We'll be travelling from port to port."
Rib blinked at the boat rocking softly in the waves. It was about seven times his length, with ribbed wooden sides that bulged outward for a wide interior. At both ends of the boat, platforms formed the deck under which supplies could be stored. In the middle there was an open space apart from the two beams dividing it that Rib would have to step over if he wished to cross.
Also in the center was the boat's mast with a single sail bunched along a pole at the top. Many ropes ran from it to the edges of the boat, but they were confusing for Rib to look at so he simply peered past them.
Carved into the detailed shape of a sea serpent's head, the prow reached for the dawn with every swell of water beneath it.
Altogether, the vessel appeared both sturdy and charming.
This is what I need, Rib processed slowly. Right here. Everything I need.
He turned to Mortaug. "You have to take me to Crageria," he said. "Griffith can give me the cure for the plague and we can save Wystil."
And free my sister, he added silently to himself.
"What?!" Jasper exclaimed from where he stood with back against the mast. "What doltish idea is that?"
Mortaug looked likewise perplexed and he signed something to Gavin.
"He asks why you think King Griffith would do that for you," Gavin interpreted, peering at Rib just as curiously.
"Because I'm a dragon," Rib answered. "He adores dragons! And I know him. He said I must visit his kingdom. It's at least worth a try asking him for the cure."
Mortaug's forehead wrinkled in concern.
"He wants to know if you're sure he can make it."
Rib nodded adamantly. "He has the book that Damon wrote all his potions into. That and a firebreather. He can craft the same cure that Damon used to heal us, Mortaug."
He wai
ted with bated breath as the man took a while to think. A breeze ruffled Mortaug's tunic and picked at his grey, rope-like hair.
"All I'm asking is that you take me to Crageria," Rib begged. "Please, Mortaug. People are dying here!"
The expressive side of Mortaug's face softened and he nodded. Rib watched his hands fly, wishing he could understand the beautiful language, hope mounting in his chest.
"Alright," Gavin interpreted. "We'll be leaving tomorrow morning. Just know that the way to Crageria is long. It will take us a number of stops along the way."
Rib felt as though he could catch a hundred stags.
"Thank you!" he blustered, unfolding his wings in fervent energy. "I'll be here at dawn!"
The dragon soared for home to tell the good news, every beat of his wings effortless and joyous.
We'll save the kingdom!
We'll save my sister.
Chapter 6