Demi called me to the Wheel, and there was a sound to her voice that I hadn't heard before. There was a desperation to it that was undeniable. Needless to say, I hurried and was standing next to her in record time.
"Tanis, I hear demon wail, and for me to hear that requires a lot of them screaming out at once."
I wasn't expecting that, but then again, who would, right?
"What exactly does that mean Demi? Do the rest of the dragons hear it too?"
Demi cast her eyesight around Commons, cocking her head from one side and then to the other.
"Just Volansa and I, and I don't understand why all of us aren't hearing them."
A low thud erupted to my left and as I looked, a large red dragon was in progress of folding her wings and heading for the Wheel. The dragon's landing had made the noise, and judging from her demeanor, she was NOT happy.
"You and who can hear them?"
"Volansa Spirandi Bellator, which is the dragon walking toward us right now."
The Red dragon scanned around Commons as if she was looking for something, and apparently found it when Basiliskos came into view from the Cone. He wasted no time with banking before his approach, and barely slowed as he landed a short distance away from Volansa. Basiliskos looked concerned and she seemed pissed. The Black King went on an intercept course that would take him directly to Volansa, even though she had not slowed down. Moving in front of the red female finally made her stop, and she glared at him, smoke trickling from her nostrils.
Most of the Red dragons are borderline hostile, but before you get the wrong idea, they're only that way if they sense aggressive behavior. The other varieties of Wyvern tend to take a passive stance until they're forced to fight. After that it's every man for himself, and rightfully so, but the Red's, well that's a different story altogether. With them it's hostility first and questions later if there's enough of you left to ask. Sure, there are exceptions to this sub species, but as a rule of thumb, that's what you should expect from a Red if you happen to be acting in the wrong way at the wrong time.
The conversation between the two dragons didn't seem to be going all that well if the visuals were what you used to judge the interaction, and what I heard were angry muffled thoughts and a lot of roaring.
Demi had that look of fight or flight and was sending out waves of distress and paranoia. Can't say that I blame her. I wasn't sure if this was going to turn into a battle royale and was even less sure of where to run if it did.
Then, just like that it was over, and Basiliskos watched until the Red had positioned herself at the center of the Wheel. After a few moments the Black King started to run toward the north wall, and when he had achieved sufficient speed, lifted into the air. He banked hard to the left gaining altitude until facing south, and then shot toward the entrance on that side of the mountain. Now why in the Sam Hill would he do that? They're not supposed to leave the safety of Mt. Drago.
Demi and I communed momentarily where I confirmed her understanding about following Basiliskos. He really shouldn't be going wherever it is that he's heading to, no matter where that is. I donned the shroud and closed the helmet on my way to the South Entrance. Seconds later I shot out into the daylight and set a course to follow the Black King on his way to a mission he shouldn't be running. His speed was drastically slower than mine, so it didn't take me long to show his position on my screens. I backed my airspeed down to keep him in front of me and settled in to find out where we were going.
Basiliskos flew over the Styx as if it wasn't there and turned upstream flying close to the shoreline. He kept at it for about a half an hour before turning inland and landed almost immediately.
I could feel him in my mind and made no bones about knowing, as I landed next him. He morphed into human form and turned to me frowning as if he disapproved.
"I don't need your help, Emerald Warrior and when you get back, you will not speak of this."
There's a couple of things I will admit right here and now. Basiliskos is a might intimidating, and I just got dismissed. I'm not crazy about either one of them. I become belligerent when someone, anyone, tries to boss me around...Even when they're eight feet tall, as in the case of this cranky Black dragon.
I did the only thing that came to my mind, and albeit not all that smart, it was on top of my list of one. So, I did it.
"You either let me come along, or I'll launch a dart and then have a Lunarian sled come to pick you up."
Technically it had the desired effect, and that was the upside in this little escapade. The downside was the vibration that occurred between his ears that I thought would end up in a bout of fire. In the end he told me to follow him, and then he didn't say another word for quite a while. All things considered, I thought that went rather well.
We ended our walk in what was left of an ancient town that Walter told me had been named Civibellum. The occupants had eventually been wiped out due to their religion, which had been based on the first female created at the beginning of time. It seems that Lilith, the first woman, had been something less than stellar and had cavorted around with a demon named, Samael. Lilith's Temple or what was left of it, was at the center of town and at one time was the very reason for this town's existence. It felt like a tomb and there was a local foreboding feeling that I couldn't shake. The ghosts of this small realm seemed still present, and none of them were pleased to be in the state of being that held them to this plane. Basiliskos was so tense that it could be felt from a distance, and he was constantly turning his head from side to side looking for something still unseen. To say that I was unnerved by his actions is a gross understatement, and I found myself flinching at every sound, movement, and shadow. This was the dragon that supposedly feared nothing and had been heralded as being all that and a box of rocks. Yet here he was sneaking around in a pile of ruins looking for the boogey man.
A whistling sound crept into my consciousness, high pitched, and just at the edge of identification. When I did finally put two and two together, it manifested itself as a Projector bolt which stuck into the ground not much more than ten feet away from me. My awareness to the noise was immediate and final, which then caused me to duck into a broken-down alcove to my left. As if that would stop anything, let alone a massive Projector bolt.
In the distance the sounds of a battle wafted through my helmet sensors at about the same time as the next bolt struck. I tried to pinpoint Basiliskos' position but was momentarily thwarted by a batch of Projector bolts that rained down in front of Lilith's temple. The resulting blast of flying debris peppered my suit and distracted me from the red light blinking on the right interior screen of my helmet. Walter's voice punched through the cacophony of noises in my vicinity and sounded anxious.
"Tanis, the structure you're standing under is about to collapse. The next round of bolts will hit close enough to become a problem, so we need to cross the street. Also, there is a rather large man with red skin bearing down on our position from the main thoroughfare. He has a sword drawn and is moving fast."
Red skin? Not too many critters have that pigmentation, especially those on two legs. A new screen snapped into place and showed me the progress of the red man as he approached. He had spotted me and changed his direction to avoid contact. I took that as a good sign. Walter was right, the man was large and wearing a long leather trench coat that was flapping in the breeze. Perched precariously on top of his head was a wide brimmed hat that reminded me of the lead character from the movie” Van Helsing", although he strangely resembled the actor Liam Neeson. I don't see that many movies and it was odd to associate this red man, who was so obviously a demon, with a known celebrity. As he ran, long black hair trailed along behind him as if it had a mind of its own. Walter was right again, by the way, this man's skin was definitely red. A deep blood red that was as foreboding as the substance it implied.
The sounds of battle had stopped and there was no doubt in my mind which direction the troops were moving. Another round of bolts slammed into the temple and chunks of the ruins exploded into the air.
Basiliskos suddenly ran out of one of the buildings on the side of the street for which I was headed. He signaled for me to follow, and I knew we were headed for Mr. Red. Admittedly, it didn't take rocket science to figure it out, but I was still struggling with demons being the good guys.
He was doubling back and heading for Basiliskos, but I for one wanted to vacate this rundown set of ruins before whatever was firing bolts got here. It occurred to me that the approaching force must be after the lone runner, and trust me, that didn't make me feel better. Whatever he had done to them must have been really bad.
Basiliskos got to him first and they conversed in quiet tones that even I had a hard time hearing. In the end they decided to stay and fight, which made absolutely no sense to me, but I think it had something to with the Temple and the desecration of Holy Ground. I'm not going to argue with a man whose beliefs run that deeply, and it raised my opinion of this strangely clad individual. Depending on how many adversaries there were would dictate a lot of things, especially what I was going to do next. As an extra side note, I was warned about doing damage to the Temple and the surrounding areas. Oh, the irony. Bits and chunks of Lilith's Temple were flying off in every direction, but they warn me about doing damage to a destroyed building. Go figure.
If we're going to fight and can't do damage to the ruins, then why are we standing this close? I started moving toward the edge of town closest to the approaching enemy. There's only going to be a small handful of demons, I feel it in my bones. A tenant tops, at least that's what I kept telling myself. Basiliskos and the red man were right behind me as I topped the hill that marked the end of town. There, running up the other side of the embankment, was a half Legion of Class Seven's, Eight's and Nines. What in the Hell did he do to deserve this many angry demons?
I turned to the red demon and realized I knew virtually nothing about him.
"Before we all die, I'd like to know your name. It keeps me from yelling things like hey you or hey red demon."
He smiled and then glanced over at Basiliskos.
"I am Sergei Rasputin Cosmonov, and I apologize for any inconvenience my presence has caused."
His voice was low and raspy, with just a hint of an accent I couldn't place. He gave a short bow in my direction, turned to face the approaching enemy, and drew his sword.
I'm sure one of my eyebrows lifted on that statement, not that he could see it. Since when do demons have Russian names? There are areas in that part of Asia which are deeply inhospitable, but if he left there to come to the Provinces, then I can only assume he's nuttier than a fruitcake.
Basiliskos backed away from us and morphed into his natural state. Immediately smoke began to billow out of his nostrils and a rumbling overtook the other background noises around us. Even with the bulk of a Black Dragon, he carefully made his way to our left until he reached an open area. Then he began to run, and seconds later launched into the air with a majestic sweeping motion that would take him over the enemy.
Sergei nodded his head to indicate his readiness to fight and then moved forward in a slow methodical cadence. Like walking to the beat of an unseen drummer, he waded his way into the front ranks of the approaching hordes.
Walter activated my rocket boosters and we blasted airborne until hovering at one thousand feet. I located the oversized Projector Station right as it fired at me and sent a rocket, knowing that the bolt I dodged would be its last.
Sergei was spinning in slow circles as he made his way through the ranks of demons, working his way to the far end of the troops. He glanced up near his goal and then picked up his speed to avoid the pass of Basiliskos.
The Black dragon began to lose altitude and as he flew over the demons, he shot a blast of fire that torched the ground as he roared past. Like a storm, the demons ignited while the engulfing wave of fire swept through them, leaving everything it touched scorched and unrecognizable.
Basiliskos beat his wings hard, as he both gained altitude and banked back to make another run. While he circled, Sergei reversed his field, traversing the survivors and leaving them dead with the rest of their fallen comrades.
Before Basiliskos returned, I landed and used a wide dispersal on my disruptors, mopping up what my companions had left in their wake. I was to the point in the fight where it didn't matter if some of them ran off, so when one of them sat up, I waited to see what he would do. He threw a sharp-bladed star at me, which bounced off my armor and landed close to Sergei. The Russian named warrior picked it up and casually flicked it at the demon, causing two of the points to stick in his head. The demon acted shocked, reached for the star and then laid back down, dead before his head hit the ground. Sergei, satisfied, turned and walked over to where I stood.
"What was the weapon you used on these poor unfortunate lost beings?"
Poor, yes...unfortunate, I'm not so sure about that; they became lost due to their own penchant for depravity. Sergei looked very old for a moment, and I noticed his skin was turning to a ruddy shade of light brown...A demonic chameleon, type unknown, which I had never seen before in all my travels. I had come into contact with just about every known Class of demon during my life, and this man didn't fit into any of them. There were stories of the lost children of Lilith, and he was trying to give homage to one of her Temples...Wouldn't that be a kick in the head?
"Where I come from, they're called Disruptors, and as you saw, they are uh...efficient."
"And the other weapon you deployed from the sky?"
He was certainly curious, and he had a strange demeanor about him that I couldn't read.
"Those are called rockets and are used for heavier purposes and mass destruction. I really didn't have the time until now to properly introduce myself. I am Tanis Nickolai Theatra."
I stuck my arm out to show my weaponless good intentions, which you have to admit is somewhat ironic since I'm armed all the time. He hesitated for just a fraction of a second before his arm came out in the same configuration. We shook, and I think he actually relaxed a tad. Maybe it was just my imagination.
"I heard you died a long time ago, Tanis, so I am a little taken aback by your apparent health and vitality."
I chuckled and took my helmet down.
"Rumors of my death seem to be not only abundant, but over exaggerated as well. I think sometimes it's just wishful thinking on their part. Whoever they are. You have me at somewhat of a disadvantage, but I have to confess, I've never heard of you. I'll lay even money your name hasn't always been Russian either. A true descendant of Lilith?"
It was Sergei's turn to chuckle, and he leaned back until the hat he wore slipped backwards to lay on his back.
"She was my mother. My father..."
I butted in and talked over him because I couldn't help it.
"Was Samael, and that makes you immortal if my knowledge of their kind is correct."
He paused and took a deep breath but continued being silent. Sergei finally exhaled and assumed a resigned posture.
"Is that a problem for you, Tanis?"
I shook my head vigorously.
"No, of course not. It's just that I always believed the stories of that union were simply legend, you know, like as in no truth. To find out that there is truth to the stories is...well, mind boggling."
He nodded knowingly and then I felt stupid for acting like a newbie. There are a lot of things under Heaven and Earth that we collectively, don't know. I was wrapping my head around one of them, including the person's potential age. Lilith's reign of terror happened many millennia ago and was almost lost now in the annuals of time. Here standing in front of me was a man who not only knew of her, but was there...Hell, he was raised by her. Something else occurred to me as well, he had sisters...several of them, and they were as real as him if the rest of the stories were true. Now before you jump to conclusions, Basiliskos was broadcasting during the entire conversation, and he sent wave after wave of reassurance that not only was Sergei telling the truth but could be trusted too.
By this time his skin had completely changed from the blood red to a very light brown, and the hostility that exuded from him was gone. He glanced over to Basiliskos who was collecting the weapons of the fallen demons. The chance of more demons coming was growing with every moment, so we didn't have time to build a funeral pyre, but we did place the weapons in a centralized spot where they would be easily found. It was a time-honored tradition that we followed whenever possible.
We accomplished the mission, more or less in that Civibellum was reasonably intact, and the horde that attacked Sergei never reached the Temple. If we left now and there were others approaching, there would be no reason for additional troops to attack his hometown. At my suggestion, the Russian who wasn't a Russian, climbed onto the back of Basiliskos and we ran.
The Black dragon can run let there be no doubt, and I can keep up with him, but right as we picked up speed, we could hear more demonic troops bearing down on our position. I felt sure Basiliskos would explain to me why he didn't just take off and fly Sergei to the mountain...sooner or later.
The whole immortal thing bothered me too. If they were immortal, then why bother fighting them? You couldn't beat them, right? On the other hand, besides four fingers and a thumb, pin down the immortal and then tear him limb from limb. Could they live through that? Or is it that no one ever pins them down to even try? We blew through the half Legion, but the three of us constituted fairly large guns, although it seemed easier than I would have thought. I went into the fight thinking we would be lucky to make it out with our skins intact, but somewhere in the middle of the battle it changed and as a result, I changed too.
My helmet cameras were showing the troops off in the background, and we were slowly but surely pulling away from them. We never slowed down, and the miles churned under us until Walter showed me a screen of the approaching ferry dock.
Basiliskos looked over at me about the same time that Demi called. She had figured out the whereabouts of the Black King, although I'm not sure how she did that.
I slowed down and the dragon King pointed across the river. I glanced in that direction but saw nothing, and that's when it hit me. I was needed at the mountain and Sergei required no help from me to gain access to the ferry. The idea of him making it to the far side of the Styx was little more than an assumption on my part, and only time would tell the outcome. I mean the guy's a demon, and I always thought they were trapped on the Provinces for a good reason.
My forward momentum came to a halt, and I peered back in the direction of the approaching demonic horde. They would be here in about ten minutes at their rate of progress, but Basiliskos and Sergei should be crossing the river before they arrived. I could hear Demi and she sounded insistent, not desperate, but I decided to head for home.
Walter activated my boosters and we headed for the far side of the Styx. We climbed until I could see the first Ley gate and went through. The next two gates were soon behind us and I could see the South Entrance dead ahead.
Once we cleared the cave mouth, Walter and I slowed, landing about fifty yards in. Security guards were moving into position for our potential new guest, and they had apparently been told who and what was coming. They all looked nervous and were heavily armed.
I also couldn't help but notice the racket floating up from Commons. My guess is that everyone in the mountain could hear the mournful cries emanating from the red female, Volansa, and I don't think her patience was going to last much longer.
Basiliskos manipulated the Ley gates and landed with Sergei aboard about thirty minutes later. The demon slid over his shoulder and deftly landed on the surface of the corridor. It didn't take him long to realize the number of armed men waiting, and he glanced back to the Black dragon for moral support. Basiliskos gave the security guards an inaudible command and they stood down, backing away from blocking Sergei's trip to Commons. He only hesitated for a moment, and then began making his way to the main ramp as if he already knew the way.
The security guards increased their distance as Sergei walked, and I could see their trepidation. Would they have felt the same had they not known what the demon was, or did he radiate his danger at the genetic level? I'm not sure we'd ever know, but one thing was evident...these guards were inordinately afraid of him.
They were still standing there watching him as I passed, and perhaps the movement woke them up. They mobilized and followed at a respectable distance behind him on their way to the ramps.
By the time I got to the first of the down ramps, Sergei was already farther than the second curve and was increasing his speed. His guards were impossibly losing ground and would never catch up to him by the time he reached the floor of Commons. I paused to watch and heard Demi calling me from somewhere below, so I activated my boot thrusters and jumped over the ledge.
When I got to the floor, Demi came up behind me and we stood watching Sergei as he made his way to the Wheel. A very impatient red female Wyvern was pacing back and forth as he approached. His long trench coat flapped around him, and the wide brimmed hat lay secure against his back.
Volansa finally stopped and turned toward the approaching demon, eyes narrowing as smoke dribbled from her nostrils. This was not going to be an easy impression. Sergei had a placid, perhaps even bored look on his face, like he was going out to dinner. It was almost relaxing just to watch him. Volansa, on the other hand, was gazing at the demon as if he was dinner, and her intent was anything but relaxed. Imagine being on a battlefield, and as you approach the enemy you know that when the fighting is finished, one of you will be dead. The object is to make it the other guy, and although I've never been fond of that part, it is simply what it is. The atmosphere around Sergei and Volansa had that same feel, and other than the noise the female dragon was making, no one else uttered a sound.
The demon crossed his arms and calmly stared at the red female. Sergei flipped his hair behind the trench coat with a head movement, and slowly exhaled.
Suddenly, Volansa's head recoiled back moving like a serpent, and then shot forward spewing flames. An eruption of fire sprayed at and beyond Sergei with the speed of a freight train.
As the fire reached him, a thin, almost transparent bubble launched itself around him, forcing the flames to pass harmlessly over his body and scorch the floor. The flames had just barely ceased when, out of the blue...he laughed. Sergei put his hat on and stretched his arms.He contemplated the dragon as if for the first time, and then spoke.
"My turn."
I don't think it was the fire which caused his skin to start turning red again, and I can't make myself believe he thought this was combat. So, maybe it was adrenalin or some chemical no one knew about. The point is, the only other time I'd seen him in some sort of physical action, he'd been red and fought like a tornado.
Sergei took a step, then another, and within half a dozen more, he was moving at a blinding speed. His path was aimed directly at the dragon, which stood there as if in a state of disbelief. Look at it from the dragon's point of view. What on earth could a person do, even a large red demon, when pitted against a mature Wyvern? Kind of ridiculous really. More like a BB gun fighting against a cannon.
So, the dragon never moved, and Sergei didn't slow down until he impacted with Volansa's right front leg. The demon's path seemed to be destined to hit the front of her right appendage, but at the last possible instant he veered and slammed into it slightly off center. That proved to be enough to jar her leg out from under her, and the result was catastrophic to the dragon. Her entire weight suddenly went from both front legs to just the one, and she buckled like a house of cards. She had no more than hit the floor when Sergei clambered up her side and performed foot fall on the mighty creature. The footfall maneuver is a physical gesture that establishes strength and victory of one creature over another. In Volansa's case, it amounted to standing on her. The dragons apparently observe this phenomenon and then forever live by its outcome. He shifted his position as she rolled to get up, which placed him where her saddle would be in the future.
Volansa roared her approval and stretched both wings to their full extension before taking off at a gallop toward the far end of Commons. I knew exactly how Sergei felt, elated, because nothing and I mean nothing compares to riding a dragon.
Elfred, Section leader for the Red Grotto walked over to me and slapped me on the shoulder.
"Brings back pleasant memories doesn't it lad?"
There was a gleam in his eyes that told me there were more things going on inside his head than just a couple of pleasant memories.
"Yeah, and maybe a few awkward ones too, isn't that right big guy?"
Elfred pounded my shoulder harder than before and produced a deep heartfelt laugh.
"I'm not sure who you're talking about, but I guess it could be said for the both of us. You know I'd love to stay and chat, but I got a date with Big Red and a bevy of dragon washers. That'll chew up the rest of my day."
He was still talking as he walked away, but it was lost in the background noise that seems prevalent during impressions.
I had been so wrapped up in watching the red demon and Volansa, that I had lost track of Basiliskos. He and Queen Mother were conversing some distance off, and from her hand gestures I could see there was some point of contention between the two of them. Some of the hand pointing in the direction of the retreating, newly bonded partners told at least part of the subject matter. Basiliskos, in human form, attempted to put his hand on her shoulder and she was having no part of it. Queen Mother placed both fists on her hips, and whatever the issue had been, it stopped right then. Seems that not even the King of the dragons can push her beyond a certain limit. I sympathized with him completely as I too have been on the receiving end of things at times. Whatever it was, Queen Mother wasn't happy, and that usually meant that I would hear about it next. In this case I was okay with that; I wanted to know what Sergei had evoked in our Queen and why she had gotten so animated.
It didn't take the red dragon long to traverse the full length of Commons and disappear down the next corridor. Volansa and Sergei had taken roughly the same route that Demi and I had, not too long ago on our maiden flight.
The conversation with Basiliskos ended abruptly as Invectum came out of nowhere and landed next to Queen Mother. She immediately climbed on, and he performed one of his patented vertical takeoffs. After a quick banking maneuver, the two of them headed for the same corridor Sergei and Volansa used. If anything, they left Commons even faster than the demon they were so obviously chasing.
That hit my curiosity bone square in the face, metaphorically speaking, so I decided to visit the Down Below. Demi and I could stand to do a little flying, and that would put me square in the thick of things when and if they happened.
Then Basiliskos called to me. Demi didn't even attempt to go anywhere, and I found myself watching the enormous Black dragon approaching us from the Wheel.
"You need to stay away from Queen Mother until she quiets down some."
Hmmm...I need to stay away, well this warrior hasn't done anything to warrant her hostility, and perhaps the Black King just doesn't want me to hear her rant about something that concerns him. He was staring at me imploringly, so I had to say something.
"Alright, if you think it best, but she IS my partner..."
I left it somewhat open ended hoping he would change his mind. Okay, so that's what I get for thinking.
"I understand Tanis, but I have known her longer and I must insist."
I had that creepy, over the top authoritative feeling wash through me like when I was a kid standing in front of my dad. Needless to say, Tanis Theatra backed away from this one.
"As you wish."
Another wave of feeling passed through me, and I had the distinct impression King Basiliskos was working very hard at hiding something. I had no idea what it was but made a mental note to find out.
We had no more than turned around when I noticed all of the Section Leaders making their way to our location. Their motives were blatantly obvious, and the mental gyrations Demi was going through told me the rest of the mountain was echoing what the Section Leaders were about to bring me. I wasn't sure how to feel about the situation, but as there was nothing to be done other than weather my way through it, my resolve rose to the occasion.
Elfred and Thomas were the first to reach us and their faces reflected concern.
"We weren't even given a chance to dispute the impression, no offense, and Queen Mother didn't look like she was too happy about it. What does that mean? "
I tried not to grin and was almost successful. After first glancing over at Basiliskos, I brought my gaze back to Elfred.
"Trust me, this isn't one you want to get in the middle of anyway. I'm not sure that Queen Mother will let this one go down quietly. She looked upset, and maybe just a tad hostile. I don't really know anymore than you guys, but I wouldn't follow her. Like so many other things around here, it'll simply resolve itself with or without your help."
Thomas appeared dubious, but for once, said nothing.
Forty-five minutes later Invectum, Queen Mother, Sergei and Volansa all flew back into Commons as if nothing untoward had happened. The likelihood of finding out what had gone down with prying, well, wasn't bloody likely.
The Drago emissary with Sergei's boots and flight suit was summarily dismissed, much to the chagrin of the Queen, but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day. The new Demon dragon rider's skin had once more turn to its original color, and he decided to visit the main pub shortly after Volansa landed. Most of the people in Commons decided to do the same thing at roughly the same time. Now there's a surprise. I was no different, but I also had a vested interest in Sergei having already fought with him on the Provinces.
Queen Mother unceremoniously climbed onto Basiliskos, and they lumbered around Commons until air speed was achieved and then they flew toward the Cone, disappearing shortly thereafter. Blast, no answers today.
I told Demi to wait for me in Commons while I went to the pub. I felt that we made a rather dashing couple, but a dragon won’t fit in the pub, so I had t go alone.
Sergei was sitting at the far left of the bar, his long Rangers coat dangling down behind the stool. I recognized the drink in front of him and wondered who had talked him into a Charley Temple. He took a drink and grimaced at the taste.
It was pretty obvious he was trying to fit in, and although an enormous number of people had flocked into the Pub, no one was engaging him in conversation. Everyone held back and just stared. I felt bad for him, but also saw the imposing figure he presented.I walked over to where he was sitting and hopped up onto the closest barstool to his.
"I'm surprised you didn't go immediately to your new digs; uh I mean your area. Is that where Volansa went?"
You'd think my skills at conversation would be a little farther along, considering my age. If I lived another thousand years, my ability at small talk would probably not improve any more than it has up till now. I'm better with machines.
Sergei turned his head in my direction, eyes boring through mine, and then laughed.
"I've never been much for protocol, Tanis. It just seems to be such a bore at times. It's easier if you just ignore it, and for the most part, the people around me go along with the lack of it. This drink for instance...a Shirley Temple, should be given to children. The taste is too sweet for me, and there is a sad lack of alcohol. Yet there it is on the drink board for all to see, and I'm witnessing a staggering amount of people drinking it. The times have really changed since I saw civilization last. Grown men now prefer children's drinks. What will it be next?"
It was my turn to chuckle, and as if on cue, I turned to the bartender and ordered a Shirley Temple, complete with an umbrella. Hey, I was trying to make a point.
Something had passed between Sergei and the Queen Mother, but I was sure it would be a long time before it ever came to light. The red demon acted melancholy, and I couldn't figure that out. Today of all days, he should be lighthearted and happy. Riders are made complete when they impress, albeit that most of us don't realize we were incomplete when we showed up. Those kinds of insights and realizations only catch up to us after we have bonded with a dragon. Sergei showed no signs of these feelings, and if anything seemed more depressed than when I first met him.
Demi listened closely from Commons, and I sensed a sadness from her that confused me. Somewhere at the back of my brain was the knowledge that even my dragon probably knew what was eating away at him, but the front of my mind simply wouldn't let me think it, let alone voice it.
I stayed a bit longer, but the conversation dried up right along with Sergei's mood. No one else seemed to notice, or if they did, it wasn't shown by anyone. The music continued to play and the voices of the riders around us carried on in a jovial manner outwardly denying the somber mood being acted out on our side of the bar.
I eventually made our goodbyes and headed for Commons; secure in the knowledge that I knew no more than before I'd walked into the pub. Some things are best left alone to play out in their own way, and this was obviously one of those things. I have no problem keeping secrets from others, I just don't like it when they keep them from me. Whoa, now there's an epiphany. Not one of my finer thoughts.
There was a distinct sensation of antiquity that hovered around Sergei, an ever-present wave of ancient which laced itself on every movement he made and every word he spoke. It also occurred to me that of all the entities in the mountain, he was the likeliest candidate to actually outlive his dragon. A sad thought at best, but Volansa had to have thought about it before she called him. Perhaps it was her intent to give him a bit of respite in his everlasting life. I mean, how long can you live without coming face to face with totality. Just the burden of not being able to move on has got to weigh heavy on a person no matter how strong they are.
That's when it hit me, if Sergei was still alive after all these years due to immortality, then what of his parents. Weren't they immortal too, and if so, then where were they? They obviously couldn't die any more than he could, and that's about the time when the brain strain came over me. There were so many ramifications concerning this one man, that the different variables alone could not be conveniently calculated. Even worse, the supposed war between the demons and people like us suddenly became even more vague and obscure than before. At best, the lines of engagement looked indistinct with people like Lilith and Samael missing from the playing field.
On a lighter note, I can't see him stripping down and washing a dragon, although I know he's only a day or two at best away from needing to. The thought struck me funny, but it hasn't been that long since I was in the same boat. You see what I mean, it's always funny when it's someone else. I can't see him shoveling dragon crap either, but it's an inevitability for everyone in the mountain to perform that task at some time.
I realize my own penchant for stereo typing people before you really actually know them, but in the cases like Sergei, I don't think anyone sees him doing menial tasks. I wonder if they see me the same way. Queen Mother tells me I act like a snob, and it's probably due to the Wizard affiliations, not to mention the suit, but I personally feel that it gives me charm. I know, I know, what a load of crap.
I'll give it a couple of days and reassess my opinion of this new rider. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise us all by fitting in as if he'd been here always. I doubt it, but you just never know.
It was a long trip back to the Nursery, and I noticed it has been getting longer every night. I realize the distance isn't different, so it's my attitude about the conditions. Big shot Machinist has to live in a Nursery doesn't ring right in my ears, especially when other newbies are boasting the fact that they're red riders and gold riders. The only boast that I hear inside my head is that I live with nannies and baby dragons. It doesn't have the same ring to it, and even though I know these things shouldn't bother me, it just doesn't add to my illustrious reputation. You know, the reputation I'm not supposed to be worried about. I decided to not let it prey on my mind, and as long as Demi didn't take it to heart, then all was well. I had no more than processed that thought when I heard bells. Trust me, at that moment nothing else mattered.
The following morning a metal-on-metal sound could be heard all over Commons. I could see a lot of people milling around about halfway down the west wall, and the noise was definitely coming from there.
Demi and I made our way toward the spot in a slow and methodical speed as not to look like we were gawking, but there were so many people around, I doubted anyone really noticed us.
The commotion was being caused by several of the demons I had recently met who were in progress of striking each other with large swords. The armor they wore repelled the impacts, but the noise it caused was significant. The Blacksmith, Helup Ironfold, was standing off to one side taking notes of some sort as the demons hacked away at the plating that made up the back side of the suits. In between the strikes I could hear other demons talking and laughing at their antics, and in general having a good time. Several bits of suits and various piece parts of armor were strewn about the area, which had been sliced off during previous bouts, while the next demon suited up and stood ready for his exhibition to start. Queen Mother's new Blacksmith was wasting no time helping the demons improve on their battle gear. This should prove to be interesting, and if nothing else gave me an opportunity to see the Class Nine armor up close and personal.