Warding Song

A delighted purr hummed in Trill’s throat. She looked around for the small one, and noticed it peering at her from behind a boulder like a shy hatchling from behind their dam. Compared to the wingless ones who had captured her, this one wasn’t as frightening. Trill ignored it and began to think of where to go.

I want to go home … but I can’t, she sighed. If they found out I got Chirr-See killed, they’d banish me. I’ll go east, Trill decided, and find the Great Knower.

When she spread her wings, the small one cried out and moved towards her. She flinched and hissed. It froze. For a moment they stared at each other. The small one slowly pulled that shell off its back, and stuck a paw inside, pulling out a strip of brown meat. It tossed the strip at her, but Trill only sniffed at it when the small one backed away. It smelled salty and not very appetising.

She leapt into the air. The small one cried out and rushed forwards, but that only spooked Trill into fleeing. She headed east, but the sun hurt her eyes, and it wasn’t long before her wings began to ache again. As she tired, with nowhere to perch in sight, Trill was forced to retreat back to the island.

When she landed nearby, the small one scrambled to its feet and chattered at her. Its sounds were meaningless. Perhaps it was scolding her for leaving it behind. Trill kept an eye out for the large floating-nest, and listened to the small one. It came closer. When she looked down, it pretended it had not been trying to get near her. She felt slightly amused, but just because she wasn’t afraid didn’t mean she wanted it near her. Trill growled softly.

It cringed, but didn’t retreat. What a stubborn creature. Her eyelids grew heavy. Trill had no idea why she was so tired. She couldn’t sleep, it wasn’t safe … with a gaping yawn, her head rested on the ground. There was no sign of any floating-nests … perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to … rest her eyes …

Eleyna felt immensely relieved. When the dragon had flown off without her, she’d been terrified it wouldn’t return. If another ship came by, it would undoubtedly be the very one they’d escaped from. She wasn’t sure how long repairing the Ascalon would take, or how close it could be from here by now.

Flying on the dragon had been so much faster than sailing on a ship; incredibly risky, yes, but there were plenty of risks aboard ship too.

Once she was quite sure it was asleep, Eleyna crept away from the dragon. She could do things without worrying it would leave her again; unless it was only pretending to sleep. I’m being paranoid, she told herself, it’s just an animal. It got hit with all those lotus-laced arrows, that’s why it’s fallen asleep.

The rope she’d tied to a palm tree was still there. Eleyna picked the knot free and cut it to a more manageable length. It would serve as a harness to keep her on the dragon. Part of her wondered if she really had gone crazy.

On the way back, she filled up her water bottles at the river. Her rations of food were still barely existent, and Eleyna wished that she’d had a chance to get something off the Ascalon. “I’ll just have to make do,” she muttered.

When she got back up the hill, Eleyna sat down and began sharpening her dagger. It was getting blunt from sawing through tough rope. She worked with her back to the dragon; if it saw her with a weapon, it would surely panic, and she could kiss goodbye to any chance of earning its trust.

Now and then she glanced up to make sure the Ascalon wasn’t there. If it came … when it came, she’d have to find a way to get on the dragon’s back. It would fly off, and it apparently needed to rest a lot, so they’d end up landing sooner or later. Hopefully somewhere she could get some food.

Eleyna decided she ought to give the dragon a proper name, instead of just ‘it’. She considered naming it ‘Amethyst’, but quickly discarded that idea; it was as unimaginative as someone naming their pet cat ‘Ginger’.

“I wonder why they’re called Fire Agates; those crystals are orange.” Eleyna curiously moved to get a better look at the dragon from a safe distance. It had a long neck and tail, spines running from the back of its head to the base of its tail, bat-like wings, and a long narrow muzzle that ended in a hooked beak. Or at least a snout that resembled one. Its wings were covered in rippling wavy patterns.

Calling the dragon ‘it’ all the time is gonna be really tiresome, she noted. But I have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl dragon. I guess … I’ll just think of it as a male? At least until I find out for certain. Somehow.

Trill yawned and stretched. She noticed the large floating-nest and spread her wings to flee, but stopped herself. The small one stood nearby, and had wrapped a vine around itself. It approached, and she had to resist the urge to growl. It slowly moved closer, and held up a bit of salty meat in its paw.

Trill did not want its food. If it had another firestone, however … It must have gotten that firestone from somewhere, she realised. It knew where to find purple firestones. Maybe if I take it with me, it will lead me back to its hoard.

It would be like the trick of letting floating-nests lead her to islands. She could leave the small one there, so it would be safe and not bother her anymore. She glanced down to find it had edged closer whilst she’d been thinking.

Trill wondered if she had time to go fishing before they left. She hated flying for a long time on an empty stomach. Perhaps she should take the small one with her. I guess I’ll have to carry the small one on my back, she sighed. I’d hurt it if I tried to carry it in my mouth … and it probably tastes disgusting.

Despite trying to get near her, the small one retreated when she went close to it. Trill purred, gesturing for it to climb onto her shoulders. The small one stared blankly. She rolled her eyes and gestured again, more firmly this time. At last it caught on and crept towards her. When it was close enough, it reached out a paw and stroked her scales.

It pulled back when she huffed. Then it started trying to scramble onto her neck behind her head. She didn’t want it there, where she couldn’t see it.

Trill shook it off, and nudged her shoulder. She looked at the small one, then at her shoulder. Small one, shoulder … its eyes widened, and it backed away from her. She watched it hurry off, bemused. What was it doing now?

It scrambled onto a boulder. Trill padded over and crouched down. The small one clambered onto her shoulders, and wrapped the trailing ends of its long brown vine tightly around one of her spines. Once it was holding on, she spread her wings and leapt into the air. The floating-nest was right below her. Trill couldn’t resist the urge to roar in triumph as she peeled away from it.

There were seabirds nearby; Trill headed straight for them. The small one screeched in fear as she plunged downwards and struck the shoal. After devouring two pawfuls of prey, she craned her head to look at it. The small one tugged one side of its vine; she banked until they faced the other way.

The small one stopped tugging and pointed northwest, chattering eagerly. Trill flew forwards. I hope it knows where we’re going. She recognised the island; she and Chirr-See had been here before. It was full of wingless ones; they couldn’t land here. She banked away. The small one tugged on its vine again; she ignored it, but then it kicked its hind paws against her flanks.

Trill bared her fangs and growled. It jabbed a paw down at the island. Maybe it needs to relieve itself. She flew inland, away from the nests on the shore.

When she landed, Trill crouched to let the small one climb off. It slid to the ground and began to walk away, looking over its shoulder at her. At first she tried to follow, but it squawked and shooed her away, shaking its head. She rolled her eyes and groomed herself, waiting for the small one to come back.

For a moment she’d worried the dragon would follow her right to a town. She still hadn’t chosen a name for him. I could name him Plummet, she considered, or maybe Terrifier. Terri-fire? … nah. Hi, I’m Eleyna and this is Plummet. Even when she said it in her head, the name sounded ridiculous. She’d work on it.

She walked along the riverbank until she came to a farm. There was a covered wagon outside, with a donkey already hitched up. A native Dejeran cracked the reins and it plodded off. Eleyna broke into a run, dashing after the wagon, which trundled on as if nothing was happening. “Wait!”

At her shout, the farmer looked over his shoulder, then pulled back on the reins. Eleyna caught up at last. “Can … can I get a lift, please?” she asked, panting. He struggled with the donkey, which tossed its head and snorted.

“Sure, up you come,” he replied. “The name’s Mendo, and yours?”

Eleyna hesitated. “Catherine,” she answered. The cart trundled on, pulled by a donkey who seemed unusually eager to get away from its burden. Maybe it can smell the dragon on me, Eleyna realised, as Mendo tried to make it slow down. “Thanks for letting me ride along. It saves me walking there.”

“I know “t’ain’t my business, but I’m curious what a colonial girl would be doin’ out here without a chaperone,” he remarked. “You’re not lost, are you?”

She shook her head. “I can take care of myself. I’m trying to get to town, you see. My friend Pablo lives there, and I’m going to visit him today.”

“That’s nice. It’s a beautiful day to visit a friend. Still, you ought to be careful going about on your own. My wife swears she saw a dragon this morning.”

“A what?” she laughed nervously. “A dragon? Isn’t that … a bit far-fetched?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought!”Mendo grinned. “I said, a dragon? And she said yes, a dragon! She said a big black dragon landed on the mountainside. So I said, if the dragon goes after the sheep, at least you’ll see it comin’ a mile away.” He burst out laughing. Eleyna forced a laugh. You have no idea.

At last they arrived at the nearest town. “Here we are in Pueblo de Juan. If you need me, I’ll be at the market,” said Mendo, pointing out a bustling area with pens full of goats and pigs. A powerful odour of manure wafted towards them, and Eleyna wrinkled her nose. “On the far side, that is,” he added.

“Thanks, mister; oh, and thanks again for the ride!” Eleyna said cheerfully, waving to him as she walked off. Nobody gave her a second glance. Maybe this town hasn’t heard about me yet. Her hopes were swiftly dashed when she clapped eyes on a board standing outside the town hall. Pinned to it were some ‘Wanted’ posters; one had a rough sketch of her drawn on it.

So much for that idea. Eleyna idly paused outside the shop window opposite the board, and pretended to look into it. She could make out the backwards words on her poster reflected in the glass. It took her a moment to decipher.

The prize money for information on her was ten sueltos, and for her arrest it was twenty sueltos. She had a distinct feeling the bounty would get much higher once they got around to adding ‘theft of a dragon’ to her list of crimes.

Eleyna saw her reflection for the first time in several days. Black hair a windswept mess, clothes faded from the saltwater. Her shirt was torn, her shorts stained and threadbare. The shopkeeper came out and snapped: “Oi! If you’re not gonna buy anything, then scram!”

“I was just looking,” she retorted, before departing. The shopkeeper made to go inside, but his brow furrowed. He looked from her retreating figure to the ‘Wanted’ posters and back again. Then he called over his shoulder for his assistant to man the counter, and crossed the street to the town hall.

The more distance she put between herself and those posters the better. I wonder what Aunt Cat would think of me having a ‘Wanted’ poster. Never mind the dinghy, it occurred to her, I stole a freaking dragon! It finally crossed her mind that if she’d used the dragon to replace that dinghy … What was the boat’s name again? I just read it … then she remembered. Acorazaria.

A dinghy named Acorazaria … or a dragon named … Acora she decided. Yeah, it sounds good, it’s easy to remember, it’s – wait a minute.

Eleyna blinked as a sign caught her eye.‘Maria’s Pawnshop’. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and went inside. A bell jingled above the door. A middle-aged woman stood behind the counter. “How can I help you today?” she inquired in a bored voice.

“Good morning.” Eleyna took out the locket chain and laid it on the counter. “I’d like to sell this, please.” Maria put a few drops of white vinegar on it, to check that it was indeed real gold. Then she weighed it on a pair of scales.

“Where’s the rest of it?” she inquired. Eleyna frowned, confused. “There’s a clasp here. If this was a necklace chain, where’s the pendant to go with it?”

“I lost it,” Eleyna said hastily. “But will you buy the chain?” she prompted.

Maria raised an eyebrow. “I’d have to check the purity. There’s nowhere on this chain to stamp the karat number. It’s a pity you lost the rest of it. Sorry, miss, but no karat number, no loan,” she said firmly, offering the chain back.

“Okay, I – I do have the rest of it, but it’s … sort of broken.” She handed over the locket. Dented, scratched, a stuck catch – it looked a sorry sight.

“What in the King’s name did you do to this locket? Smash it on a rock?” Maria asked as she tested and weighed it. After scribbling down a few sums, she declared: “I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll give you fifteen sueltos for this.” She counted the coins into a pouch and handed it across the counter. Eleyna tucked it into her rucksack; this was more money than she’d ever carried in her life. “Just be sure to pay it back in … we’ll say eight months.”

“I will.” She made to leave, but to her alarm, a guard was coming down the street. Eleyna walked casually amongst the other wares in the shop, feigning interest in various knick-knacks. The bell above the door rang.

“How can I help you – ” the woman began.

“I’m not here for trinkets,” the guard said smartly. “I’m looking for a girl with black hair, wearing a light blue shirt, brown shorts and a rucksack.”

“Oh, well you’re in the right place. A girl like that just came in, she’s over … ”

The bell rang, and so did Eleyna. Behind her rose cries of “thief!” and “stop her!” A man tried to grab her; she dodged and fled down an alleyway. It seemed like the whole town was out to get her, the news spreading that a criminal was in their midst. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Eleyna berated herself. She should have known someone would recognise her and tip off the guard.

I need to get out of here, but I can’t without resupplying … she scrambled into yet another alleyway. This one had clotheslines strung up, Eleyna noticed a cream short-sleeved shirt that might fit her, and a pair of tan shorts.

Her eyes darted to the houses. The ground floor windows were open. With frequent glances on all sides, Eleyna crept over to the shirt. More furtive looks. Nobody was watching her. She seized the opportunity and removed the still-damp clothing, tucking it under her arm. Now for the shorts.

A woman appeared in one of the windows and glanced out, but Eleyna had already crouched. Heart hammering, she waited for them to move again. She listened for tell-tale sounds of pursuit. Once she was sure the coast was clear, Eleyna took down the shorts as well. Then she quickly left the alley.

In another alley, she hid and shucked off her old clothes, then squeezed into the new ones. All of the running made her throat feel like it was covered in gravel. She sipped from her bottle, and set off in search of the market. This way she could look for Mendo, and hopefully get a ride back to Acora.

It took her a long time to cross the town; she kept taking detours. By the time she got there, Eleyna was starving. To her dismay, several stalls were already closing down. She hurried in search of one still open and selling.

First she bought a bag full of peanut drops and snacked on them as she bought as much dried food as she could carry. Mostly boucan, but also dried peaches, bananas and even dried mango. Eleyna couldn’t resist buying a couple of fresh peaches. It felt like a lifetime since she’d eaten fresh fruit.

Glancing over her shoulder, Eleyna saw the peach merchant talking to an Imperial guard. She slipped amongst the milling crowd, forcing herself not to run or even walk too quickly. It would be suspicious. I can’t look back …

Then she recognised Mendo. Eleyna strolled over towards his stall, as if she’d decided on a whim to visit it. He blinked at her and then smiled broadly. “Is that you, Catherine? You look different. What’s wrong?”

“Can I hide under your stall?” Eleyna blurted out. “ … Pablo and I are playing hide and seek.” He nodded, and she hurriedly crawled beneath the stall top, ready to scramble out and make a run for it again if the guards came over.

Mendo called for people to buy his papaya. A guard asked him, “Have you seen this girl?” They must have been holding out her‘Wanted’ poster. She tensed, waiting to hear the dreaded words of betrayal; waiting for Mendo to sell her out the way that pawn-shopkeeper had. He had no reason not to.

“Ellie Flanders? I don’t know anyone called Ellie,” he replied, shrugging. “No, sir, never seen her, sorry. Would you like a papaya?” The guard tried to step behind his stall, but he got in the way. “Excuse me? What are you doing?”

“The girl in question was last seen coming to this stall,” the guard answered stiffly. “She’s wanted for theft. If you know what’s good for you, then you’ll co-operate.” Eleyna grimaced and prepared to make a break for it. She was grateful to Mendo, but he couldn’t stop the guards from searching.

“I told you, she’s not here! I haven’t left this stall since I came. What sort of thief hides behind a merchant’s stall with the merchant still there?” With his foot, he motioned for Eleyna to get away. “They’d have to be a right ass to try something so dumb.” For a moment she felt insulted, until she realised his donkey was hitched to a post a few feet away, and there was his cart.

Eleyna crawled behind the cart and, when the coast was clear, heaved herself up into it. In the nick of time, too; the guards became impatient and pushed Mendo aside to check under his stall. Nobody was there. “Are you happy now?” he demanded. They scowled and reluctantly went on their way.

Hidden beneath the cart’s cover, Eleyna felt much less exposed. She couldn’t let her guard down, though. The guards might search the whole market, every stall and cart, and she’d be doomed. She still couldn’t believe Mendo had stood up to them on her behalf. He doesn’t even know me.

He must have realised that ‘Ellie’ and ‘Catherine’ were one and the same; that she’d lied to him. If he was caught helping her, he could get arrested for aiding a wanted criminal. Why would he risk that for a total stranger?

After what felt like eternity, the cart jolted and began to move. Looks like I managed to scrounge a lift after all. It bumped and rolled along the dirt road. For a while all she heard was the wheels and the clop, clop of hooves. Then Mendo called, “you can come out now, if you want. Nobody’s around.”

Eleyna wriggled out from under the sheet. “Thanks. For … for what you did.”

“You’re welcome. So which one is it? Catherine, or Ellie?”

She hesitated, but then chose to trust him. “Neither. My name’s Eleyna. Sorry I lied, it’s … you wouldn’t believe me if I told you what I’m really doing. Why did you lie to those guards about me? You didn’t have to do it.”

“You seem surprised. Has no one risked so much for you before?”

Aunt Cat led the guard away and was arrested. Marcus took a musket shot so it wouldn’t hit her and perished. Fernando told the Imperials that she was only a stowaway … she had no idea what happened to him. Bad things happen to people who help me. Mendo would probably get in trouble too.

“Of course, but they knew me. You and I only met this morning.” She understood being loyal to a friend, but risking it all to help a stranger had never made sense to her. “You could have gotten the reward money.”

“I make money selling my papayas. The guards, they wouldn’t give a native any gold. I helped you because you needed help … and I believe a good deed will be repaid in kind. Who knows? Perhaps one day you will help me.”

Well, I owe him now. Eleyna felt more at ease; her world made sense again. I’ll come back one day and make us even. Maybe I’ll give him some of my treasure. That reminded her, she had plenty of sueltos left. When they reached his farm, Mendo pulled up. “You can find your own way from here?”

“Yes, thank you,” she answered, climbing down. She dropped a couple of sueltos on the seat. “To pay for the lift there and back,” Eleyna shrugged.

She turned to leave, but Mendo called: “Wait! That’s enough to buy a papaya too.” He tossed her one from a sack beside him. Eleyna caught the fruit and smiled gratefully, waving to him as she headed up the road. Now she had to find the stand of trees behind which Acora would – hopefully – be hidden.

I hope he hasn’t left, she thought. To her relief, she found him again.

“You’re still here,” she murmured, as he peered down at her. Never thought I’d be so happy to see a dragon. “That took longer than I thought it would. I suppose you wouldn’t like papaya, would you? More for me.” She sat down and took out her dagger – Acora flinched, but really, if they were travelling together he would have to get used to her using a knife, at least.

The papaya’s flesh was sweet and delicious. “Mmm … so good. We’ll have to leave after this; it’s a long way to Ocaranes. I thought of a name for you,” Eleyna revealed. She knew he couldn’t understand her, but talking to him felt less weird than talking to herself. “Acora. I’ve gotta teach you that. A-co-ra. That’s you.” She pointed at him, and repeated: “Acora.”

To her surprise, he made a trilling noise. “I’m gonna assume that means you like it,” she remarked, eating more of her papaya.

The small one was taking a long time. Trill grew impatient; it didn’t take that long to relieve oneself. When she peeked out, there was no sign of the small one anywhere. Has it gone back to its nest? she wondered. Trill hoped not. She still hadn’t followed it to its hoard. At last, she decided to search for it.

Sniffing at the ground, Trill followed the small one’s scent. She realised it was heading for the same nest she’d seen last time. Trill retreated to the tall plants she could hide behind. Should I go? Or wait for the small one? What if it doesn’t come back? It would be easier if the small one talked properly.

I want to steal its hoard. First, Trill had to find the small one’s hoard. If it came back, its hoard wasn’t here and it could still lead her. If it didn’t, its hoard must be here somewhere. The day was too bright to search without getting noticed, but if she looked for it at night, her scales would blend in.

Such was Trill’s focus, she didn’t notice a man hiking towards her. His name was Timothy Dexter, and he was the one and only Informer of Dragons.

It was an important job, or so he’d been assured by Pueblo de Juan’s council. His task was to report any sightings or evidence of dragons in the area. It wasn’t fruitful, but Timothy was persistent. He didn’t let the fact that such creatures hadn’t been found on Amohanes for generations hamper his dedication, either. Just because he’d not seen one yet, didn’t mean he never would.

Lately it appeared his luck was finally turning around. Just a few weeks ago there had been sightings of two Fire Agates around these parts. Alas, by the time Timothy had got there, they were gone. Many claimed no dragons were there at all. He set up traps, but all he’d managed to catch was a lost cow.

Timothy always made a point of visiting the farms in these parts and asking if they had seen any dragons. Usually the answer was an impolite ‘no', but it never hurt to check. At last his perseverance was paying off; the native farmer’s wife he spoke to claimed she had seen a dragon that morning. “It landed further up the valley, and hid behind a stand of copper-wood.”

Encouraged, Timothy had set off at once to confirm the sighting. If he could get a sketch of the creature, or find a few of its scales … that would be plenty of proof, enough to make all the naysayers eat their hats! He longed to see a dragon in the flesh. Timothy just hoped the dragon wouldn’t also see him.

He found the grove and made his way towards it, staying downwind. There was something in there. A large, dark mass. He was too far to tell if it was moving though; for all he knew, it was a boulder. I’ll have to get closer. The danger of approaching a fire breather, close to trees, didn’t cross his mind.

Just as Timothy reached the outskirts of the grove, the wind changed. A moment later the shape shifted, spreading wings. He gasped. It was a dragon! It was … turning towards him … oh dear. He hid behind a tree and rubbed its sap over his hands and face, trying to hide his scent. This smells much better than manure. Why didn’t I think of using this before?

He heard a growl. Timothy was too scared to move. To his relief the growling ended, but he was rooted to the spot as much as the copper-wood.

Trill had scented a wingless one for a moment, but then the scent changed. Unsure whether or not to flee, or if there was a wingless one there at all, Trill snarled. Nothing attacked her, but she didn’t hear anything flee either.

Maybe she had imagined the scent. Trill tried to relax. At last, the small one returned. Its shed hide was a paler colour, and it carried what looked like a large green egg. Then it cut the egg open; Trill flinched, only to realise it was a fruit with orange flesh. The small one began to devour its fruit. Between bites it chattered at Trill, making the same two noises over and over again.

The noises sounded like click-grunt. Perhaps that was its calling-sound; those were usually noises for a drake, so Trill figured the small one was male. She trilled, so he’d know her calling-sound. He chattered and went back to eating his fruit. He didn’t offer her any of it; but then, she’d rejected his food before. Trill wished he would share with her; she was hungry now.

Pueblo de Juan’s mayor, Sir Alexander Sebayades, wasn’t pleased. “Captain O’Brien. Please explain to me how a sixteen-year-old with no connections in this town managed to evade capture by the entirety of your guard?”

“She stole different clothes to use as a disguise, sir. However, we have reason to believe a local papaya farmer assisted her escape.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so? Bring him in for questioning,” the mayor demanded. “Do your job and actually catch wanted criminals, or I’ll have you charged with negligence of duty. Do I make myself clear?”

They were interrupted by that buffoon he’d hired to do a pointless job, to keep the man from applying for every other position that came up. “Oi! You can’t barge in here,” O’Brien protested, seizing the man’s arm. “We’re in the middle of a private meeting!” Then he sniffed, and demanded, “and why do you smell like that?”

“Oh, it’s tree sap.” Timothy shrugged off his hold. “Timothy Dexter, Informer of Dragons, at your service. If you recall, sir, you once said you’d give me a raise if I brought proof that dragons had been near Pueblo de Juan. I have proof, sir. I’ve seen a dragon, and believe it or not, there was a girl riding it.”

O’Brien amusedly suggested, “Perhaps that’s how our little thief escaped; she flew away like a bird. Would you like me to escort Mr Dexter out?”

“Yes, please do.”

“Wait! Sir, I have evidence – undeniable – ”

“You always say that! I have more important things to worry about than … ”Sebayades trailed off and gaped at the scales emptied out onto his desk. O’Brien’s jaw dropped as well. Timothy, holding a sack, beamed widely.