Chapter 21

Everyone was happy to reach the Intrepid, and there was much rejoicing as the crew welcomed Berry and Dallow aboard.

"You must inspect the repairs, sir," said Tinch eagerly. The sailing master was itching to show off the work, and he barely paid any attention to the tales of rampaging dwarves and narrow escapes. "Going well they are, and soon we'll be able to sail out of here."

The Methusians were welcomed back too, and there was a special cheer for Captain Borosin when word of his deeds spread amongst the crew.

"He saved Cap'n Berry, he did!" exclaimed one sailor excitedly, and soon everyone was talking about the brave, indestructible Methusian.

Hal and Runt stood to one side, shoulder to waist, their expressions grim. "It's all right for them," murmured Hal. "What's going to happen to all the people in Chatter's Reach? They've got a whole army heading their way."

"Unlucky for some," said Runt. He stuck his hand out. "Runt, by the way."

"Hal Spacejock."

"Yeah, I heard." They shook hands. "You're not one of these sailors, are you?"

"I don't know," said Hal slowly. "I don't think so."

"Have you lost your memory?"

"Yes. I know my name, but that's about it."

"I know someone who could help with that."

Hal felt a ray of hope. "Really?"

"Yeah." Runt took off his boots and emptied them over the railing, pouring out several pints of seawater. "He's a powerful mage, Father M is. I bet he could fix you up."

"Where is he?"

Runt put his boots back on, then nodded towards the shore. "Somewhere west of here. We were supposed to capture a dragonling together, but the party split up. Last I heard they were heading for the rocky wastes, near dwarven lands" He paused at that. "Hope it wasn't them who stirred the dwarves up."

Hal turned to look at the beach. After escaping the enemy in the next bay, they'd watched the dwarven army regroup before heading inland, straight towards Chatter's Reach. "We should be helping those people, not hiding out here on a boat."

"It's not our fight, Hal."

"But with all these sailors, and their weapons…"

"Forget it."

Hal couldn't. There wasn't much he could do on his own, but a well-armed force might be the difference between life and death for everyone in the city. So, with a determined spring in his step, he approached Berry. "You're in charge around here, right?"

"That's correct." Berry smiled. "Weren't you one of those who volunteered to save me?"

"Yeah, I did." Hal gestured towards the shore. "It isn't right, leaving a whole city to die. The dwarves… they're going to crush them."

Berry nodded. "It troubles me also, but what can we do? We're sailors, not soldiers. We fight on the seas."

"You have weapons, don't you? And that Borosin guy, he said the dwarves are all show. Put up a solid front and they'll run for it."

Borosin heard them talking, and came closer. "What is it you are saying?" he asked Hal.

"We should get over there and kick some hairy dwarf butt."

"You have a curious manner of speaking," said Berry. "However, I explained that we're sailors, not—"

"He's right, you know." Runt had approached without anyone noticing.

"You've changed your mind?" said Hal in surprise.

"I believe in saving my own skin wherever possible, but we can't just sit and do nothing." He looked up at Berry. "You want to form an alliance with the Old Kingdom? This is your chance to earn their trust."

"My people will join the fight," said Borosin quickly. "Methusians do not abandon their allies so easily."

"All right, all right!" Berry raised his voice. "Bosun, pipe the crew to attention. I will address them from the quarterdeck."

"Aye aye, sir."

Pipes twittered, and there was a thunder of feet as two hundred Stalyans left their posts and formed up in neat rows. Meanwhile, the officers, Runt and Hal took the steps to the raised quarterdeck, where Berry approached the railing and looked down at the expectant faces. "You've all seen the dwarven army, and I must tell you that it's now threatening a nearby city. In order to gain favour with the ruler of this land, we are to join the battle. Arm yourselves well, for we must prevail!"

There was a roar, and the crew dashed off to find weapons. Meanwhile, Berry addressed the sailing master. "Mister Tinch, we'll drop anchor in the shallows. Lay netting over the bows."

"Aye aye, sir."

"You must pick a dozen crew to stay behind and defend the ship. Keep Dallow, too, since he's been through enough already. Be sure to load the bow chasers, mind, and if the dwarves come back… shoot to kill!"

Tinch saluted, then hurried off to choose his people.

Ten minutes later the big warship gently ran aground, and the waiting crew swarmed down the nets to the shallows. There was a cheer as they made the beach, and then the force of two hundred men and women strode purposefully towards the treeline, swords and pistols at the ready. Berry and Borosin were in the lead, while Hal and Runt followed, each clutching a sword as though they weren't quite sure what to do with it.

"The pointy end goes in the enemy," a sailor called out, and there was a round of laughter.

It wasn't hard to follow the dwarves' tracks, for they'd left a trail of trampled grass and bushes. By the time the Daylans reached the jetty, the fisherman could be seen a hundred yards up-river, rowing so hard in his desire to get away from yet another army that he was throwing spray twenty feet behind his boat.

The army swarmed up the bank and headed straight towards the city. Hal frowned, because he'd expected smoke and fire and fighting, but there was no sign of battle. In fact, the gates were closed, and he could see a couple of archers peering over the top of the city wall.

The army came to a halt two hundred yards from the gates, well out of bow- and earshot, and Berry called Hal over. "This was your idea. You go and speak with them."

Hal eyed the archers on the wall. "What if they shoot first and talk afterwards?"

"Your noble sacrifice will be noted," said Borosin.

There was no escape, so Hal hitched up his trousers, laid down his sword and strolled towards the gate. As he left the others, he heard Berry muttering to Borosin. "Those dwarves better not be circling back to my ship."

Hal could see the archers watching him, and he noticed one of them was little more than a boy. That didn't comfort him in the slightest, for grubby little brats were more likely than most to let fly their arrows.

He walked to within fifty yards of the wall, where he stopped and cupped his hands to his mouth. "We come in peace!" he shouted.

"With a whole fudding army?" someone replied. "Who are you kidding?"

"We came to save you from the dwarves!"

"Very kind, I'm sure, but the dwarves went straight past us and headed north."

Hal looked to Berry for guidance, but the officer made a 'get on with it' motion. So, Hal turned back to the gates and the archers. "What's north of here?" he shouted.

"It's a few hours march to Branche, in the Bark kingdom. That's a capital city, that is. Rich pickings to be sure."

"So you don't need our help?"

"Not today. Now get lost before we turn you into a pin cushion."

Hal gave up and returned to the officers. "He says the dwarves are marching on Branche, to the north."

"How far is it?"

If he told the truth, Hal knew the big force of sailors would go back to their ship, and the dwarves would still wipe out a city. "Oh, it's just up the road a bit," he said, hoping Runt, a native of the Old Kingdom, wouldn't butt in with a helpful correction.

Fortunately, Runt had his back, and the halfling said nothing. Well, the back of his legs, at least.

Berry frowned. "This was supposed to be a quick rescue mission. Instead, it's turning into a full-scale campaign."

"Oh, go on," said Hal. "It's a beautiful day, the sun's shining and there are some lovely birds in the sky."

"Really? Where?"

"It's the big bright yellow thing overhead."

"Not the sun, the birds!" growled Berry. "I haven't seen any since we set foot in this land."

Hal pointed at a black speck on the horizon. It looked like a crow or a raven, and as it got closer he realised it was pretty big. Then, as it got closer still, he realised it was enormous.

"Dragon!" shouted Borosin. "It's a dragon! Hide!"

"Are you sure?"

"Am I sure it's a dragon? Yes! Am I sure we should hide? Double yes!"

The city gates were shut, so there was no escape that way. Instead, the large force of sailors ran for the woods. Meanwhile, the dragon circled the city like a black crow, if a crow had huge leathery wings and scales and was about a hundred feet long.

"What's it doing?" hissed Runt, who was lying face-down under a bush.

"Flying around in circles," said Hal.

"Great. It's picking out targets." Runt turned on his side to check. "If it's circling the city, we're okay. If it comes this way, run for it."

Hal shrank into the bushes, and he watched in silence as the dragon continued to circle. Then folding its wings, it rolled over and dived for the city. As it got lower, a huge jet of flame streaked from its jaws, playing on the buildings. Then it opened its wings, pulled up sharply, and let its speed carry it towards the clouds.

A column of smoke rose from the city, and Hal could hear the crackle of flames. Then the dragon dived again, and again, until there was a pall of smoke covering the entire city and most of the countryside surrounding it. Satisfied with the damage, the dragon flew off to the west.

"Nice walk in the sunshine, eh?" said Berry, brushing twigs and leaves off his uniform. "Imagine if that monster had caught us in the open!"

"At least now you believe me," said Borosin. "You are lucky if it does not burn your ship, as it did mine."

"Give it time," said Runt. "Your boat is probably on its to-do list."

"It's a ship!" growled Berry and Borosin together.

By now, the columns of smoke in the city were subsiding, as citizens frantically doused the fires. "I'd offer to help them," said Berry, "but what can we do? We are no match for a dragon, and they must take their chances. Instead, we must return to the Intrepid, and—"

"No!" said Hal quickly. "If you go back to your ship, that thing will kill you all. There's no escape if you're trapped on board."

"He is right," said Borosin.

"Therefore, what's the harm in chasing after the dwarves and saving this Branche place?" Hal knew it was madness, but he didn't care. Something told him it was the right thing to do, and he was determined to convince the others to come with him.

Berry looked around at his crew, who were scattered amongst the trees. Hal could see him picturing them aboard the Intrepid as the dragon burned it to the waterline, and he wasn't surprised when Berry finally agreed. "We'll move quickly, and at the first sign of that dragon we take cover."

"I think we've all got that part down to a T," said Hal.

After carefully checking the sky, the landing party formed up on the road before marching past the gently smoking city of Chatter's Reach. Then, once clear of the city, they headed northwards.