The Dragon Eaters

by Duke Kittle

  * * *

  It had been five days since Tina had awakened from the comatose state into which she'd fallen. Kravek's condition hadn't improved, but it was enough for Tina that he'd survived. Having accepted Tina's proposal for him to come to Kerovnia so he could be healed, the black bull was already on board the Thorn's Side. Tina looked over those who stood in front of her on the pier as the ship was preparing to set sail.

  Idori Cephalin and Luna Copaire were both there. Tina was glad to see Idori looking better, and the seemingly permanent scowl he'd been wearing since her arrival was gone. He still wore his bladed gauntlets, but Tina figured the captain of the guard had to have some weapon on hand. Luna was out of her bandages and was leaning against Idori with his arm around her waist.

  Governor Keldo, in his robes of office, was leaning on a walking stick and standing next to them. Though he often smiled in a way which made Tina suspicious of him, he'd at least accepted responsibility for the events which had happened as a result of his decision. Tina expected he hadn't seen the last of the repercussions from those choices, but she would not inflict on him anything more than what he'd already brought on himself.

  Methystra stood in her reduced, humanoid form next to the governor. With one hand on her hip and the other on the shoulder of the shrunken Belthazuul, who stood next to her, she looked quite pleased that her magic had been involved in the downfall of the Dragon Eaters. Belthazuul, even reduced in size as he was, still stood head and shoulders over the others present. The black scales covering his body and the rigid cut of the scales along his jaws and eyebrows made him look like a proper villain. But Tina knew much better.

  Standing on the deck of the Thorn's Side with her arms around the black bunny child in front of her, Tina could see Beth waiting for her to come on board. Tina had to admit she'd been glad Beth had decided both to let Aiden be trained and to come to Kerovnia with him.

  “Well,” Tina adjusted her glasses as she looked up at the group gathered in front of her, “this has been an interesting chapter in the story of my life. I will have to make sure I record all of it in detail in my journal once we've set sail.”

  Methystra grinned at Tina. “I'll like to read that someday, especially the parts about your interactions with your Albatross.”

  Tina blushed. “Methystra!”

  The cloud dragon snickered.

  But the mention of an Albatross reminded Tina of something. She pulled off her necklace and clasped the lava-colored gem in both hands. “Methystra, I know we talked about this before. Angelica probably did want revenge on the Dragon Eaters... but they're gone now, and I think it's time Angelica was returned to Shalizan's side.” She focused on her necklace and extended her gift into the metal. It reshaped slowly and let the lava-colored crystal fall into Tina's hand. She hadn't used her magic since her recovery, and she felt strained to use it again so soon. But this was important.

  After she put her necklace on again, she held the crystal up toward Methystra. “You loved Shalizan most in life.”

  Methystra's smile slowly fell. She stepped forward and moved to her knees as she held her hand out. Tina deposited the tiny crystal into the palm of Methystra's hand. Looking at it, Methystra appeared conflicted.

  Tina put her hand on one of Methystra's fingers. “I don't know what your relationship with Angelica was during her lifetime. But both of you loved Shalizan best.”

  Methystra covered the crystal with her other hand and looked down at Tina. “...I loved Shalizan as much as I was able.” She looked down at the crystal. “...But she loved him most.”

  Tina smiled. “The word she chose for the Ritual of Preservation was 'who'. I think she wanted me to point out who killed her master.” She stepped back to make room for Methystra and gestured toward the crystal. “Instead... tell her what you just told me.”

  Methystra looked down at the crystal again. Rising to her feet, she cupped both hands together and blew a white mist into her hands. It flowed between her fingers as she whispered the incantation which would prepare the crystal to release Angelica. Drawing her hands away, the mist held the crystal in the air as it began turning and casting off lava-colored lights all around them.

  The mist spiraled down from the crystal as it took on the colors within the gem. The faces of the crystal peeled off and dispersed into the mist, growing in size. Each one reflected in its surface a piece of Angelica's body. When they all came together, Angelica stood in front of Methystra with her halberd grasped in hand, and the shards of the crystal disappeared. She stood still, unmoving, not even breathing as the mists dissipated. Tina could see the look of anger on her face, but she knew it would not last.

  Methystra stepped forward and touched the end of her snout to Angelica's nose. She spoke quietly the words which would unleash the effect of the ritual. “Breathe deep. Think true. Speak readily. What was granted is due.”

  Angelica suddenly drew in a deep breath and the look of anger melted from her face as if she'd heard from whom the words had come. Looking at Methystra, Angelica suddenly looked sad. But the one breath would not allow her to say more than she was granted.

  Methystra hugged Angelica and touched her cheek to the Albatross's. She spoke in native Maldavian. “Tina told me what you wished to say and why. But those who wronged my love and your master have paid for their crimes, Angelica, Dragon Daughter.” She released Angelica from the hug and rested one hand on the side of her face while looking into the Albatross's eyes. “But... ask. And I will tell you of the two of us who truly loved your master most.”

  The question deepened the sad expression on Angelica's face and her lips quivered as she let the one word she'd been granted slip from them. “...Who?”

  Methystra lovingly smiled. “None could love Shalizan more than you, beautiful Angelica. Return to him.” She put her arms around the Albatross again. “Be with your beloved now for the rest of time.”

  The halberd which Angelica held fell to the deck. She put her arms around Methystra and pressed her face against the side of the white-scaled Maldavian's neck. Tina didn't know what the Albatross wanted to say, but she didn't think it mattered. The tears running down her cheeks held all the semblance of joy which water could offer.

  As the two Maldavians, one Albatross and one true, shared the brief hug, Tina watched as Angelica's body slowly faded away. Closing her eyes, Tina thought to herself. Even though Angelica had wished for revenge, she would find more peace in death with her last moments being those of love. And the false satisfaction of revenge would have been meaningless in comparison.