Something Wyverian This Way Comes

by Jeffrey M. Poole

  “Not if I can help it. So that’s why you need to stay in control of your senses at all times. Apparently if you start to zone out, like I did, then it makes you more susceptible to him.”

  “What does ‘zone out’ mean?” Pryllan asked.

  “Well, it means if you’re just alone with your thoughts and you’re not really paying attention to what you’re doing.”

  “We dragons meditate all the time.”

  “Can you sense when someone else invades your mind?”

  “I know when I’m sharing senses with you. Is that what you mean?”

  Steve suppressed a chuckle. “Umm, not exactly. You initiate the connection. What if someone else initiated it for you? Would you be able to tell if someone came in? Uninvited?”

  “I would like to think so.”

  “Just remember Anghorus,” Steve reminded her. “He somehow lost control and was taken over by that wizard.”

  “Your point is taken,” Pryllan admitted.

  A short flight later they landed at the mouth of Pryllan’s cave. Pravara flew up to greet them. She instantly sought Steve out and nuzzled against her side. The problem, however, was that he still hadn’t come in for a landing. It was all Steve could do to keep from tipping over so that he didn’t knock Pravara over the head with his wings.

  “Mother! I am so glad to see you!”

  “Now wait just a second,” Steve cautioned, as he pumped his wings to slow his descent. “I’m not your mother. She’s over there, riding with Sarah.”

  Confused, Pravara turned to watch the Zweigelan touch down just outside the cave entrance. She saw that each of the Zweigelan’s hands held a human. Pravara turned back to Steve.

  “What are you saying, mother? I do not understand.”

  “Your mom is over there,” Steve explained. “See the person getting out of Syrreth’s hand? That’s your mother.”

  Twin golden orbs stared at him for several long seconds.

  “It’s true, young one,” a deep voice spoke. Kahvel emerged from the cave and approached. “Thanks to the mischief of a human wizard, your mother is now inside Sarah’s body, Sarah is inside of Steve’s body, and Steve is inside of your mother’s.”

  Dumbfounded, Pravara stared at Steve in shock.

  “You’re not my mother?”

  “Sorry, squirt.”

  “My mother certainly doesn’t talk like that.”

  “Nor will I ever,” Pryllan agreed as she approached her offspring, standing on shaky legs.

  Dragon and human stared at each other. Pravara gently sniffed Pryllan’s human arm.

  “You don’t smell like mother.”

  “You are more intelligent than this,” Pryllan scolded. “If I tell you that I’m in human form, and you then attempt to prove it, you’re going to be disappointed.”

  “How do you get back over there?” Pravara asked as she swung her head around to look at Steve.

  “We need to go back to R’Tal,” Pryllan informed the dragonlet. “The human wizard at the castle can restore us.”

  Kahvel snorted decisively. “Again? How many times will you be forced to go there?”

  “About as many times as you sneak off to Nevir, I’m sure,” Pryllan countered.

  Kahvel instantly dropped his objections and wisely changed the subject.

  “Was the other Zweigelan cooperative?”

  Steve shrugged. “If we get him some ruby that was stolen from him a long time ago then yes, he was. If you’re thinking that this is a serious long shot, like I do, then no, he wasn’t.”

  “A ruby? That’s all?”

  “Not just any ruby,” Sarah added as she frowned. “One that is apparently twisted. I don’t even know what that means. Does it mean this ruby has been enchanted?”

  Kahvel gave a slight jerk of recognition. Sarah was instantly at his side.

  “Wait! You know this jewel?”

  “It seems to me that I have heard something about a spiraled ruby. Something recent. I’m trying to think.”

  Steve sat down on his haunches directly in front of Kahvel and cleared his throat. Kahvel looked up.

  “I just wanted to say thanks again. You saved my life. I won’t forget it.”

  Kahvel nodded. “As I told you then, you’re welcome. I didn’t want any harm to befall Pryllan or her body.”

  “He was the one who helped you learn how to fly?” Sarah asked. She gazed up at the huge gold dragon. “You have my thanks, too. That may be your mate’s body but that’s my husband in there. Thank you very much.”

  “Aye,” Pryllan added. “As always, you have my thanks, too, my love.”

  “You’re thankful, he’s thankful, everyone’s thankful,” Kahvel grumbled, uncomfortable with the praise everyone was heaping on him. “Please let the matter drop. I am trying to concentrate. I am certain it will come to me.”

  Steve shook his head and chuckled. “Boy, that was really weird to see Sarah’s body call Kahvel ‘my love’. We seriously need to get straightened out before we all end up needing psychiatric help.”

  Pryllan looked at him. “I’m not familiar with…”

  Steve held up a taloned claw. “Yeah, we know. It’s just a saying.”

  Sarah gave Pravara an affectionate pat on the head before turning to Kahvel.

  “Anyway, we’ll head back to our house and leave you guys in peace. We’ll be back in the morning.”

  Steve dropped his wyverian head down and rested it on the ground as he stared at his wife.

  “Dearest love of my life, pray tell, how willest thou accomplish such a feat if thine own jhorun does not answer to thee?”

  Sarah swatted Steve directly on his snout.

  “What are you talking like that for? Dork. And what do you mean I don’t have control over my jhorun? Sh-” Sarah managed to slap a hand over her mouth before she could finish the vulgar word. She glared at her husband. “Why do I get the feeling I would start swearing like a sailor if I didn’t censor myself? You and I are going to talk about that filthy mouth of yours.”

  Steve laughed so hard he almost wet himself.

  “So I guess we’re staying here tonight? Kahvel, is that okay?”

  Kahvel nodded. “You and Sarah may use the far corner of the cave. Do try to be quiet. If Pravara cannot sleep because of you then you get to keep her entertained.”

  “Does she have a problem staying asleep?”

  “Not if she isn’t disturbed.”

  “Ah, got it. We’ll be quiet.”

  “Thank you. Please perform your, shall we say, personal ablutions outside.”

  “My what?”

  “Ablutions. Bodily functions.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  “Thank you.”

  ****

  “What was that?”

  Sarah had bolted straight up from her position on Steve’s wing and was warily eyeing the sleeping dragon her husband had become. Swaying comfortably from the momentum she had caused by rapidly sitting up, Sarah glanced around the quiet cave. Judging from the increasing levels of light streaming in from the front of the cave, sunrise was only moments away.

  Sarah yawned and stretched her back. It had been her husband’s idea to sleep on his wing as the springy leather his wings seemed to be comprised of turned out to be an excellent hammock. Kahvel, following Steve’s suggestion, invited Pryllan to do the same thing, which she gladly accepted. Sitting upright and gently rocking back and forth, Sarah wondered if she should try and get some more sleep. She sighed. The analytical part of her brain had been awakened and once that happened, she’d never be able to get back to sleep. So what had awakened her? She thought she had heard an animal growling. Was it Kahvel? Maybe it was Steve snoring? Who knows what a dragon sounds like when it snores. If it snores. Sarah giggled to herself. There was a question to ponder.

  A loud growling rumble reverberated through her as Steve’s body trembled with the noise. Steve was causing this? Had he eaten something that was disagreeing with him? Wait.
Has he eaten anything? That’s it! That was Steve’s stomach. Her husband was hungry! Why hadn’t he said anything?

  Sarah paused. He hadn’t said anything because if he had then that would mean he would have had to eat like a dragon. Dragons ate raw meat. Steve hated raw meat. He must be trying to wait until they were all able to switch back before he would eat a meal. What if he couldn’t make it back to R’Tal? Would he have to hunt? Would he be able to kill an animal and consume it?

  She shuddered. She wouldn’t have been able to, that’s for sure. She gently poked Steve’s wing.

  “Pssst.”

  Poke.

  “Pssst, you awake?”

  Silence.

  Poke.

  “Are you sleeping?”

  Silence.

  “Don’t ignore me. That’s rude.”

  Steve cracked an eye open and stared at her.

  “Yes?”

  “And good morning to you, too, Mr. Sunshine.”

  “Keep it down. Kahvel, Pryllan, and Pravara are still asleep.”

  “No, we’re not,” Kahvel’s deep voice instantly contradicted. “We were just wondering how loud your snores would become. It was quite impressive, actually, seeing how Pryllan has never snored in her life.”

  “If I’m in her body then how is it that I snore?” Steve complained. “That’s not fair.”

  Sarah flashed him a smug smile. “I told you it was all psychological.”

  “Zip it, lady.”

  “Make me, Dragon Boy.”

  “That’s Mr. Dragon Boy to you, snot.”

  Sarah giggled. “Actually, it’d be Ms. Dragon Boy. Girl. Hmm, we’d better let that one go.”

  She put a hand on Steve’s abdomen and felt his scales tremble for a few seconds.

  “Are you hungry?”

  Steve nodded. “Yes, and that freaks me out.”

  Kahvel rose from his position on the ground and ambled over. He looked down at Steve’s prone form, much like a scientist would do when inspecting an experiment.

  “Why does being hungry concern you? If you hunger, then you eat. It’s not a difficult concept.”

  “It’s what he’d have to eat,” Sarah clarified. “He doesn’t like raw meat.”

  “That would present a problem,” Kahvel agreed.

  Steve looked over at Pryllan who was sporting Sarah’s typical ‘morning hair’ as it had been called before.

  “Pryllan, how long can you go without eating?”

  “A week if necessary.”

  Steve exhaled loudly. “Whew, that’s a relief.”

  “However…”

  Steve’s sense of relief evaporated. He looked worriedly at Pryllan.

  “What?”

  “If you expend energy flying, which you have been doing, then you will consume your resources much faster. I predict if you choose to not eat until we arrive at the castle then you will need to feed as soon as the switch is made.”

  Sarah held up a hand.

  “Actually, it will be you, Pryllan, which will need to eat. Once Steve is back in his own body then he’ll be fine, provided you eat. You’re going to be starving when you’re returned to your body.”

  Kahvel nodded. “That’s a very good point. Steve must eat.”

  Steve paled. He hadn’t thought about what this would do to Pryllan’s body; let alone what it would do to her once she regained possession of it.

  “Can’t we have food waiting for her once everyone is back to being themselves?

  “Can you guarantee sustenance will be made available?” Kahvel asked.

  Both Steve and Sarah nodded. Kahvel appeared mollified.

  “Very well. There is no time to lose. You must start your journey now.”

  Pryllan looked up at her mate then over at her offspring.

  “Will you two be alright until I return?”

  Kahvel nodded. “We will. Go. See this human wizard and return to us in your natural form.”

  Pryllan nodded, and with Sarah’s help, stumbled towards Syrreth.

  Several hours later Sarah hopped down from Ferreth’s open claw and stretched her back. She looked down at the steeply angled tunnel entrance and watched her husband and the Zweigelan disappear down into the darkness. Once she was sure the two of them were settled in the large underground cavern provided by Kri’Entu, she took Pryllan’s arm and helped her navigate down the steep tunnel. Once they were standing at the mouth of the cavern she paused.

  “Wow, it’s dark. Can someone light a torch?”

  “That would be you, Hot Stuff,” Steve’s voice called out of the darkness.

  “Oh, that’s right. Hold on a sec. I should be able to do this.”

  Sarah felt along the walls just inside the cavern and found one of the many torches and its holder. She generated a small bout of flames and lit the torch. Taking the lit torch down from its holder, Sarah walked around the perimeter of the cavern and lit the others. Replacing the torch back onto the wall she faced her group of friends. Even though Steve was on the far side of the cavern she could still hear his stomach rumbling with hunger.

  “Okay, wait here. I’ll go get some help. Pryllan, Syrreth and Ferreth, I’ll be right back.”

  Sarah ran back up the tunnel and emerged into the daylight. Blinking her eyes to help them adjust to the bright light she set off towards the castle at a healthy jog. The guards manning the northern gate waved her across without so much as exchanging a word of greeting. Continuing into the castle Sarah navigated her way towards the Great Hall, where the king and queen’s thrones were situated. Luck was on her side, as both the king and the queen were there listening to a group of villagers petition for the right to hold a festival in Donlari.

  Ny’Callé caught sight of her first. Since the villagers had been conversing amongst themselves to haggle out the details of the Kri’yans’ offer, the queen nudged the king and looked pointedly at her. Kri’Entu caught Sarah’s eyes and nodded his head. He returned his attention to the villagers. The queen, however, sensing something amiss, kept watching Sarah.

  Sarah mouthed I need the king to the queen. Ny’Callé nodded and nudged her husband again. She bent forward and whispered something in the king’s ear. This time Kri’Entu’s head snapped up and looked over at Steve with a look of concern on his face. Sarah nodded. She adopted what she hoped was an urgent look on her face and maintained eye contact.

  Kri’Entu nodded. He politely excused himself and told the villagers that the queen would continue to listen to their petition. He pointed back towards the heart of the castle and mouthed Antechamber, to which Sarah nodded. Once the Antechamber’s door was closed, the king turned to Sarah.

  “Sir Steve, is all well?”

  Sarah took a deep breath.

  “Where do I start? Let’s see. For starters, I’m not Steve, I’m Sarah.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Pryllan is in my body, and Steve is in hers.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “I’m afraid so, your majesty.”

  “How did this happen?”

  “Ummm, remember the task you have Shardwyn working on right now?”

  The king nodded. “To locate and identify the… Is he responsible?”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes. We need to be returned back to our own bodies as quickly as possible. Steve, who is in Pryllan’s body, is hungry. And, being a dragon, he really doesn’t want to eat like one.”

  Kri’Entu nodded. “Understood.”

  The king walked over to his desk and pulled out a gold device from one of the drawers. He tapped on the surface a few times and waited. Within moments Shardwyn’s wrinkled face was peering back at him.

  “I’m sorry your majesty,” Shardwyn instantly began, “but I’m having difficulty locating him. You have to give me more time. Just as soon as I find something then I’ll let you know, I promise.”

  Kri’Entu looked up at Sarah. “Are they in the cavern?”

  Sarah nodded.

  “Shardwyn, report to
the dragon cavern at once. Bring everything you need in order to nullify a spell which has switched several people around and are now in different bodies.”

  “What was that, your majesty? Did I hear that correctly?”

  “You did. Be there in five minutes.”

  The king snapped the device closed and returned it to his desk.

  “We do have one additional favor, your majesty.”

  “Of course. What is it?”

  “Steve is hungry, which is why he won’t eat. As soon as Pryllan is returned to her body then she’s going to face the same dilemma.”

  The king pressed something else on his desk. The Antechamber’s main doors opened. A guard poked his head in.

  “Your majesty?”

  “Notify the kitchens. We have a hungry dragon we need to feed. Take as many men as needed. Gather as much meat as you can and head to the northern orchards. Is that understood?”

  Not showing the slightest bit of surprise at the unusual request, the guard bowed and closed the door.

  “Have you made any progress?” the king inquired.

  Sarah fidgeted. She really wasn’t supposed to confide in the king in any way shape or form. So far they had skirted the edges of truthfulness, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up breaking her promise to the Dragon Lord.

  Kri’Entu smiled. “They say that the right way to do things is always the exact opposite of the left.”

  Sarah was confused. “I’m sorry?”

  The king picked up a bottle of ink with his right hand.

  “I am the king, you know.”

  More confused than ever, Sarah nodded.

  The king switched the ink bottle to his left. “Just like I am when I visit different villages on the back of my dragon steed.”

  Sarah’s brow furrowed. “No you don’t.”

  The ink bottle switched to his right hand. “You’re right, I don’t.” The ink bottle passed to his left hand. “I didn’t know your husband had ridden the Zweigelan. You never told me.”

  Comprehension dawned. Sarah took the ink bottle and held it in her right hand. Whenever the king had said anything while the bottle was held in his right hand, he spoke the truth. While in the left, a false statement.

  “I understand.”