Koshi

by Annie Nicholas

  “Most people would consider money valuable.” She mumbled under her breath as she shoved her wallet back into her pack. With a little more digging, she found her small carrying case and held out two silver earrings. “That’s all I’ve got. Take it or bug off.” She laid them on his outstretched hand.

  He sniffed at the metal. “There’s not much silver in this.”

  “How can you tell?” Her shout echoed over the water.

  “I just can. Get in. I’ll give generosity a try.”

  She climbed inside the old cab with peeling leather seats before he could change his mind. “It’s only charitable if you don’t keep the earrings.”

  He dropped them in his breast pocket. “Believe me, this is charity.”

  Chapter 2

  Sandra settled inside the truck and glared at the driver as he pulled away from the curb. His audacity had stunned her into silence. He had taken her jewelry, insulted it, and then called himself a saint. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she kept her mouth shut, since she really needed the ride.

  Before this week, she’d never left the large town of Crab Apple for any extended amount of time. She had worked at the local diner as a waitress and shared a crappy apartment with her sister. They’d been surviving until Beth fell ill six months ago with a tumor in her head.

  Staring out the window, at the waves crashing against the shore, she sighed. Those events seemed like a hundred years ago, but in a matter of months, Beth had gone from a vibrant ray of sunlight to a faded shadow. The doctors said it was inoperable and the treatments weren’t shrinking it.

  She’d lost all hope of her sister surviving until now.

  “My name is Koishi.”

  She twisted in her seat to face him. “Sandra.” If it weren’t for his crummy attitude, she’d consider him handsome. High cheekbones gave his face a sharp appearance. Fortunately, his full lips, which were too quick to laugh at her, softened the harsh lines. He kept his jet-black hair cut short in the back, but the wind swept his bangs across his forehead. Tall and broad shouldered, he could catch attention. He was definitely getting hers.

  “What brings you to our fair island out of season, Sandra?” The way he spoke her name, as if he tasted it, sent a shiver over her spine.

  Her pulse raced a little. “I’ve always wanted to explore the area and this is the only time I could get off from work.” She’d been practicing the lie and it flowed easily from her mouth.

  “Are there no places closer to home to explore?” He raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

  “Sure, but they’re not Japan.” She wanted to change the subject before he questioned her more. “Where did you learn English?”

  He swerved the truck and she clung to the dash for her life. They’d just missed hitting what looked like a Chihuahua running across the road. “Damn.” He snapped his fingers. “I missed it.”

  Wide-eyed, she gaped at him. “You wanted to hit it?”

  “Long story. I learned English during the war. Some American soldiers took refuge here. They taught me.”

  “Which war? Desert Storm?”

  “What?” His eyes widened. “I meant, they taught my grandfather. It was during World War II.”

  “And your grandfather taught you to speak perfect English?”

  “Yes,” he said with his ever-present smile. Turning off the road, he aimed the truck for a nice sized town. “This is the main tourist area. Beach, water sports, and lots of food. Plenty of hotels to choose from. I’ll take you to my favorite.”

  “Sounds fine, but I don’t need anything fancy. Something clean with hot water will do.” Her smell was killing her even with the window open.

  “This one has both, with a fine view of Mount Mihara.”

  “Is that where the dragon lives?”

  His easy grin slipped. “What dragon?”

  “I’ve heard that a dragon guards this volcano.” From what she’d discovered of their race, all of them remained in Outremer except this keeper. “I was told, by a reliable source, most of the residents on this island know about him. I could imagine it’s kind of hard for a dragon to hide.”

  “True.” He kept tossing furtive glances her way. “And you came all this way to see a dragon?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s quite magnificent.”

  She raised her eyebrow. “You’ve seen him?” What were the chances? She wasn’t born yesterday. Koishi could spin whatever tales he wanted, but she wasn’t buying. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t own any more jewelry to spend. She set her hand over the locket hanging from her neck. And he was never going to get her necklace.

  “Sure I have. You can see him flying over the island sometimes when he feeds.”

  “And he lives in the volcano?”

  “Of course, he’s a stone dragon.”

  She scratched her chin, not seeing the connection. “Wouldn’t a fire dragon be better suited for a volcano?”

  He shrugged. “They’d like the heat, but stone dragons are drawn to lava.” His voice took on a tone of awe. “The birth of all land comes from magma. It holds quite a bit of magic.”

  “Not on Earth. This plane contains no magic. It’s all in Outremer.”

  “You know something about the other realm?”

  “A little. I was wondering if you knew about it as well. Does everyone who lives here know?” She watched the locals hurrying along the street. One man was nailing shutters over the windows of his home. It would be a bad storm.

  “You’re smarter than you look.”

  “What?” She snapped her head around in his direction.

  “Most know about the dragon, but very few know of the gate or Outremer.”

  “Why do they think he stays here?” She couldn’t decide if she’d been complimented or insulted.

  “There’s still magic here. It’s deep in the ground where humans can’t reach it, and useless to most.”

  “Except to a stone dragon.”

  “Master Ishi can use it to replenish his own magic.”

  “Why doesn’t he return home? What’s he afraid of?”

  The truck jerked suddenly and she shot forward. Luckily the dash softened her impact.

  “What the fuck?” She rubbed her head.

  He’d slammed on the brakes.

  She gazed out the window expecting to see a body on the road or, at least, a flock of chicks crossing, but she saw nothing.

  “Ishi isn’t afraid of anything.”

  She faced Koishi. The storm clouds reflected in his eyes and she could almost taste the lightning in the air around them. She swallowed with a throat gone dry. “My mistake.”

  “That’s the hotel.” He pointed to a building across the street. The humor that had been in his face had vanished.

  She gathered her backpack and clambered out. “Thanks for the lift.” She’d paid for it, however. Halfway across the street, she heard him call her name. She turned.

  “Watch the skies tonight. He’ll be out flying.” Then Koishi geared his truck into drive and pulled away.

  * * * *

  Koishi drove his truck toward the beach and parked. The clouds loomed so close he could taste the electricity in the air.

  Sandra. It was a very American name. He had enjoyed watching the play of emotions on her lovely face. She was easy to provoke.

  Reaching inside his breast pocket, he removed the worthless earrings. Why had he bothered with a trade? The hint of silver in the jewelry wasn’t worth his time. Well…her laugh had been. It had been awhile since he’d found someone amusing.

  Most of the locals didn’t understand his humor.

  So, she’d come to the island for him. Flattering. He scratched his chin and let the silver jewelry warm his palm. She’d make a nice toy. How far could he push her? How desperate was she to meet a dragon?

  A familiar sensation tugged on his body. It gave him enough warning to hold his breath before the gate teleported him back to the archway. The travel used to knock the wind o
ut of him, but he’d been doing this for centuries. He arrived crouched and ready to tear something apart. It was about fucking time someone tried to escape Outremer.

  The gate stood before him and was housed between two large natural stone pillars inside the volcano. The veil of magic undulated like the surface of a pond. Old lava tubes led to the site from his lair, but whenever something disturbed the veil’s surface, the gate transported him directly to defend the world.

  With his natural affinity to the element of stone, he used magic to call the lava that trickled through the room. It formed into a whip-like entity and snaked around him, waiting to be unleashed.

  Nothing moved. He closed his eyes and listened. The distinct smell of goblin drifted in the air. “Come out, come out, where ever you are,” he sang. A current of magic traveled over his skin, sparking over the small hairs on his arms. He shifted to his dragon form in a blink of an eye. Nothing like in the movies where the actor transformed in a mess of blood and pain, though that would be cool. His magic transformed him, clothes and all, from one shape to another without any drama.

  Something scurried to his left, with the sound of toenails scraping against the stone floor. He spun around, using his natural coloring to camouflage the lava orbiting his body, and met the attack with open jaw. His roar fizzled before escaping his throat as he came face to face with a single goblin.

  The creature swung his sword back and forth, eyes closed, missing Koishi on every swing. How was it possible for someone to have such bad aim? He was a great, big beast.

  Pressing the tip of his claw on the goblin’s helmeted head, he shoved down. Resting on his elbows, he searched the large empty room. All the shadows and nooks appeared empty to any heat signatures.

  The goblin fell on his stomach, oversized helmet pushed past his ears. His sword clattered to the ground.

  The gate always called him as soon as anything living crossed it. Even the lightest brush triggered its magic. “Where are the others?” Koishi leaned toward the tunnels leading into the room and listened. He heard nothing. Sending tendrils of lava through the air, he checked every crack and hole for life.

  The goblin sobbed. “No one but me, Master.”

  He sighed. “I guess you’ll have to do.” Clenching his fist, he raised it over the goblin.

  “Wait!” The goblin raised his hands in the air over his head. “I didn’t wanna cross. They make me do it.” The sobbing restarted and slime oozed from its snout-like nose.

  Grimacing, Koishi edged away in case it sneezed. “Who forced you?”

  “The dwarves.” The foul smelling creature sniffed what sounded like a bucket full of snot.

  Koishi threw up a little in his mouth. “Dwarves don’t live by this gate.” He’d never allow it. They could sniff precious metal from miles away. It wouldn’t take them long to follow the trail here, to his hoard.

  “They do now.” Cracking open his eyes a slit, the goblin peered at him.

  With his claws, Koishi gestured for him to sit. He didn’t have a problem with listening to a goblin beg. Sometimes it was cute.

  “They hunted down me clan and chased us from our home. I was cut off. I have no choice but cross.” That could explain why the gate had been so quiet lately. They’d been fighting a war on the other side and forgot to include him. Most of the creatures living in the area would have vacated. Dwarves were a crafty, territorial bunch.

  Koishi clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. Not an easy feat for a dragon. “There are always choices. Uh, I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Urgle.”

  “That’s a terrible name. Your mother must have hated you, Ur–Urgle.” It sounded similar to the noise the goblin had made when choking on his own mucus.

  The goblin shook his head. “She hates us all.”

  “I can relate.” Koishi shuddered. His mother wasn’t Betty Crocker either. Not unless Betty used a sword to skewer her brochettes and a shield to bake her cookies. “You could have stood your ground and fought, Urgle.”

  “They would kill me.”

  “And I won’t?”

  Urgle prostrated himself at his feet. “Mercy, great dragon. I no warrior. I a humble black smith. I no fight worth shit.”

  “So you thought to hide within my den. Then what?” He tapped his claw. What an odd day. First, he entangled himself with the human female, and now this. It must be a full moon.

  “W–Wait until they leave and sneak back across.”

  “Why not escape into Inverness?” He pointed to a tunnel that led to the caldera of the volcano, not the exit to his island paradise. No use in showing the goblin the true way out.

  Urgle flattened himself even more to the floor. “No! It’s death.”

  “It’s death to cross the gate.” He scooped up Urgle’s sword with the tip of his claw. “Here, I’ll give you a fighting chance.” Maybe the goblin could help him warm up his muscles before the storm arrived. He didn’t want to strain a wing.

  The goblin stared at the weapon, then took it within his limp hands.

  Koishi swung his tail, aiming the blade-like tip at the goblin, who didn’t move to defend himself.

  He stood stiff with his eyes closed again.

  Relaxing his stance, Koishi snarled. “You can’t fight if you can’t see, dolt.”

  “Just kill me fast.” Urgle tossed the sword at his feet and managed to wedge the blade between the scales of Koishi’s toes.

  “Fuck.” He shook it free. “That has a good edge.” The sword clattered to the floor.

  “It’s me best work.” If Urgle’s shoulders slumped any further to the floor, he’d resemble a blob and not a goblin.

  Koishi sighed. “Go back across.” He pointed to the gate. This would destroy his reputation. Next thing he’d know, there would be hordes trying to cross the gate and take over Inverness like in the old days. Slamming his tail to the ground, he did his best to hide his smile at Urgle’s jump. Hordes sounded great. A good solid battle was what he needed. “Hurry, before I change my mind. And make sure to tell all your gobliny friends how charitable I’m feeling today.” He gave him a little shove toward the gate.

  “I don’t wanna go.” Urgle clung to Koishi’s claw. “The dwarves are waiting.”

  “Then take this.” He handed him the sword and gave him another encouraging push.

  With a stumble, Urgle fell through the gate. The magic shivered over Koishi’s spine, calling to him. If he’d been anywhere but within this room, it would have transported his body. A second later, he didn’t even have a chance to turn away; the magic touch returned with the high-pitched squeal of a goblin.

  Urgle ran back through the gate, followed by a couple dwarves.

  Yes!

  With a quick slash of his lava whips, Koishi attacked.

  The dwarves’ heads rolled. Their metal-armored bodies rattled on the stone floor.

  He sniffed at their metal. This was poor work for dwarves. Not an ounce of magic in their armor. These weren’t of their warrior class, probably some crafters looking to torture a goblin for fun. “Toss the heads back through the gate.” It wouldn’t be so easy next time. Someone would find the heads eventually and the dwarven colony would know he really existed on this side of the gate. Dwarves weren’t like Urgle and his ilk. Their intelligence and craft were legendary. Too bad they loved gold as much as dragons did.

  The goblin didn’t hesitate to follow his command.

  “How many were waiting for you?” he stretched his wings.

  “Twenty, at least, Master.”

  “And only two followed. How brave. Urgle, I can’t leave you to wander inside my lair or this realm.” He scratched the tender scales behind his ears. “Follow me.” When the urge suited him, he sometimes kept a prisoner for interrogation. They entered his storage room.

  The goblin’s eyes went wide at the sight of the chains and hooks bolted to the wall as he fell to his knees. “I will go fight the dwarves.”

  “Oh, grow some bal
ls.” Koishi set the iron collar around Urgle’s neck and adjusted the size. Not even the cave troll he’d kept had been capable of breaking free of the thick chains. “I’m not going to torture you. I think…” He patted Urgle’s head. “I think I’d like to have a pet.”

  As he left the room, he heard the chain chime as it hit the ground. He glanced over his shoulder at the prone and unconscious goblin. How did Urgle survive within his goblin clan? They normally ate their weak.

  That would be a question for another night. At present, he had dwarves to eat. Good thing he was famished–they were a chewy race.

  Chapter 3

  The wind from the storm rattled the windows in Sandra’s hotel room. Lightning flashed, illuminating the stark modern furniture surrounding her. She’d pulled the curtains closed and set the volume on the television loud enough to drown out the thunder.

  After a hot shower, she almost felt ready to eat something. Almost. Her stomach quivered at the memory of the ship ride. Best to wait for breakfast–she’d heaved enough for one lifetime. Water would have to do.

  The storm had rolled in not long after Koishi had dropped her off. It pounded the building with a vengeance. Thank the universe she wasn’t on the ocean during this. It would have turned her guts inside out.

  A game show played on the television. She couldn’t understand a word. Even with all the bells and whistles howling, the thunder still crashed over the noise. Childhood fears were the hardest to get over. Koishi had mentioned the dragon, Ishi, would be flying tonight. She flinched at the flare of light. Would he go out in the storm?

  Odd how close their names sounded, but when she’d checked her Japanese-English book, they meant very different things. If Ishi was anything like his name described, she’d be in worse trouble than she’d thought. Things like ruins, volition, stone, and death were listed under the definition. Koishi simply meant pebble. Well, if she ever met him again she’d ask him about it.

  With a flicker, the power went out. The drum of rain filled the quiet, then a flash of lightning, followed close behind by the clash of thunder. Sandra clutched her knees to her chest. Didn’t the hotel have a generator?