Wings on my Back

by Alex Sapegin

  The initiation ceremony ended. The Rauu imperceptibly slipped away from the square, dissolving like the morning dew. Her job was done here.

  Andy looked around for Rigaud and company; Timur was already standing nearby. He wanted to go over everyone’s plans. He didn’t have to look for the barons for very long. They emerged from the crowd that filled the square. Andy stood out above the crowd by his height here too. Briefly explaining that he needed to get out of the city for a couple of days, he then asked the others what their plans were.

  Rigaud and the baronesses had decided to immediately head for their dorm rooms. Clearly they had never stayed in a hotel before. Timur was staying with his father in the city for the weekend. He was simply oozing with pride at having passed the entrance exam and couldn’t wait to impress his parents with the news. In three days, he would move into the dorms, so, that meant that our dear Kerrovitarr was completely useless to everyone for the time being (except for his “accursed friends” the Rauu). He was free to do as he wished, just as long as he didn’t interfere with anyone’s pre-start-of-the-school-year parties. He said goodbye to Rigaud, Irma, and Marika and headed toward the exit. Timur followed just behind him like a silent shadow. Sorry, Timur, you’ll have to part with your life coach for a while. Your own ship’s sprung a leak and may go down with the slightest storm. I should talk to Count Soto, let him know what’s happened. Not today. I still have time. Not a lot, but some.

  Count Michael was waiting for them on the other side of the gates and met his son with open arms and hugs. He looked at the student badge for a few minutes, with its green glow, and heard a short description of everything that had just happened. The chance meeting with Rector Etran caused the caring parent to sharply censure his son and give Andy a stern frown. Apparently, he was now doubting his choice of mentor. Just wait, count. Wonder what you’ll say when you learn the details of my latest meeting with the Icicles! We won’t spoil the celebration today though.

  Andy didn’t prolong the goodbyes. He wished them a nice weekend and left. There were only two hours left until the closing of the gates, and he still had one thing to do in the city. Actually, he had two, but the second one could wait until better times. It had already waited almost a year and a half, it could stand another couple weeks until the first day off class. He needed to send news. Sad news. The family of someone who had once given Andy invaluable aid had probably long ago made their peace with the loss, but they ought to know where, how and when Alo teg grall Troi died. Andy had promised him that if he ever were to come to Orten, he would tell Alo’s last words to his wife and daughter. The time had come to pay his debt. The first errand was a lot more pleasant and also a lot more expensive, but he couldn’t do without it.

  Practically the entire valley had accompanied him to Orten. Some of them just wanted to wish him well, have a safe journey, and some wanted to give him advice or parting words. Gmar accompanied him with a thin slip of parchment in his right hand. When he found a quiet minute, the dwarf called Andy over and slipped a parchment in his hand.

  “Here. I have a nephew named Grom Veselchak who lives in the Plain of Orten. He keeps a tavern. If you’re ever in a bind, you can go to him. I’ve written to him here about you. I don’t think he’d refuse you. I’m older than him and he respects me.” Gmar shook his glowing mane and hugged Andy awkwardly. “Go on, and tell Grom I said hi.”

  Happily, he never needed to take advantage of the letter. He wouldn’t have wanted to get too cozy with the relatives of friends anyway. Andy found the place quickly.

  When he got to the dwarf settlement in the outskirts of Orten, Andy asked the first person who walked by how to get there. The stranger described exactly how to get there and was staring all the while, not at Andy, but at the hass. It was a handsome example of the rideable lizards that resemble horses. They had long, wide necks topped with wedge shaped heads and mouths full of sharp teeth. Neither the muscular paws with retractile claws, nor the long tail with two spikes on the end escaped the man’s attention. Clicking his tongue in admiration, he wished Andy a nice stay in the settlement and added that Grom might not have any room at the inn. The dwarf had plenty of guests right now—his eldest daughter was getting married tomorrow.

  Dwarfs. Their appearance was one of Andy’s first preconceptions that was toppled when he came to Ilanta. They might live in other worlds as well, where they do look like they’re described in earth’s fantasy books—two feet high, and just as wide—but not here. How Gmar had laughed out loud, holding his sides, when Andy had told him stories that included dwarfs. “Dwarfs? That’s how you picture us? Can’t be! Barrels on two legs! You can’t send them to mines and adits—how will they make their way around? By rolling? How wide you’d have to make the tunnels! And why doesn’t their hair glow? How are they supposed to get around in the dark?” What could Andy say? Only that it was a fairytale, and stop interrupting. The other listeners would start shushing him, and he would be quiet again.

  However, Earth’s folklore was right about a few things, such as their small stature. They rarely grew taller than three feet. Dwarfs and humans were a clear example of the similarities of various biological species that live in the same surroundings and conditions. Earth’s dolphins and sharks were another example. One was a mammal and the other a fish, but both their bodies were torpedo-like and aerodynamic. The same was true here, but with a few differences.

  Dwarfs never produce offspring with humans, orcs, or elves. Intercourse was possible, and there were some families where one of the spouses was a dwarf and the other wasn’t. Female dwarfs rivaled elves in beauty. Some consider them beyond compare in this regard. It was a rare man who could remain indifferent before a shapely dwarf beauty, with beautiful green, turquoise, or topaz eyes. To top it all off, dwarfs were distinct for their full, soft locks, nice to the touch and glowing like a flame in the dark.

  These mountain dwellers’ special strength consisted of the build of their bodies and bones. Andy was surprised the first time he saw the skeleton of a long-deceased dwarf. The bones resembled stone. Unlike humans and all others, the main material for their bones was the silicon element. Then there were differences in the makeup of the muscles which gave dwarfs incredible strength, the eye organs, and the skin. They were all soft and elastic. Dwarf women’s chests never lost their perkiness; guys’ testicles never sagged. None of them ever got wrinkles.

  No one on Ilanta could ever rival the dwarfs at mountaineering or smithy, except, perhaps, the Arians. Possibly, in some far northern nook, they forged metal better than the mountain masters. But in geology, without doubt, the dwarfs were beyond compare. It was all about how their eyes were built. Dwarfs can see electrical phenomenon and all voltage coming from geological material. Metals, beds, deposits, and various rocks within the layers glow with different electrical impulses and colors, which can be read by skilled dwarfs like an open book. Experienced specialists can determine the thickness and number of a metal or other useful material embedded in a layer, just by looking at it.

  Grom Veselchak was the very first person to meet Andy near the tavern. He came out to tell the stable caretakers where to put the horses people had rode in on for the wedding. He then saw a snow-white hass with a tall rider. Everything might have gone differently if Grom hadn’t been such a fan of hasses. Quickly getting to the heart of the matter, Grom set aside a small room in one of the wings of the building for Andy. There was a bed, a trunk for his belongings, clean sheets, and no bed bugs. What else could a tired traveler ask for? All the more awesome, since there were no other free rooms. Everything was occupied by the wedding guests and the potential School candidates. Grom personally took Snowflake to a stall in the stables. There was no doubt the animal would be cared for superbly, maybe even by the owner of the business.

  After Andy had parted with Count Soto, he headed to a jewelry shoppe where he spent four gold pieces on topaz earrings and a necklace matching the bride’s eyes in color. He didn’t even have to ba
rgain, and he pleasantly surprised the portly jeweler with his complaisance. It was a wedding gift for Ilia, Grom’s daughter.

  Half an hour later, the fat guard at the gates who had poked Andy that morning with the dull end of his spear closed the gates behind him. He was leaving the city behind.

  After a good night’s sleep at Veselchak’s place of business, Andy woke up to find everything quiet. Strange! Is there a wedding today or not? I want to give this gift and get out of here as soon as possible. Head to the mountains where I can scratch my back against rocks….

  “Where is everyone?” Andy asked a robust fellow standing near the courtyard entrance. The guy looked pretty impressive: striped corduroy trousers tucked into polished boots, a red morocco shirt, belted with a blue sash, and a hefty yellow bow on the left shoulder. The unmistakable scent of shoe polish came so strongly from his boots, you could smell it a mile away. Andy recoiled, wrinkled his nose, and slightly opened his mouth to lessen the blow. It was a funny sight: all he needed was a feather in his cap! Andy was curious: why the bow? But he decided not to ask.

  “They’ve gone to show reverence for Gorn,” the guy answered lazily and leaned against the wall squashing his bow. He stood like that a couple of seconds, then caught himself. The bow on his shoulder had been wrinkled. He quickly stood up straight and tried awkwardly to fix the cloth with his right hand to no avail. Bemused, he looked at Andy and pleaded, “Come ‘ere. Fix it, will you?”

  Andy obliged him and in an awkward silence approached the tall (for a dwarf) fellow and started to fix the bow. The guy was constantly glancing at his work. Andy decided to ask:

  “Why’s it yellow?”

  “Ah, um. Er, I couldn’t find a red one… but I’ve got a red shirt!” he answered, embarrassed. Uh-huh, that means it ought to be red. What’s it about? Andy didn’t want to reveal his own ignorance in the matter and instead tried to remember everything he knew about dwarfs and wedding culture. Although he personally wouldn’t have the chance to attend this great event.

  Reverence for Gorn was a sacred part of any dwarf celebration or even slightly important event. Gorn, the god of fire, was the presiding deity of the pantheon of gods of the Mountain Tribe. He was considered the great-grandfather of all dwarfs. Legend had it he breathed fiery life into a clay doll, thus creating the first dwarf. Gorn taught her to work with iron and gave her an inner light. It was by that same light that the dwarf’s descendants’ hair still glowed brightly at night and in the darkness. The great deity, so that the dwarfs would never forgot about him, had settled his little creations in many a smithy where they continued to pray to him. A Gorn Smithy was built in every village, city or settlement where dwarfs resided. It was a place of silence, prayer, and tribute. Dwarfs also took oaths there, signed contracts, and forged military and political alliances. Reverence for Gorn meant asking the God for his blessing of the marriage. Young brides and bridegrooms would hold their hands out over a hearth, cut them, and drops of blood would fall into the flame. If it smoked and flared from the blood, the God approved of the match and was uniting them with fire. If the blood that fell onto the flame made the coals burn less brightly, it meant there was no love between the two who were forging the family bond, and no blessing was given. Quite simple. But the guy’s bow didn’t call any of it to mind for Andy.

  “There,” Andy had corrected the folds and slapped the guy on the shoulder.

  “I wonder if I should I run back and try to find a red one? Everyone will be wearing red, and I’ll be sticking out like a Marsh Pyhon,” (this was a local marsh-dwelling bird the size of a goose). They’ll say that my ‘Fire of the Soul’ is all sickly-like. I’m afraid Gorn might take offense—he’s the god of dwarfs, after all, but who knows these gods?” the fellow asked Andy looking for advice.

  Well now! I didn’t even have to ask. My curiosity was really getting to me. Curiosity killed the cat though. There’s so much I don’t know about this world yet. It’s not nice when some small detail becomes a big deal just because of my ignorance. At the gates I said something wrong, almost died, and here again I blew it and got challenged to a duel. I hope my head doesn’t get separated from my body! A tainted corpse doesn’t put anyone in a better mood. Anyway, that red “Fire of the Soul” is meant to represent the fiery soul breathed into the first dwarf by Gorn. Ay, you idiot. I almost wrote that guy off as a weirdo.

  “Turn around, so the bow’s facing me.”

  “Why?” the guy asked suspiciously.

  “Let me do a nice little trick here, conjure something for you. Otherwise, you will miss the whole wedding looking for a bow. See, they’re already coming down from the Reverence for Gorn.” Andy pointed to the Ort, sparkling brightly in the light of Nelita and Helita. The night-time sisters were the eyes of the twin goddesses, Nel, goddess of life, and Hel, goddess of death. The dwarf procession looked like a flock of giant fireflies coming from the river, singing wedding songs. Gorn had given the couple his blessing. The robust fellow looked at Andy skeptically but turned around. Andy cast a resemblance spell and put some magical lace on the bow and the shirt. In just a few seconds, the ribbon turned bright red. The guy’s face melted into a stunned, stupid smile. He was ecstatic.

  “It’ll stay like that until tomorrow evening,” Andy explained.

  “Wow! Now you’ve earned my ‘spect! Bob Baby doesn’t forget a kind deed!” Baby? If you’re a baby, I’d hate to see a grown one!

  Bob shook Andy’s hand practically crushing his bones. Bob was a strong one.

  The sound of the singing got louder, and the street filled up with the transparent glow of the moving rows of dwarfs. First came the bride and groom, positively glowing, riding on a snow-white hass! How ‘bout that! I don’t mind doing a favor and lending out Snowflake, but they could have at least asked me first! Look at his prancing! And you let strangers come near you, Snowflake! You let them saddle up. Grom’s a good dwarf, of course, but for tricks like this, while I was planning on laying low in a small town, they’re going to feed that hass choice meat out of their own pocket! I couldn’t care less that I won’t be here myself to see it. You’ll do just fine!

  The wedding lines approached the gates of the tavern. Andy walked up to the hass and extended his hand to the bride. Ilia smiled regally and allowed him to give her a hug. Snowflake looked away guiltily. He knew who his real master was!

  “You look beautiful. Here’s a small gift. May you and your husband have as many children as there are stones in this necklace!” Ilia bowed her head, her styled hair flashing. A dwarf’s hair is a faithful indicator of his or her mood, like a dog’s tail. Andy handed the gifts over to the groom who handed them to the bride’s mother for safe keeping.

  The merry wedding procession flowed like a river through the courtyard gates which were open wide by the ecstatic Baby Bob. Grom Veselchak walked up to Andy and offered to take care of his four-legged friend for free. After a short but passionate bargaining session, Andy procured for himself the room in the wing for another two days, for the same price—free. He reminded the owner of the establishment about the wedding, the celebration—what if the hass had gotten hurt? Or had hurt someone? And finally, he reminded him that dwarfs were known for their generosity. That’s right, your reputation precedes you! Grom of course agreed to feed the animal meat, but had probably already thought of a hundred ways to commercially exploit it, so that the cost of meat would only be a fraction of the profit. He could even make a pretty penny taking children for rides on such a rare white thing…. Well, forget him. Look, there’s my little “traitor.” Satisfied, are we? Had been stuffing your belly full all day long, and who cares now who gets on your back?

  Andy excused himself for not being able to stay for the amazing and amusing party. He headed along the path that lead to the Ort. He examined the shore carefully for any unexpected guests, such as fishermen or boaters on the river, and, finding none, dove in.

  How wonderful it was to take on his real form, and even dip into coo
l water while doing so! The world blossomed with color and a cacophony of sounds, his spectrum of vision increased, and his body was able to pick up all the vibrations and currents of the water he bathed in. It was sad to admit to himself but… he had missed having a tail!

  The cold water he immersed himself in calmed the burning itch.

  Sticking his long neck forward and paddling with his wings and tail, the dragon quickly swam along with the current on the surface of the deep river. Soon the lights of Orten disappeared from view; the current got stronger. Andy even had a bite to eat along the way catching a few hefty fish and gulping them down with pleasure. He didn’t have to be shy; no one was around. He soon approached the rapids and the mountain gorges. He was completely alone. He didn’t have to worry about being seen. He got out onto the shore and let the fuzz on his wings dry, then took flight.

  The open air! The sky! He used to fly in his dreams, now his dreams had come true. His first flight, after Daddy Karegar had given him a kick in the back from the top of a high cliff, had united him with the sky forever. There was no way to describe the sensation of flight in simple human emotions. Andy simply gave himself over to the power of the descending and ascending air flows. He had had to undergo so much torture and suffering for this. Once in the sky, he no longer wanted to be anywhere else. Not even home. Earth had no magic and he couldn’t be himself there. Each time he returned to his human body, Andy reproached himself for the treacherous thoughts, but he couldn’t help it.