by Charles Lamb
Alex had no idea how fast a mermaid could swim, but given the comments from Ben, he suspected it was much quicker than the ship. The thought of Cassie’s Quest brought another subject to mind.
“Pirates,” Alex blurted.
“I beg your pardon?” Ben replied, confused at the outburst.
“We ran into two brigantines on our way west. Captain Yeagars told me that pirates were returning to the area with the demise of Renfeld,” Alex explained.
“Well, the mermaids will have little to fear, however, general shipping is at risk,” Ben replied thoughtfully. He then turned his attention back to Alex.
“How did you address the threat? Two brigantines against that schooner are hardly great odds,” he asked, a curious look on his face.
“The Captain was preparing to repel boarders when I sent an arrow from my elf bow, threatening to fire their sails.”
“Well, that would do it. So they knew you were of magic?” Ben replied with a laugh.
“No, but firing an arrow beyond the range of their ballista probably was good enough,” Alex replied, with a nod from Cassie.
“I didn’t see the shot, but they were showing us their rudders by the time I came on deck,” she added with a laugh.
With that, they called an end to the evening, and everyone headed off to their own rooms. Alex kissed Cassie and told her he would be along shortly. Ben noted the exchange and waited to see what Alex wanted to discuss in private.
“Ben, why no cannons?” Alex asked, once the others had left the room.
“Ah, yes. I wondered about that when I first arrived, as well. Here, let me show you,” Ben replied as he went to the wood box next to the fireplace and withdrew a small sliver of wood.
“Can you light this from there?” Ben asked as he held the stick out, but indicated Alex should remain where he was.
“Sure,” Alex answered, confused at the change of subject.
“With your eyes closed,” Ben added.
“Easy,” Alex quipped at the added challenge.
Well practiced by now in diverting enough free energy to set just the tip ablaze, he did so with little effort.
“Great,” Ben replied as he tossed the burning stick into the fireplace.
“Now imaging holding a revolver and have all six cartridges go off at once,” Ben said, giving Alex a knowing smile. Suddenly it was quite obvious to Alex why there were no guns, cannons, or other explosive weapons. A nimble magic wielder could turn them all against you.
The image of an exploding powder magazine, ripping a ship in half was more than enough to justify the lack of powder. Alex nodded to Ben in understanding. He then watched as the older man went to the bookshelves, searching for several minutes before finding what he was looking for. Turning back to Alex with a smile, he extended a small volume.
“If you can resist my niece’s charms for just one night, I suggest you read this before retiring tonight.”
Alex took the book and examined the title along the spine: “How to Communicate with Dragons” was emblazoned in gold letters on the brown leather.
----*----
The following morning found Alex and Cassie out on the end of a dock with the mermaid twins. It was still very early, just after sunrise, and there was hardly a soul about. The sisters were both in thin robes provided by Cassie, and apparently unaffected by the morning chill. Cassie had suggested the robes to both reduce the number of items they would need to carry back and to derail the suggestion that they simply walk naked to the dock. While she personally had no issues with that, she was all too familiar with the effect such an act would have on the males involved, her fiancée included.
“Are you sure you are ok with this?” Alex asked the women once more as they reached the end of the pier.
She couldn’t decide if he looked more worried or tired. After returning to their room, he had spent a good portion of the night reading a book. He explained that her uncle had provided him the copy after the rest had left the study that night. While her inner nymph was crying out for him, she had conceded to his point in choosing the book over her. If the book gave him insight into rescuing her mother, it held top priority.
“We will be fine,” Kelby replied as she stepped forward and kissed his cheek in an almost sisterly fashion. Almost.
Taking one-step back, the act was followed with a quick shrug as she dropped her robe. Cassie watched as it slipped off her shoulders, with Kelby catching it deftly in one hand just before it fell to the dock. The mermaid performed the act without ever taking her eyes off Alex, and she finished by extending her arm to him, robe in hand, as she stood there naked.
As Alex took the extended garment, Cassie was drawn back to the moment by Leena. The twin was offering her the robe she wore. With that, both women turned, and as one, dove into the bay. Surfacing just a few feet from the pier, Kelby waved to the two on the dock before both mermaids turned and dove once more, their tail flukes exposed as they extended skyward before slipping into the sea.
“Leena was right,” Cassie said as she took Alex’s arm in hers and led him back to the castle.
“How’s that?” Alex asked, looking unsure of the comment.
“Kelby’s tail is nicer,” Cassie answered with a smirk, knowing she has just tainted Alex’s memory of a naked Kelby on the dock.
----*----
The rest of the day was spent in preparations for taking Cassie’s Quest north to Nyland. As luck would have it, Captain Yeagars was well acquainted with the harbor and the town. He had visited many times, it being a regular stop for the cargo ship he had mastered years before. As such, they left it up to him to prepare the ship, and provision its stores. Yeagars relief at hearing that the passenger list was limited to the original four was visible, his distrust of mermaids evident.
Ben was not to partake in this endeavor either, as both Alex and Ben could not be absent from their leadership responsibilities for more than a few days. While the goal was to retrieve Amelia as quickly as possible, the probability that it might take longer than desired precluded his participation. It was better not to artificially rush things, just for a hasty return.
Ben and Alex did take the opportunity to do a little magic tutoring. As Ben’s apprentice, Alex’s magical education was dependent on their time together. Although Ben acknowledged that Alex was a natural in many ways, things like dragon telepathy were not intuitive.
It was for that reason that the two sequestered themselves in the small study for the better part of the day. Alex noted that after his time with the elf tutors, Felaern and Alduin in E’anbel, Ben was an easy study. With barely a break for lunch, the two emerged just after sunset to find Cassie and Abrianna waiting patiently for them in the private royal dining room. Kinsey was curled up in her designated corner, a meal of her own already in place.
“About time you two appeared,” Cassie declared rising to greet Alex as they entered. The move gave Ben plenty of time to seat himself at the head of the table. Alex wasn’t sure if Cassie had done it on purpose to prevent him from making a social faux pas, but as tired as he was, it did the trick.
Seating Cassie and then himself, he noted for the first time that Leander was not there.
“Where is Leander?” he asked as he watched the food being delivered to the table without anyone asking. He personally feared he might someday become too accustomed to this treatment.
“He went to the local Rangers Guild today to see what they had on Nyland. He also wanted to search for any references to the Gundor Stronghold, especially any maps of the layout,” Abrianna replied after thanking the server who placed her meal before her.
Alex did the same when his plate was place before him. It looked like some kind of fish, with a white sauce and greens. Although not a huge fan of fish, he had caved to local eating customs. With it came the discovery that he really liked several of the more popular dishes.
“I wonder how far the twins got today,” Cassie asked absently between bites.
“I expect they will continue on through the night and make Nyland by late tomorrow morning,” Ben replied.
“Won’t they get tired?” Abrianna asked.
“I understand they can go many days before requiring a stop. I would never have said this in their presence, but I gather it’s similar to how sharks swim while sleeping,” Ben replied with a grin.
“I’m glad you didn’t mention it,” Alex said with a sigh. Somehow, he doubted the two would have found the comparison a compliment.
Chapter 18
Alex headed down to the docks early the next morning, leaving Cassie and Kinsey to meet her cousin for breakfast. He wanted to check with Captain Yeagars and see how soon they could depart. He was sure that if he pressed the good captain, he would rise to the occasion, but he felt rushing off ill prepared was a recipe for disaster.
Yesterday’s lessons had been monotonous, but necessary if he was to have any hope at all of talking to the dragon. Since they had no dragon to practice with, Alex was left with visualizations and written accounts from books in the late Renfeld’s library. As no one had actually seen a dragon in these lands in a very long time, there was no one available with that kind of experience.
Both men found it quite interesting that Renfeld had so many references in his library on dragons. It was just one more nail in the coffin of their suspicion that Renfeld had planned to turning on Tantalus after conquering Great Vale.
“Permission to come aboard,” Alex shouted at the base of the boarding ramp leading to the deck of Cassie’s Quest. Before receiving a reply, he had to move aside as deck hands carrying cargo made their way up the ramp.
“Granted,” Alex heard in reply as Captain Yeagars appeared at the railing. While he knew the request was unnecessary, Alex’s intent was to reinforce the Captain’s authority onboard the vessel, as well as show respect for the man.
Heading up the ramp, the captain met him as he stepped onto the deck, he hand extended in greeting.
“How’s it going?” Alex asked the older man after receiving the handshake.
“We will be ready to sail at the next tide. I assume you will want to load your horses before then?” the Captain replied. Alex was aware that they used the receding tide to assist in leaving the harbor. It was one of the many things he had learned in assuming responsibility for the trading port of Windfall.
“And that is?” Alex asked, unsure of when the next time change actually occurred.
“This afternoon. You have plenty of time yet,” Yeagars replied with a smile. Alex had never proclaimed himself a seaman and Yeagars patiently addressed his boss’s lack of knowledge.
“I’ll make arrangements to have them brought down about noon?” Alex asked.
“That would be splendid,” Yeagars responded.
With that, Alex made his way back down the ramp and into the castle, where he made good on his commitment to Yeagars. Once the stable hands had their instructions, he headed into the keep in search of his traveling companions. He found everyone, Leander included, still eating in the small dining room.
“There you are,” Cassie announced as Alex entered the room and took the vacant seat next to her. No sooner had he seated himself than a plate appeared before him, complements of one of the nearby serving staff.
“Yeagars says we can leave this afternoon. I have arranged to have Rose, Shadows and your horses in the hold by noon,” Alex said, indicating Abrianna and Leander with the last.
“I have reviewed the Ranger archives here in Windfall, looking for anything they might have on Nyland and Gundor Stronghold. There wasn’t a lot, but I did find maps of the tunnels below the castle as well as diagrams of the castle itself. Apparently, the Rangers had considered occupying the abandoned bastion at one time, but it was found to be too far from Nyland or any other village to be useful. The maps are incomplete I fear, but better than none at all,” he finished with a smile.
“And the rest of you, are you ready to go?” Ben asked as he looked to Abrianna and Cassie.
“Yes Uncle, We packed warm clothing, and fire glass weapons,” Cassie replied; she referred to Alex’s glass-tipped arrows and the spear from the temple.
“Let us hope Alex can find a less dangerous way to gain Amelia’s freedom,” Ben replied with a concerned tone in his voice.
----*----
Kelby and Leena arrived in the harbor of Nyland by midday. The two had swum continuously since leaving Windfall, but were still in good condition, neither requiring a break before heading to the Drowning Man. It was a common practice for harbor towns frequented by mermaids to have a safe house at the waterfront. There, one could stop and find clothing or rest in security.
Although no mermaid had issue with appearing unclothed in public, it was frequently troublesome with either the female occupants or the more aggressive males. On more than one occasion a presumptuous sailor had been found face down in the harbor after accosting a mermaid transitioning from the sea to land.
Since Leena had been here before, she led her sister straight to the safe house before anyone noticed them. In short order, both were dressed in what passed for conservative mermaid attire, although Kelby was sure Abrianna would have considered their appearance scandalous.
The thought brought a smile to her face as well, as the memory of Alex holding her robe on the pier returned. Even though her relationship with Cassie had improved to the point of friendship, she couldn’t resist tormenting the wizard. Even with all his power, he was still just a man and susceptible to all the manipulations a mermaid could offer. She respected his commitment to the nymph though, and kept her flirting to a minimum.
Putting that out of her mind, she followed her sister out of the safe house and onto the streets of Nyland. The mermaid bar was purposefully located away from the safe house and closer to the more active part of the harbor. It wasn’t long before the two found themselves entering the tavern, the pub sign depicting a mermaid rescuing a drowning man. Kelby laughed as she envisioned the rescued man being dunked by his rescuer soon after.
Entering the darkened room, Kelby watched as her sister rushed to greet several of the women working the room before heading to the bar. Apparently, they did a brisk lunch trade here as almost all the tables were occupied with men eating and drinking. The only women in presence were working the tables, flirting and otherwise fleecing the patrons of their wages.
“Right, we are good. Felicity says we can have free rein so long as we turn over the house share of any money we make and don’t drive off customers,” Leena said, indicating a tall blonde behind the bar.
“Got it. Okay, game time,” Kelby replied as she loosened the ties on her blouse while she scanned the room looking for anyone resembling a Gundor guard.
----*----
Ben was at the pier as Alex, Cassie, Abrianna and Leander boarded the schooner bound for Nyland. He smiled as he watched Kinsey slip between Cassie and Alex, nudging Cassie’s hand with her nose, looking for attention. He was concerned about sending Cassie and Abrianna on this trip north, but had little doubt that he was powerless to prevent them from going.
The trip west had only steeled Cassie’s resolve to find her mother and return her to Great Vale. While sending Abrianna only compounded the worry, he knew she would keep Cassie from being reckless.
Normally he might expect Alex to watch out for her, but in this case, the boy was more likely to charge in himself. Ben appreciated a good many things about Alex, but when it came to Cassie, he was a hopeless wreck in telling her no. Therefore, as he stood at the dock watching them depart the harbor, he crossed his fingers and prayed that they would all return safe.
----*----
Alex found Cassie at her usual spot near the bow, as the Captain went to full sail and headed north after clearing the harbor. He noted Kinsey had found a spot nearby where she could curl up, out of the way of the sailors doing their jobs, while still maintaining a good view of her charges. Alex was quite pleased at the way she had taken to Ca
ssie, saving both their lives on more than one occasion.
Not saying a word, he simply slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He could feel her lean backwards, pressing into him as her free hand rested on his arms around her waist, while the other maintained its grasp on the rail. As they stood there silently, Alex began to wonder what was going through her head.
With the quest to save her mother back on track, he imagined her tremendously worried over Amelia’s welfare. That was why, when she finally spoke, it took him a moment to reply.
“Do you think they made it safely?” she asked.
“Do you mean Kelby and Leena?” Alex asked, surprised at the question.
“Yes. With a Sea Dragon about and pirates sailing the coast, they could have been killed,” she replied without turning.
“They are very worldly; I am sure they made it to Nyland just fine. In fact, I expect they are this very moment fleecing customers and chasing leads on gaining your mother’s freedom,” he replied with a smile.
With that comment, Cassie turned slightly so she could lay her head against his shoulder. Her head came to rest in the nook between his shoulder and his neck, giving him a chance to squeeze her tighter.
“You know she doesn’t mean it,” Cassie said quietly.
“Mean what?” Alex asked, completely confused by the conversation.
“Kelby and her flirting. We have become quite close and you would be surprised to learn she actually respects you a lot,” Cassie explained.
“She has a funny way of showing it,” Alex commented dryly.
“It is very difficult for her to control a lifetime of prejudice. Since she was born, she has been taught that men are to be deceived and taken advantage of. It’s only been recently that she has had cause to question that,” she finished.
“Well, she has been helpful. Also I have no doubt she wishes to avenge her mother’s death, and make Tantalus pay,” he added.
