by F. P. Spirit
Ves stared at Donnie, her brow creasing and her eyes narrowing. “My sister? You mean Ruka?”
Donnie gave her a curt nod. “Yes. The Princess felt that your sister might help if you asked her to.”
Ves folded her arms across her chest and gently rubbed her upper arm. After a moment’s pause, she nodded. “I could do that. Anything for the mistress.”
Donnie flashed her another pearly-white smile. “Very good. Let’s find a quiet place, then I’ll use the dagger to summon your sister.”
Ves stared at Donnie, her brow still creased. He thought he detected the slightest hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Donnie pursed his lips, but said nothing. Perhaps Sigfus’ brainwashing wasn’t all that complete after all. If they could just get Ves away from here, perhaps they could break her out of it.
Ves finally broke the silence, though this time her voice wavered slightly. “Very well. Lead on.”
Donnie unlocked the door, then cracked it open, peering gingerly down the long hall. There was no one in sight. If the solitary guard were still there, he was hidden behind the stairwell.
The slim elf seized Ves by the hand, and led her out into the corridor. Donnie halted and listened carefully at the first door they passed. He heard chanting as if someone were deep in prayer. The elf moved on to the next door. The sound of snoring came from the other side.
At the third door, there was nothing but silence. Donnie tried the handle, and it was unlocked. He swiftly ushered Ves inside and closed the door behind them. The slim elf swiftly swept his eyes around the room. They were in a decent sized cabin, easily as large as some of the double rooms he had stayed in over his many years of travel. A cushy-looking bed stood against one wall, a dresser against the other, and a wardrobe against the third.
Two portholes were inset into the outside wall. Through them, they could see the sky starting to lighten. It would be dawn soon. Donnie gave Ves a brief smile, then pulled out Ruka’s dagger, the Ruchan. He closed his eyes and concentrated all his will, repeating the same set of words over and over in his mind. Ruka, I need you. Please come at once.
At first nothing happened, but on the third repetition, he detected something bright through his closed lids. Donnie’s eyes snapped open. A pinpoint of light had appeared in the very center of the room. It swelled and grew into a familiar form, and when it finally faded, Ruka stood there gazing at him with mixed emotions.
“Donnie, why did you…”
Her voice suddenly trailed off, her eyes going wide as they gazed past him. “Ves!”
The young teen rushed past him, throwing her arms around her missing sister in a completely uncharacteristic display of affection. Ves appeared startled at first, but then wrapped her arms around her younger sister, hugging her tight.
After a few moments, Ruka pulled back from the embrace. She grabbed Ves by the shoulders and stared at her, her voice taking on an accusatory tone. “We’ve been looking all over for you. You had us worried sick.”
Ves responded with a genuine smile. “I’ve been fine. The mistress has been taking care of me.”
“The mistress…” Ruka’s voice took on a strained tone. She shifted her eyes toward Donnie, concern written all over her face. Donnie met her intense gaze with one of his own, his voice carefully measured.
“As you already know, we formed an alliance with the Princess Anya. Ves is going to help us petition the Baron of Ravenford to ally with the Princess as well.”
Ruka cocked her head to one side and eyed Donnie carefully, but Ves interrupted her before she could question him. “It’s true, sis. Anya has been very good to me, and I want to help her.”
Ruka shifted her gaze back toward her sister. There was a dangerous edge to her voice. “Oh really? The Princess has treated you well?”
“Why, yes,” Ves responded as if the answer to that question were obvious. “She even gave me this fine collar to wear.”
Ves’ hands went to the metallic black collar around her neck. Ruka eyed it carefully, then spun her gaze toward Donnie, her eyes filled with apprehension. Donnie responded with the barest of nods, having no choice but to continue with his original ruse.
“Indeed, the Princess has turned out to be rather… nice. That is why we agreed to do her this favor. Unfortunately, there is a Dunwynn dignitary on board. Do you remember Sir Fafnar?”
Ruka let out a derisive snort. “Yes, I remember him. The pompous ass from Dunwynn that Lloyd trounced in the tourney.”
A thin smirk spread across Donnie’s lips as he recalled the epic battle between the nobleman and the warrior. “The very same. If Fafnar were to find out about Anya’s plans concerning Ravenford, he would look to block them. Therefore, we need to get off this ship without him, or anyone else, seeing us.”
“Ohhhh.” Understanding dawned in Ruka’s eyes.
“We were hoping you could help us with that,” Ves added.
Ruka glanced from Donnie to her sister, the tension in her shoulders finally dissipating. “Sure, Ves. I’d be happy to help you out.”
Ves gave her sister an affectionate smile. “I knew you would.”
Ruka stared back at Ves for a moment, then shifted her gaze toward Donnie. Her eyes still mirrored his own concern. “Okay, what do you need me to do?”
Donnie swiftly thought things over, a daring plan forming in his mind. He grabbed Ruka by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. “Of all of us, Sir Fafnar is least likely to recognize you. Could you check the hallway and make sure the coast is clear?”
Ruka tilted her head slightly, eyeing him with uncertainty. “Is that all?”
Donnie gave her a meaningful stare. “You might also want to check with the guard at the bottom of the stairs. He might have seen something, if he’s not dozing on the job. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he was.”
Understanding abruptly dawned in the young teen’s eyes. A familiar smirk crossed her face. “I can definitely do that.”
“Very good,” Donnie said, fighting the urge to wink in front of Ves.
The thin elf went to the door and listened, but it was all quiet out in the hall. He opened the door and stuck his head out, but the corridor appeared empty. Donnie then stood back and motioned Ruka out the door.
The young teen slipped past him and stole down the hall toward the stairs. Donnie watched from the doorway as she disappeared around the stairwell. A moment later, there was bright flash of light, and then Ruka reappeared and waved him on.
Donnie whispered over his shoulder. “Ruka just signaled—the coast is clear.”
Donnie felt a slim hand slip into his own, then stole quietly out into the hall and down toward the stairs. When they rounded the corner of the stairwell, the slight elf noted the guard there slumped against the wall. There was the faintest smell of ozone in the air.
Ruka shook her head, the side of her mouth upturned slightly. “Asleep on duty, just like you said.”
Donnie cast a sidelong glance at Ves. The young woman regarded the ‘sleeping’ man with a raised eyebrow.
“Poor Anya. I guess good help is hard to find,” Donnie noted glibly.
Ves shifted her eyes toward him, a look of disdain on her face. When she spoke, it was barely above a whisper. “I’ll have to report him to the mistress when I have the chance.”
Donnie let out the briefest of sighs, relieved that Ves had bought the ruse. “Agreed, but for now our mission is more important.”
With that hurdle averted, Donnie peered at Ruka once more. “It might be best if you check the upper deck as well.”
Ruka gave him a knowing nod, then silently climbed the stairs ahead of them. A half minute later, she came back down, a wide smirk across her face. She glanced at Donnie and whispered, “It appears things on deck are already well in hand.”
Donnie eyed her curiously, the
n climbed past her, to the door at the top of the stairs. He cracked it open, his eyes widening at what he saw.
The second guard sat on the deck, fast asleep, with Elladan standing over him. The bard stared back at Donnie with that all-too-familiar half-smile of his. Behind the bard, the rest of their companions had gathered over by the ship’s rail.
Donnie stared at Elladan in amazement, a single word falling from his lips. “How?”
Elladan let out a soft laugh, his voice barely above a whisper. “Sigfus was so pleased with himself that he let a bit too much slip. So, when Anya sent me back to my room, I told the others. We figured you might need a hand.”
“And just how did Sigfus slip?”
Donnie spun around as Ves and Ruka came up on the deck behind him. The older Greymantle stood there with her arms folded across her chest, her eyes suddenly filled with suspicion.
“Ah… um…” Donnie stammered, his mind racing for some answer that would allay her suspicions. He had come so close to spiriting Ves away. It would be disastrous if she were to turn on them now. Yet before he could utter another word, fate took over for him.
“Ves!” came a familiar cry from across the deck.
Donnie spun around and saw Martan waving his hands their way, his normally glum features alit.
“Martan!” Ves cried back with delight, all her suspicions forgotten at the sight of the archer.
Martan started forward when all of a sudden, he seemed to lose his balance. The archer teetered there for a moment, his face taking on a panicked expression. Abruptly, he fell backwards over the rail with a loud cry. “Ahhhhhhhhh……”
Ves let out a strangled cry of her own, then sprinted across the deck, her body shimmering as she ran. Ruka immediately took off after her, starting to shift as well. Donnie and Elladan exchanged a brief glance, then plunged after both girls.
At the same moment, a loud shout erupted from the direction of the railing. “Watch out! She pushed Martan!”
Elistra stood beside the others, pointing to the empty space where Martan had just been standing. Donnie squinted his eyes, but couldn’t see anything. Martan’s attacker must be invisible!
As Lloyd, Alana, and Cyclone drew their weapons, Ves finished her transformation. The huge bronze dragon unfolded her wings and soared over the others, diving after the falling archer.
“Go after them, Lloyd! We’ve got this,” Alana shouted.
Lloyd hesitated the briefest of moments, then launched himself over the rail after Martan and Ves. Meanwhile, Ruka had finished transforming. Donnie leapt forward just as she lifted off, grasping tight onto her tail. With a sharp flap, Ruka shot across the remaining deck.
Boom!
A fiery explosion erupted directly in their path, the angry red ball of flame expanding out in front of them. Ruka banked sharply to avoid the conflagration, whipping Donnie around as she did so. Abruptly they were past it, and out over the open air.
Unfortunately, Ruka’s sudden maneuver had jarred Donnie rather hard. The slight elf felt his grip on her slip away from between his hands. Donnie abruptly found himself falling unchecked about two miles above the earth.
“I think she forgot us!”
Donnie peered back over his shoulder to see Elladan falling through the air just above him. An ironic smile crossed Donnie’s lips. “Guess we both fell for the wrong woman!”
When Heroes Fall
A group of dark, winged figures had launched off the airship, and were speeding down in their direction.
Glolindir peered from the rail of the Wind Hammer in utter confusion. Donnie had reemerged from below decks, but the sandy-haired elf was no longer alone. Beside him stood both Ruka and Ves. A dozen questions passed through the tall elf’s mind, but he never got to voice any of them.
“Ahhhhhhhhh……!”
Glo’s thoughts were shattered by the frightened cry. He spun around to see Martan a few yards away, the gaunt archer inexplicably teetering at the rail. The entire scene felt surreal, as Martan lost his balance, then fell backwards, disappearing over the side of the ship.
The archer’s fall was immediately followed by a strangled cry. Across the deck, Ves vaulted in their direction, the expression on her face mirroring Glo’s own sense of horror. Without warning, his arm was seized by a frantic grip.
“Watch out! She pushed Martan!”
Glo nearly jumped out of his skin. Elistra had grabbed onto him, while pointing at the spot from where Martan had just fallen. Though he could see nothing, Glo’s body reacted on its own, his hands instinctively weaving into a familiar pattern.
Lloyd, Alana, and Cyclone responded similarly, the ringing sounds of drawn weapons accompanying the wizard’s spell. Yet before any of them could take a step forward, a huge bronze blur whooshed overhead.
Glo involuntarily flinched, nearly losing his grip on the magic coalescing between his hands. Beside him, Alana’s voice cried out, “Go after them, Lloyd! We’ve got this.”
Glo did not turn to see his friend launch himself overboard after the others. Instead, the wizard struggled to keep his grasp on the fiery red ball forming between his palms, lest it get away and harm them all. With a herculean effort, Glo wrestled the spell back in line, sending the arcane ball of flame hurtling away.
Boom!
The spell went off with a bang, just a bit closer than Glo had anticipated. The angry red ball swiftly expanded into a hemisphere of brilliant flame, the fire coming so close that they had to turn away and shield their faces.
At the same moment, Glo felt a large presence whoosh over them. Still shielding his face from the flames, the elven wizard cracked his eyes open. He was just in time to see a winged bronze shape dive over the side of the ship, with two smaller forms desperately clinging to its tail. Glo watched in horror as both figures suddenly lost their grip on the dragon, then plummeted out of sight.
“That was Donnie and Elladan!” came Aksel’s sharp cry.
A moment later, the flaming ball winked out. Glo started for the rail, but a red and black figure inserted itself in front of him. A pair of violet eyes met his, and he suddenly found himself in the midst of a deep, passionate kiss. The kiss ended almost as abruptly as it started, Elistra swiftly pushing him away.
Glo gazed at her dumbfounded, not quite noticing the mist in her eyes. “What was that for?”
Elistra responded with a forced smile. “For luck…”
The seeress’ mouth hung open, her eyes searching his for a brief moment, then she pushed him onward toward the rail. “Quick, after the others!”
Glo hesitated. Something didn’t feel right. There was a strange tenor to Elistra’s voice. Yet his hesitation only made her push him again. “I said go! The others need you!”
Elistra was right. Aksel, Alana, and Cyclone had jumped after the others, and none of them could fly. Glo gave the blonde seeress one last look, then spun around and vaulted over the railing after his friends.
Martan plummeted backwards through the dawn sky, his arms flailing, his hands grasping at empty air. He was not really sure what had happened. He had been waiting with the others at the ship’s railing, when Donnie finally reemerged from below deck.
Martan’s eyes went wide when he saw who was with the slim elf. Ves!
The archer’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the lovely young woman. Ves had saved Martan’s life back on the shores of Cape Marlin. He remembered falling down a cliff face and then everything went black. When he woke up sometime later, the first thing he saw was the face of the beautiful blonde hovering over him. She had saved his life, and he had called her his “angel.”
Yet now Martan was falling again, and not even his angel could save him this time. Someone had pushed him over the rail. He had neither seen nor heard his attacker, but in all fairness, he had been focused exclusivel
y on Ves.
The dour archer stopped his flailing, resigning himself to his fate, when his gaze fell on something above him. Whatever it was, it was quite big, and growing larger by the second. The rising sun glinted off the figure, revealing a warm, yellow-brown torso, with a pair of large, bat-like wings protruding from either side.
Martan’s eyes went wide as he realized what was chasing him. A dragon!
The bronze dragon swiftly closed the gap between them, till it was only a few feet away. Martan’s eyes fixed on the large maw as it slowly opened to reveal a vast row of razor sharp teeth. The thing was huge—easily as big as the green dragon back at the monolith.
The gaunt archer gulped. That thing could swallow me in one bite!
Panic overtook Martan. He screamed, flailing uselessly at the dragon. “G–get away from me!”
The dragon’s mouth open wider, but instead of swallowing him, it spoke. “But Martan… it’s me! Ves!”
Martan’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. “Ves?”
He shook his head with disbelief. Yet, there was something in the voice that sounded familiar. “B–but you’re a dragon!”
The creature let out a deep, rumbling sigh. “Yes… I’m a dragon. Now hang on. I’m going to catch you.”
Before Martan could utter another word, the dragon shot past and banked so that it would pass directly beneath him.
“Grab on!” the creature roared.
Martan quickly peered beyond the dragon—the treetops were rushing up fast. If he didn’t grab onto her now, he would plummet past and be dead within seconds. With no choice, the archer braced himself as he collided with the dragon, immediately wrapping his arms and legs around the scaly neck. It was surprisingly smooth to the touch.
As soon as he had grabbed hold, the dragon gave a huge flap with its great wings, propelling them forward. Martan hung on for dear life as they picked up speed. Chancing a peek below them, he saw the forest canopy passing by only scant yards below. The dragon had saved his life! Could this creature indeed be Ves?
