Dragon Defense (Heirs to the Throne Book 3)

by Diane Rapp

  “Giving us grief already, he is.” Scully grinned. “Guess he needs another lesson.” He circled the mast, while Bosk moved around the other side.

  As blood returned to her hands, Felesia’s fingers tingled. Her arms and legs ached but she dodged the men. Bosk snagged the red cloak. She slithered free and Bosk stood holding limp red fabric. He gaped as the slim girl climbed the mast like a monkey. Her red cap fell off and honey-brown hair floated in the breeze.

  Standing on a spar Felesia glared down at the men like a wild animal, trapped but ready to fight. A bead of blood trickled down her throat. She watched the men stand with blades ready.

  “Enough!” a voice bellowed. Bosk and Scully snapped to attention. “You don’t have the brains to fill a thimble!” The Captain screamed as he swept down from the bridge. “I sent you out to fetch a man, and you bring me a blasted girl!”

  Bosk quaked under his master’s glare. “We grabbed the bloke in the red cloak, like we was told. We didn’t know the bloke were a woman!”

  Scully joined his mate. “Bosk tells it right.”

  The Captain stared up at Felesia. “She’s a girl. If we were on land, I’d take pleasure in exploring her soft body.” His mouth grinned but his eyes glinted with hatred. “Onboard a ship everyone knows a woman is a curse! Haul her down while I think on the matter.”

  Bosk scrambled up the ropes.

  When Felesia lived in the forest, she learned to climb, so she kept out of reach. Soon she balanced atop the mast with nowhere to go. She contemplated jumping into the water.

  Bosk stopped. Sweat cut white rivulets down his dirty skin. “Old Bosk won’t hurt you none, missy. Come down like a good lass.” He held out a grubby hand.

  Felesia snarled like a panther and scratched him.

  “She’s not a woman, she’s a blasted devil!” He jerked his hand back. “Captain, she’s an evil spirit!” Eyes wide, he shivered and clung to the ropes.

  “Leave her then!” the captain growled. “She’ll come down when she gets hungry, or we’ll let desert riders catch her when we reach port.”

  Bosk scrambled down, rubbing his hand.

  Legs trembling with fatigue, Felesia slumped against the mast and wrapped her wrist with a rope. Her heart pounded. She stared across the open sea and choked back a sob. Ocean! She saw nothing but water in every direction. Below the men watched her with suspicious stares.

  She muttered, “Come near me and I’ll show you a devil woman.” She examined the blood smeared across her fingers. “I’ve been chased by better than you and never let them catch me.”

  The men changed shifts at regular intervals during the day. She expected their vigil might slacken at night. Felesia wished she had the cloak as she watched the sun dip toward the horizon. She faced a damp night, alone, perched high above her captors. She closed her eyes and longed for the solid comfort of soil beneath her feet. She missed Jordan, Marra, Flash and Arrow.

  A familiar mind brushed her thoughts. Felesia searched the sky. Come to me, Arrow! Her mind called. Come find me! Something flickered across the glow of the setting sun and her heart pounded. The shape got larger. Felesia forced herself to stop watching the sky, afraid she’d draw the sentry’s attention. Arrow could attack the men, but then what? She stared down at the rolling waves.

  How can I get away? Felesia brooded and rubbed her aching legs. The sound of beating wings roused the man below, and he cried out with fear. Felesia looked up. Arrow’s small body was dwarfed by the larger wingspan of Flash. Behind her friends, a swarm of dragons filled the sky.

  Felesia gasped at the awesome sight, colorful dragon wings against a red sky. Flash squawked and swooped down to land on a spar. The ship tilted and the mast creaked under her weight. Flash looked surprised at the unstable limb of the floating tree and lifted off.

  Men screamed and swarmed like frantic ants across the deck, ducking as dragons swooped overhead. Felesia felt overjoyed. Dragon wings billowed like sails as the gigantic bodies glided in the ocean breeze. Her mind was inundated with color and questions she couldn’t answer.

  The largest dragon tilted his wings and floated toward the ship. His companions formed a rippling mass of wings and joined him. Flash squawked happily and Arrow flew in circles around her friend.

  Felesia understood and wrapped her legs and arms with dangling ropes. She clung to the mast as dragon talons grabbed spars holding the sails. The winged creatures flapped in unison, straining against the weight of the ship. Their wings swirled with blue and red against the sails. The wooden mast groaned and the deck cracked as sails billowed under beating wings.

  The captain shouted as the dragons ripped the mast from his deck. Splinters of wood flew, and Felesia clung to her precarious perch as the mast floated away from the disabled ship. Sails flapped as the dragons carried their prize away.

  Facetted eyes sparkled as they peered at the small creature they carried. Felesia touched their minds and filled her mind with happiness. Flash crowed and Felesia knew the larger dragons enjoyed the young one’s glee.

  The sky became a glowing mass of crimson light against the horizon. Felesia leaned into the biting breeze and remembered the panicked expressions of the bullies she left behind. She felt the power of the dragon wings as their strokes vibrated flapping sails. It seemed effortless. Felesia wondered, How far can they fly like this and where will they take me?

  Flash sent her an image of land and she felt relieved.

  Image of Dragons arriving to rescue Felesia

  *****

  Jordan felt useless, watching Captain Chad and his men work the sails to force greater speed. Krystal and Lord Dartmouth observed from the helm, but Jordan sensed Krystal’s tension. Dar’s eyes burned as he glared at his son. Dressed in rough garb, Brandon worked with seamen but the punishment was not harsh enough to satisfy Jordan.

  After Lord Dartmouth blasted Captain Chad about the abduction, Seawitch set sail and headed south. Captain Chad eyed Brandon with disgust as he listened to the boy’s indignant father and then barked orders to the crew.

  A strong wind filled the schooner’s three large sails but the Southwind was eight hours ahead. It sailed with clear weather to the port of Asbohar. Jordan ground his teeth thinking of Felesia as a prisoner in the desert stronghold. Their own crew eyed Krystal and whispered that a woman on ship was bad luck, and Asbohar’s slave market was a good place to unload an unwanted passenger. Jordan saw from Captain Chad’s grave expression that the Southwind wouldn’t sail further than Asbohar with a woman aboard.

  Jordan paced the deck, his mind working furiously. How could they find Felesia if the Southwind arrived well ahead of them? Felesia, where are you? he cried mentally and felt a familiar mind touch on his.

  I’m here, Jordan, she answered.

  Jordan’s heart pounded. We’re coming to find you!

  The dragons rescued me from the ship. They tore the mast off and we fly toward land. I can see a strange shoreline ahead. You feel close.

  Is Arrow with you? he asked.

  Yes, Arrow and Flash fly with the dragons.

  Ask Arrow to find me and show us where you’re headed.

  Felesia said, Arrow is coming. The dragons landed on the cliff along the shore and set me down gently. I’m safe.

  The mental contact faded, leaving Jordan filled with hope. He turned to see Krystal standing at his side with a smile on her face.

  “I heard,” Krystal whispered. “Everything will be all right, rest assured.”

  “Captain, there’s something ahead!” the lookout shouted and the crew rushed to look. “It’s wreckage and survivors.”

  Chad’s men dropped the sails, and they drifted through debris. A few minutes later the captain leaped up the steps, his face white with anger. “Survivors claim that dragons attacked the ship and took the girl.”

  Krystal nodded. “Dragons rescued Felesia from those vile men and landed nearby. We’ll direct you to the place.”

  The captain’s eyes widene
d with terror. “We can’t go near dragons, milady. The men will revolt after seeing this.”

  Lord Dartmouth frowned. “He’s right. No seaman would go near those creatures.”

  “I’ll go!” Brandon stepped forward, and his father frowned. “It’s my fault she was abducted. I’ll sail into the devil’s lair to get her back.”

  “No!” Jordan growled, “I don’t want you near her again, so I’ll go!”

  Krystal sighed. “You were lucky to return alive, and Brandon’s sailed since he was a toddler. You’d better let him try.”

  Jordan faced Brandon with his fist clenched. “I don’t trust him! He won’t go unless I’m with him.”

  Brandon nodded. “I’d be glad for your help, since you can reach Felesia’s mind. We both need to go.”

  Dar hissed, “Blast it! We must let the lads try to get her back safely. We’re wasting time. Captain, rig a sail on a lifeboat.”

  “We keep one already rigged, comes in handy slipping past inspectors,” Captain Chad said with a glint in his eye.

  “Load it with provisions,” Dar ordered. He turned to Brandon and frowned. “Your mother will skin me alive if you don’t return. We’ll ferry the wounded to Asbohar, so fetch the girl and sail down the coastline. We’ll wait in port as long as the desert riders allow.” He grabbed Brandon’s shoulders. “Make up for your foolishness and don’t make things worse.”

  Brandon shrugged. “You know how beautiful women tempt me, but I promise to behave.”

  “You’d better,” Jordan said, “or I’ll see you don’t live to try it again.”

  “Fair enough.” Brandon swung down the rope to the boat and helped Jordan descend the rope ladder.

  Arrow landed on Jordan’s shoulder and hissed at Brandon, her wings spread and talons ready to strike the enemy. Jordan stroked the hawk to get her settled while Brandon unfurled the sail.

  “I see the place in her mind.” He looked up at Krystal. “We’ll get Felesia and meet you in Asbohar!”

  “We’ll wait for you,” she said and turned toward Dar. “I wish they didn’t need to go alone.”

  Dar nodded. “Young people handle danger without thinking about it. If they survive this adventure together, perhaps they’ll forge a truce.”

  Captain Chad stepped close and muttered, “The men grumble, and I can’t afford to have a mutiny on my hands. Let’s leave.”

  “All right,” Dar said. “Work will keep their minds off dragons, and we won’t help the lads by standing about.”

  *****

  Felesia felt delighted flying with the dragons. The large creature she named Blaze gently lowered the ship’s rigging onto a ledge overlooking the ocean. She climbed down. Flash landed and rubbed against her affectionately, filling her mind with a kaleidoscope of color.

  A hissing screech startled her. Her dragon friends were confronted by local dragons that rushed to defend their territory with wings stretched and necks arched.

  Flash bugled.

  Felesia watched with mounting terror as Blaze faced the leader of the challengers. Both dragons stretched their wings, rippling with purple and blue. Blaze circled his opponent straining his wings to outsize the foe. They bobbed their heads and uttered shrill shrieks, while their talons dug into the rocky cliff. For agonizing moments their wings drained of color and turned as white as the sails of a ship. Felesia groaned as she felt the white rage of their mutual hatred.

  No! She screamed mentally. Don’t fight because of me! Felesia filled her mind with colors that she remembered Flash using for happiness—the blue skies, the golden sun, and the reds of a fiery sunset.

  She forced the dragons to see the colors and soon their wings matched her patterns. Blaze crowed and twined his neck around the supple neck of the other dragon. Both flocks of dragons matched colors and crooned with pleasure, happy in the company of like minds.

  Flash chirped at Felesia and pushed her toward the dragon leaders. Felesia eyed the sharp talons as Flash butted her closer. She swallowed hard and walked toward the giant creatures as Flash waddled next to her. Blaze cocked his head, and Felesia saw her face reflected in his large faceted eyes. She projected friendship colors to the dragons.

  Flash quivered with happiness as Blaze reflected the colors from Felesia’s mind in his wings. Felesia named the other leader Dazzle as the dragon dipped a wing and gold swirled in Felesia’s mind. Felesia laughed and Flash crowed as the flocks merged, launching from the cliff to fly over the ocean in search of dinner.

  Felesia knew that Flash felt torn between her affection and hunger. She cheeped apologetically, her eyes whirling with excitement, and dove off the cliff to follow the flock. Felesia watched with pride.

  Flash was accepted by the dragons, and Felesia noticed that Flash flew with dragons of similar size. She felt a pang of regret. Flash might join her own kind, find a mate, and raise chicks with the flock. The sense of loss was overwhelming as Felesia remembered the awkward chick Jordan rescued from the hatching cave.

  Felesia thought of Jordan and the family they hoped to raise. She understood her father’s reluctance to let her marry. Parents hated losing their children. Felesia felt the warm touch of Jordan’s mind and called out mentally. His mind felt nearby. Felesia peered into the shimmering brightness of sun reflecting off the water. A white sail crept over the edge of the horizon, looking so small against the vast blue expanse.

  A dragon crowed with alarm. The dragon’s mind projected White! Hatred! The message was echoed by the flock as they turned their attention to the intruder. Felesia felt bewildered by the dragons’ reaction. White! Attack! The minds shouted in unison. The dragons were enraged by the white sails on the small boat.

  Jordan! Drop your sails! White is the dragons’ signal to attack! she shouted mentally.

  White? Jordan’s mind sounded doubtful.

  Yes! The dragons attack white sails, not ships. Take down your sail and they’ll let you land safely.

  Brandon tried to stop Jordan from dropping their sail. “Are you crazy? We won’t have a chance to outrun the dragons without the sail!” he shouted.

  Jordan laughed. “The dragons hate the color white. Felesia just told me that they attack white sails not ships.”

  Brandon scanned the shoreline. “They hate white! That makes sense, since my sloop has colored sails and they ignored it. You’re right.” He helped Jordan bundle the flapping sails on the boat.

  “Felesia’s standing on top of that cliff.” Jordan pointed.

  “Well, we’d better break out the oars. It’s going to be a long row.”

  Felesia felt relieved when the white sail disappeared and the dragons circled placidly overhead, peering at the humans. Flash landed near Felesia with a large fish dangling from her mouth. She plopped it at Felesia’s feet.

  Why thank you! I’ll build a fire. Can you fly out and grab the rope on Jordan’s boat? I’m sure he’d appreciate help.

  Flash waddled to the edge of the cliff, cheeped, and dropped off the edge. Her wings swirled with color as they filled. Jordan saw Flash swoop down from the cliff, already aware of Felesia’s plan. “Toss that rope to Flash, she’ll help haul us in,” he told Brandon.

  Brandon formed a loop in the rope and swung it into the air. Flash missed the snaking line that landed in the water. Flash keened mournfully.

  “It’s too small to grab, so tie an oar onto the end. She’s good at gripping wood.”

  “I’d hate to lose a good oar,” Brandon grumbled but dragged in the line while Jordan unlatched an oar from its hook.

  Flash circled, eyeing the humans. The oar was heavier on the paddle end, making it difficult to toss into the air. Jordan tried swinging it overhead, but he couldn’t get much height. The oar splashed into the water a few yards away. Flash dove at the stick as though she were attacking an eel.

  Brandon caught his breath as the dragon swooped with talons extended, but Jordan chuckled as Flash daintily plucked the oar from the water. She barely got her claws wet and the r
ope went taut. Flash flew toward the cliff, but the drag from the boat was too much for her. Flash faltered and dropped into the ocean. She peeped unhappily and flapped until she managed to free herself from the water. The oar floated with the current.

  Blaze eyed the stick as he hovered overhead. Suddenly he swooped down and grabbed the oar, nearly knocking Jordan off his feet from the beat of his great wings. The boat jerked out of the water and skipped across the surface, like a toy.

  “Well, I’ll be the son of a sea slug!” Brandon gasped as he clung desperately to the wooden shell.

  Flash circled Blaze, happily. “Never underestimate Felesia’s animal friends,” Jordan shouted. His body banged against the boat as it bounced. “She gets them to do what she wants.”

  “Deck hands will never believe this!”

  Blaze flew toward the cliff, angling higher until he jerked the boat out of the water. They dangled above the rocky shoreline and the boat banged and scraped across the jagged top of the cliff. Blaze dropped the oar at Felesia’s feet while two shaken sailors crawled gratefully out of the battered craft. Felesia rushed to Jordan, kissing him, and fussing over scrapes and bruises.

  Brandon avoided watching the lovers by examining the cliffs below. Dragons peered up curiously from openings in the sheer face of rock. He heard trilling voices and saw small ugly heads peer up to see the strange man-creature. Brandon picked up the oar and examined the deep holes Blaze’s talons gouged in the hard wood. He whistled with amazement.

  Jordan and Felesia joined Brandon, arms wrapped around each other. Felesia gestured at the boat. “You made quite an entrance. I’m cooking fish for dinner if you’re hungry after your wild ride.”

  Brandon’s face flushed. “You may not want my company. It was my fault you got shanghaied,” he muttered.

  She frowned. “You arranged my kidnapping?”

  “It wasn’t meant to be you; I wanted Jordan out of the way. They should’ve taken him on a long voyage.” Brandon met her angry gaze. “I thought you might learn to love me with him gone. I’m sorry.”