by V. M. Sang
Pettic thought fast. Somehow, he and Kinne must get the dragon to agree to move away or the queen would not search out the trident.
_Is there some favour we can do for you that would encourage you to find another place?_
The dragon looked sulkily down her nose. _Why should I move and not her? That's not fair._
Pettic almost laughed. The huge beast looked just like a sulky five-year-old who had been told to clear up her toys.
The dragon continued speaking so Pettic had to put away the image and listen.
_Anyway, I've got lots of things to move. All my hard-sought treasures._
She paused and thought for a moment.
_Perhaps you could do something for me. I'm not promising to move, mind you. I think I'll send you back to the hag to ask her to move, but first I'd like you to find a handsome male I saw a few days ago. Bring him back here and if he agrees not to eat you, then you can go back to the hag and tell her to go. I saw him just before I killed the whale, and he was going north._
_When we meet this male dragon, who should we say sent us? It would be nice to be able to tell him your name. It would make it more personal._
_My name is Qizilish. Tell him that, but don't forget to tell him how beautiful I am,_ Here she tossed her head much as a young woman would do.
Slowly the two young men swam away.
Kinne looked downhearted. _We can't do that. The queen'll never search for the staff if we go back with that message. We've failed, Pettic, and my father will die as a result and the City will get as its leader whoever has stolen the trident. That won't be good, having a dishonest person as leader._
The pair swam around for the rest of the day. They did not know where they were going nor the direction. Each thought hard as how they were to get out of this dilemma but neither came up with any suggestions.
As night was about to descend. Kinne realised they had swum far from the areas he knew. They sank to the seabed. found a cave and swam wearily inside to sleep.
Chapter 12
The next morning Kinne found some seaweed for them to eat for breakfast. It was not what Pettic would have wanted, but he ate it as he would get nothing else. The pair then discussed what they could do about their predicament.
_Perhaps we should go and try to find this male dragon,_ Pettic said. _After all, finding him won't make our task any harder and might perhaps make it a bit easier._
_Don't see how. That dragon's not going to move and if we don't get her to do so, then our task is over. We've failed, Pettic. Face it._
Although Pettic agreed with his friend, he was not about to give up without even trying. He looked around. There was a lot of kelp on the seabed here with fancy fishes swimming around in it. Crabs crawled along the bottom searching for something to eat. A large object lay on the seabed a little way ahead and he swam towards it, more for something to do than anything else.
It turned out to be the carcass of a dead whale. Perhaps this was the whale the dragon had killed. A crab scuttled off with a lump of flesh in its claws. Pettic called to Kinne.
_We should go north from here. This is a dead whale and it may be the one the dragon killed._
Kinne was not convinced. _Whales die everywhere,_ he said. _What guarantee do we have that this is the whale the dragon killed?_
_What proof do we have that it's not?_
Kinne shrugged and the pair began to swim in a northerly direction.
The seabed undulated towards the north. They passed patches of seaweed and large rocks with sea anemones growing on them. They passed corals and multitudes of fishes of all different colours. The sun filtered down through the water making patterns as the seaweeds waved in the currents, just like fields of corn in the breeze on land.
At one point they came across seaweeds planted in neat rows. Kinne told him it was a farm of a city, although he did not know which city. He had never been this far north before. He had a sense of general direction and could say which way his own city lay, but little more than that.
Soon they arrived at the cave system that made up the city. Pettic did not know the etiquette of arriving at a new city and so he allowed Kinne to enter first. Kinne waited in the large entrance cave. It was very similar to the one in their own city with columns and a raised dais with a stone chair on it. The dais did not seem to be quite as high as the one in Kinne's city, but the stone chair was very similar.
They waited for some time before an elderly merman swam towards them.
_Please excuse us for keeping you waiting,_ he said, _but we've just driven in a crowd of children for the Choosing. This lot seems to be a particularly savage group and are taking some holding in the Choosing Cave._
_We understand,_ Kinne replied. _Sometimes the groups are difficult. May I introduce ourselves? I am Kinne and this is my human friend, Pettic._
The old man seemed to see Pettic for the first time. His eyes widened as he noted the lack of a tail and the legs that replaced it. However, he said nothing, but told them his name was Tillor and he was the leader of this city.
_What brings you to our city?_ he asked.
_We are searching for a dragon, strange as that might sound._
Kinne decided to tell the truth, and he went on to explain how the trident had disappeared and of their adventures to date.
_Well, now. There was a dragon passed here just after we drove the children into the caves. It was a large male. You need to be very clever if you're to persuade him not to eat you and come with you to see the female._
_Please can we stay here for the night. We're very tired, with sleeping on the sea bed. We'll give you some of the fish and shellfish we've caught on our travels. We've some octopus, too, having fallen foul of one of the creatures. It tried to capture Pettic._
Tillor agreed and the pair swam off to the dining rooms to eat. They found the tale of their quest quickly spread round the city and they had to tell of their adventures many times before settling down for the night.
The next morning, Tillor and his wife came to see them off. Tillor told them the dragon started going north, but then veered off westwards. He had no idea where the creature laired, but he assumed it was not very far away as they saw it quite frequently. No one went too close, though, he told them. Dragons were noted for being unpredictable.
After the goodbyes and thank yous had been said, Tillor wished them good luck and Pettic and Kinne swam in the direction he indicated. They only had to swim for half a day before Kinne said he felt something large coming their way. The pair ducked into a nearby cave.
Sure enough, the dragon swam only a few feet away. He suddenly turned and looked towards where they crouched. His brow seemed to furrow and he wrinkled his nose.
_I smell one of the merfolk,_ he murmured, _and something other. Something alien. Come out of there or I'll boil you where you sit._
The pair made no move until they felt a heating of the water around them.
_That was only a little heating. If you don't come out, then I'll put boiling water in there._
Pettic crawled out of the cave followed by Kinne. He was confronted by the enormous head of a dragon. Although the head was huge, the dragon seemed to be a little smaller than the female. He was a darker blue as well. His horns were white, including the one on his nose and the three rows of spines were of a pale blue. His deep blue eyes bored into Pettic's.
_What are you? You must be the alien thing I smelled._
_I am a human. I don't come from this plane. Where I live there's much land so we need legs rather than tails._
_I think I'll save you until later. I need to be able to savour your flavour._ He laughed. _Savour your flavour? Did you hear that? It rhymes. Perhaps I'll make a poem after I've eaten you. I'll eat the merman first. They taste quite good, but I know their flavour._
Kinne had gone quite pale at this and backed off a little.
The dragon laughed again. _You can't escape me, little merman. All I need to do is to spit boiling water after
you and you'll be cooked._
Pettic was thinking fast. He had some time, but it seemed Kinne did not. He decided to tell the dragon of the female straight away.
_We're here on an errand for one of your kind._ he began. _We met a beautiful female dragon who said she'd seen you swimming past. She thought you the most glorious creature she'd ever seen._
Pettic decided a bit of flattery would not go amiss. Dragons, in his limited experience, were suckers for flattery.
_She asked us if we'd try to find you and ask you if you would deign to come with us so she can meet you. I think she'd like you as her mate. I'm sure you'd like her, she's so beautiful._
_Hmm. What's her nature? So many females are demanding and selfish._
_She's of a sweet nature._
May the gods forgive him for making this up. Then he remembered something.
_She killed a whale, but couldn't eat it all. Instead of dragging it back to her cave, or standing guard over it, she left it for other scavengers to eat. Is that not a nice gesture?_
He would have been holding his breath if he were on land while he waited for the male to answer.
The male dragon paused. He raised a clawed foot and scratched his head. Then he seemed to smile, if the wide-open mouth represented a smile.
_Yes, she sounds to be not too difficult. If she's as beautiful as you say, then she's truly a paragon and a worthy mate for me. I'll come with you after I've eaten the merman._
Pettic thought quickly. He answered with the truth. _I'm afraid we need him. I haven't got the skill to retrace our path back to Qizlish's cave. I'm not of this world, as I told you, and my kind don't have the sense of direction the merfolk have._
Kinne sent a private thought to Pettic. _Well, thanks for that!_ he said _You may have saved me for now, but what happens when we get back to Qizlish's cave?_
The dragon was speaking again. _Qizlish. Qizlish._ He sounded the name out as though trying it on for size. _Bramish and Qizlish. That sounds good, doesn't it? `Beware Bramish and Qizlish' people will say. Or perhaps `We worship Bramish and Qizlish.' Yes, I like the sound of our names together. Come, let's waste no more time. Which way to her cave?_
Thus Pettic and Kinne found themselves escorting a male dragon to meet a potential mate. Neither of them felt much like matchmakers though. If this went wrong, then it would be the end for them both. It might be the end anyway.
They rested at night and it took two days to reach the area where Qizlish lived. They decided to go ahead of Bramish to warn Qizlish of his imminent arrival. Pettic said that, in his experience, females of any species liked to get ready to greet males and he did not want to annoy a female dragon.
The pair approached her cave and called out. Perhaps she was not in. But no, they heard her gentle voice from inside the cave.
_Did you find him? Is he coming?_
_Yes to both,_ replied Kinne, having found some of his courage in the swim back to Qizlish. _He's very near now and is anxious to meet you, but we thought you would like to prepare first,_
_How thoughtful. I wouldn't have thought a male of any species would have thought of that._
Pettic smiled. _I grew up with a female._ he said by way of an explanation and Qizlish nodded.
The young men swam back to Bramish and told him Qizlish was preparing to meet him. She told them to return just after sunrise the next morning. Why it would take her so long to prepare, Pettic could not fathom, but females were incomprehensible. They told an impatient Bramish what Qizlish had said and he swam off to hunt in something of a huff.
The night passed eventually. The dragon kept them awake much of the night with his wriggling about, but eventually the dawn light began to seep through the water.
Bramish was anxious to get going and would scarcely wait for the young men to eat something. He ate yesterday, he told them so did not need anything for a few days yet. Eventually, after some stinging comments about how Pettic and Kinne must be inferior animals, needing to eat several times a day, they set off for Qizlish's cave.
Qizlish was outside when they arrived. Bramish stopped when he saw her. Pettic's stomach turned over in case the dragon had stopped because he did not like what he saw. Soon, he heard what sounded like a sigh followed by Bramish thinking on a narrow band to him.
_Oh how right you are. She's the most exquisite creature I've seen in the whole of my long life._
Qizlish spotted the three and bowed her head. Bramish moved slowly towards her, swaying his head from side to side.
There seemed to be some conversation going on between the dragons that they preferred to keep private. Qizlish suddenly swam upwards followed by Bramish and the pair twirled around in what Pettic was later to describe as a beautiful and graceful dance.
At first, Qizlish seemed to be fleeing Bramish, but then she suddenly turned towards him and rubbed her head against his. This seemed to excite Bramish and he opened his mouth and let out a stream of steamy bubbles that drifted upwards and burst on the surface. Then Qizlish did exactly the same and the pair swam back to the seabed where they rested side by side.
Pettic watched the display. It reminded him of Monarlisk's grace in the air. The dragons appeared to fly through the water as the dragons of Ignis flew through the air. He smiled at the beauty of the display.
After the pair exchanged loving glances, Bramish said, _Can I eat them now, my love?_
Kinne backed away, but Pettic stood his ground. Qizlish looked at the other dragon.
_We still need them, Bramish._ She shook her head. _They need to get rid of that nuisance sea hag Queen._
Bramish looked a bit petulant at her reply. _But can't I just eat one of them?_
_No. The sea hag won't go if we eat one. We can't stay here if she stays. I've just about had enough of her._
_Why don't you come and live in my cave? There's a merfolk city near there and they're good eating. Also their younglings are sweet and tender._
_And what about my treasures?_
_I'll share mine with you. I've got lots and lots of stuff. Why not come and look?_
_Tell you what. You look at my treasures first. Tell me if yours are better. Be honest now. If I come with you and find you've lied about yours, then I'll come back here without you and you'll need to find another mate._
Bramish looked woebegone. _If I can't have you, then no other dragon will do._
_Then come and look at my treasures and tell me what you think._
Bramish swam into the cave with Qizlish.
_Should we make a break for it?_ Kinne asked.
_Not unless you feel like being boiled. We've not finished our task yet either. We've got to persuade Qizlish to go, and to stay gone._
The dragons came out of the cave. If they had arms, they would have had them twined around each other. Bramish looked at the two waiting men.
_She has a wonderful hoard. Not as good as mine, though, but if she refused to come to me, then I'll be happy to bring just a few choice things here just so I can be with her._ He turned to Qizlish. _See how I will forfeit my hoard for you, darling._
Pettic groaned inwardly. This was not going well. Bramish spoke again.
_Well, let's go see my goodies._ He looked again at Pettic and Kinne. _You'd better come with us. We don't want to lose you. I want to eat you eventually._
The journey back to Bramish's cave took a couple of days. Uncomfortable days for the young men. As they approached, Bramish asked Qizlish to wait. He had left in a hurry and wanted to tidy up for her, he said.
Now it was Qizlish's turn to be impatient.
_What's he doing? How long does it take to clear up a cave?_ she asked.
_That would depend on how messy it was, I would think._ replied Pettic, just as Bramish reappeared.
The two dragons entered the cave and left the merman and human waiting outside. An hour passed and Pettic thought the dragons had forgotten all about them in their love for each other. Suddenly. Bramish came out in a rush, followed by Qizli
sh.
_Come on,_ called the male dragon as the pair began to swim back towards Qizlish's cave.
_What's happening?_ Kinne asked Pettic.
_I'm not sure, but I think they must have decided to stay in Qizlish's cave after all. That's a bit of a problem for us._
_I should say so. We'll not find the trident, my father will die, the City will get a dishonest ruler and we'll be eaten. Perhaps you're underestimating our `bit of a problem'._
Pettic and Kinne rushed after the dragons. The dragons swam much quicker than the young men, and they had to keep stopping to let them catch up. Qizlish kept on calling for them to hurry.
After another two days they arrived back at Qizlish's cave. The dragons told Pettic and Kinne they had decided to live in Bramish's cave as it was larger, but that she would take some of her most treasured possessions with her. They went into the cave and began to carry things out.
_Come and help us,_ called Bramish, _or we'll be here forever. She seems to want to take EVERYTHING._
_That's women for you,_ Kinne grumbled.
As they got into the cave, Pettic knew for sure that his earring was warming, in spite of the cool of the water. The jewel was here in this pile of treasures.
Soon what Bramish said looked like most of Qislish's hoard stood just outside the cave.
_How are we to carry all this?_ Bramish said. _I thought we were only going to take a few things._
All four looked at the pile.
_I've left a lot behind, dear,_ Qizlish said. _Even a few things I would really like to have taken._
Pettic was thinking fast. _I have an idea,_ he said. _Gather as much of that long, wide seaweed as you can._
_Kelp,_ Kinne informed him. _It's called kelp._
_Yes, kelp. I think I can help with moving all this stuff._
The dragons grumbled, but they did their share of the collecting and soon a pile of kelp stood next to the pile of treasures.
Pettic then chose several long pieces and laid them on the seabed, parallel to each other and almost touching. He then took another piece and wove it in and out of the kelp on the seabed.
