A Dragon Born

by Jordan Baker

  "What nonsense are you talking?"

  "You claim to be the king of the pirates but you don't even know the code." Carly shook her head. "How the mighty pirates of Meer have fallen. You bicker and fight amongst yourselves, pilfering from one another left and right, then you talk of honor and you dare to call upon the code. Tell everyone, Lanos-Meer. What is the pirate code?"

  "It is what I say it is!"

  "What is it then?"

  "Do any of you know the code that was created by your ancestor the great pirate, Faltan?"

  "The code says we get an equal share and an equal say," Malek said.

  "Very good, Malek," Carly said. "It seems you haven't been sleeping all this time."

  "What else does the code say?"

  "We choose our leader," shouted another pirate.

  "Yes, you do," Carly told them. "And when you choose that leader, is there not an oath?"

  "I remember, there's an oath," said another pirate.

  "And what is that oath?" Carly asked.

  "To abide by the code," shouted another one.

  "And what is the code?"

  The pirates looked at each other and it was obvious that none of them knew. Lanos and Malek looked at each other, not sure what to do, for their plan had been blown off course and they were not sure where Carly was heading.

  "The first rule of the pirate's code," Carly said, "is that each member of the crew will have an equal share of any spoils, but the Captain gets double and the officers get an extra half share. The second rule is that each member of the crew will have an equal vote, no exceptions." She stared at Malek. "The third rule is honor among pirates, that we do not steal from one another and we do not lie to one another. The fourth rule of the code; obey the captain's orders during battle. The fifth rule is to give quarter when craved and to respect the white flag. The sixth rule is to aid those without sail or water. The seventh rule is to keep the watch. The eighth is no drink unless anchored or ashore. The ninth is that a tenth of the prize will go to the ship. And the tenth rule is; should a ship be lost, the Captain will be the last to leave."

  "Yes, Carly, you're a very smart lass," Malek said, with no small amount of sarcasm. "So you've memorized the code. What is the point you're making."

  "What is the oath you swore when you became Lanos-Meer?" Carly pointed at Lanos.

  "I've had enough of this," Lanos said.

  "What is the oath you swore?" Carly said again, her voice now more powerful. Ehlena and the two mages could feel the power suddenly in the air around them and Zachary noticed the glass bottle on the bar begin to bead with condensation. "Recite the oath you swore, word for word."

  "What is the point of all this?" Malek asked, with a nervous expression on his face.

  "The oath!" Carly repeated.

  "Fine," Lanos said. "I swear to honor and defend the code and should I fail then the sea herself shall take me down."

  "That is the oath you swore." Carly said, then she turned to Malek. "It is the oath of every captain of every ship and every member of every crew. Follow the code or risk the wrath of the sea."

  Sea water rose up from the floor of the tavern and gathered in the air to either side of Carly, white capped like waves about to crash. The pirates' eyes grew wide at the sight of the water and the change in the woman, whose skin had taken on a blue-green hue and who appeared to them as though she were underwater, like some dread mermaid. Carly waved her hand in the slightest of motions and the wall of water that had gathered around her and was now filling the floor of the tavern surged forward. The waves crashed upon the pirates, sending them spilling toward the door, taking wooden chairs and benches with them.

  As Carly walked out of the tavern after them them, Zachary turned to Ehlena and Stavros.

  "Please remind me not to get on the bad side of a goddess," he said.

  Ehlena looked at him. "You've no room to make such a comment, Zachary."

  "I know," he replied. "Just the same, I'd still rather not be on the bad side of a goddess."

  "Should we not do something?" Stavros asked.

  "She is the sea," Ehlena said. "What can the wind do but make her more furious?"

  "I suppose someone must do something," Zachary said, getting up from his seat and heading for the door. He glanced back at Ehlena and Stavros. "Did I not just ask you to remind me of something?"

  Outside, the pirates were pushing themselves to their feet, coughing and spluttering from the seawater they had swallowed and, as they stood, they looked up and saw the most fearsome sight. The other people of the pirate isle cowered at the sight, for the water that had gathered inside the tavern was now mirrored in the sea around the island as giant waves had risen high above the island in all directions, and now stood poised and raging in place, ready to crash down upon them all. Carly walked toward the pirates, a vision of unrelenting fury as Lanos, Malek and the others scrambled to get away from her.

  Carly was deep in the throes of her vengeance as her power flooded through her, a power she had denied for so long and,, once again, she knew who she was, for she was the sea, the rain, the lake and the stream; she was many things to many people; cities were named for her; and some claimed they had knowledge of her, but they had forgotten her true nature, and so had she. She remembered everything now, the power of her tides, the relentless wrath of her storms, her unforgiving depths, they too were in her nature, for she was Mara, goddess of the sea. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned to see the mage, Zachary smiling at her. He stepped around her, with his hand on the side of her arm and, before she could say anything, he pulled her into his strong arms and planted a kiss right on her mouth.

  The oceans began to fall and a great wind rose as Ehlena stood in the doorway of the tavern and pushed the waves away from the island. The waves fell with a great crash that was echoed by a clap as Carly, who had once again become the goddess, slapped Zachary.

  "You hit like a goddess?" he said, rubbing his cheek.

  "Did I give you permission to do that?" she asked.

  "I just kissed you, Carly," Zachary said.

  "If you didn't like it, I won't do it again," he replied. "In the meantime, would you mind not destroying the island. I do enjoy the sweetwater they serve here."

  Carly stared at him with a look of utter frustration on her face then she turned and stormed away down the street.

  "Interesting approach," Stavros said.

  "She is a goddess," Zachary said. "Fighting her was probably not a wise idea, so I thought I might as well try something else."

  "I will see to her," Stavros offered, then he hurried off after her as Ehlena walked over to where Zachary stood, still rubbing his cheek.

  "It is time we left this island, Zachary," she said. "I must return to Aghlar and you must find your son. He is on his own journey, but Stavros is right, there is much Aaron has yet to learn and much only you can teach him."

  "Do you know where he is going?"

  "That I do not know, but I will keep my ear to the wind and it will tell me soon enough."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Keira helped Ariana into the outfit of elven armor that Rolan had arranged for her, cinching tight the light green leather corset and adjusting the straps that held the lightweight elven steel bracers that covered her forearms. Ariana looked at herself in the large mirror, at the tight-fitting, intricately patterned leather and shining steel, and she was amazed at how easily she could move and how little it weighed.

  "You look very much like an elven warrior, Squirrel," Keira said.

  "Thank you, Keira," Ariana replied.

  The elven woman had decided to accompany her wherever she went, almost like a retainer, except Ariana had not asked it of her. Keira was not one to be dissuaded though, and she continued to call her Squirrel, though Ariana had convinced her not to do it when other elves were around.

  "Remember the things Rolan taught you and what you have learned from the trees. You will be fine." From the bed, Keira picked
up a large, finely lacquered and ornately carved wooden box and carried it over to Ariana.

  "How is it that we have things made of wood in Elvanar yet the trees do not object?" Ariana asked. The box was beautiful, but she could not imagine the elves cutting down trees for the purpose of making such things.

  "They give freely of themselves," Keira explained. "A branch may break and it is a gift, or those like you, who have the power of the trees and the living earth may call forth new growth and ask the trees to give back the power you have given. If you cut your hair, what use do you have for the clippings?"

  "I see," Ariana said. It made sense. "What is in the box?"

  "A gift, from Rolan. He is very helpful to you."

  "Yes, he is. Rolan has taken care of many things for me here."

  "Perhaps too many things," Keira said.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Unlike the trees, people seldom give freely of themselves," Keira said. "I believe Rolan seeks your favor. For what I do not know, but it is also the opinion of Queen Laurana."

  "You have spoken with her?"

  "She inquired about your wellbeing," Keira said. "I told her you were well."

  "Why has she not called upon me herself?" Ariana asked. She had tried to see Laurana but had been rebuffed by the queen's retainers. "There is much I would like to ask her."

  "She has favored you with the court, but now she must remain independent of both you, her niece and Quenta, her son. Still, she does wish you well and is hopeful for a peaceful outcome to your contest."

  "As do I," Ariana said. She wished she did not have to fight Quenta, but it had been explained to her by both Rolan and Keira that the matter would not be laid to rest until Quenta had successfully defended himself from her accusation of cowardice. "It cannot be helped, I suppose. I will just be glad when this is over."

  Arianan opened the box and inside, laying on a bed of fine fabric, she found a mask, similar to the one Laurana wore, except that it was silver, like Quenta's.

  "It is beautiful," Ariana said as she picked it up and held it in front of her face.

  "It belonged to your mother," Keira said as she laid the box back on the bed. "Rolan said he thought it fitting that you should wear it."

  "It is strange to think of my mother here at Elvanar," Ariana said, dropping the mask from her face and turning it over her hand. "I barely remember her, except for her face, which is so much like Laurana's."

  "You are like her in many ways," Keira said.

  "Did you know my mother?"

  "A little. I was one of those responsible for guarding her when she traveled outside of Elvanar."

  "Then you have been to Maramyr?"

  "Yes," Keira said. "I have been there many times."

  "You were a member of my mother's guard? Did I ever meet you?"

  "Most of the time, the children stayed in the palace," Keira told her. "But I did meet you once when you were very young. Your father brought you out to see us."

  "It all feels so far away," Ariana said. "I wish I knew more about my parents."

  "They were honorable people," Keira said.

  "Rolan told me a story about my mother. He said she was in love with another man, a mage named Zachary. Is that true?"

  "I cannot speak of the feelings of another, but they spent much time together, yes."

  "He showed me what the mage did to the forest," Ariana told her. "I do not know whether to hate him for what he did or to feel sorry for him. If his grief was so great, he must have loved my mother very much."

  "Many elves have expressed the same. While Zachary will never be forgiven for the things he did, some have said they felt much sympathy for him, and shared in his grief. It is possible he would have been forgiven the burning of the forest over time, but he killed our king, and for that, he has been declared an enemy of Elvanar."

  "Rolan did not explain how that happened."

  "This does not surprise me. It is embarrassing to those who believe our race to be better than the others. King Quoren was a fool to attack the mage when he was in that state. He was burned to nothingness in nearly an instant. That is what happened."

  "Is it possible that Zachary could be so powerful?"

  "I did not see it happen, but the trees do not lie and they fear Zachary more than fire."

  "Did you know him as well?"

  "Yes. I knew him," Keira said, but Ariana got the feeling she did want to say more. Keira stepped around behind her and guided her hand that held the mask back to her face, then adjusted the leather straps that held it in place.

  "If you were part of my mother's guard, I suppose you would have met a lot of people. Why do you live by yourself out in the forest?"

  "I failed in my duty," Keira said then she donned her own mask. "I hope to correct that. Come, it is time you proved Quenta to be both a fool and a coward, just like his father."

  Ariana did not ask Keira what she meant by what she had said, and silently followed her out of the room.

  They arrived at an open area in the inner city where two large branches intersected and were surrounded by higher branches that ran in a circle around them. Ariana looked up and saw hundreds of elves, all wearing masks and perched upon the branches like so many birds. Among them, she spotted Laurana and the members of court, and standing ahead on the higher of the two large intersecting branches was Quenta, waiting for her.

  "You travel alone from here," Keira said. "His arm is stronger than yours, and he is quicker with a blade, but you are faster, like a squirrel, and the trees like you so I think you will have their help." With that parting advice, Keira leapt away, upward and almost impossibly high to land among the other spectators.

  Ariana wondered how the elven woman had been able to leap so high, but she caught a faint hint of power lingering in the air and she wondered what abilities Keira might have. More importantly, she wondered if she too could use her power in such a way. Out of time to ponder such things, she leapt up to the lower of the two large branches, then up to the higher one, to stand opposite Quenta.

  "Three strikes," Laurana said, her voice echoing with power. "The first to be marked thrice will be the lesser warrior and the last to concede will be the braver."

  Ariana wondered about the reasoning behind the terms of the match. Keira had explained that Laurana and the Court set the rules of a duel such as this. It seemed they had given her a way to win, even if Quenta managed to strike her three times. All she had to do was refuse to lose.

  "You were a fool to challenge me," Quenta said.

  "You were a fool to strike me without reason, cousin," Ariana replied, reminding him of their relation.

  "I have reason enough," Quenta told her from behind his mask.

  "The court has set an additional rule," Laurana announced from above. "No steel."

  "What's this?" Quenta hissed.

  "By unanimous decision," Laurana added. And two masked elves leapt from the branches carrying wooden swords with bright red, painted blades.

  "It seems the Queen would have us playing with wooden swords," Ariana said as she handed over her sword and took one of the painted blades. "I suppose it is fitting for two bickering children."

  "Unlike you, I am not a child," Quenta replied as he grudgingly exchanged his steel for a wooden blade.

  "Then perhaps you should stop acting like one," Ariana told him and she thought she caught a smile from one of the elves before they leapt away, returning to their positions among the spectators. She noticed the blade of her sword appeared to be wet and she understood the point of them. Instead of a sharp edge cutting either of them, whatever the dark red substance that had been applied to the blade was would mark them, counting as a strike.

  "You will pay for your continued insolence, half-breed," Quenta told her.

  "Is that what this is about?" Ariana asked. "You dislike me because of my parentage?"

  "It was a mistake to welcome others into the forest. Your mother brought shame upon all of Elvanar when
she spread her legs for them."

  "Do we just begin or must we wait for your mother to start this match?" Ariana asked. "I very much want to hit you right now."

  "Let the match begin!" Laurana said.

  Ariana dashed forward, thrusting the point of her wooden blade at Quenta's masked face. He ducked just in time then brought his own blade up toward her arm, but she had already pulled her sword back and parried his blow. She threw her shoulder into his chest and knocked him backwards, guessing he was not expecting her to attack so quickly. Quenta stumbled back, then he quickly regained his balance and, with a hard push, he threw her away from him, sending her sailing high into the air. Ariana twisted around, and got her feet underneath her in time to land on the wide tree branch. At least Quenta had not thrown her off, not yet anyway. Ariana was amazed at his strength and she realized how dangerous it had been for her to move in so close to him.

  Quenta leapt at her, his sword ready to strike and Ariana remembered how Keira had leapt up to the high branches. She sent her power to her feet and asked the trees to guide her then leapt over Quenta. As he rushed past, Quenta raised the tip of his sword high and came within a finger's width of touching her. Ariana landed on the branch and turned to find the elf already rushing at her. She blocked as he swung his sword in a slashing blow and the force of his wooden blade hitting her own rattled her fingers. Before she could think, he swung again, harder and faster, hammering away at her and it was all Ariana could do to block his blows. He had her pinned and the impact of his sword smashing against hers, drover Ariana to her knees. She knew she had to get away. As Quenta raised his sword, she dropped and rolled to the side and kept rolling, dropping off the side of the giant branch.

  I am like a squirrel, Keira had told her, and Ariana grasped the tiny grooves in the bark of the thick tree with her fingers then she used her power to make her feet grip it as well. Making sure she kept enough pressure with her power to hold her to the tree, she stood up and started running around the underside of the branch, coming up the other side behind Quenta, who was peering over the edge where she had fallen. He turned at the last second and blocked her sword, then she saw his power fill his eyes and he thrust his other hand toward her with an open palm, sending a wave of dense air at her. Ariana flew backwards, out into the open air, the breath knocked out of her but she called the trees to stop her before she fell. A new branch sprouted from the side of the large branch and she caught it at its tip and swung herself around and back to safety. Quenta was already on her and, before she could raise her sword to block him, he swung his sword hard into her shoulder. His blade glanced off the elven steel but it left a bright red mark where it had connected and Ariana was glad they were not using real swords. She did not know how strong the elven steel was that ran the length of her upper arm, but she doubted it would have held against a sharp elven sword.