Brendell: Rogue Thief

by Patrick Welch

  Madnizaroc had appeared at the cabin at daybreak; a bit earlier than I would have preferred, but I hadn't been that specific. With her, as I had dreadfully learned, being specific with instructions was extremely important.

  Now I merely sat and watched her clothing flow in a torrent of colors as her moods shifted from surprise to rage to umbrage. “You heard me,” I said after she stopped screaming. “It's the only way. I cannot delay any longer."

  "You are expecting me to act like some mindless horse!"

  "Not mindless exactly. I do expect you to find your way to Houff. I doubt I will be of little help, being up in the air and all."

  "Brendell, you are the most disgusting human I have ever met.” She turned her back to emphasize her point.

  "I know some who may agree. Be that as it may, we must be leaving."

  She spun on her heels. “You will not ride me! I will not suffer the dignity of having you atop me like some, like some simple beast of burden!"

  "Fine. Then you can carry me."

  She smiled. “Yes. And if I happen to sneeze, well, accidents do happen."

  "I was thinking more in your claws."

  She hesitated only a second. “Agree. Be sure to let me know if I happen to hold you too tight."

  "That shouldn't be a problem.” I rose and walked to the end of the room where an object covered by a blanket sat. “I prepared this basket,” I said as I through the blanket aside. The basket was made of wicker, large and reasonably comfortable. Two strong ropes were attached and I held them up. “Merely hold onto these as tightly as you wish."

  She glared at me, something I was getting accustomed to. “I will never forget this indignity, Brendell."

  "I'm sure. Help me get this outside.” Muttering curses, she helped me drag it through the small cabin and out the door. Then I climbed inside and wrapped myself with several blankets. “Take me to Houff."

  Madnizaroc immediately changed into her dragon form. Sending a towering stream of flame into the heavens, she rose in the air, then hovered over me before reaching down with her mighty legs. I held my breath as her talons nearly brushed my forehead before grasping the ropes. Then, seemingly without effort, she flew upward, unleashing a roar of anger before circling and heading south.

  Far below, the land slowly turned from snow white to gray to green. The forests looked more like moss on a rock than the tall, stately trees I knew them to be. Surprisingly, it was colder up here than on the ground, and I wrapped the blankets tightly around me and wished I had more. It would be nice, I mused, if a serving wench could serve me a glass of wine and a meal as I had nothing else to do but huddle and shiver. Still this was an interesting way to travel, and I wondered idly if dragons could be trained to provide such service. But all I needed to do was look at Madnizaroc and see the anger in her eyes to realize that would never happen.

  When we landed for the evening, we had left Mount Perjheus far behind. “Tomorrow we must travel across the Pini Ocean,” Madnizaroc said as we ate. She had done the hunting, certainly the only activity she had enjoyed all day, and we were feasting on roasted deer—prepared by one blast of her fiery breath.

  "You can cross that in one day?” I asked, impressed. It took weeks by ship.

  "We'll spend the evening on an island I know. It is too small to be of any use to your kind."

  "Excellent."

  "I should leave you there."

  "Then you will never be free of me."

  She studied me in the firelight, one which she also had started. Having a dragon as a traveling companion, I was quickly realizing, had unique advantages. “You know, Brendell, you and I could make a powerful team. Your talents, while reprehensible, still have their uses. This Houff you are so concerned about; the two of us could conquer it and rule it together."

  By her expression, I could see she was serious. In the firelight, in her human form, she appeared as little more save a desirable woman. Alas, that was not the case. I set down my meal reluctantly. “The way you and Lord Bandikane ruled his kingdom? Through fear and destruction?"

  "They have their uses."

  "Houff already has a ruler. One who is revered by her followers and who cares for their well-being. I have no interest in usurping her throne."

  She threw a gnawed bone into the fire. “You are a fool and a coward, Brendell. I will be ecstatic to be rid of you."

  "As soon as we reach Houff. Excuse me, but I need my rest.” Her eyes, glowing like twin volcanoes, continued to stare at me as I wrapped myself in my blankets and tried to fall asleep. I finally succeeded, but her mocking voice remained inside my dreams. I earned little rest that night.

  Despite its billowing sails, the ship seemed to be solidly embedded on a deep blue porcelain plate. I leaned over the edge of my carriage and stared in wonder. This high, the entire world below was frozen, as if some god had painted a massive still life. I wished I had the Far Glass with me, just so I could observe in greater detail. “Could we fly lower?” I yelled to my steed.

  "If you wish,” Madnizaroc replied. “Just so you know, it is not unusual for humans to shoot at my kind with arrows. They can't harm me, but I don't know about you."

  "Point taken,” I grumbled and settled back in my basket. We were now in our second day above the ocean. As Madnizaroc had said, we had spent the previous evening on a small isle. I had managed to scrounge a meal out of some fruit and the other inhabitants I found there; she ate nothing. When asked, she said that dragons did not have to eat as often as “weak humans."

  "Suit yourself. This crab is good, though."

  "Crab. Yes,” she said with a snort. “You merely picked them off the beach. Where is the thrill of the kill, the excitement of the hunt, in that?"

  "I prefer the simple life.” I just can't seem to avoid complications.

  "Only apt for a simple man."

  "Perhaps,” I had said and smiled. “But this simple man has the power to make a dragon do anything he wishes."

  Within seconds she had turned from human into her true form. She towered over me and brought her great head so close that her hot breath nearly burned me. “I will enjoy so much feasting upon your liver, Brendell."

  I merely shrugged. “While you're waiting, fetch me a few more crabs, will you?"

  The memory of that conversation caused my stomach to growl, and I reached in a pocket and pulled out a cooked crab. Would we reach the mainland before nightfall? I wondered as I enjoyed my meal. If not, I could only hope our next island stop would have as ample a larder as the last one.

  My reverie was shattered, however, by a sudden scream from Madnizaroc. It was unlike any I had heard before, and I looked at her in surprise and alarm. “What is it?"

  "Can you swim, or will your basket float?” she asked as she suddenly veered downward.

  "Yes. To both I suppose.” I looked down. The ocean was approaching. Fast. And there was something in the water, something nearly as large as a ship. “What are you doing? Take us back up. Now!"

  "I can't,” she said, and suddenly she loosed that scream again. But this time a response came from below.

  My basket was rocking wildly as she continued her mad descent. “You must! I have the contract! You must obey me."

  "I can't. I have no choice!” And suddenly she released her hold on the ropes.

  "Madnizaroc!” I screamed as abruptly I was falling out of control toward the ocean. My basket threatened to turn over but I fought it, trying to shift my weight to keep it upright. Then I had the chance to look over the rim of my basket, and my concerns over controlling it become moot.

  I was heading straight toward a sea monster.

  I had never seen one before, although I had heard the tales. And the tales didn't do it justice. It was nearly as large as a ship, larger than Madnizaroc. It was covered by green scales and a giant fin ran from its head to its tail. It was answering Madnizaroc's screams with trumpeting of its own, and it rose halfway out of the water as she approached.

  Wa
s she going to attack? I wondered, then stopped wondering as my basket crashed into the water, nearly throwing me overboard. I managed to steady it so it stayed upright, but, by the amount of water pouring in, it wouldn't remain so long. It would float, I realized, but not with me inside, so I crawled over the side, then grabbed hold of a rope so I wouldn't lose it. Only then could I return my attention to the two giant creatures.

  They were still screaming at each other, the sea monster rearing out of the water, Madnizaroc hovering just out of its reach. The sea monster had two small arms about halfway down its body, so small that I couldn't imagine it using them for hunting. It waved them fruitlessly in the air as Madnizaroc remained determinedly out of its reach.

  Why doesn't she use her fire? I wondered as they continued, the sea monster rising and falling in the water, she diving then soaring, both maintaining their constant trumpeting. It appeared like some insane challenge to arms, or a dance.

  A dance. “This can't be,” I whispered, now totally entranced by the two monsters.

  But it was. Madnizaroc soared once again high into the air, then turned and dove directly down toward the water. The sea monster rose to meet her. This time she made no attempt to elude it; instead she stopped just a few feet in front of it as if waiting. Again the sea monster screamed and lunged forward, but this time it managed to grasp her with its puny arms. It brought Madnizaroc, still protesting but weakly, to it, forcing her tail into the water. The ocean roiled around them and both creatures continued screaming until abruptly the sea monster released her and dropped back into the water. Madnizaroc literally staggered into the air. She circled over the ocean for several minutes, but the sea monster did not reappear. One more scream—this one was of frustration—and then she turned and started toward me. I quickly crawled into the nearly full basket and pulled the two ropes together. She grabbed them with her great talons and once again we were aloft.

  The basket emptied quickly and the sunlight did a thorough job of drying my clothing, but I hardly noticed. I've just seen dragons mate. Now I knew why dragons were always females; the males lived in the oceans, not in the air. I also understood why Madnizaroc had ignored my commands. She must have been in heat, and her need to mate had been stronger than even the words on the contract. “Hope you're feeling better,” I told her and chuckled.

  She spat smoke. “You will say nothing of this. It shall go to your grave."

  "Fair enough. How soon before we reach the mainland?"

  "Before nightfall. Now be quiet. Talking to you takes too much effort and it's boring and I'm hungry."

  I bet you are. I wrapped a blanket around me, crouched down in the damp basket and went to sleep.

  "There's been something I've been meaning to ask you,” I began. We had just finished our supper and were relaxing at our campfire. Despite our unexpected detour, we had reached the mainland just before dark and made camp in a forest far from any village.

  Madnizaroc, still in dragon form, glared at me. “I will not discuss what happened today. That knowledge will go to your grave. I will ensure that."

  "Not that. I'm just curious. Why did you sign the contract?"

  "The magician tricked me!” She rose and suddenly towered over me. Her head was just inches from my own, her jaws open, her fangs glistening in the campfire light.

  I put a finger on one and gently pushed her head back. “But how? You're not stupid, Madnizaroc."

  "No, I was under a spell. Rather, the parchment was under a spell. What I agreed to was not what the contract says now."

  "Why did you sign anything?"

  "It was in my best interest."

  "I still don't understand."

  Abruptly she adopted her human guise. “You are ignorant about the ways of dragons and magicians, Brendell."

  "Enlighten me."

  She frowned. “I suppose it doesn't matter if I tell you, the knowledge is common enough. Magicians need dragons. We provide eggs, fangs and scales they use to prepare the most powerful potions. They provide us with demons and spells so we can protect ourselves and our nests. But Kladiskan betrayed me."

  "The magician?"

  "Exactly. I assumed I was signing a standard contract for mutual gain and protection. As I just told you, the words were changed after I signed it."

  "I see.” I sat in silent thought as she watched. I had dealt more often than I would have liked with magicians in the past. Rarely was it pleasurable. Fortunately, none save Lord Bandikane had had such an agreement with a dragon. More fortunately, magicians were few and far between, dragons even more so. Then an idea struck me. “You say this Kladiskan had cast a spell on the document."

  She crossed her arms and snorted. “Is it necessary I repeat everything so you can comprehend?"

  I waved aside her frustration. “I'm just wondering; perhaps the spell was cast after you signed the contract, rather than removed."

  She frowned. “What are you saying?"

  "That perhaps the contract you signed was real, but the words on it now are false."

  She considered my hypothesis. “Even if true, it hardly matters. What the contract says is what I must obey. Unlike you humans, I live up to my obligations no matter how treacherously obtained."

  I reached in my vest and removed the parchment. In the firelight, it looked authentic enough. It certainly was effective. “If what I surmise is true, there may be a way to correct the problem."

  "Indeed. Burn the contract."

  "Can't,” and I put it back in my vest. “You would kill me in a heartbeat."

  "Perhaps. More the likelihood I would prolong your justified death for the indignities you have forced upon me."

  "You're making it difficult for me to consider helping you, you know."

  She smiled. “True. But once we reach Houff, then you are obligated to release me."

  "No, when I'm through with you I'll release you. I have much to do before I am ready for the endless sleep."

  Her eyes flashed red with anger. “What are you telling me, Brendell? That, like all humans, you are going back on your word?"

  "No. Just that I can't let you kill me right now. Perhaps later, we'll see.” I yawned and stretched. “Can we reach Houff tomorrow?"

  "It depends how tired I am. And hungry.” She licked her lips for emphasis.

  I pointed to the remains of my meal resting on a spit over the fire. “Have some more rabbit."

  "I can't. You ruined it. It's cooked!"

  I shook my head. “Then hunt if you want to. I have to rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

  "It better be my day of emancipation."

  "We'll see. Goodnight.” I lied down and threw a blanket over my head. I didn't want to see the recrimination in her eyes any longer.

  Amazing what one can see from up here, I thought as we flew over the countryside. The trails within the forests, the meandering course of the river and streams branching to the sides, the patterns made by farms and fields and homesteads; the terrain was a constantly changing checkerboard of greens and browns and grays as the land shifted constantly from nature's use to man's. A dragon would be a wonderful weapon in a battle, I realized, and not simply because of its power. A field general would be victorious in every conflict if he had the information gathered by soaring over the enemy. No wonder, I realized, why the Assassin's Guild was so opposed to the Far Glass; even its limited powers would be invaluable in a conflict.

  That made it even more imperative I get it into the hands of the Captain's Guild.

  "How much longer?” I called out.

  "Several more hours."

  "When we arrive, don't get too low. The Guild will surely fire upon us."

  "I have no fear of your puny weapons."

  "I do. This basket would make an inviting target."

  She merely grunted, then abruptly veered upward. I wrapped the blankets tightly around me. This high, the temperature dropped considerably and I could now see my breath frosting in the air. “Maybe a little lower,”
I said between chattering teeth.

  "Make up your mind, Brendell.” We descended. “Happy now?” she asked after she again began flying straight.

  I could no longer see my breath in the air. “Yes, this will do."

  "I'll be glad when I'm rid of you,” she muttered and sent a burst of fire into the air.

  So will I.

  "Wake up, Brendell.” The command was followed by a violent shaking of my basket.

  I groaned and shook myself awake. “What is it?"

  "We've reached Houff. Where now?"

  I looked down. The terrain looked little different than what we had passed before. But if Madnizaroc said we were over Houff, then we must be. “Near the village. I'll have to go first to ... prepare them."

  "Prepare them for what?” Suspicion was heavy in her voice.

  "You, of course. It isn't often that a dragon visits Houff."

  "Why don't I just go with you in my human form?"

  Because I have to tell Pipo Fess what I'm doing, what she must do. “The magician of this realm uses demon archers for protection. You might fool a human, but I doubt you can fool them."

  "A magician?” The basket suddenly began jerking violently. “You never told me a magician ruled Houff!"

  "You never asked. She isn't much of a magician anyway. You should have nothing to fear from her.” I looked ahead. I could see the walls of Houff growing rapidly in the distance. “This is good. Just land in that field and wait. I'll call you."

  "How?” she asked after we were back on ground. We were between the forest and river and no one else was around. Perhaps they were all gone, I thought but forced the possibility aside.

  "We'll light a fire on the wall."

  "Agreed. How shall I arrive?"

  "By air,” I decided. “Be more impressive. Shouldn't take long. Stay here.” And I headed toward Houff.

  I met no one as I hurried to the village gates, which was not encouraging. Perhaps the Guild had finally overrun the handful of defenders. Or perhaps they had just conceded to the inevitable and fled.

  Those fears vanished, however, when I reached the village. Armed sentries manned the walls, although I was sure most were demon soldiers, not human. The gates opened slowly at my approach and I was met immediately by guards. One I recognized. He recognized me as well.