Plague of Tyrants by M J Sewall

Author:M J Sewall [Sewall, M J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2016-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31: The Dragon

“Sister? You mean you're Sandrell's twin sister?” asked Gordon, as Brenddel rubbed his jaw and got up from the sand.

“Yes!” Aline hugged the woman, “this is my aunt, Ardrell.”

“I'm the oldest. By a few moments,” said the woman, her helmet tucked under her other arm.

Gordon asked, “Aline. Why didn't you tell us?”

“When I saw the rider from Harlow's ship, I knew it must be Aunt Ardrell. But I couldn't say anything. Every word we said on that ship was heard. Plus, I didn't know what she was planning.”

Ellice said, “That was wise, especially since Harlow wasn't truthful with us.”

Brenddel stood. “Now, I need you to get me to those airships.”

Ardrell began to argue, but Brenddel interrupted, “I know you hate me. Sandrell told me about you, of course, but this is not a time for old wars. I need to get up to those airships and tell them what is happening. Will you help us?”

Ardrell looked to the others.

Aline said, “He's on our side now.”

“We'll see about that,” said Ardrell. “Come with me, Firstman. But hold on tight.” She walked to her beast, expecting Brenddel to follow. He did, but cautiously. He never thought he'd be riding a Jhalgon.

They rose into the air astride the sixty-foot fish. Brenddel looked uneasily at the giant beast below him. To his back, the giant fin rose over his head, and he kept his legs firmly pressed against the large leather saddle. The last time he was this close to a Jhalgon, he was hacking off a fin for his trophy wall.

He did not share this fact with Ardrell.

Brenddel grabbed the leather straps on either side and wrapped them around his arms. He almost had the urge to put his arms around her waist. She looked exactly like Sandrell. He tried not to think about that. The last time he saw her, Sandrell had tried to kill him. She nearly succeeded.

When he heard the news she had fallen, he had nearly cried for her, but Brenddel hadn't actually cried since he was ten years old. He focused his attention on the airships. Brenddel hoped they would see the white cloth, the offer of peace, before they shot them from the sky.

The Jhalgon stayed out of range and signaled the best they could so that the three airships would not fire. They could see the amazement on the faces of the men even from this distance. The beast approached from above, as planned. Brenddel felt strange enough riding a creature he had done battle with, he definitely did not want to be shot off its back.

The weapons on the ship were standing down, aimed away from them. Ardrell positioned them alongside the lead ship close enough for Brenddel to be heard. Tolan leaned on the railing of the deck, “By the gods, Brenddel, you're alive… and you're riding a monster.”

Brenddel looked at the beast, “I'm as surprised as you are.”

Tolan asked, “How did you survive? We found some wreckage from your ship, but…”

“I used the cloud catcher,” Brenddel said.

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