The Prince by K. C. Herbel

Author:K. C. Herbel [Herbel, K. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944314125
Publisher: Epic Books Press
Published: 2017-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Return of the Gyldan Mene

“So, you can see …” The captain of the Dragonfly had his mouth full of apple. “… I couldn’t possibly take on a journey to Lyonesse.”

Thortan scowled at him. “But you just sailed in here two days ago, ya green-skinned, flop-eared oaf!”

“Precisely.” The captain nodded.

Billy’s mind strayed as he allowed his eyes to wander over the marvelous ship docked behind the captain. From her pale chestnut woods and delicate gold railings to her silvery spider-silk ropes and iridescent gossamer sails, the Dragonfly was utterly breathtaking. She was nothing close to the clunky ships of men, and much more than their shipwrights could hope to achieve. She floated on the water as still as a cloud on the horizon, and as inviting and patient as Billy’s old climbing tree.

Elzgig’s irritated but restrained voice yanked Billy back to the business at hand.

“I don’t think you understand. Take a good look about you, Toady Brimstone. Go ahead. Tirn Aill is going into winter for the first time in memory!”

The captain scrunched up the right side of his face, closing up his steel-grey eye. Then, with his mint-green left eye, he looked around from face to face and scratched his scaly neck. “Yeahr.” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.”

Onian leaned over Billy’s shoulder. “It is! Have you not seen the forest or Shiny Brook? Nothing but brown leaves and frozen water.”

“Ice,” Thortan said.

“Whatever!” The lean elf sighed. “The water isn’t moving!”

“And our future king, here …” Elzgig strained to remain calm. “He needs to get to the world of men so that he can bring back what will fix it all.”

The captain seemed more interested in slicing his apple than in what they were telling him. He cut out a piece in the shape of a star, and then ate it from the point of his knife. Then, with slow, deliberate actions, he looked Billy over, starting from his feet and moving up. “Seems to me,” he mumbled through the apple, “that a future king could come up with a better way to get to the world of men if he really is—”

“Billy is Eleanor’s son.”

“See.” Thortan pushed Billy’s hand forward. “He’s wearin’ the ring.”

“Oooo.” Brimstone rolled his eyes. “I’m all impressed.”

Elzgig stepped in front of Billy. “He hasn’t yet learned the ways of his power.”

The captain said nothing.

“Oh, it’s hopeless talking to his kind.” Thortan threw his hands up and turned away. “Let’s go. Maybe the Witan will have a suggestion.”

Onian turned and followed Thortan, leaving Billy and Elzgig with the stubborn captain. Billy watched curiously, as the captain continued the odd dissection of his fruit. Elzgig took a deep breath and opened his mouth, but then sighed and walked away.

Now, Billy stood alone before the captain, his arms crossed. He rummaged through his mind for something that might convince the old sea dog, but Elzgig had already exhausted everything, and to no avail. Billy was about to give up and walk away when the captain spoke.

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