Here There be Dragons: Testing the Waters

Nereida had fallen back asleep after Aella had left, still tired from their night, but also simply exhausted in a way that sat heavy on her bones. When she awoke it was to Alejo knocking on her door.

“Mooooom! Come on, we are shoving off!”

“I’m coming,” she called, heat in her cheeks. How had she slept that long? She dressed hurriedly, pulling on just a simple shift and trousers underneath. The fabric was a light cotton, finely woven. It would not last if it got too salty, but for now it would work. The noonday sunlight was bright, without a cloud in the sky, the air still. Most of the crew were busy, preparing to shove off. Orders were being shouted about. Alejo was dressed in Aella’s colours, his little head wrapped in a bandana. He looked like a miniature pirate.

“Message for you,” he said seriously, his little face twisting as if he were trying to remember the exact wording. “The Admiral says that you are to be ready to speed up the Brick if the smoke gets too bad.”

“Not Epelda?”

“No. You are supposed to push, cause they can’t be pulled.” He shrugged. “I dunno what that means.”

“Means their sails are not up to whatever Epelda throws,” Nereida replied. “If you are free, when the order comes, I’d like your help.”

“REALLY?” He jumped up, looking so very proud. “Oh mama, thank you!”

“But do not ignore your tasks. You wanted this grown-up responsibility, you must see it through.”

“Yes ma’am.” He was grinning so wide it seemed to take over his whole face. She grinned back at him. The young boy turned and headed off to check in with Epelda, a bounce in his step.

Nereida returned to her cabin to braid and cover her hair, so that if Epelda did sing up the winds, she would still be able to see. Then she headed out to the deck to watch the island disappear. She had not expected to see a fire spreading out of control across the entirety of the small former oasis island. The smoke rose thick and black. Epelda was singing, driving the smoke away from both ships. Nereida blinked. She knew fire. There had been no fire just a few minutes before when she had received the message from Alejo. What in five hells had caused that?

The flames themselves were a sickly green in some places, but most of the fire looked normal enough. Nereida found Caleb on deck, the one-handed prince sitting and watching the land disappear.

“How?” she asked, sitting next to him.

“Some kind of accelerant, Nerry. They spent hours pouring it. But the flame does strange things when it hits clumps of the poison. I don’t like it. Flame shouldn’t be green.” He made a face. “I have been saying prayers for the dead all morning. I hope you don’t mind. Most of the dead are sirens.”

“Why would I mind?”

“You and Stars were not, exactly, allies.” He looked out over the railing, toward the smoke. There was something haunted in his expression. “Do you think he heard my prayers?”

“I don’t know but I hope so,” she replied. She leaned into her brother-in-law, trying to offer him strength. “What has you so twisted up, Caleb?”

“Nerry… did we kill their souls?”

That gave her pause. She sat up, searching his face for clues of his pain. Then, slowly, it dawned on her. Her mother, her people, believed that drowning destroyed your essence, because they were of fire. What if fire did the same to those of water? She took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

“They didn’t die to it. I’m sure that the gods will show them mercy.” The wind moved, just for a moment, just enough to bring the scent of burning flesh and something acrid into their noses before Epelda redoubled her song, dispersing the terrible smell.

“I’m not sure the gods are merciful, Nerry.” Caleb squeezed her hand once before he let go.

“I have to believe they are. That they can be kind. Otherwise…. Otherwise I house a monster, and I can’t….” She shook her head. She didn’t want to cry again, not on the deck. She had to be strong now, and push forward.

They sat together as the island disappeared, neither of them needed or wanted while the ship was starting her voyage again. It was nice to sit with him, even though it was in silence.

“Alejo came to read to me, while you were off on the Brick.” Caleb’s mouth quirked at the other ship’s name. “He’s been practicing, and even tried to do “voices” for each character. He’s quite expressive.” He smiled, but his eyes stayed sad as he looked out over the open ocean. “I miss my kids, Nerry. I’m not sure how I can manage this.”

“Two years,” Nereida whispered. “It is not that long. He’ll forgive you. They both will.” She put her hand on his knee. “You are my brother too, Caleb.” He nodded, the haunted expression lingering. “Do you want me to keep the boys away?”

“Stars, no! They make me laugh, Nerry, when I didn’t think I would ever laugh again.”

The Tooth and the Brick plodded along through the seas. The little Brick could not keep the same speeds as the Tooth, and so Aella ordered some of the sails to be furled to not leave the smaller ship behind. And while the Brick was not built for the same bursts of speed, she did plod along without hesitation even when there was little to no wind. It was a marvel to watch, though Nereida could not believe it when Aella told her the ship ran on steam. Dymion had been less surprised, having heard years ago of some kind of trial with steam.

Two days passed with calm seas and gentle, even breezes. Nereida spent most of her time with her children. Damara was learning to crawl, which was made more difficult by the ever rocking deck. Carlos sat with her, watching with a grin on his weathered face.

“She’ll have her sea-legs before she can walk. A true daughter of the ocean.” Nereida felt her stomach twist at the word choice, but she smiled anyway.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a child who learned to walk on a ship instead of on land,” she admitted, watching as Damara wiggled her way forward toward a favourite toy. She seemed too young, too small to be learning to crawl. Nereida wondered if it was her dragon heritage.

A sudden sharp whistle broke her out of her easy conversations. Nereida scooped up Damara, binding the struggling infant into her carrier. Epelda came flying down from the crow’s nest. She did a complicated set of trills on her whistle, one that Nereida did not know. She looked up to Carlos for a translation.

“She’s calling for the officers,” he replied. “Not our problem.” But then a second shrill sound happened, and his face darkened. “Enemies on the horizon. Best get the wee ones beneath.” Nereida stood, ignoring her daughter’s frustrated cries, and went to retrieve her sons. Egaz was at her side quickly enough. The youngster bounced from foot to foot, his expression anxious.

“Little love, what’s wrong?” Nereida asked. But before the child could answer, Epelda was suddenly there, her face flushed and her hair wind-swept.

“Blockade,” she told Nereida, her hands flying so fast that Nereida struggled to keep up. “We are discussing what to do, but you need to get the boys beneath. We can’t let them be seen.” And without waiting to see if Nereida understood, she took to the air again, joining the officers at the helm.

Nereida picked up Egaz, resting him on her hip off the side so that he wouldn’t squish his sister in her carrier. It was getting harder and harder to do now. He had put on some weight at the castle, filling out and getting stronger, and was taller than he had been.

“Mom,” he whispered urgently. “I saw… I saw you get hit with the bad blood.” He was shaking into her, grasping at her like she would disappear if he let go. “You can’t be a dragon today mommy. Promise!” She wanted to tell him it was a bad dream, a figment of his anxiety and overactive imagination. But if this was a blockade, it was likely the demons. And if they had more of that blood of the Shadow Dragon…. She also could not ignore all the times he had star-read.

“I promise,” she whispered back, kissing his head. “But you must promise to stay beneath. No magic unless we are boarded.”

“I promise,” he echoed.

Alejo was easy to find, but far less easy to contain. The boy was running about, delivering messages and tools, running with the reckless abandon of a happy child. Clearly no one had told the boy what was happening.

“Alejo!” Nereida called to her son. He looked up after delivering a message. He frowned, his arms crossing as if he were annoyed at her.

“I’m on shift, mom,” he said, his nostrils flaring. “Don’t make me look bad to the crew!”

“We need to get below deck,” Nereida replied softly, trying to keep her voice low. She didn’t want to make him feel embarrassed, but he also needed to obey. “Things are about to get hairy, little love.”

“Not until I’m given an order!” He crossed his arms and glared at her with all the fierceness he could summon.

“Alejo Basiano D’Igna.” The boy flinched when his mother hissed his full name. He was saved from his mother’s ire, however, when Epelda swooped in. She took one look at the angry, defiant little boy, and signed a single word.

“Below.”

Alejo gave her a crisp salute, though a pout had worked its way onto his face as he stomped below deck. Nereida let out a long, slow sigh.

“Don’t be too harsh, Water-Mama,” Epelda signed, her hard expression melting. “It’s hard to be the newest crew. He’ll manage. I did.” She gave Nereida a cheeky half smile. “If it comes to battle, Jules will come get you. Until then, get below.” She took off, not bothering to see if Nereida obeyed.