FALADEL
“What do you mean we can’t send out a single rescue ship? You already have volunteers–” I gesture towards Fin, Silv and Elen, who stand silently by my side. “All you need to do is provide us with resources, we could do the rest!” My voice is cold, angry, tight. It took me three tries and hours of waiting to get this meeting with their Council. I’m not going to give up this easily. I flick my gaze from one flat face to another. They were impressed enough with my claim on princehood, but I have no magic to show them, and they don’t appear to trust the crew's assertions that Briareth definitely survived his jump. Much less that he has magical abilities and training that might make him uniquely suited to survive a den of feral dragons.
“Unfortunately, Prince Faladel” A nasty Kashan by the name of Tuppin Bodnist says, putting an emphasis on the word so as to call even that into doubt, “We’re simply overwhelmed right now with refugees, scavenging supplies, and outfitting the ships to bring in more. We don’t have the time or resources to let you hunt one friend down who was stupid enough to jump onto the back of a dragon.”
“Are you suggesting,” I say, raising an eyebrow and meeting his red eyed stare with one of my own. “that the member of a diplomatic embassy who fought to protect your citizenry isn’t worth a week's rations for a company of three in this country?” I don’t count Fin; he’s assured me he doesn’t need rations.
“Of course we don’t mean to suggest any such thing–” A Tadhiel breaks in, “It is just difficult for us to imagine a reality in which your friend survived as you claim.”
“You mean you don’t believe me.”
“Would any sane person?” Tuppin cuts in again. “You come to us, claiming all sorts of nonsense, but you have no proof for any of it. No papers, no magical abilities that you can demonstrate, only your own word, your status as an unknown, and the words of three–” He glances at Silv, Elen, and Fin, “–questionable sources. Is it any wonder we think you all biased, unreliable, and, dare I say– a liability?”
“First you insult my honor, and now you besmirch my companions?!” I fill my voice with outrage. It isn’t hard. “I come to you requesting simple resources with proof my eyes have seen and I will swear to. My friend has magical abilities and training that makes survival almost certain. These three would also swear willingly that he turned salted-water sweet, and that he survived his jump and was carried off. Yet you insult me, degrade those who have helped me, and say I can’t even have that which I request? Items so easy to procure, that in normal times they would be sold in your marketplace for mere coppers?” My eyes flick in turn to each of the nine faces staring at me impassively from their silver thrones. What little hope I have dies. Some look away, others meet my gaze head on, blank stares giving away no thoughts. Tupin smirks at me, apparently taking delight in this.
“You must understand, young prince, it isn’t just the rations we cannot spare during this trying time.” The eldest Tadhiel says peaceably. “The people who go with you, volunteers they may be, but their services are truly needed elsewhere. The boat, the knowledge of how to use it, we are in dire need of both to ferry as many supplies from the ruined Outpost as we can scavenge. Although your friend is, of course, important, your tale of him surviving is… Highly unlikely at best. And if he does indeed have magical abilities that might serve him well in the Dragons’ nest, surely he can survive another week. We can meet again then.
“Are we in agreement on this?” He asks the others before I can protest. Silent nods, all around. “Then I am pleased to declare this meeting at an end.” He smiles at me. “We shall talk again next week. In the meantime, Brothers, let us adjourn for lunch.” There is a mumble of assent and old legs creak as they stand and leave, parting like a river around me and my friends. I stand frozen, disgusted by their eagerness to escape this room. It almost feels like they think their lunch is more important than Briareth. No, it isn’t almost. It is like they think it is more important! I can barely stop my lips from pulling back in a snarl. It looks like we’re going to have to go about this some other way.
A hand taps my shoulder and I twist, not hiding my anger as I spot the third Tadhiel Chairholder. He hadn’t spoken at all during the meeting, not choosing to voice his opinion or ask questions.
“I truly am sorry about your friend.” He says, smiling down at me. I’m not used to people taller than I am yet. It’s unnerving to look up at him. “I don’t doubt that he might have survived, but it will probably be a few days at least before you can go after him, even if I do help you in getting supplies. Would you like to stay at my house during that time?” I blink at him, surprised, and my confusion fades my snarl into a simple frown.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“You would help us?”
“The council won’t, but I, as an individual, would be glad to.” He smiles at me, white teeth matching the faded color of his thinning hair. He wears it short, and keeps his goatee trimmed to a fine point. I scan him, but am convinced this is no trick.
Letting my shoulders slump slightly, I admit “I’m sure we would be glad to take you up on your generous offer. It has not been, shall we say, the easiest time for us.”
“I’m sure, and I would love to hear the full tale of your misadventure over supper.” He says, turning away and glancing at my companions, “you will join us, of course?”
I wince internally. I hadn’t even thought to check. I should have looked to Silv, who leads their crew. Fin and Elen tend to follow her. She nods easily. “We follow where he goes. Especially if it eventually leads to the Dragons’ nest.”
“You have a special grudge against them?” The Chairholder asks curiously.
“Doesn’t everyone nowadays?” She answers dryly.
He chuckles. “True. One of the blessings of these times is the shared experiences and hatreds I suppose. Once the war is over, we will all go back to petty disputes, but for now at least we are united.” He starts walking out of the room, obviously expecting us to follow. We do, unquestioning.
The last day has been exhausting. From the time those horns blew, bringing the news all too late that the dragons were spotted, it was complete chaos. I was in the middle of negotiations with Silv and the Keeper of Outpost Seven, a capable Zytherling Matriarch by the name of Sotair Brygosom. They both immediately bolted in opposite directions after hearing the horns. I didn’t know who to follow, so I stood there confused for a few seconds before choosing to follow Silv back out into the mess that was the main corridor. There I was swept along in evacuations, unable to fight the tide of people, much less find a speedy Zytherling in the midst of all that.
I think Silv felt guilty for abandoning me, for the next time we met up, on the unloading docks of The Light that Guides the Lost Seas– the proper name of their Capital, as I learned on the sleepless trip over– she immediately promised to help me retrieve Briareth. Meanwhile, I wasn’t even aware that something had happened to him, and had just thought he was on a different ship of evacuees! I had been stressed before, hoping he’d been okay, and wondering if he’d been hurt or shot himself in the foot trying to defend the city. Little had I suspected he’d jumped on a dragon’s back, killed it, and then got carried off by its companions! Although, in hindsight, that sounds just like him.
Things only got worse from there. We didn’t have a place to stay, all the inns were filled, and the Chairholders were deep in discussion and weren’t seeing anyone. Four hours we waited in line before being told our story wasn’t worth hearing by guards. Another six hours, and another rejection. They were eating breakfast now, come back later. Four more hours, and finally we get in. But then they deny us anything.
Chairholder Helios-Lime III, however, shows us the first welcome we’ve had in The Light, and promptly instructs his servants to guide us to our bed chambers. I can’t even be surprised that they aren’t people at all, just constructs with no clear enchantments put on them. I’m too tired to consider it at all. I’m just content that my bed is warm and soft, and that the midday light is blocked by thick curtains as I fall asleep.
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When I wake up, all that is left of my dreams is a sense of deja-vu and pure fear. I’m frozen for a few seconds, cold sweat beading underneath my heavy coverlet. Something had happened in my dream. Something I’d seen before. Something to do with cabbages– which doesn't make any sense! But I can’t remember it. I get up and open the curtains to light the almost pitch dark room. But the sky outside is no brighter. Just a sliver of a moon is left in the sky, and the stars are bleak. It’s the dead of night.
But I can still see light in the hallway from underneath my door. My stomach grumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten all day. I sigh, and venture out into the hallways. Perhaps someone in the kitchens is still up and wouldn’t mind providing me with a small loaf or some leftover soup. Quietly I explore, trying to find servants’ paths and not disturb anyone who might be sleeping in nearby rooms. I have no luck. Eventually, I just wander aimlessly, trying to find anything that looks familiar. I’ve given up finding the kitchens, I want to find my bed. Half asleep, I blink, thinking I’ve seen a shadow cast by the multiple lamps on the wall. But that can’t be right. I haven’t seen anybody else out this late. “Hello?” I call out, my voice bouncing slightly off the stone walls, and eventually being consumed by the red carpet under my feet. There is no reply.
Still, unease from my earlier dreams plagues me, and I walk forward on soft feet, determined to check out what could have cast the shadow. I round the corner, but nobody is there. Certainly not Briareth. And I know of nobody else my size who could have cast a wingless shadow in this world. Sighing I rub my eyes. I really need more sleep. This was a stupid decision in the first place. There’s no way Briareth is here, perhaps he was in my nightmare, and that’s why I have this ill feeling following me.
After retracing my steps, I eventually find myself back at my room's door. I collapse back on my bed, and don’t move again until the dawn light touches my face through the still open curtains. That alone is what convinces me that I didn’t dream the whole strange experience.