Chapter 133

"It's been two days. How have you not calmed down?" Tobias asked.

The cabin on the back of the dragon was conspicuously well-appointed.

Comfortable chairs, set in twos, with an aisle bifurcating down the center, brought recollections of air travel she could never afford.

"What? What!" Riley's head jerked as if on a pull chain, snapping with rapid, precise action so harsh that her neck popped, tearing herself away from the window.

"She's pumping her wings, we're banking!" She reported lost in the experience of it all.

Tobias sighed with a curious grin on his face, reaching out his hand to pet gently down her neck.

"At the very least, I get to enjoy some of your wonder, too," he said to himself, looking to the left.

Caedmon was sprawled out across two seats, his mouth hanging open in a deep sleep.

"There's no attendants here or restroom, and it's quieter than an airplane," Riley reflected to herself, all as her thoughts projected towards Tobias.

He nodded dutifully but saved his questions to spare himself from the confusion they'd cause anyway.

A sudden tug brought his attention forward to a blank metal wall with a tiny door set into it, as if exiting would somehow help should the beast have a problem.

"I wonder what happens if she gets a cramp?" He wondered out loud, face suddenly turning pale.

Having no armrests to grip, he instead contended himself with gripping his seat like it was the saddle horn on the saddle of a cockatrice, his heart leaping up into his throat as the terrifying sensation of falling gripped him.

Riley, gently this time, turned her head and set her paw on his left leg.

"We're ok, just landing. Are you sure you don't want the window? It might help with the fear."

"Positive," He remarked, trying not to think of vomiting.

"You really don't go for this flying business," Riley observed, dueling ever with Captain Obvious.

"I like my feet surely set on solid ground, thank you very much," he sighed.

Riley's wide vision allowed her to keep an eye on both him and the window. Her vision was somewhat fisheyed. With enough focus, she could catch glimpses of her tail.

Stolen story; please report.

"But that makes my head hurt like I'm trying to go crosseyed." She remarked to herself, muttering through her projection.

"Crosseyed?" Tobias looked down at her, puzzling at the murmurs of her within his own mind, gently rolling under the boat of his consciousness.

"Just thinking out loud. We're landing, time for lunch break, I guess? Maybe it's a port of call?" She pondered.

"They did say we were coming into Alacia today. That's the Dwarven capital city. Home of the tenganut." Tobias, in spite of his fear, grinned before a fierce bump rocketed through the cabin.

He shut his eyes, hands flying to the sides of his seat for dear life, before cracking one eye open and scanning around.

"We're on the ground," he remarked, letting out a long, slow breath, his rigid form finally relaxing, puddling into the seat like he was made of liquid.

"An Island Kingdom? Tropical Dwarves! That seems odd," Riley bounced on her seat, her excitement quickly switching to her next target.

"Of course, Dwarves are tropical? What else would they be?" Tobias pondered.

"Mountain dwellers that dig mines deep into the earth. If they dig to deep they wake the Balrog of Morgoth!" She replied.

"Why would dwarves mine? They already make a fortune in sending fruit to the Ashenrealm." Tobias challenged.

Riley sighed. "What?"

"They mine in your world?" This time, Tobias' brow knitted in curiosity.

"They do in stories, but it's only humans on Earth. No dwarves, elves, or fae," Riley replied.

"And no magic outside of your science. The more I learn about your world, the more odd it seems," Tobias remarked.

The door swung open as laundry vent level humid air slammed into her full force.

"Ah-uh!" She bolted out of her seat like a fur-bearing missile while Tobias tapped Caedmon on the leg.

"Come on, we have to catch her before her excitement out runs her sense." He called, as the other Ranger snorted, looking around confused.

"Are we down? When did we land? Oh stars, my back…" Seeing Tobias flee down the cabin to the shouts of angry servants on the landing, Caedmon, wasting no time, put feet to floor, dashing after him.

"Dead gods take you, foolish kids!" One servant cried.

"Riley, stop!" Tobias ordered, his projected voice booming.

Riley, feeling his worry and concern more than anything, skidded to a stop halfway to a fruit stand overflowing with tenganut and a few other delights she had never smelt before and was desperate to taste.

"But I'm hungry!" She whined.

"And we have to be careful. Remember our cover," he admonished.

Riley's ears drooped. "I'm sorry, I guess sometimes I get carried away. Oh, look at the dwarves… They're wearing grass skirts?" She boggled as a pointy eared bearded person stomped by her on thick legs, wearing little else.

The woven grass skirt brushed at his ankles as he padded across the cobblestones barefoot.

Spying Riley staring, he nodded his head in greeting. "Good morrow, humans, I bid you welcome! That's a fine companion you have there, but her eyes, quite a ghostly sight… be sure to visit my cousin's stand if you're hungry now."

With a knowing grin, he gestured with a thumb behind him before turning back to his path, whistling happily as he went along.

"Well, he was unexpectedly friendly," She said, her ears down with wonder.

"Dwarves generally are known for friendliness and hospitality," Caedmon reported, catching up.

"So what's next?" Riley asked.

"We're to check in at the Dancing Kraus Inn for messages. Our dragon isn't due out till the morrow," Tobias replied with a wide smile. "Weren't you paying attention when we got our orders?"

"I may have been a little distracted." She admitted.

"You think so huh?" Tobias crossed his arms.

Riley demonstrated a small distance between her forepaws before widening them out as a curious sensation hit her.

"Somethings… bad… something doesn't feel right, it's pissing me off, that way," She indicated with her left forepaw, scenting the air.

Tobias turned his back in that direction before whispering to Caedmon. "Do you see anything behind me there? Anyone watching?"

"I'm not sure of it, but I think I just saw someone turn and move quickly down an alley. Should we chase?" He asked.

"No, but keep an eye out, Riley only ever feels that way around infernals," Tobias replied.