“What in the nine hells are mere dragons?” My-re asked hesitantly taking a few steps back on the deck of the floating ship, the Unsinkable III, as at least a dozen Lord Protectors in full plate armor and heavily armed, made their way from the Stronghold Academy towards its docks. They were escorting three wagons, each transporting a large, metal reinforced crate. The containers seemed to roll slightly within the space available. The drivers looked back frequently at their cargo with nervousness and sat at the edge of their seat. It appeared they were ready to spring off at a moment’s notice.
“Ah, they finally be here!” Kildo Hammerhand the renown blacksmith of the Isle of the Eye exclaimed, rubbed his thick hands together with glee, and proceeded towards the procession.
While the dwarf and the Shagornan elf crew approached the railing to get a better look, My-re continued to back away and almost bumped into Arch-mage Havelock.
“Should we be concerned?” My-re asked.
“Oh yes. Mere dragons are dangerous beasts to be sure,” Havelock said and then continued. “However, I suspect these are highly trained and disciplined coming from the three noble families of the Drakenfell Mountains. I mean who would knowingly send unbroken or untamed beasts to help us on their own funded expedition to find Araminth? That would be counterproductive, wouldn’t it?”
Vomarian Fae and captain of the Unsinkable III, approached with several elves, along with Kildo Hammerhand, and helped roll the strongboxes off the wagons and across to the deck of the ship. The armored Lord Protectors stayed on the docks. They didn’t look keen to board the ship.
Through the throng of people, My-re could see movement within the containers, as well as the robust smell of old, wet hay with strands sticking from the gaps. She couldn’t see any details, but the creatures inside each were large.
“Get the dragons below and secured!” Vomarian Fae shouted, as the elves sprang into action. They opened up a large gate on the ship’s deck, extended a ramp down, and rolled the first crate carefully below.
“Bah, I be hoping to get a good look at the beasts,” Kildo snorted approaching My-re and Havelock.
Placing her hands on her hips, My-re asked, “So, we’re just going to keep dangerous creatures boxed up for weeks or months in the darkness below?”
“Well, yes,” Havelock scoffed. “I suspect we wouldn’t be thanking them for running around the top deck.”
As the second crate was rolled below, My-re said, “It seems cruel. Besides, don’t you think they might be a little cross when eventually released to track Araminth?”
“The lass has a point. It’s never be a good idea to be on a dragon’s sore side,” Kildo said. “Besides, I’d be liking to take a gander at them.”
Havelock looked to My-re and Kildo then to the third crate coming onto the Unsinkable III. “You know what?” I’d like to get a looksee too. Besides, every living creature, great and small shouldn’t be denied some sunshine and fresh air.” The arch-mage then raised and waived his hands to get the attention of the Shagornan elves rolling the last container towards the ramp into the hull.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Havelock shouted jogging to the last strongbox.
“Is there a problem?” Vomarian Fae asked and motioned for the elven crew to stop.
“None at all. I just think the mere dragons would like to stretch their legs from their long journey from the Drakenfell Mountains,” Havelock said.
Concern crinkled across Vomarian’s forehead as he began, “I don’t think that’s a good-“
Before the captain of the Unsinkable III could finish his sentence, Havelock snapped his fingers and all six sides of the crate, like a toy puzzle, folded in on themselves.
The mere dragon inside was the size of a horse, four-legged and reptilian in appearance. They didn’t have any wings or scales, like My-re expected. Their hides were coarse with some hair. Its face had a maroon color with green stripes along its body and light grey underneath. They had heavy claws and a long whip-like tail, which would make formidable weapons when fighting. It had two long, top incisor fangs. The remaining teeth weren’t overly large, but sharp.
The dragon yawned then blinked rapidly from the morning sunlight and sniffed the air around it. The entire crew froze where they stood. The creature smelled a couple nearby Shagornan elves without incident. The Lord Protectors on the docks drew their weapons and went into a fighting stance. The civilians on the dock turned and quickly walked away at a brisk pace.
My-re’s eyes went wide at Havelock’s actions and didn’t move a muscle. Out of the corner of her mouth she whispered to Kildo, “What in the nine hells is that lunatic doing?”
“Lass, ye be the one who be telling him not to keep them lizards boxed up,” Kildo whispered back harshly.
“Oh, you think this is my fault!?” My-re retorted a little louder than expected.
The mere dragon’s maroon head shot her direction. Havelock approached it and attempted to pat it, but it slinked right past and towards her and the dwarf.
“No sudden movements!” Havelock shouted. “If you startle them, their bite is poisonous!”
The mere dragon approached Kildo and sniffed up and down his body. The dwarf balled his fists and tensed ready to punch the beast. Snorting in irritation, it turned its attention to My-re.
As the creature grew closer, My-re cursed in the Rirorni native language of Rathiri, Which roughly translated to ‘procreate with oneself'.
Smelling her short, dark hair several times, the mere dragon’s nose shifted to each of her armpits. She felt its hot, wet breath against her skin. The slimy dampness also squeezed through gaps in her clothing.
“Ugh, gross!” My-re used her hands to push its face away. Its snout pushed hard into her chest and she had to catch her balance. Sniffing her feet, its nose moved up her legs and stopped at her groin and sniffed around to her derrière and then back to the front.
“I be thinking it be liking ya lass,” Kido snickered.
“Shut up! Get this thing out of my crotch!” My-re said forcefully raising her arms and trying to squirm away.
“Alright, alright. No need to be impolite. Koma, go below!” Havelock said and slapped the mere dragon on the hind quarter. The dragon scampered down the ramp to the hull underneath.
“Koma? That thing has a name?” My-re asked.
“Of course it does. They all do. Koma, which just introduced itself to you. Kata, which is the largest one, and Kukki, not to be confused with a cookie.” Havelock said. “These are magnificent and proud creatures. It seems only fitting they each have a name.”
“All I know is the other two better stay away from my crotch or they might find my axe embedded in their skull,” My-re said.
Ignoring her statement, Havelock left her and the dwarf giggling to himself in glee.
My-re was having serious reservations about this little adventure and regretting agreeing to it and succumbing under the pressure from Lady Shelia Greywand. A ball of nervous energy began making a nice little home in her gut.
“Humph,” Kildo grunted folding his thick arms across his broad chest, as he breathed in deep.
My-re’s eyes narrowed with impatience at the dwarf and waited from his next, likely bleak, commentary.
“An untested flying ship on its maiden voyage. A mystery to find this Araminth in the heart of the Rirorni Empire and Alastari’s mortal enemy and three dangerous mere dragons to keep ya all company. I be envious of ya lass,” Kildo said to her with little enthusiasm.
“I know! What fun!”