“Araminth’s the priority!”
“No, we need to stop those mere dragons in the Twisted Lands!”
On the deck of the Unsinkable III, My-re sat on a hog’s head barrel, elbows on her knees and hands resting under her chin. She watched Westwind and Vomarian Fae argue back and forth their next course of action. The recovering mere dragon Koma lay at her feet sleeping soundly, so much so, she could hear it snore.
“Varick has Araminth. If he harms her, the entirety of Ghea is forfeit,” Westwind said.
“There is no reason for him to harm her. Those mere dragons traveling through the Twisted Lands pose the direst threat. If they reach their owners and relay the notion that Araminth is dead, the Rirorni Empire could be incinerated. We need to stop them and then find Araminth,” Vomarian Fae said.
Westwind shook his head. “You’re making a mistake. As long as Araminth is alive and unharmed, nothing will burn. Any hunt is futile in that mad realm. We need to use Koma to track Araminth.”
“Koma is not yours to take,” Vomarian said and took a step closer to the slumbering mere dragon.
“He’s not even your property. If anything, the mere dragon belongs to Araminth. Besides, I found him,” Westwind retorted. “I’m taking him.”
The two stared hard for several heartbeats. They were sizing the other up.
“What do you say My-re?” Havelock asked, interrupting the tension.
She perked up at her name and looked to the arch mage. “Me? I was brought on as a Rirorni translator. I don’t speak dragon and have no desire to get on one’s sore-side. I’m not involved.”
“Not involved?” Westwind questioned. “Young lady, you are the most involved one here. You have a relationship with this Varick, who has Araminth, the love of my life. If there is anything you can do to help return her safely, I implore you.”
“Varick and I were captured together in the Rirorni War as children. I hoped, but until very recently I didn’t even know he was even alive. While I’m glad he didn’t die, we don’t have a relationship. However, now it seems he has a grudge against me and likely doesn’t want to thank me for that.” My-re thought, it was likely her fault Varick captured Araminth, using Koma to look for her. It seems all she did is bring problems. “It’s best I stay away,” My-re said.
Havelock began, “Lady Greywand tasked us-”
Interrupting the arch mage, Westwind scoffed loudly at the name.
Havelock continued, “Tasked all of us with finding Araminth. We have found she is still alive and regardless of what you think of Lady Graywand’s ultimate motive, that woman is now in mortal peril. As Lord Protectors you have sworn an oath to protect the innocent.”
“So, you want to give away our last mere dragon to this Westwind and spend our time finding Araminth?” Vomarian Fae asked. “Say we do find and rescue her. What about the innocent Rirorni lives that could burn when the mere dragons return to their owners with the misunderstanding that Araminth is dead? I don’t think Varick will harm Araminth anytime soon. We have time to stop Kata and Kuki in the Twisted Lands. Then with that threat adverted, find Araminth.”
Westwind replied, “We don’t have time. I can’t face Varick without help. He easily defeated a mere dragon, myself, and Araminth, who knows how to fight, with relative ease. We know nothing else about him, except that he wants to find My-re and likely do great bodily harm to her. There is no telling what he will do. If we wait too long he might kill Araminth in spite then both the Rirorni Empire and Alastari will burn. If we rescue Araminth and the dragons see her alive, there will be no cause for them to retaliate. Finding Araminth is key.”
Vomarian began to retort, but Havelock raised his hand. “Both arguments have been laid. Each has valid points with great risks associated, if the wrong choice is made. My-re is indisputably tied to Varick. Her mettle has been tested throughout this voyage and none would question her commitment. She is an essential part of this mission and has yet to make her thoughts known. I believe her opinion warrants consideration.”
“I don’t want-” My-re began, but Havelock held his hand towards her. “Your view.”
My-re looked to Westwind and to Vomarian Fae. Both seem confidence she would choose their cause. If the mere dragons navigate the Twisted Lands, it’s possible the Rirorni Empire might burn with hundreds of thousands of lives lost, including her own foster family who raised her. If Araminth is killed, then not only the Rirorni Empire, but all of Alastari is under threat. She wished Lady Greywand was here to make the decision for her. Glancing at Havelock, he pulled out a pipe and lit it. He didn’t look at any of them. He wasn’t going to help as to the right decision. The Shagornan elven crew looked on from all around. Both choices were equally important and failure of either had grave consequences. The lesser of two evils.
Sighing, My-re drew in a breath. “I agree with Westwind. We need to find Araminth and rescue her.”
Vomarian Fae’s face went red as he bellowed, “My-re, I can’t believe-”
“I also agree with you elf,” My-re interrupted raising her hand and motioning for him to remain quiet. “We need to stop Kata and Kuki in the Twisted Lands.” She then saw Havelock glance her way with a raised eyebrow in curiosity.
“We need to split up.”
“What?” Vomarian and Westwind said in unison. “Splitting the group is never a good idea.”
“Let her speak,” Havelock said. He then nodded for her to continue.
“Right, Varick sounds like a formidable opponent, so Vomarian go with Westwind.”
“Westwind!?”
“You’re the best gladiator on this ship. If anyone has a chance against him, it’s you.”
“What are you going to do then?” Vomarian asked.
“I’m staying away from Varick. My presence would only exasperate the situation. I’m going to remain onboard the Unsinkable III with Havelock to help navigate it through the Twisted Lands and stop those two mere dragons,” My-re said.
Westwind said, “Navigating through that mad realm is suicide. That place plays tricks on you and pits friend against friend. Besides, we’ll need every Shagornan elf we can to help stop Varick. I’ve never seen a more formidable warrior.”
“Then only essential personnel on the Unsinkable III. The rest are to accompany Vomarian and Westwind to rescue Araminth,” My-re replied.
Vomarian approached and shook his head in doubt. “I think this is the worse idea that’s come out of your mouth. I loathe the idea of splitting up. However, there’s sound logic behind it. So, it looks like you’ll be captain of the ship while I’m gone.”
“Oh, no, Havelock can be captain,” My-re replied.
“Nope, I am the engineer. They never make great captains,” Havelock commented.
“One of the other Shagornan elves?” My-re asked.
Vomarian shook his head. “They have to run the ship and last I checked you didn’t know how to tie a proper sailing knot. No, it’s you. I trust no one greater.”
My-re sighed, “Right, I guess that makes me captain.”
Nodding, Vomarian Fae bellowed, “My-re is acting captain while I’m gone. I only want a skeletal crew to remain! Enough to keep her flying! The rest are with me and Westwind! Gather your weapons and armor! We’re on a wild hunt!”
There was a cheer throughout the ship.
Havelock approached My-re. “Orders Captain?”
Captain? My-re scoffed to herself. She was at best a fake, an imposter, and didn’t want the responsibility to lead or command. What did she understand about a flying ship? She didn’t know what she was doing and now she was tasked to lead a group of elves into a mad realm, on a mad dash, to find two mere dragons that didn’t want to be stopped or found. How in the nine hells does anyone expect a positive outcome? She then noticed her hands slightly shaking at her side. She balled her fists to steady them. She breathed in deeply.
“Crew! Once Vomarian, Westwind, and the elves depart with Koma, prepare the ship for takeoff! Set course for the Twisted Lands.”