| And finally the discussion is winding down, and Fred finally asks what
has been bothering him and Astra.
"Sigin," Fred begins slowly. "It's now revealed..at least to us, what
you really are."
"Aye, this is true." the man says, wondering where this is going.
"Since that's true," Astra cuts in. "How is it that you are helping
us? Not that we MIND, really, but..."
"But thee was wondering what the crazy dragon was doing," Sigin chuckles.
"As in why the apparent defiance of the Council of Wyrms? "
"He isn't really," grins Synizn, tail wagging to show the happy mood
its owner was in. "He is just paying off a blood debt..and since the Council
hasn't gone and annulled those Obligations.."
"And while I'm ACTUALLY doing this a favor for an old friend," Sigin
continues. "Those old farts need not know the truth...nor would they believe
it even if they did hear the truth. The Council...doesn't have much stock
in sanity. Magic and might, yes! Sanity...no."
As the humans try to swallow the latest glimpse into the bizarre arena
of dragon politics, little Theresa begins to bawl...quickly followed by
the rest of the brood! The little tykes feel something scary is about to
happen, and are screaming in fright!
"What's the matter?" Astra says as she tries to calm the children.
Sigin walks over to Astra to ask if he can help in any way. He has formed
a liking for the forthright young woman. He is a formidable man, and few
ever dare to challenge him. Yet she did so even knowing of his dragon nature.
Before Astra can reply, she feels a chill crawl up her spine, and turns
to see the others are experiencing the same things she is. Synizn's ears
are perked up in agitation and his fox tail is fluffed out like some type
of thistle bush...in other words every hair on his tail is standing on
end!
Then Astra's mouth drops open, as she feels a sort of sideways wrench
and simultaneously sees the figures of Fred and Synizn flicker and then
abruptly disappear. The strange feeling promptly stops, and the babies
cease their crying.
"What happened?" she eventually manages to ask Sigin. "I don't know
exactly," he replies, "but I presume that it must have involved the Crystallic
in some way - some sort of malfunction, perhaps? We must have been standing
far enough away from Synizn to avoid its effect. I don't know for sure
where they have been taken, but my guess is that it is most likely to be
to our intended destination of Atlantis, since the Crystallic has a natural
affinity for there. I don't think it's likely that any harm will have come
to them. I think the best thing for us to do is to prepare to make our
voyage as planned. If they are able to use the Crystallic to return before
we leave - and the preparations will take a day or so - then all well and
good."
So next afternoon Astra finds herself aboard ship, beginning the voyage to a point where they will be within dragon-flight range of Atlantis. That cannot come too soon for Astra. As she has told Fred, she is not a good sailor, though fortunately the babies seem fine. She also finds that every time the ship rolls her breasts tend to swing disconcertingly. At least the crew are impeccably behaved in her presence. Indeed, they even seem a little nervous, and she wonders just what Sigin has told them about her.
|
