Tales of Vyscher Book 2

Chapter 7

Fehrys submerged his head in the steaming bath and let his body go limp. Alia was sitting on the other side of the pool with her trousers pulled up over her knees and her feet in the water. He could see them kicking back and forth, her nervous energy was hard to keep pent up. He knew she was nervous, as she was working so hard to get him better and she had been doing such a good job.

Losing Pallon was a crushing blow. He had spent the night lying in bed, tears rolling down his cheeks and soaking into his pillow. Four of the little flying kittens had been nestled around him, purring and snuggling to try to make him feel better, almost as if they could feel his grief.

But now, he was just angry. He had finally been briefed by Jondure on what was happening with the creature, and what it was capable of. Why hadn't they told he and Alia before? They could have been helping! But that was what they didn't want, they wanted him here in the tower, safe. They didn't think he was capable anymore. The damned thing had attacked him in the tower, nowhere was safe!

He had to acknowledge though, that it still wouldn't have saved Pallon. Nothing really would have.

Slowly, he exhaled, a stream of bubbles heading to the surface, and he rose with them. He looked through the steam at Alia, who was studying him intently. "I think I would like to go study with the dragons now," he said simply.

She nodded quickly. "I think it is for the best. You're as ready as you can safely get here in the city," Alia agreed.

"You don't think I should stay and hunt the creature?" he inquired.

She looked down, thinking. "No, I don't. Its already hunting you for some reason. Deprived of a target, perhaps it will have to adjust and then it might make a mistake. There are many others that are already hunting it, and that might make their job easier," she thought out loud.

"It isn't going to make people happy."

"It doesn't have to," she reasoned. "You have given up your title, you have no partner to be a Bishop, no mount to be a Sky Knight and we both know you don't want to be the captain on the flying ship. This gives you a chance to find your calling and your true self."

"When can we go?" he asked quietly.

"We could leave tomorrow if you like. I can feed Maltia a little extra tonight and get some gear together for the trip and then we're off."

"I'll have to say goodbye to my family," he decided.

"I don't envy you that," she said kindly, a sad smile on her face.

"Are you sure the dragons will say yes?"

"I'm certain of it," she assured him. He had to hope she was right, otherwise he didn't know what he'd do.

"Alright, then I'll talk to my family in the morning," he said with a feeling of dread. He didn't want to have to do that, but a note wouldn't be fair to his parents. Vic would understand, but not the rest.

"Burn this one too!" Called out Rek.

Vic waited for the two warriors to clear out of the way and then blasted fire down the sewer tunnel, searing everything in sight. If the creature were hiding down there, he'd be a torch. But they really had no idea if he was, or in any of the other tunnels they had spent the afternoon incinerating. It was productive, she hoped, but there was no way to tell if it would work.