Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 050 - Setting out across the unknown

Kaen watched as the carts returned to the city of Blue Belly.

You are going to cost me all the gold we got.  I had no idea they would want so much money for those cows.

Pammon grunted through the bond, and Kaen turned to see him swallowing half of a cow, his head tilted up, hooves sticking out of his open maw.

That sight always gets me.

I don’t stare while you eat and nitpick how you chew.

Chuckling, Kaen nodded and turned back toward the town.  Three cows for Pammon and at least thirty pounds of dried fish.  It wasn’t bad, but it was better than nothing.  They had filled up his water flasks, and even with the weird taste, it was better than trying to drink the sea.  Elies had warned him about doing that.  Pammon would be fine, but doing so would make things worse, Elies had warned him.

Nisrin had told him of some storms they expected to arrive from the sea in the coming days.  The knowledge of headwinds and possible storms filled him with a bit of concern.

Will we be fine if we run into a storm?  I mean, how high can those clouds go?

Pammon ignored him, still consuming the other half, trying to fill himself for the coming trip.

How many times have I been here or flown over those waters?

Fair point.  Tell me what you want to do.  Head out now or in the morning?

A loud burp came from behind him, and when he glanced over his shoulder, Kaen saw Pammon licking his snout with his long tongue.

It would be better if we left today.  We would need to find somewhere to sleep, and if a storm is coming, it is better to get above it while we can.  Give me about thirty minutes, and I will be fine.

Yanking off his pack, Kaen dug in it till he found the map Elies had given him.  Rolling it out on the ground, he pulled out the map he had copied from Herb.

When you are done, come look at this with me.  I want to make sure we both know where we are going.

A thrum came from behind him, and soon Kaen felt the ground shaking as Pammon moved up behind him.  The bronze snout appeared beside his face, and they studied the map.

Reaching up, Kaen scratched the underside of Pammon’s jaw and looked out over the sea.

“If I’m reading this right, we need to go west but slightly north.  That would take us straight to where the dragons supposedly live.”

What about the islands further north at the halfway point?  Do you want to try to find them and rest?

Using his tongue against his teeth, Kaen found a piece of dried fish between two of them and reached up with his finger to get it out.

“Seems risky.  Fly too far north or not enough, and we miss them.  The real question is, can you make it all the way to their land without resting and only eating fish if you can catch any?”

Doubt and frustration came through their bond, and Kaen kept silent.  Pammon had to be the one to make this call.

We aim for the islands.

Nodding, Kaen began to roll up the maps, glancing at the town again.

What are you thinking? I know you are distracted by it.

After putting the maps away and grabbing his pack, Kaen pointed at the weapons still around the town.

“Why have those if dragons don’t come to our land?  What would require them to keep working weapons on their shores?  Nisrin told me when I asked that the other towns to the south and north along the water had them also.”

Do you think they have actually seen or killed dragons in the last hundred years?

Scratching his beard, Kaen slowly shook his head from side to side.

“I’m not sure, but something doesn’t feel right.  If dragons don’t want to come here, they would not need them.  However–”

If dragons were coming and were killed after a long journey.

Pammon trailed off, sensing what Kaen was thinking.

“We need to go.  Now, make sure to take a wide berth.  I don’t like it.”

Pammon nudged Kaen with the side of his head.

If they attacked, you would have to fight alone.

Laughing, Kaen turned and moved to climb on.

“I doubt it would be much of a fight, but yes.”

This water goes on forever.  Even with my vision, there is no end that I can see.

Kaen felt a weird sensation in his stomach. It wasn’t fear, but it was perhaps awe and concern.  They had been flying for only a few hours, and Pammon was right.  Nothing but water as far as the eye could see.

Seven days of flying over this.  This much water could drown the entire world as we know it.

Pammon huffed, beating his wings in a steady rhythm, using the right angle to help fly against the wind.

Those clouds look nasty.  I’m not sure if we should head north now or wait.

Our angle is the one we wanted to go.  If you turn north now, we would have to try to adjust without any point of reference.  Do you want to risk that?

Snorting, Pammon stayed on course.

No, but this may get rough and wet if I can’t fly above it.

It’s a good thing I’m not Ava or Selmah, then.

Pammon laughed, and Kaen gave his usual spot a good pat.

A sliver of a moon hung in the dark sky as Pammon did his best to stay above the clouds underneath them.  Lightning and thunder took turns, one illuminating the dark mass below them while the other did its best to deafen them.

There was little more Pammon could do as he flew only about two hundred yards above the clouds, frozen mist occasionally sticking to him and Kaen.

Are you sure you can handle this?

Yes.  Keep going.

Pammon ignored the labored breathing he knew Kaen was having.  The air was thin up here.  The cold might not affect him, but the air was taking a toll on his rider, and he knew it.

Four hours had passed since the sun set, and the clouds rolled in underneath them.  Great gusts of winds forced him to fly higher.  Kaen kept telling him to keep going, even when Pammon knew they were at the highest point he had ever flown.

Underneath him was a blanket of dark clouds stretching to the horizon.  The winds blew in different directions, sending the clouds into a swirling mist below.  The light from the moon and the lighting created a view that might be enchanting if it wasn’t for the real danger that lurked everywhere.

I can get lower.  We should be safe.

A few seconds passed, and Kaen finally answered.

No.  We both felt the lighting that almost hit you.  I don’t think it is safe.  Keep going.  I am ok.

Trusting Kaen, Pammon stopped asking.  He knew how his rider felt when injured.  He had carried him through the effects of the poison.  If he sensed that Kaen was going to be in serious trouble, he would know it, and then he would act.

Fine.  Then try to sleep. I can tell you are tired.

Kaen drew closer to Pammon’s neck, helping to reduce the air that seemed to catch on his body when he sat up.  In just a minute, Pammon knew Kaen was asleep.  He could feel Kaen’s heart beating through their bond.  It was slow and steady.  Slower than usual, though.

Wake up, Kaen.  You need to wake up.

Pammon shook his body, jostling Kaen enough to wake him from his sleep.

I’m tired.  So tired.

Yes.  Eat something.  Drink some water.  I will lower us some, but you need to eat and drink while I let you breathe a bit better.

Kaen glanced below them and saw the dark clouds still everywhere.  The sun was up on the eastern side, a bright light against a dark cloth.  The air was warmer, but it was still thin.

There is still a storm, it is too dangerous.

No. Pammon said, his voice carrying far more authority than usual.  You are being an eggling and do not realize how much danger you are in.  You need to breathe, and we need to go into the clouds for a bit.  Now take a drink, and then I will go down there.

Kaen considered arguing, but his head hurt.  A massive headache pounded like dwarves on an anvil in his head.  His throat was dry, and focusing on anything was difficult.

Fine.

He sat up, swaying a little and glad he was fastened in.  Trying to get into the waterskin he had under his vest was hard.  His fingers and arms didn’t want to work right for some reason.  It took a bit, and once the top was off, he got the opening into his mouth.  Sucking slowly, he felt the cold water rushing down his parched throat.  For being so cold up here, he couldn’t believe how dry his throat was.  After a few good drinks, he fumbled till he got the cap back on and placed it under his vest.

Why do I have my skin under my vest?  Why is it not in my pack or on my hip?

A grunt came from Pammon, and Kaen felt them descending from the sky.

Elies told you to do that.  Don’t you remember?

He did?

Kaen wracked his brain, but it hurt, and memories were fuzzy.

Soon, the wet mist from the clouds below washed over them, awakening Kaen’s skin as water droplets began to sting his face.

He took a deep breath and felt a little better.

Keep breathing deep.  I need to go lower.  And don’t argue.

Kaen obeyed Pammon, doing his best to ignore the clouds off to their side as they turned white for a split second, almost blinding him from how bright they were before going dark again.

Holding his head, Kaen let out a small groan.

Oh, that was horrible.  I am sorry.

Pammon said nothing, barely skirting the top of the clouds for a few minutes before diving back into the sea of dark wetness.

I really was an eggling.  My brain was not working.  I couldn’t think straight, and I felt tired and strange.

Elies warned you about that.  He told you, but you didn’t listen.  I could tell you were not yourself.  Now, finish eating and drink a little more.

Smacking his lips, water flowed into them as they flew, cold and refreshing.  It tasted so clean.  His fish was turning into a wet mush from the constant barrage of water that assaulted it, but he put another piece in, chewing it and swallowing it.  He did feel better after eating and drinking.

Thank you.  I owe you.

Pammon snorted, making sure to not hit Kaen with any potential bodily fluids.  The spray he sent just from flying was enough as Kaen sat upright.

You do, but for now, we will add it to the growing list of things you owe me.

Taking another bite, he glanced at the mushy remains and tossed them into the wind, letting it be snatched by the god of the clouds.

Do I want to know how long that list is?

Not now, but one day, I will tell you.  Then, I will be the wealthiest dragon in all the lands.

Kaen laughed, laying down against his friend's neck and rubbing his favorite scale.

Even if it is only seven copper.

For just a moment, Pammon’s thrum was louder than the thunder that filled the sky.