Finding Monsters (9 page)

“Yes,” Missy sent back to him. The cabayo stopped hard just short of where she stood, sending up a cloud of dust and sand that coated her boots and leggings. He snorted and stomped then inched forward. Missy moved closer until they were face to face. Missy looked up and smiled at the wary cre
a
ture, then gently reached out to stroke the animal’s snout. He leaned down and met her hand with his head.

“Good boy,” Missy whispered aloud as she stroked the a
n
imal. “You want to be my caba?” she cooed, rubbing the an
i
mal’s thick brown and white fur. She heard a happy whisper in her head and smiled. “Good! You want to go for a ride?” The caba bend his front knees allowing Missy to climb onto his back. He straightened and she took hold of his thick mane. “I’ve never ridden a cabayo before so go slow, ok?” she told him. Sensing his acknowledgement, they started wal
k
ing around the corral. Charlie watched in stunned s
i
lence as Missy and the little cabayo walked past.

She smiled. “Do you have a saddle my size?” The whisper in her head assured her she would not fall off. “Never mind,” she called back to Charlie as they co
n
tinued around the area. The cabayo increased his speed and whispered to Missy how to hold on. It felt strange to have his emotions in her mind and even stranger that she u
n
derstood him. She laughed richly and leaned low, feeling the icy wind blast her cheeks. Soon, another cabayo came into view. Charlie rode with a saddle and reins. He moved with caution as he came up b
e
side them.

“How?” Charlie asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

“I told you. I can hear his emotions. We needed each ot
h
er.” Missy patted the caba’s head as she spoke. “Does he have a name?” She asked.

“Egan, it means ‘little fire’,” Charlie said.

“Good name,” Missy said. They rode around toward the gate. Atian opened it to allow them to leave the corral.

“Nice job, Missy,” he said, shutting the gate b
e
hind them. Charlie led them out onto the worn path leading away from the complex. They rode at a leisurely pace t
o
ward a meadow. The sun finally warmed the air and the wind lost some of its chill.

“So tell me about dragon country,” Missy said. Charlie glanced her way; reluctance and fear were open in his expre
s
sion. He blew out a long sigh then began.

“There are two adult dragons at all times. They are the mother and father of all dragons. When the young are born, they are raised in dragon country u
n
til weaned. Then they move through worlds to find a home. They have the blue light of monsters also. The jackals are especially resentful that they don’t have this power. They have tried to take the power or produce their own. So far they have been unsuccessful but they have developed terrible magic in the process.”

“Why do they want the power so ba
d
ly?”

“They want to rule. Not only this world but any others as well. We can’t seem to keep spies in their te
r
ritory for long, so we don’t know what they are up to. What we do know is that there is something going on in dragon territory, and we can only suspect that it has something to do with the jackals.”

“So my mission is to find out what is happening in dra
g
on country?” Missy asked. Whispered tingles of excitement ski
d
ded across her mind as Egan’s muscles rippled with joy.

“Yes. If you succeed, you are one step closer to becoming a monster,” Charlie said.

“Well, Egan is ready for a little excitement. When do I start?”

“Not so fast, Cabayo Goddess, you still need more trai
n
ing. Sir Alastaire and Vrag are en route to help you. Sir Alastaire will continue to guide you through the remaining quests.

“And Vrag?” Missy asked.

“A mystery. He’s never offered to train before; we’ve asked.”

“He trained me for several hours the night after my d
e
feat.”

Charlie raised his eyebrow at that news. “Well, a few weeks with them and you should be ready for an
y
thing,” Charlie said.

“Can you come with me this time?”

“No, but I’ve already asked my father to help me send my reflection as before. With his help, I will be able to help you more in this quest. I think I’ll be a bird this time so I can help you scout the terrain.”

They rode in silence for several more miles b
e
fore turning around and making their way back. Missy dismounted and a
s
sured Egan she would return later with ca
r
rots and treats. He bristled with anticipation before a stable attendant led him calmly to the heated stables.

T
he arrival of Sir Alastaire Henry and Vrag meant Missy’s days were filled with sword play and staff fighting. She met them at the outer door and inwardly laughed as Vrag co
m
plained of being harassed by a troll to cross the bridge near his dwelling. He cut his eye at Missy who tried to look serious and astounded at the news.

With her increased strength, Missy held her own against her instructors as they crammed centuries of technique and skill into a few short weeks. Ginger and Elyen also came along to help coordinate Missy’s wardrobe for travel. Although there would be mostly ou
t
door accommodations on the journey, they insisted she take at least one evening gown, ‘just in case’. Missy rolled her eyes at the notion but took their advice none the less. Sophie brought in fabrics of all kinds as they set to work hand-making garments for Missy’s quest. When completed, she had several warm pairs of leggings with matching tunics, coats of heavy wool, and waterproof skins (of questionable origin) with matc
h
ing boots, of course.

Charlie tried to busy himself with other things and not on the pending quest Missy would embark upon. Even if assisted by his father in sending his mi
r
rored image along with her, it didn’t compare to a
c
tually being there. He could not help her fight or protect her from danger. He hit his fist on the wall in fr
u
stration sending a reverberation through the room. Moments later a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Charlie called. He knew it would be his father.

“So what’s on your mind, and don’t say nothing, you shook the entire second half of our dwelling,” Atian said.

“Just worried, I guess. I’m stronger now, father, why can’t I go with Missy to dragon country? I could help her so much more if I went along.” Charlie had to ask even though he knew his request would be denied.

“Charlie, you know why you can’t go, and it’s not because your diminished strength. She has to acco
m
plish this task with as little interference as possible. You are not an objective co
m
panion. Not to worry, Ala
s
taire is going with her, he’ll be able to help and coach her through the quest without interfering,” Atian said.

Charlie sulked around the room as he contemplated his next question and the real reason for his agitation. Moving to the wi
n
dow, he looked out and spotted Missy in full training mode with Vrag. The D
e
vil stood several feet taller, but Missy had agility on her side. She moved with swift and fluid moves against him. Alastaire stood on the sidelines shouting instru
c
tions as the duo practiced.

“Charlie, what is really bothering you?” Atian asked, breaking his son from the distraction. Charlie glanced back down once more then turned to face his father. He dropped his eyes as his thoughts caused his face to flush. Atian grimaced at his son’s obvious nervousness.

“I see,” Atian began. “You want to take Missy as your m
a
te before her next quest, is that it?”

Charlie nodded but didn’t meet his father’s gaze. “How is it you know my thoughts so well? Charlie asked.

“It is not hard, son. You look at her the way I look at your mother. It is not hard to guess, but you are too young, Charlie. And she’s even younger. It’s not as simple as going through the ceremony. You don’t know what you want yet.”

“I know exactly what I want, father.” Charlie’s fierceness charged his words with unnecessary venom. Atian whirled on his son, lips pulled back and snarling.

“Have you mated with her?” he spat.

“No!” Charlie shouted back.

“Then why your impatience to wait? You are barely seve
n
teen by human years and she’s not even sixteen yet. Perhaps in four more years you may join.”

“Father, please, I don’t want to wait.” He held up his hands to stifle his father’s interrupting questions, “and it’s not about the mating part,” he finished.

“Then what, Charlie?” Atian’s hard voice showed no signs of letting up, but then his gaze clouded a few seconds before he snapped back. He refocused his eyes, now softer, and rolled them.

“My mother agrees with me,” Charlie hedged.

“She wants me to listen with a more open mind,” Atian scowled.

“I want
that
. The silent communication you and mother have. I want to know if Mi
s
sy’s upset, or hurt, or disappointed. When she tells me she’s fine, I want to know she means it. And when she’s on this quest—” Charlie stopped, a catch in his voice betra
y
ing a depth of emotions he couldn’t hide from his father. His father moved closer and placed a hand on his shou
l
der.

“She’ll be fine, Charlie.”

“We don’t know that. She could get seriously hurt, or worse,” he croaked.

“Charlie,” Atian started, “we won’t let anything happen to her. Sir Alastaire will protect her. Vrag and I will be ready to come to her aid in case anything should happen.”

“How will you know when she’s in trouble?”

Atian sighed and shook his head. “Well, if you join with her you will know, won’t you? But would you still want her if she fails in her quests?” Atian asked.

“Yes, father, I would still want her. There is no one else. Is there any other reason why I should wait? Just to see if she passed the quests and becomes a monster like me? I never wanted her to change for me. I envisioned myself as a human like her. I would change for her in a heartbeat if it meant we could be together forever and she wouldn’t have to face an
y
more danger. Even in a weakened state, I would be happy. She is all I want now, father.” Charlie watched his father’s face. He didn’t fear his father would reject his request now, but would Missy? She proved to be strong for a human, even when he’d know her in her world, sickly and b
e
dridden, she had been a fighter. He didn’t see her backing down from her quests just because of his fear of her getting hurt.

“I have no doubt that Missy will join with you now, but I doubt she will leave off her quests afte
r
wards.”

Charlie couldn’t help smiling as his f
a
ther voiced the same concerns he had.

“So? Either way she decides, may we join?” Cha
r
lie asked.

“We’d have to work around some issues, but the answer to your question is yes.”

Charlie blew out an audible sigh of r
e
lief.

“Housing is the main concern; we’ll have to find a suitable space for you within the compound then add a few special amenities. A place you can both be human when you’re toget
h
er. Your mother and I will find a place before Missy leaves on this quest. You might want to ask the girl tonight if she will have you though.”

Charlie couldn’t contain himself; he hooted loudly, e
m
bracing his father. “Thank you, father. I need to arrange a sp
e
cial di
n
ner,” he said mostly to himself now. “I need a ring or something. I need clothes!” Charlie sank onto his bed, ove
r
whelmed by the challenge ahead of him.

“You need your mother. I’ll send her in to help you. F
e
males love this sort of thing.”

The day had been long and exhausting. Missy dragged herself to her quarters and closed the door behind her. Elyen waited inside, already running a bath for the girl.

“You did well today, my child. This bath will help take away the aches and pains.”

“And the smell,” Missy added. Elyen smiled, her doe face bright. Missy undressed then slipped into the water. Elyen dropped in perfumes and minerals that bubbled in the water. “Soak for an hour dear one, I will attend to your clothing. Di
n
ner will be wai
t
ing for you when you’re done.”