The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight (21 page)

By morning, the tiny sun inside the dragon had decided to shine right into Ka-Ron's eyes, waking her before she could become rested. She wiped the crusting out of her eyes, feeling Jatel up against her bottom. She turned to kiss him and soon noticed that he was back to normal. Normal in the sense that he was now all male, and that the muscle bulk and long hair given to him while on board their ship were gone as well.

Jatel was back to his normal self.

"Hello there," Ka-Ron whispered. Bending down, she kissed his ear.

Smiling, the squire hummed a satisfied tune. The man was not yet aware of normalcy being his again, and he looked silly in his little blue dress. Raising Jatel's skirt, Ka-Ron performed her task at making the squire's morning the best that she could.

Ka-Ron did not gag. She did not think twice about what she was doing. Nor did she care what others may say, or how they would judge her. The knight engulfed her man's essence with a warm and sincere caring.

Ka-Ron, errant-knight to the kingdom of Idoshia, was in love.

"It was only a matter of time," Keeth stated, closing up his books.

Both Ka-Ron and Jatel were treated to a wonderful morning meal, prepared, cooked, and superbly decorated by the wizard. He seemed quite delighted with the fact that Jatel was back to normal, and he responded in kind when he noticed Jatel's original appearance, minus the muscles and long hair. Keeth went on to say that he approved of Jatel's original appearance - his imperfections added to his character.

Uneasily, Jatel and Keeth made peace, and all was forgiven.

While eating, both the knight and squire realized that Keeth was busy putting away all his things. He gave his guests the impression that he was preparing to go away on a journey.

"I will be leaving this place," Keeth bragged.

"May I ask how, sir?" Ka-Ron inquired, sipping the last of her rose melon juice.

"After your meal, I will be happy to show the two of you."

So, with that, Keeth continued to place his books in little trunks and boxes, loading them into some mysterious place in the back of his home.

Jatel, it seemed, ate little. He kept moving his shirt around as if it were too tight. At least, that was Ka-Ron's first impression.

"You miss them, I think," Ka-Ron said, smiling knowingly.

Embarrassed, Jatel stopped. "I do not."

Ka-Ron scooted closer to her squire and patted him on the knee. "You were a lovely woman, Jatel. But I prefer you like this."

"And you?" Jatel asked his face serious. "If you have accepted this form, why do we continue with the quest?"

"A quest is a quest, squire."

"I suppose so."

The knight turned solemn for a moment. "Jatel, how would Idoshia and our king survive without me?"

On that Jatel could not answer. He lowered his gaze, concentrating on what was left of his meal. This was indeed a problem too big for one squire to involve himself in. All he did know was that this was a big adventure, and he was going to ride the course. No matter what the cost, he would stand beside his master.

"I am with you, sire."

With that, Ka-Ron kissed her friend.

"I know," she said. Her hand rubbed the side of Jatel's face. "Eat up! You have a lot to do today, I wager."

"Yes, sire."

Keeth exited his home, letting out a tired sigh. "I hate moving. To pack up and tear out roots is always a depressing episode in the life of a caring being."

"We are moving?" Ka-Ron asked.

"Not exactly," Keeth said. The wizard motioned for his guests to follow him. "Please. I have something to show you."

Both had seen it before, when they had first entered this world. Both were aware of the huge structure behind Keeth's home. But, after the happening of so much, the object had been momentarily forgotten.

"This is the
Argo
," Keeth said, waving a proud hand in its direction.

The
Argo
was unlike any vessel the knight and her squire had ever seen. It was a ship of some kind that they knew. However, her lines were not like any sea-going ship either could recognize. She was totally constructed out of wood. There was no iron, copper, gold, or even ivory. The ship consisted of only two tiny masts, one bridge deck, one anchor, one rudder, and safety barriers that wouldn't keep an infant from falling over. The whole thing was big enough, maybe, to hold a crew of ten. Mysteriously enough, her center feature seemed to be a string of odd-looking levers to the starboard side of the ship's wheel.

Jatel's response was less than enthusiastic.

"What the hell is that piece of crap?"

"I'll have you know, squire, that I have labored over this ship for the last ten seasons." Keeth looked a little insulted.

"You need a few more, I think."

"Jatel," Ka-Ron whispered, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"My family is from mariner roots," Keeth explained. "I gathered up all the wood I could, cut each plank, and hammered her into shape. I have added a few surprises to her lines, which should prove useful in our escape."

"Escape?" Ka-Ron and Jatel shouted in unison.

"You know a way out?" Jatel asked.

"I have a theory," Keeth bragged. "But let me show you my ship."

The wizard opened a small gate inviting all on board.

"Strange that you only constructed her from wood alone," Ka-Ron added, lightly adjusting her weight by jumping up and down. "A wooden deck makes for a rather light vessel. Her buoyancy should be quite impressive when she's filled with a full cargo."

"She has other surprises," Keeth stated, pointing up at the masts. "Take a look at her sails."

At a flip of a switch, several white strips of cloth fell before them, self-strapping themselves to their respective stations. Both Ka-Ron and Jatel started to laugh.

"What's so damn funny?" the wizard demanded.

"Cloth?" Ka-Ron huffed. "Who puts sails made of cloth on a ship?"

"I do!"

"They'll rip at the first signs of wind," the squire stated.

"They are treated with juices from our dragon's scales," the wizard insisted. "They are as strong as woven steel, I assure you."

"As you say." Jatel gave his master a nervous, if not dubious, glance. "Cloth sails. What a novelty."

Ka-Ron silently put up a controlling hand, ordering Jatel to keep his thoughts to himself. If only for the moment, Jatel complied, uplifting his hands in peaceful surrender.

"You stated that we have the option of escape?" the knight inquired.

"The
Argo
is a multi-functional vessel." Keeth explained, taking his place at the ship's wheel. He pointed toward the row of mysterious levers near him. "With these clever devices, we can conquer any obstacle."

"How about termites?" Jatel joked.

"Enough!" Ka-Ron ordered. Her eyes turned hard.

Jatel stood, silent.

Ka-Ron's turned soft. Silently, she apologized to her squire, hoping that not much of his ego had been bruised.

"What is your plan?"

Keeth smiled. He rubbed his hands together and kicked his heels with excitement. At one point he seemed to have the joy of a small child, suddenly being allowed the center of attention he so craved.

"Oh, I knew you two were the adventurous type."

Jatel tiredly pointed towards Ka-Ron. "She's a knight&"

"Of that I am quite sure, sir."

The wizard quietly motioned his guests closer towards him.

"We are going to fly out!"

Ka-Ron and Jatel suddenly froze. Both blinked, hard.

"Fly?" they seemed to say all at once.

"Fly," the wizard reassured them.

"And how will we do this?" the knight asked.

"We will start by burning my cabin."

Jatel let out a frightened laugh. "Burn the cabin?"

"Is there an echo?" Keeth grunted. "I am not mad, by no means, my friends. I am sincere. I promise to the both of you my services and friendship. I will also travel with you and share my interests until your horrible spell is broken."

"We could use a wizard," Ka-Ron insisted.

"All right," Jatel said, controlling a smile. "Let's get underway."

The wizard fixed one last meal, allowing both Ka-Ron and Jatel to share in his plan. It would be risky. It
would
be dangerous.

Once Ka-Ron and Jatel got around the subtle differences about Keeth's ship, he gave them a through tour. He pointed out several interesting contraptions he was rather eager to try. The wizard was a clever tinkerer. Of course, Keeth added, having several seasons alone with nothing better to do, one was bound to let his imagination go wild.

The
Argo
was, perhaps, the best vessel to achieve the impossible.

Keeth was glad that his newfound friends accepted his offer. And, like any general training his troops for battle, the wizard made sure that they both understood what he had planned.

Of course, most of it was all theory.

"I have it under an educational assumption that Tork, during his younger days, experimented in land roving. This, meaning he swam closer to the shore than the norm." Keeth paused, pointing toward a dense tree-line at the
Argo's
port bow. "The dragon swallowed several farm houses and trees in his adventurous days. Most have landed in those areas of the mountains beyond."

"Where is this all leading to, if I may ask?" Ka-Ron grabbed a spyglass from her belt, extending the device so that she could properly see the woods towards which the wizard had been pointing.

"In theory, Ka-Ron, if we set ablaze some of the ruins and cause Tork some discomfort, he may just start coughing."

Ka-Ron lowered her spyglass.

"Coughing?"

Tork wasn't one to venture towards the inland populations, but he was getting bored. It had been several seasons since he had visited the great fishing villages lining the ebony coast. Some of the cities feared his return, remembering the days before his accident, when he used to eat their cattle and other stock. Yes! It had indeed been some time.

Tork was also thirsty.

One village in particular - the Sea Dragon had long forgotten its name - had been known for producing a fine vintage of fish wine. The liquor had been known to calm the heart and delight the palate. Indeed, the wine had successfully captured the essence of the sea.

This is what the Sea Dragon desired.

As Tork approached the fishing village, he was assaulted with both spear and cannon fire. The respective navies and pirate ships were horrified at beholding his return. Simple-minded as the dragon was, he could not understand why the people fussed so - all he wanted was a drink.

"FOOLISH, FOOLISH, PEOPLE!" the dragon roared.

With a flip of his tail he sent several ships carrying flags of nations the dragon cared nothing about bursting into flames. Those were soon claimed by the sea. Hundreds of bodies floated upon the foam. Land soldiers filed along the great wooden docks, producing even more cannons and arrows, hoping to retard the dragon's advance.

"TORK THIRSTY!" he demanded. "BRING FISH WINE."

The dragon playfully splashed the water, anticipating the immediate results of his demand.

Tork paused.

He started to feel a pain in the side of his chest. At first, it was only an irritant. Then, in waves, it started to become quite unbearable.

Smoke started to rise from his mouth.

This was a rare thing for a Sea Dragon.

Keeth started to tie off the wheel of the
Argo
. Everything was going as planned, and the escape was starting to take shape.

A furious blaze had grown from the fires Jatel and Ka-Ron had set in the fields and mountains to the port side of the ship. A wind was fanning the flames, causing the entire night sky to fill with a blue haze of destruction.

"What happens now, wizard?" the squire asked. He was covered from head to toe with black soot. He was a sight to behold - that was for sure!

"We wait," was all the wizard would state.

Both Ka-Ron and Jatel gave the other a concerned glance.

"We need to do more than that, dear sir," Ka-Ron suggested kindly. There was a hint of worry in her voice that requested just a little more information than the wizard was prepared to give at this time. "If we do not move soon, we will start to burn."

"Things are not as they appear," Keeth suggested. "Patience, dear knight. Have patience."

Ka-Ron, frightened, could feel the heat of the advancing fires. Her careworn face projected this concern when she focused on Jatel's face.

"Give it a chance, sire," was all the squire could bring himself to say.

Ka-Ron closed her eyes, holding her squire tightly.

Both did their very best to hold down the volumes of their prayers.

Keeth started to project a course.

He was ready!

Tork felt a tiny trickle coming from the corner of his mouth. At first, owing to its being so subtle, the sea dragon had assumed that the sensation was just that of sea water. However, the pain in his side grew at an alarming rate, and it also seemed to migrate. His throat was causing him serious injury. So it was with the greatest of terror, that Tork soon noticed that he was bleeding internally!

"WHAT AILS ME?" The dragon coughed as he slammed his tail down on another unfortunate ship.

The people of Nation's Harbor, the unfortunate beach town Tork had chosen to visit, were losing most of their means of livelihood. A platoon of visiting soldiers, who had enjoyed their fine hospitality and young women, thought it best to help protect the establishment. They soon regretted their actions.

Tork's pain had caused him to change his calm ways. Soon, nothing but angered determination gleamed through his eyes.

The sea dragon spit out the last of his blood, aiming his confused frustration upon the advancing army.

None would survive.

Keeth, Ka-Ron, and Jatel's world soon revolved around the advancing wall of blue flames that quickly surrounded the
Argo.
The wizard's actions had made the ship prepared for whatever awaited it. It was with full relief that Ka-Ron discovered that the wizard had made the ship unable to catch fire by applying a fine cellular lining he had obtained from the dragon, upon the decks of the
Argo.