Chapter 11-1

Chapter 11: Captive

Almonihah was walking across a clearing a couple of days later when he noticed something large flying towards him. As he looked more closely at it, he could make out the silhouette of a dragon. He waited tensely as it approached until he could make out the color of its scales. Copper. Almonihah relaxed a bit. It was a metallic dragon, so it probably wasn't hostile. Then he thought back to his ruminations on the mountain and snorted in amusement. Maybe he would get an opportunity to find out about a dragon's lifestyle sooner than he had thought.

He stood in the clearing as the dragon flew down and made a gentle landing a few yards from him. She—he could tell now that the dragon was female—was a middle-sized adult copper dragon, probably two or three hundred years old. She looked to be about forty feet long from nose to the tip of her tail. She looked at him down her snout.

Well, what have we here? Her voice was pleasant, even when speaking Draconic, and not as loud as one would expect from a creature of her size. A half-bronze, if I'm not mistaken?

Almonihah opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a coughing fit. How long had it been since he had last spoken out loud? After he recovered, he responded with a simple Draconic, Yes.

The dragon seemed amused. Such a lot of effort to say so little, wasn't it, little half-dragon? She moved her head down to be more on his level, the scales on her sinuous neck glinting in the sunlight as she moved. I hope you don't have that much trouble every time you talk.

Almonihah did not appreciate the amusement in her voice. Not usually, he growled.

Oh, my. You are a grumpy one, aren't you? She lifted her head a little bit, a grin playing across her lips. I know just what you need. Have you heard the one about the bar?

Almonihah grunted noncommittally, but inwardly he was incredulous. Was this dragon honestly going to start telling him jokes?

The dragon didn't seem to care about her audience's lack of enthusiasm. This is a good one. It will cheer you right up! It only works in Common though. Then she said in Common, “So, two men walked into a bar... and the dwarf walked under.”

Almonihah simply stood, his arms folded. The copper dragon waited expectantly for a few moments, then sighed.

I see. Tough audience. Well, I know one that would make a rock laugh. Have you...

I am sorry, but I have to go now, Almonihah said, struggling to be polite to her. His former curiosity about dragon lifestyles had completely evaporated. There was no way he was going to sit here and listen to her tell jokes, even if she was several times his size.

Almonihah started to walk away until the dragon slammed her claws down on the ground in front of him. I insist! she growled as her head followed her claw to get uncomfortably close to the half-dragon's face. He could smell the acrid scent of acid on her breath. Apparently she was rather serious about her jokes.

After a few moments, the copper dragon relaxed and pulled her claw and head back to a more comfortable distance. I trust you understand me now. Now then, where was I? Oh yes, I was about to tell the one about the dwarf and the pickle barrel...

The sun was low on the horizon when the dragon finally stretched and said, I don't believe I've ever had such a touch audience.

Almonihah was still standing with his arms crossed. He'd shifted around some to keep his legs from falling to sleep, but he hadn't moved far. He wasn't taking any chances with those claws. Of course, neither had he laughed at any of her jokes.

It is getting rather late, isn't it? The dragon said, then continued without waiting for an answer, I guess there's only time for one more. You wouldn't happen to know Great Eagle, would you?

No, Almonihah replied.

Hm... it only makes sense in Great Eagle. Well, I guess there's nothing else to do but take you back to my lair and teach you Great Eagle.

“What?” Almonihah was so surprised that he switched back to the Common Tongue without even thinking about it. “I am not...”

I insist. The dragon's tone was still pleasant, but Almonihah remembered how she had acted the last time she had said those words. He had a feeling he didn't have much choice about this.

The dragon looked him up and down. It's a pity you weren't born with wings.

Almonihah suppressed a flinch at those words. If she only knew how many times he'd wished he had...

I guess I'll just have to carry you back myself. Hold still.

Almonihah froze as she reached for him with one clawed foot. Gently, she closed her claws around him and picked him up off the ground. Then she leaped into the air with a powerful downbeat of her wings and started flying northwest.

Almonihah found that being carried was a much less comfortable way to fly than riding. Not only was the dragon's firm grip on him rather uncomfortable, he could also see just how far from the ground they were getting. While he didn't think himself a coward, seeing that much empty air below him with nothing but a dragon's claw to hold him up made him a bit nervous. At least he couldn't sweat.

Well, since you're going to be my guest, I suppose I should tell you my name, the dragon said, her voice carrying clearly despite the wind whipping by. I am Galindakherithan. And what is your name, half-bronze?

“Almonihah,” the Ranger called back, almost yelling to make sure he was heard.

Almonihah, Galindakherithan repeated, her voice thoughtful. An odd name... it's not from the Common Tongue, nor is it Draconic...and it's definitely not Elven or Dwarven... maybe it's Ancient Draconic?

There was an expectant pause. After a while, Almonihah guessed she was waiting for him to say something.

I... don't know, he admitted.

What, your father never told you?

He died first. Almonihah's response was as much growl as yell.

Galindakherithan was silent for a while. Eventually she changed the subject. So just what brought a young half-dragon like yourself to be wandering about in my territory?

I am a Ranger, Almonihah replied.

After waiting a bit for him to elaborate, the dragon asked, Aren't Rangers usually down by the Madlands?

I'm not, was Almonihah's reply.

Well, I could tell that. Galindakherithan's was rather sarcastic. After a moment's pause, to give the half-dragon an opportunity to explain himself, the copper dragon said, So, in other words, you wander around other people's territories.

Almonihah snorted, but didn't say anything. He felt as much as saw her shake her head.

You half-dragon types... she said, then chuckled herself. As if I would know. I must admit that you're the first one I've met.

Almonihah grunted. I am not surprised by that, he said.

There are not that many of you, are there? Galindakherithan asked, though the question seemed rhetorical. As if to confirm the impression, she spoke again before he had a chance to respond. Here we are!

Almonihah looked ahead. They were nearing a cliff face on one of the mountains of the Stormpeaks. As he looked closer, he did indeed see a large opening in the cliff, though it was partially screened by trees that came up to just before the cave mouth. Galindakherithan slowed as she approached it, then came down gently to a landing in the small clearing in front of the cave mouth.

Now then, you know better than to try to run when I put you down, right?

Almonihah hated the patronizing tone in the dragon's voice, so he responded in Common. “Yeah.”

Galindakherithan set her half-dragon 'guest' down. After waiting for a couple of seconds to make sure he didn't decide to try running despite her warning, she started walking towards the cave opening.

Come along then, Almonihah.

Almonihah grunted and followed her.

Galindakherithan's lair seemed to consist of a series of interconnected caverns. The first, where they entered, was wide, but fairly shallow, with a narrower tunnel in the back leading deeper into the lair. Despite the smaller size of the tunnel, the copper dragon fit in it with plenty of room to spare—which she might well need in a few centuries, if she continued living in this lair.

They next passed through a large cavern with a high ceiling. Galindakherithan took a rather winding path through it.

Just some things here to discourage unwanted guests while I'm out hunting, the dragon said over her shoulder as she turned yet again to go across the chamber instead of towards the opening in the back that Almonihah could dimly see.

The next cavern looked to be the one the dragon used to sleep in. There was a shallow depression on one side of the chamber which looked to be rather scratched up that Almonihah suspected was the copper dragon's nest. He was not surprised to see that her hoard was not here. Zrathanzon had said that the legends about dragons sleeping on their gold were false.

Don't even try to go down there, Galindakherithan said, pointing towards another tunnel opening in the right side of the cavern that was a few feet above the floor. Then she pointed at another, smaller opening in the other side of the cavern. Down there is where you'll be staying. Let me show you to your room.

She started walking towards the opening on all fours, with Almonihah following. After a little while, the tunnel began to narrow quickly.

The copper dragon waved Almonihah on. I'll be along in just a moment, half-dragon.

With another acknowledging grunt, the Ranger passed his hostess and walked further down the tunnel. He heard Galindakherithan mutter something behind him, turned his head to look at her, but saw only a tall human woman in a silvery-colored dress.

Almonihah seemed unsurprised. “Thought you could do that,” he said, then turned back and continued onwards.

You really are no fun, the woman said in Draconic, with a bit of a playful pout in her voice.

“Be a lot more convincing 'f you didn't speak in Draconic,” Almonihah replied.

“Human is such a dull language,” the shape-changed dragon said airily in Common. “Draconic really has much more power to it.”

Almonihah's only response was a snort.

The tunnel dead-ended in an unusually smooth, flat wall with a door in it. There was another door in the wall of the tunnel on either side, also in suspiciously flat walls. Almonihah noted that they didn't look to have been worked with tools, which led him to conclude that someone—probably Galindakherithan—had used magic to shape the surrounding stone and then installed doors in the resulting walls.

Galindakherithan walked around Almonihah and pointed at the door in the left wall. This will be your room, she said, speaking in Draconic again, then indicated the other two doors. The middle door is my studio, and the right one is my library. You should know that both of those doors have traps on them—another little deterrent for unwanted guests. I would suggest that you not touch either of them.

Almonihah nodded in understanding. Once the human-shape dragon was satisfied he understood, she opened the door to his room and walked in, motioning for the half-dragon to follow. The room was fairly large, with a wardrobe, a large bed, and various other furnishings. All of the walls were straight and flat, like something that had been built by men, but with none of the tool marks that would usually accompany such work.

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Yes, Almonihah was just taken prisoner by a dragon because he wouldn't laugh at her jokes. Dragons can be funny creatures sometimes... but Almonihah doesn't think this is funny.

Note how Almonihah's speech is different in Draconic. Draconic doesn't lend itself to the kinds of contractions and dropped syllables (or words) that Almonihah is fond of in the Common Tongue.