As was becoming a habit, I awoke just before sunrise. I felt out as far as I could. Alas, even the reef was too far to feel any one's emotional state. The city, however, was buzzing. Some had not slept all night. Varlan was already up and getting his crew to prepare the Clapper and ship ready. Set and I used our time before the rest woke to work on his breath weapon control and how his barb could be utilized.
Pausing for a moment, I felt a couple of my sisters growing distressed as they slept. Searching, I found Lisa and Gretta having disturbing dreams.
Konfotuta's presence hung over them both. Knowing what to feel for, I detected him at many points all over Arvocan. Fortunately, most of his targets were not in our party and would not be confronting him. Our other companions were awake and concerned. With them and the swords, I saw his sending. As suspected, he was playing upon their fears, secrets, and doubts. The rest, besides my sisters, could wait. Lisa was handling hers but Gretta was not. Sitting on the edge of her bed with our companions and swords encircling us, I entered her dream.
She was back in her home village. Her father, brothers, and most of the town were verbally attacking her. They had cut her hair very short, taken all of her gear, and holding Greed. They were calling her nasty things, what few words I could make out. Around the edges, people were picking up rocks, sticks, and tools. It was time to intervene.
"Stay your hands!" I shouted.
They all stopped and faced us. I stood in my ornamental armor, flanked by the swords in the flesh and our companions. I held out my left hand and brought Greed over to us where he took his place and form. With my right, I motioned to Gretta. She attempted to join us, but the crowd held her back. The image of her father came to the forefront.
"Bitch! This is your fault! You gave her haughty ideas and took her from her place. Stone her!" he ordered.
Gretta was sobbing and overwrought. In mass, the crowd advanced angrily in our direction with rocks and other items. Her father was continuing his accusations as they got closer. I took a few steps forward to meet him.
"Do you think I am a fool? I see who you truly are, Konfotuta. You have spread yourself thin by attacking so many at once. Do you have the strength to fight all of us?"
He was genuinely surprised, causing some of the townspeople to vanish. This revelation got Gretta's attention as well. She ran towards us, plowing through the people, causing them to vanish as well. Greed met her. As they touched, her armor popped into place. She joined me in confronting her "father".
"You coward! Instead of any honest fight, you resort to this? Shame on you. You keep calling us insects, but only a rat would be so cowardly."
He became enraged. All but he disappeared. A very non-human roar issued from this "man". The village disappeared and the gray void returned.
"Again? Once again, you see through my carefully crafted images. Defeating you will be as pleasurable as freeing all dragons from their bonds to all soft creatures."
"We shall see who defeats who. Prepare yourself for our meeting today. We are ready."
He huffed and vanished. I turned to Gretta.
"Wake now, sister, it is over."
I returned to normal perceptions as Gretta woke up. The rest of our sisters were awake and encircling us. We did not need to tell them what happened. We dressed in silence and joined our friends for breakfast.
We could see some of Konfotuta's victims. Tired faces, circles under eyes, slumped postures, and other physical symptoms. Luckily, our party was nearly ignored. We found this a bit funny. With all his skill, experience, and powers, he missed ninety-five percent of our group. Those he had touched were not downtrodden, but emboldened. Plus, having already shared the fears and secrets he tried to use against them, his weapon was greatly dulled.
We all met at the ship. The sea dragons could swim as fast as the ship easily. Tow lines dangled off the ship and from the sea dragons. The aquatics, to keep up, were to hang on to these as we headed to the rendezvous spot. We seven and our companions boarded the ship with Varlan and his crew. Flanked by aquatic riders and sea dragons with terrestrial riders and dragons above us, we headed out to open waters.
We arrived at the spot. Konfotuta was not there. Try as we may, none of us could sense him or the saurguin. All attempts at far-sight were blocked. Many began to question if this was the right spot, the right time of day, and other doubts were voiced. We double-checked and determined everything was as it should be, but our adversaries were nowhere to be found.
"It is a ploy," Eelly finally concluded, "To disrupt our careful plans, he is hiding and stalling. Most likely, he thinks this will unnerve us."
Everyone saw the logic in his conclusion. We felt out for any magical barrier, illusion, or deflection. As expected, a very large area was detected a few miles away from our position. A pulse of anger preceded Konfotuta dropping his shielding.
"Fine, you found us," he sent mentally as he and the saurguin closed to gap between us, "Still, watching you squirm was amusing. I wonder what other entertainment you will provide?"
No one replied. They arrived in mass, the saurguin forming a living wall between us and Konfotuta. They tried to look brave and menacing, but their fear rolled off of them. Eelly shouted to the saurguin that our fight was only with Konfotuta and they could leave at any time with no repercussions. Some motioned as if to go, but Konfotuta's growl made them stay.
"My pets will not be so easily dismissed. They follow me and will fight to the death for me," Konfotuta boldly stated.
The saurguin attempted to prove his words in posture and expression, but their emotions betrayed them. Mentally, we seven sought a way to remove the saurguin from harm as we had not figured them into our battle plans. Sloth, Sky, and Aoushlunia came up with a solution. Puling some power from the lightning items, they opened a "tunnel" in the water that sucked the saurguin out of sight. Konfotuta's mass and the towlines kept anyone else from getting pulled away as well. Konfotuta's angry roar vibrated the water around us. His control was slipping and his living shield was gone.
"Krimmonjor!" he swore loudly, "For this...for this you all die!"
He began quickly gathering his power. The aquatics, through practice, were quicker. A mammoth waterspout engulfed him, breaking his concentration. He struggled to find a stable spot inside the spinning water. On cue, the lightning was unleashed upon the Clapper. It crackled as the energy collected. All of us on the ship felt it coursing over our skin.
Releasing it pushed a fully loaded ship back a full ship length. The waterspout glowed when the energy struck it. Konfotuta roared an unearthly howl that reverberated through all of us. The aquatics released the waterspout and he fell limply into the sea with a tremendous splash. Everyone was still, not wanting to celebrate prematurely. They looked at us, waiting for news of victory or failure.
"He is gravely wounded," I told them, "He is struggling to survive."
Varlan ordered the Clapper to be set up for another jolt. Most of the items on it were charred beyond repair. Held items replaced the damaged ones.
A shout brought our attention back to the water. The pale and battered face of Konfotuta bobbed a ways from the ship. Blood dripped from his mouth as he tried to speak. Many of the aquatics wanted to flee, certain of our failure. Varlan was about to order another charging of the Clapper, but a movement in the water stopped him and the rest of us. The water around Konfotuta glowed softly. This even got his attention. From the light, forms began to float and hover about him. People, aquatic and terrestrial, sea creatures of all kinds, formed a ghostly cloud around him.
"Konfotutatahendron, our slayer, you deny the truth of the Great Dragon as the resting place of dragons," a collective voice spoke aloud and mentally, "Brimagor taught all dragons that it is so, yet you deny it and the real destiny of all dragons. We, your victims, are sent by Lord Brimagor and the Great Dragon to pronounce your real destiny. As you devoured us, he shall devour you."
Gasps escaped our assembly. These were quieted when the spirits spoke again.
"You are cursed. Your soul will know no rest for five incarnations. Upon the fifth, your ultimate fate will be decided. We go now."
The cloud thickened. Ghostly hands reached into Konfotuta's body. Pulling as one, they removed his soul, as ghostly as they, from his wounded body. He screamed a mixture of pain, anger, and despair. After the tip of his tail was free, his lifeless body sank out of sight. We all watched them pull his soul skyward. The blue sky parted to reveal the Great Dragon. Around the points of light, a misty body formed. His mouth opened as the mass approached. With a fling, Konfotuta's soul was tossed into that colossal maw. Gulping, the Great Dragon returned to stars and the sky closed to be a seamless blue expanse. I do not know how long we all stood, silently staring at the spot. A noise brought us out of our trance. Where Konfotuta's body had sank, a torrent of bubbles and foam churned up the water. Our swimmers dove to investigate. They reported that his body was dissolving, bone and all. We waited until it ended before heading back to Arvocan.
It was afternoon when we docked. It appeared as if the entire population was waiting on us. Eelly stood upon the bow of the ship and announced the death of Konfotuta. The area erupted in shouts of joy. They were allowed to shout and cheer for some time. Eelly got their attention. He proceeded to tell them what had happened. When he told of the Great Dragon "eating" Konfotuta, some gasped like our group had done. Others looked confused, not understanding the significance of this. Finished, Eelly dismissed everyone to return to their regular activities. Our group parted to find food and settle ourselves.
Walking into the outpost, we looked at the nest where we had last seen the trio. People parted before us to keep from impeding our trip. In the eating area, likewise, everyone cleared a path for us, even setting down their own food so we could have first choice. The cooks shouted for "the best" to be brought out immediately. No amount of protest would sway them from gathering "the best" for us.
When we sat to eat, an odd thing happened. Our table became an island. A circle of at least twenty feet with only our table was bare. We were stared at almost constantly, but no one "dared" to approach us. Sarah was the most upset by this behavior. She wanted to be accepted by her new people, not be an outcast. She was trying not to cry, but silent tears slid down her cheeks.
"Sarah," I started as I moved to sit beside her, "it is not personal. They need time to sort out their emotions. Look around with me."
I took her hand to let her "see". She gasped at the wild colors and shifting patterns. As we watched, Aoushlunia and Merroc, clothed and with legs, entered the room. They were not conflicted. The certainty they radiated seemed to stabilize the room. Unerringly, they walked over to us, Sarah actually.
"Child, we must ask you an important question. Our grotto is mostly underwater. If you wish to live with us, we need to know if you will perform the ritual to become a mermaid?"
The whole room went silent. Sarah stared at her elders, wide-eyed. The pair stood still. They did not ask again, in case she didn't hear the question. They did not ask if she was alright or understood the question. They did not sit to wait for her answer.
Sarah shook herself and stood, "Yes, yes, I will. I want to be a full member of the clan."
Smiling, the three of them embraced tightly. The rest of the room stood up and cheered, including us. The uncertainty of the rest had calmed considerably at Sarah's commitment to become a true mermaid. Our companions were slightly confused, but understood when we explained. The elders and Sarah sat with us, ate, and told us what was involved in this ritual.
"Far away from land is an island many believe to be the birthplace of all aquatic races. Whether that is true matters not. It is, however, sacred to the Goddess Ocean. There, the gods and goddesses of the waters test the candidate to see if he or she is truly committed to an aquatic life. If the candidate passes, special water is given and drank. Within a lunar cycle, the candidate is transformed into the race that brought him or her to the ritual. Usually, the month is spent saying good-bye to family on land and severing ties to the terrestrial world. You, however have only these ladies to connect you to the land. This tie shall not be severed," Merroc told Sarah.
"Absolutely, Grandfather," Sarah spoke up,"In fact, we have spoken of adding a Faerie door to my home so they might visit me."
The elder aquatics exchanged looks, mentally seeing their home and where such a thing could be placed. Apparently, neither could think of anywhere "suitable" for a door. They, gently, told Sarah that she should not set her heart upon such happening.
Setting it aside for now, we all left to escort Aoushlunia and Merroc back to the water before sunset stranded them. They told us it would take a day or two to set up the ritual. A "tutor" would walk Sarah through the ritual to get her part right. The rest of us were invited to watch.
They and the other legless aquatics retired to the watery side of Arvocan as the sun left the sky. We looked up as Starlight's first star of evening winked into sight. We seven went to our room as the sea dragons and riders went to their regular duties and the terrestrial dragons and riders decided whether to stay the night or pop back to Demagram.
As we were settling down, preparing for bed, Starlight appeared in our room.
"Greetings, my dears. The Great Dragon sent me to talk to you. He felt clarification was needed about Konfotuta's fate."
"Yes, please," Lisa piped in, "The aquatics and dragons seemed horrified when he was 'devoured'."
"I am sure they were horrified. Please sit and I will explain it."
We all sat to listen to Starlight's instruction.
"Good dragons, when they pass, are taken into the Great Dragon's heart, where the things they learned are absorbed by him to educate the next generation of dragons. Bad dragons are taken into his belly where their experiences are also absorbed. While both have the choice of reincarnation, evil dragon are 'encouraged' to pick reincarnation in order to 'atone' for their evil ways. To be 'devoured' means reincarnation is mandatory after a grueling breakdown of that dragon's deeds, behaviors, and attitudes. Others that have been devoured went back as dragons. Konfotuta, however, will not. His mind and soul will be housed in non-dragon bodies for five incarnations. When the fifth body dies, he will be re-evaluated. If his attitude is unchanged, the Immortals will decide what to do with his soul. For a dragon, five non-dragon lifespans will seem very quick."
"If he is still bad, the Great Dragon won't let him in?" Set asked sadly.
"No, evil dragons are allowed. If he learns the real role dragons have in the world, he might be allowed inside. Should he maintain this 'dragons as rulers' mentality, that will deny him entrance."
We sat and absorbed this information. Set and Echo whined slightly as they huddled against us, feeling very sad that anyone would make themselves inadmissible to such a lofty place.
"How soon will he be reborn?" Alice whispered.
"By late spring or early summer, some newborn babe will be the reincarnated Konfotutatahendron. Which race he will be, I know not."
My heart went out to those soon-to-be-parents. His first incarnation would be the worst. The rage and hatred would be still fresh and raw. They would have a very difficult child.
We thanked Starlight for her information as she left to return to the sky. We finished getting ready for bed and laid down to sleep.
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