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Airibells,
the Little Dragon
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.to be continued.......
find ship & casks of fresh water & cooking utensils
flight home takes 5 days & 5 nights.the first sign of trouble is that the island is totally surrounded by a hurricane. Airibells leaves her charges & flies ahead to scout the best way through. She has to fly where the air is thin to get over the storm. She finds the island in the eye of the storm, and being held there by magick! She flies back to report her find. There is no way that she can carry the raft through the storm. They have to leave the raft and provisions behind. Airibells carries the net with the men inside. She flies as high as she possibly can and still have enough air for the men to stay conscious.
The first sign of trouble came in the early afternoon of the 5th day. Ahead of them, from horizon to horizon was huge roiling hurricane clouds. Airibells sat the raft down and carried Prince Shane and Shawn on her back, for a closer look at the storm. She flew high, trying to get over it, but her passengers nearly passed out in the thin air. She was going to have to fly through the storm. She turned back to the raft.
Settling close by the raft she extended a wing to it for them to walk over on. Prince Shane explained the situation to the men.
Airibells said to him, *I can not carry the weight of the raft through the storm. I am sorry. Maybe we can come back for it later.*
Prince Shane relayed her message. "We need to strap on our water skins and food for a day. Then we have to open the net top and get the raft out of it. Airibells can hold the net up while we all climb inside. That is the biggest hurricane that I've ever seen and we have to fly through it."
Airibells rested while the men set to work. Soon they had the net ready for her to hold. Carefully she slipped the raft out of it, then held it up for the men to climb inside. Prince Shane and Shawn were last. She picked each one up and placed them on her back. They strapped into their saddles for the tremorous ride through the storm.
After munching the rest of her precious float stone, Airibells flapped her wings harder and harder until she could get airborne. It was difficult from the sitting position, but the added buoyancy of her float stones made it possible. Then she lifted the men in the net into the air and away she flew.
Within the hour she hit the leading edge of the storm. This storm was far more violent than the first one that she had been in. The winds didn't just blow in one direction, but fought with each other, up drafts, down drafts and buffeted from side to side. Airibells could not rest on any current, but had to constantly fight the wind. She tried to keep as much altitude as possible. Even more dangerous than the wind was the lightning. Several times she built up such static charge that she glowed. Only by Grace of the Fates was she not struck by the many bolts streaking by. Hour by hour she toiled on carrying her precious friends toward their home. When she finally broke from the storm it was into the black of night, the dark before dawn.
Prince Shane said, "We are in the eye of the storm. Fly just a ways and settle down to rest. I only hope that there is something left of our island."
*I see lights ahead. Your island seems to be intact and no worse for the storm. Maybe the storm formed around it?*
Prince Shane cursed. "Magick! And Black Magick at that! But, who would do such a thing?
"I'm seeing the lights now, Airibells, can you make it? Rest if you need to. You have worked a miracle this day just to get us here."
*I will fly some more, because once I settle into the water, I'll not be able to rise with the net again. I'm too tired.*
The stars began to fade in the dawn's light as Airibells settled into the waves. *Prince Shane, please explain to the men that I'm going to open the net and take them out, one by one, and placing them on my back so I can swim through the surf to the beach.*
Upon hearing this the sailor cried, "NO!" in unison.
Airibells heaved a great sigh. *Please reassure them that I will not hurt any of them in the least. If they would rather swim to shore from here, they can do that.*
After a small argument, Squidy suggested that she sling the net over her shoulder, letting it fall open, then they would have something to hang onto. She agreed. She had to hang onto the net, until Prince Shane caught the draw rope and tied it around her neck, securing the other side of the net across her back.
It was a while before she was crawling out on the beach and collapsed. The sailors jumped off with a whoop and dashed away.
"Airibells, Airibells, are you going to be alright?" Shawn cried.
*I think so. I just need to rest and sleep.*
Prince Shane caressed her neck, "My dear friend, it is getting light and it is not safe for you to rest here. There is a cave on the other side of this rock outcropping. Rest a few minutes until you can swim us over there."
He turned to the Captain and First Mate, "Bozer do you know the cave?" When Bozer nodded, Shane continued, "Good. I need you to go into town and find out what is going on. Also, find those dad-blasted sailors and tell them to keep their mouths shut. Nobody is going to believe them anyway, unless, of course, they want whoever is working this Black Magick to put a spell on them."
Bozer chuckled. "I'll do my best, sir. Shall I come back after sunset?"
"Yes. Try not to be seen coming to the cave. Good luck."
Bozer turned and walked down the beach. Shane patted Airibells on the neck.
"Airibells, can you swim just a bit more? We need to get into the cave for protection."
*Yes, I believe I can swim, but not walk. I'm lighter in the water.*
"Good. We need to get around these rocks but the tidal surge is tremorous You need to swim far out around them and come back in.
"Captain, please help me bring the net off her back so we can wipe out our tracks. Airibells, can you back out into the water?" When she did, he said, "Good. Not too fast. We have to wipe out all these tracks and then throw the net back across your back for us to hang onto. We cannot leave the net here as a tell-tale sign of our arrival."
When they had this accomplished, Airibells swam back out into the surf and far out around the dangerous rocks. Then she could see the cave that Shane had spoke of. She swam deep into the ancient lava tube until she came to a sandy beach. She crawled out and lay down. Slowly and clumsily the trio slid off her back and felt around. Then she realized that although she could see in the dark, her Human friends could not. She flicked her tongue across the roof of her mouth. A few sparks flew out but no flames. She looked around, but did not see any of the white float stone. Then she heard Prince Shane mumble some strange words. He snapped his fingers and suddenly a small flame was glowing in the palm of his hand. It was enough to light the cave for them to see where they were going.
Captain Hayman exclaimed, "What the devil? I didn't know you could do Magick too!"
Prince Shane bowed his head. "Every King must know Magick, but have the good sense not to use it. Mostly, I was taught parlor tricks, illusions, and slight-of-hand manipulations. This is one of the few Magick Spells that I know. As the 3rd son, it is not likely that I will become King, so I was only taught a little Magick.
Shawn was watching the dancing flame in his father's hand with a rapt expression on his face. He looked up. "Will I learn Magick, too, Father?"
Shane smiled at his son and ruffled his hair with his other hand. "A little. And I'll make sure that this is one that you learn." Then he looked around. "There is some drift wood over there. We need to find some dry pieces to build a fire on."
They walked to the logs and branches. It was all dry, so they piled the smaller pieces against the large log. Shane carefully set the flame onto a small branch and blew onto it. By the end of his breath the branch was snapping and crackling.
Hayman spread his hands over the fire. "Ahhhh, thank you. Heat at last. Now we can get warm before we sleep.
arrive sunrise on 6th day
arrive home to find that the apprentice magician has taken over rule & is a tyrantThey awake to splashing and cursing, to find Bozer struggling to make it to the back of the cave. Airibells slipped into the water to retrieve him.
"Oh, thank you, Airibells. I thought I was a stronger swimmer than that. Of course, I don't usually swim with a pack on my back and two gallons of water tied to my belt." He slung the pack off his shoulder and untied the water jugs from his belt. Then he untied the oil cloth to reveal bread, meat, carrots, turnips, rutabagas, plates, knives and forks.
Captain Hayman was so moved by the sight of food that he nearly huged his First Mate. "Me thinks that maybe you are an angel in disguise."
Bozer laughed hartily at the thought. "Not me, Capt'n, but there is a sweet angel back at the Spring Water Inn."
Airibells leaned over his shoulder and sniffed of the collection on the oil cloth. She wrinkled her nose and drew her head back quickly.
Bozer apologized, "I'm sorry, Airibells. I really didn't bring you any food. And after you fed us for all those months, too."
*Tell him not to worry. I much prefer shark. I'm well rested and ready for a swim. I'll be back in a while.* She licked Bozer on the arm as Shawn relayed her message and chuckled with her deep bell tones when he jumped. Then she backed into the water and swam out to hunt for her breakfast.
As the men sat down for their repast, Shane pumped Bozer for information.
"Well, I went to the Crazy Horse Tavern first hoping to find those scalawag sailors, but no such luck. I finally found Squidy at a dive down at the pier. He'd got himself cleaned up. He said that he didn't know where the others were. They had said something about visiting their girls. I asked him what he'd learned. He said that no one really knew, except that a putrid fog rolled in and everyone got sick. Then the hurricane formed all around the island and ships couldn't get in or out. So, I asked him how he got to the island. He grinned and said that his ship sunk in the hurricane and he swam in. Which is almost true.
"I hunted for the others, but didn't find them until tonight when I was headed back this way. They looked awful down in the mouth. They hadn't had any luck and were famished. So I gave them a loaf and some carrots to split. I asked them what they'd learned since getting back. But, they had the same story as Squidy. So, I asked them how they got back to the island. They all looked real glum and said that they must have swam because no one would believe them anyhow. So, I figure that they must have tried it out & probably got throwed out for liars.
"Anyway about 10 in the morning I landed at the Spring Water Inn. Ol' Buzz fed me and let me clean up and sleep in the store room. When I got up this evening, I asked him what was going on in town. Why was the town so quiet and everyone so glum. All he would say was that's just the way thing are now. Then he put me to work chopping wood for my food.
"When I was done, I went in and washed the dishes for Angela while she cooked dinner for the patrons. She told me in bits & pieces under her breath that a decree came down from the King after the hurricane set in, that taxes were doubled and payable immediately. Anyone who couldn't pay in silver or food had to give their children. Then rumors started flying that the children were being killed. Some really unhappy castle guards came in and said that. Then they never showed up again and they were regulars. All the sailors and dock workers are out of work. And it's a domino effect. Hardly anyone has any work anymore. The farmers are the only ones working but the King is taking all the food for himself."
Prince Shane's eyes flashed in the dim firelight. "My father would never treat our people this way! Nor my brother either if my father had died. Besides flying through the hurricane told me absolutely that it is held here by Sorcery. I don't know why I didn't realize it at the time, I guess I was too busy trying to hang on. I can't believe that our old Magician-Priest, Kuyper Viksarelle would turn to the Dark Side. That only leaves his new and highly recommended apprentis, Revanisanter Tydomun."
Shawn interupted his father, "I've never liked his eyes. I told you that one time, Father, that when he looked at me for just a second he looked like a snake. But you told me not to make up stories. So I never told you again when I saw him look that way. Many times his eyes would look like a snakes in bright sunlight. I'm surprised that no one else ever saw it. It happened more and more over the last 2 years."
Prince Shane looked intently at his son, and the saddest expression came over his face. His voice was husky with emotion as he said, "I'm so sorry, Shawn that I didn't believe you. I swore to you when you were just a tiny baby that I would never do that to you, because my father did that to me and I remembered the pain. I broke my promise to you. Please forgive me and let me remake my vow to you to listen to you and to believe you, if you promise to never lie to me."
Shawn looked deep into his father's eyes and said, "I forgive you, Father. And I promise never to lie to you. I haven't lied to you, either. Well, not since I was about 4 when I said that my dog broke Mothers vase. I felt so bad when you tied him up outside and wouldn't let him come in any more. I confessed to Mother and promised her that I would never lie to her again."
Captain Hayman cleared his throat. "What can we do about this situation and Tydomun? How do you stop a Sorcorer who had gathered that much power? And what has he done to the Royal Family and the other Magician-Priests? You say that you don't know much Magick, my Prince. So, how can you go up against this Evil Snake alone?"
"I can't. And I don't intend to until I know more about what is going on. So, for that, I will need your help. Shawn and I will put ourselves into a deep trance and journey out of our bodies. Shawn is just learning this but I have every confidence in his abilities. Then we must roam the castle until we find out what is happening and where our family is. This is where you come in. You must keep dribbling water into our lips and a bit of gruel for nourishment. I don't know how long we will be gone, one, two, maybe three days. I hope not that long."
he cast "Lock-Away" Spells; the Minds of the Magician/Priest & King, Queen, Royal Family & Guard are lost into another Dimension, while their bodies waste away in the dungeon
Airibells takes Princes Shane & Shawn & Capt. Hayman & First Mate Bozer to a nearby island, where in a cave Princes Shane & Shawn do their own Magical Ceremony to Journey out of their bodies, while the sailors stand guard & care for them.
Shane & Shawn find Minds of their family & friends & with the help of Airibells & the Knowledge of the old Magician/Priest, Kuyper Viksarelle, are able to free them from the tyrant's, Revanisanter Tydomun, Lock-Away Spells.
Kuyper Viksarelle strips the tyrant, Revanisanter Tydomun, of his Powers & with the help of Airibells is able to restore the Island to Balance.Airibells stays with Princes Shane and Shawn. Prince Shawn becomes the first Dragon Rider.
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© 2000 by Sharri Lorraine~
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http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells2.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells3.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells4.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells5.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells6.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells9.htm
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