Training While At Sea (66)

      “Do not protest Sertian!” I ordered. “I will need to eat and move about to assist in my recovery.” I explained. He stared at me doubting my own words.

      “Food can be brought for you without leaving this cabin.” he half retorted at me. “You do not need to leave your cabin until you have recovered fully.” he continued harsher. I could sense his pain and worry as my protector.

      “I would rather eat on the deck than in my cabin.” I snapped back. “The fresh sea air and sunlight will help me more than your coddling me!” I continued annoyed. “And I must be helping in Arry's training prior to his arrival in Atlantis.” I added forcibly.

      “You doubt our abilities in this matter?” Sert remarked crestfallen.

      “You personally cannot understand the difference in power level that will occur once Arry and Skydancer reach Atlantis.” I explained slowly. My head still felt like it floated too high above my shoulders which food should rectify without using my self-healing technique. “Meli's gifts suffer less of a strength drop since she resorts to non-magical methods away from Atlantis.” I continued. “The overcharge in the dragon may transfer into Arry because of the link.” I stated. “Without control exercises, it will overpower him causing physical damage.” I concluded. It was in part a lie since I could not see Skydancer allowing harm to come to Arry but being so young, it may not understand this point.

      “I will lead you to the deck before collecting a plate for you, Sir.” Sert finally acquiesced. I read the debate during his silence of lying about the weather dashed by my apparent all-knowing ability too often shown to him. “Meli will be crossed with you.” he warned.

      “But she will agree that sunlight and sea breeze will speed up my healing.” I returned with a weak chuckle. He shrugged before escorting me down the short hallway, up the stairs to the deck, and to my normal perch at the prow of the Herald. I half expected Meli to assault me the second I was seated cross-legged on the polished wooden planks. But it was captain Destine and Arry half hidden behind her that approached me.

      “I see you have recovered some of your strength Lord Kestrel.” she remarked casually. I felt a minor tingle of unrest in her.

       “Yes, and I believe young Arry is to be thanked for that.” I returned calmly. “I hope that you understand that neither you nor Skydancer is to blame for this malaise.” I told the boy. “I have visions and some physically drain me more than others.” I explained to him. Arry slowly moved from behind captain Destine to stand next to her.

      “Which lead to a minor problem resolved with proper explanations.” Destine said easily. “Young Arry's heart is as tender as his mind is nimble.” she continued. She placed a hand on the boy's shoulder as she smiled with pride. “Himself and Skydancer would be a good addition to the Ambassadors to Atlantis.” she suggested. I chuckled as Arry blushed and sputtered at her words.

       “Give him ten to twenty more years of experience before making such a valid offer again captain Destine.” I countered. “He needs to understand what human society thinks it needs before offering what is truly best for them.” I commented. This brought forth a laugh from Arry. I motioned for him to speak his mind.

       “It may be childish.” he stated hesitantly. “But food in the stomach, shelter from storms, and family securely around you is all one needs to be happy.” he announced.

       “It is how to accomplish those three you must discover and learn how best to do so.” I responded easily. He stared at me blankly for a moment before smiling and blushing in embarrassment. “A kind heart and sharp mind are acceptably his best assets.” I stated to Destine. “But experience is required to judge the best path for him to take.”

       “Very true.” she replied. She saluted me, turned to salute Arry, and slowly walked away leaving the boy standing by me. I glanced around once more expecting to see Meli bearing down on me but only Sert was all I spotted returning with a tray of food plates.

      “It is always good to have company while enjoying a meal.” I stated. Sert sat before placing down the plates. “I believe one of those plates is yours Arry.” I commented. I slapped the flat of my hand on the deck before the left side plate. Sert had sat across from me leaving the position to my right empty for Meli. “Meli will be joining us with tea?”

      “Tea for us and another flagon of spiced honey wine for you Sir.” he responded. He avoided my gaze which suggested a greater fear of facing me over Meli's decisions.

      “It is very good wine.” I commented back. He glance for but a second at me. “No real reason to refuse even if spiced with strong healing herbs.” I told him. “Tea is herbs, flower buds, stems, petals, and roots steeped in boiling water.” I explained to Arry. He sat cross-legged like myself and Sert forming a triangle on the prow of the ship. My back faced our path while Sert's faced the village we had left. I examined his face for signs of greenness most land dwellers bore when first at sea.

      “The boy must have mariners' blood in him Kestrel.” Meli reported, She sunk down next to us sitting on her heels. “Your healing draft.” she stated. She placed a large stone tankard by my right knee. She proceeded to fill and place handle-less cups by the other plates finishing with her own. “A simple mint tea to help facilitate digestion.” she concluded. I eyed the four plates finding identical meals varying only in portion sizes. Where Sert and myself had more than Arry, Meli's plate held only a bit less than the loaded plate before me.

      “It appears to be in perfect order Mekiliean.” I said nodding to her. “But I do hope you will not force me to empty my plate.”

      “Some of the herbs in your wine causes an increase in appetite.” she returned calmly. “But it would not be healthy to gorge oneself after nearly three days of not eating, Sir.” she agreed grudgingly. I silently noted this without showing the sinking fear of having lost three days to something in consequential slumber.

      “It was an emotion and not a vision that rendered me catatonic.” I informed her, She stopped eating to stare at me with Arry following suit. “A dreadful foreboding toward events that would not reveal themselves to me.” I explained. “Older visions returned to replay in my mind keeping me from regaining consciousness when you returned me to the village.” I continued.

      “Which suggests you will have no knowledge until the events start occurring?” Sert suggested slowly. I nodded my acceptance.

       “We will remain on our guard for things going wrong.” Meli returned. “It is the simplest solution and our normal pattern.” I nearly laughed at the childlike view she put forth but the serious glare from Sert held my laughter at bay. We slowly ate and drank in the noon time sun.

      “I must speak with Arry and indirectly Skydancer.” I stated. The meal had not removed the lightheadedness but breaching this subject of power control in front of the others would be helpful. Meli would add controlling exercises into Arry schedule and meditative sessions from Sert. “I do suggest you both remain to understand potential problems we may have with Arry and Skydancer upon returning to Atlantis.” I continued quickly.

       “Could this refer to your foreboding?” Arry asked first.

      “No, since in this case it would be only you and Skydancer in perilous danger.” I replied quickly. “It relates to the magical essence of dragons and how it will be heightened when exposed to the mystic net over Atlantis.” I explained slowly. “In short, as Skydancer overcharges, a portion will be transferred to you increasing the gifts you gain from the link.”

      “Is this similar to the events of your arrival?” Meli stated softly. “In the Healers' Hall?” she added for clarification. I blushed at the memory of opening my eyes to see my nebulous healing cloud intertwined with Annianka's flaming serpent of healing surrounding me.

      “Yes.” I mumbled. “Both of those healing techniques should not have manifested visibly if one of us had controlled there power better.” I admitted softly. I avoided my companions gaze trying to focus on Arry only receiving only a confused stare. “I caused one to manifest which lead to the other manifesting since sparks and fire feed each other.” I explained. Meli giggled at my blush reddened cheeks.

      “Two similar healing magics used together.” I heard Sert inform the boy. “Most of the healers of Atlantis still speak of this event after close to a hundred years with extreme reverence.” he stated. “And another reason the see Lord Kestrel as the Heart of Atlantis, Her Holiness Annianka's counterpart.”

      “A perception Her Holiness encourages giving Lord Kestrel more chances to demonstrate true honour for all to see.” Meli remarked.

      “Enough.” I returned calmly. “I would show you the scene but my healer does not allow me at present to use any of my special abilities.” I told Arry. “If not controlled properly, a whisper of magic turns into a deafening shout upon Atlantis.” I explained slowly. “The benefits you gain from your link to Skydancer will also be heightened in the same fashion.” I continued.

      “Which suggests I must use the most gentle of touch and move with cautious slowness.” Arry returned in a slow pensive tone. We all stared at him in silence. “Correct?” he added hesitantly.

      “Correct.” I interjected back.” But we are unsure what other gifts both you and Skydancer possesses.” I continued quickly. “Nor which of those dragon gifts that can be augmented or transfer through the link to you.”

      “Then I will go through the possibilities with them.” Meli announced bluntly. “All Atlantian have knowledge of dragons since we are exposed to the spirit dragons daily.” she concluded.

      “What is the breath weapon of a forest dragon?” I asked in mock casualness. Meli shrugged as her shoulders slumped defeated.

      “A heavy mist that confuses the normal senses.” Arry whispered. Sert and myself glanced at him who blushed once more. “Skydancer has used that to hide the mouth of our caves before.” he supplied as explanation.

      “Which is a combination of the mild fog of forest dragons and the disorienting bubbles of the sea dragons.” I supplied

      “Has Skydancer shown any other types of breath attacks?” Sert stated. “Like flames or ice jets?” he continued. Arry shrugged before shaking his head slowly. “But to extinguish the fire?”

      “Water from his fishing gullet that he sprayed out.” I explained. “But they may share elemental skills based in the water manipulation vein such as steam and mist.” I suggested.

      “It can be tested during the voyage.” Meli replied quickly. I felt Meli was trying to push this discussion to a close so I would return to my cabin.

      “Sea dragons combine water and air while forest dragons use earth and air combination for their special attacks.” I informed them. “Has Skydancer shown any other air or earth abilities?” I asked slowly. Arry absently scratched at his cheek in silent thought. I waited patiently as I viewed thoughts form and dissipate from the boy's mind. I sensed Skydancer sitting in his head bringing images back for them to quickly mentally debate and file properly under one of the three elements mentioned.

       “Would softening the ground he lands upon be earth related?” the boy asked slowly. “He says it hides signs and sounds of him landing on ground.” he explained.

      “Making the earth take his landing without marks or vibrations could be associated to an earth manipulation technique.” I responded. “Would you agree Meli?” She slowly nodded back to me.

      “Water could be used to soften the earth and stop vibration but marks of Skydancer's feet upon landing would show in the mud.” she surmised in a slow speech pattern. “Does he speak to flora and fauna without words?”

      “Not the best way to phrase that question since you speak out loud to your plants.” Sert jabbed with a small smirk. Arry giggled at this.

      “He growls and hisses at trees and bushes but it is not often.” the boy admitted between giggles. “I do not think he receives answers from them.” he continued softly. I could still sense him and the dragon placing event into the three set categories for later use. “But is that truly an earth ability?”

      “It is something shared by all earth wielders be they healers, builders, and agriculturists as a gift.” Meli responded. “Speaking mentally with smaller living things in our world.” she added. Arry scratched at his chin once more slipping into deeper thoughts of categorizing all the events they had seen.

       “Just speak with Lady Meli about the other events you have categorized.” I stated to Arry. The lightheadedness was now joined with moments of dizziness which suggest Meli had double or tripled the strength of the herbs in that second draft of honey wine. “It would be best for me to return to my bed.” I said softly. I signalled Sert to my side to use his hand and my unstrung bow-staff to return to my feet. Meli smiled her triumphant grin at me. “That was an underhanded trick for a healer.” I grumbled.

       “A good healer puts the health of her patient first and their own morals second.” she returned with a satisfied smirk. “Get him back to bed and if he behaves I will not resort to stronger draughts.” she ordered Sert. He grappled me around the waist as I clung to his shoulder to led me back to my cabin where I was forced to spend the remainder of the trip home.

      I did not get many chances to see Arry and Skydancer during the following 3 months he and Skydancer spent training. I did fully recover and was trapped in sessions with the Council and speaking with Annianka about the newest dragon bonded pair in the world. I could not even see them off as they flew of of their volition once they were done training. Sert mentioned Arry wanted to see Dera and her brother again which would be easier if they flew back to the village. The dreadful foreboding had remained in the back of my mind warning that the event it foretold was near. I could not fathom how close the event was or how it would effect my plans in Atlantis.