The Dragon Tamers
Copyright© 2024 by Cly Anders
Chapter 23
[Into the Mountain]
The forest allowed only glimpses of the mountain top through the blurs of emerald leaves, jagged and majestically barren. If snow ever fell upon the surface, it was melted away by the heat that radiated from within. Every short view never seemed to get them any closer until the trees were gone and the mountain loomed over them in a rugged display of ancient forces and human intervention.
The train gained altitude to look down on an enormous ring of compacted earth that the bonded Tunk’ta had walked into the foot of the mountain over centuries. Within the circle were the buildings, some single homes and shops while others were towers of apartments and offices. An industrial area puked blackened smoke while dragons flew all around, delivering materials and moving things that machines would have done on other planets.
Out in the distance stood six towers of unimaginable engineering– great open pastures of livestock stacked well into the sky, guarded from hungry dragons by iron spikes and electrified wires. The city stretched on forever, fully ringing the foot of the mountain and up along its gentler slopes. Throughout the air flew innumerable dragons, their many colors and patterns sharing the sky space with shining metallic vehicles that effortlessly defied gravity.
Roscrow stood behind the three, watching their reactions with stoic amusement. His attention was mostly focused on S’re, but she hardly noticed him as she leaned against the glass like the other two and stared around in wonder.
“This place is amazing!” she exclaimed in awe.
“I’ve only heard stories,” Jasper said with wonder. “They just don’t do this justice.”
Roscrow smirked. “We haven’t even entered the mountain yet. However, first, we must leave the dragons behind.”
Jasper’s head snapped around with a “What!?” as the train took another track and descended to a cleared area near the Tunk’ta ring.
Roscrow was already heading for the exit as they descended and called back over his shoulder. “Tunkers are not permitted in the mountain-main. Yours will have to stay out here and walk the ring as the rest do.” He paused at the door and smirked. “As for Granger, the Speakers don’t allow him in council because of his ... commentary.”
His chuckles followed after him as the door slid shut.
Jasper glanced at S’re and Slina in a panic and ran out after the giant. “Wait! Hold on!” Leaning over the rail, he called after Roscrow. “Hey, wait a second! Randel hardly listens to me, he sure won’t listen to anyone else! I can’t leave him with a bunch of strangers.”
Pausing, Roscrow tilted his head before turning to look back with a sly curl of his lips. “You could always stay behind.”
Jasper glared back, muttering “yeah, you’d like that,” before shaking his head and continuing down the stairs to hop to his dragon. “I’ll figure it out.”
Glancing at Slina, S’re followed him, feeling the tension in him. “Jasper! Jasper, wait.” She reached out to take his hand.
He stopped before turning to face her. “I don’t want to leave you, S’re, but I can’t leave Randel to walk around a strange place. Fuck. I hate having to choose between you.”
Looking down at her feet with a heartbroken expression, she gathered herself to look back at him. Her fingers slipped through his unruly hair before she used her thumb to rub the scruff on his cheek as if burning the sensation into her memory. “I’ll be okay, Jasper. I promise. I ... have Guardians who’ll watch out for me. But Randel ... only has you.”
She felt Jasper’s jaw tighten under her touch. He agreed with her– and absolutely hated that he did.
As soon as the train shuddered to a stop, three men came up into the dragon car, pausing to look up at the sleeping Tunk’ta, not knowing anything of the emotional turmoil going on amongst the foliage. What they did notice was Roscrow standing near them. Quickly elbowing the third man who was oblivious, the three stood at attention.
“Uh, Lord Roscrow!” one of the men said nervously. “It’s, uh, good to see you back, sir!”
Roscrow gave a sharp nod like he didn’t believe it and turned to pat his dragon. “Make certain to get under every scale during his bath. Then just let him find his own way to his bed after his meal. I’ll deal with him when I’m ready.”
The men agreed before glancing up at Randel as Jasper and S’re came through the brush. “Should we, uh, wake the Tunker?”
Without turning his head, Roscrow watched the pair come down a small path on the Tunk’ta’s back. Pressing his lips with thought at their troubled faces, Roscrow reached in his pocket and three large coins appeared between his knuckles. “No. I suspect he’s content where he lies. It’s been a long time since he’s been permitted this kind of rest. Do not disturb him for any reason. The car will remain here until we return. Call for me the moment he starts waking up. In the meantime, Granger’s joints could use some extra care, and make certain to find him a particularly large meal.”
The men’s eyes lit up as bright as the golden coins each one plucked from the Lord’s hand and slipped into their pockets. “Sure thing, your Lordship!”
With a nod, Roscrow started back towards the train before pausing and looking down at Jasper’s bewildered expression with a smirk. “You could still stay behind.” He didn’t wait for an answer.
Glaring after him, Jasper pressed his lips and shook his head just a fraction, muttering, “Yeah, you’d like that,” before running his fingers through his hair. “Well, if he doesn’t have to wake up, he could end up sleeping for a month. I ... suppose I could leave him for a little while.”
The only dragon that came with them was Hero, who bounced into the train car with excitement, running around to sniff and jump on everything despite S’re and Slina’s attempts to stop him.
The train continued once they were back inside. Any trains in their path were redirected to give them a straight shot into one of many holes cut into the mountainside. From here, the stone consumed them, nothing but pitch blackness outside the windows.
Roscrow waited at the side door of the car, his arms crossed and spine straight. S’re didn’t need to see into his soul to know that just under his bored, stoic mask and set shoulders was a deep displeasure for what was about to happen.
When he felt her presence beside him, he only barely turned, his voice flat. “I’ll do most of the talking. Do not agree to anything Bultaj asks for, no matter how insignificant, not even dinner. Tell him only that you’ll consider it after you’ve settled in. The Speakers’ Council will be taxing enough without Bultaj’s political agenda being pushed on you.”
S’re nodded, her shoulders rising and falling with a big breath. Her neck curved to study him. “Please tell me you’re just trying to make me nervous because you’re a sadist.”
Roscrow’s mask was shattered in a blink, his brows coming together with something between amusement and contemplation. Looking down at her, she didn’t miss how his lips pulled up in the hint of a smirk, his voice sweet as a honey-dipped knife. “If you recall, ny’Salohm, I did advise you to keep privy what you see in others.”
The train came to a final stop, the doors hissing open, and Roscrow did not wait for her reply.
Once they were out on the platform, S’re rushed to the railing, closely followed by Slina and Jasper, their eyes growing enormous at the view.
The hollow in the middle was large enough for at least ten thousand dragons to fill the space and still avoid each other. Currently, dozens circled lazily as air was gently pumped upwards so they did not need to flap. Some young dragons without riders clung to rock faces that were undeveloped, while others hung upside down from outcroppings, making playful barking sounds at those that passed them.