Back to Riversleigh

I took my leave of the my three guides in Kerith and made my own way to the dock. When I got on board, Gerd greeted me with a slap on the back that sent me reeling across the deck.
“Good to have yer back,” she roared. “How did yer enjoy yer meetin’ with the Dragon Queen.”
I steadied myself on the deck rail. “It was beyond expectations,” I said. “Where are we headed?”
“Well, we got a fine catch for Riversleigh Manor, and I was sent word to take you along.”
Riversleigh! My heart leapt at the thought of returning to that lovely place.
“More deck swabbing?” I grinned.
“Nah, I gotta better job for yer. I saw yer face when you was eating that bread, and I said to meself, why, here’s a woman that’s used to finer things. Our ship’s cook ran off with a merman - not sure what she plans to do with him, he wants to keep an eye on his tail to my way of thinking - so here’s the business - you take her place until we gets to Riversleigh. I’m picking up the new cook there.”
“How do you know I can cook?” I said.
“Can’t be worse than that bread,” one of the deck hands muttered in my ear. “Cap’n’s mum makes it. Could use it for an anchor.”
“What was that?” Gerd boomed.
“Nuthin’,” the deck hand said innocently.
“Come wi’ me, I’ll show you the galley.” Gerd led me down below decks. The galley was a noisome corridor jammed down the middle of the boat. I stared at it in dismay. It was filthy. Grease caked the walls, and there was rubbish and washing up everywhere.
“It needs cleaning,” I yelped.
“Good girl!” Gerd gave me another slap on the back and I crashed into the sinkful of washing up. “Leave you to it then.” Her salty boots pounded back up the steps.
It took two hours to restore some sort of order to the galley, but eventually I had clean dishes and pots, and had cleared a working space. I looked through the cupboards to see what was available and found two loaves of the Staghammer Mama’s bread. They weighed like bricks so I dropped them into the trash.
The former cook, in spite of her sloppy ways and penchant for mermen, kept a good store cupboard. There was flour, rice, pasta, tinned vegetables, and a good supply of Lemurian herbs and spices. One of the deck hands appeared with fish and shellfish, and I set about making a hearty stew, and some soda bread with rice pudding for dessert.
Mealtime was very merry, taken on the deck under the stars. The crew approved my stew and soda bread, and made short work of the pudding. Gerd loosened her belt another notch.
“That was fine fare indeed,” she grinned. “Knew you could do it.”
There was another advantage to being cook beside the appreciation of the crew. I didn’t have to do any other work, so I had plenty of time to relax on deck and watch the stars until it was time to prepare supper.
I knew it would be a wonderful voyage, with good company - and at the thought of my destination, I felt a happy glow of home coming.

In the Camp of the Dragon Queen

My guides led me high into the lush tropical forest and we trudged for hours. I knew we were nearing the volcano when the forest petered out and we had to struggle over solid waves of lava. The heat became intense, and it was almost too much for me to bear.
Marg and the woman with long black hair, whose name was Ishtara, were patient with me as we striuggled on, but the third woman, whose name was Nessa, seemed to have taken a dislike to me. She watched me with narrowed eyes and pursed lips, and waited impatiently up ahead while we followed.
“Maybe you’d better rest,” Ishtara said kindly.
“Can’t rest,” Marg said, “the Dragon Queen knows you are on your way to the Goddess. She’ll try to stop you.”
“She won’t have much trouble,” Nessa sneered.
“What’s eating you today?” Marg said. “Never mind, traveller, she’s poor company at the best of times.”
“But I know the hidden way,” Nessa said.
“That’s right - gotta keep you out of the Dragon’s claws.”
She spoke to soon. Suddenly the sky darkened and we saw a huge black dragon overhead.
“Damn!” Marg shouted. “Run for cover.”
We scrambled toward clefts in the lava but we were too late. I felt huge claws grab me under the arms and the ground fell away from me with a sickening lurch. The dragon lifted me up until I could see the top of the volcano. For one horrifying moment I thought I was going to be dropped in. Then the dragon swooped over the volcano and we flew in a dizzying rush down the other side.
A clearing appeared in from of us. I caught a glimpse of what looked like an army encampment with a tent pavilion in the middle, then we plunged down, leaving my stomach way behind, and the ground rushed up to meet me.
I lay winded and bruised for a moment. Then I slowly got to me feet and looked around. The black dragon stood behind me, his mighty head lowered. On his back was a woman. She slid to the ground and walked toward me. I didn’t have to be told - I knew it was the Dragon Queen.
“Where’s Lavengro?” I said, with more boldness than I felt.
She looked me up and down with distaste. Something about the mocking sneer stirred my memory. I knew where I’d seen it before.
“You were Nessa!” I said. “What have you done with her as well?”
“She sleeps only,” the Queen shrugged. “It does not matter - your Gypsy King is mine, soon all of Lemuria will be mine.”
“Not if I can help it,” I said.
“You? What can you do to stop me?”
“I am here for Le Enchanteur,” I said. “She knows your plans.”
“And she sent an old woman to stop me?” The Dragon Queen shook her head and her gold ear rings tinkled. “I thought she would be a worthy opponent.” She sounded almost regretful.
I tried to look confident, but I had some doubts about Le Enchanteur’s wisdom myself. My task seemed almost laughable against the reality of the Dragon Queen and her army. She clapped her hands and I was seized and dragged off to one of the tents. The guards tied me to the centre pole and left me alone.
Terrific, I thought. I set out to free Lavengro and I end up a prisoner myself. The rope bound my upper arms to the pole and left my hands free. I couldn’t reach the rope to undo it, but I could wriggle my hand under my shirt and managed to open Le Enchanteur’s bag. The contents spilled out onto my lap as I struggled - the dream seeds, the spectacles, the candlestick, the anchor, the medallion and the wings - and something else, that I had not noticed before. I laughed softly - Le Enchanteur, bless her heart, had not sent me to the Dragon Queen unarmed.
No wonder I hadn’t seen it before - it was Le Enchanteur’s Invisibility Stone, a milky white gem hanging on a gold chain. It remains invisible until Le Enchanteur commands it to appear. I knew if I could get the chain round my neck I would become invisible too - but it took some manoeuvering to get my head down far enough and my hands up high enough the get the chain over my head, As soon as I did, the ropes slipped away, because there was nothing for them to hold onto.
I got clear of the ropes and momentarily became visible again so I could gather up the other items and stow them back in the bag. Then I slipped the stone back over my head and walked boldly out of the tent.
The Dragon Queen was mounted on her black dragon, issuing orders. The encampment was milling with her guards yet none of them saw me as I made my way to her pavilion. I was careful not to brush up against anyone. I walked straight between the two guards standing at the entrance, sliding between the silken doors, which were tied back with gold cords. Her pavilion was quite magnificent, hung with silk tapestries, and furnished with huge plump cushions and chests inlaid with gold. Half of the pavilion was curtained off, and I peeked in to this second chamber. There was a pile of cushions in the centre, with fur blankets heaped on top and fine silk curtains hanging from the roof. But it was not at this I stared.
Lavengro was in the chamber, tied to one of the roof posts. Hie looked utterly dejected. She had tied his hands and feet, as well as his arms. I called out to him and he stared around wildly. Then I remembered, and slipped the stone from around my neck.
His face lit up. “Untie me, quickly,” he said, “before she gets back.”
I started pulling at the ropes. “I’m glad you’re all right,” I said, “I was told you were under a spell.”
“I was - but the Dragon Queen has her hands full with the invasion of Lemuria, so she had me tied up.”
“How can we stop her?” I asked.
He flexed his arms and legs, obviously revelling in their freedom. “Her ear rings,” he said. “Did you notice them?”
“Yes - gold - with rubies, I think.”
“They are not rubies, they are drops of blood from Namashe, the true Queen of the Dragons. And the gold drops are the tears Namashe shed when this imposter stole her blood. We must get those ear rings - they are the source of her power.”
I thought quickly - “I have the stone - and my wings - I can try to get them from her. What then?”
“Give them back to Namashe - you won’t have any trouble finding her,” he added grimly.
“Not the one she is riding?”
“Yes, she stripped Namashe of all her power and humiliated her by turning her into a steed. This is an evil woman, be careful - she will stop at nothing.”
I could hear the Dragon Queen ordering her troops to begin the march on Lemuria. I had no time to lose. I pulled the wings out of my bag and they flew around and attached themselves to my shoulder blades. Then I slipped on the stone and hurried out of the tent. Lavengro knocked the guards out and took their swords.
The Queen heard one of the guards cry out and turned her gaze in our direction. Her eyes blazed as Lavengro charged a group of her guards, but she did not see me. I leapt and the wings bore me through the air - I was heading straight at her, my hands outstretched to grab the ear rings.
She felt my presence and turned her blazing eyes on me - I was so close she must have felt my breath on her face. She raised her sword and swiped wildly at the air. The point of her blade caught the chain on which the stone hung and I felt it give way.
As the stone fell away I became visible again. She laughed and raised her sword to strike at my heart. In desperation I twisted out of her way, grabbing one of the ear rings as I did so.
The Dragon Queen screamed with pain as the ear ring tore away, and lunged at me with her sword. I dodged the blow and flew behind her, landing on Namashe’s back between the great wings.
The Dragon Queen reached back and grabbed one of my arms. I saw the blade flash through the air as she aimed at my hand, with the ear ring still grasped in it. In desperation I reached for her other ear with my free hand.
The Dragon Queen gave a shriek of fury as the sword suddenly flew out of her hand. Lavengro had thrown his own sword, with perfect aim, and unarmed her. My own hand closed on the remaining ear ring.
Suddenly I was tumbling through the air, my wings flapping desperately to right myself. Namashe had reared on her hind legs and flapped her wings, throwing me aside. I somersaulted through the air and saw her great, proud dragon’s head close to mine. Steadying myself with my wings, I opened my hands and held them out to her.
But I no longer held rubies and lumps of gold. In my palms sparkled two drops of blood and four silvery tears.
A great silence descended on the camp, as Namashe touched my hands gently with her snout. The tears flew back to her eyes, the blood absorbed itself back into her skin. Namashe was whole again, and her fury, which she now turned on the dragon Queen, was terrible.
As I landed, I soon saw that the guards had already been subdued. Marg stood grinning at me, one massive foot on a guard’s neck. The camp was full of Kerith women and the gypsies who had been searching for Lavengro, and while I had battled the Dragon Queen, they had followed me and stormed the camp.
“How’s Nessa?” I asked Marg. “The Dragon Queen stole her identity.”
“She’s fine - didn’t improve her temper though,” Marg laughed.
There was a roar behind me. “I AM THE DRAGON QUEEN!”
We all turned in alarm - Namashe stood over the fallen form of her rival, her head high and proud and flames issuing from her nostrils. But they were only little flames, but the effect was unnerving.
“I apologise,” I said hastily.
“There is no need,” Namashe said. “You have done well this day.”
“What about her?” Lavengro said, pointing at the former Dragon Queen.
“Leave her to me - I shall take her back to my land. She will trouble Lemuria no more.” Namashe picked up the former Queen in her claws and rose into the air. With a flick of her long black tail, she turned and flew away.
“Hope she makes sure this time,” Lavengro said.
I felt suddenly deflated. “How am I going to explain to Le Enchanteur that I lost her Invisibility Stone?”
“You mean this?” Marg said. She held up the chain with the stone still hanging from it. “I saw it fall and caught it.”
I put the stone back into my bag - it immediately disappeared. I guessed it had gone back to Le Enchanteur, now that its work was done.
“Well, it looks like Lemuria is safe again,” Lavengro said. “If you don’t mind, I will take my leave of you charming ladies of Kerith, and you - ” he smiled at me. “You have my thanks. I owe you one.” He gallantly kissed my hand. “Come,” he said to his people, “We celebrate tonight!”
“And what of me?” I asked Marg. “Do I still go to meet the Goddess?”
“No, I have to get you back to Gerd’s boat, she knows where you’re going next.”
“What about all this stuff?” I indicated the tents and the pavilion.
“That pavilion will make a fine gift for Le Enchanteur,” Ishtara said. “Leave it to us, we’ll take care of it.”
I took my leave of the Kerith women with regret - even Nessa wasn’t so bad and actually managed a smile as she said goodbye. But Marg was impatient to get me back to the river, so I followed her, my wings safely stowed in my bag once again.

Arrival in Kerith

My journey brought me to the mouth of the Kerith River, where it met the Lemurian Sea. I stood a long time gazing at the ocean - The Lemurian Sea has an almost organic quality, it moves like a sinous, sensuous creature. It is home to many forms of life - dolphins, mer people, even the great Sea God Triton himself.
“Now there’s someone I should talk to,” I thought, “If anyone knows anything about the Dragon Queen, it will be him. He knows everything that goes on in Lemuria.”
I considered where I should go next. Kerith was a destination on Le Enchanteur’s journey, so my path would take me there sooner or later - better sooner, I thought. I had heard that that the women of Kerith were wise, and that there was a volcano nearby. Volcanos made me think of fire and dragons - not much to go on, but it would be a start.
But how to get there quickly? It was fifty kilometres or more upstream, and the journey from the Gypsy Camp had already been a long one. I regretted leaving Tinker behind - but I loved that old horse dearly, and couldn’t think of taking him into certain danger.
i remembered Le Enchateur’s bag and untied it from round my waist. Maybe the wings…? But as I was pondering this, I heard sea gulls crying, and shouts from the sea, and when I looked up a small fleet of boats was fast approaching the mouth of the river. It looked like a fishing fleet.
As the boats entered the mouth of the river, I made up my mind. Tying the bag back around my waist, I dived into the river and started swimming toward the first of the boats. There was a shout from the deck, and a thick woven rope slapped onto the surface of the water ahead of me. I grabbed hold of it, and was pulled steadily through the water. Many hands reached over and helped me onto the deck.
I collapsed in a sodden heap, and several brown, weathered faces stared down at me with interest. A large pair of boots, salty with age, appeared in line with my nose.
“Never saw anyone so eager to get on board,” a laconic voice said. “What be your purpose, stranger?
I looked up and saw a square, sturdy woman dressed in a grubby fisherman’s jersey, a pair of ballooning trousers held up with string, and those boots. She had short pepper and salt hair, and a face that creased into a thousand smile lines as she looked down on me. She offered me a weather beaten hand and hauled me to my feet.
“Cap’n Gerd Staghammer at your service,” she said, shaking my hand vigorously. “And your name…?”
I told her, and told her I had come from the Gypsy Camp and was heading for Kerith. “I can pay my passage,” I added.
She roared with laughter. “Everyone on my boat works their passage,” she said. “We gotta a while before we docks - help clean the decks.”
One of the sailors handed me a mop and I got to work. I was still soaking wet from the river, and after a while someone brought me dry pants and a jersey and told me to change and hang my wet clothes to dry.
In spite of the work, the smell of fish and the fact that my underwear was still wet, it was a pleasant trip. Staghammer’s crew were a cheerful lot, calling out insults to each other and laughing when I skidded on fish guts and landed with a bang on the deck, far more often than I cared to.
Hot tarry tea was served with some unidentifiable hard substance I guessed might be rye bread, and some of the sailors struck up a bawdy song as we neared Kerith. There was plenty of activity on the dock as we pulled in and made fast. The markets were due to open and there was much haggling with the merchants over the catch. I changed back into my own clothes, and thanked Staghammer for the ride. She slapped me on the back, nearly sending me flying off the boat, and I took my leave, heading up the quay toward the markets. The taste of the tarry tea was still strong in my mouth, and the hard bread had done little to ease my hunger. But from the market came the appetizing smell of fresh tropical fruits.
The food was good - I manged to put away three fruit called lushberries, which looked like huge strawberries but tasted more like peaches, a mango and some delicious fried fish served on sticks.
The other travellers had all gone on ahead, and I was alone and not sure of what to do next. I went back to the quay and sat looking out over the river, wondering if I should stay here the night and spend my time making enquiries about the Dragon Queen. But then I saw three women approaching me. All of them were the of the strong, brown skinned type that characterised Kerith women, but one of them looked familiar.
“Marg Staghammer,” she said, extending a meaty hand. “I’m Gerd’s sister. She told me they’d brought in a traveller with them. You’re late,” she added sternly. “The others have all come and gone.”
“I know,” I said apologetically, “I was delayed.”
“We knew you were coming,” one of the other women said. She was extraordinarily beautiful, with long black hair that flowed down to her hips. “We are to take you to the Goddess, if you care to go. She may be able to help you with your quest.”
Any offer of help was welcome. I stuffed that last of my food in my bag and got to my feet.
“Lead the way,” I said.