A Dragon's Tale Ch. 25

"Yes sir." Sergeant Hollins replied, snapping to attention when he arrived in front of Smithbond.

"Your record speaks for itself, but this is your first mission with my agency so let me remind you that we run a tight ship."

"Yes sir." He nodded.

"You'll accomplish the objective and return at the designated portal open times. Don't hesitate to use Miss Dawson as a resource; she's sharper and more observant than she looks."

Selene resisted the urge to roll her eyes. One of the downsides to being 'drop dead gorgeous' as several of her girlfriends had called her was that people tended to think that she got to where she was using her looks and body instead of brains and hard work.

She also couldn't help but notice that this would be Sergeant Hollins' first mission with them too. She had been right; Smithbond was just looking for competent 'cannon fodder' in case they couldn't make it back. She supposed it made a certain kind of twisted sense, but it was utterly amoral. She expected nothing less from him.

"Good luck sergeant." Smithbond said.

"Thank you sir." Sergeant Hollins replied, then barked to his men. "Fall in!"

Selene grudgingly took her assigned position in the five-man squad. Somehow, she'd drawn the short straw and was on point. She was probably the least valuable using Smithbond's logic though, so she wasn't surprised.

The men were all armed with one-handed swords and had a crossbow slung onto their backs. She had also been given a crossbow, but only a small short sword about two feet long. They said it was because she had no training, but she wasn't convinced. She was extremely competent in Eskrima sticks, which were nearly as long as the men's swords.

"Time to work." Smithbond said to Gonorran, who had moved to the control podium while watching everything with a wicked smirk.

"Kill a few goats and I will." He replied coolly.

Smithbond nodded to a soldier near the goat pens, who pulled out a pistol with a suppressor fitted, aim it at a goat's head, and fired. The goat dropped like a ton of bricks as the sound of the gunshot rang out. She'd recently learned the suppressors didn't actually make gun silent, just reduced the noise to hearing-safe levels.

Gonorran reached a hand towards the goat and Selene saw something that looked like heatwaves flowing from the goat towards the necromancer. He put his other hand on the control podium and got a look of concentration on his face. Moments later, one of the gemstones around the portal's exterior began to grow brighter. It got quite bright eventually, then flashed and the next one in the sequence began to light up. It reminded her of that old TV show, Stargate SG-1.

"I'll need two more goats." Gonnorran said.

Two shots rang out.

Selene looked away and tried to focus on the portal. She was about to travel further from Earth than almost any other human and she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to come home again. It wasn't until that moment that she realized she might not come back. She might never see her family or friends again.

"Holy shit." Someone breathed.

Something that looked like opaque water started flowing from the inside of the portal's ring toward the open center. It moved like honey or cold maple syrup; slowly and like it was very thick. In seconds it had met in the center, forming a membrane and then began to relax and undulate like water in the wind. The membrane was like the surface of water as it reflected the sun. Or perhaps like oil left out on a flat surface. It undulated and moved liked water in a slight breeze, reflecting the colors of the rainbow like soap bubbles. At the same time though, it was a subtle thing; easy to miss with just a glance; again like the rainbow colors in a bubble.

"Move out!" Smithbond ordered.

With Selene leading the way, all five of them walked up the ramp and through the portal to another world.

* * *

Ethan couldn't help but smile as he watched his Fey bride. She was at the ship's wheel with Anthiel right next to her and a look of fierce concentration on her face. Below them was the sprawling... City? Village? City-village? He wasn't sure what to call it. Anyway, the wood elven capital of Nalatia was below them.

It was a strange place because it seemed like everything was made from either wood or trees whose growth had clearly been manipulated to create houses and building of various sizes. It was like looking at an entire city that was made up of extremely sophisticated and elegant treehouses. Some were many stories high and some were ground level, but they all were made from trees.

Many of the buildings and shops were built on wooden platforms that had been constructed around the larger trees, and some of them were very large. He saw one tree which looked like it was fifty feet in diameter. On close inspection though, he realized it was a bunch of smaller trees which had purposely been planted next to each other and then they had grown together. Around practically every tree were several different wooden walkways of various widths which were built at various heights. Most stuck out at least several feet, but many were much larger. They encircled the trees, giving a place to stand and vendors to sell their wares.

Every tree trunk was straight as an arrow.

A collection of wide wooden rope bridges seemed to form the most of the smaller 'streets' between trees, while larger roads were made from the branches of trees covered with wooden planks. The limbs had clearly been guided into growing into place for that purpose. The largest thoroughfares were supported by tree limbs, but had broad wooden decking on them so they were easy to traverse. Incredibly, despite the multitude of branches needed to support these highways and various levels, they were all as level as a calm lake, and the entire place seemed almost that serene too.

It almost seemed like a cozy town, but with the activity of a larger city. It was hard to tell how large it was too because the trees did still have a canopy. While they could see what was below them and maybe a hundred yards in all directions, they couldn't see how far the city extended because of the tree canopy.

"Wow." He whistled. "Suddenly the name 'wood elf' makes a lot more sense."

He felt a flutter of emotion next to him, and turned to see Alana staring with wonder. She looked like she had just seem the most beautiful sight in the whole world. Her eyes were watery as she stared, marveling at the sight.

"It's..." She seemed to be struggling for words.

"Beautiful." He suggested.

"That's not nearly strong enough." She shook her head. "Gorgeous? Sublime? Magnificent? Resplendent?" She look at him, seemly having a hard time tearing her eyes away from the spectacle. "What's a word that means even more amazing?"

He stared directly at her. "I can think of one or two."

She blushed.

He put a hand on her stomach where their child was growing. "I take it that's the kind of place you'd like to raise our baby."

She sighed and leaned into him. "Um, it's a bit crowded for my taste. However, could we have a home like this? I mean, grown from trees like these are and my old home was? I'd really love it."

"I don't mind if the other don't." He replied.

"I don't." Beth said as she walked up. "And I'm pretty sure Taloni won't either." Beth glanced at their resident redheaded mage, who was had a contented smile as she also observed the sight below them. "Looks like Rachel won't mind either, so I think it's unanimous."

Alana sighed. "Yeah..."

Suddenly, Ethan wasn't sure what the beautiful wood elf was smiling at; the city below them or Rachel being happy with the plans for their new home.

"Wait, did I just include Rachel?" Beth looking confused, which made her look adorable.

"Yeah." He sighed. "We all seem to do that; I'm not sure why."

Alana got a sly grin on her face.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." She said with a twinkle in her eyes, and she apparently couldn't keep the ear-to-ear grin off her face.

"Okay, keep your secrets." He chuckled.

The Argo sailed over the city, heading towards the docking area, of which Anthiel knew the location. As they got closer, he noticed large group of trees on their right that grew much higher than the surrounding area, and also was clearly inhabited. He guessed it was the palace.

Eventually, he saw the dock in the distance. The branches of several truly massive trees had been grown directly outwards and the smaller branches trimmed off for much of the branch's length. That length was covered in wooden decking, appropriately sized for airships of various sizes. Each docking birth had a flag next to it similar the one currently flying from the top of their own mast, but in different patterns. They spotted the one which matched theirs and the Fey teen guided the Argo into docking position.

Taloni had a look of fierce concentration on her face as she followed Anthiel's instructions for how to dock the Argo, and she did follow them near perfectly. While the Argo's descent and docking didn't have the easy elegance that Anthiel's would have -- given the high elf's decades of experience flying airships -- it was very well done.

"Well done honey." Ethan said when Anthiel finally pronounced the docking finished while Serif and Raklan tied the ship to the dock's bollards.

"Thank you Master!" She beamed and threw her arms around him. "I'm so glad you made me try. It was hard, but awesome!"

"She's getting very good." Anthiel replied. "It won't be long before you won't even need me with all the practice she's been putting in."

"Don't say that." The Fey teen replied.

"My dear, the point of all teachers is to make themselves obsolete." Anthiel replied. "Don't worry about me. I have a husband who'll eventually finish his deployment and then I'll be wanted elsewhere."

"Deployment?" Ethan asked, realizing he actually knew very little of the high elf.

She nodded. "He will rotate out of active duty into training before the year is out."

"You mean, you're leaving us?" Taloni looked crestfallen.

"Not for several months dear."

"We have company." Rachel called.

He glanced over to see what looked like an official greeting committee comprised of diplomats waiting near the gangplank, which Serif and Raklan had just deployed.

He took a deep breath and glanced at his wives clustered around him. "Well ladies, I guess it's time to see what the wood elf king wants."

* * *

Passing through the portal was one of the strangest experiences of Selene's life. It felt like getting a bone deep chill which then completely disappeared, only to be replaced by a slight warming sensation and simultaneously no small amount of chills. She shuddered slightly as she finished passing through, took another few steps forward to make room of the men following her, and then looked around.

She was inside what looked like the remains of a ruined temple.

There were stone sculptures all around them that were covered in vines and the floor was covered in moss and animal droppings. The ceiling was vaulted and about twenty feet high and several stalactites had formed up there. It looked like there had been several stained glass windows at one time, but they were all partially or entirely broken.

Behind her, the portal ring looked like it had been abandoned for centuries. Oddly, no vines or moss had grown on it. It had the faded look of aged wood, yet that appearance seemed to only be superficial, as there were none of the signs of splitting or dryness you'd usually see. There was a place for the gemstones like on the portal back on earth, but they were missing. From the looks of the place, they'd probably been looted long ago.

"Area clear." Sergeant Hollins said. "Let's get moving. Miss Dawson, you have point."

Selene sighed. "I guess chivalry is dead."

"Those are my orders ma'am." Hollins replied almost apologetically. "You can take them up with the agent in charge when you we get back."

"Twelve hours until they reopen the portal, right?" Selene confirmed.

He nodded. "Let's move."

The former FBI agent started carefully picking her way through the moss and animal droppings toward what looked like the exit. Once through the stone doorway, she could see the open sky above. It was a beautiful day, if a bit overcast. The birds were singing, the sun shining through patches in the clouds, and she could hear a strange array of insects making various noises.

They were in the middle of a forest, surrounded by trees. It looked like the area around the ruined temple had once been carefully kept, but now the wilderness was overrunning it. The trees made it impossible to see the terrain outside of the clearing around the temple, which also meant no one would see in. There didn't appear to be a path leading into the forest though; it had probably been overgrown long ago. The temple itself had been built on a small hill and there were some stone steps leading down, which she took.

"Excellent." Sergeant Hollins said as he surveyed the surrounding area. "This could make an excellent base of operations."

"If the forest is clear." Selene countered. Despite the pleasant day, her current predicament was souring her mood.

"Smith, Decker." Sergeant Hollins said. "Clear the area immediately around the temple and look for any surprises. Dawson, Eames, and I will go into the forest and see if there's anyone else about."

Two of the men peeled off and started checking the base of the ruined temple, while Hollins nudged Selene forward. Not long afterward, they were carefully picking their way through the forest. It seemed like most any forest that Selene had ever seen. She didn't recognize all the trees, but certainly recognized a few varieties, like pine trees, and most others looked familiar. She couldn't decide if that was strange or not that plants from Earth were also on this world.

After about a hundred yards, they come across a small road running through the woods. It appeared to be running straight in one direction, but curved not far down in the other. There were tracks in the road too, and several layers of them from men, horses, and wagons. It appeared that the dirt road wasn't exactly a thoroughfare, but did receive regular traffic.

Hollins bent down and frowned. "We need to trace this road and see if it gets any closer to the temple. We'll follow it for a few hundred yards in either direction."

He drew a short line in the dirt with the side of his boot to mark their entry point form the forest. It was subtle enough that most people wouldn't notice unless they were looking for it. It was a good idea, as the temple was completely hidden from view when you stood on the road, even if you were looking for it. Given the pine trees, she doubted the ruined temple would be visible even in winter.

He nodded to the east. "Move out."

Selene nodded, glad he wasn't splitting the three-man team up. They were already down two men and she wasn't particularly happy about that, especially being on an unknown world. From what Hailey said, highway robbers weren't uncommon in certain parts of this world.

* * *

Ethan stepped down the stairs from the quarterdeck and over to the gangplank where a welcoming committee was assembled. They were all dressed in what looked to be exceedingly fine clothes and adorned with expensive-looking jewelry. They all had slightly haughty looks on their faces, except the lead fellow who looked more curious than arrogant.

His wives followed him down the stairs, all looking nervous except for Rachel. The redhead had assumed a calm demeanor that possessed a slight note of arrogance; something he assumed she'd learned from being in her father's court.

"Greetings, honored dragon." The lead member of the welcome committee said with a deep bow when Ethan had stepped onto the gangplank. "My king is most honored to receive you."

"Uh, I'm honored to be received." He replied, feeling more than a little foolish at his phrasing. It felt weird to talk that way, and he certainly wasn't used to being addressed that way.

"No, the honor is ours, to meet a prophet of Illuminar -- blessed be He -- is a great honor." The man said.

"I'm not a prophet of Illuminar." Ethan replied with a slight sigh.

*Blessed be He.* Alana, Beth, and Taloni prompted telepathically all at once, while Rachel gave him a gentle nudge.

"Blessed be He." He added.

"Blessed be He." The entire welcoming committee chorused as one.

"Forgive me for making such a mistake, and I most humbly beg your forgiveness." The lead man bowed again.

"Don't worry about it." Ethan shrugged.

"I am Delabor Elortruen, called king's-herald." The lead man said proudly with a formal bow. "I am the personal herald of the king himself."

"Nice to meet you Delabor, my name is Ethan."

"Yes, word of your fame has spread throughout the land, O' might warrior and wielder of lightning."

*Ethan lightning-wielder.* Alana thought to him. *As an elven name, it has a nice ring to it.*

"And who are your companions?" Delabor asked.

"These are my wives." He replied.

At the word 'wives', it seemed like the mood of the greeting committee changed slightly. He got a sense of... not quite suspicion, not quite disgust, but something skin to both of those. It was disdain perhaps, or maybe some aloofness at the idea he had more than one wife.

"I am Alana Ejder, called dragon-bride." She said giving a formal curtsey

"Elizabeth Ejder, wife of Ethan Ejder and daughter of Lord Borden." She said as she also gave a formal curtsey.

"Taloni Ejder, wife of Ethan Ejder." Taloni copied Beth and also curtsied, but inexpertly.

At this pronouncement, there was an audible gasp from a few of the elves that had assembled to meet them. Several of them looked at each other with shocked looks on their faces. One or two looked incensed, and one even looked disgusted.

Ethan could feel Taloni's emotions through their bond, the committee's reaction was making her deflate like a balloon. He took a single step forward, letting his dragon side show a bit as his body language changed to become much more threatening; almost menacing.

"Taloni is mywife." He growled at them. "If anyone has a problem with that, speak now or forever hold your peace."

No one spoke.

"Then you'll mind your manners when speaking to her, and treat her as you'd treat me. Is that clear?" He finished with a low, menacing growl.

They all nodded.

He took a step back and reigned in his dragon instincts, taking a deep breath and purposefully relaxing both himself and his body language. He then nodded at Rachel, who stepped forward.

"I travel with them, but I am not wed to him." She curtsied, her red dress looking absolutely spectacular. "I am Rachel Delmar, daughter of Lord Delmar."

As one, the entire committee except Delabor took a small, almost subconscious step backwards.

"Oh, what now?" Ethan asked, not feeling as protective of Rachel as he had of Taloni. Rachel seemed much more capable of handling herself and much less affected by the opinions of others.

"Please forgive my compatriots, honored dragon." Delabor said. "But the woman who just introduced herself has been disinherited by her father for bringing dishonor to her family. It would not be proper for any in the king's employ to speak to her, nor to mention her name."

Ethan blinked. "Come again?"

"What do you mean?" Delabor looked confused. "Do you wish us to leave so we may return?"

Ethan forced himself to not growl at the man. "No, I meant what the hell? You can't talk to Rachel or speak her name because her father is a dick?"

Delabor looked even more confused now.

It took a moment for Ethan to realize that 'dick' might not mean the same thing here that it did on earth. That was annoying. Then he also remembered that nobody here seemed to have ever heard of hell before either.