Another Man's Storm
Chapter 1 Work in Progress
Disclaimer: All work in progress posts are subject to further editing and revisions and there’s no guarantee if they’ll be published works or not, nor is there a guarantee if they’ll be finished. I like to think they will, but some things like lack of interest or a better idea might determine their final fate. So bear with me!
Chapter 1 Proposition
Malosi stood on Lionface, the lower ledge and viewpoint of Mount Telwa and watched breathlessly as his foster son, Ala, scaled the monstrous cliffs of the summit. The boy clung to the bluff as he climbed, his tan arms and legs sprawled across the rocks much like a spider weaving a web. If Malosi were not confident in Ala’s abilities, he’d never have let him continue this quest. But Ala was coming into manhood and had been preparing for this day.
The teenager had scouted the location of the nest and had primed his hands and feet to adhere to the slippery bluff with sap from the pinions. He had watched the two parent dragons for weeks, rising from his bed before sunrise in order to pin the location of their nest. In those misty hours before the light of day, the horned creatures would disappear into the clouds, and then hover over their breeding place to feed their young. The dragons blocked out the first rays of the sun with their majestic wings shadowing the land, and then as if cued by the wind, the fire-breathers soared into the air and disappeared beyond the peaks, leaving their hatchling in a shallow cave along the southern cliffs. They mated once every ten years; the dragon named Firetongue and his mate, Laurel. This year, Ala was old enough to pursue the quest. His foster mother, Dai, had tamed the female dragon years ago. It was she who had asked Ala to care for this young one. Today, he reaped his reward for his hard work, and, as dangerous as it was, Malosi refused to interfere.
Not to say observing him climbing that precipice wasn’t nerve wracking. Ala was his charge, his deceased brother’s son. Malosi would die if anything happened to the boy, and so he watched with angst at the figure daring death, breathing in deeply when the teenager reached a ridge, turned around, and waved.
“Just find the nest,” the uncle whispered as he gritted his teeth.
The wind whistled through the crags of the steep incline, sending sprays of snow into the air that veiled Ala. Soon daylight would fall into the shadow of the mountain. making Ala’s descent perilous, unless he climbed to the summit and took the mountain trail home.
Were Dai standing next to Malosi, she’d be calling out for him to be careful, though her voice would be lost in the canyon. Fortunately, she was not there. Her presence would have added to Malosi’s anxiety.
“I cannot watch,” she had told Ala that morning.
Though Dai took the role of Ala’s foster mother, she was not Malosi’s wife. A year ago, after the tragic the death of Ala’s parents, she insisted on acting as the boy’s parent. Malosi begrudgingly consented—but only for Ala’s sake. He wanted little to do with her or her brother because of the circumstances of the deaths.
What Ala did today had been the boy’s dream, and yet the danger was eminent. Ten years ago, a young man had climbed the same cliff and had fallen; his body lost in the river far below and eventually washed into the sea.
As soon as Ala scrambled into a cave on the side of the bluff, Malosi’s attention was diverted by a man calling his name. Sir Walter of Ellington, a knight from the continent who had come to Queensland specifically for information—information Malosi had, thus far, refused to give. The man’s patent leather boots crunched the ground as he dismounted the reindeer and approached. His cape overly warm under the sun, a sharp contrast to Malosi’s linen shirt blowing freely in the breeze. Mountain air would dip into the sub zeros at night, but the sun would bake one's flesh during the day.
Sir Walter’s hounding had become a nuisance ever since the man arrived at their base camp. That he was, even at this moment, stalking Malosi and his son irritated Malosi. He shouldn’t have to deal with a stranger on a day like today. His vexing voice made Malosi’s position difficult.
“I see Ala is mountain-climbing again. He wouldn’t be in search of dragons, would he?”
“Ala’s business is his own,” Malosi replied sharply.
“His own and the Queen’s, I might add.”
“Add what you like. Your proclamation doesn’t make it so. Neither Ala, nor I, nor anyone on this mountain belongs to your queen. You can wager your sword that no dragons belong to the Queen, either.”
Sir Walter glanced up at the cliffs behind Malosi and squinted, shading his eyes with his hand. “Indeed, your boy is on quite the quest. I presume he’s not risking his life simply for the fun of it.”
Malosi glared at him.
“As I’ve discussed with you before, the queen has a handsome prize for you and your people if you accept my offer. But you must do it soon. I have no more time to waste. We leave in the morning.”
Malosi glanced over his shoulder, hoping beyond hope that Ala did not appear from out of that cave with a dragon in his arms while Sir Walter was watching. If he did, it would change the dynamics of the man’s request. Malosi would have to ask Ala to honor the tradition of gifting the foreigner his prize should Sir Walter compliment him.
“You would only need to advise the army. There would be no threat to your lives,” the ambassador whispered. “Nor to your son’s. We would pay you in gold and supply your ladies with enough fabric they would never have to weave wool again. The Telwa people would be blessed.”
“You cannot recruit a dragon without recruiting their riders,” Malosi responded.
The man cleared his throat and squinted. Perhaps the sun was in his eyes. “Why not?” he asked.
“They will die. A dragon’s life energy depends on its owner, and vice versa.”
“You know this?”
“Our fathers have testified to this truth.”
“Well, then, we will recruit the riders. Whatever you say is best.”
Malosi sighed heavily and met the knight’s gentle gaze. There was nothing insincere about the man. Malosi had walked with him many an evening discussing the war that plagued Ellington. The help of their powerful dragons would put their strife to rest.
Sir Walter breathed a sigh. “Believe me, if there were another way to come out of this siege, we wouldn’t have come to you. But the might of the empire attacking us is unwavering. They’ve taken our villages to the east and even now ships from the north are coming to invade our coastal homesteads. We’re a small kingdom. Our people are farmers and sheepherders. We have little to defend ourselves with. We need your help.”
“It’s not up to me. I will have to talk to the riders before I can answer.” Knowing Dai was one of those riders sat ill in his stomach, and it was the reason he hesitated for so long. As much angst that he had against the woman, both she and Laurel were healers. Teo, Firetongue’s rider, could take care of himself. Would either of them be willing to risk their lives for these strangers?
“Of course.” The man held his gaze, an earnest plea in his brown eyes. He was middle-aged, like Malosi. And like Malosi, was no visitor to sorrow. The battle that raged in the lowlands had been fierce. One could only guess the devastation and deaths Sir Walter had seen.
“Send me word with your decision in the morning. I’m counting on you.” He nodded toward the cliffs again. “Your boy was successful. It’s no secret what goes on here.”
Sir Walter patted him on the arm. “Don’t worry. I’m familiar with your customs. I will not ask your son directly for his dragon.” He turned, mounted the reindeer, and rode away. Malosi reeled around in time to see Ala step out of the cave with a shimmering green, and white creature tucked under his arm.
Dai returned not long after they had a fire going inside the stone home. They lived in a humble abode, furnished with rock slabs for chairs, a table carved from manzanita, and windowsills decorated with Ala’s collection of polished stones now glittering in the firelight. When she entered, she set her basket of herbs and mushrooms on the floor next to the door and smiled at Ala.
“I see you made it home safely, Ala.”
“Not only I, but look,” Ala had already unwrapped the blanket around his hatchling and swooped the baby dragon into his arms. Iridescent green scales covered a pure white belly, taking on the characteristics of both parents with tiny stubs for horns above its golden eyes. After stretching its wings, the creature blinked lazily and leaned its head against Ala’s chest. “Look how tranquil he is, as if he loves us, Mother!”
“Indeed.” She took the creature's scaly head in her hands and touched its nose with a kiss. “He’s quite happy to have you as his partner.”
She sat on the mat next to Ala and offered a forced smile to Malosi before speaking. “And how did you spend your day?”
“Holding my breath,” Malosi said, glancing only briefly at her.
“Did you doubt I would make it, Father?”
“There is always room for doubt, Ala. None of us are immortal. You did well and proved your agility. And bravery.”
“But we needn’t worry, now. We have a dragon to see us to the afterlife. Me, you and Dai.”
“So, legend tells us,” Dai said softly.
“You had a long day. Take your hatchling and make a bed of straw for it outside next to your window, and then get some sleep.” Malosi rose to put a log on the fire. That Ala had included Dai together with himself in his mention of the afterlife burned his insides. Someday the boy will realize his disdain for her and her family.
Ala tucked the dragon under his arm, gathered the blanket into a ball, and tossed it over his shoulder. “I will sleep outside with him.”
When the room was silent, Malosi glanced at Dai. “Shouldn’t you be headed to bed as well?” he asked.
She stared at him for a long while, but Malosi avoided making eye contact. He detested her staying late, or even showing affection to Ala in front of him.
“It’s been a year, Malosi. A year to this day.”
“I’m aware.”
“Will you ever forgive my father?”
Malosi set his jaw and blew on the flames. He had no answer for her. Forgiveness was not one of his virtues, not for something as final as death.
“Did you worry about Ala today?” she asked.
He huffed a laugh.
They watched the fire for a long while. When he peered at her, she frowned, her smooth skin glowing in the firelight. Her dark eyes studied him.
“The man, Sir Walter came to talk to my brother this morning.”
“He approached me while Ala was on his quest, as well.”
“Did he see Ala on the cliff?”
“He saw Ala with the hatchling.”
She grunted and sat back. “He wants a dragon,” she whispered.
“He wants more than one. Unfortunately, I fear it’s his country’s only hope. They are a small kingdom. I doubt they have much of an army and Sethland’s force is heavy against them.”
She looked up, alarm in her eyes. “You think we should go?”
“It shouldn’t matter to you what I think.”
“My brother is considering it.”
“Is he?” Malosi grunted. He had been friends with Machail long before the accident. Since that tragic day, he had no words for any of their family, even though Machail was an elder, like him. They would have to decide together along with the other warriors and Teo, the dragon rider.
“You should talk him out of it.”
“I should do what I decide to do.”
“Malosi,” she said. “We cannot leave Ala, not now. He just acquired his dragon. He’ll need guidance.”
“I would go, the warriors would go, and Ala would go with us. If you think our people would send you and Teo alone, you’re mistaken. You both will be escorted.”
“Why put Ala in danger? None of us should go.”
Malosi glared at her. “I am an elder and it is the elders’ business to decide? You offered your services to be a care giver to Ala. I consented. That’s all I consented to and only for his sake. Never did I ask for your advice on what I should do. As a rider, you will do what we decide.”
She sighed angrily. “When does Sir Walter need to know?”
“In the morning. Are you afraid?”
Her gaze returned to the fire. “No. Laurel and I will go willingly. Do not take Ala. He’s only a boy.”
He grunted a laugh.
“Ala must stay here,” she repeated.
He snickered, soured by her audacity. “Who would watch Ala?”
“Rena can stay with him. She can help him with his dragon.
“I’ll think about it.” He grabbed a blanket from the stool and swung it over his shoulder. If she wasn’t going to leave, he would.
“I’m not asking permission,” she said.
The glower he meant to warn her with fell short, for she had risen, turned away and walked out the door, closing it gently.
Another Man’s Storm is the beginning of a new spin off novel from The Sword of Cho Nisi which I hope to make into a series within the year. The collectors hardcover edition of these books are available on Kickstarter coming in October 2024.
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