Book 4 Chapter 5: Flight Around The City

    Once Arthur and Brixaby had finished with the card and returned it to Dannill, tension noticeably loosened among the guards.

    Dannill turned to Arthur, all smiles on his sly face as he asked in Texan, If you dont mind me asking, where do you and your fine fellow here, he glanced at Brixaby, intend to room for the night?

    To Arthurs chagrin, hed forgotten to set something up. Ever since he left his apartment which hed shared with Horatio, a roof over his head had always been provided to him, in one way or another. Now, he had nowhere to rent, much less a place that would fit a dragon.

    I guess well stay the night out in the forest, he said slowly, practicing with the new language that still felt very odd on his tongue.

    Without a bed? Brixaby swelled up indignantly. You know I require at least three pillows at night.

    The forest? That would be suicide. There are scourgelings out there! Dannill sounded horrified.

    Im not afraid of any scourgeling, Brixaby said. They should be afraid of me.

    Now that might be the case, but I take it you still wont want to sleep out in the dirt, he replied, which earned a grumble from Brixaby. The man smiled wider at this. How about you and I talk about negotiating a sponsorship deal?

    Arthurs Haggling skill tingled. Whats that?

    Oh, its a simple thing, really. I can tell the two of you are going to be big stars for the upcoming reshuffling. People will want to know about you. There will be jealousy and intrigue and a cartload of curiosity.

    This was starting to sound like a sales pitch. So what do you want from us? Arthur asked, bluntly.

    I want to sell your likenesses in toys and drawings. You know, keepsakes for people to say theyve seen you. How is your signature, by the by? People like signatures from famous folk.

    Why? Arthur almost asked. But Brixaby beat him to it with another question.

    Why do you call it the reshuffling?

    Still smiling, Dannill crossed his arms and leaned against the wall that ringed the rooftop. Because after all is said and done, the whole shebang reshuffles wealth throughout the city. People with humble Common cards can come out with Rares. Rumor has it, even a Legendary is up for grabs. Dannill leaned in then as if to impart a secret. As I told your rider, magic is bent down there in the heart some rules are even broken. Its said that peoples heart deck can gain strange new powers.

    Arthur and Brixaby glanced at each other.

    But Dannill wasnt done. It seems every time theres a new reshuffling, something new is discovered. A new power comes out the other side. So, you can see why people are excited. They want to know who are going to be the new movers and shakers in the city, and a dragon rider is a good one to bet on.

    We arent going to be staying long term, Arthur said, wanting to be crystal clear.

    That hardly matters, does it? Youre still exciting. All Im saying is, for exchange for room and board up here" Dannill gestured with open arms to mean the roof of the tower, You let me sell your likeness around the city.

    Room, board, and food for myself and for Brixaby, Arthur said.

    Of course, of course, Dannill replied quickly.

    And crafting supplies, Brixaby added. Me and my rider will need to prepare for the reshuffling. Not only will we take it seriously we intend to win.

    Im not certain its something anyone can win, per se, Dannill said, But I appreciate the enthusiasm.

    Brixaby wasnt done. We will also require basic construction supplies to build higher walls against the wind, and two beds to be brought up. Also, what do your people know of chain mail?

    Arthur stepped back to let his dragon manage the man, throwing in a few suggestions when Brixabys demands became too dragonish.

    As they went back and forth, Dannills smile became less bright as he slowly realized Arthur and Brixaby werent going to sign away their advantage for no reason.

    Youre asking for supplies enough for months, Dannill said a bit sourly.

    Arthur shrugged. When is the reshuffling supposed to start?

    Cant say, Dannill admitted. But Ive heard its a few weeks out. We have experts study that sort of thing and judge when the heart is ready to burst you cant overplay these things and wait too long because if it does ever burst He shuddered.

    You end up with a scourge-eruption? Arthur guessed.

    Dannill pointed his fingers at him with a clicking noise. You got it. And no one wants that.

    Privately, Arthur thought that the city was already close to playing with fire or playing with scourgelings, which was even worse. But this wasnt his kingdom. Besides, he didnt want the start of the reshuffling to happen right now. Cressida and Horatio were two weeks away at the very best.

    If this event was as good as Dannill said, they could stand to benefit.

    Plus, he had been in this city for a day and had already learned something new about scourgelings no one else back at home did: Dark hearts preempted a scourgeling eruption.

    If we can find a way to look for those, we could get people out of the way before an eruption occurs. We might be able to stop it all together.

    Brixaby returned to haggling, and Arthur pulled his thoughts away from that prospect to continue.

    Finally, they came to an agreement where Arthur and Brixaby were able to use the rooftop terrace as a pseudo-apartment, with a few more additions for comfort.

    People pointed from the street at Brixaby dived down low, skimming over the tops of night-shuttered vendors booths. The wind-wash from Brixabys wings made the colorful flags and banners flap.

    At Arthurs whoop of exhilaration, Brixaby climbed into the air again, turning this way and that to avoid low-slung clothes lines which were strung between buildings. Arthur shifted his weight along with him, moving with his dragon as an active participant.

    He was rewarded with another Dragon Riding skill, bringing him to level 14.

    Arthur pointed. Lets take a look at the tallest buildings. Theres something weird about them.

    They were coming up toward the very center of the city where a grouping of high buildings seemed to stretch to the sky.

    As Arthur and Brixaby drew closer, it became clear the buildings were stacked so close together that there wasnt any room between them. And in the rare places there were gaps, it was filled by a rock wall every bit as sturdy looking as the one that surrounded the city.

    The drone of Brixabys wings changed tone as he once again stopped moving forward and began to climb straight up. And up. And up.

    They crested the top to discover that the buildings bracketed an entire city block on all four sides.

    And in the middle sat a pit.

    Looking at it, Arthur had no doubt that this was the dark heart of the city. The pit was so deep that he couldnt see to the bottom. Yet, as he stared, he got the impression of something pulsing down there. His eyes wanted to slide away. He was looking at something that should not be.

    The hair rose on the back of Arthurs neck. It was all too easy to tear his gaze away and back to the buildings. There were no windows facing the dark heart. Just blank wall as if no one could stand to look into it.

    He swallowed through a throat that had gone suddenly dry. Brix, dont fly down there.

    Of course not, Brixaby replied. You heard Dannill. Its not ready to be harvested yet.

    Arthur exhaled a little breath of relief, glad he wouldnt have to talk him out of anything foolish. Dragons could be very insistent on killing scourgelings.

    Lets see whats on the other side of the city.

    Brixaby complied and soon they were flying at breakneck speed out towards the opposite side from where theyd come in yesterday. It wasnt too different more buildings in that staggered height.

    Then they were over the wall and out to the forest again. Only then did Brixaby lose his speed, favoring a more sedate pace. The land was completely uncultivated as if it hadnt been touched by human hands at all.

    Arthur looked around in satisfaction. After all, this was a brand-new kingdom, a whole new part of the world to explore. He wanted to see what it looked like.

    Climb higher, Brix. As high as you can!

    Brixaby buzzed on not to the height of the clouds, but so high up that the green tops of the trees were smaller than a pinhead.

    Only then did Arthur catch a shadow out in the distance. He pointed. Whats that dark spot? The ocean?

    If it is, I should like a swim.

    You can swim?

    How hard could it be? Brixaby asked.

    But as they got closer, that smudge against the horizon expanded and also resolved itself. Arthurs stomach sank.

    Thats not the ocean. Thats scourge-dead lands.

    Its not all dead, Brixaby said. I see something ahead.

    Arthur didnt, but with a neck-jerking change of direction, Brixaby started flying directly to the south. They were still headed towards the deadened lands, but as they drew closer Arthur saw a strip of darker color running through the gray-dead dirt. Pounded soil that indicated a road.

    And beyond that, Arthur spotted tiny moving objects along the road. It was an oxen caravan.

    How desperate must people be to cross the dead lands? He wondered. People who were uncarded would be at great risk of becoming sick.

    Though his own childhood village had been on the edge of the deadened lands, and there were rumors that bandits camped out miles out into the dead areas. But it was a place which was hostile to life in every way. Nothing could grow. The water itself was poison, and if scourge dust got into lungs or an open cut people would sicken and die.

    Brix, Arthur said as another thought occurred to him. How far does this extend?

    As far as I can see. Brixaby sounded mildly bored as if nothing out here could interest him. Past the horizon. Why?

    Cressida and Horatio, Arthur said, with a feeling of sick guilt. Theyll have to cross all of this to get here.

    ****

    After that, much of the joy had been drained out of the flight. Brixaby turned back to the city and their roof-top home.

    But they werent alone. The trap door had been broken open and three stern officials dressed in uniform were waiting for them.