War of the Dragon - Chapter 16
"Whilst I am glad to have Valerem as an ally. I can't just have him released on a whim." Duke Cavador spoke, breaking the silence that had gathered after The Dread Sky swore his allegiance to Temeraire and it was accepted by him. "Even if I am saying that it is simply changing the punishment and not ending it. He was tried and punished before the courts, and only the council itself can change a punishment laid out.""Officially, yes. But this is The Dread Sky we are talking about, I doubt many of his activities that we desire him for will be officially recognized." Arcantos pointed out, logic that the Duke accepted with a grudging nod. "So officially, he needs to remain inside of this dungeon. Unofficially however... well. If I'm right, the bipedal dragoness on the door was Captain Margeaux, wasn't it your Grace?""Yes, it was." Cavador said, glancing back at where the great iron slab kept them shut inside of the great dungeon. "Alongside her husband, Lieutenant Gil. Despite working for the army and not my own guard, they often step in to fill important duties like guarding Valerem during a high-tier event like the ball. Why exactly is that important for what unoffical plan you have?""When I was first given the invite by Sir Temeraire to go and visit him. Captain Margeaux basically said she knew I was planning something, and the squad as a whole was hiding something. Yet, didn't press it, showing great trust and believe in us, in simply saying that telling the highers up your hiding something from them is best for keeping trust than trying to hide it without their knowledge at all.""So you're saying that we should be bringing Captain Margeaux into this conspiracy of ours?" Duke Cavador mused, even as Arcantos winced at the use of the word 'conspiracy', even if it wasn't entirely a false claim... he didn't think that they should think of it as a conspiracy. "A rather valid idea. Her father is a good friend of mine, and one of the guards who knew about the existence of the shinobi aiding us against Death In The Night. This need and understanding for secrecy and discretion was passed onto her, and I'm sure Captain Margeaux will aid us.""I don't think she should know the entire story." Arcantos said hastily, not wanting the Duke to get the wrong idea in what he had in mind, and scrambled to explain himself when the purple dragon looked inquiringly at him. "Not all of her superiors will likely be as trusting as she is, and the less dragons that known the full story, the less chance others finding out about it. Just bringing her in for this unofficial mission will show that we trust her, and that we aren't keeping anything hidden from her because of a lack of trust."Duke Cavador mused on this, thinking over whenever or not he should tell Captain Margeaux the full story or not... and as he thought, Valerem spoke up, asking with a slight growl. "And what exactly is this unofficial idea of yours? In case you didn't notice, there is more than one guard on the stairs down here, and there isn't exactly any other way out. Not unless you plan to let all those guards into this plan of yours.""That's not exactly true though is it?" Arcantos said with a slight smirk when The Dread Sky said there was no other exit... indicating to the far wall, Arcantos said. "Its a well known fact that these caverns weren't dragon made, but worn out by the power of waves over many many years.
Dragons just used their powers to push the water back and seal of the entrance. You weren't brought down the steps to be imprisoned here, instead the entrance was broken to allow you in, then sealed up once more. I intend to break it open fully.""That's suicidal!" Valerem declared loudly, snapping the Duke from his thoughts and getting the noble to pay attention to the conversation. "The entrance is fire-stone, reinforced with air-steel. Not only is it nearly impossible to manipulate or destroy, but if you do break it open, the water will just come rushing in, and trying to fight against that current is going to be impossible!""We aren't going to be fighting it." Arcantos said, shaking his head at Valerem's rather passionate outburst... wondering if Death In The Night had tried to rescue Valerem using that entrance and failed... with great cost. "I'm a storm dragon, air and water... with Captain Margaux's aid, diverting the current so the worst of it flows to either side of us, as well as creating a small bubble of air for our heads is an easy task.""That might be true, but it doesn't change the fact that we can't even open the entrance up. Plus, if we do manage to open it up, and get us out. Where are we going to go? We're going out straight into the bay, and whilst you and the Captain are fit and health dragons. I didn't exactly get a good diet here, even if I had plenty of exercise." Valerem argued, making fair points which Arcantos acknowledged needed to be addressed."I can get us out of here. I specialize in magnetism. I actually find it easier to perform that normal air manipulation, the steel reinforcements will easily allow me to weaken and crack the rocks, and the sea will do the rest."
Being that his swords got snapped and he had left them in the Duke's officer, Arcantos couldn't exactly demonstrate his magnetic powers, and hoped Vaylrym would trust him as he continued."As for the location, I'm sure there's several hidden supply cache that Captain Margeaux can take us to. Your lack of fitness - especially in regards to your wings I am guessing - won't be a problem. I have a... paranoid friend, and he with several others are watching the bay and castle. A quick bolt of lighting will get them to us, and they'll be able to help us all get to the cache.""Won't the guards see the lighting bolt and investigate?" The Dread Sky questioned, but this time Duke Cavador spoke up in order to answer his uncertainty."Actually, the cliffs are littered with caves and depressions, making it the perfect place of dragons to come for solitude. The majority of them being adolescents before they have performed their time in the army... the type that like to vent by lashing out widely with their elements. So as long as Arcantos takes flight before launching his lighting bolt, the guards will likely not think anything off it." "That seems like a rather strident weak-spot that others can take advantage off." Valerem noted, only for the Duke to shake his head in response to this claim."No, one of the caves is actually an escape route, and I have an earth dragon stationed there at all
times in order to keep semisic watch over everything happening in the cliffs. Any suspicious activity is reported and investigated on immediately. And before you say anything, the escape route is similarly guarded to your dungeon. It only allows dragons to go one way." Valerem was actually visibly surprised at this news, causing the Duke to smirk, saying. "What, you think after seeing how good shinobi are, I wouldn't take any steps to ensure they have a hard time sneaking into my castle?""Point taken." Valerem said with a snort, ending the conversation by turning around and slinking off into the darkness. Saying over his shoulder. "I'll go with the runt's plan, despite the likelihood of it getting me killed. You best go and grab that Captain of yours and see if she'll agree to such a suicidal suggestion." With that said, the three visitors were left alone in the dungeon once more... and Cavador soon shook his head and turned to the other two."I thought I had put all this subterfuge and shady dealings behind me a long time ago... yet here I am, joining with another noble and a youngblood of all dragons, to create a power-base in order to fight against a hypothetical worst case scenario where the most powerful dragon of the west and one of the most powerful dragons of the east attempt to make us go to war...""You left them behind? But you're a noble aren't you?" Arcantos was swift to quip, though he got a flat look from both Cavador and Temeraire in reply that made him shake his head, regretting his choice of words. "Look, I admit that this isn't any easy for me than you. Especially as I'm one of the ones that started this whole mess... the entire idea that Tryndamous is smart enough to figure out a method to pull the perfect coup terrifies me... and yet I fear being wrong about this even more... and who knows what will happen if it turns out I'm wrong, and I'm worrying about nothing but phantoms?""Even if the worst case scenario is wrong, what we're doing is essential to delay an upcoming war." Temeraire said firmly, stepping in not only to reassure Arcantos, but to stop the Duke from having second thoughts about agreeing to help them. "We know for a fact that Kasai is out for blood, and that Tryndamous would be more than happy to meet him equal bloodshed. They both hungry for war, and something needs to be done to protect those with no desire for war.""And to defend against Kasai, we need a counter to his shinobi, hence we are here." Duke Cavador concluded, even as he turned away from his two guests. Taking the leading in returning to the entrance to the dungeon... or at least the great iron slab that rested in front of the proper entrance. "I just hope that The Dread Sky proves worth of the trust and interest you are putting into him... if word gets out that we had him freed without telling anyone... or even that his dungeon has cracked open and kept hushed up, then I could lose my position instantly.""Well, hopefully your allies the King Merchant and the Master Craftsmen will okay with the idea of covering for you if the truth does come out sooner than planned." Arcantos said as he fell in step next to Temeraire as the two followed behind the Duke. "Might require having to the owe them big time... but they should be able convince at least one other council member to make an announcement that the matter was kept quiet due to discussions that were taking place before the discovery was made.""Yes... especially if I start discussions, and then it's discovered that the dungeon had been opened up and they find out about it, before the public does." Duke Cavador agreed with, giving the bipedal a dragon a curious glance... so young, and yet so shrewd in political matters... where did
he learn such wisdom? "I think the King Merchant will be the more willing to hide such matters at first... merchants tend to be rather sly, and the fact it save money in having to make sure the prisoner is secure and fed will likely appeal to him as well.""Then, the only thing left to do is to get Captain Margeaux's aid in getting our prisoner freed so he can unofficially start his punishment. Hopefully, once I bring Kornarok and Naremiren to visit, it won't be too difficult to get in contact with Valerem's old lover... " Temeraire said, simply getting a nod from the Duke in reply as they neared the iron slab. It wasn't long until the Duke had himself recognized by the two guards, and the iron slab was lifted and they were all admitted though."Captain Margeaux, a moment of your time." Duke Cavador said, getting the attention of the dragoness... as well as her mate, who looked at the Duke curiously out of the corner of his eyes, even as the dragoness wheeled around neatly, and saluted with a 'Sir'. "Temeraire's guard here requires your aid with a task inside of the dungeon, and I would appreciate it if you helped him with that. We'll stay here until you're done, the task shouldn't take anymore than half an hour." Whenever or not she was surprised at being ordered to help Arcantos with a task, without even knowing what the task was, was not shown though Margeaux's professional demeanor, and she simply accepted it with another 'Sir' and a dip of her head. At her signal, Temeraire stepped forwards to take her places at the chains, in order to raise up the iron slab and once more let the two dragons pass into the dungeon. Arcantos not saying anything as he lead the Captain further into the darkness. Waiting for her to speak in her own time."Might I request what exactly is our task?" Margeaux asked soon, causing Arcantos to mentally comment to himself. 'Ten seconds... she really must be curious about what's going on... can't exactly blame her mind you, not when we last met and the circumstances surrounding me.' Then, Arcantos decided to bluntly inform her the task."Yes you may. We are going to be releasing Valerem, also known as The Dread Sky from this dungeon. Whilst I can open the wall thanks to my magnetic powers, we need two water dragons working together in order to divert the current around us, and create an air bubble that will allow us to swim to the surface." To her credit and his respect, Margeaux didn't so much as flicker at a rather shocking task. Instead choosing to simply observe."It is unlikely that in the fifty years that he has spent a prisoner has been kind to The Dread Sky. The likelihood of him being able to swim any reasonable distance, and then be able to take himself to a sheltered location is slim." Arcantos acknowledged this with a nod of his head, not arguing the fact nor annoyed at Margeaux's observation. After all she was an experienced officer of the army... her wisdom and advice was not so swiftly discounted."Both valid points Captain. However, the first one is not of concern, as there is a plan in place to ensure that Valerem will be able to swim the required distance. That being said, whilst we do have a means of solving the second problem. That is, after the swim finding a sheltered location in order to warm up, is still a problem." With the conversation going long, and Arcantos purposefully padding it out as they swiftly made their way to the back of the dungeon meant that it wouldn't be long until they reached where The Dread Sky waited them."How do you plan to solve the second problem? I assume from how it is still a problem, you do not have a shelter already established to take The Dread Sky to." Margeaux continued to question, not because of her curiousity, but so that she could help perform the task to her full ability. Despite not knowing the full details, she trusted Cavador... and Arcantos enough to do everything she could. Something Arcantos noted and appreciated."You are correct Captain, we don't have a place to take The Dread Sky to in order to warm him up swiftly after the swim. However, the dragoness behind me is not just a water dragon, but a Captain of the army. Because of this, you have knowledge that the common dragon and even common soldier does not know. Like the location of the hidden supply cache in the region." "I see, the problem is not so much acquiring a shelter, but being able to find the hidden shelter when you get to the location I point you towards, as I will not be there to help you. As the Duke mentioned this task should only take half an hour, and swimming across the cove to reach as cache, finding it and then swimming all the way back here would take several hours." By this time, the two of them had arrived at the back wall, and Arcantos was not surprised
to see that Valerem was nowhere in sight."That is correct." Was all Arcantos needed to say, before he signalled for Captain Margeaux to stay where she was. Arcantos stepping forwards to put his hands on the stone wall, experimentally reached out with his magnetic powers... simply stretching the web out in order to find the location of the metal supports to the wall, as well as confirm the shape and size of them. This took about a minute and a half at best, and Arcantos soon stepped back, turning to face the darkness... guessing at where Valerem was hiding before saying."Alright Dread Sky, enough with the hiding. Come out and stand behind Captain Margeaux. I don't want you to be washed away after the wall cracks open." A few heartbeats of silence followed after Arcantos put forth his order... then that chuckling started once more. The same sinister, malicious laughter that Arcantos first heard when he entered the dungeon. "You sure are getting rather comfortable at making orders aren't you runt?" The Dread Sky said as he slunk into view, coming from a different direction from where Arcantos had been looking in. "It won't do anyone any good for you to start getting too big for your boots you know. We wouldn't want a wordy little runt like you have to be punished for your influence."As Margeaux looked at the large dragon warily, Arcantos had to wonder at Valerem's actions. 'We are allies now, yet he laughed sinisterly as if we were not... is that because he doesn't
want Margeaux to know we are allies? It does make sense, as we are keeping her out of the loop. Just making her aware that there is a loop... come to think of it however, the chuckling echoes rather nicely so one can't tell where it coming from... was I actually looking at him, and he just bide time in order to move so I wasn't looking at him? ... Guess I won't know till I get to know him better.' "Still, I guess it will be quite amusing to stand here and watch you be crushed by the rocks as they collapse inwards." The Dread Sky continued scathingly, and that time Arcantos did not have to ponder any hidden meanings in his words. It was a clear warning, and one Arcantos was swift to follow. "Though I suppose the threat of those rocks coming to break a limb or two of my own might dampen that amusement.""Then use your wings to block them." Captain Margeaux's sudden interruption got a look of surprise from Arcantos, and made Valerem actually look down at her instead of continuing to ignore her like he had been doing. "And don't bother arguing that you don't want them damaged so you can fly. Even if you managed to your wings in shape in order to be able to fly. We both know that your flight tendons have been cut, making flight an impossibility for you." Now that was surprising news... Valerem did not have the ability to fly, ever again? .,. No, not ever again. There was ways to repair the damage of cut tendons. But that took a long time and was a very expensive procedure. So whilst it was more merciful than simply butchering one's wings, it was for
all sense and practice the same. On retrospect, it made sense to limit the danger of a long-time prisoner like Valerem, especially one infamous in this region as a deadly warrior and astute leader."Yes, thank you very much for a reminder about such wonderful news!" The Dread Sky snarled aggressively, and honestly Arcantos couldn't blame him. The ability to fly was without out that greatest of all the gifts of dragon kind... and the inability to fly, reduced the dragon to a state of being that honestly was hard to match. Loss of arms, legs even tails... or the lack of the ability to use the elements... none of them alone could compare to the loss of the wings. "I'm sure I'll take your advice under consideration. But my wings have hardly seen much use, so please excuse me if I accidently knock you into a rock and you get crushed to death.""Do that, and your chances of escaping this prison will become zero in an instant, and I doubt that you would take a risk like that, no matter how angry my reminder made you." Captain Margeaux countered, calling Valerem's bluff magnificently... and they all knew it. Hence why the black dragon did not reply, instead snorting and falling silent. Satisfied at this, Margeaux turned around and nodded at Arcantos, ready to proceed."Well then, time to get Operation: Dread Sky Rises on its way." Arcantos said, moving to stand next to Margeaux, taking Valerem's advice and making sure there was plenty of room for the rocks to be deflected away from them. At the same time, his lips flicked upwards into a smile, finding amusement in his 'joke'... even if neither Margeaux or The Dread Sky himself understood that he was making a joke, let alone the joke itself.Having found the
location of the air-steel previously when up against the wall, Arcantos was able to zone in onto their locations from where he now stood. Though he was surprised at just how significant the difference in power and focus it took in order to link his powers to them now... he suspected it was more due to the transition for air to stone that was the reason behind it, then the actual distant itself. Whatever the case, even with the knowledge of the positioning of the reinforcements, it took him about two minutes in order to get a firm magnetic hold on them all.Still, once Arcantos had managed to get a firm grip on all of the steel rods. It was not difficult to just pull backwards. Yes, it took a lot of power, making Arcantos' reserves plummeted as they were rapidly drained in order to fulfil his task. But... they were moving. Slowly, but surely coming towards him... and whilst he knew he wouldn't be able to take them completely out of the wall, he didn't need to. They had the entire weight of a sea behind the wall, and when it began to weaken and crack, the water began pushing down, rushing into the gaps. A cascade effect which gave Arcantos only mere moments to snap. "Now!" Before the wall split open and the sea rushed in with a thundering roar that drowned out all over sound.The speed of events that followed was startling for Arcantos... one moment he was realizing that the walls were about to give way. The next, he was slammed back against Valerem's chest as the water poured through. It was a testament Margeaux's reaction times that the three of them were not instantly swept away... and Valerem 's strength, to keep his wings up despite the rocks slammed into them as great speed, even as he stood on three claws against the on rush. The other one having grabbed hold of Arcantos before he could get swept down underneath the black dragon.Despite the sheer shock and pace of events playing out. Arcantos' long years of training under Temeraire, as well as his time with the army allowed him to react only microseconds after he was grabbed by Valerem. Instinctively exerting his powers in order to divert the flow of water around him so that he wasn't being crushed against the black dragon... and then consciously allowing him to expand this power outwards, until it melded with Margeaux's attempts, stabilizing the current around them and allowing Val to retract his wings, and let Arcantos go.The first, hardest part of the operation was a success, and Arcantos soon made his way to stand next to the Captain once more. Knowing that they still had much more work to done. Arcantos mirrored how Margeaux was currently standing, one arm outstretched, with and turning his body so it was side on towards the rushing current. Meanwhile, the other arm stretched out, pointing to the left, whilst Margeaux pointed to the right. His back foot point the same way as his arm, whilst his tail came round to point to the left. Whilst it was possible to simply brute force his way and divert the current around them, this stance allowed them to fully utilize their primary energy outlets - their arms and legs - to manage the task efficiently. Their secondary energy outlets - wings and potentially tails - were busy helping the other with their own task. Bringing all of the outlets to use, and allowing efficient use of their energy, thus allowing them to keep the difficult task going for an extended period of time.Admittedly, these stances weren't exactly the best for moving around in... but speed wasn't too much of an issue for the three of them. The air bubble they had created would last them several minutes, and even when it was getting stale, Arcantos
was confident that Captain Margeaux would be able to filter air out from the water. Even if she had lost reserves for that, it wouldn't be difficult to create a very small 'tube' extending up from the bubble to the surface where Arcantos could draw air from. Until then however... the two were content to moving forwards slowly. Stepping forwards with the front leg, then dragging the rear-leg along, the foot still pointing sideways.It was slow going, pushing the rushing current out away from them, and stepping forwards to allow it to close back in around them if it so desired. Valerem was a little uncomfortable as the current kept tugging at his tail, trying to drag it away even when the black dragon stood firm. The scattered remains of the shattered wall slowed their process even further, forcing Margeaux and Arcantos to navigate around them carefully... but they managed it, and eventually they were outside of the now flooded dungeon, and the power of the current vanished.Now that they only had to focus on the air bubble, the two water dragons could abandon their posture and take to a method movement that was much more natural in the current situation. Swimming. Arcantos, Margeaux and Valerem swiftly ascended upwards, as whilst they were what most would consider deep underwater, the pressure of the water wasn't great enough to be a worry, hence why they could climb at the greatest speed with no worries of catching 'Decompression sickness'.The time it took for the walls to break and allow the sea to come roaring in, and for the three dragons to break the surface of the sea, was around twenty minutes in all. The first order of business - after drawing in sweet fresh air - was to scramble onto the rocks of the cliffs, and not be completely smashed against them."You see the lighthouse over there?" Captain Margeaux said once they had managed to get into a... 'comfortable' and secure position on the rocks. Pointing out towards spot in the distance where a bright flashing light could be seen. Arcantos followed her hand and nodded in answer. The Dread Sky had fallen silently as he looked up into the night sky... full of stars and with a bright half-moon that night. "Use that and due south as reference points, and go in the direction halfway between the two reference points. Once you hit the shore, you should find a great red oak within a couple of miles of your location. Nearby, there's an underwater tunnel that heads into the supply cache. Good luck." Without waiting for any acknowledgement or response, Captain Margueax launched herself of her rock. Diving back into the waves and disappearing back into the water. Arcantos was confident that as she was riding the current, she would easily be able to get back to the others safely."Its so beautiful." Valerem said softly once the Captain had gone, causing Arcantos to glance at him in surprise, before looking up into the shining bright sky as well. For Arcantos, it wasn't an especially special night, as whilst there was plenty of stars. The sky wasn't exactly completely clear of clouds either... yet, looking back at Valerem, Arcantos couldn't help but smile and privately agree... the first night sky that The Dread Sky had seen in fifty years... of course it was a beautiful sight to witness. Even just grasp the rock, feeling the spittle of the waves splattering across his scales and the cold chill breeze... it was freedom."Enjoy the sight whilst you can. We still got a long way to go." Was all Arcantos decided to say, leaving the free dragon to enjoy sights and textures he believed he would never witness
again. The bipedal jumped of the rock himself, but upwards instead of down. His wings snapping out in order to allow him to take to the sky... for a few brief moments. His target was one of the caves inside of the cliffs after all. It didn't take Arcantos long to find a cave that wasn't occupied and land on it. Not waiting around as he didn't want Valerem to start getting hypothermia, Arcantos turned around and launched a bolt of lightning out of the cave, sending it shooting out into the open air, where all could see... but no one would care about it... not until he launched a second right after it, then a third... and st only four dragons would care at all, as the bipedal sat down to wait... simply glad for the brief moment to rest, as he had been on his feet for a long time since he left the carriage on arrival at the ball... even with the conversation in Cavador's office, his legs were starting to ache.It was only five minutes later that Arcantos heard the sound of many wing beats, more than any one dragon could have and heaved himself back onto his feet with a small groan. Dragging himself to the entrance of the cave, Arcantos soon spotted four young dragons searching the cliffs. Ace and Nova were of course two of the dragons... but the other two were the remaining dragons of Arcantos' patrol... Caros and Frost. "So what's going on Arcy?" Caros inquired, the fire dragon being the first of the four to spot the waiting dragon. Arcantos didn't answer right away, instead taking a few steps back into the cave. Inviting the fire dragon and others to land and rest their wings... though it turned out too small for all of them, and Frost had to wait outside however, to the ice dragon's frustration. "Wasn't expecting to see the three-bolt signal... well honestly I wasn't expecting anything at all, but the 'everything's good, but need assistance' signal is the least expected signal.""I need your help with an unofficial mission." Arcantos started to explain, rapidly gaining the curious attention of the others at his wording... an unofficial mission? "At the rocks there is a dragon that is in no state to fly, or in any fit state at all. Our mission is to help him get across the cove to a safe location. The precise details of the mission can be explained after we've got him to a safe location. All you need to know is that he is an invaluable ally for our cause.""If I didn't know this vague, confusing wording is your fetish, I would be demanding more info." Caros said, scoffing at Arcantos' 'explanation... but not questioning it either, instead just turning towards the cave entrance as he grumbled. "I just hope he isn't too big, I would hate to have to lug a big ass across the cove."