Learning to Fall

The summer sun beat down from near its peak as Aytin walked up the street. Its relentless radiance flickered momentarily as a dragon passed overhead on its approach to a landing field. That was the only relief to be found in the cloudless sky.

Most of the dragonettes out and about were keeping to the meager shadows of taller buildings and awnings as they made their way about the city, but Aytin had grown up in the south. He was used to the heat.

In fact, if anything, the weather was invigorating. He certainly appreciated anything to help wake him up after the late night and early morning. Not that he minded. He had a plan and all that effort was about to pay off.

Sil was lounging near the warehouse, along with his unnamed bodyguard. A discrete check revealed Tar Thumb skulking in an alleyway. The same check also revealed a plainly dressed Ivy loitering a few doors down. She gave him a surreptitious ear flick when she noticed his glance.

Aytin didn't acknowledge any of them as he strode up to the warehouse door. Of course, it was impossible to ignore when Sil stepped into his path, a fake smile plastered on his face.

"Right on time! I like that! And congratulations on making the smart decision."

The gang leader's smile slipped slightly when his mark returned it with one of his own.

In an obnoxiously cheerful voice, Aytin replied, "Oh, good afternoon Sil. I was actually hoping you'd be here. See, I wanted to thank you properly."

"Thank... me."

The young former noble's expression turned earnest as he nodded. "Oh, yes. I hadn't realized how bad things were here until you pointed it out. So I asked around and it turns out you were right."

Sil's smile was gone and his eyeridges were furrowed in confusion at that point. Aytin was having to work not to grin as he pushed on.

"Now I've got a new place lined up. A few friends in the free traders guild recommended it to me. It's a little more expensive, but I think the extra peace of mind will be worth it."

"Really?" The word came out flat and cold enough to freeze a red dragon's breath. There was no pretense of the jovial salesman, just the tone of someone who had risen up to some small power in a brutal school.

Aytin pretended not to notice. Nor did he so much as acknowledge the shadow looming behind him as his head bobbed up and down. "Oh, yes. And, again, thank you so much for bringing it to my attention. I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to all this gear."

"You realize just how unsafe the streets are?" Sil asked in the same icy tone. To one side, his bodyguard had a chunk of lumber in one hand and was idly slapping it into the other. "Accidents happen all the time. Moving could be... dangerous."

"Which is why when I heard about his problem, I offered to help," a new voice piped in.

Sil whipped around to stare at the dragonette who had stepped up next to him. "And who in the hells are you?"

"Vulzan! Good to see you!"

Despite being early evening the free traders guild still had a healthy number of dragonettes around, conducting business or perusing through various notices for open contracts. One shorter trader turned from where he was talking with a clerk. His confusion disappeared and his ears perked as he saw who was addressing him. "Ivy! How are things?"

"Oh, not bad. But let me tell you, getting old is a terrible thing. Never try it."

The other trader chuckled, then his expression sobered. "I heard about Reed. Absolutely terrible. And the rumor was that Faelon lost a wing?"

Ivy nodded. "It's a risk we all take, every time we fly out."

"More of a risk than ever these last few years. Still, I'd like to offer my condolences. Reed was a fine trader, and we'll miss her. I pray that Lotek guided her soul and the souls of her crew through the gates."

"As do I. Thank you."

All three of them briefly bowed their heads at the prayer. When Vulzan straightened, he seemed to notice Ivy's companion for the first time.

"And who might this be? If you're trying to find space for him on a crew, I'm afraid I don't have any spots free, but I know several traders who might."

"I'm Aytin, and I'm not actually looking for work," he answered, stepping forward and giving a small bow of greeting.

Vulzan returned the gesture. "Well, if you're not here for work, what exactly is it that I can do for you? Sadly a charter is out of the question as well."

Ivy cut right to the chase. "Aytin is the reason Faelon is still alive."

"I wouldn't say-"

Aytin was silenced by a glare from the retired trader. "He's also the reason I know how my daughter died, and how she was avenged."

"And he took part in some of that vengeance as well, I hear." Vulzan bobbed his head in recognition. "I've heard the stories. Sorry, I didn't realize that was you."

"Really, a lot of it was just trying to stay alive."

"But not all of it," the trader said with a knowing look. "Anyway, if you're not here for a job or a charter, what can I do for you, Aytin? Actually," he added, looking back at the clerk who was staring daggers at them. "Let me finish up here, and then I'll buy you both a drink."

Soon they were all sitting in one of the nicer establishments in the area that primarily served traders and their crews. It was by no means anything as fancy as The Spire, but the drinks were good and the clientele didn't seem the sort to get into bar fights.

"So," Vulzan began once they were all situated. "As good as it is to meet you, Aytin, why exactly has Ivy brought you around?"

"I've been wondering that myself," he replied, looking at the retired trader.

She made a flicking motion with one hand. "Just tell him. I want to see if he has any ideas of his own."

Aytin shrugged, willing to trust the woman he'd come to call a friend. "It started a few weeks ago when I ran into some local thugs..."

He gave a quick run-down of the situation, following which Vulzan asked a few questions of his own. When he was finished, the trader nodded, slowly.

"He thinks you're naive, friendless, and an easy mark," was the dragonette's evaluation. "Since he knows who you are and must have heard some of the stories, that makes him not particularly smart, either. Probably got to where he is by being more ruthless than anyone else."

"A year ago I would have had my wings wrapped around myself in terror," Aytin agreed. "But I've seen what real ruthlessness looks like." A hand traced along the scars on his wings, absently.

"Smart or not, he could make things difficult. If you spite him, he will do his best to drown you in the oceans." Vulzan thought about it for a moment and then added, "The only reason he hasn't already after what you did to his crew is that you're worth something to him."

"Yeah. That's why I'm here. Any ideas?"

"Oh, a few." He nodded to himself, then looked towards Ivy. "Naive, friendless, and an easy mark," he said, half to himself. "Finish your drinks and come with me. I think I know how we can show him the error of his ways."

The newcomer just smiled amicably. "Vulzan Hanori, at your service." He gave a small bow.

"And what are you gonna do to help him?" the gang leader demanded, brash confidence returning as he took in Vulzan's underwhelming stature. The dragonette was hardly bigger than Aytin, and though he bore a few scars he was hardly what one could call physically intimidating.

In fact, Tar Thumb stepped forward, looming over Vulzan as she very conspicuously polished a talon on a scrap of leather.

He didn't so much as twitch an ear. With a faintly amused expression, the trader said, "Why, I'm here to help with the heavy lifting."

All three of the gangers burst out laughing. Even Aytin had to smile. It was a rather absurd assertion. Vulzan might not have looked like a stiff breeze would blow him over, but he didn't exactly have the build of a laborer.

"Get lost, before I help you get lost," Tar Thumb threatened as she put one meaty hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "You ain't helping this kid with nothing."

Suddenly the laughter cut off when a new, much louder voice spoke from behind them. "To be fair, I'm the one who will be doing most of the work."

"Archeon! Arch! Where are you at?"

Surprisingly, they had flown to a nearby royal guard landing field and dragon barracks. It was oddly empty given that the sun had nearly set. Maybe a third of the oversized awnings were occupied, either by individuals or small knots of dragons and a smattering of their crews.

A blue head turned to look towards the call. Its owner was big for a blue, whose breed was generally built more for speed than size. The dragon wandered over, looking curious.

"What's wrong, Vulzan? Problem with the cargo?" Then he noticed exactly who was with the trader. "Ivy! Good to see you. How long has it been?"

"I think last we caught up was at the landing fields three... no, it was four summers back."

"Then it isn't about the cargo," Archeon asked, turning back to Vulzan.

"No, no, still getting that sorted out. But Ivy and Aytin here had something they wanted to discuss with us."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Aytin, Aytin..." The dragon cocked his head for a moment before recognition dawned. "Ah. Things make a little more sense now. And I'm sorry for not saying so before, but my condolences, Ivy."

"Thank you, Arch. That means a lot."

"And Aytin, how is Faelon doing?"

"As well as can be expected, stuck on an island on the frontier. Did you know him?" His friend had never mentioned the other dragon, but he figured it didn't hurt to ask.

Archeon shook his head and gave a small snort. "Not really, he was always a little distant. But we met, and we flew in some of the same skies. I dare say you would be hard pressed to find a trader who hasn't heard of his misfortune. That's the sort of wound that we all dread."

"I've heard the same from most of the traders I've spoken to. It's really not fair that I'm here and he can't be."

Ivy touched him on the arm. "You're doing everything you can for the old lizard. But we could use your help for some of it," she added, addressing the dragon.

"Oh? What might that be?"

"A pack of street toughs have been harassing young Aytin," Vulzan said, breaking in. "The usual fare, threatening to torch his stuff without actually coming out and saying it unless he pays an exorbitant 'insurance' fee. Doesn't help that the owner of the warehouse he's using is either in on it or under his own pressure."

"In on it," Archeon rumbled. "You'll never find a greedier bastard than a warehouse owner. They would sell their own eggs if you offered them a bent silver and a mug of stale ale."

Ivy smirked. "And you wouldn't?"

"I'd at least get a better price," he muttered in mock outrage.

"So what's your price for help moving a few things to a new warehouse?" Aytin took the opportunity to ask. "Because a dragon is a bit harder to knock over than the carts I used to get it all there."

"Oh," Archeon said, with a grin that showed a number of very sharp teeth. "If it spits in the eye of a few wannabe gangsters, I think I might be persuaded to do this for free."

"Archeon! Good to see you!" Aytin called out, greeting the newcomer.

While they'd been talking, a blue dragon had wandered over from the landing field, making surprisingly little noise for someone his size. Especially covered in a rope harness similar to the one Faelon had worn during his days hauling cargo.

"This is Sil and Tar Thumb," Aytin continued even as the latter released her grip on Vulzan like his shoulder had suddenly started oozing green-dragon venom. "They're the ones I was telling you about. Ah, sorry, I never caught your name," he added to the bodyguard who was starting to look like a fox that had chased a rabbit into its den and found a pack of poison-fanged naulikers waiting for him instead.

"A pleasure to meet you all," the big dragon rumbled. "This is the place, Aytin?" He jerked his head towards the warehouse.

"That's the one. I'll be along in a moment, but the proprietor should be able to show you where the things are."

"Very good, then."

Archeon headed towards the warehouse and the dragon-sized side doors. A handful of crew followed after him, including one taller male with a hard look and a wooden leg. He kept one hand on the hilt of the blade sheathed at his hip and didn't even pretend to be friendly as he went out of his way to "accidentally" brush up against Sil on his way past.

"I'll see you inside, Aytin!" Vulzan called as he turned to follow his crew, leaving the young dragonette alone with the trio of gangsters.

They looked at each other. Sil's bodyguard leaned in to whisper something to his boss. "Of course not!" came the hissed reply, before he turned back to glare at Aytin. "If you think that just hiring some trader to-"

Aytin almost burst out laughing as another massive blue head snaked down to insert itself into the conversation. "Well, hello there."

"Aytin? I didn't expect to see you here."

There had been a trickle of dragons and crewmembers moving around the field. The dragonette in question had been too busy planning with the rest of his group to notice their comings and goings, but he looked up when his name was called. Then he grinned at the young blue dragon looking his way.

"Spark! I was just talking with Arch and the rest." He jerked his head back at Archeon as he walked over, smiling at the mercenary. "How are you doing?"

"Good, good. I was visiting some old friends while between jobs."

Honestly, that was a little surprising given how thin the guard seemed to be stretched. "Are things busy?"

He got an emphatic nod in response. "You're lucky I was available to pick up your contract. Then again," Spark added wryly, "so am I."

"Oh?"

"It's been a very nice bit of free advertising, especially among the traders. You wouldn't believe how many people who want to hear about Faelon also wouldn't mind paying for a bit of extra protection on the way out to a keep."

"Glad to hear it worked out for you, then." Aytin had a thought right then and had to suppress a chuckle.

Spark's ears perked. "What's the joke?"

"I was just thinking how funny it would be to hire you to deal with a bit of a problem I'm having." Archeon might be intimidating from size alone, but he lacked the lean ferocity that his younger and smaller counterpart radiated.

"Oh? Trouble out on the frontier? Yeah, heading out there would probably be expensive."

"No, no. Nothing like that." 'I hope.' He really wished that Kesti had shared exactly what was going on out there. It still ate at him, even if he knew there was nothing he could do.

"There's some toughs from a local gang giving me a hard time," Aytin explained. "Arch and Vulzan are already helping me out with it, though. One blue ought to be enough to send them packing."

The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Oh, cleaning up some scum? That's a whole different matter. Cheap thugs like that give real mercenaries a bad name." The corners of his lips edged up in an evil grin. "Why, for something like this, I think a discount might even be in order!"

"Spark! Good to see you could make it! Where's the crew?"

This blue dragon was quite a bit younger and smaller than Archeon, but little patches of discolored scales and a lean, predatory look about him made it clear that he was no trader. The grin he offered showed quite a bit more in the way of teeth.

"Out spending their pay, I suspect. I didn't figure they'd be needed for this."

"Spark is the leader of a crew of mercenaries," Aytin told Sil and his pair of goons. They had wisely backed away a few steps with the arrival of the second dragon, and seemed prepared to retreat even further at a moment's notice.

"I was hired to help with his situation with the new keep. And I take my contracts very seriously." The blue helpfully didn't add that the particular contract he had been hired for was long since finished.

"It's always good to have people you can count on when there are so many unsavory sorts in this part of the city," Aytin added, innocently, with only the barest emphasis on the phrase Sil had used the previous day.

Spark bobbed his head left and right in a noncommittal gesture. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. I've never had any trouble around these parts, myself. What about you?" he addressed the knot of gangsters, peering just a little closer their way. "Have you heard of much trouble here?"

"Oh, loads," Aytin answered for them. "They were telling me all about it just the other day."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Isn't that right Sil?"

Under the gaze of the mercenary dragon, the gang leader finally broke. "Screw all of this," he muttered and spun around.

Just to twist the knife even further, Aytin played his final card. "And if I need to find you for anything else..."

"They'll be back eventually," Spark declared after being brought up to speed.

"They would be a flock of idiots to do that in the face of not just one, but two dragons." When the rest of them gave Vulzan skeptical looks, he at least had the decency to look chagrined. "Okay, so they probably are a flock of idiots, but still..."

"It's just a matter of time. They're just like the packs of brigands I've dealt with. No lesson will stick forever except the permanent kind."

Aytin sighed. "We're not going to kill them, Spark. Not that I'm completely opposed, but the guard would ask too many questions."

"Same for breaking a few bones, I suppose. That's a pity. It would make things so simple and satisfying."

"Very much so," Archeon agreed. "And if they're big enough idiots to try and take a swing at someone..."

Aytin wouldn't exactly be broken up with that outcome, even if it was incredibly unlikely. "Sil isn't that big of an idiot. I doubt his lackies are, either. But the lesson doesn't have to be permanent, just last until I leave the city. Less than a month."

"I still expect intimidation will be enough," Ivy said from where she sat on a small stool. It was starting to get late, and the elderly dragonette was beginning to flag. Still, she had refused to leave until the plans were set.

"There's intimidation, and then there's intimidation. Hmmm..." Spark rumbled for a moment. "These thugs usually have some secret clubhouse where they lay around in with their tails up their asses when they're not busy extorting grandfathers out of their last copper. Any idea where it is?"

The rest of them looked back and forth between each other, and there were only shrugs and shaken heads.

"Sounds like you need a local, then. Zetchi!" Spark called towards a knot of crew dragonettes.

One of them extricated herself and came jogging over. "Yeah, boss? What do you need?"

"You grew up around the Highrock Warehouse District, right? Ran with a bit of a rough crowd, if I remember correctly."

This was obviously not the question the young mercenary crew member had been expecting, but she nodded her head, slowly. "Yeah, boss. But I'm all done with that shit, now. Swear it. You was real clear 'bout what you'd do if I wasn't."

"I'm sure that's all true. But what I wanted to know is if you'd ever heard of a piece of work by the name of Sil around there."

"Sil, Sil..." She stared up into the now darkened sky. "Yeah, the name rings a bell. Bastard was just making a name for himself when I managed to get out of that scene."

"Good. Very good. And do you happen to know where he and his goons hang out?"

Zetchi nodded and Spark's grin showed teeth.

"...I'll just swing by that abandoned smokehouse a couple streets over."

He watched Sil's tail stiffen as he not so casually mentioned the gang's hideout. It had only taken three flights over the place that morning to spot Tar Thumb heading inside and confirm its location.

"Although the place seemed a little rundown. And that roof... well, it looked like it might cave in at any moment. Why, it probably couldn't even support my weight, much less a dragon like Spark. Just as an example, of course."

Sil stood there for a moment, frozen, then without a word hurried off into the crowd. Tar Thumb and the bodyguard followed in their boss's wake, the trio quickly disappearing down an alley.

"Real pleasant company you're keeping, Aytin."

The young dragonette just laughed. "Thanks for the help, Spark."

"Any time. But discount or no, you do owe me."

"I know. And I've already told the guild to send me the bill for your dinner. Just don't get the tirox, please."

"The wine basted venison backstrap, then."

"As long as it's just one," Aytin said with a theatrical wince. 'Please just let it be one…' "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go help Arch and Vulzan."

It didn't take long for the experienced trade crew to secure the cargo across the big blue's harness as Linnie, the warehouse owner, looked on with obvious apprehension. Spark stuck around just long enough for them to finish packing, then flew off to some other business.

Likewise, Ivy left as soon as the fun was over, offering her congratulations and getting thanks in return. She declined the offer to accompany the rest of the crew to the Sweet Dragon for drinks afterwards. All the excitement had tired her out.

The rest of the move was uneventful. They got the gear situated in a new warehouse and then headed for the bar before midafternoon.

Of course, Archeon couldn't fit into the Sweet Dragon, but Aytin made sure that there was a good meal waiting for him back at the guild. Vulzan declined as well, citing a cargo he needed to organize. Apparently the crew was keeping busy by hauling masses of stuff out to one frontier keep or another. Aytin wished him luck and led the way for the other dragonettes.

"Afternoon, Reiker," he said to the barkeep as he slid a few coins across the counter and jerked his head towards the group behind him. "These guys are with me. Get them a round of whatever they want that isn't cider."

There were shouts of mock protest and a couple of rude gestures, but they all got their orders in and settled down to chat at one of the tables.

Aytin didn't join them. He had already seen a certain dragonette sitting at the far end of the bar and nursing a mug of ale. Once he had finished getting Archeon's crew settled in, he made some excuses and then moved to sit down next to Kesti.

She had seen him, of course, and sighed as he got settled in. "So," she began without preamble. "Do you want the good news, or the bad news?"