Here be Dragons!
Chapter 20
It is now 10 years later
Kate was lounging out on the deck and watching the morning ships leave the harbor that was still protected by a Dragon Turtle, Rhaegal. What they really didn't know was for how much longer. She was a little old then and older still now. But then so were Rick and herself.
Hearing the door open had her turning to look. "Hi, sweetness." Kate was happy to see her.
"Hi, Mom." Alexis pushed one of the lounge chairs a little closer and lay down next to her. "I didn't see Dad."
"He left early to check his traps. We're just about out of meat again," Kate explained.
Alexis screwed up her courage since there was something she and her siblings wanted to talk to them about and Alexis got voted to do it since she was the oldest.
"That's part of why I'm here." Alexis was convinced her parents would fight back.
She, Addison, and Aiden had all moved out by now and Rick and Kate were living in this big house all alone. Way out on this island. Alexis and the others had loved living here when they were younger. Getting into school in the city might have been a pain especially when it rained, but they were out of school now and they actually each had a home in the city.
"We want you and Dad to think about moving into the city." Alexis waited for it but didn't have to wait long.
"We like it here. This is our home. We built this place," Kate instantly argued and wondered just where this was coming from.
"And it's too big for you two. You don't even use our old bedrooms or our bathroom. When was the last time you even walked the entire deck?" Alexis asked insistently. She could remember being a kid and having races around this deck with her brother and sister and even some of their friends that spent the night. It was a great place to grow up.
"How about the last time you went out to the gazebo and watched the ships?" Alexis waved her hand at the thing in the distance. "When was the last time you two did any maintenance on it?" She feared going out to look at it since that might spoil her memory of it. Possibly anyway.
"Where is all this coming from?" Kate knew she and Rick weren't interested in moving. They would adapt as they got older. They loved their little city and had fought more than once to protect it.
"We're leaving soon, Mom," Alexis told her. "We got word that some of the smaller ships making their way toward Calimport or beyond are being attacked. We are thinking a lone Pirate ship. They only attack the smaller 2 mast Caravels and leave the other bigger ships alone. We're thinking they may have taken over the old Port Castigliar. We're going to go take a look. After that we're going to go over to that old Yuan-ti Citadel to make sure it's still abandoned."
Basically what she was telling Kate was that herself, her brother and sister and their two friends would be gone for several weeks. Maybe even longer and wouldn't be here to help them.
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Alexis, Addison, Aiden, Oliver, and Lucas had indeed used those maps to hunt down Yuan-ti to make sure they weren't trying to take over the area and present a problem to their little city.
The first two sites had gone well. There were only a few Yuan-ti though they did have a few Lizard Folk from the Poison Dusk clan helping them. The third site, however, had proven to be one site too much for them. Oliver had been killed. Alexis much later blamed it on his belief that one day he would be a great swordsman. He would fight with two swords. One in each hand and get in so many swings that his enemy would never know what hit him.
Except one time he had been far too brave and by the time they could reach him, he was dead. Though at the time they hadn't been thinking like that.
They had all come home sobbing. Even today she felt that pain. She also remembered what her parents did to try and ease the pain.
Still they were Rodgers and they didn't back down. Even with one less person they went out. When they came back Lucas announced that he was quitting. It was too dangerous for him. He liked the prestige and he liked the gold, but it just wasn't for him.
Today they were back up to five and all five were pretty powerful in their eyes. Alexis had started her Vassal of Bahamut training with her father. Addison was now a truly powerful Sorcerer. Yes there were others more powerful, but she could hold her own. Aiden had finally come into his own.
On one of their outings they'd found a long ago abandoned village that had been taken over by the jungle. It was there that they learned what Undead were and just what Aiden could do when it came to handling them.
They had two new members. Liam was a Druid and loved nature. He also happened to be a shifter, which was how they found him and why he joined. They also quickly learned that he was this black and white whale. He called himself an Orca. Addison had been quite taken by him and now those two were practically inseparable.
Liam had his own pair of animal companions actually. Alexis was at first a little jealous that he had two while she had just the one and would only ever have just the one. However she wanted to be a Vassal of Bahamut very badly so she got over it.
She was still amazed that Liam had two Dinosaurs and both of them were called Velociraptors. They had both started out small but had grown some and were medium sized now. They should stay this size and only grow stronger from now on.
Alexis was pretty sure they were very intimate and lovers but she didn't pry, much like neither did Addison or Aiden harass what Alexis was doing with Elijah. Though both of them had yet to explain it all to their parents.
The other member of their little group was a man called Elijah. He was a real Barbarian when it came to his temperament. When they got into a battle he went nuts on them most of the time. Of course it didn't hurt that he was incredibly strong. He had an innate ability to take a powerful hit and simply roar from it and rip that person's head off or cut it off with his weapon that Alexis would swear was too big for him.
All right, not as strong as Mom or Dad, but he was strong. A quick trip to Calimport they had helped him buy him a Belt of Giant Strength which only made him stronger still. He also happened to be half Mercury Dragon. As a result you could see it in his body. He had silvery colored scales in various areas of his body. Silver wings, horns on his head like a Dragon and a tail. What he didn't have was a Dragon head. Alexis had screamed when she found out his God was Bahamut.
That was when he had found the weapon he was in awe of so they bought him that too. It was a double bladed axe. This weapon was two double-bladed axes mounted on either end of a stout haft. There were two wide grips on the haft, about midway between the center and each axe head. The blades were narrower than those on a great axe to reduce the weight, which was considerable. The toe of each axe blade could be extended to a sharp point, and the ends of the haft could be spiked also. An average double bladed weapon weighed 15 lbs.
This one had a weapon hidden in the hilt that could be extended after touching a control switch that would extend the length of a short sword. It even had dwarven runes inscribed onto the blade itself.
No one had wanted it since no one could wield the damn thing. Then they came along and Elijah just had to have it and promptly demonstrated that he was big enough and strong enough to wield it as he whipped it around him. They still weren't sure just what it could do. It actually resisted Addison's attempts at identifying it. However, Elijah was really dangerous when wielding this thing.
Alexis had taken upon herself to try and tame his barbarian side. She'd soon found that to be impossible. Now she was working on getting him to control just when he was an uncontrollable barbarian, to channel his rage when it benefited him most.
As a result they had become lovers. As lovers she'd learned that he liked his sex a little rough. She in turn had countered with tying him to the bed and having her way with him. She would smile as she listened to him beg her to let him climax. That he would do anything she asked if she would just let him climax.
That didn't work too well when they didn't have a bed though she'd learned the skill to delay his orgasm that still had him begging her. Alexis was in charge of their relationship and Elijah knew it, however, the rewards were amazing.
Alexis had also learned that he was really in love with her Dragon. He loved running his hands over her Gem body when she had shifted into a Dragon.
Alexis also knew it was only a matter of time until she was pregnant. If his being a half Dragon could get her pregnant. And if he couldn't she didn't care. She would still love him.
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"When?" Kate questioned her.
"Tomorrow or the day after at the latest. I know we don't have time to actually move you. But you have gold to hire someone to help you move." Alexis tried again. "Please, Mom? This place is just too big for you. Maybe one of us will take it over when we finally slow down and turn it into our home. It'll always be in the Rodgers family. I promise."
Neither of them were too old to continue to live here. However she was right that they never used or even went into their old bedrooms or their bathroom any longer. It was just that this was home.
"What have you done?" Kate knew her daughter. Alexis had come here with a plan already in place.
"We, um, may've bought the old Bartels house."
"The original mine owner's house. If I remember correctly it's sat empty ever since the miners were killed by the Yuan-ti. The new owner is a bachelor and didn't want it. It's up on the hill behind the Dinosaur pens. The only home larger in the city is the owner of the Dinosaur pens." Kate might be getting older but she hadn't lost her mind yet. That house was actually a little below this one.
"That's the place. It needs a little help since it's sat empty but you and Dad have the gold. The paint is a little faded and it's dusty, full of cobwebs. They left everything behind but you might want to change all that. Make it yours."
"Did I mention since it is on the hill it has a view of the city and the Dinosaur pens?" Alexis added a selling feature. "And a balcony to see it all from?"
"It's outside the city walls," Kate mentioned, meaning it was less safe.
"As if anyone was going to attack us! Besides you and Dad are still the most powerful members of the city. They would have to be stupid or suicidal to attack us or you and Dad," Alexis countered.
"How are Addison and Aiden?" It had been a few days since either of them had seen their son or other daughter.
"Nice try, Mom. Not until you promise to at least go look at it." Alexis kept selling it. "It's the right size for you and Dad. The second most prestigious house in the area. Nice and close so you can go buy everything you need. It'll all be fresh every day. You and Dad can go to the public baths and talk to your friends and make new ones."
"Remind me again where you three live?" Kate knew but she wanted to generate a picture.
"The three of us live side by side in separate houses. We're all just down from the Jewelry Market. Just before the gate leading to the Temple to Sune. They're all the same inside. Just different colors inside and out." They'd gotten lucky over time to get them side by side.
"On the other side of the city," Kate said which was a con for her.
Alexis chastised her own mother. "Neither of you are invalids and the city isn't that big. It would take you 15 minutes to reach us. Twenty tops!"
Kate knew it was weak and that she was resisting.
"The horses are old. Even Lulu's getting old." They all feared losing yet another Blink dog and it was going to break all of their hearts yet again.
""Where's your animal companion?" Kate didn't see it and it was always with her.
"He's inside. Helping himself to those treats you store away just for him. I swear, I don't know if he loves you or your treats. I'll go get her." Alexis let her mom win one and went inside to get her bird. She knew her mom needed to think about it.
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Kate soon felt Baby land on her shoulder and turned to look. Baby was still beautiful and unique. Alexis had explained that she was a Scarlet Macaw and could be found anywhere in the Jungle which was where she had been when she had called for her. Scarlet Macaws are characterized by their scarlet plumage and an integration of blue, yellow and green tones in the lower part of their wings.
"Hi, Mom," Baby said. Kate grinned. Alexis had explained that she was easily trainable and that she picked up words really fast. She had clearly heard those words a lot even if Kate wasn't her mom.
"Hi, Baby." Kate used a finger to stroke her feathers and felt her claws as he moved on her shoulder a little.
"Lulu," Baby asked her.
"Lulu is with Rick out checking his traps. They'll be home soon." It was one more thing that had Kate smiling wide. Lulu and Baby actually got along pretty well.
They even had a game they would play. Lulu would blink around the house while Baby flew around it to catch her. Only if she could land on her would Lulu stop.
"What should Mom do, Baby?" Alexis asked her since Kate had trained her for this day.
"Hi, Mom," Baby told her. "City, Mom," Baby added which had Kate rolling her eyes and suspected Alexis had trained her for this. "Miss you," Baby squawked in her ear.
Alexis's mouth fell open in shock. That wasn't something she had taught her to say. "Baby?" Alexis raised her hand and Baby flew over to land on her hand.
"Miss Mom." Baby squawked at Alexis this time.
"I did not teach her that. I swear!" Alexis raised her free hand. "Even if she's right."
Kate was losing and she knew it. Listening to a parrot tell her what to do was the last straw. "Fine, your dad and I will go look at it. …But no promises." Kate wagged her finger at her and Baby flew back across, landed on her hand, and squeezed. Her claws could actually hurt a little.
"Hi, Mom," Baby said and Kate laughed.
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Rick and Kate were walking through this house Alexis had said that she bought using her money. "What did Alexis say again?" Rick was looking around and not really liking much of what he saw.
"She said it needed work," Kate told him again.
Rick laughed a little since it was that or cry. "The roof leaks so the walls are ruined. The furniture they left behind is ruined and…" He saw a rat run for it. "It's infested. I have yet to see one single window that isn't broken."
Rick followed Kate upstairs to inspect the two bedrooms and the bathroom. "This looks familiar," Kate commented looking into the bathroom and left it for what she was thinking was the biggest bedroom.
Rick stopped at the bathroom just long enough to feel his poor muscles aching already. Then Lulu barked and blinked away. She'd obviously found something to amuse her.
Rick found her out on the balcony off of the bedroom. Laid out in front of them were the Dinosaur pens. Beyond that to the left was the entire city including a near perfect view of the docks.
Then they heard a roar coming from the Dinosaur pens, however, the distance softened it a bit.
"Love the view," Kate commented. "We need a table and chairs, glass of wine, my husband singing to me." She smiled and kept her back to him.
"You want to spit out your wine that badly?" Rick could play this game. Kate laughed.
Kate pointed out things. "Fresh everything is right over there. The warehouses where everything comes in and gets stored for pick up."
"The walk up wasn't too bad. Just the one switchback to handle the height. We won't be moving in anytime soon," Rick said.
Kate turned her head to look at him. "Are we doing this?"
"New roof, new kitchen, new walls, maybe new floors, all new windows, and new paint that I'm sure you'll have fun with. New pots, new plants, new lock. Definitely a new lock." Rick used his fingers to show what was needed.
"We move everything in the living room, kitchen, our bedroom, and bathroom. We don't need anything new. Link Contracting will love us." Kate smiled a little.
"If the foundation's bad Alexis can keep her house," Rick informed her.
"Let's go find him so we can find out when he has time to do this. It has all the space we're using now. A nice view, just different. Maybe different finishes this time?" Kate thought out loud. If it was going to be different, it might as well be very different.
"Small city, here we come," Rick said. "You know we could go to Calimport and buy a few things and have them shipped here."
"Ring of 3 wishes?" Kate teased him since this place did need some help.
"Actually I was thinking about a whole lot of scrolls. Some for the house and a lot for the Temple our son has started just outside of town," Rick mentioned though a ring of 3 wishes might not be such a bad idea.
Aiden had started construction of a Temple to Bahamut and they were only just starting to move dirt to start work on the footings. Rick and Kate had immediately promised 100 thousand gold to help him make it amazing. Put the Temple to Sune to shame. They would offer more if it was needed. They couldn't take it with them when they died of old age so helping to build a Temple to their God was an excellent use for their Gold.
The new idea with Rick's and Kate's money was to build an open, walled-off park in the middle. A school to teach about Bahamut on one side. A home and an office on the other. In the back would be the actual Temple where people would pray.
Out front in front of the portcullis and iron reinforced wood gates, to either side, would be two seriously tall platinum coated obelisks dedicated to Bahamut and his life. On them would be information about Bahamut written in Draconic.
In the middle of the park would be a statue of Bahamut coated in platinum.