A/N: Thank you all for waiting so patiently for me to update again. I appreciate all of the reviews from you, and I hope to be getting more in the near, near future. For my birthday, I got a new laptop, so hopefully I will be able to update a lot more often. So, here goes the next chappie to my story, enjoy!
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Sarra-the-dragon sailed high over the Royal Forest, hoping to reach the ocean quickly. Although she had spent a few months with the dragons, she had never exactly mastered the skill of being able to go from one place to another almost instantaneously. And it didn't exactly help that she had two extremely nervous mortals on her back, afraid that they might slip from her scaled back at any moment. You two need to relax. Sarra spoke in her mind-voice. If you get any more nervous Kyprioth will say you don't deserve to be having fun and not actually having fun. He's the Trickster god. Quite a character, in fact.
Percy snickered slightly on top of Sarra's back and the mage turned into a quick body roll. Coming upright, Sarra was smug with pleasure at how Percy had not expected her to do something so rash and unexpected. Don't mess with us gods, Percy, we're a bit more temperamental than you think.
"Clearly," he sputtered "What the Hades was that for?"
I may not be the wisest goddess ever created, but usually I can tell when someone needs some reprimanding. Particularly because I used to be the one being reprimanded. Sarra said coolly, feeling a fresh, salty breeze. Now quit getting your feathers in a ruffle, Percy, and see if you like this sight a bit better. They emerged from a cloudbank, and before them spread the ocean.
At once, Percy felt a longing for the sea, having been away from it for a while.
Annabeth, seated in front of him, felt her friend tense up with excitement. "Relax, Seaweed Brain. It's not going anywhere."
Sarra found a spot of flat land, and touched her giant feet to the ground. Percy and Annabeth slid off her back, and Sarra was once again a girl. "My da is over here," she said, pointing to her left. "And he doesn't seem too happy."
When the trio got over to Numair Salmalin, who was standing with his face to the sea, they were alarmed to find that Numair's face was like a thundercloud. "15 ships!" he yelled, his face red with anger "15 ships and 15 barges, and only the 3 of us here to stop them."
"Three of us?" Sarra asked her father. "Who would be the third person?"
"Your Aunt Alanna," was the reply "She's down at the water's edge right now."
Sarra spotted the ships getting closer and closer out on the horizon. But something was just off. She wasn't sure why, but something just seemed like it was wrong. Until she realized the direction of the enemy ships. They wouldn't bring barges with catapults on them to try and make it up the river to Corus. It would be plain stupid. Instead, Sarra realized, they were going to Port Cyann. "Why is Port Cyann so important?" She asked "I mean, it's good and all, but none of the royal family is there, and it doesn't seem likely for that to be a target."
"I know," Numair responded "But the enemy does some crazy things, and it's up to Myles to figure out what all they are doing."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm not exactly an amateur at fighting. I'm just not a big fan of the timing." Sarra said. Turning to Percy, she asked "Do you mind, you know, doing some of your watery stuff once the ships get closer. I'm gonna be a little preoccupied, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping."
To her surprise, Percy nodded in agreement. "I'd like to finally use some of my water powers again. I'm getting rusty." He said with a slight tome of mockery in his voice. "So what is Wise Girl going to do?"
Sarra looked over at Annabeth, whose blond hair was whipping in the sea breeze. "Whatever you want to do, Annabeth. I'm not really sure what fits you best."
Annabeth sighed, and Sarra was afraid that she had hit a nerve. Annabeth looked at the ground, somber, and then perked up. "I'm going to do what children of Athena do best, watch and learn. Now I can witness a battle and pay attention to the types of techniques you use. It'll be fun!" Annabeth said with slightly forced enthusiasm.
Sarra let out a small yelp as a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She turned around to see her Aunt Alanna standing there, looking formidable. "Are you ready, Sarra?"
"Do I look ready?" was the reply. "Right now, all I really want to be doing is talking with my friends back home. Instead, I'm supposed to be here fighting against some stupid ships. So no, I'm not ready."
Alanna didn't seem affected by Sarra's curt answer. She understood how it felt to have a short temper. In fact, Alanna was famous for it.
Looking out over the ocean that matched the shade of her eyes, Sarra gauged the distance between her and the ships. "Looks close enough for me," she whispered under her breath. Sarra felt her Gift swirling within her body, and it possessed a type of energy. One that made her want to get out there and demolish those ships in the blink of an eye. According to her father, she had the power to do so, but there was 'no way in Mithros's name' that he was going to show her how. So, Sarra was reduced to having to blow up ships the old fashioned way.
Sarra lifted up her palm to face the ship at the head of the fleet. Forcing some of her Gift through her open palm, she let it streak out of her body in the form of a lightning bolt. She murmured a silent prayer to see that her plan and method of fighting worked. The turquoise fire enveloped the ship and was gone, seeming to have shrunk into the ship itself. Sarra parted her lips, and spoke a word of power. Not as powerful as the one that turned Tristan Staghorn into a tree, but powerful enough for a 13 year-old mage. Ilvesna. On those words, the ship exploded from the inside out. The other 29 ships began to load their catapults with stones, and Sarra knew that this would be a very long day.
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A/N: So, how'd ya like it? Please, please read and review. I like nice reviews, but constructive criticism is accepted. Thank you to all my loyal reviewers!
- Sarra