SOLO III
Demon World
Part 041
Guzzler climbs down the rope ladder. Once in
the boat Captain split climbs up. On deck he smiles at Gail and
Ada. "It's been a true profit." He half bows, and half
gestures toward the rope ladder. "Guzzler will take you to your
new accomidations."
At this point Uncle has rolled out of the look out
nest and is climbing down the rope ladders to the boat. He's
climbing down with one hand. Not too fast, but nimble. As
he passes by the captain Uncle's hand with the glove, and the dragon
heart is visible. But the captain is looking at Gail and Ada for
the last time, trying to save the image. Uncle gets in the boat
facing the same way as Guzzler and in front of him.
Gail and Ada climb down the rope ladder. They
sit in the back of the boat, facing Uncle and Guzzler directly.
Guzzler uses an oar to push off from the ship. He picks up the
other oar from where it lays on the bottom of the boat, and drops both
into the oarlocks. Leaning forward and pulling with his back he
rows away.
Gail and Ada can see where the boat is going.
Uncle and Guzzler are facing them. The boat bobs and rolls a
little as waves pass under it.
"I'm gonna speak openly, in front of Guzzler, while
we have this breif moment in the boat." Uncle sits forward on the
seat resting his elbows on his knees and holding his chin in his palms,
fingers running up alongside his face, like he's examining Gail and
Ada. "Gail, did it ever occure to you that you don't know how to
make gunpowder?" He waits for an answer.
Gail says "Yes, but Cookpot showed us. It was
easy. He had the cookbook right there. Besides, I've made
potions before."
"Yes." Uncle says. "Both you and Ada
have made potions. Magical ones. Not Chemical.
Gunpowder is based on natural science, not magic. All your
training is magical. You know nothing of mechanics, mathematics,
or chemistry."
"I didn't have a problem with the absence of
incantations, and words or names. All the components for the
powder had active ingredients. They just need to be mixed at the
right temperatures and proportions" replys Ada.
"I'm not saying you don't know chemistry. It's
obvious you know chemistry now. Active ingredient?
Temperature? These are chemical terms. I didn't teach them
to you. Most people take years to learn how to make gunpowder
without blowing themselves up. Yet you and Ada did it so
effortlessly you don't even remember not knowing chemistry
before." Uncle pauses waiting for a response.
Gail and Ada just look at Uncle, not sure what to
say. Guzzler is still rowing, pretending not to listen. The
boat rocks side to side as waves come in from the left side and pass
underneath.
"Come now Gail. You yourself are a
teacher. Who taught you Chemistry?"
"Cookpot did." She says. Then her brow
furrows. "In one day."
Uncle sits up and smiles. "Right. Your
dragon mind is blank except for the hand to hand fighting talents it
already had. Both of you must be carefull now in what new talents
you aquire. You will only be able to learn so many instantly like
this, then your dragon mind will be full, and you will take years again
like anyone else."
Guzzler has stopped rowing for one stroke. He
realizes it and starts rowing again. While rowing he just looks
down at his own seat hiding his eyes from Gail and Ada.
Uncle continues. "I want you to grasp the
power of this so you don't use it lightly. You can learn to sword
fight in a day. To fence in two. But then your dragon mind
would be nearly full. That would take Guzzler here about six
years of study." Uncle shifts his weight putting both hands on
the seat.
"We are going to be ambushed on our new ship, The
Triangle. Three elders have arranged it. So I want you to
be ready. Now. You're going to have to kill a couple of
people." Uncle continues. "Just agree with everything they
say. Answer any questions honestly and openly. Like we are
talking now in front of Guzzler." Uncle pauses, takes a breath,
and draws himself up a bit. "But kill anyone who touches
me. Or you. They probably won't touch you. They'll
try to have me hauled off in chains first. Before doing anything
to you." Uncle puts his hands on his knees. "But if you
kill anyone who touches me, the elders will stop trying. And
they'll be forced to negotiate with us. Because of our
power. So the more spectacular the spell the better."
Guzzler is still rowing. He's looking at Gail
and Ada, a puzzled expression on his face. Curious, yet doubtful.
Uncle sits and waits. His hands resting on his
knees.
Gail says "You taught me the wrath of the
wizards. I can make it look like anything I want. Even an
emotional expression, like fires of hate or the light of justice.
I can do it."
Ada looks to Gail then thinks a moment. "I can
still throw lightning. And my dragon has healed a tiny bit.
I can feel the extra power there. I believe I can drop quite a
thunderclap on someone."
The conversation is over. Guzzler rows on for
a while. Finally he says something. "You won't have to kill
anyone anyway. They won't ambush you. You were traded
fairly. Besides, it all sounds crazy to me. Dragon brain,
what ever that means."
Uncle replies to Guzzler without turning to face
him. "That would be fine Guzzler." The boat is nearing a
ship. It's lit by lanterns and has one mast. It looks sleek
and fast. Uncle casts spell sheild on himself. Then on Gail
and Ada. With all the strength of his dragon to draw on he can
maintain it for a long while.
After this Uncle speaks to Guzzler again. "But
I don't intend to let them take one hair from our heads."
Guzzler says to Uncle. "That might be a
problem. It just might."
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