Here's the first chapter of my WIP, Tales of the Dragon Islands. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 1
Moonlight glinted off the slate
tiles of the rooftops of the city. A lone figure, shrouded in black crouched
low on one of them, surveying the array of buildings that stretched downhill
toward the water. A slight breeze wafted up from the harbor, carrying with it
the scent
of the sea.
The figure sniffed the air and gestured slightly. From out of the shadow of a chimney, another shrouded figure joined the first on the ridgeline of the roof. It also sniffed the air, then pulled the mask down from its face.
Giving a slight smile, it whispered, “Something’s afoot down by the harbor. What is it, Ben?”
The other figure shook its head and held a finger to its masked face.
“Oh come on, who’s going to hear us up here? There’s no one here but us.”
“You there!” a voice cried out. “What are you doing up here?”
Four
figures in polished leather jerkins and gleaming spiked helmets clambered over
the rooftops toward them.
“The Night Watch,” the one called Ben hissed. “Move!”
Together the two black figures glided away. Smaller and more agile than their pursuers, they moved with cat-like quickness, leaping from roof to roof. In seconds, they had left them far behind. Moving to the edge of a roof, they slid down the drainpipe to an alley off a little used side street.
Before they could congratulate
themselves on their escape, strong hands grabbed them and locked them in a
strong embrace.
A
bearded guard looked them over with a smirk. “Gotcha. What was ya doin’ up on
the rooftops. Don’t seem like a fit place fer kids t’ be in the middle of the
night.” With a swift tug, he removed one mask, then the other, revealing the
faces of a girl and boy.
“Aha,
thought so. What might two orphans be doin’ leapin’ about on the rooftops?”
“Why
don’t you get stuffed, Sharfo?” the boy replied. “Don’t you have more important
things to do than go chasing after a couple of kids?”
The
big man laughed. “I might, Benchu. However, Madame Fru sent me to find you. You
are not supposed to be out so late. She is afraid for you and Mailynn. She says
there is something in the air.”
Benchu
waived his hand dismissively. “Aw, what does she know? She’s always getting
‘feelings’. It’s nothing.”
Sharfo
pursed his lips. “Hmmm. That may be, but I have learned to pay more credence to
those feelings than you. Youth is ever quick to scoff at the old, but in the
end, they learn. Experience is a stern teacher.”
He and two members of the Watch escorted the two children through the darkened streets. All the while, Benchu chafed, wanting to head the way they had come, back toward the harbor. Instead, they were marched uphill, deeper into the heart of Dragon Home.
Turning down a side street they arrived in front of a large building. Its façade was somewhat worn and rundown, but not as much as the buildings closer to the harbor. The biting ocean breezes did not reach so far inland. A wide stone staircase led up to a covered portico that spanned the entire front of the building. It must have been grand once, but now it looked shabby and worn down.
Standing
at the top of the stairs was a stern looking old woman. Her black hair was
streaked with gray and drawn back in a bun. She wore a scarlet silk robe,
embroidered with gold thread. Piercing black eyes bored into Ben and Mailynn as
they walked up the stairs. She stood straight and stiff, displaying no need for
the polished bamboo cane she held in her left hand. As the children approached,
heads bowed, her wrinkled face showed no emotion.
“Thank
you, for bringing my little birds home, Captain Sharfu,” her voice creaked,
“Again.”
The
captain bowed low. “It is my honor, Madame, although I must admit that it is
becoming a bit tedious.”
“I understand, Captain, and I am sorry. When birds fly, sometimes their wings must be clipped.” The old woman sighed and turned to the children. “But I have been hesitating to do so with these two. I had hoped they would learn some restraint.”
Captain
Sharfu snorted. “Perhaps, you should move them to a stronger cage.”
Madame
Fru sighed and shook her head. “Ah well, children are not birds after all. They
will follow their own path. These two will ever strive to fly, even though
logic says they cannot.
“I have taken you
and your men away from your duties enough for one night. Thank you again,
Captain.”
Captain Sharfo
bowed again. “Safeguarding children is part of our duty, Madame Fru.
Once the sun sets, all citizens of Dragon Home are the responsibility of the
Night Watch--even two young fledglings such as these. I am only thankful that
the rest of your orphans are not as determined to fly the coop.”
He and his men
bowed once more and headed back down the street. Ben watched as they were
swallowed by the darkness.
He
turned. Madame Fru studied them with an icy stare. “Come, youngsters. We must
talk.”
