Crystal Valley Part II

Max sat in the wagon beside her pets, the sun high in the sky. Epona pranced happily down the road, Cackle sung in his dragon voice and Malto lay sleeping in the back of wagon. Max whistled along with Cackle’s song. She was almost home. She hadn’t met a soul as she returned to Lords Cove. She had been hoping she’d would see Jack again. She liked his smile and the way he looked at her.

Max shook her head to rid herself of such thoughts and began to mentally count how many Adus she had saved up.

Only five Adus? Oh that’s right. I got Epona shoed four weeks ago. I had two left after that. I should have seven. I think I need to have a talk with Havi about this.

You’re getting ripped off by this Havi? Tsk, tsk.

Max jumped at the new voice. She looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. She hadn’t recognized it. Then with a shrug of her shoulders she turned her attention to her thoughts.

Hey! Don’t leave, I wish to have a ride. Where are you heading?

Lords Cove. That’s where I live.

Sounds exciting. Can I come?

I don’t even know you or see you for that fact.

A large orange cat jumped into the wagon and sat down, fixing its green eyes on her. Max stared in shock at the cat. Cackle chirped from Epona’s back, also staring at the cat. But with curiosity.

How can a cat speak? Max asked, incredulously.

Actually, to correct you, I must break the news and say I am not a cat. I’m a Dwight.

Max snorted at the name. She found the name of that race entertaining. Dwights were deeply insulted when people laughed at their race.

Did I say something funny? The cats’ eyes narrowed at her.

Max shook her head and continued to stare at the cat. “Then why are you a cat?” she giggled.

I’m stuck in this form thank-you very much. You think I like it like this? I almost got eaten last night by an owl.

“Didn’t someone ever tell you cats are hard to turn into? Jeez, everyone knows that.”

In fact, they’re very easy to turn into. It’s the turning back part which people could have difficulties with.

“Oh.” Max dragged the word. “Can you talk aloud? When I speak with my mind, everything seems to buzz.” She doubted the cats words. “I’ve heard of talking cats.”

“I’m not a cat.”

“And I’m not a girl.”

“No need to be rude. I already explained everything to you and I’m not doing so again.”

“Fine. What’s your name?” Max laughed. She was going to play along with the cats story. If he wanted to pretend he was a Dwight, fine by her.

“It’s not funny. My name is Jo-Jo…Stop laughing because it isn’t funny!”

“I still think it’s funny Jo,” giggled Max. “Especially an angry kitty.”

“Think what you want,” Jo huffed. “Do you have a place where I can stay?”

“No. Well my house, but I don’t know if Havi will allow me to have another pet,” Max responded. She gestured to Cackle, Epona and Malto. “As you see, I already have three. Besides, I wouldn’t want a person living with me.”

“I’m a Dwight in a cat form. I could easily act like a cat. It isn’t hard. All they do is eat, sleep and poo,” Jo-Jo replied. He glanced back at Malto. “But it wouldn’t chase me, would it?”

Max snorted with laughter. “He won’t. But…Fine. I’ll let you live in the house. You can sleep in my room and you just keep trying to turn back into a human, okay kitty? But you need to got out every morning and I’ll leave my window open just a bit,” she explained. “Does that work for you?”

“Of course fair lady. You’re too kind.”

Max looked side long at the cat. “Just don’t speak in front of my mother. She’ll get a bit upset,” Max said. “Oh and my name is Maxenne but please call me Max.:

“It’s a pleasure Max,” Jo said. He lay down and closed his eyes. “But I can speak with your friends? I was quite talkative as a human. I don’t think that should change.”

“Of course my dear shape-shifter. Come on Epona!” Max called to the horse. The mare started into a slow lope and soon they were all at the gate.

*******

“Maxenne! Your cat just took a hunk out of my lamb that I was going to put into my stew!” Havi screeched from the kitchen.

Max ground her teeth together. It was only a week later and it seemed every hour Havi seemed to be having troubles with Jo, who seemed to be in everything. He just had to snoop around. He was to curious for his own good.

She stood up and marched into the kitchen. She found Jo trapped in a corner, Havi towering over him.

“Jo, you bad cat!” She said, in a dull voice. Jo flicked his ears back and crouched down.

“Give it a good smack,” Havi said, returning to the fireplace where her stew was sitting. “Then it’ll learn not to touch my meat.”

Don’t smack me. I promise I won’t do it again.

You promise? I wouldn’t smack you anyways.

Yes.

Try not to get into things. I’m getting very tired of this woman shouting at me all the time.

“Next time. But I’m sure he won’t do it again Havi,” Max reassured her mother.

“It better not. Or it’s out the door,” Havi said, stirring her stew. “Or worse. I’ll kick him back out into the forest where the hawks and wolves can eat him.”

“How kind,” Jo muttered.

Havi spun around, spoon in hand. “Did that cat just say something?” she demanded.

“No! He was just making noises…because he has…hairballs in his throat,” Max responded quickly.

“Okay. But I swear he said how kind. I’m getting old. Hearing things.” Havi shook her head and continued to stir her stew.

Max sighed in relief and returned to her room, hanging onto the cat.

“That was to close Jo. To close,” she said, tossing him onto the bed.

“I’m sorry. But I was hungry and there are no mice in this house at all,” Jo complained, shaking himself.

“Cackle catches them all,” Max replied, staring out the window.

“I know that look. You’re thinking of a certain dragon…rider?” Jo said. Then in a sing song voice he said, “Someone’s in love!”

Max spun around to face the cat. “Who…did Cackle tell you about Jack?” she demanded.

Jo nodded. “Yes. He gave you money to buy that soap that your vain dragon adores so much,” he responded.

Max had to laugh. “Yes, Cackle is very vain,” she responded. “I want to leave Jo.”

“And go where?”

“Duniden. That’s where I was born. I hate Lords Cove. But I bet you all my coins that Havi will come up with another excuse so I can’t leave. Probably soon. I can sense it,” Max answered. “She did it when I was sixteen.”

“So what are you going to do to prevent this excuse from coming forth?” Jo inquired, starting to lick his paw.

“There is nothing I can do Jo. My mother said when I turn twenty I can leave. But that’s next year in Januarus,” Max said.

“But why twenty?”

“I don’t know. Havi just doesn’t want me to----” Max was cut off by the sound of a strident horn.

“What was that?!” yelped Jo, dashing under the bed. He peered out from under the blankets, his green eyes darting everywhere.

“A war. Langs are attacking,” Max responded. She stuck her head out the window and whistled. Malto and Cackle came immediately. Cackle zoomed through the open window and into her hair. Malot leaped through and sat obediently beside her bed.

“Maxenne dear!” Havi cried. Max slammed the window shut and turned around.

“Yes mother?” Max asked as Havi opened the door.

“War dear. Oh I see your animals are already in,” Havi said. “I want you to hide underneath your bed.”

“I’m not hiding,” Max snapped, stubbornly. “I want to do something.”

“Dear, you can’t do anything.”

“I can fight. I believe every able bodied person in this village should fight and that is what I am going to do,” Max replied.

“You can’t. You don’t know how,” argued Havi. She put her hands on her hips and stared at her rebellious daughter. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret dear.”

“That’s what you think.” Max dropped onto all fours and scooted under her bed. She pulled open a loose floorboard and pulled out a bow and quiver full of arrows. She crawled back out and showed them to her mother. “See.”

“Where in the world did you get those?!” screeched Havi, staring at the weapons.

Max gave her a puzzled smile. “Father. Before he fell ill. He taught me how to use them when I was nine and I’ve practiced ever since.” She dashed out of the room, Malto and Cackle right behind her.

She ran outside and saw that the Langs, once again, had come from the beach. “Why don’t they put up a wall there Cackle?” she asked the dragon as he settled onto her arm. He shrugged. Max grinned and strung her bow. She took an arrow and notched it to her bow. Pulling the arrow and string back, she aimed at a Lang. She was about to release when Cackle nuzzled her cheek.

Putting her arms down she looked at the dragon. “What?” He cocked his head to the side, a piece of leather in his mouth. “Oh! Thank-you so much Cackle!” She set the weapons down and took the leather. She put it onto her wrist to protect the skin from being pinched by the string. She gave the dragon another thank-you and grabbed the bow and arrow. Pulling the string tight she aimed once again. This time the arrow was flying and buried its head into a Lang, killing it.

Max raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t realized she was that good. She picked up another and aimed at the front Lang who was chasing a little girl. She let it go and got the Lang in the neck, above the armour and below the helmet. Max grinned and continued to fire off arrows till she was out.

“Now you’re out. So please come in dear,” Havi begged from the door. “Before you get hurt.”

“Not quite.” Max silently spoke to Cackle in her mind and the dragon whizzed off to collect the arrows.

“Where is he going?” demanded Havi.

“To retrieve my arrows. I haven’t had so much fun in years…except when I took the fish to the market last week. That was fun.” Max smiled at the memory.

“You didn’t tell me something funny happened last week,” Havi replied.

“Oh.” Max watched Cackle, telling him to be careful as he avoided Langs. “Well, it’s not important anyways.”

“Tell me dear, I’m curious.”

Max sighed in resignation. “When we were on our way to Avalon we met a dragon and her rider. His leg was trapped underneath a log and the dragon was stuck in the trees… well her wings were. They kept arguing. I thought it was quite amusing. She had gotten stuck helping him,” she explained. Her little bronze flew up, seven arrows clutched tightly in his front paws. She had lost three. “Thanks Cackle.”

“And that was funny?” Havi put her hands on her hips, looking sternly at her daughter.

Max rolled her eyes expressively. “If you were there you would have thought it was funny…Maybe. Then the rider asked me to tell his friend, who was in Avalon, to come help him. So I did,” Max answered, firing off an arrow.

“Did you see this rider who was trapped under this log?”

“No. The Forest was dark. It always is in the morning. But on my way back I saw where they were stuck. His friend was quite nice. Well very nice…and handsome,” Max responded, sheepishly.

“Dear! I don’t want you talking to those men again. Ever! They were probably ten years older than you. Most dragonriders nowadays are old. Besides the fact they’re all strange,” Havi advised.

“Nope. These two were young. I know this for a fact. Jack and Charlie are my age. I heard it from two old women who know someone who lives in Crystal Valley.”

“Dear, I just want what’s best for you,” Havi said.

“What?” Max questioned, confused. She shot the bow off and missed her target.

“Yes dear. I want to tell you something. I----” Havi was interrupted by the bugle of a dragon.

Max looked up. Help was here at last. She was thankful for the dragons and their riders. They gave her hope and she loved the sight of a dragon. These two were young, like the bronze and brown she had seen. One was a shiny leaf green. The sun made her scales sparkle like emeralds. The other was a gleaming black. The sun seemed to reflect light off the dragons, oval shaped scales.

The black landed down and roared at the Langs, who turned and scattered. Its rider was a young man with light brown hair that had a tint of red in it. The greens’ rider was a young woman with dirty blonde hair.

The green landed down beside the black and the riders seemed to be figuring out the situation. The woman nodded her head. She patted her dragon and the green returned to the sky.

The black opened its wings but never flapped them. It growled and snapped at a Lang that got to close to its nose. The rider slid to the ground, the dragon nudged its rider and waddled off to kill Langs.

The rider drew his sword and attacked the Langs on foot. A hand grabbed Max’s shoulder . She turned, terrified, and faced her mother.

“Sorry for scaring you dear,” Havi said, seeing her terrified face. “But we should go into the house before we’re seen.” Max followed reluctantly but not before she sent Cackle to retrieve her arrows.

Max watched from the kitchen window. She hated doing this, but she knew her mother was right. She wasn’t to much of a warrior but she enjoyed helping in the battles. Unfortunately, Havi and Thidon didn’t approve of her fighting. They thought it was much unladylike. When she was younger she had been caught practising her sword moves with an older boy. They had been using wooden swords. She was forbidden to do it again. But her skills with a bow and sword never faded. Nobody knew she practised, except Karak and her pets.

“How did you learn to use a bow?” Havi demanded, breaking through her thoughts.

“I taught myself?”

“When? How? Why?” Havi questioned in a unnecessary loud voice.

“A couple years ago well father taught me. I told you that. Easy, I practiced. And why? Just in case. I don’t plan on being a helpless git all my life.” Max continued to watch the dragons and all their graceful movements. They moved so easily through the air and the rider moved perfectly with her dragon.

“A helpless git?”

“Yes. I don’t plan on it,” Max responded. She then noticed a large group of Langs come running towards her house, swords and torches in hand. “Um…Havi? There are some Langs heading this way. Perhaps to, I don’t know, kill us?” She backed away from the window, positive they were coming to their house.

Cackle get a dragons or a dragonriders attention please! There are Langs coming this way and I have no arrows left. Now would be nice Cackle!

“Havi help might be coming. Just wait.” Max reassured. She watched her little bronze dragon drop her arrows and go racing off to wherever help may be.

“Dear, how so? Everyone is busy fighting,” Havi pointed out. Max could see the fear on her mothers face.

“Just be patient mother.”

Right when the words were spoken, there came a loud bang on the door. Havi gave a squeal and jumped backwards from the door, bumping into a kitchen chair. Jo came running out of Max’s bedroom.

“Are we going to die or is help coming?” He inquired. His voice sounded hopeful but Max knew he was afraid. Everyone was.

Havi stared at the cat and fainted. Max rolled her eyes in annoyance. Her mother was an odd one. She shook her head and returned to her room. She lifted the floorboard up and pulled out a thin sword and its scabbard.

She sighed and walked back into the kitchen, pulling the shining blade from its sheath. The orange cat stared at her and laughed.

“Can you even use that thing? And how can you lift it?” he chortled.

“Yes I can and it is light. But the steel is strong,” Max responded.

The wooden door finally gave way under the pounding and fell onto the floor, letting a large ugly Lang in.

“Ah!” Max screeched. She swung her sword at the Lang. Some Langs wore armour and some wore none. Fortunately, this one did not. The sharp edge caught the Lang in its unprotected chest. It fell backwards and Max plunged the sword into its chest. Just as it died another came leaping in, sword raised to kill. It brought it down at Max but she swiftly blocked the attack and stumbled backwards under the blow.

She quickly recovered and chopped off the Langs’ arm. It roared in pain and swung its sword sideways at her. She hopped backwards and the sword hit the stew pot. The fire hissed and dimmed down as the stew sloshed over the sides of the pot.

Max stabbed the Lang in the stomach and it slid to the floor. Max sighed and wiped her brow. She was sweating from fear and the work of the fight. She glanced at the mess in her mothers kitchen and gave out a bitter laugh.

“Oh dear. Havi’s going to have a conniption fit when she sees this,” she said to no one.

Suddenly she heard footsteps coming and faced the door, sword ready. Her breathing came in great heaves and she grew nervous. But the somebody who came to her door was not who she expected.

The young dragonrider ran up, out of breath. He looked at her and smiled. He nodded his head and his glance to the dead Langs on the floor.

“Good job,” he said. His breathing was laboured and he stood there panting.

“How did you know I needed help?” Max asked, even though she knew the answer.

“You dragon,” the man replied. Cackle flew up and landed on his outstretched arm. “Did you ask him to tell me?”

“I told him to get help. Thank-you for coming,” Max responded.

The dragonrider nodded and gestured to Havi. “Is she okay?”

“She fainted because of Jo.” Max pointed to the cat.

Jo looked up from his paw. “What are you all staring at?” he asked.

“A talking cat? She fainted because of a talking cat?”

“He’s a shape-shifter. Well that’s what I was told. I’m not too sure it’s true, but…look out!” Max screamed.

The dragonrider raised his sword just in time to block an attack from a Lang a few feet taller than him and probably three times stronger than him. The Lang pushed all his strength toward the dragonrider, crushing him into the wall that surrounded the town. The young man tried to shove the Lang off him with all his strength but was failing.

Max saw the pain creep onto the man’s face as the Lang knocked him against the wall. Cackle attacked the Lang’s head but the monster swatted him away, sending him spinning into the house wall. Max struck the Lang’s armoured back, the metal ringing. It barely glanced at her. It turned back to the dragonrider and placed a large black hand on his throat, cutting off his breath. He then turned to Max and pushed her into the house with great strength. She stumbled backwards and hit her head on the table, dazing her. The Lang turned back to the dragonrider and slammed him into the wall again, this time knocking his remaining breath from him.

The dragonrider let his sword go and put his hands on the Langs’ big wrist, attempting to pull it off. He began to gasp for breath and he felt weak but he still tried to get the Lang off him by kicking it with his legs. The Lang smiled with pleasure and squeezed his throat harder. Just as the Lang went to smash him into the wall again, Max ran up to it.

“Oh no you don’t!” she shouted, angrily. She swung her sword up and sliced the Lang’s arm off.

It turned on her, dropping the dragonrider, but she stabbed beneath the arm where the armour didn’t reach. As the Lang slid off the blade of her sword, she rushed to the dragonrider’s side.

“Are you okay?” she asked, kneeling down beside him.

He nodded and placed a shaking hand on his red throat. “Th-thanks. I-I’m fine,” he said, trying to get his breath back.

“You’re welcome. Are you sure you’ll be alright? I can get you some water,” Max said, worried.

He shook his head, chest heaving. “I’m fine. Thank-you.”

Max held out her hand and he took it, getting to his feet. She patted him on the shoulder, picked up his sword and handed it to him. He took it and she turned around but he took her hand. She turned back to him and smiled.

“I can’t thank-you enough. You-you…” he faltered. He let go of her hand and looked at the ground.

“It’s all right. You’re sure you’re not hurt? You got thrust into that wall pretty hard,” Max asked.

“Just a little bruised probably, but I’m fine,” the man replied, looking back at her.

“Aunidan? Are you over there?” inquired a woman’s voice. “Mapth is worried about you.”

“I’m fine!” he called back.

“What’s wrong?” the woman asked, running up. She stopped and stared at Max, then at her bloody sword, then to the Langs and over to Aunidan.

“Hi Eneyla. I told you I’m fine,” he responded. “Is the war over already?”

“Yes. What happened over here?” Enelya demanded.

“Uh…her…she…” Aunidan stammered.

“What happened to the other Langs? I swear there was around fifteen heading this way,” Max interrupted.

Aunidan smiled. “I killed all but three. But you killed them. She saved me. First she warned me then she killed the Lang…that was…” he said, rubbing his throat. “Yea, well…”

“I’m Enelya and this is my friend and fighting companion Aunidan. I thank you for saving his life. He’s like a younger brother to me,” Eneyla said, messing up the mans hair.

“I’m Maxenne. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Max replied, curtsying.

Enelya grinned. “Jack told us about you. Helped Charlie and Ranth out of a tight spot. Charlie also happened to mention you found it funny the way they argued with each other,” she laughed.

“Well it kinda was,” Max responded, flushing.

The two dragonriders laughed merrily. “It’s all right. Well, I thank-you again for helping Auni,” the woman said.

“It was nothing,” Max replied, her face still a deep pink. “Oh thank-you Aunidan for killing those Langs.”

“It was nothing,” Aunidan said, winking. “You need any help cleaning your house. It looks like a mess.” He glanced over her shoulder at the messy kitchen.

Max followed his gaze. “Naw. I think I can handle it,” she responded, looking back at them.

“You sure? I…I mean we don’t mind helping,” Aunidan stammered, after a nudge from Enelya.

“Thanks for the offer but I must refuse it. I’m sure I can handle it…I have three helpers anyways,” Max acknowledged. Then as an after thought she added, “Besides, you don’t want to be around when Havi wakes up.”

“Ok. Well I guess we best go talk to Lord Thidon,” Eneyla replied.

Max coughed. “Good luck. He’s one crabby ass,” she said.

Aunidan muffled his laughter with a hand. Eneyla bit her lip as not to laugh. “All right. Hopefully we see you again,” she managed to say.

“I hope so too. All of you,” Max responded, with a smile. “You’re better company than the people here.”

The two smiled and walked away with a good bye. Cackle flew up and landed on her shoulder with a small croon.

“Hey bud. Where’s Malto? He can help us drag these Langs out.”

Cackle trilled and Malto trotted up. Max looked at Cackle. “He listens to you more than me,” she huffed. “Okay, Malto take hold of this Lang and I’ll take this one.”

Malto did as he was told. He grabbed the Langs arm and dragged the great monster out into the centre of town. Max dragged the second out and before she could get the third, Malto was dragging it out.

“Good boy! All right you want a treat? There is stew all over the place…and blood. Both of you go help Jo clean it up.”

Her animals began licking up the nasty mess in the kitchen. Cackle and Jo refused to touch the Lang blood. Malto took a few licks but returned to the stew. Max scrubbed the floor and then cleaned her sword on a rag before returning her weapons to the floor board.

She then continued to clean up the kitchen. She picked up the pot, cleaned up the table, and the stew her animals missed. Soon she was done, but the door was still broken.

“Well guys, I guess we should wake Havi. Jo back to my room and don’t show yourself,” Max ordered.

“Fine,” the cat huffed. He trotted out of the room and back into Max’s room, tail flicking.

Max squatted down beside her mother and gently shook her shoulder. “Havi, wake up. It’s over and we’re safe…For now.”

Havi’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up quickly. “What happened?” she demanded.

“You fainted when the Langs attacked the house,” Max lied.

Havi shook her head. “No. I swear your cat was talking. I don’t even remember the Langs coming,” she responded.

“That happens sometimes when one faints. But look at the door, it’s wrecked,” Max replied, helping her mother to her feet. “Besides, cats don’t talk.”

“Oh I suppose you’re right. What happened to the Langs?”

“A dragonrider killed them. He helped us out. He was very kind.” Max paused and then added, “To bad Murcia doesn’t have any more dragons.”

“Dear, I’m glad we have dragons and their riders who help us out but it’s the farmers and the fishermen who feed those people. I don’t want your meddling around with dragonriders. You can’t trust them.”

“What?! Oh forget it. I’m not going to argue with you. I know what’s right and what’s wrong,” Max snapped. She shook her head and went outside to help.