Chapter 16: Back to the Beach

Heindel snapped into action, ordering his brothers to help him in locking up the prisoners in the submarine’s brig. Maid Madelyn said nothing further, her anger siphoned from her by the High Prince’s wise and emotional pronouncement. She could no longer allow her own emotions to rule her when his majesty had lost so much more and yet chosen mercy. Even the usually unflappable Flindee was subdued by the grief and pain of those around him.

Soon the prisoners were secured, not only the three who were captured in the submarine, but Captain Claw and his pirates who had been defeated in the mechanism room by Vonkar and the sea serpents. There was not enough room in the small holding cell of the submarine, but the heroes made good use of rope to bind them all until they reached King Balderdash’s kingdom.

At last the inventors had the submarine back in order and ready to depart. Everyone boarded and the sea serpents guided the submarine back through the underwater tunnels and out to the open sea. Papa and Mama had insisted on escorting them at least as far as the surface of the island where Prince Nathan desired to reunite with Chrysolis and return home as quickly as possible.

The sea serpents, and their eight-legged attack “fish” would keep the pirate attack ships away while the Prince disembarked with the help of Coralee and Anna Monee who would swim him to the beach. (The two little sea dragons wanted to say hello to their great aunt Chrysolis and since they were both so upset about the loss of the Princess, the elder sea serpents granted their wishes in spite of the dangers of the battle above.) Once the submarine and the prince had safely departed Skull Rock Bay, the serpents would return to their lair and allow the pirate factions to continue their conflict over a prize that they would never claim.

Of course, Nathan’s friends would not hear of letting him fly off all alone without a proper farewell after all they had been through together, and so it was that the prince found himself on the beach, not alone, but accompanied by two little sea serpents, a Viking warrior, a jester and his puppet, a bare-chested inventor, and even a woodland warrior-maiden.

The prince had tried to dissuade most of them from coming, especially those who had come with his sister on her quest. In his grief for his sister, the last thing he wanted was to be surrounded by a bunch of people, especially ones that reminded him of her. But it was no use. Frangen seemed to be struggling with his own guilt over his failing to protect Nataleigh and begged to serve the prince until the bitter end. Maid Madelyn was as stubborn and ready for a fight as Vonkar and insisted that if the Viking were going, she should go as well, to see him safely off. Nathan suspected that both of the warriors were secretly hoping for more battle on the beach, but at this point he no longer cared.

Let them have their silly little battles and songs of great deeds, he thought. I’m done. If something starts, they’re on their own!

But the prince was wrong about Vonkar at least. The Viking had changed since the prince had first met him on Stormwatch Mountain. As they walked out of the water and onto the sand of the beach, the Viking did not even glance toward the tree line or scan the beach for pirates. The Vocal Viking was silent and had even left his axe strapped to his back. Nathan began to wonder if the Northern warrior had finally learned that not all battle was glorious.

In reality, none of the prince’s companions were very talkative. Whether it was that they all understood his need to be left alone with his thoughts, or that they all had been changed by this misadventure, Nathan did not know nor care. He was just content to know that they were all leaving him alone.

All, that is, except Flindee, of course. The Jester was the only one unchanged by all that had happened. Even now he and Q were carrying on conversation with Anna Monee about the care and feeding of giant squishy-fishes. Though Anna Monee was trying to talk in hushed tones (because her cousin was quick to remind her about the prince’s feelings), Flindee carried on in his typical carefree manner as though they were all having a Sunday picnic without a care in the world. The Jester had become quite enamored with the idea of having his very own pet octopus and he and Q were now arguing about housing the creature in Bouldergold castle’s courtyard pond. Anna Monee giggled in spite of herself as she listened to them, trying to make them understand that an octopus wouldn’t survive in a freshwater pond. Coralee rolled her eyes at them as she scanned the sky for her aunt.

It didn’t take long. Before they had taken more than a few steps in the sand Chrysolis appeared in the sky descending toward them. Gracefully she spread her blue wings and landed before Nathan.

The prince ran to her and threw his arms around her neck. “How are you, Chrys? Did you get hurt at all while we were gone?”

The dragon shook her head and rumbled deep in her chest. “Of course not. As if these little dwarf sea rats could scratch me. They were too busy running in fear. As you can see there are none left on the beaches to bother us.”

Their reunion was suddenly interrupted by the excited approach of Coralee and Anna Monee.
“Aunty Chrysolis!” they both shouted throwing themselves on the great purple dragon. Chrysolis was quite taken by surprise to see them but threw her great forelegs around them both.

“Well, hello!” she greeted. “And who are these two young sea dragons? They couldn’t possibly be my nieces, Coralee and Anna Monee. Why they’re no more than hatchlings!”
The girls giggled.

“I thought I saw your mother and father in the bay. Are you all well?”
Nathan interrupted.

“Wait a minute. You mean you knew Papa and Mama the whole time?” he asked. “Why didn’t you tell me they were friendly, Chrys?”

“I was not allowed to interfere or counsel, by order of your father, only to assist and protect. But I knew that you were in no real danger from my brother’s son and his wife.”

She turned to look at Vonkar.

“Besides, I thought one of you might need to learn a thing or two about assumptions and judging those who are different then you.”

Vonkar actually blushed under the dragon’s gentle reprimand and cleared his throat, but said nothing.

Chrysolis looked from the Viking to the others and asked, “So I assume your quest was a success, but I do not see the Princess Nataleigh.”

Everyone dropped their eyes to the sand and nothing was said in reply. Chrysolis looked confused and then concerned.

“Nate, what has happened? Is your sister safe?”