The Legends of Khrystia: The Journey Begins (Sampler)

Chapter One

1223 AE, 1st era.

The Azure Gem, a newer airship built from well crafted cedar timber. Little scuffs and newer patches showing her old wounds from the near decade of service she provided. Powerful oak beams supported the ship. Her sails flapped in the strong wind. It had picked up in the last hour and now the aviators were scrambling around the deck to tie the sails back down. Shouting orders came from the executive officer on deck who was currently redder than normal, and not just because he was a Blazeflare. The fire drakhen XO was clearly fuming with frustration at the laziness of the crew.

Kaptein Skycutter could understand, he was a little disappointed himself. He and Pyro had been lenient recently, but the current mission was very important. The crew knew to listen well, but there was no excuse for letting things get out of hand. Here he stood on the cliff hanging docks high above the ocean. The salty air hit him like a welcoming aroma.

His sharp falcon like eyes gazed over his ship. The airship's narrow design was much like a bird of prey. It was narrow, yet buffered in its strong points to cut through the wind easily. Just behind the midsection were extended platforms that swept back slightly like a bird preparing to dive for its prey. The wings mainly served to act as stabilizers, but they also were attached to the main mast to be used with the sails. The sails were not the main form of movement however, more so a backup or energy conserver. The back of the ship was home to the steam engine that powered the three, large, four bladed, fans that propelled her. The Azure Gem was a cutter, the ship was designed to strike hard and fast, not to stay in a fight and slug it out with her foes. She only had four runic ballista on either side, with a flamethrower in the ship's figurehead, which was designed to look like a screaming eagle.

Skycutter prided himself with having a good crew who were as perceptive as an eagle. They all had to be good at spotting their foe, for getting the drop on their enemies was what won them their many victories and paychecks. It was at this the Air Kaptein swelled his chest with pride, that for his ship, and his crew.

"Sir," an aviator ran up, stopping several paces from Skycutter, and threw him a crisp salute. "We've got word that the Oracle's party is running late. However the Consul is here and wants to see you."

Skycutter saluted the aviator and dismissed him. He turned and strode off the dock. The scent of the ocean would not leave, he would return. The forest was being used as a natural storage area. Making it difficult for scouts and spies to locate them. He shifted his wings, fixed his ugly green scarf. Really it did not clash with his brown and white scales and feathers, but his wife made it for him as a going away present and he aimed to please her. That and it was a reminder of home, so he didn't see a reason to remove it. It kept him warm up in the air.

The officers cabin was noisy as he approached. He opened the door and saw the Consul sitting on his haunches in the corner, drinking brandy, and laughing with the local Army Korps officers.

"Ah, there's the privateer all the way from the Floating Mountains. How's the weather? Seems we can not take off in this kind of gale!" The Consul shouted loudly and jostled with a laugh, perhaps from some previous joke that was said before.

Skycutter loathed the fat bastard. The Terraroot was a large bolstering bastard from across the sea and was acting as a mutual representative for the Rimesages as well as the United Kingdoms of Vensiir. Problem was he was a thorn to everyone. It was commonly known that even the King of the Rimesages hated the posh noble. Though Skycutter felt bad for the Oracle, she had to put up with him the whole trip while he escorted her home to her father.

"Jovial, my well fed envoy." Skycutter gave his best shit eating grin to the other dragon. The Consuls face, right Oak was his name, flattened a little but he laughed anyway. "I'll assure you this is no gale, merely Mother Nesadeena showing her muscles a slight bit, if this were a real gale the ocean itself would be reaching up the cliff face, and the howling wind would be calling your name even through the safe confines of this fine cabin. And even if it was a gale, we would still be taking off because my crew have flown through much worse, and the Oracle is due back as soon as possible."