Quartz

Alliances

It wasn't like Bob hadn't been asked to do something similar before. It wasn't even like he was overly surprised. He was, however, surprised at the distance he had to travel in this particular case. After a routine delivery to a clan on the northern border of the Viridian Labyrinth, a middle-aged Opheodrys Serthis had slithered out of the woods onto the beach and waved at him until he landed.

"Yes?"

The Serthis grinned, and a forked tongue slid from between his teeth. "I have a miSSive for MaStreSS Aoide of Clan Aquaurora. She haS ignored uS long enough."

"Oh." Bob took the letter and scanned the address. "Everything seems to be in order. Shall I wait for a reply?"

"No need. We will wait until the nekSt delivery."

"Delivery of what?" the Sprite asked, but the Serthis had already turned and slithered into the woods. Bob sighed and read the postage again. Even the handwriting reflected the curious accent of the Serthis clan.

It was a longer journey than he had anticipated. He was swept off course passing through the Plaguelands, and captured by a band of clearly hostile Serthis, who nearly burned him alive until he showed them the letter of peace he bore from one of their kin far away. They opened it and read it, much to Bob's consternation, but they let him go, hissing in their own tongue but tending to his immediate needs.

Bob did not have time to recover. He was late, far behind schedule. He dusted himself off and flew as fast as he could, but when he reached the Sea, he faced a dilemma. Should he attempt the long flight across, which was shorter, or go around the edge, where he would have chances to rest briefly and save the mail? A quick glance through his remaining letters sealed it. He would go around.

Each clan along the edge of the Sea welcomed him, and many dragons offered a hearty meal or a tasty cookie. He accepted where he could, but he felt that he could not wait. The last, the very last letter in his satchel, was the one that had saved his life in the Plaguelands. He felt certain that he had to deliver it as soon as possible.

At the very last, he spotted the rocky promontory of Clan Aquaurora. He spiraled down in exhaustion, catching the eye of a patrolling dragon before he suddenly blacked out.

Bob awakened in a cozy cave. "The letter!" he cried, and struggled to get free of the blanket.

An elderly Skydancer shushed him. "It's all right, Bob." She picked up the last letter in his pouch; tattered by wind, smeared by water, stained by blood, but still legible. "I have it."

"Are you Aoide?"

The Skydancer smiled and shook her head slightly. "I'm Quartz. I was mentioned in the letter...oh, you probably didn't read it. I know this Serthis clan. I've visited them several times."

A female Opheodrys Serthis slithered in and hissed something in native Serthis. Quartz responded in the same language, very quietly, and the Serthis nodded and left. She turned back to Bob. "This clan doesn't recognize Beastclan as equals. So I have been very quiet about my relationship with them. But..." she held up the letter. "MaStreSS SalaSarSarin is right. It is time. I will personally deliver this to Aoide. It's best she hear it from me anyway. I'm the one who knows them. And you..." she smiled. "You need to recover your strength. And then you must report back to your headmaster. You should be able to leave tomorrow."

The postman wriggled in protest, but she shushed him. " 'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness' ", she quoted, "but, perhaps, loss of blood and exhaustion. Besides, you've delivered the last letter in your satchel. Rest."

Postman Bob grumbled, but he knew she was right. The old Pearlcatcher would worry, and a pile of letters would be mounding up on his desk, but he needed a break. Just a quick one. Just a short nap...Postman Bob was asleep.

* * *

To MaStreSS Aoide, GreetingS.

It haS come to our attention that you are unaware of the providerS of many of your own alchemical poShunS and herbal tinctureS. A dragon cloSe to you haS been reSponSible for the ordering and payment of theSe productS, and yet you do not know that they come from the SerthiS.

We wiSh to change thiS fact. We offer a temporary ekSchange of knowledge. We will Send a young SerthiS, one who haS proved themSelveS to be of uSe in combat and in poShunS. You will Send a young Dragon, one who haS likewiSe proven their worth. We will learn of each otherS' wayS and ekSchange goodwill, and perhapS, down the ScaleS of time, a more permenant allianSe may be arranged.

If you wiSh to know more of uS than is Shown in thiS miSSive, you need Search no further than your own MaStreSS QuartS, the healer. She knowS uS, from long ago.

MaStreSS SalaSarSarin
SlythSilinS Clan