Travels with a Yellow Bird Part 4: Leaving Limus

>Last time on Travels with a Yellow Bird

>You arrived at the Dragoon port at Limus and infiltrated the city with the human Jenna in disguise

>You scouted the metropolis gathering info on local culture and military disposition, purchasing supplies and spare parts for your journey across the great sea.

>You attract the attention of a dragon, one who holds the highest authority in the city.

>She has you brought to her home at spearpoint where she beds you in her hoard.

>Human men are discovered on the far side of the island, probably your crew. A great husband hunt is hastily assembled in the city as every aspiring bachelorette seeks to claim a partner.

Time feels distorted as I lay with Milat Ironscale among the tattered and burned remains of her bed. Each session was more intense than the last, with strange treasures pulled from her vast hoard to restore my vitality at every break. I dimly recall hearing cheers and chants and songs outside even through the thick stone walls.

“Grab the nets and take a sack.“

“We’re off to bring us husbands back. “

“Hooks and heavy rope in hand, bravest girls will get a man.”

I can’t remember how long has passed since then. The windowless room gives no hint to the time, and the torches blaze on with what must be some enchantment. Ironscale, finally satisfied, rests in my arms. She presses warmly against my chest and wings wrap my shoulders in a gentle leathery embrace.

I’ve had no chance to truly talk to her before now, her energy driving me into almost an unthinking beast of lust. By the same token, I’m loathe to rouse a sleeping dragon lest she begin again. The decision is snatched from me as an explosion rattles her home. Dust settles from cracks in the ceiling and Milat’s great blue eyes fly open. Was she pretending to sleep?

Ironscale rises, talons crushing a fine golden crown in her grasp. “Who dares attack my home? Guards. Guards! Report!” No one comes. It seems many soldiers abandoned their posts for the hunt. The house shakes again and dust and splinters blow into the hoard from outside. I recognize the sound, cannonfire!

“Stay here my treasure.” She orders as she stalks naked from the room, fire spewing into the air with each infuriated breath. If I was looking for a chance to escape, now is the time.

>Steal some jewels and gold and escape
>Explore the mansion to look for information and documents about the waters ahead
>Wait for Ironscale to return
>Other

I grab the remnants of a sheet and fashion it into a makeshift toga. I wait a few moments to be sure Ironscale is out of earshot and make my way to the door. Ground stone sifts down from the ceiling and cracks widen dangerously as another fusillade assaults the house accompanied by a booming dragon roar. The corridors ahead are abandoned and I find a ring of keys in the guard room just beyond the hoard chamber. "Sloppy, just like Elsa said." I smirk and work my way through the mansion looking for the Dockmaster's main office, the cannonfire now suspiciously quiet. There's baths and gardens, quarters for servants, kitchens, and even a massive library with the roof caved in. I finally find the main office, the door stuck partly ajar by the twisted frame. I squeeze in as carefully as I can. On the other side I'm met with piles of paper, parchment, logs, charts, bills and the center of the main table adorned with a magical map of the sea projected from a crystal pyramid. Large bay windows look out on the dark harbor. It must be the night of the second day. That means the gunfire is my pickup. I scan the harbor, but see no trace of them. There's no burning ship either so that's a good sign.

Finding what I need is what will be the trick here. As I'm digging through the most recent papers, I find manifests for some trade ships heading to the capitol and a couple of charts and quickly stuff them in my curtain belt.

"So this is where you were hiding. I'm so glad. I thought when my bedroom collapsed you might be in there." Ironscale's voice drifts in from behind me. "I knew you had fight in you. Now come back with me and I'll take you somewhere safe. I'll finish dealing with those deserter pirates outside soon enough." An armored gauntlet made of her own scales reaches through the door and a blue eye peers through the crack. She can't fit through with her wings and tail and horns. If she forces the door, that whole section of hallway will collapse.

A few dozen falling stones would only slow down a dragon, but they would certainly end me if the office collapses too.

The office overhangs the water. If I break through the windows I could make it into the harbor. I see a flicker of light through the windows and half a second later, shells strike the house again.

"Come NOW!" Ironscale's commanding voice breaks into a plea.

>Grab the magic map and go for the water
>Go with Ironscale
>Other

I turn my back on her blue eye and grab a small lectern off the floor. My wounds healed from the dragon's ministrations earlier, I have no problem hurling it through the heavy window glass. I snatch the map crystal into my arms and dash for the hole, trying to cover up against shards.

"I'll find you!" Ironscale screams, her voice shrill and edged now. "Nobody steals from an Ironscale! Nobody! Nowhere is safe from a dragon's wrath! When I catch you I'll..."

Her ranting falls on deaf ears as I hit the water below. I flail below the water, trying to swim in heavy gold threaded cloth and only one free hand. The saltwater burns the glass cuts all over my arms and legs.

Sharp strong talons bite into my shoulders and my blood runs cold. I sputter as I reach the surface, stabbing at the claws with the map crystal as hard as I can.

"Cut it out before I drop you, stupid scribe boy." A familiar voice yells down at me, shaking me for emphasis. "Flit." I cry. I could almost kiss her. She struggles to keep us above the waves but keeps us airborne long enough to reach the jungled shore out of town where Stan waits with a longboat.

A great gout of flame shoots from the old office and a terrible screaming roar flies out of the mansion as I see part of the roof collapse when the windjammer in the bay strikes again.

"Time to leave." Stan says in awe as he and I both stroke the oars against the waves with all our strength to the rendezvous with out ship. Flit flies ahead to keep both craft on the same course. In the dark, I see old lanterned patrol ships sailing across the water searching for us.

I can't help but laugh when I finally drop my bleeding feet on the deck of our ship. Flit gives me a warm feathered hug. I can't tell if the blood on her secondaries is from me or her own worry. "Stocked and ready to go Captain." She mocks a salute with a golden wing.

The crew gathers round, but I notice there are fewer now. Only seven when there were eleven before. Stan catches the question in my eye. "There were feral slimes in the blasted jungle." He grunts. "Then we heard something worse coming. We had to leave a few behind."

I turn to Flit, she really seems pretty ragged. "What all were you able get?"

She puts on a strong show of energy for me though. "The armory was nice enough to let us in after a little gunpowder diplomacy and Jenna did her job beyond expectations. I trust you did as well?"

I hand her the soaked maps and logs hoping they weren't ruined by the sea. Then I pull out the map crystal, clear glassy form shining in the faint light of the stars.

>Escape into the open sea
>Engage the old wooden garrison patrol boats and destroy them. Hope nothing bigger comes in aid
>Shell the port one last time before leaving
>Other
You now have thirty days worth of supplies, spare parts, various clothes for the crew, and four new cannons and munitions for four major battles including various shot types.


I want to leave, I know it's the smart thing to do. Right now not a single ship blockades the harbor entrance. Running dark we've been lucky to avoid getting spotted as well. I turn it over in my mind as a crewman helps bandage my limbs and I put on some real clothes. The moon will rise soon. Just enough time to hit those bitches one last time and get the hell out of this place. That will teach them men aren't such easy prey. I give the order to Flit to prepare for a full broadside.

A proud look in her eyes shines forth as she primps and smiles, talons clicking on the metal deck. "No need for that. I had a better plan when we hit the armory. You didn't think we could load all the powder that had for the fleet out there did you?" She wraps her wing under my arm and brings me to the railing. "Have a front seat for the show." For several minutes, there's silence across the water except the distant shouting of the patrols. Then the armory explodes. A mushroom-shaped fireball rises from the tons of powder in storage. I'm thrown backward as the shockwave hits the boat. From a couple hundred yards way, my ship still rocks under the force. The entire crew cheers as pieces of rock start to fall into the water like rain. I duck under the belowdecks eave and cheer with them. The fire begins to spread in the port, the whole town catching ablaze. The patrol ships turn back, knowing they need every soldier and sailor to stem the blaze.

My yellow bird leans on my shoulder as rock rain pings on the deck. "Two for two. Aren't crazy long fuse rolls just a hoot?" Flit trills the hoot.

We sail into open waters with a full hold and glad hearts.

>Get some sleep
>Check on the crew
>Check on Flit and the maps
>Check on Elsa

Pick two.


We sail in a bright night, the full moon rising high above us. I stroke the harpy's dirty blonde hair as the waves roll beneath our prow. She looks so tired. "See if you can save those papers Flit. Then take some rest for yourself. I'll be there shortly." A crewman stands at watch in the crow's nest, and another at the wheel as I walk my way to the brig. The rest have already gone below and are in a sound well-deserved sleep. So much has happened. It's hard for me to imagine that just a week ago I was in a cave, doing my lessons on a rock wall with charcoal.

I stop by one of the trunks stuffed with clothes we bought at the market. It’s got a nice plain dress in it cut for a lizardgirl, nothing too flashy and good for everyday wear. I owe Elsa that for taking away all her armor and underarmor. I left her nothing but a coat and some ill-fitting human clothes for the duration. My boots thump on the deck as I approach. Moonlight shines through the small window in the cell, casting Elsa’s face in deep shadow. She picks her head up at the sound of my approach. No guard here. Sloppy, but we have fewer hands now. “Can’t sleep?” I try to ask with some charm. My exhausted voice comes out in a deadpan.

“I thought you might come tonight.” Elsa replies. The silence hangs between us. I open my mouth and she starts before I can speak. "We're sailing beyond the waters I know, at least until I near the homeland. What will you do with me now that I've spent my usefulness?"

"I'm still not sure." I tell her honestly. "But that's not why I'm here. I just thought I owed you a share of the spoils for your information. It helped." Elsa turns her head to the side, I see her eyed is bandaged now. Who knows, it might heal. The old dead eye stares vacantly past me. Elsa's face creases with curiosity as she hears the sound of the fabric brushing against the bars. She reaches out to touch the soft textile. "Clothes." She feels the sleeves and skirt. "A dress?"

"I can't remember the last time anyone gave me a dress, not since I was a little girl." She smiles genuinely and pulls the dress closer, grasping my hand through the bars before I can let go. "Some pirate you are, treating a prisoner so kindly." Her grip tightens, claws biting into my bandaged wrists. "Let me tell you one thing and hark closely. All monsters want men, but not all monsters have hearts to share with men. If you remain so kind, it will destroy you someday. Harden your heart. Stay free." She lets go, holding the dress closely to her modest athletic chest.

"I don't think the women of Limus are under the impression I'm kind at all." I shrug to no effect.

"Good." She exclaims passionately. "It took me telling you I would fight you to the death for you to give everything in the duel. You can't hold back. You need to fight as hard as you can every time. I won't accept less." Elsa is really starting to get worked up. Her pointy ears flush and scales shift over tensing muscles.

I don't have an answer to that. Elsa takes a deep breath and calms down with a visible force of will. "I could use some use some help changing." She turns her head away in embarrassment.

>Tell her Jenna will help her out in the morning and visit Flit in your quarters
>Help her change before visiting Flit
>Other