Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [268]
No one there was really sure how long they waited. They had all lost sense of the passing of time. As one, they looked up at the blue sky, excitement filling their hearts. At length, a single small crimson speck appeared far away in the blue sky. It was as though another wyrmflute had winked into existence high above their heads. But this crimson star shining in the middle of the day was clearly moving. It was coming closer, answering the flute’s call, flying straight across the cloudless blue.
As they watched, the crimson speck grew larger until they could see the wings. Each powerful beat sent air swirling behind it, giving it a rainbow trail as it flew, closer and closer now.
Wataru, unthinking, lifted a hand. Everyone began waving. The crimson wings were distinct against the sky now. There was no mistake—it was a dragon. The dragon spread its wings, circling once over the crowd, then stopping in midair. The villagers scattered, opening a space in the center of the clearing. With an artful twist of his wings, Jozo slowly descended, his clawed legs extended. The underbrush in the forest swayed in the wind with every beat of his wings. Wataru’s hair, Meena’s ears, and the loose-fitting clothes of the villagers were whipped about. Everyone smiled and laughed and waved their hands like crazy.
Jozo’s feet touched the ground. The giant firewyrm landed carefully, so as not to knock anyone over with his massive wings. His large, round eyes scanned the crowd searching for Wataru.
“Jozo!” Wataru ran out, his arms spread wide. The firewyrm folded his wings and greeted Wataru with a sound like a soft bark.
“Ah! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Jozo said. He had grown considerably since they had met in the Swamp of Grief. His wings were strong, his fangs gleamed, and every inch of his body was covered in hard, crimson scales. Still, his cheery voice was no different. “It sure took you a while to call me. I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry. A lot has happened since then. I’m surprised you remember me.”
“How could I forget?” Jozo said, blinking. “You did save my life.”
Wataru looked at Jozo’s tail and saw that it was still severed where he had cut it with his sword to save the dragon from the ravenous kalon in the swamp.
“Your tail didn’t grow back?”
Jozo swung the stump of his tail against the grass and laughed. This sent a smattering of Taclou folk scampering in every direction.
“I may be a dragon, but some things are beyond me. Ach, the wyrmking was right furious. Said that’s what comes of my inordinate fondness for aerial acrobatics. Still, it’s good to have a few battle scars. Makes you look more experienced, if you know what I mean.”
Jozo craned his neck to look at the crowd. “Friends of yours, Wataru?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Why are their eyes and mouths so big?”
Wataru laughed out loud. “They’re startled to see you. I think it’s their first time seeing a dragon.”
“Is that so? Well, good day, everyone.”
Shouts of surprise went up from the villagers at the dragon’s friendly greeting. Some of the older among them fell straightaway onto the ground. Even the town master was wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. “This is, this is…it’s real. It’s a real firewyrm!”
“In the flesh,” Jozo said proudly.
Meena took a tentative step forward. “Wa-Wataru…”
“Jozo, these are my traveling companions, Meena and Kee Keema.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Kitkin. And big Mister Waterkin!”
“N-not so big compared to you,” Kee Keema said.
“True enough, true enough. But you might be three times my age. Never can tell with waterkin.”
Never can tell with dragons, Wataru was thinking. Jozo was a perfect example: his body was huge, but he was still clearly a child of his species.
“So, Wataru, where is it you want to go? I can fly a whole lot faster and higher than the first time we met. I’ll take you wherever it is you need to be.”
Wataru explained the situation. Jozo listened, casually taking it all in. “Dela Rubesi, you say? Indeed, the air around the Undoor Highland has been a trifle odd of late. Probably would be dangerous for the