Jack Campbell - The Dragons of Dorcastle

“Oh, no,” she groaned.

“You said…on the barge…you said…” He could not seem to get the words out.

“Yeah. I did.”

“Did you…?”

“Yeah. I meant it.” Her hand released his and both arms came around him, her hug so tight as to be almost painful. “But, Alain…oh, blazes…we can’t.”

His mind filled with a roaring in which the only thing outside himself was her. Alain’s arms came around her loosely, awkwardly. He had not held anyone in so long, not since being taken by the Mages, that he was not sure how to do it.

The moment ended as Mari abruptly broke her grip on him. “We…we should go,” she said as she stumbled away.

He followed, wondering what had just happened, as they went out into the growing crowd on this roadway. In the dark, the fact that they were soaking wet wasn’t obvious, and they were able to move through the onlookers until the crowds thinned out and Mari could find a deserted street.

Only then did she lean against a wall, looking at Alain with a wan smile. “Do you know, back when I was taking Basic Steam Engine Mechanics the instructor told us ‘Never tie down a safety valve. The only one of you who would ever do that is probably Apprentice Mari, but I hope even she will avoid doing it just to see what happens.’ And I did do it!” Mari said with a forced laugh.

Alain had been taught so stringently not to laugh that he could not summon the same hilarity even amid the elation of unlooked-for survival, but he was barely able to avoid smiling. “Our elders should be impressed by what we accomplished, but somehow I do not think they will be.”

“You’re amazing, Alain!” Mari’s smile became rueful. “I can’t believe we survived that. Go ahead. Say it.”

“Say what?” Alain asked.

“You know what I mean! You were right. Going in that warehouse was a dangerous thing to do.”

Alain shook his head. “Yes, but together we were able to handle the danger, and the Dark Mechanic threat to you in Dorcastle has very likely been eliminated. You were also right.”

“I was also right? Ohhh nooo.” Mari had lost all of her attempt at humor, once again sounding as despairing as she had when they were in the alcove together. “You have the perfect chance to say ‘I told you so,’ but instead you find a way to say I was right, too. What’s the matter with you, Alain? You listen to me, you believe in me, you respect me and you care about me. You’re honest and smart and brave and resourceful. You never ask for anything for yourself and you’re always there when I need you. Where are your flaws? You were supposed to have flaws . Do you have to be perfect ? Except for what I can fix, that voice and that face that doesn’t show anything?”

“I am not perfect,” Alain objected. “All of those things you said, they are true of you. You listen to me, you believe…” He had trouble bringing out the words for a moment. “You are also smart and brave, and can do anything, it seems. You have saved me when it seemed impossible. Mari, do you know how hard it is to slay a dragon? Any Mage who can do so earns great respect. We have survived. I do not understand why you are upset.”

Mari shook her head. “I’m unhappy because I wanted to find those flaws so I could find reasons not to feel…like I do. I wanted to learn about all of the things wrong with you. And you just wouldn’t cooperate. This can’t work, Alain! It can’t happen! Don’t you know that? What will your Guild do to you if they know about me? Tell me the truth.”

He knew some emotions were showing on his face, knew she could see bewilderment and something else, something he could not comprehend, but he could not control his expression at this moment. “It did work, Mari. We have found those behind the dragon illusion, we have destroyed their creation and the place they worked from—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Mari was slumping against the wall now, her expression distressed, her eyes fixed on him. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about. And you’re not answering my question.”

His stomach seemed to tying itself into a knot. “I…”

“Do you feel anything?” She was pleading now. “Am I being a total idiot? You said you like me. Do you? Do you know what that means? Are there emotions still buried down inside you or have I just imagined that?”

“I…feel.” He stared back at her, wondering what his face revealed.

“It’s my fault, isn’t it? You were all right before you met me, you were a Mage and you were happy.”

It was Alain’s turn to shake his head. “I am still a Mage. I was not happy. I did not know what happiness was. I had forgotten. But now I have met you and I remember some things and feel other things that—”

“No!” Mari turned her face away from him. “Don’t say it. It’s impossible. Now answer my question, Alain. What will your Guild do to you if they learn that…that a Mechanic is in love with you.”

“That would be a cause for discussion,” Alain said. “Cause to decide if I could exploit the situation for the good of the Mage Guild. Cause to debate what should be done to her. But I would be eliminated as a danger to the Mage Guild if my Guild learned that I was…in…love…with a Mechanic.”

“Are you really?” Mari asked, her eyes searching his. “Stars above, you are. I’ve messed up everything.”

She seemed to need some praise, some commendation to make her feel better. Alain, who had been taught as an acolyte never to say nice things, cast around for anything, saying whatever he could think of. “You do not mess up all things. You have defeated the dragons of Dorcastle.” She almost smiled. He could see it. What else to say? Discuss her abilities, just as if she were a fellow Mage. “You are a very dangerous person, Master Mechanic Mari.”

Mari finally turned a sad smile on him. “Maybe I’m more dangerous than I ever realized. I never thought of myself as the sort of girl who could ruin a guy’s life. Didn’t anyone ever warn you that girls can be dangerous, Alain?”

“I have often been warned lately how dangerous girl Mechanics can be.”

“You’re dangerous, too. In all the good ways and all the bad ways.” She shook her head. “Alain, we’re talking about a relationship that endangers your life.”

“It endangers yours as well. That is more important.”

“No, it isn’t.” Mari covered her face with both hands. “I really have to think. Not here. Not now. Alain, you need to get back to your Guild Hall so you don’t get tied into this, and I need to call my Guild Hall so they can get some Mechanics down here to take over what’s left of the warehouse. There’s no telling what Mechanic devices might have survived the explosion.”

“And your fellow Mechanics will get to see the dragon,” Alain added, still desperately trying to make her feel better.

“Yeah.” Mari managed another smile. “Those Dark Mechanics were pretending to be dragons, and an actual dragon came in and whomped them. How’s that for poetic justice?” She sighed, reaching into her jacket. “Good thing I had this in a waterproof pack. I hope the shock of the boiler explosion didn’t break it. Um, you’re not seeing or hearing anything, all right?”

Alain nodded. “Yes, Mari.”

Bringing out a dark box as long as her lower arm, Mari held the box near her mouth, then spoke as if talking to someone. After waiting a while, she talked into the box again. Finally Alain heard the faint sound of someone answering her, as if that person was in the box but also far away. Mari and the box voice talked for a while, then she put the box away. “That’s it, my…Alain. You need to be gone before the other Mechanics get here.” She sounded very weary as well as sad now.