Welcome to Wind Riders of Caracantha, my new Web Novel. You will follow our hero Sebastian Martell on this bizarre and insane adventures in the land of Caracantha, Where Dragons Fly.

Two days of flying finally brought the Esmeraldas' Triumph out of the mountains and into the lands of Yumeria. Ziu gingerly walked up on deck and looked as the land of Yumeria came into view. She took a deep breath, it was good to be back home after all this time but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. " You should worry less" said Hellfire, sitting happily in her arms, " you'll end up grey before you can find a mate and then you're mother will make you go bald by nagging you about her grandchildren."
Ziu looked down at her cat, " You want to learn how to fly?" she asked.
" I would like to see explain where I am afterwards" said Hellfire, a sly smile crossing her lips exposing her sharp teeth.
Ziu mussed Hellfire's fur on her head. " How much further?" asked Gabriel, " I never had the chance to get exact locations for your people's fortresses on my last visit."
" We are a bit secretive" said Ziu, " north by north east by 20 minutes."
" Okay" said Gabriel, scribbling notes down on his map, " we'll have you home in an hour."
" Thank you" said Ziu, " I must repay your kindness back in that town."
" It isn't necessary" said Gabriel, " just doing what comes naturally."
" No I insist" said Ziu, " my payment shall be giving you the locations of the fortresses that I know of, it won't be a complete list but I will do what I can."
" That would be fine with me" he said, " lets go down to my cabin to plot them out."
Sebastian and Sam watched as the pair descended into the ship. " I think Gabe is in love" sang Sam.
" Don't tell Audrey, she'll have a heart attack" said Sebastian, " that Yumichi is definitely Gabriel's type, strange and talented."

Ziu slowly finished writing the coordinates, " Thank you" said Gabriel, " this will help my maps."
" You're welcome" said Ziu.
Gabriel was about to turn on the charm when suddenly a great red blast burst on the side of the ship.

The entire crew was on deck within twenty seconds of the fiery blast and saw three great airships blocking their path. " What are they?" asked Sam, nervously.
" Those are ships of my mother" said Ziu, " excuse me."
Ziu hurried to the bow of the ship and threw a blue light ball into the air that exploded into a display of fireworks. One of the airships pulled along side, " Mistress Yii is that you?" asked the captain.
" Yes, I am here to see my mother" said Ziu.
The captain looked grim, " Something has happened Mistress" he said.

The Esmeraldas' Triumph followed the massive ships into a high canyon where a city had been carved from the very rock. " What is this?" asked Elanna.
" This Kel'Yii" said Ziu, " my family's ancestral home and the seat of our clan."
The Esmeraldas' Triumph came along side one of the dozens of docks that surrounded the end of the canyon. Before the ship was even tied up Ziu leapt off the ship and started running for the large fortress carved from the highest peak. Gabriel and Elanna both followed her lead and leapt over the side of the boat. Ziu spirited through the market and up the long stairway towards the fortress. Gabriel and Elanna both managed to catch up to Ziu just as she reached the main doors where all three were stopped by the guards. " Mistress Yii, who are these foreigners?" asked the first guard.
" They are my friends" said Ziu, " where is Lon?"
" He is inside" said the second guard.
The guards slowly pushed the huge metal door open and waved a red handkerchief. The trio listened as several archers stood down. " Send for Lon!" the second guard shouted, " Mistress Yii is back."
Ziu rushed through the gateway as archers retook their positions among the columns. They emerged from the gateway into a courtyard where bodies were stacked about like wood. From the main keep came an elderly man in official garb came down. " Thank the heavens you've return" said Chamberlain Lon.
" What happened?" asked Ziu.
" Last night a hundred assassins attacked the palace" said Lon, " they were no match for the guards but they were just a diversion, two managed to sneak into your mother's chambers during the confusion. She's been poisoned."
" Oh no" said Ziu, " I must see her."
Lon led the trio into the main keep and up a series of stairs until they were in the highest tower. Inside a lavish bedchamber laid Lia Yii, pale and grey. " What did this to her?" asked Ziu, at her mother's side.
" We think xephis poison" said Lon, " there is no cure we know of, our best medicine can only slowly the poison's progression."
Ziu looked down, and did her best to fight away the tears. " This was the Xahr'Ge wasn't it?" asked Ziu.
" Yes" said Lon, " the poison was definitely of their making."
" Damn" she sighed, " damn they must have found out."
" What?' he asked.
" Nothing" she said, " they must want a war."
" I agree" said Lon, " if your mother dies, they will get their wish."
" There is a man who might know a cure" said Elanna.
All the attendants in the room glared at the pair. " Who?" asked Ziu.
" Aryzeer" said Elanna.
" Aryzeer is a myth" said Lon.
" We know where he is" said Gabriel, " we've run messages for him in the past."
" But you've never talked to him" retorted Lon.
" It is worth a try" said Ziu, standing up, " I know the contract was only to take me here but I ask to take me to this Aryzeer."
" Certainly" said Gabriel, " we will need to resupply."
" As will I" said Ziu, " I will meet you in two hours."
" Okay" said Elanna, " excuse us."

Gabriel and Elanna were quickly hustled out of the fortress by several grim guards. " That was something else" said Elanna.
" Now we have to tell Sebastian" said Gabriel.
They walked back to their ship and climbed about, " Ready to leave?" asked Sebastian.
" Not yet" said Elanna, " we will have to take Ziu to meet Aryzeer."
" You mean we all get to meet Aryzeer we've only left messages at the base of that mountain" said Tanis.
" It would be an honor to meet such a famous man" said Elsenor, " my people honor his knowledge."
" I hate to rain on the parade" meowed Alexis, " but nobody has actually seen him in years, what if he is dead?"
" Then we're out of luck" said Sebastian, " but we have to try, I smell a juicy profit at the end of this. Okay we need to get extra supplies, Sam go shopping for food, look for something exotic."
" Are you saying my cooking is getting boring?" asked Sam.
" No, I just want something new" said Sebastian.

Ziu hurried into her bedchamber, her bed looked so welcoming but it would have to wait. Ziu walked over to her alchemy laboratory and started gathering several bottles, and three more books. It was more combat potions, she would be needing them very soon, she had exhausted several of her ingredients while on the run. Ziu heard the door open and sighed to herself, why did he had to be here.
Lu Shen walked in, Lu Shen was the heir of another powerful clan. Her mother and the other clan had been trying to push him on her for some time but she had always been able to keep him away. " Ziu" he said, " I'm so sorry for all of this."
" Lu, not now" said Ziu, " when I return we will talk about marriage."
Lu's eyes lit up, he had been pursuing her for two years and now his goal was in sight. " You mean it?" he asked.
Ziu nodded, " Yes, but I have to tend to my mother first" she said.
" Certainly, I am so very sorry for what has happened" said Lu, " did you manage to complete your mission?"
" Not yet" said Ziu, " excuse me."
Ziu filled a spare satchel with the ingredients and the books wrapped in all the spare clothing she could gather. She quickly hurried from her room and back to her mother's room.

Lia looked peaceful as she slept, despite being sickly grey. Ziu knelt next to her mother and took her hand. " I will cure you" she said quietly, " I will not let you die. I can't do this alone, I can't lead this clan by myself. Please be strong, be strong long enough to let me cure you."
Ziu kissed her mother's hand, feeling the coldness of her flesh. Ziu sighed, she never imagined it would end like this.

Ziu made her way back to the Esmeraldas' Triumph where the others were hauling aboard the new foodstuff. " We ready to go?" asked Ziu.
" We just need to finish loading the food" said Sebastian.
" I brought something for your sister" said Ziu.
Sebastian turned and deftly caught the book thrown by her. " It is a cookbook" she said, " maybe she can make use of it. I never was able to get them right."
Sam rushed over and plucked the book from Sebastian's hands. " Thank you" said Sam, " I will try something tonight."
Sebastian looked back at Ziu, " You really had to do that?" he asked.
" We're all full of surprises" said Ziu, " maybe she'll get something right."
" That would be a first" said Sebastian.

Ziu walked into her cabin, " What has happened?" asked Hellfire sitting on the table.
" My mother has been poisoned by the Order of Xahr'Ge" said Ziu, tears racing down her cheeks, " she is dying."
Ziu finally broke down and began to wail, " She is slowly rotting away in front of my eyes" she wept, her face buried in the bed.
Hellfire slowly made her way over and gently rubbed her fur against Ziu.

Sebastian walked into Gabriel's quarters, " Have a course set?" asked Sebastian.
Gabriel nodded, and handed the course to Sebastian, unable to tell him. " It is the quickest course" he said.
" You love her don't you" said Sebastian.
Gabriel smiled, " I do" he said, " there is something about her."
" Like faerie women" said Sebastian, " we are two of a kind all right. This course isn't as suicidal as it first looks. I'll get Tanis to make sure all the guns are ready."
Gabriel pulled a fine bottle of liquor out of his large desk. " For our venture through the troll country" he said.

Sam hauled the second dish from the oven, this actually smelled amazing. She couldn't believe what was before her. One by one she carried each plate out to the galley and carefully arranged them. Sam opened the door to announce that dinner was ready and found the entire crew was standing outside. " It is dinner time" she said.
The crew gathered around the table and eyed up the food. " I tried all the dog eared pages" said Sam, " I have some trouble pronouncing the names though."
" It looks amazing" said Ziu, " and smells perfect."
" This meal is in the honor of your mother" said Sam, " may our mission be successful."
Ziu smiled, " Thank you all so much" she said.
Ziu gently filled her plate first and then the crew descended. " So what course are we heading?" asked Elanna.
" We going straight to Yahai Peak" said Gabriel, " through the Black Hills."
" Through Hill Troll country" said Audrey.
" Yes" said Sebastian, " time is short."
" Let's hope they don't notice us" said Elanna.
" Let them notice us" said Tanis, " let them face the fire of my cannons, those hideous beasts will rue the day they pissed off a Dwarf."
The crew consumed the entire food in record time and enjoyed Gabriel's gift to them in the form of the fine liquor, even Sam had a drink. After the drinks were done Elsenor took Sebastian by the waist of his pants and dragged him to bed and the rest of the crew started for their beds, tomorrow would be a tough day.

Gabriel gently piloted the ship over the mountains towards the Black Hills and beyond those Yahai Peak to meet with a myth. Gabriel heard the door open and Ziu looked up, " Can't sleep?" asked Gabriel.
Ziu shook her head, " May I join you?" she asked.
" Please do" said Gabriel.
Ziu stood next to Gabriel, " Thank you for this help" said Ziu, " I can't do this alone."
" You'll never be alone" said Gabriel.
Ziu hugged Gabriel, " Thank you" she whispered.
He enjoyed her embrace, it felt so warm and loving. " We'll find the cure" he said, holding her tight.
" Stay with me" said Ziu, " I can't be alone."
" I will" said Gabriel.
Gabriel kept her in his arms as they descended to her quarters were Hellfire was cleaning her paws. Hellfire meowed and leapt out of the room. She hurried out of the room, she wasn't going to be in the way tonight. The door closed, Hellfire smiled, it wasn't what her mother wanted but Ziu was finally in love. Hellfire curled up in the corner, she would congratulate her tomorrow.

Ziu and Gabriel sat together in bed as Gabriel taught Ziu a gambling card game from his youth. " I think your cat thought we would be doing something else" he said.
" She has an active imagination" said Ziu.