Penny and the Dragons #6
Episode six: A sad memory.
Hugo paced nervously around the room. He honestly didn’t expect the opinions to be so split.
“Sit down,” said Stellium, “you’re making my anxiety flare up.”
The men walked back into the room and sat down.
“Sadly,” started Bronson, “It will not be possible to bring all the wives out here, but, we have decided at this time to make concession for this one special female. For her valour and bravery, Penny will be awarded a position here… though, it does also feel like Coral is twisting my arm a little on this decision.”
“Oh, I was hoping to bring Stacey out here,” said one of the men.
“We are going backwards in our ideas. Bring the women here. Society is not what it once was,” scoffed another man.
“I understand your concerns, and I wish that we were at a point where things could be different, but, progress is progress, so let’s not overlook the fact that Penny will be the first female to be sworn in as a dragon protector,” said Bronson.
“Let’s hope she’s the only one,” said Quinton, who was not impressed.
“Give it time,” chuckled Stellium.
“Oh, and Stellium, please let Leroy come back with us,” said Bronson.
“But… he knows about the blue dragon.”
“Don’t we all?”
“Not like this. May I have a word with you, Bronson?”
Penny sat on an old pier and looked out at the water. That pier had not been used since the new one had been built a little less that ten years ago. Penny sighed and felt ready to go home as she missed her mother.
As Hugo walked out to her, he felt that he had news she’d want to hear, but she was far too reflective to feel excited.
“Penny,” said Hugo as he sat down next to her, “I have great news.”
Penny sighed, “When do I leave? I mean, it will be hard to get Coral to stay here without me, but we will have to figure it out.”
“No… Um, you can stay.”
“Yeah, but for how long? Anyway, I miss my mother.”
“No, Penny, you don’t understand. They are going to swear you in as a dragon protector.”
“Can’t someone else take my place?”
“What? Penny, I thought you’d be excited.”
“I’d be excited if I could come and go… but I’m scared, Hugo. What if I can never leave?”
“I’m sure we’ll be able to figure something out,” said Hugo, but really, he had the same concern.
“Uncle, how did my father really die?” asked Penny.
“Well, what have you been told?”
“That he was a war hero. That he saved several lives and is respected amongst many. But that story has always annoyed me. You see, I feel like he chose other people over me. He knew that my mother was pregnant, and he went off into battle. Uncle Hugo, please tell me that a dragon didn’t kill him.”
“It wasn’t a dragon. Your father saved my life. Truth be told, I was trying to save him when I myself ended up in danger, and that is how he died.”
“That is incredibly vague.”
“I know… but how can I explain what really happened that day without making you sad?”
“I’m already sad.”
Hugo thought for a moment before speaking, “It was a cold day. We were just about to receive a ship full of new recruits who were trained in various fields. Finally, we had our first lab technician on their way, as well as three extra medical specialists. Stellium was on the mainland a fair bit, so we really needed the help. It was meant to be a good day. Your father was preparing to return to the mainland because he wanted to be there for you and your mother.” Hugo paused.
“Keep going.”
Hugo pushed back emotions and continued, “The ship docked on this pier. As soon as the men disembarked, I could tell that something wasn’t right, but I ignored my instincts because I didn’t want to seem paranoid. I could see Shrimpy in the wheel house and he looked over at me with a worried expression on his face. He shrugged, almost to say that he wasn’t sure about these men. Clearly, he sensed what I did.”
“And what was that?”
“That the new men were planning something. There were several crates of supplies onboard, so we all helped the men bring them ashore, but your father became concerned and decided to try to open a crate that still sat on board the boat. As he used a crow bar to begin to open the lid, one of the men pulled a hand gun on him and said, “I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” Your father froze. Our concerns were warranted. Actually, several of the crates were filled with weapons and explosives.”
“What for?” asked Penny.
“The men were planning to take control of the island. They already had buyers for several of the dragons. It actually took us several years to fully bring that chain under control, but, what your father did that day, saved this island. I loved my brother, so I couldn’t let him be shot. I attempted to wrestle the man with a gun to the ground. Another man shot me in the leg.”
“What happened next?”
“Your father had a plan, so he spoke up, “Wait,” he said, “We’ve been expecting you. Do you have all of the items we’ll need to make this change happen?” All of the new men paused for a moment, before one asked, “Did Johnathan contact you?” Your father was smart. He didn’t want to be outwitted by questions that he didn’t know the answers to, so he tried to make them feel clueless instead, when he said, “Johnathan is not his real name. All of this had to be kept secret. Stellium and I have used a lot of fake names to set this up. He’s on the mainland now, organising things from that end.”
“Did they buy his story?”
“Penny, your father was so convincing that I thought he’d gone rogue.”
Penny chuckled.
“Thankfully he hadn’t, but I was used as a pawn for half a day. He had me confined to a hospital room under guard and said that I should be treated, but not trusted. It was a bizarre day, but your father managed to take control of the entire group of men. In doing so, he managed to keep everyone on the island safe, including the dragons, and bought enough time for the emergency call to be heeded. Your father made his way to me, as three boats from our security island, were docking. Those men were carrying weapons and were ready to disarm the intruders.” Hugo looked sad.
“What happened next?”
“I’d just spent half a day being angry at him, thinking that he was a traitor. Your father ran into my hospital room. “The boats are here,” he said, with a sense of relief. “You tricked us,” yelled one of the men that had been guarding the room.” tears filled Hugo’s eyes, “I don’t remember the sound of the gun. As I stood up from the bed, I caught my brother in my arms as he fell. There was a lot of blood, more than seemed to make sense. I pulled him up onto the bed and screamed for help, but nobody came. There was nothing I could do.”
Penny placed her hand on Hugo’s shoulder.
“I turned around, but the man that had shot him was gone. I ran out into the hallway, but the hospital seemed deserted, so I ran back into the room to be with my brother. He made me promise to not let the event scare me away from protecting dragons, and told me to bring his son to the island as well. I felt that I would have said yes to anything he asked in that moment, but all I really wanted was for him to be okay.”
“I’m so sorry, Hugo,” said Penny, with tears in her eyes.
“Look Penny, I know you are hesitant to stay on the island, but you have dragon protection in your DNA, and what happened on the boat really proved that. You are brave and determined. If you agree to stay, I’ll help you figure everything else out.”
Penny looked at Hugo. She did feel an unusually strong connection to the island, and really, if it were not for the fact that she really missed her mother, she probably would have been excited to stay. She nodded, for she didn’t know how else to agree, because she was afraid that if she tried to talk, she might get emotional.
Coral stood elegantly with her head held high, as she waited for everyone to be seated. You could have been forgiven for thinking that she was the host of the event for how sure of herself she seemed.
As it really is with all animals, nobody really knows how much they understand. Dragons are no different, for though some of them can say a few words, none are yet to read Shakespeare aloud or explain the meaning of life.
Nonetheless though, the event plans were explained to Coral in detail, just in case she might understand, and it did appear that she perhaps at least understood some of what she was told, as she seemed eager for the event, and rather proud of Penny.
As the last of the audience sat, Bronson took the stage, and Penny sat down in her assigned chair that was positioned on the stage, where she would wait until called on.
There were a few hush noises as everyone settled in.
“Hello, and welcome,” started Bronson, “We are all gathered here for a rather unexpected, but incredibly important day. This is the first time in all history, that a female is to be sworn in as a dragon protector.”
“Objection,” said Quinton, as he stood up.
“Shut up, Quinton,” said a man seated next to him as he tried to force Quinton to sit back down.
Bronson continued, unfazed, “The decision has been made. This is a landmark day, that surely will create mixed feelings in some of us, but we can’t look backwards, but rather, we must focus on the future as we push on to do whatever is best for the protection of our dragon friends.”
Penny tried to readjust her breathing, for she felt that she was only a step away from hyperventilating. She was never the sort of person that enjoyed being the centre of attention, and on top of that, this was a strange situation, as she felt that some people saw her as a hero, and others as a villain. Penny saw herself as neither. She felt that anything she had gotten right, was purely a fluke that she wouldn’t be able to repeat. The concern of not being able to see her mother for an unknown amount of time, still sat heavy in her mind.
“Penny, please stand,” said Bronson.
Penny stood up and took a couple of steps forward. She could see Toddy in the crowd, and he smiled at her, with tears in his eyes. Penny’s knees wobbled, and she was glad that she was not required to give a speech.
“Penny, do you swear to always do what is best for the dragons in your care?”
Penny nodded, and said “Yes,” in a rather quiet voice.
There were a few more boring questions. Once they were answered, Hugo stood up and pinned a badge onto Penny’s shirt. Penny looked at it, and wondered why she had never seen any of the others wearing the same badge. She figured that she would ask Hugo later, and not destroy the ceremonial feel of the event with questions that the others probably already knew the answers to.
Penny bowed towards the crowd, mostly because she felt it made sense to, and then she sat back down.
There was a rather elaborate party planned that evening, and had it not been for the clear excitement from the others that there would be a party, Penny would have felt bad for putting everyone out in such a way. Even Quinton though, loves parties, so Penny said nothing to try to prevent the celebration.
Penny had never before seen Hugo drunk, but thankfully, he is hilarious when he is. Though Penny and Toddy were too young to drink, they did get into the celebration, and spent most of the evening on the dance floor.
The island really is beautiful at night, and despite all of Penny’s fears and concerns, she was beginning to feel that this was the best night of her life.
Toddy smiled at Penny. He was beginning to feel like maybe there was a future possibility where Penny might see him as more than a friend, and secretly, for the first time ever, Penny saw something in Toddy that she had never seen before. They still danced together as friends though, not as lovers do, but there was hope in Toddy’s mind, and a glint of something in Penny’s.
“Um,” started Toddy, “Penny, do you think perhaps…”
A scream was heard off in the distance, followed by an explosive sound, and a plume of smoke. Clearly, Toddy’s question would have to wait.
“Hugo,” yelled Penny, “are they trying again to kidnap Mr Snuffles?”
Hugo looked at Penny, with fear in his eyes. He knew that he was far too drunk to be of any real use. Suddenly, he ran over to a bush and threw up.
Penny looked out into the party, that had instantly been halted. There were far more intoxicated men than sober ones. Penny sighed, “No rest for the… whatever I am,” she said to Toddy, and, without thinking, she ran towards Coral, hoping that Coral would have a plan. Was it what Penny feared, were they trying again to take the gold-finding Jummblesnuff?
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