Read Online Ben the Dragonborn by Dianne E Astle - Free Book Online Page A

eating, they climbed aboard Akca and Osch and resumed their trip.  In the afternoon they saw tregs more frequently than they had in the morning.  Ben guessed that was because they were getting closer to the island where the birds nested. Twice they had to dive down to avoid the tregs. The second time it was a close call and Ben heard the bird shriek in frustration as the orcas dove under water, taking Brina and a terrified Ben with them. The treg’s shriek of frustration sent chills deep into Ben’s bones.
    The treg’s third attack came from directly behind the two companions and caught them completely by surprise. Brina was the lighter of the two, and it was Brina the treg chose.  The bird tried to lift the mer up and carry him away, but Brina was attached to Osch.  The bird could not lift the combined weight of Brina and Osch, yet it was unwilling to let go.  Brina tried to pull his knife out from the belt around his waist, but the harness connecting him to Osch broke, and the knife got tangled in it. Ben sat helpless, wanting to do something, but not knowing what he could do as he had no way to communicate with Akca and tell the Orca to move closer to Brina and the treg.  So he screamed at the bird as Akca swam in circles. The treg lifted a struggling Brina up into the air.  The bird’s triumphant shriek mingled with Brina’s terrified cry. 
    Osch and Akca whistled loudly and swam around in tight circles.  Ben was afraid his harness was going to break with the strain.  As he struggled to keep his balance, Ben tried to follow Brina with his eyes as the treg carried him off into the horizon.  The orcas finally stopped circling and began to talk with one another in their language.  They came to an agreement and turned and began to go back the way they had come.
    “No,” Ben yelled. The orcas stopped.  Ben tried to explain what he wanted.  He wanted Akca and Osch to follow Brina, but he was not sure how much they understood.  They listened attentively and then started to swim back the way they had come.
    They had no sooner got started for the second time when a voice that was not Ben’s yelled out, “No!”  It was Charla.  Like Ben, she had a small pack with a short spear strapped to her back.  Charla began to speak rapidly to the orcas in their language.  They argued back and forth and then came to an understanding.  Charla turned to Ben and said, “It is settled.  Osch will go tell Lea Waterborn what happened.  Akca will carry you to the human community and leave you where someone is sure to find you. I will follow Brina.”  
    “No. I want to go after Brina,” said Ben. “And besides, Lea Waterborn said to stay away from the humans.”
    “That was before Brina was taken.  The best place for you now is with other humans.  A human alone on the sea with a war about to break out is not very safe.  Someone better suited will be sent to help us get the crown back, and when things settle down you can be sent back to earth.  If the Guardian does not send someone then Lea Waterborn will have to send some of our own people, which is what should have happened in the first place.”
    “Lea Waterborn does not know you are here, does she?” Ben asked.
    “That is not your concern.”
    “You should go back to Fairwaters.”
    “I’m not going back.  Osch will tell Lea Waterborn what happened. I am going to rescue Brina.” 
    “I should go with you then,” Ben stated.
    “There are two problems with that.  First, I don’t want or need your help, and second, Akca wants to get rid of you as soon as possible.  He was all for leaving you here, but I convinced him that Lea Waterborn would appreciate it if he took you to the human community.”
    Ben looked around him.  All he could see in every direction was water.  The thought of being left here with nothing to keep him afloat was terrifying.  Ben’s fear of water pushed every other thought from his mind.  He made no further