wasn’t white like the people back at Nome but brown.  The hybrid blinked once then continued surveying the man.  He wore a hand and a half sword that was sheathed.  From the handle that was well worn, indicated that he was a master swords man and had killed when he had to.  On the human’s right hand he wore a glove made out of leather, telling Balto he was right handed.  The man’s uniform was that of an officer’s but the man didn’t wear it like so.  Instead he wore the clothes as if they were every day clothes, at ease and some what raffled. 

            Suddenly, the sheathed sword glowed white and the man dropped his papers, whirled around and drew the sword.  Balto gasped for the sword wasn’t grey like the swords he had seen back at Nome but white.  Soon his astonishment was increased as the man waved his hand saying something unheard of and the table he was hiding under was thrown off him by a gust of wind.  Balto snarled at the man and made for the window.  Behind him, the human picked up a poker and threw it.  It flew in front of Balto and nailed itself into the windowsill.  Seeing that the window was no longer an exit point, Balto turned and took a fighter’s stance and flew at the man’s throat.  His teeth touched steel as the human swung up his sword and with wave, threw Balto off where he landed on all fours.  Balto was about to attack again when the man raised his left hand.

            “Stop.” he said.  “I did not seek to fight with you.”

            Balto did stop, mainly because he was shocked that a human could talk to him.  Seeing the hybrid’s bafflement and amazement, the human sheathed his sword with a laugh.  “Perhaps you are wondering how I can talk to you, am I right?”

            Balto blinked at him then nodded.

            “Well, even I can’t tell you how I got the ability.” said the man.  “But I must tell you, it gets handy at times and other times it is a pain.”

            “Who are you?” asked Balto.  “And where is my mate?”

            The human stood up.  “I am Baltheis, Dragon captain of Whenismlian or When for short.”  He walked over to his desk and sat down at the wooden table.  Balto followed. 

            “You did not answer my second question.” he said.  “Where is my mate?”

            Baltheis looked down at him then remembered the table he threw across the room.  He got up and put it back to its regular place.  Then he sat back down at his table and then turned to the hybrid.  “I do not know your mate nor do I know you.” he said.  “Give me your name and description of your mate.”

            Balto eyed him suspiciously.  “Are you thinking to do me ill?” he asked. 

            “Why would I?” asked Baltheis.

            Balto still hesitated then realized he won’t get any help from any body if he kept his identity a secret.  “My name is Balto and my mate’s name is Jenna.  She has a red back but a white mask, underbelly, and socks.  A red bandana is wrapped around her breast and back.” 

            Baltheis sighed and closed his eyes as he tried to imagine Jenna.  He opened them slowly.  “I have not heard of a female by that description, Balto.”  The hybrid listened on for he knew that the man had more to say.  “But I have heard of a male by that exact description.”

            “Male?” said Balto.  “What is his name?”

            “His name slips my memory at the moment.” said the Dragon captain.  Balto turned his attention to a medal that was carved into a shape of a dragon. 

            “What is the rank of a Dragon captain?  And how did you earn it?” asked Balto.

            Baltheis sighed once more.  It’s a long tale and time is short.  Does a shortened version of the tale sound to you?”

            “Better then nothing.” grinned Balto. 

            Baltheis got up from his seat and drew his sword from its sheath.  “This sword is called Larkan, which means Southern Snow.  It was with this sword I won the rank, or should I say, received the rank Dragon captain.”  He set down the white blade on the table and continued.  “Dragon captain is a rank that is given to one who is a master of the sword, a master strategist, a fair and just person, one who has the courage to fight with or before his men, and tame a wild horse.’ 

            ‘Two years ago, before I became Dragon captain, a man named Ruen, was Dragon captain and I was a lowly plainsdweller.  Ruen was a cruel captain, though he was brave and had tamed a wild horse, well, forced it to be tame, and won many battles in his time.  But he was getting old and with older age came the need for power.  He was forty when his cruelty against the plainsdwellers came into bloom.’  He would let any into When to take shelter from a storm, which is against the hospitality rule of When.  When any plainsdwellers tired to force their way into the town, he had them taken away never to be seen again in the far reaches of the plains.’  From what I was told when I got here was that many soldiers and officers as well as the townspeople were outraged at the captain and gave a challenge to Ruen.  A tournament was to be held.  Any who wanted the rank of Dragon captain would receive the rank if they fought and defeated Ruen.  Surprisingly, Ruen accepted the challenge and the tournament was to be held on the eve of equinox. 

            The eve of equinox arrived and over sixty competitors had enlisted into the tournament, including me.  However to fight Ruen, we had to fight each other and who ever defeated all the other competitors would face Ruen, this was part of the agreement made by Ruen and the townspeople, though they had no choice in the matter.  The day was one that wasn’t going to be forgotten.  Many brave young men died in vain trying to overthrow a tyrant who was so cowardly to let them fight each other instead of him.  Soon the remaining survivors were either covered in the dead’s blood or slipping in it.  I was one of the ones who survived.  My blade didn’t drip with blood of innocents for I only disarmed my opponents and let them walk away alive much to the annoyance of Ruen.  Only one man I had to kill in self defense because he wouldn’t stop fighting.  He died a warrior’s death though I did not want to kill him.  But I did.

            The final competitors faced off, I waited my turn.  I knew that Ruen hated plainsdwellers and that he knew that I was one.  I knew he wanted me dead though I escaped it many times.  He hoped that another would kill me before I faced him. 

            Then my turn came and I saw the body of yet another man being dragged off the already bloodied ground.  My opponent, the one who had fought before was breathing heavily for his fight was a tough one.  I went before the assembled and asked for a break for the other to gain his strength before fighting.  Ruen stood up and declared that if I was too cowardly to fight then I was to leave at once.  I then pointed out that I was being fair to my opponent even if was going to kill me.  At those words, Ruen was about to draw his sword to have me dragged off like my kin before me until all the assembled yelled out in my defense saying my words were worthier then his.  Ruen could do nothing then for if he did he would’ve been overthrown right then and there.  After a while of resting my opponent got to his feet and declared himself ready.  He shook my hand firmly and introduced himself as Curn Firesword, wielder of Jerec the red blade which meant Southern Fire.  I gave him my name and wished him a good life if he was to kill me and he did the same.  We became friends and opponents on that day.  We fought with all our skill and strength.  But despite our attempts we couldn’t over throw each other.  Finally, after endless sword fighting I hit Curn’s sword hand’s fingers and then his funny bone in the arm.  He cried out once in pain.  He could do nothing for I had paralyzed his right arm by luck.  I then disarmed him and sent the red blade spinning into the sand.  Larkan touched Curn’s throat and he stood still. 

            “Kill him,” said Ruen, getting to his feet once more.  “Kill him or you will not face me, plainsdweller.”  I faced him sweat dripping down my face.