Chương 46: The correct question

Outside the council chamber the noise became muffled as the doors sung shut behind them. Andy rounded on Georgina immediately.

"What do you mean, 'let's talk'? They just voted to leave her there!"

"They voted against a full-on council intervention. There's a difference."

"It sure sounds like the same thing."

"No. It isn't."

"Seven voted yes!"

"And eight voted no."

"That's exactly my point Georgina. They voted against helping Auri."

"They voted against declaring war." The sounds of the council hall had ceased as they'd moved deeper into the complex. Georgina continued, pulling Andy further from the mouth of the cave.

"Did you see those three that abstained?" Andy sent a frown.

"What about them?"

"That means they are not tied to the outcome."

"What?"

"When you vote 'yes' you're supporting a course of action. When you vote no you're opposing it. When you abstain, you're saying, 'what we are voting on isn't the correct question'""So what is the correct question?"

"How are we going to get Lady Auriana back?" Andy stared at Georgina, not comprehending.

"We don't think like the government. You see. Councils have rules. If several rogue sophonts do something reckless it doesn't fall on the council to clean up the mess, which means…" She paused letting Andy put the pieces together.

"You didn't vote."

"No."

"Kesseroth didn't vote."

"Nope."

"Sessaly didn't vote."

"Correct.."

"We're going after her anyway."

"Now you're catching up."

"So we're not going as the council.

"No, we are not the council."

"We're just concerned citizens."

"Very concerned."

"No one is going to believe this."

"Of course not." Georgina shrugged.

"That's why it will be blamed on Kesseroth."

"Wait, what?"

"He's got a mess that he's ready to clean up." She pointed at the chamber.

"Now, when you go inside you look mad, you look defeated, I don't care but look anything other than happy."

"I am furious."

"Excellent. Keep that expression. Get some rest, we leave before dawn." [SPECIES: UNICORN(MAGICAL BEAST)] [GALLOP EFFICIENCY: 85%] [PARTY MEMBERS: 3] [HERD BOND: HERD(RAPTOR ADEPT)] [HERD BOND: COMPANION (SESSILE)] [HORN RESERVES: 100%] Andy woke before dawn. The absence of Auri curled at his hooves immediately reminded him of what lay ahead. He'd slept fitfully but luckily he'd slept.

He quietly woke Gustave and without risking an explanation being heard he ushered him out of their shared room and through the complex. It was difficult being quiet when you were a very large equestrian but he did his best, Gustave riding along on his back. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! They entered the clearing and when they did they saw Georgina, Sessaly and a giant red dragon. As they got closer Andy saw that Georgina was carrying a jar.

Within that jar was Barnacle. A huge grin spread across his face (which was still horrifying on a horse).

"You brought Barnacle!" Andy exclaimed.

"Buddy, I'm so glad you're okay." Barnacle filtered.

"I know. I'm happy to see you too." And beside them in the grass holding his head up as high as his snake body allowed was Sir Reginald.

"Hello Andrew." Reginald greeted him.

"Wow, this is quite the showing," Andy looked around taking it in. For the first time since Auri was taken he felt something settle into his chest. Support, hope, gratitude. The emotions hit him harder than he expected and his horn began singing.

"Dun dun danadundun danadundun" Reginald looked at Andy, "I sure hope your horn singing Game of Thrones isn't a sign of what's to come." Kesseroth cleared his throat, which sounded more like the dumping of a truckload of gravel.

"Before we depart, there is one small complication." Andy tilted his head, "What complication?"

"You."

"Wait, what about me?"

"Well, a horse would have a difficult time riding a dragon. Probably. Additionally, we are traveling through human territory and a giant unicorn may be conspicuous. Especially a giant unicorn who recently killed forty one of the Harness' soldiers.

"Oh." Andy's ears lowered and he cast his eyes down.

"Fortunately," Georgina cut in, "there is a solution." Andy narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean…you're not leaving me behind."

"Absolutely not. You have a bipedal form."

"What?"

"You are a full unicorn now, are you not?"

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I forgot."

"Well, most mature unicorns possess a beast form and a humanoid form."

"I can be people?"

"Sure."

"I can be people!"

"Please stop saying it like that."

"I CAN BE PEOPLE!" Georgina was laughing, "Alright calm down."

"How can I calm down, Georgina? There is so much going on and at the center of it I finally made it to being a people."

"Well, a bipedal person I suppose."

"Exactly. Bipeople."

"Nope. Now close your eyes." Andy did as instructed, smashing his eyelids down as hard as he could. Georgina continued.

"Now feel your magic."

"I do feel it. I no longer feel empty."

"Good. Now there should be a new thread of magic. It feels like activating an ability." For several minutes Andy stood trying to find the new thread. There were several, some felt hot and he realized those were the explosions he'd set off. They had become abilities while he was unconscious. He avoided those threads for the time being. Then he felt it. A strange knot that was neither hot nor the familiar life essence of his other skills.

"Okay," he said.

"I think I found it."

"Pull."

"How do you pull?" Andy asked as he attempted to pull. Reality promptly took a turn. Andy in wonderland was the only way he'd ever found to describe the sensation. There was a sensation of falling, of stretching, shrinking and then that Hollywood camera trick where the camera both zooms in and pans backwards at the same time. Then he fell face-first into the grass.

"Ow." His voice. His voice came out of his mouth. It wasn't just thought projections. [NEW ABILITY: BIPEDAL TRANSFORMATION]"Success," Georgina announced. Andy pushed himself upright with two hands. He blinked at them. He had hands. Each of those hands had fingers. Five each. And for several moments the rescue mission came to a complete stop while Andy discovered his hands. He then discovered something else, "Georgina. Why am I nude?"

"Simple Andy. You're not wearing clothes." She threw him an outfit. A simple white silken shirt, a pair of black trousers, and travel boots. Andy, who had been nude for seven tiers and never had minded previously was suddenly feeling very self-conscious. He quickly pulled on the clothes. When he stood up Andy immediately face planted.

"Oh," Georgina added.

"Take it slow standing. It can take some getting used to when you first go from four legs to two. Your center of balance shifts." Groaning Andy rolled back to a seated position.

"Don't you think you could have told me sooner?"

"Yes. But then I would have deprived all of us of this moment." The group prepared and began loading up onto the back of Kesseroth. Andy watched as Georgina climbed up one of the dragon's forelegs with a practiced ease. Barnacle and Reginald were loaded into custom-saddle-bag-type-pouches secured near Georgina's seat. Sessaly stepped onto a stream of water which lifted her upward and onto the dragon. Kesseroth turned and fixed Andy with a patient stare.

"Yes?"

"You are the only one not on board."

"Oh right," Andy said as he pushed himself to his feet once again. He wobbled but maintained balance. He took a step forward. His right foot crossed in front of his left. His arms tried to compensate, but they no longer were legs and he pinwheeled wildly. He remained upright.

"Ha! Take that gravity!" He shouted. He took another step and immediately fell flat on his face. Gustave grabbed Andy by the shoulders and hoisted him up and onto Kesseroth's back. Kesseroth spread his wings and the humor faded. The reality of what they were about to do settled over the group. Somewhere to the north was the facility and inside they'd find Auri. Kesseroth crouched.

"Hold on." The ground vanished and for the second time in his life, Andy found himself flying toward trouble. [PARTY MEMBERS: 7] [HERD BOND: HERD(RAPTOR ADEPT- TIER 5)] [HERD BOND: COMPANION (SESSILE - TIER 3)] [HERD BOND: ACQUAINTANCE (MERFOLK- TIER 7)] [HERD BOND: ACQUAINTANCE (DRAGON- TIER?)] [HERD BOND: ACQUAINTANCE (UNICORN- TIER?)] [HERD BOND: ACQUAINTANCE (PRIMORDIAL BASSILISK- TIER 6)]