Ben the Dragonborn by Dianne E Astle Page A

what Lea Waterborn said was true, he would forget ever being on another world.  Perhaps his father would not be too disappointed; however, he knew he would never be free of his own sense of disappointment in himself.  He might not remember, but Ben feared that he would always have the sense that his life was not what it could have been. 
    “Good,” said the Watcher.  “I anticipated your response.  Therefore I have made arrangements.  Akca and Osch will go with you. As will Brina.”
    Lea Waterborn then spoke to the boy, “Brina make sure you stay to the west of the caves of Chard…”
    “Brina!”  Ben exclaimed. 
    “Yes, it’s me.”  
    “I would have never guessed,” Ben said.  
    “Good!” Brina exclaimed.  
    Ben looked carefully at the boy beside him.  Brina was wearing contact lenses. The eyes looked human, not mer.  He was wearing baggy shorts and a woven shirt that pulled over his head.  The spiky hair had been shaved close to his scalp.  On earth, he could easily pass as an ordinary boy.   
    “As I was saying,” Lea Waterborn continued, “stay to the west of the Chard Caves.  There is a human community beyond the caves that you will need to avoid with a war about to begin.  Hopefully you will not meet any mer, which is another good reason to stay away from the caves.  There may be mer gathering there for a battle with the humans.”
    “Where are we going?” Ben asked. 
    “The information I have tells me the source of the problem is likely Spencer Island.  About eight months ago there was a change on that island.  I noted that the natural order of things on the island was disrupted.  I sensed the change through the bond I have with my world as its watcher.  My connection to the island became fuzzy. It was like it ceased to exist for me.”
    When Lea Waterborn saw the puzzled look on Ben’s face she added, “Watchers have a connection to the world they serve.  Through our bond with the Guardian we know things about our world without being told.  We usually know when and where there is a problem. We can sense where evil is building up and where people cry out in pain.  We know when the natural world is in distress.  I should have some sense of how things are on Spencer Island, but I don’t.  What I do know is that the tregs from that island have started acting strangely.  They pick up things they had never shown any interest in before. Things like the Mer King’s crown.”    
    Ben looked from one worried face to the other and said, “I’m glad Brina is coming with me, but I thought you said Brina could not be one of the chosen on his own world?”   
    “That’s true,” responded the Watcher, “he is simply going with you as a guide.  The only gift Brina takes with him is the ability to transform and walk on human legs.”
    “By the time I get back to Fairwaters, I won’t think of it as a gift.”  Brina interjected. 
    Turning once more to Brina, Lea Waterborn said, “Brina, unless you have no choice stay in your human form until you are back at Fairwaters.  I do not need to tell you that it would put both your lives in danger if you were seen transforming.  I wish I had a boat to send you on.  It would be safer than traveling on our fish friends. There will be awkward questions if you are seen riding our friends.  However, the last storm destroyed the only boat we had.  It was so rarely used that I have not been in a hurry to replace it.”
    “I don’t understand,” Ben said. “Don’t the chosen use boats?” 
    “No, almost everyone comes with the ability to breathe under water.  However, this experience has taught me that it is important to have another one built.  One last thing, be back within the week whether you have the crown or not.  And Brina try to spend part of every day in the water if you can.  It will help you remain in human form longer.”
    “Right,” Brina responded, clearly pleased to be chosen to join Ben on