No answer came back from the bridge that remained devoid of any visible life. The great head of the dragon swiveled back to the petrified firing squad and spoke once more, "Bring him to me or this entire crew along with the ship will perish."
Without hesitation the sailors rushed off and soon thereafter a bunch of them including officers of the ship brought the Captain to the forefront kicking and screaming. They thrust him to the deck beneath the great head of the dragon and drew back quickly from him.
The Captain looked up and cursed loudly for a moment before saying, "If I'd only found that scroll I would've had the means to boil you in a pot and serve you on my table!"
The dragon's only response was to shake its head and say, "It would seem that some will never learn, no matter how much warning is given. The knowledge of the scroll is corrupting and if it were possible my masters would have destroyed it long ago."
The Captain hotly retorted back with, "You're just trying to hold us back from our destiny! Everyone knows that the Sea People unlocked the technology of the scroll and have used it for their own gain!"
The dragon shook his head somberly, "The Sea People have no need of such dark words of import as they are content with who they are and with their lot in life, which is something that you would have done well to learn. Perhaps if you had, then there would not be this proverbial war that continues to ravage the peoples above water. Your crime for continuing the search of the scroll has been noted and by order of the Sea People you have been committed to the Undersea prison of Lagro.
Without further ado the dragon suddenly leaned near and snatched the Captain up with his teeth and tossed him into the upturned waves around the ship. The Captain screamed and flailed about, but abruptly was dragged under by some unseen force.
The great head of the dragon swiveled back to us and I drew closer to Colt even as my mouth turned dry in expectation of what would come next.
"Your brother is alive and well and I have been instructed to tell you that he will meet with you soon. You will be returned to the island that you were taken from."
At those words the great head inclined towards the bridge of the ship and dutifully the ship changed course.
Completely at a loss for words I managed to get out with enough volume to form a question, "My brother is alive and well?" I asked both disbelievingly and hopefully.