The Hunt for Tanpres #4

He cut to the chase. "You were voted to be the new Queen, girl."

Megan's confusion grew. "Voted? How?"

This got a little more complicated. "Four of our people from different families and backgrounds from each of the kingdoms were carried here by their guardians and were watched by their guardians. There was a full account documented on each of you. The Northerners voted that you're the best fit for this generation. We're a democracy. There are 300,000 Northerners of the proper age to vote and be part of the army. They voted you into office. You got over 99% of the votes, I’ll have you know. That was the highest voting rate that we’ve ever had for one candidate.” Bakari took the liberty to explain some of the process to her. She might find it beneficial to know.

“Why did they vote on me? They don’t even know me and I surely didn’t put myself in for the office.” This sounded too strange to her, but she still found her hallucination interesting. She might learn something from all of this, or would at least be entertained. Thus, she went along with it.

Bakari ignored her and continued to inform her of useful things. “You just so happen to be of blood ties to the last three royals. That, too, is quite uncommon. Blood matters less than morals and wisdom. Shall we go?” He intentionally held some of her secrets close to his own chest and would wait until the time was right to release them to her.

That stopped her dead in her tracks. “Go? You don’t expect me to follow you, do you and go with you? You’re a stranger to me and you want to take me to a strange land? You’re even stranger being a dragon, but who’s keeping score?” Megan teased him and hoped that he would appreciate her humor.

Bakari’s huge dark brown eyes with eyelashes that were two inches long looked into hers and he shook his head in disbelief. She was going to be a tricky student and he hoped to teach her everything he knew and more. He bowed toward her. “Come, my queen. Get on my back. I’ll be careful not to cut you with my scales.” His eyes showed humor then.

She chuckled to herself. “You want me to ride on your back? I always thought that it would be an adventure to drive 120 miles per hour in my car, but I never had the nerve to do that. What makes you think that this would make me feel any less uneasy?” She would love to fly, though, truth be known. She had always dreamt of it when she was a little girl. Wait a minute. “Bakari?” Her tone showed that she wasn’t pleased.

“Yes, ma’am?”

She had triggered a memory. “When did I come here?”

“When you were six months old.”

“Then, how do I recall flying before?” She couldn’t help but wonder.

Bakari laughed at her question and his face beamed. “You remember? You weren’t supposed to remember.” She had a memory of him even after all this time. “I came to visit you up until you were five years old. It’s at that age that you’re supposed to fail to remember everything well, so I thought it was safe to visit you up until then. Well, I guess I goofed.” He gazed up toward the heavens and spoke aloud. “Forgive me, Sir.”

“Who are you talking with, dragon?” She had a feeling that she already knew the answer even before she asked the question. She just wanted to be told just in case she was wrong.

“The Infinite.”

Megan smiled as the knowledge had come to her. She had no doubt. “Oh. God.” She put her own label on him.

“That’s what you Other Worlders call him. We call him the Infinite in the Outer World. He’s one in the same.” He explained to her as he bent at his knees in order to give her easier access to his back. “Come on. I guarantee that you’ll have the ride of your life.” He smiled at her and his eyes turned playful as his bushy eyebrows moved in expression.

“By the way, however long you’re in the Outer World, Megan, you’ll be gone only one second here in Denver. Then, when you’re gone from the Outer World, and are in the Other World, no matter how long, it’s one second in time there that has passed as well. Thus, you’ll never lose time as you travel back and forth, except for one second. You’ll age the same in each and will feel like you live two entire lifetimes, but will only age one lifetime, don’t worry. You’re just going to live out of two different worlds. Thus, I guess that you could say that you’ll have the best of both worlds.” It was his turn to show her his humor. It made her smile and chuckle.

“Very well, then. Let’s get out of here.” She climbed onto Bakari’s back and felt both regal and on top of the world. She knew that he would keep her safe. Even though she had clearly lost her mind, she couldn’t help but feel curious as to where her dream might take her and was glad to have such a joyful and knowledgeable companion for the journey.