The Dragon Eaters

by Duke Kittle

  * * *

  “Permission to come aboard!” Tina called up to Allister who was standing at the top of the gangplank leading onto the Thorn's Side.

  The Madrian Shepherd looked at Kravek, then to Tina on his shoulder. “I've been told not to allow anyone from Likonia aboard the ship without the captain's express permission, Lady van Schtoffen.”

  Tina wondered for a moment why Captain Morgan would give such an order, but with a Maldavian perched in preparation to destroy the town, she guessed the captain didn't want people trying to rush to board the ship and overcrowd it. Tina bowed her head. “I think you can make an exception for Kravek. He is from Akoa, after all.”

  Allister cocked an eyebrow and turned to address one of the crew, but Captain Morgan came down from the quarterdeck. “Let them aboard, Allister.” She put her hands on her hips and grinned. “Any guest of Tina's is welcome on my ship. Especially one as good-looking as him.” The grey-furred cat winked her one good eye at Kravek and turned away from the railing, her thin tail sweeping to the side as she headed for her quarters.

  Tina giggled at the captain's statement. She then looked up at Kravek, who seemed to be hesitating. “Kravek? Is everything all right?”

  Kravek's eyes widened, and he shook his head. “Uh. Yes. Yes. I'm fine.” He looked down at the gangplank and stepped onto it.

  Tina eyed Kravek briefly. “You haven't been drinking this morning, have you?”

  Kravek kept his attention on the gangplank as he walked up it. It wasn't particularly wide, but the coarse underside of his metal shoes gripped the wood well. Tina thought he might have wondered if it would support his weight before he spoke. “No, I haven't. I'm all right, Tina. Just... not used to being called good-looking.”

  Tina giggled. Once on board the Thorn's Side, she directed Kravek to the captain's quarters. “Go ahead and knock.”

  Kravek did so, and the door to the captain's quarters swung open a moment later. On the other side, Captain Morgan smiled at the two of them. “Come in.” She stepped away from the door and walked to the round table sitting in the middle of her quarters.

  The back of the captain's quarters was all window which gave a clear view of the open sea behind the ship. In front of the window was a fairly lavish bed with four tall posts, one of which had a little carpeting wrapped around it. Captain Morgan reached up and unsheathed her claws, raking the post once in passing on her way to a dresser next to it. She stopped at the dresser and picked up a bottle of scotch. “Can I offer either of you a drink?”

  Tina was about to answer when Kravek cut in. “No. Thank you.”

  The captain nodded and poured herself a glass. She turned back around to face the two of them and leaned against the dresser. “I had something I wanted to talk to you about in the Stumble Drum earlier, Tina. I've been chatting with the foreman, and I found something you might want to see.” She gestured to a piece of paper lying on the table. “You remember on our arrival, I told you about one of my sailors having talked to another from the Water Walker?”

  Tina nodded. “I do. You've been doing a little digging, I take it?”

  “I told you I'd keep you informed if I found anything, and I just thought I'd follow my curiosity since we had information about another wizard coming to Likonia.” Captain Morgan set her glass of scotch down on the dresser and walked to the table. She tapped the piece of paper. “I know most trade goods which are shipped in and out of the ports in Madrigaarde and Levansia. But what I found in the foreman's records was one shipment of supplies coming here which I do not usually see moved unless they're being accompanied by a magic user. Since we really didn't have any information about the wizard, I thought I'd look into it.”

  Tina looked down at the slip of paper, but before she could ask, Kravek lifted his hand to his shoulder. Tina smiled and stepped out onto it. He lowered her down to the table, and Tina stepped off so she could walk over to the piece of paper. On it, she saw written an interesting collection of occult items. Most of them were fairly common and had multiple functions. But one item on the list stood out among all others.

  “Three flasks of Milk of Cerra?” She looked up at the captain. “When were these items shipped?”

  Captain Morgan thumbed the corner of the paper where a date was written. “According to the foreman's records, this shipment arrived in Likonia about nine months ago.” Captain Morgan folded her arms and smiled in the way only a self-satisfied feline could. “But here's the part where it gets interesting. These items weren't on the foreman's regular receiving list. This is a copy made from his second set of books.”

  Tina looked up at Captain Morgan. “Second set of books?”

  Captain Morgan nodded. “I'm sure you're aware there are some items banned from open trade. Usually, it has something to do with the items being dangerous to transport on a ship. There are a few items which have to have special care, and it takes a special dispensation from the courts in Madrigaarde for them to be legally shipped on a transport capable of carrying them through the proper means. Other items are simply banned because they're illegal in any form.”

  Tina looked over the list. “I'm familiar with the trade practices in Madrigaarde. But why do you bring it up? As far as I can tell, these reagents are all fairly safe on their own.”

  “The foreman of any port or dock is responsible for items received, including those which shouldn't have been shipped.” Captain Morgan let her tail sweep back and forth slowly behind her. “But one of those items on a foreman's books can get the foreman in a lot of trouble with the trade guilds, especially in Madrigaarde.” She held up two fingers. “Those foremen who receive items like that usually keep two sets of books. But that's what's unusual.”

  Tina looked up from the list. “How so?”

  Captain Morgan walked back to her dresser and opened the top-middle drawer to withdraw a small, leather bound, red book. She tossed it onto the table. “You can check the list yourself if you like, but as far as I can tell,” Captain Morgan folded her arms and leaned against the dresser again, “none of those items are on it.”

  Tina blinked at the red book sitting on the table next to the list. She didn't need to double-check the list, though. Tina had known Captain Morgan long enough to trust both her and her thoroughness. “If the items aren't illegal, then why would the foreman be keeping them on a secret set of books?” She looked up at the captain. “For that matter, how did you get him to show you his second set of books, knowing you're a Madrigaardian trader?”

  When Captain Morgan offered back only her feline grin, Tina rolled her eyes. “Right. Feline persuasion.” Tina returned her attention to the list of items which Captain Morgan had copied from the foreman's books. Her attention was drawn back to the three flasks of Milk of Cerra. While there were plenty of uses for Milk of Cerra outside of a wizard's needs, within the scope of a wizard's interest, Milk of Cerra really only had one function.

  Tina looked up at Captain Morgan as she moved the list to one side. “Thank you for this, Captain. I do think this will be useful. I'd like to confirm something in a book I've been given by one of the Likonians, and I think this list will be important.” She looked up at Kravek and curled a finger at him. “Kravek, will you get out that book, please? Set it on the table, but don't open it or remove the wrappings.”

  Kravek put his backpack down on the floor and opened the back flap. He removed the book and laid it onto the table next to Tina. He did as instructed and left it closed with the wrappings still around it.

  “Kravek, take a step back, please.”

  Kravek looked at Tina curiously but did as he was told and moved back from the table.

  Tina rested her hands on the cloth wrappings, and the runic circle appeared in the right lens of her glasses. She carefully sheathed the entire book in a field of force. Then she looked deeper into the equations surrounding the book. It took her only a moment to conf
irm her suspicion. “Captain Morgan, open your back window, please.”

  The grey-furred Kylathian pushed off the dresser and moved to the back window to undo the latch. She pushed both windows open. A moment later, the book sailed through the window and splashed into the water. Tina pressed her hands downward, and the book sank rapidly.

  “What did you do that for?” Captain Morgan looked where the book had sunk.

  Tina pushed her hands forward, and then curled her fingers as she swept her hands toward herself. The windows closed in front of Captain Morgan who stutter-stepped back from them. “Because I didn't want to mess up your pretty bed.”

  A loud WHOOMP came from behind the ship before a plume of water rose into the air. It drenched the back of the ship, and Tina was certain the quarterdeck would be soaked. But at least the ship was in one piece. “That's what I thought.” Tina lowered her hands and seated herself on the table. “Lazur's rhabdophobia might have actually saved his life.”

  Kravek's startled manner slipped away as the plume of water dissipated behind the ship. “What on Cerra...?”

  “The book,” Tina adjusted her glasses, “was a trap. And that's enough evidence for me.” She gestured to the list next to her. “Since none of these items would normally be concealed on a trade list, because the Maw of Kaelus literally collapsed on us simply because we entered, and as a result of that book being armed with an incendiary trap, I have come to the conclusion that, like my Shasta and the Maldavian Albatrosses, the Dragon Eaters are creations of magic. It would explain the Milk of Cerra being brought to Likonia with that shipment as well. And I would bet my glasses that the wizard Harkon Keldo called here to 'help' is the one who created them.”