SINGED
Chapter 16

“This way,” said a voice.

I turned. Cayn was beckoning from a shadowy alcove in the cavern wall.

“You’re not safe,” he urged. “Hurry!”

“Why should we trust you, deserter,” Sal replied venomously.

I had not even realized he had followed me. I had simply fled, abandoning him along with the nethergrim in the chaos, but he had the presence of mind to follow.

“I’ll explain everything,” he promised, “but there is no time. He is still coming! We must flee!”

Another roar shattered the air and we followed into a dark tunnel like rats fleeing into the walls when the master of the house returns. We fled in darkness for a time and then Cayn stopped us.

“This way,” he whispered.

He was sliding into a narrow schism between two massive plates of dark granite, stuck between a rock and a hard place, then he was through and we followed.

“Don’t you see, I had no choice,” he pleaded. “The storm tripe were swarming the beach. They would have found the treasure.”

“But you lied about Alister,” Sal said, he was still fuming.

We were safe finally. The schism led through the dark, with the searching presence of the Dragonlord for a long dark candle or more before it faded and then up ahead we had emerged into a wine cellar of one of Alister’s properties. We were back in Lindor.

“I still didn’t know who I could trust,” he said glancing at me. “Alister told me more about the treasure as a precaution. He said there were items, magical talisman, hidden among the gold and jewels. If the hag found out she could still return.”

“I still don’t trust you,” Sal said, but the fire in his eyes had been reduced to dying embers.

“I cannot forgive Alister,” I said calmly. “He sacrificed Miranda.”

“She chose,” Cayn said. “It was not Alister’s intention. I asked him. He was shocked. There were other ways, he told me. More than one. He does not know why she chose the hardest way.

I said nothing, watching his expression. He was unreadable or transparent. I could not tell which. Perhaps I could read no hidden motives because there wasn’t one. Frowning I turned away.

The wine cellar was lit by a clutch of tallow candles, their flames motionless in the still air. They seemed to be waiting for the winds to change. The air to become turbulent. But for now, there was calm.

It appeared to be a regular meeting place. The dust had been swept from surfaces. Empty wine casts and chairs placed about inconvenient spots. Several lanterns hung from the rafters in reserve but there were currently unlit. It felt cozy and intimate rather than dark and clandestine. In comparison with the dragon lair beneath, anything would seem warm and cozy.

“I need time to think,” I said. “I do not trust Alister, or frankly you either. You have not given me reason to believe you. I want to go.”

Cayn nodded.

“Of course,” he said. “You are free to go.”

“Because Miranda paid for my freedom?” I ventured.

“And you have proven your worth,” Cayn said. “Alister would have you as an ally. Also, he wanted to make it right about Miranda.”

“He also has my treasure,” I said. “He owes me.”

“Yes, he agrees. He will try to make amends when you return. He thinks he can still save Miranda.”

“Captain Hawking to you,” Sal grunted.

I said nothing. If Alister could truly return Miranda to me, all would be forgiven. It is almost impossible to regain a dragon’s trust, but if he returned Miranda, I vowed to wipe the slate clean. He had not achieved this yet though. And could he? The Hag’s final words haunted me. Had Miranda even existed? Was she an illusion?

“You have found the chink in my armor,” I replied. “If Alister does this then I am in his debt. Bring him to me.”

“In that case, wait here. I will make him aware and then I will return,” he said.

He ascended the stair, as I and Sal sank back into our seats.

“I think we should go,” Sal said. “Cayn was too eager.”

I frowned, then nodded. He was right, but it was too late. We both knew it. It was an unexpected relief when Cayn returned with Alister alone instead with his goon squad. I was almost disappointed.

“’It was all a huge mistake,” Alister began without preamble, taking out a fine lace handkerchief and wiping his brow with a shaking hand. “Miranda was a trusted partner. The trickery of her sister was shocking even for an old pirate like myself. I am ashamed to say, she bested me. Without you, Sal and Cayn, all would have been lost for sure. As it is, we still have a chance, slim though it is, to return Miranda to us.”

“I have not forgotten your treachery,” I said with a hard, icy stare, “but Miranda is more important. What is this slim chance of which you speak?”

“There was an enchanted jewel amid the treasure that the Hag had stolen. I do not believe she knew what she had taken, but I know, because it is mine. It was a crimson diamond filled with spirits. They can restore Miranda, disenchant her and return her human form. Cayn searched treasure but could not replace it in time before it was stolen again from under our noses.”

“I thought you slew my nethergrim allies and took it yourself,” I said raising an eyebrow accusingly. “Is that not so?”

“No,” he hurried to say. “There are other enemies still to be revealed to us both, although I have my suspicions. For Miranda’s sake, I will discuss that later. Our first concern is to recover the gem.”

“Is it not in the treasure?” I asked.

“I do not believe it is any longer,” he said, eyes meeting my own.

Was that a gleam, sparkling in his eyes? Surely, he could not be trusted but any possibility to have Miranda returns to me, no matter how small, could not be overlooked. He was he was strewing breadcrumbs of hope for me to follow and, foolish serpent that I am, I followed. It was his funeral, if they were lies. He was playing with dragon fire.

“Tell me everything,” I said. “How would it save her? Where can I replace it?”

“I don’t know exactly how it would work” he admitted, “but the spirits in the gem feed on enchantments. They would dispel Miranda’s curse and she would be returned to her normal form. I discovered old tomes that describe how the gem works and what it’s magic looks like, and how to replace it. It was my search for the gem that uncovered the Hag’s treasure which started this whole mess.”

“I don’t trust you,” I replied. “I think that is understandable, considering our past, but if you make this right I think you will replace I am a valuable ally.”

Alister began to speak but I cut him off.

“Where is the gem?” I said. “If it is there I will get it.”

He shook his head so hard he almost dislodged his hat, which he then removed as he spoke.

“It was stolen, with the rest of the treasure, by a powerful enemy, a servant of the King of Lindor. If you recall, the Red Guard support my enemies. Remember the dock.”

“I remember the dock,” I said coldly, and he hurried on.

“I am not without influence, but if the king wants the gem then we must hurry to reclaim it. The servant is a proud and vengeful knight. He will be leaving Lindor soon.We must confront him and take the gem before he leaves.”

“And by we, you mean me,” I said.

Alister hesitated and then nodded.

“I will be able to lend you discrete support, but I dare not be directly implicated. Else I would have already done it myself.”

“How do you suggest I confront him?” I asked. “Surely you do not mean violence?”

Alister paused, carefully weighing his next words.

“You need not answer,” I said. “I’ve heard enough. I despise you and your intent, but for Miranda I would do anything.”

I glanced at Sal and he met my gaze.

“Where will I replace him?” I said.

“He stays at the Dragon Claw Inn,” Alister said quietly. “Be careful, he is extremely dangerous. If he chooses he can destroy Miranda with a thought.”

“Then he will be eliminated,” I murmured.

Alister hesitated and then nodded.

“It is the only way,” he agreed.

I rose with Sal and without another glance at Alister or Cayn, we left. It was night and I could smell the cool salt breeze. It followed me from the island. It hid among the scents of Lindor, but it was the same salty tang of the sea. The portal had saved us nearly nine blood moons of travel time, but the sea and its breezes were still here waiting to greet us. I breathed in deeply.

“Might need to sleep,” Sal murmured.

He was leaning on the doorframe from which we had exited. His breathing was ragged. I realized we had not slept in days.

“Let’s get a room at this inn. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. I will enquire about our quarry and plot while you rest.”

He nodded with a grateful wisp of a smile. Despite the late candle the Dragon’s Claw Inn was bustling with denizens. It was a sprawling structure, nestled within its own courtyard, behind high stonewalls and amid well-tended gardens. People came and went like bees from a hive, and their murmured conversations also resembled the buzzing of a swarm. They were not too quiet for me to overhear, of course, and their thoughts were also mine to consider. I would not even need to risk detection by asking about my prey. I would simply listen. I could listen from the privacy of her quarters if I chose.

“Room for the night,” I said to the youthful innkeeper’s son who greeted us.

“Gladly sir,” he said but his voice was hesitant, and he was eyeing me. “How would you like to pay?”

“Pay?” I retorted before I could stop myself rewarded and was rewarded with a snicker.

“I mean, of course we will pay,” I hurried on.

What a sight I must have made. I was the quintessential castaway, bare chested and barefooted, wearing only tatters breaches, stained by salt and sand. Sal was the same but stepped forward with a weary bow and handed the boy silver. He had the presence of mind to keep a small purse which I had not and with the whole accursed cache of the island treasure stolen from under our noses it was all the wealth we had left. I was destitute again, like the day I hatched.

“This way, gentlemen,” the boy replied, returning to his former courteousness and led us up the stairs and down a dimly lit hall to a small room with a single narrow bed, hardwood chair and a tiny table with a half-burned candle. The boy lit the candle and was gone.

I growled.

“It was all I could afford,” Sal said.

“No, it is fine,” I said. “Thank you, Sal. I forgot I have nothing again. We will acquire another horde. You take the bed, Sal. I think I will go to the tavern.”

Sal agreed without protest, so thorough was his exhaustion. He fell into bed and was instantly snoring like a slumbering dragon.

I crept back down the hall and out into the warm night. I needed to improve my human disguise. So, close to the docks and the sea, it was not unusual for sailors to go abroad as we did though not in tatters. I looked like a vagrant or a madman. It flew in the face of my instincts to blend in and stung my pride. The way that boy had sneered made my blood boil. I needed better clothes, and I had an idea where I could acquire some.

I found my new apparel; or rather they found me, in a dark alley several blocks away. They were currently being worn by a sneering thug and his two contemporaries.

“Give me your tunic, breaches and boots,” I said.

He had been boasting loudly to the others about his recent acts of thuggery as he raised a smoky bottle of foul-smelling brew and had not heard me approaching. He turned. Like me, he was a predator. I appreciated how quickly he recovered from the start.

Eyes narrowing, he sized me up. I appeared a youthful vagrant with no sign of any valuables and his thoughts became spiteful and cruel as he considering how to punish me for the interruption; maybe he would even use me as an example to further impress upon the others how he was the meanest and strongest, and not to be crossed. When I calmly interrupted him again with my demand, I saw murder in his cold eyes.

“You want my clothes, do you?” He murmured softly.

Another would surely have seen their death reflected in those eyes; he was a true killer. Perhaps I had finally seen my own reflection, but then again, the light in the alley was dim, like my quarry.

“Yes please,” I replied, raising an eyebrow appraisingly.

He was close to my size which was why I chose him, perhaps slightly bigger but I preferred a loose fit.

Abruptly I dodged as his rapier appeared as a blur in his hand. He was fast, for a human, but nowhere near fast enough. I met his gaze and watched it melt with uncertainty as time after time he lunged and missed. Then I began responding before his next attack; before he even twitched. Quicker than a thought I would move like it was a dance I had danced many times before, causing him to stumble and falter. There was fear in his eyes now and in the eyes of his cohorts.

“What are you?” he stammered.

I snatched the rapier so fast it simply appeared in my grasp and he gasped, shaking his empty hand.

“Clothes, please,” I said with just a hint of menace.

I noticed the other two beginning to drift toward the end of the alley. I moved so fast it appeared I vanished and reappeared before them. They froze, turning pale.

“You,” I said to the smaller of the two. “Go.”

He ran without another word.

“You,” I repeated facing the other who was almost Sal’s size this time. “I require your clothes as well.”