Chapter 9

  -The Victory coasted up, above the military tier, and into the grassy twelfth. It was mostly sprawling parkland through which deer bounded, fish swam in glittering lakes, and the occasional manor surrounded by immaculate lawns sat like an island of order in a deliberately cultivated wilderness. Their destination was one of the larger mansions, built close to the cliff and next to a wide, perfectly circular lake. There were guard towers spaced at the extremities of the property, which Adeena noticed were both staffed, and equipped with several wicked looking turreted devices that seemed to be armed with massive fireworks that tracked them as they approached.

  Behind the manor, carved into the cliff, was a large, perfectly circular cave, from the front of which jutted the metal hull of a sky-ship that, although it was difficult to see clearly, did not seem to have any masts. Silver and black flags, emblazoned with a draconic symbol that Adeena didn’t recognise fluttered over the various buildings, and Ser Samara made several what sounded like coded phrases and passwords as they approached, speaking into some small kind of metal box on the ship’s bridge. Only then did the turrets turn away, and they came into land on a wide open lawn next to the lake out the front of the largest building.

  Adeena and the others followed Ser Samara, along with a platoon of soldiers, down the gangway and across the lawn. Ser Samara was still dragging the sobbing Father Jacques. Occasionally, he tried to struggle, only to be brutally whacked by the Dragonsworn’s heavy gauntlets.

  Despite, as Adeena understood it, Ser Samara being in charge of the dark-steel clad house guards, they were challenged at the doorway, and Ser Samara had to verify her identity with her seal before she was allowed in. Paranoia didn’t seem to come close to it when dragons were involved.

  The large doors opened to reveal a grand and imposing entranceway. Immaculately clean black and white checkerboard tiles filled the circular room. To their left and right passageways led to the building’s two side wings, sweeping staircases on either side led on to the upper level, and ahead a large archway showed what looked like an immense library.

  Still, despite the grandeur and opulence, there were a few things here and there that didn’t… quite match. A soft velvet rabbit, as big as a person, sat in an alcove where in a normal noble’s estate a suit of armour might have gone. Pictures adorned the wall, but most of them were very amaturish, as if drawn by a child – one of them was of three stick figures, all holding hands in front of a large mountain and a rainbow above and a dark and a light stick-dragon flew, and with the draconic words for ‘My Family.’

  There were also a few framed examples of the ‘aethergraphs’ which had started to catch on in the Shattered Sea – moments frozen and reproduced as images by magitek devices – many of which showed a white-haired elvish girl with horns: in one she was sitting on Ser Samara’s armoured shoulders, both of them laughing; in another, she was on couch with a less amused sea elf, gesticulating with a book on her lap; another showed a tiny silver dragon, perhaps three feet long, perched on the giant paw of what might have been a parent and being nuzzled by the edge of truly colossal maw that didn’t fit into the shot. Unlike all the aethergraphs that Adeena had seen before, however, these were in colour.

  It was a world away from the blood and the smoke and the death down on the eighth tier. Adeena still felt a bit numb about it. It hadn’t been her fault, not really. Well, perhaps a bit. But she hadn’t realised that the entire place was going to be torched. She’d thought it would be quick and quiet, cloak and dagger, with only those who had kept on trying to kill her and hers repeatedly getting their just desserts.

  The image of that poor stupid fan-girl acolyte being dragged away in manacles played through her mind. At least she hadn’t been killed…

  There were a few discrete servants scattered about the entranceway, and one of them approached Ser Samara as guards closed the doors behind the group – a balding goblin with delicate golden spectacles.

  “Ser Samara,” he said, looking her over – clearly less than impressed by her blood-splattered plate and sobbing prisoner. “I see you have brought guests? And that you did not take the time to… freshen up.”

  “Please inform the Lady that I beg a moment of her time regarding a matter of upmost importance, and will await her in the library,” said Ser Samara.

  The goblin sniffed, and then nodded, moving off towards one of the staircases. Ser Samara led them forward again, through the far archway.

  Adeena had visited libraries before. Many of them, even. Especially during her early career, she’d had to study the abilities, strengths, and weaknesses of various monsters. The royal library of Crowncourt had been an impressive collection, housing over a hundred thousand volumes on a dazzling array of subjects.

  It was nothing compared to this library.

  Arrayed in the shape of a plus, light poured in from every side, and in the centre, beneath an even grander dome of glass than the temple had had, was a comfortable area with desks and couches, many of which were absolutely covered in books and piles of paper – islands of chaos in a sea of immaculate order.

  There was an sea elf already waiting for them, flanked by a dozen armed and armoured fellows, and with an absolutely furious expression on her face. She was dressed in deep navy-blue plate armour, a cloak that shifted and glittered like a sea of stars, and had a particularly ornate holy symbol of Lassia around her neck. Her pointed ears were capped with gold that matched her smouldering eyes, and her black hair was so long that even up in a high ponytail it reached her ankles. She had a thin sword at her waist with a gilded and jewelled handle, a sapphire the size of a fist at the end of the pommel. Adeena knew, without needing to be asked, exactly who this was: Melicende.

  “You go too far, cat,” said the woman in a low, husky, furious voice, the gills on the sides of her neck flaring as she took deep breaths. “I will skin you for this. Release Father Jacques, and I may make it quick.”

  Ser Samara snickered. “Posture all you want, Melicende,” she said. “I finally have you, and you know it. I do hope the Lady allows me to execute you personally, traitor.”

  “Traitor? I have served the Imperium since before you were born!” shouted Melicende. “You-”

  “What is going on here!?” came a high, lyrical voice from above them.

  Adeena looked up, blinking when she saw what at first glance appeared to be a young elf, not even fully grown, slowly wafting down from one of the upper stories. She had long hair so white it was silver and the brightest eyes that Adeena had ever seen, along a small crown of a few stubby horns that swept back from her temples and marked her as a shapeshifted dragon. She was dressed in a black and white kimono, and had a book under one arm.

  The child, and presumably dragon, from the pictures: Lady Aeviexistrixia.

  “Why is everyone shouting?” said the dragon child in an annoyed voice as she reached a few inches off the ground and came to a hovering stop. “You know I don’t like shouting.”

  Ser Samara immediately saluted, hand over heart, and bowed her head. “Forgive me, my Lady.”

  “Apologies, my Lady,” said Melicende with a curtsy. “I fear my emotions got the better of me, this fool has attacked my church-”

  Aeviexistrixia held up a hand, cutting the woman off as she turned towards Adeena. “Who are you?” she asked in a curious voice.

  “I’m, um, Captain Adeena Yassin, your, err… dragonieness?” said Adeena, trying to remember how to do a proper Crowncourtian curtsy. “And this is Xavier and Heidi…”

  Aeviexistrixia burst into laughter. “Haha! ‘Dragonieness?’ Yes, I like that! Sammy, Melly, that’s what I want to be called now.”

  “Of course, your dragonieness,” said Ser Samara, without missing a beat.

  “Captain Adeena Yassin… Yassin…” said the dragon, tapping her lip. “Ah! Yes! I remember reading about you! You’re an adventurer! Born in the Crowncourt region somewhere around 1216.868. Joined the Yellow Suns mercenary company in 1217.101, left 1217.132 for unspecified reasons-”

  “My Lady, please, we have a more pressing issues,” said Melicende, barely restrained irritation in her tone. “Ser Samara has attacked the Grand Temple of Lassia in the city, slaughtered my subordinates-”

  “Sammy!?” said the dragon in an appalled voice. “What are you doing!?”

  “Rooting out conspiracy, your dragonieness,” said Ser Samara, putting a hand on Father Jacques’s shoulder. “Ms. Melicende has been killing the mercenary companies I have been hiring for your upcoming expedition, and is responsible for the destruction of the sky-ships Brightspark and Cloudskimmer.”

  The dragon frowned and turned to Melicende. “Melly? Is this true? Did you destroy two sky-ships?”

  “No, my Lady,” said the elf smoothly. “I ordered no such measure.”

  The dragon’s eye twitched, and the air around her seemed to twist and warp for a moment.

  “Lies!” said Ser Samara. “Two companies dead, assassination attempts on-”

  Melicende sneered. “And how many have you killed-”

  “Enough!” screamed Aeviexistrixia, an eldritch tone rumbling beneath her usual voice. “You can’t both be telling the truth!”

  “I would never lie to you, your dragonieness, and I have proof,” said Ser Samara, ripping Father Jacques’ gag from his mouth. “Tell her, you dog. Tell her how you tried to kill Captain Yassin and her companions!”

  “No, I didn’t-” he sobbed.

  “No lies,” snarled the dragon child, her eyes flaring with inner light as she wafted towards the elf. The air in the library seemed to grow heavy, and the light seemed to dim. “I hate lies!”

  Father Jacques’ body twitched and jerked as he tried to resist the compulsion, biting his tongue so hard that blood oozed from his mouth.

  “Answer!” screamed the dragonling.

  Father Jacques’ will snapped.

  “I was ordered to kill the Dragonsworn’s hiringlings by Lady Melicende,” he said, words tumbling from his bloodied lips. “I arranged for the first to be killed on the way to Everhearth, the second killed in the city, and for the Brightspark to be brought down to kill the third. When the Captain and two of her crewmates survived, I attempted to have assassins take them out yesterday, which also failed. Then they came to my temple, claiming to be looking for a missing member. I knew they were there for revenge, so I ordered them to be killed. But it was a trap, the Dragonsworn attacked-”

  “Melly, why did you lie to me!?” shouted the increasingly irate dragon.

  “I did not, my Lady,” said the elven woman, her voice smooth and composed. “I directed Father Jacques to kill the mercenaries, but I did not order the destruction of the Brightspark or the Cloudskimmer. That was your question, my Lady. I would never lie to you. I deeply regret that my servant failed so supremely in his task, and so grossly misinterpreted my instructions – I would have never authorised any attack that put so many innocents in danger.”

  That seemed to mollify the dragon somewhat, and the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. “That wasn’t very nice Melly,” she said sharply. “I don’t like it when you kill people.”

  “I am sorry that I upset you, my lady,” said Melicende. “I should point out, however, the Ser Samara sent her people to kill Father Jacques-”

  “Is this true?” said the dragon, turning to Adeena.

  As she had back in the magma tunnels, Adeena felt the overwhelming, overpowering compulsion to answer her. This time, however, she knew she had nothing to fear.

  “Ser Samara explicitly ordered me not to attack first,” said Adeena. “And that I was only allowed to defend myself.”

  “As you can see, my Lady, there is only one aggressor here,” said Ser Samara.

  “Melly!” said Aeviexistrixia. “I’m very cross with you! You can’t just go around killing people!”

  “I acted only to protect you,” said Melicende smoothly. “I ordered their deaths because I neither trust Ser Samara, nor random outlander mercenaries with your safety. I regret that my actions were necessary-”

  “You snake,” hissed Ser Samara. “You may have been smart enough not to order it directly, but you knew that your followers would harm citizens, destroy Imperium assets!”

  “I did not order any attacks on any Imperium sky-ships,” said Melicende mildly. “That was Father Jacques’ failure, not mine.”

  Ser Samara baed her teeth. “Even you are not so stupid-”

  “Enough!” shouted Aeviexistrixia again. “I have heard enough! I hate it when you two fight! Why can’t you just be friends?”

  “Forgive me, your dragonieness,” said Ser Samara. “I seek only to protect and serve you.”

  “As do I,” said Melicende.

  “You seek only to serve yourself-” said Ser Samara.

  “Shush!” said Aeviexistrixia, pointing first at Melicende. “Melly, you are to stop trying to kill these outlanders, you hear me? They seem very nice.” She turned her finger towards Ser Samara next. “Sammy, I want to hear no more about this, understand? I want you to… to stop doing whatever it is you are doing to Melly’s people.”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “I shall, of course, do as you command, my Lady,” said Ser Samara, placing a hand back over her heart. “But my lady-”

  “No buts,” said Aeviexistrixia, holding up a finger. “No more fighting, understand? And I want you to apologise to each other. Properly.”

  Ser Samara looked up at Melicende with undilluted hatred. “Apologies, Lady Melicende,” she said. “I regret this outcome, I truly wish that things had happened differently.”

  “As do I, Ser Samara,” said the elf thinly. “It is clear that things could have been resolved in a much more satisfactory manner.”

  “Good!” said the dragon, clapping her hands and clearly not picking up on the fact that neither of the women had properly apologised.

  “Your dragonieness, what should I do with… this man?” said Ser Samara, gesturing to the sobbing Father Jacques. “He ordered the destruction of two sky-ships.”

  Aeviexistrixia furrowed her brow. “Well, what do we normally do when someone does that?”

  “We execute them, your dragonieness,” said Ser Samara. “They are traitors to the Imperium.”

  “Oh, well…” said Aeviexistrixia uncomfortably, playing with a strand of her long hair. “I suppose you’d better do that.”

  “I believe there are two more elves involved in the plot as well,” said Ser Samara, pointing at two of the figures behind Melicende who Adeena recognised from the Brightspark, a man and a woman, both of whom Adeena had forgotten the name of. “That one, and that one.”

  “Oh, well, them too,” said Aeviexistrixia with a shrug, turning away and not looking at any of them.

  “My Lady, they were merely following orders-” said Melicende quickly.

  “Melly!” said Aeviexistrixia, hunching over, tears pooling in her eyes. “We can’t have people just destroying sky-ships!”

  “But please, my Lady, surely death is too extreme?” said Melicende. “At least let them live – you don’t like killing people, I know that.”

  “Your dragonieness, over a hundred loyal citizens died in those crashes!” said Ser Samara. “They are traitors!”

  “I- no! I don’t know!” said the little dragon in an upset voice, turning away and floating over to a desk. “I don’t want to deal with this anymore! Have- have the enforcers deal with it, with a court and stuff. That’s what they’re for, isn’t it?”

  “As you command, your dragonieness,” said Ser Samara, snapping her fingers. Several guards entered. “Arrest him, and her.” She pointed at them. “Have them delivered to the enforcers. Tell them I will submit the evidence and charges against them before period’s end.”

  The pair of elves looked at Melicende beseechingly, but she shook her head fractionally. For a moment Adeena thought that they might fight, but then they slumped and let themselves be led away.

  Ser Samara hauled Father Jacques to his feet. “Take this one to the Victory, I will deal with him personally – later.”

  Ser Samara and Melicende continued to glare at one another as the elves were led away. Adeena wasn’t really sure what was going to happen now. Neither of them seemed particularly pleased with the outcome: Melicende had kept her head, and Ser Samara had likely ravaged the High Priestess’ power base, but neither of them had really ‘won.’

  What was more, Ser Samara had been directly ordered by a dragon to drop the matter, which meant that, as an Oathsworn, she could not disobey.

  Did that mean that the expedition was going ahead as planned? That she was going to have to be looking over her back at the sea elves who clearly still wanted her dead. They’d also been ordered to stop trying to kill her, but somehow Adeena didn’t think that Melicende was taking that order as seriously as Ser Samara.

  “All right!” said the little dragon, grabbing a map from amidst the piles and floating over to a mostly clear table. “Now that everyone’s here, we can talk about the trip!”

  It seemed that the dragon did intend for them to continue. Adeena glanced at Xavier, who raised a hand to his neck and subtly signed one of the battlefield gestures they’d developed: ‘retreat?’ She nodded fractionally and made two signs of her own: ‘hold position,’ and ‘prepare to fall back.’ He relaxed fractionally. Adeena thought she caught Ser Samara looking at her for a moment, but then the Dragonsworn turned away.

  The dragon beckoned the groups around the table. Ser Samara and Adeena’s group moved to one side, Melicende and the other sea elves on the other.

  “So,” said the dragon excitedly. “As I think you’ve all been told, I’ve managed to get hold of a new airship, the Firestorm. Technically it’s only a prototype, but I’ve looked over the schematics and asked Mother and she says everything will work properly. Basically, it will let us travel much further into the Wyrd than anyone before us. Cool, right?”

  ‘Mother,’ as in, the eldest Silver Dragon and quite possibly the most powerful sorcereress in existence. If Adeena had understood her dragon family trees properly.

  “Super cool!” said Heidi, before clearing her throat. “I mean, um, sorry-”

  “No, it is super cool!” agreed Aeviexistrixia, nodding enthusiastically. “Anyway, my plan is to try and figure out where the Wyrd started. We don’t have any good records really – well we have our records, but nothing good from the mortals who were alive back then. So we’ll head for Crowncourt first – Captain Yassin, I know you know it well, so that will be helpful. It should only take us a period or so to reach it, and hopefully we’ll be able to locate some information about where the whole thing might have started! Alright, any questions? No? Great! So we’ll head out a few hours after the Dawning breaks…”

  The little dragon waffled on at length about some of the minutia of the trip before letting them go almost two hours later. Ser Samara and Melicende glowered at each other for a moment in the foyer, before the elf stalked off into one of the mansion’s wings, her followers in toe.

  “What is going to happen to those acolytes?” asked Adeena, as soon as they were out of the house and moving over the lawn to the Victory.

  “Hmm?” said Ser Samara distractedly.

  “The ones who were arrested,” said Adeena. “You promised me people not directly involved wouldn’t be harmed?”

  It was the first time that they’d really been able to talk since the attack. She’d been too battle-shocked during the Victory’s very short flight.

  “Oh, they’ll be released shortly,” said Ser Samara absently. “My Lady has ordered me end my ‘whatever I am doing’ to Melicende’s people. I must obey in the manner she intends.”

  Adeena relaxed slightly. At least they’d be OK…

  Ser Samara slowed and came to a stop, staring out over the artificial lake, about half-way to the sky-ship. Her eyes flicked back and forth as they caught fish swimming in the depths. The air was becoming a little chilly, and her hot breath came out in little puffs of steam, although since they were in the middle of the Long Night it was still unbelievably warm.

  “And are my people safe?” asked Adeena.

  Ser Samara glanced up, and once again took a moment to process the words.

  “Melicende will not move openly against you,” said Ser Samara slowly. “At least, while we remain in the city. Lady Aeviexistrixia was, by her standards, exceedingly cross with her.” She clicked her teeth and looked away. “I should have killed them all, and begged forgiveness later.”

  Adeena said nothing.

  “At least I got Jacques, and most of the temple guard…” muttered Ser Samara, speaking more to herself than Adeena.

  Xavier glanced meaningfully at Adeena and signed again.

  “What about on the expedition?” asked Adeena. “You said we’ll be safe ‘while we remain the city.’”

  “The expedition…” said Ser Samara slowly. “That is… we shall need to watch our backs.”

  Adeena steeled herself and reached into the pocket of her dark Gambeson’s coattaisl to cover the surge of hellfire as a contract appeared in her hands and filled the air with a tang of brimstone. Adeena cleared her throat as Ser Samara looked up, her nose sniffing.

  “Then under Appendix B, Section 1 of the contract between Yassin’s Irregulars and the Draconic Imperium,” began Adeena, “dated the Sixth Period of the Waning, 0.634 – New Calendar, which states that ‘the of use of Yassin’s Irregulars for anything other than the stipulated duties and tasks, excluding reasonably unforeseeable events related to the aforementioned duties, is strictly prohibited, and entitles Captain Adeena Yassin, or an appropriate person or persons in her chain of command if she is incapacitated, the ability to void the contract at will, suffering no legal, physical, financial or reputation consequence or retribution from the Draconic Imperium,’ I do hereby void this contract.”

  There was a rush of green flame, and the stamped words ‘Null and Void’ appeared on the contract in vicious and jagged demonic characters. Adeena flexed her infernal powers, and the contract split into two identical copies.

  “For your records,” said Adeena flatly.

  “W-what?” said Ser Samara, seemingly at a loss for words as she mechanically accepted one of them.

  “I voided the contract,” said Adeena, rolling her copy up and stuffing it back in her gambeson. “I’m not putting my people in anymore danger. I’m not going on an expedition with people who will try to kill me first chance they get. Forget it, I’m voiding the contract – I have more than enough grounds after the series of stunts you’ve pulled.”

  Ser Samara’s eyes took on a slightly desperate aspect. “But- but you must!” she said, trying to give the voided contract back to Adeena. “I will need you! I cannot hire anyone else before the mission, and the others companies are all dead! I am forbidden from bringing any of my Chapter, even any of the household guard! I have no one else!”

  “I’m a mercenary, I follow my nose, and my nose says you’re crazy and going to get me and my people killed,” said Adeena.

  “You- you don’t understand!” said Ser Samara, gesturing wildly. “Without you, I may be unable to defend my Lady should Melicende move against her!”

  Adeena flinched as Lord Adamantius’ words from back in the magma tunnels, after her battle against the Vodyanoy, rang in her mind. Had he forseen this? Known that there was some kind of tension? No, if he’d suspected that Melicende actually meant to harm his daughter, he’d have simply incinerated the elf – a dragon as senior as him didn’t need to justify himself to anyone. Adeena was just some kind of extra backup for his daughter that he could arrange without looking like he was doing so – if she understood the whole ‘needing to make sure his daughter saved face’ dynamic at play.

  Was Adeena scared that he’d hunt her down and throw her in a lab to see how her resurrective immortality worked? She’d be lying if she said no. But that didn’t mean that was a good reason to go on a suicide mission, to put Xavier and Heidi in danger because she was scared for her own hide.

  It was one thing to be so afraid of getting your subordinates killed that you betrayed your own principles like she’d wanted to at the Brightspark, like she’d been doing ever since Chace, but this wasn’t betraying her principles, this was putting them first.

  “You’re the one who worships dragons, not me,” said Adeena. “If you wanted me to trust you, to actually feel obliged to help you, then maybe you shouldn’t have said nothing when you knew assassins were coming for us, when you butchered all those fucking people who surrendered in the temple! I know that doesn’t matter to you, but it matters to me.”

  “They were traitors to the Imperium!” screamed Ser Samara, hurling herself at Adeena.

  It wasn’t a coordinated, thought out attack. It was an enraged lunge, hands extended for Adeena’s throat. Despite her confidence in her hellish abilities, she still flinched as Ser Samara’s gauntleted hands neared her throat. But the feyleen hand’s came to an abrupt, dead stop in the air two inches from her. A moment later, an unseen force hurled Ser Samara backward, and there was a loud splash as the feyleen woman landed in the shallows of the lake.

  “I wouldn’t advise trying that,” said Adeena as the Dragonsworn struggled in the shallows for a moment. “Repercussions for breach of contract can be… severe.”

  “How…?” said Ser Samara, crawling from the water, looking for all the world like a drowned cat. “You’re- you’re not a demon! You’re a half-elf!”

  “How odd, then,” said Adeena. “Good day, Ser Samara.”

  Ser Samara let out a warbling yowl and collapsed onto the manicured sands. Tears, real tears, flowed down her furry face.

  “Please Captain, please!” sobbed Ser Samara. “Melicende means to harm my Lady, I know it, in my bones. Perhaps the life of a dragon means nothing to you, but she is a child. A bright, lovely, wonderful child who I held in my palm when she was no longer than a finger. I am sworn to all dragons, but- but she is special to me; I love her, as one loves a daughter. I cannot let her be hurt, I simply cannot!”

  The feyleen reached out a wet, blood-streaked gauntlet towards her.

  “Please,” sobbed Ser Samara. “Please. Help me protect her.”

  “I will not throw away the lives of my people,” said Adeena coldly. “You made your bed, now you must lie in it.”

  Adeena turned, striding in the direction of what looked like a gate. For a moment she thought that the soldiers might try to stop her, but then they stepped aside, and Xavier and Heidi fell in behind her.

  “So… we’re not going along?” said Heidi.

  “No, we’re not,” said Adeena.

  “Think they’ll let us leave?” said Xavier. “I mean, I know we’ve got that contract of yours to protect us… but that only works on Ser Samara and anyone she orders, right?”

  “I don’t know,” said Adeena. “But I know that if we get on that ship, both of you aren’t coming back.”

  No one stopped them at the gate. No one stopped them at the funicular, or on the train, or at the entrance to Ser Samara’s Chapter’s fortress when they came to retrieve their bags. Adeena left her armour on, and even with her new clothes her bag remained light across her shoulder as they exited the chapter and made their way across the wide open, mostly empty streets.

  It wasn’t just the bag though, she also felt lighter. It had been a mistake to come here, to deal with the Imperium at all, but now they were free. It wasn’t long until the Dawning, they’d be able to get an airship back to Everhearth, and from there a ship to somewhere in the Shattered Sea. It would be hard, they didn’t have much money left, but her powers were beginning to return, and if anything her refusal to continue this madness was only fanning the flames in her heart higher. Things would be OK, she would see to that.

  “Where do you think you’re going, Captain?” came a deep, rumbling voice.

  Adeena froze, and she slowly turned to see the familiar black and gold robed, horned elven form of Lord Adamantius’. He was alone, lounging against a wall with his arms crossed and an irritated look on his face.

  “That- I-”

  “We had a bargain, did we not?” said the dragon. “You wouldn’t be thinking of breaking it, would you?”

  “I- well- she’s…”

  “Captain?” said Xavier. “What’s going on? Is this… another dragon?”

  “Yes,” said Adeena, clearing her throat. “It’s OK Xavier, why don’t you two go wait at the train-”

  “Your Captain didn’t tell you, did she?” said the dragon, his burning eyes flashing. “I know what she is. I know that she wasn’t ‘remarkably lucky’ to only be lightly injured in the crash and the subsequent fight, as the story goes. And we agreed that she would make sure my daughter came to no harm.”

  “If you’re worried she’s in danger from Melicende, then why don’t you just kill her yourself?” said Adeena, rallying somewhat.

  “Melicende? I have no reason to doubt her loyalty,” said Lord Adamantius. “Dragonsworn often become paranoid, especially when they are close as Ser Samara is to my daughter. It is, usually, useful, although sometimes it spirals somewhat out of hand. No, I am not concerned about Melicende. I am concerned that my daughter is venturing deeper into the Wyrd than anyone has ever done before.”

  “Then send a batallion of soldiers with her,” said Adeena. “Go yourself!”

  “And humiliate her?” he said, baring his unusually sharp teeth. “Never! I am proud of her tenacity, her courage! That cannot be taken from her!”

  Adeena took a deep breath and tried to centre herself. Dragons were crazy, she reminded herself. Crazy, but also not the kind of beings one should annoy.

  “I had a contract, with the Imperium,” said Adeena. “One that Ser Samara voided-”

  “I know how your kind work, cambion,” he snarled. “I am not bound by any agreement made with Ser Samara, or one on her behalf,” he said. “And even if I were, do you believe I would not pay any necessary price to protect my daughter? I would burn this entire world to protect just a single scale on her body!”

  “Then- then you know why I’m not just going to throw their lives away,” said Adeena, gesturing to Xavier and Heidi. “Melicende’s goons will kill them! To her, they’re just ways to get back at Ser Samara. No, I won’t sacrifice my people. Not again!”

  The dragon narrowed his eyes, wafted forward, and stooped until he was standing mere inches from her. Adeena flinched, her entire body trembling.

  “You have spirit, cambion,” he said after a few moments. “I can respect that. But it changes nothing, you will get on the Firestorm come Dawning, or you will suffer for an eternity as my mate figures out how you work.”

  “Captain,” said Xavier. “We’ll go.”

  “Xavier-”

  “Yeah, we’re- we’re not going to let you be tortured for… for forever!” said Heidi. “We’re- we’re not scared!” Heidi cleared her throat. “We’ll maybe a bit scared of him…”

  “I can’t ask you to-”

  “You’re not, we’re offering,” said Xavier. “Captain, I’ve always known I’d die one day, and you’d go on. If this is the last mission, then it’s the last mission – at least I’ve kept you safe.”

  “Heidi is a kid-”

  “I’m not a kid!” said Heidi. “And- and I know I’m new to the company, but- but you’re Captain Yassin! Even if only a tenth of the stuff in the books is true, you’re a legend! I dreamed of meeting you, and- and I know you were worried for us when the Brightspark crashed, and you almost didn’t do the right thing… but you did in the end!

  “And- and I knew this wasn’t going to be a safe adventure, that I might not come back, but I knew I had to do it anyway! So I’m not scared of a bunch of snooty priests, and I’m not going to let these- these dragons – no offence sir – put you in a lab!”

  Adeena sniffed and hesitated for a moment, before taking off her glasses. Burning red replaced green, horns jutted up through her auburn hair, and a long, whippy arrow-headed tail that she normally kept tightly coiled around her waist slipped free as her glamour collapsed. She wiped her eyes, which seemed to have somehow gotten wet.

  “You’re sure?” she said.

  The pair nodded.

  Adeena looked at the dragon, who was regarding the scene with something akin to boredom.

  “I want something,” she said, putting her glasses back on and re-establishing the glamour.

  “You really are in no position to bargain, cambion,” he said.

  “Except I am,” she said. “You want your daughter safe, but can’t be seen to be helping her. Sure, you could throw me in a lab, torture me for a hundred thousand cycles or whatever. But that won’t get you what you want. I’m prepared to play that part, if my company is, but I want you to speak to Melicende. Tell her that my people are totally off-limits. That if she comes back and they don’t, you’ll… I don’t know, kill her or something.”

  Lord Adamantius considered for a moment, before shrugging. “I suppose that is no great hardship,” he said. “But the original agreement stands, my daughter is to come to no harm, under any circumstances.”

  “I’ll do my best,” said Adeena, before she cleared her throat. “So can we sign something, or…?”

  The dragon roared with laughter as he rose into the air, his body shifting and warping and growing as he went.

  "No."

  A.N. As always, my is two chapters ahead.

  Mishka the Great and Powerful' which is available to read as a free member. Future parts will also be free, but with chapters available two weeks ahead for supporters. I do plan on putting it up here on Royal Road, but I need to sort out getting some cover art for it first.