The wind shifted, and the air that had smelled faintly of smoke changed to a choking mass of gray that burned my eyes and throat equally. I held my scarf to my nose and mouth, to filter the acrid smoke, for what little good it did.
Shouts from the old Bos’n drew my attention as he ordered men aloft as if the smoke never entered his lungs. Other sailors manned their stations near the rigging, as four mounted their spokes at the anchor windlass. A young crewman who regularly dealt with the passengers held his arms wide as he moved us to the stern like herding polite sheep, where he roped off the deck for the working crew.
The clatter of the anchor chain sounded as the topmast sail dropped into position. The Gallant had been unleashed, and the motion of the deck changed. Nearby, I heard a muffled cough. The personal guard that my father had assigned to protect me tried to conceal himself and his tasks at every opportunity. Now he wanted my attention.
Will, was his name. Short for William, or Captain Pershing, late of my father’s Royal Army. I did not personally know him but knew of him. He’d served my father well, earning a lifetime title that would only expire with his passing, however, while Will was alive he was treated as if royalty, given lands to farm, and servants to help. Sometimes appointments like his are bestowed to commoners for extraordinary service. None dared question his service to my father, the king. The wrath of my father would descend as quickly as the blade of an executioner.
“I see you hiding over there,” my voice was soft, intended for his ears alone.
“You heard me cough but didn’t see me. Damn this smoke.”
I faced the direction of the voice, and even though my eyes could not see him well, I spoke as if I could, thinking that might confuse him slightly. Toying with one so skilled at deception and blending into the background had its rewards on a boring sea voyage. “You have two masters, Will. What orders did my father give to you after I hired your services? And do you think me such a fool that I didn’t realize he thrust you at me as if it was my choice to hire you?”
“Damon, Kendra, the cripple, and both little girls left the ship before the dragon attacked Trager.” He ignored my question as he filled me in on what my friends had done.
“Before?” I heard my confused voice.
“Yes. I saw them safely off, in a large rowboat. The dragon didn’t attack until sometime after they were gone.”
Pausing to consider the strange tales concerning my friends, I said, “Do you think the incidents connected?”
“Why would I think that?” he asked, seeming genuinely confused at why I would ask the question.
To cover my slip of the tongue about Kendra and the dragon, I said, “The two things happened the same night.”
He said, after a slight delay, “The dragon looked like the same one that killed the Wyvern in the afternoon. It is more reasonable to think the true-dragon is demented, hungry, or angry. Maybe it believed more Wyvern roosted in the city and it hates them. How could the escape of your servants and the city burning be connected, if I may ask?”
“They couldn’t,” I snapped too quickly for my ears. Then I quickly added, “Is the smoke clearing?”
“Not over the city, I think. But the ship is pulling away from the shore. I think we will see and breathe easier in a short time.”
I fixed him with what I hoped was a stern and officious glare. “You evaded my question. What orders from my father that I do not know about are you following?”
A momentary breeze cleared the smoke between us. He was not smiling. “I am to ensure your safety above all else, even my own. If required, in my opinion, I have his orders to bind you, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you on foot all the way back to Dire.”
At last, the truth. Will would carry me across the sea on his shoulder if required. The words sounded like the king, my father. He’d also given me instructions to locate and speak with the king of Kondor, if possible. If not, perhaps I could get a message to the king without the knowledge of the Council of Nine. He’d given me other tasks as well, and I had managed to get Damon and Kendra aboard the ship, too. He would be proud.
“I hardly think that will be necessary,” I said with a snigger.
He said, “We both hope so, but I gave my sworn word.”
“You will do as I order?”
His answer was immediate. “With my life . . . as long as it does not conflict with your father’s orders.”
I faced away from him to hide my smile. My father had his servants. I had mine. Kendra and Damon were going to try to reach Kondor by going on foot, taking a land route around the storm at sea. Perhaps from there, they could provide help for me, or even disperse the mages who were preventing the advancement of the Gallant. That the mages were so intent on preventing me from reaching the King of Kondor was becoming more evident with everything we learned, but not why.
A council had replaced the king, all the rumors said, but they didn’t say if the king was dead or alive. My father had nearly fallen into the same trap, and he sent me to offer the help of Dire in defeating the mages, should the rightful king still be alive. He was a distant cousin I’d never met, but no matter. My job was diplomacy until more information became available.
However, until reaching the capital of Kondor, the fabled city of Dagger, I could do nothing. As the ship moved deeper into the bay of Trager away from land, the smoke dissipated, and Will disappeared, as well. The sailors set more sails in the light breeze, the ship leaned to port, and the bow pointed at the opening that would carry us out of the bay and into the open sea.
I went to my cabin, a generous term for a space barely large enough for a bed, and smaller than my shoe closet at Crestfallen. I stored my clothing and personal items in the adjoining cabin. The people sent with me by my father on the mission included a scribe called Soren who thought well of himself and rumor said he deserved that credit.
Lady Grace was too polite, and barely royal, but the title was inherited even though she worked in the castle library as an administrator. I’d known her since childhood and trusted her with my life. The last was Soren, a minor scribe, but said to be more proficient than those twice his age. They were assigned as if I couldn’t tender a deal on my own or write it down. Each of them brought cases of scrolls, empty sheets of paper, pens, ink, and even bound books to refer to.
And of course, there was Will in the shadows. My personal and secret protector. I’d expected him to travel with Damon and Kendra. I had hinted he should, and look after them also, but he had one job above all others, which was to protect me. So, he refused to leave my side, or my door, or my back where he might be concealed at any moment. It made me self-conscious. If my butt needed scratching, Will would be there to see it.
He would also defend me with his life and what more could I ask? That all sounded optimistic. All of us had an important job to do in the strange land across the sea. After trying to nap in my cabin and failing, I returned to the deck and found it clear of smoke, more sails up, the deck again open for passengers to stroll and stretch their legs after being cramped in their tiny cabins. I walked outside and faced the wind, letting it blow my hair back from my face. Then I looked ahead to clear blue skies.
I turned to my right, to look off the starboard side of the ship and my eyes found the line of dark gray clouds sitting on the far horizon to the south, flashes of lightning like tiny lightning bugs in summer. I glanced up and found a single Wyvern circling high above. I had no doubt the mages controlled it. It was watching me, or so I believed since the eyes were far too weak and the Wyvern too high to tell—but it was my impression.