Novel 2. Royal Justice

— A very... busy night we've had, — the former royal bailiff sighed as he gave her a look.

— Yes, don. Very much so, — he sergeant agreed phlegmatically.

The armed galley was sinking fast, the surviving starboard oars scraping against the stars. Her dragon-torn counterpart was sinking more slowly from the bow, but there was no doubt that the ship was doomed. Charcoal himself, having left the galley, was circling the battlefield and uttering war cries. On the bow of the "River Nymph", a small fire was burning from a fryer overturned by the explosion. The tongues of flame, which Lady Maria and Corporal Green were trying to beat down with their cloaks, were of a poisonous purple colour.

Armando rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, so hard that it hurt. He wanted to sleep so badly...

Chapter 17

The shrieks of the drowning sailors and the crack of breaking wood were long gone, but the dragons' trumpeting voices still sounded over the river. Charcoal no longer roared in triumph, but called to his kin in long cries. The latter responded to his tone. Both lizards seemed to be following "Nymph", one by air, the other by swim. As the dark strip of shoreline peeked out of the night haze drifting across the water, Sergeant Dallan shifted the helm again. Instead of just bumping her nose into the ground, the "River Nymph" swung her starboard side round and then landed on her bottom with a wild creaking sound. The deck tilted perceptibly, but not to such an extent that it was impossible to stand on it. The Imperials, who had managed to fight the fire, threw over the plank gangway and began to hurriedly lead the horses off the deck. Master Carlon went down to explain something to Lady Maria, but soon returned to the forecastle. He said, covering his eyes with the palm of his hand:

— Don't shine anything in my face, I've got myself an "owl's eye". I'll keep an eye on the water, or whoever's out here might rake it. We left a whole soup of pirates behind.

— Do you think the captain is all right? — Armando asked him. — Does she swim well?

— She swim very well. — The magician wrinkled his nose for some reason. — Don't worry, Don. If the local mermaids don't eat her, they'll probably take her for their own. She's just as pretty, just as mean, and she sings badly.

— Valria has a nice voice, — the sergeant said with a barely perceptible rebuke. She picked up the captain's crossbow from the deck and handed it to the mage. He nodded, accepting the weapon and leaned against a piece of fence that had survived the blast. Looking out into the darkness, he snorted derisively:

— A nice voice isn't the only thing you need to sing well. Get going.

As Dallan and the former bailiff descended the gangway, leading the last of the packhorses, Charcoal swooped over their heads, so low that the lizard's belly almost hit the mast. Armando thought the starry sky itself shook as the giant black dragon landed on the pebbles near the ship. In truth, it was just the paddles beneath its feet that shook. The lizard folded its wings and staggered to the water's edge. He stretched his neck and let out a high-pitched cry, more worthy of a wading bird than a scaly monster the size of a house. A kin answered him from the darkness. For several minutes the lizards echoed in this way. The men had time to lead the horses away and drag some of their equipment from the ship to the beach. The prudent Dallan carefully spread her cloak on the pebbles, folded her commander's clothes and a clean towel on it. No one was preparing for the battle — if the unknown dragon had gone on a rampage, it would have been Charcoal's job to subdue it anyway. At last, master Carlon came down the ladder from the south. He waved his arms at his comrades:

— We've got company, step aside! From the nose!

Armando himself could see a black mass in the water, approaching the beach. The second lizard rose from the waves like a mythical sea serpent, dropping streams of water from its wings. Stepped majestically onto the shore... and collapsed onto its belly with an almost human-like painful groan. He clutched his healthy wing to his body, the other broken wing sticking up ridiculously. The dragon's round flanks, covered with fine emerald-green scales, were heaving with heavy breathing, its hind legs and tail still submerged in the river. The beast was so exhausted that it could not make it all the way to dry land.

Captain Valria deftly leapt off the dragon's scruff to the ground. She cried out:

— Ow! My legs! Is that a rock?!

— Pebbles. — After rounding the green lizard's face in a solid arc, Sergeant Dallan walked over to the captain and threw a towel over her shoulders.

— Why not sand? — Despite her indignant tone, the elf smiled, squeezed her eyes shut. Dallan's touch was clearly pleasurable, even though the sergeant was wearing rough leather gloves. — You knew I'd be barefoot, couldn't you have chosen a sandy beach? Well, never mind. Donna Minerva and I have brought you a valuable trophy. Help me unload it. I'm exhausted.

"The trophy" was an unconscious young man in his twenties, dressed in the white costume of a dragon knight. Armando helped his friend's fianc"e lower him down from the lizard's ridge. Donna Minerva was also soaked through, along with her clothes, but she seemed less exhausted than the elf. She was in no hurry to shed her wet suit, even though it was cold and heavy. De Gorazzo suspected that the knight was once again letting the dragon's blood flow through her veins.

— Who was he? — Master Carlon inquired, as the young man was laid on the blanket.

— Marius, my cousin, — said Donna Minerva. — I knew it was him when I saw Toad in the air. — The girl pointed with a wave of her hand at the wounded dragon, who was squinting at them with a large, round eye. — That's why i rushed to help when they fell. Marius can't swim.

— This is the... Toad? — Master gave the dragon an incredulous look.

— Well, her name is actually Cornelia Severina the Sixth, but... when she hatched, she was the smallest and greenest of the brood. — the knight explained absently, kneeling down beside her cousin. — She's docile, she won't attack without orders.

— What's happened with this boy? — Armando asked. — Did he hit his head when he fell in the water?

— Yes, but I strangled him a little afterwards, — Minerva confessed guiltily, stroking her cousin's wet hair. — So he wouldn't fight back.

— And how did he and Toad get here? — Gotech joined the conversation. It was not the first time he had seen Marius and his dragon.

— I don't know, — the rider shook her chin. — When he wakes up, we'll ask. But they attacked me and Charcoal just as you on the ship signalled fire. I had to work hard to get a head start on the manoeuvres. Toad's fast.

— Did your cousin try to kill you? — The desert giant gave the young man a look that did not promise the poor man any good.

— No, he and Toad attacked like they were in training. When you have to force an opponent to land without hurting him. I don't think they wanted to hurt us. Besides, Charcoal's much stronger then Toad.

— All of this is for later. — Valria strode over to the cloak with her belongings and laid down on top of them, spreading her legs and arms wide. Considering the elf's nakedness, it looked overly daring. — Dallan, lie down next to me and hold me. Preferably undressed. — The captain stretched and yawned sweetly. — I swam in icy water for an hour, drowned a couple of clingy bastards, helped fetch this kid out of the abyss, and then sat naked on a dragon's back in the wind for an hour. I want warmth and affection and love. Now. Or I'll be sick tomorrow.

— No. — The sergeant sat down next to Velria, covered her face with a towel. — Dry your hair and get dressed.

— Ah, demons and Gehenna! — The pointy-eared girl threw off her towel and sat up, leaning on her elbow. — All right. I see you got the fire under control? You shouldn't have. Start the fire again. It's a shame to destroy your own ship, but better that than leave it unattended. I'm sure those pirates aren't the only ones on the river. We can't leave them with a trophy like that.

— It's not your ship, — the mage reminded the elfess.

— Why? I took it in a fight, so it's mine. It's called a trophy. You ever heard of that word, round-eared barbarian? Just search the captain's quarters first. I bet our bald traitor didn't have time to grab the ship's treasure chest. That sort of thing is usually hidden away so you can't get at it right away, and we didn't give him time to...

As usual, the imperial elf was right. Alas, her rightness was of little use. The chest was in fact found in the captain's cabin, but it contained not a penny except for the advance payment paid by the group. On the bright side, at least the group hadn't suffered any losses. While the Imperials loaded the horses and "packed" the prisoner, the former royal bailiffs prepared the "River Nymph" for arson. Several jugs of oil were found among the food supplies, and the chests contained spare coils of rope and pieces of sailcloth for sail repair. This was enough for the experienced Gotech. As the unwilling allies moved away from the shore, the ship that remained behind was ablaze from stem to stern, casting a scarlet glow on the mirror-smooth surface of the water. The green dragoness waddled after the riders, huffing on one paw. Charcoal walked beside her.

...Since the speed of the party was limited by the limping dragon, they didn't get very far. When Captain Valria ordered them to make camp at dawn, the bend of the Senara was still silvery on the horizon. But rest was necessary for everyone, not just the mangled Toad. The restless night had exhausted even the restless elf. The travellers laid down blankets in the open air and would have fallen asleep, leaving Charcoal instead of the guard, if the prisoner hadn't woken up.

— Couldn't he wait a little? — The long-eared girl moaned as Marius began to move on his bed, groaning softly. — Donna Knight, why don't you strangle him again, just for half an hour?

Minerva smiled uncertainly, obviously thinking the request was a joke, leaned over her cousin, patted his cheeks to hasten his awakening. The rest of the squad, tired though they were, gathered around the knights.

— Where... what... what... me... eh? — The young man finally opened his eyes. He looked around with the gaze of a man who had just woken up. When he saw Gotech, his face immediately turned hostile. — You...

— I, Marius, at the first place. — Donna Minerva took her kinsman by the shoulders and turned him round. — Look at me. What were you and Toad doing here? Were you looking for Charoal?

— Toad! — With a belated startle the lad jumped up. — Where is she?

When she heard her name from her master's lips, the dragoness, who had been dozing, raised her head and let out a joyful hiss.

— She's alive, but she won't be able to fly for a long time, — Minerva reassured her cousin. — Answer the question.

— And this, then, is an inquest? — Marius tried again to give himself a proud and hostile look. He seemed to feel like a hero of antiquity in the captivity of barbarians.

— Don't be silly, Marius, no one will hurt you here. — The girl-knight frowned. — These people are my friends.

— Yeah. Imperial spies, queen murderers, traitors...

— I will disappoint you, Don Marius, but of all the persons you mentioned, only spies are here, — Valria said in a friendly tone. She knelt down on one knee beside the lying knight and looked into his face, smiling warmly. It was hard to believe that a moment ago she had seriously suggested strangling the captive. Marius swallowed, blinking often. Armando knew exactly how he felt right now. If de Gorazzo were at the same age, such a smile would melt him like a piece of lard on a hot pan. To become immune to the golden-haired elf's charm it was necessary to communicate with her for a long time. Master Carlon, who had been working with the captain for the longest time, had obviously acquired not just immunity, but a real allergy....

— You should not look for murderers and traitors here, but in the capital of your kingdom. — Valria elegantly removed the glove from her right hand and held it out to the young man. — Can you stand up?

— Yes, I... can. — Unable to tear his gaze away from the elf's violet eyes, the young knight gingerly touched her fingers. — But what are you talking about?

— Let's go to the fire, and there I'll explain everything over a mug of tea. — The captain helped Marius up. — But you'll have to do the talking first. You were really sent for Minerva, weren't you?

— Well... so you're a spy for the Empire? — The knight asked incredulously. He tried to return to the tone of a captured hero, but it was no good.

— Not exactly. I'm actually a captain in the Free Company, and I was hired by the Duchess of Elvart to investigate a case. Alas, the trail led me to your lands. I had to cross the border under a false identity. — With her left hand, the captain made a brief gesture, signalling that the companions should not interfere. She led the prisoner to the firepit that Corporal Green had just begun to build with stones. — But what was to be done? You see, Don, several terrible crimes had taken place, during which two beautiful brave girls had died, among others. Both sisters of the Lady Maria. There she is, standing next to our magician, Master Carlon.

— What does that have to do with...

— We had a deal, didn't we? First, you tell me.

The young dragon rider was still hesitating, but his fighting spirit had waned, and he finally gave in.

— The family sent me, — he said, sitting down on the saddle that Dallan had placed by the fire. The sergeant immediately removed a small flask from her belt and handed it to the prisoner. He nodded gratefully, took a sip, coughed. He continued hoarsely. — The new king, Augustus the Strong, has told us personally that Minerva is in trouble... Don Ardano has dragged her into his criminal affairs, and forced her to unwittingly assist in the murder of Queen Octavia. His Majesty doesn't want to add to the turmoil in the country, so he covered it up and... asked us to look into it ourselves. He promised that if Minerva returns to the family castle, she won't even need a pardon, as no charges will be brought against her.

— But why you and Toad? — Gotech's fianc"e asked. She either didn't see or didn't understand the captain's gesture. — Toad is two-third the size of Charcoal, why not someone stronger?

— The only dragon stronger than Charcoal in our pack is your father's Imperium, — he shrugged. After a sip from the flask, his cheeks turned visibly pink. — If he goes anywhere without an explanation, half the kingdom will be up in arms. I shouldn't have fought you. Just to talk.