Overkill by Shrewsbury Steven

Author:Shrewsbury, Steven [Shrewsbury, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9781937929831
Publisher: Seventh Star Press
Published: 2012-04-23T07:00:00+00:00

“It’s really you,” Nykia said to Gorias and walked near to him, hands up to his face.

“Yeah, what’s left of me.”

Eyes tracing every contour of him, Nykia replied, “Are you joking? You’re twice the man of any I can name.” She turned her head to the pirates exchanging glances. “Yes, I said it. Get over it, Allard.” Nykia faced him again. “Look at what you did on the shore, with the dragonfire, with the missile.”

Gorias scanned the ship and the crew. He looked farther into the sea and saw an identical vessel further on out. “I survived. I usually do. Just because I don’t get myself killed I get called a legend? Whatever.”

Her faced gleamed. “I haven’t been that excited in years. The dragonfire, it bathed you all over.”

Gorias made a fist then opened his hand to remove his glove and patted his chest. “The wyrmling dragon armor protects me. My cloak is gone, I guess, belt too, dammit. Yeah, what were you doing with dragonfire?”

“What were you doing with the army leaders of that land of frogs?”

“Sun bathing, but we got to the beach early. Ya got yerself a stooge on board, Princess, or General Thynnes wouldn’t have known where you’d land or when.”

Nykia’s glee faded to a grim frown. “You did know when we’d land?”

“That was guess work, but I hate it when theories come true too easy. We didn’t know about the local traitors that would rise up, though. I reckon Thynnes’ troopers will torture any good info outta them.”

Fists slapping her hips, Nykia said, “Damn. But we made the pick up in the exchange.”

Eyes narrowing at her, Gorias asked, “What was the exchange for the dragonfire?”

“Sacred oils for the Albion goddess Rhiannon. Each of these vessels holds a slew of it now.”

“You’re trafficking in sacred oil to the Albionise priests?”

“They buy from us as well as others and at a cheaper price than getting it direct from Transalpina. If the priests in Albion had the ear of their king too much, they’d want to crush Transalpina and take the means of attaining the oil from the mines at Lascaux.”

“Wars have been fought over less. I’ve heard that when they pour the oil into the pit that the Albion goddess Rhiannon moans like a whore.”

“Is Rhiannon really at the bottom of that well in Albion?”

Gorias shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe something is. Seems like a lot to waste on something that isn’t there. She must give good results for being fed that stuff. What a weird world, huh?”

“The Albion King isn’t a very religious sort, so he doesn’t care to send his warriors to dominate a culture over oils. Most kings don’t pay close attention to what the minor clergy are up to, though, unless it means to control the masses.”

Gorias shaded his eyes a little and faced the other vessel. “Someone gave you a helluva lot of this stuff for the dragonfire?”

“Yes.”

“Kinda bad for the Transalpina economy if someone is shafting the market.” He dropped his hands and turned back toward the land.

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