Warding Song by C R Richings & Anastasios K. Iosiphidis

Author:C R Richings & Anastasios K. Iosiphidis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlotte Richings

Chapter Twelve

The Ascalon weighed anchor beyond the harbour, too large to tie up at the docks. Outside she appeared in good condition; her sails were undamaged and she didn’t list. However, if one saw her from the stern, where a gaping, scorched hole lingered above the waterline, she was a sorry sight indeed.

Captain Lambton left a skeleton crew in charge, and went to shore with the other men in an escort of several rowboats to carry supplies.

Lambton was approached by the dockmaster. “It’s a two sueltos fee to tie up a rowboat, I’m afraid, sir,” the grizzled old man informed him. Between them were three rowboats – six sueltos. With an impatient sigh, he handed the coins over. The dockmaster counted them. “Thank ye kindly, Captain.”

“Yes, yes,” Lambton waved him off, turning to the men who’d accompanied him. “Mr Liddan,” he ordered George, “procure us the wood to repair our stern and catamaran. Mr Gunn, accompany me to speak with the Imperial Guard, and give testimony on Mr Erland’s death,” he told the surgeon.

George said, “Captain, wait. I’d like your leave to accompany you, if I may.”

“Making repairs is our top priority,” Lambton reminded him, eyebrow raised.

“I’m not denying that, Captain, but with all due respect, Patrick was my best friend. Besides, Mr Lariston will know better than me the quality and type of wood we need,” he pointed out. Lambton conceded, and put their carpenter in charge of getting the supplies. George handed the other man some coins.

After getting directions from the dockmaster, and refusing to answer his unsubtly-hinted inquiries, they set off for the guard house. “Captain, if I might be so bold,” Hector Gunn remarked, “do you think we have any chance of catching up to the beast? This is not a small island, after all.”

“If we don’t capture it here, we’ll capture it somewhere else. The dragon is a runt – it needs to rest more than others of its kind. We have a duty to take it down; but we also have a duty to inform the Imperials what we know of their runaway thief.”

When challenged, he introduced himself as “Captain Lambton of the DHS Ascalon; my credentials.” He handed over his letter of marque, and gestured to his men. “This is my quartermaster, Mr Liddan, and our ship’s surgeon, Mr Gunn. We have information regarding a criminal known as Ellie Flanders, and the presence of a dragon – yes, I’m serious – here on Amohanes.”

One guard stepped forwards. “Officer Rowles. I was the last to see Ellie – though our intelligencers found she fits the description of another girl called Eleyna. A year ago her guardian was arrested for selling black market crystals, and she disappeared; both of them are assets in a case against a major crime lord. A few days ago she stole a dinghy from the harbour.”

“Officer, I’m afraid this individual has gone beyond stealing dinghies,” replied Lambton. “My men and I tracked a wild, solitary dragon to a deserted island south-east of Amohanes.

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