The Dragon's Breath by James Boschert

Author:James Boschert [Boschert, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781942756521
Google: PlPqjwEACAAJ
Amazon: B01BT3HT82
Goodreads: 29142730
Publisher: Penmore Press LLC
Published: 2016-02-14T08:00:00+00:00

The next day at about noon, Talon, who was on deck, noticed Jiaya standing on the quayside with a couple of men. Jiaya was waving his arms to draw attention to himself. Talon pointed this out to the captain, who sent a boat over to collect the Chinese men. Jiaya climbed up the side of the ship and then stood catching his breath in the waist deck before walking in his mincing manner up the steps to stand in front of Talon.

Jiaya was completely transformed from an old man in plain clothes to a sophisticated man dressed in silk robes, albeit a sober dark brown in color, with a small, odd-looking hat perched on his head held in place by a silk cord tied under his chin. After the usual polite greetings and bows Jiaya said, “My master, Lord Meng, sends his best wishes to you and your people, Master Talon, and respectfully begs that you accompany me with your family and that of your companion Master Reza to his house.”

Talon breathed a sigh of relief. Ever since the exchange of looks he had had with Hsü he had hoped for something of this nature. Nevertheless, he wanted to know what would happen to his ship and cargo before he abandoned the captain to whatever the officials of this teeming city had in store. His past experience with customs and port taxes in Byzantium made him wary of leaving the ship on its own. In fact, earlier that very day, some official had arrived on a small sampan and demanded to be let on board. After curt introductions, during which he had spoken pidgin Arabic, he had thrust a piece of paper into Talon’s hand and left, looking irritated and speaking volubly to himself and the world at large in his own language.

Talon now showed the paper to Jiaya, who frowned as he read it but didn’t seem very perturbed as to its contents.

“What does it say?” Talon asked. Reza was now beside him and they looked askance at Jiaya, who replied, “This is a tax for anchorage here in the river, Master Talon. I will deal with it, as Lord Meng has instructed me to handle all the procedures while you are here.”

Talon stared at him. “Lord Meng, did you say?” he asked.

Jiaya nodded his head and smiled. “I shall deal with the customs, Master Talon,” he said.

Talon had a sense of déjà vu. This sounded just like the officialdom of Byzantium. There would be other bureaucratic procedures to endure, entailing bribes, before they could sail away again. Each time, a little more of the profit would be eaten away by some rapacious petty official. He frowned, but nodded. “Thank you, Jiaya. Now where can my crew and the captain live while we are with... your master?”

Jiaya gave a little bow. “Respectfully, first things first, Master Talon. Please to bring your family and some servants with me to Lord Meng’s house. All will be arranged for the crew and the ship.

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