Navigating the bridge was its own challenge. Fortunately, some stragglers coming the other way handled the procedures of raising the correct flag. I was surprised at the implication they had night landings for the dragons. Flying at night sounded even more dangerous than usual. Amazing, but dangerous. I wondered if they used some sort of lighthouse system to warn dragons away from outcrops, or whether they relied on a dragon’s eyesight.

> They relied on the dragon. Dragons have multiple modes of viewing, and one of them is indeed excellent night sight. Riders might still be grounded because of poor weather or very dark nights, but a night with a nearly full moon would not have been a concern.

From there, I hurried to the courtyard. Minister Greenfield should have concluded evening prayers, and my plan was to intercept him on his way out. Unfortunately, someone beat me to it. As I slipped through the door, I notice someone wave him down as he exited the chapel. They retreated to a corner. That left me with three options. Approach myself, interrupting the conversation and lose my own chance for my own private chat. Leave, and find the normal healer. Or wait until they separated.

The choice was easy, but it did mean I’d have to hide. I couldn’t just wait there in plain sight, like a creepy stalker. At least that was helped by the number of lanterns were present. The lanterns were few enough so that the courtyard wasn’t fully illuminated, but enough so that human eyes wouldn’t adapt to the moonlight. I considered the monstrous forms that were the shadows of the various objects and ducked behind a tree close to the wall. My bright white robes were an unfortunate beacon for any stray light, so I needed a physical barrier as well just absence of light. I leaned causally against a table in case anyone came from the other direction who might wonder why a hero was skulking about. It would still be weird, but less weird if I’d been hiding under said table.

Once in place, I looked over to my target. From where I was standing, the light of the lanterns only illuminated their feet and ankles. Minister Greenfield’s hems were intricately embroidered with an abstract pattern and were immaculately clean. That was evidence of the money to purchase them and for the servants to maintain them. The person he was speaking to were less elaborate, worn and dirtier. Abduction for the day – Minister Greenfield was wealthier than the unknown visitor. In other societies, it could sometimes go the other way. That the visitor was just so powerful, he didn’t care about his clothing. But even if the person didn’t care, if he was rich enough, their servants would.

> While, as mentioned, it can be hard to determine wealth, His Devotion, Saint Percival the Investigator, is correct that shoes and hemlines are often a good indication. People typically take less effort to disguise them.

The visitor’s pattern was the leaves of the plant that had been so prolific at the spire. That suggested he was involved with dragons. His mere existence in this space also suggested he was involved with dragons, however, so that was less impressive of a conclusion. I didn’t even pretend not to eavesdrop. I couldn’t catch every word, but I could gather most of it.

“Where was he during the ceremony?” asked Minister Greenfield.

“Taking a nap, he said,” was the other voice.

That voice was doing more work to whisper. It didn’t make it any quieter, ironically, but it did mean I had no chance of identifying them.

Minister Greenfield replied, “That’s ideal.”

“I’m not sure I can do—”

“We don’t need to do anything,” interrupted Minister Greenfield. “We just make sure the truth becomes known. The rest will fall into place by itself. He has made himself such an obvious target that it can hardly be ignored.”

From the clues, it sounded very much like they had information about the death. But since they were intending to reveal it rather than conceal it, I could wait. It was hardly my most urgent concern.

After some words that were too quiet for me to hear, Minister Greenfield said, “Enough. This isn’t the time or the place.”

That sounded like the conversation was swiftly coming to an end. If I waited any longer, someone might walk straight into me, and that would be embarrassing. I retreated quietly to the door to the dormitories and opened and closed it loudly. I walked back and saw only Minister Greenfield. Either his visitor had taken a different exit or had retreated more solidly into the shadows.

“Minister Greenfield!” I called.

“Hero Percy,” he greeted in return.

“I’m glad to catch you,” I said. “Although forgive me for bothering you with this. I’m just not comfortable with the academy just yet, you understand. I was hoping you could recommend the best path to having an injury of mine healed.”

People much preferred to offer a favour than to be asked for one. People liked to be helpful, but they didn’t like to be taken advantage of. By asking who could help, it created the circumstances for someone to be generous. It also allowed them a way to refuse without embarrassment on either side. Many people wouldn’t even notice the manipulation, but even those who did – like Minister Greenfield would, I rather thought – where more likely to be appreciative than irritated.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I could see the calculations working in his head as he let the silence linger. I did not say anything. I’d already dropped enough hints that I was not loyal to the dragon rider group. If he wanted me to go to the academy healer, he could say so. I did not need to do it for him.

At last, he said, “Why don’t we go back into the chapel, and I can see what I can do?”

“Thank you,” I said, “That’s very kind of you.”

That was not a promising start. He was reluctant to see alone after all. He didn’t have any offers to make me, or at least, he had changed his mind on offering them. He led us to a side-room I hadn’t seen before and chased away the person who had been cleaning in there prior. With some assistance, I stripped to my waist. I was taken aback at the intensity of the bruises. They were a deep red, just starting to purple, and were swollen and angry. The cold air was pleasant across the bruise, and utterly miserable everywhere else. By Minister Greenfield’s expression, he hadn’t expected me to actually have an injury. He was abruptly more professional.

“You should have had this attended to immediately,” he said. “Fixing this will be harder now that the blood has had time to pool.”

That confirmed to me that he was really a healer, on top of whatever other duties he had. In my experience, healers had two modes – ‘Why didn’t you wait to see if it got better on its own?’ and ‘Why did you wait so long?’.

“My apologies,” I said. “I’m not familiar with healing systems that can work on bruises, so I didn’t immediately think of it.”

Minister Greenfield was very lightly pressing my shoulder and back, doing something with his magic that I could just about feel.

“The healing will cause some discomfort,” said Minister Greenfield. “Do you wish me to put you to sleep while I work?”

“Discomfort in excess of the pain of the initial injury?” I asked cautiously.

I had a reputation to maintain as an earnest Hero who didn’t care about personal sacrifice. And besides which, I could hardly have a private conversation if I was asleep. But if it was true agony, I was willing to sacrifice those.

“Considerably less,” said Minister Greenfield with a polite laugh. “It is just discomfort, not pain. Pins and needles, and some itching.”

“Then let me try without,” I said. “Then I will know for the next time.”

“You’re predicting a next time?” he asked dryly.

“From what I understand,” I said, “even the best dragon rider is subjected to the occasional tail-whip and burns.”

“Never understand why people volunteer for that,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.

I did not point out that I had not, in fact, volunteered for it. Although I supposed that Heroes volunteered to do pretty much anything or everything, so that was not the defence I would have liked.

“Ideally, it would just be a matter of racers and traders,” I said instead. “If the best case occurred and tensions reduced.”

He agreed non-verbally.

One more attempt. I asked, “If we weren’t forced to deal with the Cammions, what better things could the Heroes do?”

“Ah well, unfortunately, it would never come to that,” said Minister Greenfield dismissively.

Alright, I guessed I could just shove off entirely. My earlier impression had been correct. A Hero standing up for his position in whatever political forum they used wasn’t valuable enough for him to get involved. Sure, he hadn’t come right out and said it, but his refusal to say anything meant something by itself. Minister Greenfield was far too intelligent not to notice what I’d been offering.

Minister Greenfield fished a piece of chalk out of a pocket and started sketching. I realised the chalk itself must have had magical properties, because it made marks on my skin without much pressure. Then a short chant. Minister Greenfield had been right. It wasn’t pain. It was everything else, all at once. By the time he was done, I was shivering uncontrollably, and I couldn’t claim that it was just the cold.

Minister Greenfield dusted off his hands. “Eat a bit more than usual for the next two days and get a good night’s sleep.”

I stretched my arm back and forth. Good as new. I supposed I could get used to at least some parts of magic.

“Thank you very much for your assistance,” I said. “It was very much appreciated.”

And thank you not at all for your lack of assistance. It was very much not appreciated.

It would be okay. Tomorrow was a new day. I would find other options.

Memo to Self

Stuff to avoid

· Becoming a dragon rider Joining the official dragon rider forces

Information gathering

· Find out about alternative occupations and opportunities

· - Speak to Minister Greenfield in private [not useful]

· - - Find out when he is due to leave before he leaves in four three days tonight, to fix injury

· Investigate other countries and cultures to see if they’re a better fit

· - Determine just how far heroic independence goes

· - - Legally, very far: complete diplomatic immunity

· - - Practically: assistance can be withdrawn

· Track down itinerary [no point]

· Check safety / security of funicular

Opportunities

· Sneak out when harvesting night flowers [7 6 5 days]

· - Walk out down dry river bed towards Cammions

· Deliberately failed bonding [not an option]

Preparations

· Beg, borrow or steal clothes of a different colour

· - Use investigating embroidery as excuse?

· Delay the bonding ceremony as much as possible

· - Extend investigation

· - Imply maximum psychic pollution

· Acquire or fake travel documentation?

· Find way to transport food and water

· - Talk to House Holder Fairbanks about food [done]