I had some things on my mind as I approached my rooftop meeting with Sempralia the next morning. Ramban had finally recognised in me the same entity that had driven him and his colleague from my mountain. That had terrified him, for all of five seconds, after which he’d only been more interested. Not only did I know things about the tunnels that he didn’t, but since I was the monster in the dark that he’d been so frightened off, now he could possibly go back in. He’d even been disappointed that I wasn’t the mythical Dark One who’d once ruled the mountain!
I allowed it. I was as curious as he was what he might find, and as long as I controlled his access I wasn’t worried about him getting anywhere close to my hoard.
“Would it be permissible for me to bring my young colleague?” he asked as we wrapped up so that he could start planning. We’d agreed to meet again, and soon, to swap what we already knew, but he insisted that he had much to do if he was to go into the mountain again.
“I don’t mind. I’m not sure how you’ll convince her, though. Barro says that he hasn’t been able to get in touch with her at all.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry. She can be cautious, but once I tell her that I can get us back in safely… well, she’ll question me, of course. She won’t believe me, at first. But once I convince her she’ll insist on coming along, I promise you!”
“Do you think it would help if I talked to her?”
“If you—?” He pursed his lips and scratched his chin. “She is inordinately interested in the history of dragons, come to think of it. Yes, I suppose that would help!”
So. I’d invited one, possibly two nosy scholars into my mountain. Invited them back in a full reversal, even; I’d previously driven them out on pain of death. I’d need to prepare Jekrie and his people, so that they knew to expect them. And I’d invited them both over for some kind of scholarly discussion or exchange of information, which I expected to be as exhausting as it would be interesting. I should have Herald with me for that. She’d probably enjoy meeting the two scholars I’d told her about; she’d found it hilarious when I told her how I’d gotten rid of them in the first place.
I also needed to get rid of the Tesprils. Ardek had come down, again, to freak out about seeing Zabra around, being all… nice. He wasn’t complaining, as such, nor was he demanding that I do anything, because he’d never do that. But I cared a lot more about his comfort than I did about Zabra or Kesra’s, as long as I was convinced that neither was in danger anymore. And I was. It had been days since we broke the South Docks Gang — I still couldn’t believe they’d used that terrible name — and we’d been waiting for Hardal to give the all clear. And he hadn’t.
As I landed on the roof of the Citadel, eager to get in under the pavilion that had become a permanent feature there, I decided that they were leaving that afternoon. Hardal would just have to deal with it.
I ducked low, allowing Mak to more easily slide off my back. Sempralia was waiting for us, of course, and Mak bowed low in greeting. Mak may have been in service to someone much greater, and she may have been two tons of asskicking in a hundred pound package, but she’d never forget who had championed her family’s cause when she was just a child, allowing them, as Tekereteki refugees, to become citizens. She showed respect where respect was due.
I noted with some surprise that it was only the lady justice there. She wasn’t alone by a long shot, of course; all her normal staff were there, including Kalder, her bodyguard and constant companion. But both the lord commander and the lord exchequer were absent.
“Lady Draka! Lady Drakonum! A pleasure to see you both,” Sempralia said, smiling placidly.
I bobbed my head at her. “Lady Justice Sempralia. Always a pleasure. Where are your two friends? Are they bored of me already?”
“You know as well as I that boredom is the one emotion you could never inspire, my dear dragon. No, I simply made sure that they would be unavoidably caught up in a surprise early meeting.”
“Ah. Playing dirty? I can respect that. So, I assume you had a reason to invite us here this lovely morning?”
Sempralia turned and walked to the edge of the pavilion, looking out across the harbor. Not that there was much to see, at least for unaided human eyes. The dirty morning light only barely lit the anchored ships and the rooftops across the water, and what was there to see was mostly hidden by rain.
“You sent word recently that you expected Tekeretek to enter the war. I won’t pretend that the Council took the news without skepticism, but since you were the source they listened, at least.”
“Right, yeah. So did they? Join the war, I mean?”
“Not officially. There has been no declaration of support for Happar, or of war on Karakan or the League. But several ships that had been patrolling in the south have failed to return in the last three days, and some of them sailed far from Happar.”
“You think the Tekereteki are playing pirates?”
“It would not be the first time. But this is all background. Lady Draka, the reason I’ve asked you here this morning is that Tekeretek is strong, on land and at sea, and the League’s ambassadors refuse to act unless we have proof of their involvement. We, a majority of the Council, are hoping that you might help us collect that proof.”
The fact that my word was good enough for the Council to take note was immensely gratifying. I could even forgive them for not believing me outright. And them asking for my help, again, just got me in tighter with them. There was only one small problem.
“You do remember the approaching dragon, right?” I asked, trying not to sound too much like I was speaking to some senile granny. “The one with the ominous name that you’re paying me a lot of gold to deal with?”
Sempralia snorted. “I am aware, yes.”
“So you want me to do what, exactly? Fly over to Tekeretek and ask them? Patrol the sea? I can’t very well face off with another dragon if I’m halfway across the world when it arrives.”
“Close, but not quite. We would like you to go to Happar itself. To scout the coast and perhaps the islands, and look for the Tekereteki fleet. At the speeds you’ve demonstrated it should be doable in two or three days, since I won’t ask to burden you with any companions this time.”
She had the good taste to look slightly embarrassed at that last part. Which might be an act for all I knew, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
“At the speed this other dragon has been traveling that should have you back here with time to spare. And if not… well, one existential threat is as good as another, and we don’t know that Reaper would actually live up to its name. Not immediately, anyway. We should be able to stall or placate it until you arrive.”
“Them,” I corrected absentmindedly as I considered her words. Was it doable? Maybe. I felt confident that I could cover three or four hundred miles in a day without much trouble, and Happar was well inside that distance. But then I’d need to actually find the Tekereteki fleet, or search unsuccessfully until I decided to give up. And if they wanted some kind of proof, what form would that take?
“Excuse me?” Sempralia said, clearly confused at my one-word reply.
Mak answered for me. “‘Them.’” You called the dragon ‘it.’ Please use ‘them.’ ‘It’ feels like you’re denying that they’re a person, and Draka is understandably sensitive on that point.”
“Oh. Yes, of course. I do apologize.”
“No worries,” I said. “I could leave immediately, I suppose, and give it two days, three at most. Past that I want to start patrolling the north east. We expect Reaper in four or five days, yeah?”
“By our best estimates, yes.”
“I really want to be here when they arrive. I’d prefer to meet them far from the city if I can. If I’m making any serious attempt at all to find the Tekereteki fleet, I’ll be cutting it close no matter what.”
“I suppose that you will. Nevertheless, we would appreciate your help. The sooner we can convince our allies to mobilize, the less destructive this war will be.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Right. Well, I’m willing. I won’t spend more than three days, but if that works for you, we can probably agree. The question is what you’re offering for my time. I do have a few things demanding my attention here as it is, and I got the impression that I’m making a dent in the treasury as it is.”
Sempralia’s answer was simple, delivered calmly and with a sly smile. “Recognition.”
Mak’s breath hitched but I wasn’t sure I fully understood. “Recognition?”
“Just so. That is what you want, isn’t it? Well, the response to the rumors we’ve spread has been more positive than negative. With the situation as it is, namely the distraction of the war, there seems to be little reason to put it off. So, what we offer is no less than full, official recognition of you as a person and a legal resident of Karakan, and of your efforts, before and now, to aid our city. That, and a declaration on the day of or after your return, that the Council considers you a friend and ally of Karakan. That is our offer, for three days of your time.”
I was too stunned to speak. It was so little, yet so much. It was something they’d be more or less forced to give me anyone, if I saved them and their treasury from Reaper. Yet, there was a big difference. This way, I could die as a legally recognized person.
I’d do my damndest to avoid that, of course. And it shouldn’t matter if anyone but my friends gave me the respect I deserved. But it did. It mattered so damn much. Through this offer, the Council were giving up the option of never admitting our involvement, if Reaper killed me. This way, if I didn’t make it, everyone would know that I had died for them. Maybe most of them wouldn’t care, or wouldn’t believe it, but even if a handful did it would be enough.
“Deal.” Once my voice obeyed me I didn’t hesitate. “Three days, and I’ll do all I can to prove that Tekeretek is involved. And you will make the declaration, and provide official documents recognizing my personhood, and my residency, before I fly out to meet Reaper.”
“Agreed.”
“And if I die, the House Drakonum will inherit what I’m owed.”
“That—” Sempralia was about to object, but she must have seen something in me that convinced her that I wasn’t going to bend on this. “That should be possible. Rather, I’ll make sure that it is done,” she said.
“Draka,” Mak said softly. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Yeah, maybe not. But I want you taken care of, assuming Reaper doesn’t live up to their name. If that happens, the whole point is probably moot.”
“As you wish. But it won’t be necessary,” she insisted.
Sempralia cleared her throat. When I lifted my head to look at her I caught the ghost of a soft, almost grandmotherly look on her face, before it was replaced by her normal neutral, confident expression. “I’m glad that we could come to an agreement,” she said, waving to her secretary. It was the same man who’d accompanied her to our first meeting, and each one after that. M— something. Mike? With a small bow he handed her a message tube, which she took and extended to us.
“Maek has prepared a draft of the declaration. Please look it over and inform me if you wish to suggest any changes.”
Right! I thought as Mak took the tube, putting the strap over her shoulder. Maek! Damn, the man works fast.
“I guess I’d better be going, then,” I said. “Mak, do you have anything you want to discuss with the lady justice?”
“I— how goes the war, my Lady Justice?”
“Well enough,” Sempralia said, though there was a sadness to her voice that worried me. “We’re holding, as of two days ago. We’re spread thin along the Divide, but the Happarans are spread thinner. There’s no need to worry. Though the sooner our allies arrive… well.”
“All right, point taken!” I said and bowed down low. Mak understood my intention immediately, leaping smoothly onto my back. “Lady Justice Sempralia, I’ll see you here in three days.”
“Three days, then, Lady Draka. Lady Drakonum, always a pleasure.”
Mak bowed low over my neck. “An honor, my Lady Justice.”
On a whim I waved to Kalder and Maek. The secretary was entirely impassive, but Kalder cracked the smallest of smiles, and nodded my way. Then I turned, took a few running strides, and was in the air, heading back to the inn with my plans for the next few days completely shot.
----------------------------------------
Getting on my way south took longer than necessary, because I wanted to talk to the Tesprils, and because didn’t want to leave Herald pouting. It wasn’t so much the fact that I’d be away for a few days, as that I’d be going on a “trip,” as she put it, without her.
I dealt with the Tesprils first. Mak arranged a nice, big box of the long, slender fish I liked, so that I’d have a good meal in me. Then she called the Tesprils down, and we had a short, conversation as I ate.
They’d barely reached the foot of the stairs when I told them, “Your presence is making my people uncomfortable. Those who have history with Zabra especially. I need you out of here.”
Zabra was supporting Kesra, who moved stiffly. Kesra tried to kneel, but I could see how painful it was for her. “Gods, set her down on the bench, Zabra! Mak, I thought she was supposed to be well enough to move around!”
“According to Kira…” Mak said, trailing off with a shrug.
“I— I am,” Kesra said after taking a few steadying breaths. “It’s just uncomfortable. I’ll manage.”
I scowled at that. Kesra was important to Zabra. Seeing her in pain hurt Zabra. And Zabra was mine.
“Zabra,” I said, “I’m sure you’re already doing this, but I’m commanding you to keep your sister as comfortable as you can, and to help her heal. I don’t care if that means it’ll take longer for you to pay what you owe. You’re to do the minimum required to keep things running, and otherwise look after your sister. Is that clear?”
Zabra bowed her head. “Yes, my lady. Thank you.”
I turned to Mak. “I want Kira to go check on her daily, all right?”
There was the tiniest of scowls, which melted away before Mak nodded.
“And I know Hardal’s being difficult. Have Ardek put some of his minions on watching the house. Make sure the guards there all know them. That should help with security.”
“Right.”
Kesra swallowed, then took a deep breath. “Lady Draka—” she started, then winced and grit her teeth. It made me intensely uncomfortable. Or it made Conscience intensely uncomfortable, and she was the definition of misery loving company.
“Mak,” I said, “will you do something about her pain?” I was careful to make it a question, trying to make it clear that she had a real choice in the matter. I wasn’t going to force her to help these women. I wanted her to, and she could probably feel that to some degree, but I tried.
Mak shoved off from the wall she’d been leaning against and watched the two women. Zabra wouldn’t meet her eyes, and Kesra had hers closed, taking slow, shallow breaths as she rode out whatever wave of pain had choked off her words. Then she relaxed, the hard look in her eyes softening. “Sure,” she said. “Kesra, if I may? I’ll need to touch your scar.”
Kesra didn’t hesitate. She didn’t even open her eyes. She just nodded, pulling her wrap loose about the chest so that Mak could put her hand inside.
There was one long pulse of magic, and Kesra’s breathing became more comfortable. “Thank you, Lady Drakonum” she said, her voice much more even than it had been.
“Yeah,” Mak said noncommittally, and went back to leaning against the wall.
“Lady Draka,” Kesra started again. “I owe you my life, as much as I owe it to Kira. I know that Zabra has already thanked you, but I want to do it myself. I don’t think the two of us can give you thanks enough, for your mercy and your help. Zabra, help me, please.”
She held up her arm, and Zabra looked to me silently before taking it and helping her sister to her feet. This time, when she knelt, I allowed it.
“My lady, I already swore that I’d be loyal to you, for the sake of my sister. I’d like to reaffirm that, but for your own sake. On my gratitude, and on my honor, I’ll do my best to carry out your wishes, and to support you and the House under your protection. If you’ll have me.”
I looked down at her. It was gratifying, but vaguely embarrassing at the same time. I looked to Mak, who gave me a satisfied smile, entirely devoid of kindness, and nodded.
“I accept,” I told her. “But I really need you out of here. Go home and rest. Mak, help them with the arrangements, would you? Send for Hardal, a palanquin or a wagon, things like that.”
“As you wish,” Mak said, shooing the two up the stairs as I swallowed the last of the fish.
Herald came down as soon as the sisters had left, and dealing with her was harder.
“The harness is ready and everything!” she said petulantly. “And I could easily pack enough food for three days. It would be fun! And my eyes are better than yours, and you know it!”
“They are,” I said, and she let me wrap my neck around her to pull her close. “But you’re wrong about this being fun. I’ll be flying in the rain the whole damn time once I’m down there. It’s going to suck. And, no—!” I said quickly, cutting off the objection I knew was coming. She’d brought it up twice since I brought up flying south. “I can’t leave you with the army, either. I know you want to see Maglan, but he’s a soldier in a warzone. He doesn’t have time for you. I’m sorry, but the last thing he needs is to worry about your safety.”
It was the last thing I needed, too. We both knew it, but I left that unsaid.
She didn’t push once I’d told her no, and I made sure to spend an hour with her, just the two of us, before I left. We studied some maps of Happar’s coast, including a diffuse string of islands disappearing off the map’s edge, and I promised to be careful, to stay safe, and to find Maglan to give him her love if I had the time. And that was that. By the time noon came around I was on my way.