'You could have told us who we'd be dealing with.' Draco kept glancing over his shoulder for a while, wondering if the goblin would follow them any further to try and sell him something else.
'Was I supposed to risk you getting stuck somewhere in the harbour just to avoid him? You've got to be joking.' James took a deep breath and grinned. 'Thanks to Debroth keeping you occupied, I was able to sort everything out quickly. I once spent nearly three hours at his place, and I'd only gone there for a freeic leaves.' He shook his head. 'That's why the master avoids going to see him on his own. Every time he went to him for something, he came back much later than he'd intended and was completely knackered.'
'I don't know whether to thank you or take offence,' the dragon muttered dispassionately.
'At least you saw something interesting.' The elf shrugged and picked up the pace slightly, heading towards the open waterfront.
Draco decided not to comment, but simply kept pace with his friend.
They quickly emerged from between the warehouses and made their way to the passage in the ramparts, where this time no one checked them, and they were barely even noticed.
'Let's walk along the shore,' James suggested at one point. 'Maybe we'll be able to see the naval port on the other side of the bay.'
'If we can see it, it'll be worth it.' Forth agreed. 'There should be two or three ships of the line anchored in the bay, and a few more in the naval port itself. If we manage to walk along one of the piers to the end, we might even see the sea gates and the forts protecting them. The merchant ships won't set sail until evening, so nothing will be blocking the view.'
'Just be careful where you go,' Ari warned. 'It's best not to hang around ships that are preparing to set sail or are currently being unloaded. The best vantage point would be a pier where there aren't too many people milling about, or where the moored ship is one of the smaller ones.'
'We can have a look around, as we're in no rush anyway.' Draco was interested in both the ships and the aforementioned gates. He was curious to see how they compared to the ones they'd used on their journey to Enpine, especially given the size of the vessels in the harbour. Even those moored closest weren't exactly small, and the ships of the line must have been even larger.
'In that case, we've got quite a walk ahead of us.' Ari looked around, his gaze sweeping mainly over the masts visible above the crowd. 'The largest ships always moor closest to the warehouses.'
'Not all of them,' James shook his head. 'If they're carrying weapons, they have to unload in a separate basin right next to the naval port. There are even more Watchmen and Navy soldiers there. Checks aren't just at the entrance; patrols often check documents as well.'
They entered a larger crowd and the chance for a quiet conversation vanished. Whether they liked it or not, they had to walk almost in single file, trying not to lose sight of one another. If Draco had been here alone, he would surely have lost his way long ago, without even thinking of returning to the carriage. Of course, he could have tried asking someone for directions, but judging by the general rush all around, it was unlikely that anyone would be willing to help.
The harbour stretched on for an incredibly long way. Earlier, the dragon had thought that the warehouses beyond the anchorage were situated in the main part of the port, but it turned out to be a complete backwater. At one point, he realised that the sounds reaching him had changed and grown louder. The same went for the smells. It was not the sea that dominated the air, but spices, fish and various aromas of unknown origin. Near the shore, little had changed, but the cobbled quay had undergone a veritable metamorphosis. The open space had widened considerably, opening up a vast square where a colourful bazaar had sprung up. It was there that all the perceptible changes had their source. Small traders and local vendors jostled for customers' attention, whilst lorries gliding closer to the sea vied with them for space. The chaos that reigned everywhere had only intensified.
Fortunately, the dragon didn't lose sight of the others, and Kei stayed close to him. Sticking to their original plan, they looked for a spot with a good view of the bay and the ships anchored there. Draco kept glancing towards the bazaar, drawn by the smells, the vendors' cries and the riot of colours. He decided that on the way back they would walk through the market.
The marketplace was truly enormous, and it took them a long time to make their way through the area. As Ari had said, the further they moved away from the warehouses, the smaller the vessels moored at the quays. When the waterfront narrowed again, the ships moored there were not monstrous galleons, but smaller single-masted vessels with modest crews. Here, too, the earlier crowding had eased. The traders were still calling out to one another, and the carts were filling up with crates, but it was all happening in a more peaceful atmosphere. Here, one could also spot boards displaying notices and offers of voyages to various parts of the world.
'If you ever want to sail somewhere, you'd be better off looking at the Merchants' Guild,' said James, as soon as he noticed what the dragon was looking at. 'It's safer, though perhaps not exactly cheap.'
'Good to bear in mind,' Draco muttered to himself. 'Will this do?' he suggested, spotting a jetty where only a single small sloop was moored, and with no one in sight nearby. Further along, a two-masted corvette was docked.
'I think so.' Forth looked around more closely and scrutinised the end of the jetty particularly carefully. 'We should have a good view of the whole bay.'
They made their way calmly in that direction. Even as they passed the merchant ship, there was much to see. The barrier protecting Atlantis stretched out from this point deep into the sea, creating a sort of extraordinary horizon. Arkien lay in the centre of the bay, whose arms reached almost halfway into this enclosed basin. Beyond the developed area, the shore consisted of high cliffs, upon which rose the city walls studded with protruding towers that seemed almost suspended high above the water's surface. Even from this distance, the embrasures were clearly visible, indicating that large-calibre cannons had been placed there. Given the lack of fortifications in the harbour itself, these were most likely of increased range. Furthermore, on every other tower, an openwork structure glistened, shimmering with golden energy even from this distance. Clearly, in addition to standard artillery, the harbour was also protected by magic.
At the junction of the barrier and the sea, roughly at the end of the bay's arms, lay two rocky islands that looked as though they had been torn from the seabed. On them stood mirror-image fortresses with soaring towers. Their focal points were enormous, golden portals partially submerged beneath the water's surface. Even from such a great distance, they made a stunning impression.
When they reached the end of the pier and the view of the bay opened up fully, Draco saw three ships of the line rocking gently on the water. Their four gun decks commanded respect. Between these ships of the line sailed two smaller frigates. It was a sight that would surely remain in his memory for a long time.
'That's where the naval port begins.' Ari pointed to the fortifications that looked like an extension of the city walls and the harbour surrounded by them. There, one could see ships bobbing on the water, including two more ships of the line, one of which was even larger than those defending the bay. There must have been other vessels further out, as the tops of their masts were visible.
'And in front of it, the anchorage for the arms transports.' James drew attention to a partially enclosed harbour basin where two galleons and several frigates were moored. Indeed, on the quay, one could see quite a few Navy soldiers mingling with the City Watch.
Draco flinched, feeling a tingling sensation on the back of his neck. He suddenly lost interest in the conversation and stopped listening to the elves listing which Navy vessels were currently in port. Not even a mention of the flagship caught his attention. The dragon began to look around, searching for the source of the strange, yet not unpleasant, sensation. He turned towards the quay. The tingling intensified as his gaze fell upon a crowd near the corvette. A merchant was arguing with someone.
'Draco?', Kei gently tugged the reptile by the arm, snapping him out of his strange state.
The dragon looked around. Ari and James were arguing over which of them had actually recognised one of the frigates, whilst Forth was trying not to listen to them and stood staring off into the distance. Only the werewolf had noticed the change in Draco's behaviour and reacted to it. He looked slightly concerned.
'Is something wrong?' Kei quickly began looking around, focusing particularly on the spot the dragon was staring at.
'No, I don't think so.' Draco looked again at the spot that had previously caused that strange sensation, but this time he felt nothing. 'Something… I don't know,' he admitted.
Kei moved forward, fixing his gaze on the end of the pier. He looked as though he was about to pounce on someone. Draco quickly placed a hand on his shoulder.
'Calm down, it's probably nothing.' He pulled the soldier back slightly. The werewolf resisted at first, but quickly gave in and took half a step back.
'Has something happened?' Forth turned his attention to them, and when Draco looked over his shoulder, Ari froze in surprise, mid-sentence.
'No, no.' The dragon quickly denied it. 'I just thought I'd imagined something.' He smiled apologetically.
It was too late, however. Both Kei and Ari were already on high alert and were looking around somewhat nervously. Forth, with his innate calm, shifted slightly so that no one was standing in front of him, blocking his view. Only James was looking at everyone, not quite sure what to make of it. The pleasant stroll seemed to have just come to an end.
Draco sighed heavily and looked towards the shore once more. Apart from the arguing group, nothing caught his attention, let alone caused that strange sensation. He shook his head and turned to the others.
'Really, it's nothing. I felt something, and then it disappeared.' He tried to explain, though he immediately regretted it. All three soldiers tensed up even more. 'All right, fine.' He sighed heavily again. 'Let's get out of here.'
'I'll go first.' Forth didn't wait for anyone and was almost immediately a few steps ahead of them.
Draco followed him, shaking his head at the trio's hypersensitivity. He didn't quite understand it, but he had to admit that in their shoes, he'd probably have reacted the same way. They set off back, Forth slightly ahead, Kei right next to the dragon and James, and Ari a little behind.
'It's nice that everything turned out well.' Draco looked at his friend, who seemed the least bothered by the situation.
'Debroth is a bit of a character, but you can rely on his ability to source materials.'
'Do you deal with him often?'
'This was my third time, so considering how long I've been learning under Master Vittoro, that's quite often.' Ari gave a wry smile.
'It's always better to know people like that than to have to look for them blindly.' Kei interjected, though he'd been focused on scanning the shore the whole time.
'True.' James agreed.
Draco was about to say something, but froze again, sensing something strange. He looked around, trying to pinpoint the source of the sensation. Once again, just as before, his gaze fell on the arguing group, but not quite on them. He was closer, of that he was sure, but not quite that close. He began to scan for something that was a little further away.
'The same thing again?' Kei tugged the dragon by the arm and at the same time stepped in front of him, so as to shield him. The other two stopped too.
'Yes, but…' Draco blinked, slightly thrown off balance. 'It seems to be coming from over there.' He nodded roughly in the direction of the heated argument.
'Then let's go the other way.' There was a note of concern in Ari's voice.
'Yes, the sooner the better,' echoed Forth.
Whatever the dragon had sensed, the soldiers took it extremely seriously. The reptile himself wasn't convinced they should be reacting in what he considered an exaggerated manner. For whatever was the source of this sensation didn't evoke any negative feelings in him. Admittedly, they were unfamiliar and strange, but there was certainly no hostility in them. It was even difficult to say whether they were entirely clear.
Everyone was staring at Draco, so he reluctantly moved on. He was intrigued by what was happening. He knew he should be concerned too, but in truth he wasn't. The sensation merely drew his attention rather than pulling him in. It was as if something were gently plucking a taut string.
They soon reached the quay, and the sounds of the argument grew clearer. The merchant and the corvette's captain were clearly shouting at each other over the cost of transporting the goods. From what could be made out, the merchant was vehemently objecting to the rate increase due to pirate attacks. He did not consider this a new phenomenon and vividly recalled all his encounters with such scoundrels.
Draco casually scanned the group on the quay. Knowing that they were not the source of the strange sensation, he lost all interest in them.
A shiver ran down the dragon's spine, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Amidst the quarrelling members, he saw two blood-red eyes fixed upon him. He froze, for the previous sensation had returned, and it was far stronger than before. It was hard to describe. He sensed something else, another being, and knew that those eyes belonged to it. Now he also felt that whatever it was wanted him to approach.
'Draco?' Kei snapped the dragon out of that strange trance once more.
The reptile shook himself and looked at the werewolf, who was already watching him with no small amount of terror. The mage blinked a few times and, as if to make sure the strange apparition had vanished, scanned the shore with his eyes. And once again, amidst the crowd, he saw the blood-red eyes.
'It's there,' the dragon almost whispered.
'What?' The shapeshifter immediately turned, looking in the direction the reptile was staring. 'Where is it?'
'Behind that group.' Draco had completely shaken himself off now, and although he was staring into those mesmerising eyes, he wasn't falling into a trance. Yet they were still fixed on him. 'I don't know what it is, but I can see eyes.' He didn't want to point, but it seemed Kei had a perfect sense of what he meant. 'Like. . .'
'Red?', Forth interjected. 'I can see them too, so it's not some spectre or curse.' The vampire seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
'So, back there...' Ari began, but stopped. 'Isn't that...?'
'Maybe...' Forth shrugged.
Draco was very curious to see what it was, so he quickly took a few steps forward to get a better view of the thing. And indeed, he succeeded.
As soon as he passed the group by the water's edge, he quickly spotted two fully loaded carts parked nearby. Their driver was casually watching the argument whilst stroking one of the oxen harnessed to the cart. Between the carts, however, crouched another creature. A pitch-black bess with blood-red eyes kept following Draco with its gaze. It was smaller than its kin in Ed'heer, but seemed more massive, stockier. Its raven-black fur and obsidian claws glinted with reflected golden light, creating the illusion of constant motion and elusiveness. The beast wore a simple transport harness, indicating that it was used as a draught animal.
'Bess?', Kei asked, looking slightly taken aback. A mixture of surprise and relief crossed his face. 'Did you really mean him?'
'Yes, I think so.' Draco looked around. No one else had taken any notice of the creature, so it must not have been such a rare sight after all.
'I was afraid it was something worse.' Ari breathed a sigh of relief and patted the dragon on the shoulder. 'If you're lucky, maybe it'll choose you as a rider.'
The reptile looked at the elf, unsure whether this was sarcasm or if he really meant it.
'Besses choose their riders themselves.' Forth chimed in, resuming his practised, indifferent tone. 'Everyone describes it differently, so it's hard to say exactly how it happens. Riders who recount their first encounters rarely agree with one another when describing the feelings that accompany it.'
'I've heard that somewhere before.' Draco didn't mean to sound sarcastic, but he might have failed. Fortunately, no one took any notice.
'And so, what of all this?' James seemed to be rolling his eyes.
'If Draco were to be recognised by this beast, the owner would have to sell him,' Ari explained quickly. 'That's the law.'
'How much might such a mount cost?' The dragon wasn't sure why, but something told him the beast had made a decision and was just waiting for the right moment.
'It depends on whether it's harnessed or not,' Ari shook his head, as if he didn't have the heart to say more. 'In the first case, thirty to forty Crowns, and in the second… even over a hundred.'
'According to the law, a rider must buy back his mount,' the vampire continued. 'If he cannot afford it, he may work off the cost or ask the army to buy him out in exchange for service in the cavalry.'
'That's rather… restrictive.' Draco didn't know how else to put it.
'Every bess rider is that valuable.' Ari shrugged, froze, and quickly turned towards the reptile. 'Don't tell me you want to...'
'I feel I should.' The dragon muttered without much conviction. It sounded like madness, a delusion or something unreal, but at that moment he knew that this was exactly what he had to do, and that he would succeed.
He was just about to head towards the bess when James stopped him.
'Perhaps you shouldn't rush into the unknown?' The blacksmith seemed to know exactly what was on his friend's mind. 'You've heard how much a mount like that costs.' Draco nodded reluctantly. 'So perhaps you shouldn't stick your nose where it doesn't belong.' He gave the dragon a sidelong glance. 'Do you know when your master is coming back?'
'No, he didn't even know himself when he left.' The dragon shook his head.
'So perhaps it's better to wait for his return and his help?' suggested the blacksmith. 'Especially financial help, because that's a mountain of money.'
'That's the least of my worries,' Draco blurted out, paying less attention to the conversation and more to the beast staring at him. 'I can handle that on my own.'
All four froze and stared at the dragon in surprise. Clearly, they hadn't expected such a statement, and even less the calm and indifference with which the reptile said it.
'After all your talk about Dagos, I didn't think you were a tycoon.' James tilted his head as if wondering whether such a term suited a dragon.
'I'm not,' Draco snapped, but immediately a thought struck him from the back of his mind that he had just lied. 'Well, at least I wasn't until I visited the Emerald Pagoda,' he admitted openly.
'It wasn't that long ago you went there. It seemed as though Master Vittoro had practically forced you.' The elf laughed. 'In my opinion, he was pleased that, incidentally, Madame Gizel had distracted you from all of this by inviting you to that wretched ball. Well, the result was… surprising for everyone.'
'Don't remind me,' the dragon shook his head. 'It was nice until someone decided to ruin everything,' he sighed heavily. He still couldn't get over how the party had ended and how bitter the memories were.
'Back to the present,' Forth interjected. 'James is right, there's no need to rush. If you're set on it, it'll be cheaper to buy a bess first and then see if the beast chooses you as its rider.'
'Cheaper…' Ari muttered and sighed. Draco gave him a questioning look. 'Of course we'd all like to become riders. Reducing it to just a money issue…'
'It's logical,' the vampire cut in. 'After all, if it doesn't work out and you do get rejected, you can always send it to a breeding farm. At the very least, you'll get some money back.'
The dragon hadn't thought of that. On the one hand, the cost of the beast was a considerable sum, and on the other, he should consider what to do if he was wrong and what he'd sensed earlier didn't actually mean the bess would choose him. Forth immediately suggested the possibility of utilising the creature even if it didn't become a mount.
Draco was roused from his thoughts by fresh shouts. The merchant arguing with the corvette's captain had shifted their attention and were now approaching the loaded carts, amongst which the beast sat. The merchant was pointing at his goods and listing something to the merchant ship's commander, with whom he clearly disagreed. Moreover, he didn't seem too keen on the idea of the unusual problem involved in transporting live animals, especially predatory ones.
'We need to ask if he'll sell it.' James gave a wry smile. 'You managed with Debroth, so you'll manage this too.'
'If you run into trouble, remember to display the coat of arms clearly,' suggested Forth.
'And if they try anything nasty, we'll give them a taste of their own medicine,' declared Kei defiantly.
'Well then, let's give it a go…' muttered Draco, not sounding very confident, and set off towards the merchant.