pleased with their business. Since the barrier had been erected along the Meadowlands border, the sea merchants had lost a lot of revenue. The people of the Meadowlands needed to eat, so the Red and Yellow had extended the barrier a bit into the sea, but not far enough for them to escape their homeland. Visitors were rare, a boat sale even more rare. Jarrett knew it wouldn't take much negotiation to secure the deal.
"She looks good." Jarrett meandered around the deck. He tugged on ropes and rapped on the side. It felt and sounded solid.
"I'd offer you a crew..." the man trailed off.
Jarrett clapped him on the shoulder. "I don't claim to understand what my people did to you. I wish I knew why they trapped your people here."
"It is of no concern," the merchant said with a wave of his hand. "All will change soon enough."
Jarrett raised an eyebrow, but did not question the man. Surely the people here were always trying to come up with ideas to escape or to change their circumstances. But as far as Jarrett knew, turning someone into a dragon was irreversible. Unless the Green could find a way to turn back time, there was no hope of them ever leaving their homeland.
"I would like to rent her, then," Jarrett said.
"Rent?" The merchant sputtered, his face turning red. "It is for sale. I have no use for it now. Your people put me in this predicament. The least you can do is buy the vessel instead of bringing it back to me. It is only another reminder of our captivity." The merchant crossed his arms over his chest. He stared Jarrett down with angry eyes.
Jarrett waited only a moment, then held out a hand. "Deal."
The two men shook on it. Jarrett swung his pack off his shoulder, and counted gold coins for the merchant who took them with wide eyes and shaking hands. Jarrett felt bad. He knew it was rare for anyone in the Meadowlands to make this kind of money anymore. All of their trade was done near the border and they had to take what the traders would give them. While they weren't as isolated as Hutton's Bridge had once been, they felt the sting of captivity nonetheless.
"She's all yours," the merchant said. "Take good care of her. She was once my finest crabbing ship. I cannot get out to those waters anymore. Maybe someday..." He walked away, the coins jingling in his hands.
"I didn’t realize you were drowning in riches," Bastian said as they boarded the ship.
"No, but I was given enough by the queen of Risos to fund my journey to the Drowned Country. She is generous." The boat lurched away from the dock. Jarrett couldn't help notice Bastian grab the side of the boat, his face screwed up. "Are you okay?"
"Fine," Bastian said, his voice garbled.
Elinor placed a hand on Bastian's arm. She offered him something from her palm and whispered. He popped it in his mouth and chewed on it, then thanked her. The interplay between the two was genuine. Sweet. Jarrett hoped they'd find happiness with each other so Bastian would stop mooning over Tressa.
Connor took off the blindfold. He stood at the prow, taking in a deep breath. The sandy-haired man walked over to Jarrett, who stood at the wheel.
"How are you feeling?" Jarrett asked Connor.
"Good," Connor said. He tossed the blindfold overboard. It skimmed along the water, finally settling into a wave's wet embrace. "I’m angry and anxious over the eggs, but physically I feel strong. Ready to fight."
Jarrett hesitated. He wanted to ask Connor about his temper, whether he was able to control it. But Jarrett wasn't sure he knew the man well enough to ask such a personal question.
"I cannot turn like you," Jarrett said, "but I have spent many years around dragons. If you have any questions, I might be able to answer them for you."
"I do have one." Connor took a deep breath. "Will I ever remember my past?"
Jarrett's shoulders fell. He looked at Connor's curious eyes, wanting so badly to give him good news. "You may not. Sometimes the transformation is too traumatic. If it's done properly and with care, the mind does not suffer. But when someone is brought to the dragon through torture, the mind may choose to block the memories." He shuffled his feet. "Tressa told me what happened to you. How Stacia flayed your skin to pieces with her braid studded with metal. Tressa