Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,40

otherwise engaged by the Jinn who’d stood at Krysta’s subtle signal, to surround the merchant’s wagon on all sides.

“What is it you’re looking for?”

Drake smiled as the man’s eyes refocused on him. It wasn’t a pleasant smile.

“Actually, I’m looking for Prince William, and I have it on good authority—” Drake seized the man by the collar and lifted him with one hand, “—that you know who took him.”

The man protested, but Drake would have none of it.

“Tell me now and I might spare your life.”

“Who are you to threaten me?” The man started blustering, looking to Krysta—and her gray Guard uniform—for help.

Bless her, Krysta perched on the side of an apple cart, picked up a ripe piece of fruit and polished it on her tunic. She flipped the owner of the cart a coin and bit into the juicy apple with a satisfying crunch.

“I’m the man who will break both your legs if you don’t start talking.”

“Guard!” the man called to Krysta, “You can’t let him do this!”

“Actually,” she replied calmly, “I can, and I will. You messed with the wrong people when you decided to assist in the prince’s abduction.”

“Come now.” Drake shook the man. “I’m growing impatient. Tell me what you know.”

The man kept protesting his innocence until suddenly his eyes widened and he went stiff with fear. Drake could smell the terror sweating from his pores as he stared over Drake’s shoulder.

Drake felt the whoosh of air against his back and heard the distinctive clacking of dragon claws on cobblestone. He knew without looking that Jenet had decided to assist yet again. This time, though, he didn’t mind in the least. He’d use every advantage to discover where Wil had been taken. He dropped the shaking man and stepped back, making room for the dragon.

Jenet took a menacing step forward, brandishing her sharp talons in a way that impressed even Drake. His little dragonet had certainly grown into a fearsome creature while he’d been away. Drake hardly recognized the aggressive dragoness as his own little Jenet, but he had to admit she was quite effective.

The merchant crumpled in fear, cowering away from the fiery dragon.

“Tipolir! They took him to Tipolir!” The man cried out in terror as Jenet’s smoky breath streamed over his face and her shining talons drew closer to his trembling skin. “That’s all I know. I swear! That’s all I know.”

Drake looked at Krysta, raising one eyebrow in question. She nodded almost imperceptibly. She too felt the truth of the coward’s words.

“Back off, sweetheart. You did a good job,” Drake said to Jenet privately as he moved in to bind the man’s wrists with Krysta’s able assistance. As a Guard, she had lengths of rope as part of her kit for just such purpose. The dragon moved back, but kept a wary eye on the proceedings.

Krysta whistled loudly and more Guards appeared, from where Drake could only guess, but they seemed to know Krysta well enough and took charge of the prisoner with tidy movements. The man was bundled into a cart brought out from a side alley with almost frightening efficiency and Drake had to hand it to Krysta. She certainly had prepared for all contingencies.

“I’ve got to get to Tipolir.” Drake was thinking out loud as Krysta stood at his elbow, nodding. He knew the city of Tipolir was near the southern border, on the coast. If his abductors managed to get Wil on a boat, the trail would be lost. There was practically no way to track them over water.

“We can’t be more than a day or two behind them and on dragonback you might be able to overtake them before they get to the sea.”

Drake turned to the dragon who was never far from his side since he’d returned to his homeland. “Jenet, will you take me on this journey? It could be dangerous, but—”

“I will do anything to find William. You could not keep me here.”

“I’m going too.” Krysta walked right up to the dragon. “Will you take me, Lady Jenet? Or must I make my way over land?”

Drake turned to her. “I thank you for your help, Krysta, but this journey is mine to make. You should stay here.”

“I disagree. I can still be of help. I have connections all over this land and you’ve not been here for years. You need me, Drake.”

“She speaks the truth,” Jenet offered, “but I’m still too young to carry you both the breadth of the land.”

Drake sighed, studying both females. Why