Ooo-hoo, love the badges. These will be a nice souvenir.
As they wound their way through the dilapidated neighborhood, Fulgrim and the gondolier both began to relax. As Skydancers, they could both tell that there really was no-one there. To be sure, it was a bit creepy to find an area of vibrant Levitos this deserted, but Fulgrim preferred it to the alternative. He was even considering asking Giovanni to tell them why the place was called "Cacthfire," when the gondolier gasped sharply. A moment later, Fulgrim sensed the same thing. There, on the bridge ahead of them. Not agitated. Not hostile?
As they glided closer, a black-cloaked dragon stood up behind a railing. The mysterious figure was holding a glowing flask, dangling it above their passing boat.
"Here," came the words. "I think you might be needing this." The two Skydancers stared at it in stupefaction. Only Courageous moved.
Maintaining her balance perfectly, the Pearlcatcher reached up and took the flask with one graceful hand. "Thank you," she said politely. "Might I inquire-" The dragon ran off, claws clicking lightly against stone, and disappeared down a winding street. "Hm. Interesting."
It was Fulgrim who found his voice first. "Do you make a habit of accepting packages from cloaked strangers in bad parts of town, parolee?"
She ignored his question. "Can either of you identify this?" Giovanni shook his head. Fulgrim pressed on.
"I feel the need to point out that you're not the only one on this boat. I'm here. Giovanni's here, as much as he tries to blend into the scenery. When you take stupid risks on your own initiative, you're not just gambling with your own life! What kind of oh-so-perfect noblewoman gambles with other people's money?"
Courageous just shook her head, as if his words were nothing more than a momentary breeze. "Dear Fulgrim, gambling with other people's money sums up most financial markets. But let us get out of the weeds. You wish to make decisions on this trip? Very well. All you had to do was ask."
"I believe I had asked already," he said, his tone icy.
"Whining under your breath and giving pained glances is not the same as making a request." Her rebuke done, she turned her head to look at the city passing by. Fulgrim resisted the urge to glare at her or whine. Instead, he used his supernatural senses to gauge her emotional state.
Calm as a still pond. She really didn't care. Fulgrim narrowed his eyes. Dragons in the north, ones who never traveled to the Icefield, thought that Ice dragons must be cold and uncaring. Really, the opposite was true. They formed tight-knit families, communities; they banded together to survive their harsh environment. In his experience, the cold ones were of Light, like Courageous. They had the gift of looking so far out that dragons transformed into ants.
Okay, I did not expect the story to develop in this direction. To be honest, I thought of Courageous as more of a meek character before I started. Turns out she's still the same dragon who ruthlessly murdered all her rivals. She just has smaller goals now.
and
are on their way.
