The Radiant Dragon

*****

Teldin came on deck just in time to see the damselfly touch down. A small crowd was gathering around the spindly, insectlike craft, and the elves had their weapons handy. The ever-curious dracons were there, of course. Teldin also spotted Estriss in the crowd and hurried over to him. He had not seen the illithid for several days; Estriss had kept to his cabin and had declined visitors.

'What's going on here?' he asked the illithid.

The damselfly appeared, suddenly, just outside of the swan ship's air envelope, Estriss informed him. Teldin noted that the illithid's mental voice seemed somehow edgy, agitated. They raised the flag for ship in distress and then landed. It all happened so suddenly that there was no time to summon you or Vallus.

Before Teldin could speak, the door of the craft swung open and a lone arcane, bent almost double to keep his blue domed head clear of the door, ducked through the too-small opening. The creature awkwardly descended the rope ladder to the deck. He unfolded himself to his full twelve-foot height, then spread his six-fingered blue hands to show he was without weapons. 'I am called Npamta. We mean you no harm. We come seeking trade,' the arcane said in the oddly expressionless voice Teldin had come to associate with the race.

A second figure exploded from the craft, disdaining the ladder and landing on deck beside the arcane with a clank of armor. Immediately elven steel flashed as the crew circled the newcomer, an exotically beautiful female warrior dressed in plate armor and intricate body paint. The woman glared defiantly at the elven warriors. 'Where's the dragon?' she demanded.

A lakshu. Estriss's words formed in Teldin's mind, holding a touch of wonder and excitement. You might meet a reigar after all. The snake bracelet on her forearm is a shakti, a sign that she is pledged in service to a reigar.

The arcane edged away from the lakshu and shifted uncomfortably. 'What my, er, associate means to say is that we're seeking an artifact of great power. The creature who wields it is not necessarily a dragon. It can take whatever form it wills,' the arcane explained hastily. 'Whatever the case, I will pay dearly for the artifact.'

Teldin tensed, his hand going to the clasp of his cloak. He'd received such offers from the arcane before, but never one that began like this. The magical garment gave him the ability to change his face and form, and although he'd never tried so drastic a change as a dragon, he supposed it was possible. Perhaps one of its previous owners had done so. 'The cloak is not for sale,' he said firmly.

'Cloak? What cloak?' The arcane blinked, then stunned realization dawned on its blue face. 'You are Teldin Moore, I take it? This is an unexpected turn of events. I have heard of your cloak.'

Then the cloak is not the artifact you seek? Estriss asked sharply.

'Stick to the point,' snapped the female warrior, not hearing the illithid's mental question. She strode forward through the circle of elven blades, batting them aside as easily as another woman might tear through a cobweb. Teldin motioned for the elves to hold peace. She came toe-to-toe with Teldin and glared down at him. 'You in charge here?'

'I am,' he said.

'Good. I want the dragon. That's all. All you have to do is point her out to me, and I'll do the rest,' she said.

For some reason, Teldin remembered his first encounter with Raven Stormwalker and the fleeting image of a dragon he had seen on her face. Now that he thought about it, the perception had all the earmarks of the flashes the medallion brought him. Was it possible that Raven once had owned the cloak? Had she met the lakshu while in a dragon form? Perhaps before losing the cloak she had taken the form of Raven Stormwalker, and had somehow became stuck with it. It was an odd theory, but it was certainly easier to swallow than Vallus's explanation. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Trivit slip away from the crowd and hurry below deck, undoubtedly to warn Raven of the fearsome newcomer.

'Well?' snapped the warrior, impatient with the man's delay.

'I'm sorry,' Teldin said, flashing the woman his best smile, 'but dragons seem to be in short supply on this ship.'

'It could have taken any form,' added the arcane. 'You will know the creature by the pendant it wears, an antique gold piece set with a dark sapphire. Have you seen such a piece?'

'I'm sorry, no,' Teldin said firmly.

'But the artifact is on this ship, of that I'm sure,' protested the arcane, its blue face wrinkling in an expression of petulance.

How do you know this? Estriss broke in, broadcasting his words this time so that all could hear them.

The lakshu sniffed. 'When the dragon was a reigar, this obsequious blue bastard couldn't kiss her pendant often enough.'

The meaning of the warrior's cryptic statement hit Teldin like an icy fist. The fal had spoken of other artifacts, objects with powers similar to those of his cloak. The arcane was a wizard-he'd have to be to propel the damselfly-so he could track such an object. Teldin cast a quick glance at Estriss, wondering whether the illithid had come to the same conclusion. Estriss's expressionless eyes gave no indication of his thoughts.

Teldin took control of the situation. 'You raised the distress flag to gain access to the swan ship. Is this how you usually do business?'

'Our apologies,' the arcane said, his voice utterly without regret. 'A necessary deception. The ship is perfectly functional.'

'Couldn't hurt to check her over, though,' put in Om. The tiny gnome woman had edged her way through the growing crowd to Teldin's side, and she eyed the damselfly with a disturbing degree of fascination. Her ubiquitous wrench glinted in her brown hand.

Teldin placed a restraining hand on the gnome's shoulder, and turned to address the arcane. 'I have no knowledge of the object you seek.'

'Forget the pendant,' growled the lakshu. She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting. 'I want the dragon.'

'You've made that quite clear,' Teldin said coolly. 'Now I'll be equally frank. You have boarded this ship under false pretenses, and by your battle garb and demeanor you threaten my crew. I want you off the swan ship immediately.'

The lakshu glared, then shrugged. 'Your funeral. Maybe you'd sing a different song if you knew that the last crew who sailed with the dragon is floating through Realmspace in bits and pieces.'

'Viper!' protested the arcane. The lakshu shot him an unrepentant glare, then folded her muscled arms and defied Teldin with her eyes.

'Realmspace?' Teldin asked. Viper gave one curt nod. 'It seems we may have a something to talk about after all,' he said slowly. 'I will gather the ship officers and meet you on the bridge in an hour. Since there are no dragons to slay on this ship, perhaps you would consider removing your battle armor before the meeting?' He gestured to the wary, armed elves. 'It puts the crew off.'

Viper considered the offer. She whipped off her helmet, to reveal rows of tightly braided, vibrantly green hair. The end of each tiny braid was decorated with colored beads, and the flamboyant style complemented the warrior's unusual beauty. Her face was broad, defined by high, sharp cheekbones, fierce black eyes, and green brows that slanted sharply up at the corners.

'Armor or no, if I find the dragon, she's dead,' Viper growled. Despite her harsh words, the lakshu's tone offered a concession.

'That sounds perfectly reasonable,' Teldin agreed with a touch of sarcasm. Deal made, he pointed to the first mate. 'Gaston, post a guard to protect our guests from passing dragons. The rest of you, return to your stations.'

Teldin left the strange duo in the care of the elven warriors and went in search of Vallus Leafbower. As soon as most of the crew members had drifted away, Estriss glided silently up to the damselfly. Projecting his thoughts to the arcane and the lakshu, he said, If you wilt trust me, I believe I can help you both obtain what you desire.

*****