![]() Surely, he said, that was better and more sensible than killing valuable creatures. So then another Council member pointed out that we have had offers from wealthy nobles and even cities hoping to buy dragons. “Trader Lorek asked him if he did not fear that Tintaglia might visit the same sort of ‘mercy’ on Trehaug. So Polsk repeated that the dragons seemed in such poor condition that it would be mercy to kill them. One member of the Rain Wild Council claims it was done by Chalcedean spies others suspect their fellows, but most think the pathetic creature wandered off and died. All that is known for certain is that one dragon disappeared in the night. There are rumors that already one dragon was lured away from the herd and slaughtered for trophies. It is well known that Polsk’s affairs have suffered lately and that he might be tempted by such offers. There have been rumors of the Duke of Chalced offering enormous sums of money for a whole dragon, alive or pickled, it was all one to him, and lesser sums for any part of a dragon. No sooner had Trader Polsk spoken than Trader Lorek rose to denounce him and say that he but hoped to salvage the dragon corpses and sell them off. One angry member of the Council said that the dragons have no future and that it would be kinder to put them out of their misery. It was a closed session, but no door is so tight that rumors cannot escape it. “But for the first time, the Council heard proposals for dealing with the situation. The entire city is tired of living with a horde of hungry dragons nearby, and who can blame them? The Elderlings Reyn and Malta Khuprus have spoken out on the dragons’ behalf, but they are not as persuasive as young Selden. Well, Selden has been called away to Bingtown. And he bullied them a bit by saying that if they neglected the dragons or were deliberately cruel to them, Tintaglia would certainly be angered. When Selden of the Khuprus and Vestrit Traders was present, he kept the Council soothed by promising them that Tintaglia and her new mate must eventually come and help with the problem. There is no end in sight to it, either, for all have heard tales of the longevity of dragons, and it is obvious to all that these dragons will never be able to feed themselves. Tintaglia ceased keeping her end of the bargain long ago, and yet here we are, paying taxes to hire hunters or, worse, bring in sheep and cattle to keep the dragons fed. The Rain Wild Council has long been weary of pouring resources into feeding the dragons. It’s more than dirty and hard it’s dangerous to the point of no return.” Her father was scowling, and his words came faster with his cascading anger. It’s not for you, and I’m angry that your mother even considered you for it. I had suspected your mother would brag to Sindy before she had even spoken to you and me about it. But I visited down branch, and Gedder and Sindy asked me what decision you had made. “Has she said any more about the offer for me?” She felt the branches of her perch give and smelled her father’s pipe as he ventured out to join her. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |