Dragons of War by Christopher Rowley Read Free Book Online

brig would have slowed as well, but if Dook simply pushed on to the far side of the islands, he could escape completely while they investigated all the side channels and inlets here. Vlope gambled, and the sloop pressed on, staying with the main channel, seeking to pass through as quickly as possible and close up with the
Calice
if Dook had done the same.
    He had not. By mid-afternoon, they were clear of the islands on the western side, and there was no sign of the brig, although several fishing vessels passed by. They had no report of the
Calice
either.
    Vlope swung the
Peralta
about and began tacking up river, putting into each side channel as they came to it. Hours passed and still there was no sign of the
Calice
.
    "Could be anywhere in these damned islands. It'll take a week to search them all," grumbled Vlope.
    The light was beginning to fade and with it Relkin's hopes of ever catching up with Dook, when the sloop skimmed across the outlet of a blocked channel, hidden behind willow thicket. There was no point in putting in there, the water was not deep enough.
    Suddenly the dragon gave a grunt.
    "Something floating in the water there, look."
    Relkin called to Vlope to slow and bring the
Peralta
about until they came abreast of the floating object.
    It was the body of Golber, slashed horribly across the throat.
    "Golber!" exclaimed Relkin. "One of Dook's men." At the sight of Golber, Relkin felt his sides ache.
    Golber floated away, food for fish.
    "Up there, in that dead water, I'd say," said Vlope, pointing through the willows to the hidden inlet.
    "But how?"
    "Entrance on the other side of the island is probably deeper. Brig's anchored just inside, out of sight of the main channel and close enough to be able to run for it if she has to."
    "Put me ashore," said Relkin.
    Through the gathering dusk, Relkin made his way up the beach and into the tangled thickets of willow and alder that covered the low-lying island. Clouds of mosquitoes arose off the stagnant inlet, and they soon found Relkin's sweating form as he worked his way through the dense thickets. It was an ordeal, but at length he won through to a zone of sand dunes beside the inlet. The water curved away to the north and east, and he followed, splashing through the shallows for a half mile until he rounded the bend and came in sight of a ship. A pair of wan lights at bow and stern gave some illumination. It was undoubtedly the brig. Relkin marked the quarry's position and then returned the way he had come.
    Vlope nodded briskly at this confirmation of his suspicions and sent the
Peralta
upstream and around the island until they approached the open mouth of the closed-off inlet.
    Bazil and Relkin, stripped to the essentials of dirk and sword, were lowered over the side into the water. Peralta moved away, tacking upstream to await their signal. Bazil rolled over slowly, enjoying the feel of the cold water again. All wyverns loved to swim, an echo of their monstrous forebears.
    Relkin, teeth chattering, swam up and climbed astride the dragon's massive shoulders. Now with smooth strokes of the great tail, the dragon headed into the inlet.

CHAPTER SIX
    Like some enormous crocodile, Bazil coasted the last twenty yards, scarcely breaking the surface of the water. No alarm came from the ship, and at length they were poised beneath the bow of
Calice
.
    Voices could be heard, angry voices raised in argument somewhere aft, but the bow was quiet. Carefully Relkin stood up on Bazil's back, steadied himself, and then leapt for the scroll work of the brig's figurehead, a Snailmaiden with long hair and horns. He landed, got a grip on her horns, and hauled himself up to the rail while ignoring as much as possible the savage stabs of pain from his ribs where Golber's fists had landed.
    There was a single figure standing watch on the poop deck. Down below the argument continued. Relkin was able to ascertain that it was coming from the aft hold, where the hatch was open, letting