Omensent: Rise of the Shadow Dragons by Barry Gibbons Read Free Book Online Page A

sons thanking him many times along the way.
    After he had seen that Storm was well cared for , he returned to find a feast awaiting him at a table near the substantial fireplace. He fell into the succulent goose ravenously, and both he and Veren ate far more than they probably should have.
    Damion sighed as he sat back in his chair , his stomach feeling a little tighter against his belt. "That was even better that Aunt Skie's cooking." He commented after burping so thunderously that Snowfeather nearly fell from his shoulder.
    Many of the sailors nearby laughed with good humor, then turned back to their conversations.
    "I'll take that as a compliment to the cook !" The innkeeper laughed as he brought them two more large tankards of foaming ale. "I'll be sure to pass it on to my wife. I'm sure she'll be pleased!"
    Veren smiled and patted his stomach. "Please do. Your wife sets a fine table." He leaned forward and looked at the bury man seriously. "Tell me, do you happen to know of any ships that may be heading to the north?"
    The innkeeper turned around and looked out over the crowd. "Listen up, sea dogs!" He bellowed in a booming voice.
    The room fell silent and everyone turned to look at him with startled eyes.
    "Any of you heading to the northern shores?"
    "Aye!" Answered one sailor, a short man with long braided hair and meticulously groomed beard. "I'm heading north." He wore a bright blue vest adorned with large gold buttons, and a thick heavy gold chain hung to the middle of his paunchy gut. His extravagant hat was adorned with a long feather, and the bright blue eyes hidden beneath were shrewd and calculating.
    The innkeeper turned back to Damion and Veren and smiled. "Anything else, milord's?"
    Damion laughed, then handed the man several coins. He drained his tankard as he watched the man return to the bar, then rose to his feet and drifted over to the sailor with braided hair. "May we join you?"
    The sailor looked Damion up and down for a long moment, then waved several other sailors away and gestured to the newly vacant seat s. "What can I do for you?" He asked, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
    "We 're looking for a ship bound for Jaghera, or somewhere close by." Veren told him.
    The man smiled easily. "It's your lucky day then ! I just so happen to have a ship and we're bound for Whilhom in Jaghera with a load of furs from the mountains."
    " Would it be possible for us to purchase passage for ourselves and our mounts?"
    The captain stared shrewdly at them for several moments, then nodded. "Twenty silver." He answered finally. "Paid up front."
    Veren started to object, but Damion cut him off. "Done. When do we depart?"
    "On the morning tide. We're docked right outside."
    Damion nodded. "We'll see you in the morning then."
    They met the captain the next morning at first light. Veren immediately tossed him a pouch of coins which the portly man caught with a smile. He reintroduced himself as Captain Harper, owner and captain of the ship The Fearless Lady. He gestured to the sturdy, but rather weathered looking ship, his face proud. "I know she doesn't look like much," He said lovingly. "But she is the finest ship to ever sail these seas!"
    They led the horses towards the loading dock, then gently coaxed them aboard the ship and down to the vessel's lower deck.
    The captain's eyes grew large as Damion passed leading Storm by his bridle. "By the gods!" He exclaimed in disbelief. "I've never seen such a beast!"
    Damion laughed. "It takes a special horse to be able to carry me around."
    The captain looked him up and down. "I do believe you're right! It would take quite some effort to move you from place to place!"
    It wasn't long before they cast off from the dock and slowly moved out into the open water. The captain showed them to the surprisingly spacious quarters where they would be spending a good amount of their time for the next several weeks, then, after inviting them to dine with him for their meals during their