Martin Scott - Thraxas Under Siege (ARC)

"Whales never come here," says Makri.

"I know."

"Except occasionally a dead one gets washed up. Can you remember when that last happened?"

"I can remember seeing the carcass of a whale when I was young, but it was long before the Battle of Dead Dragon Island. I don't think it was buried anywhere. Just rotted away on the beach."

"Maybe Tanrose's grandfather buried the gold on the beach?" suggests Makri.

"She said at the harbour. The beach is quite a way from the harbour."

"Perhaps he was confused?"

"Why would he bury his gold under the rotting carcass of a whale? Hardly the easiest place."

We stare out to sea.

"How about if we ask the dolphins?" suggests Makri.

"Are you feeling feverish?"

"No," says Makri, sharply. "Why did you say that?"

"Because you don't usually make insane suggestions. Okay, you do. But they're not usually dolphin-related."

"The dolphins might know something about a local whale incident."

"You're starting to sound like Dandelion."

Makri smiles.

"Maybe. But I want that money. I want to go to the university. Anyway, the dolphins once gave us a healing stone. Saved my life."

It's true. They did. And they gave me a handsome reward as well. Several valuable old coins, which I exchanged for a hefty purse of gurans. It was a good deal, though not one I ever talked about afterwards, not wishing the hardened inhabitants of Twelve Seas to know that I'd been accepting payment from dolphins. I'm still not convinced they can speak, though Dandelion claims she can communicate with them.

Makri takes out a thazis stick. She cups her hands carefully around a match as she lights it, preventing any sudden gust of wind from blowing it out. Matches are expensive items; it doesn't do to waste them. If I was any sort of Sorcerer I'd be able to light a thazis stick without a match. But I'm not and I can't. I take out a stick of my own and light it from Makri's.

"You might have let me try some of the thazis Lisutaris gave you," says Makri, accusingly.

"Doesn't she give you a supply of your own? For being her bodyguard?"

"No. Why would she? She doesn't want her bodyguard walking around intoxicated. And you might have let me try that special beer as well. What's the matter that you're so mean about everything?"

I'm stuck for an explanation.

"Habit, I suppose. You know what Twelve Seas is like. Full of leeches."

By this time we've reached one of the small gates in the wall. It leads through to the rocks outside the harbour. From there you can walk over to the beach. At a time of national crisis it's illegal for the gatekeeper to let anyone through, but the man on duty is a long-time resident of Twelve Seas, a man I've known all my life. I slip him a small coin and he lets us through the gate. He leers as we pass, probably imagining I'm off for some fun with a wench.

"It's not that reassuring that a small bribe gets us through the gate," says Makri, as we clamber over the rocks.

"I expect he'll charge the Orcs more. Are you sure Dandelion will be here?"

Makri nods.

"She always goes to the dolphins when she's upset."

Makri looks troubled.

"You think we have to apologise for making her cry?"

"I don't know."

"You do it," says Makri. "I can't make apologies. It never comes out right."

I can feel the tiredness and thazis affecting me as we clamber over the black rocks. Makri goes nimbly from rock to rock but I'm not as agile as I used to be, and I have to take care not to plunge into one of the icy pools. We finally make it to the edge of the beach.

"I can't believe I'm going to talk to the dolphins," I mutter. Again."

The dolphins in the bay are popular in Turai. They're regarded as lucky. I don't think they ever brought me any luck. I don't suppose they ever harmed me either. Maybe if I patted one on the head I might win at cards.

"There she is," says Makri.

I peer into the darkness. I can't see anything. Makri's Elvish eyes are far better at seeing in the dark than mine, and we walk quite a long way before I finally make out the outline of a young woman standing right at the edge of the water. She turns as she hears us approach. I hold up my staff, illuminating Dandelion's face. She still seems to be crying. I immediately feel uncomfortable. Makri treacherously takes a step backwards, leaving me to sort it out.

"Hello, Dandelion. Having a nice chat with the, ah . . . dolphins?"

Dandelion doesn't respond. Just stands there looking as miserable as a Niojan whore, or maybe worse.

"We wonder if you might be able help us."

Dandelion remains silent. I start to feel frustrated. There's no need to make such a meal of everything. It's not like Makri whacked her with her axe or anything, and God knows no one could have blamed her.

"Sorry to have made you cry, but you know . . . it was only a small argument. You have to expect that in a tavern. Especially in Twelve Seas. Happens all the time. If you think it's bad in the Avenging Axe, you should try visiting the Mermaid. It's weapons drawn all the time in there. People murdered every day. Hey, it's not like we meant it. Be reasonable, you can't expect Makri and me to watch every single thing we say just in case it upsets you. Goddammit, what do you expect from us? We can't all go around writing poetry about dolphins all the time. Some of us have to work, you know. I mean, you're hardly normal, Dandelion."

I pause.

"Good apology," says Makri. "One of your finest."

Dandelion brushes a tear from her eye.

"I wasn't crying about your argument. The dolphins just told me the Orcs are already here."

Makri and I draw our swords simultaneously, whirling round to fend them off. There's no one in sight.

"Where are they?"

"In the Avenging Axe."

Makri and I look at each other.

"We've just come from there. No Orcs around."

"Did they attack after we left?" says Makri.

Dandelion shakes her head.

"They've been there for days."

"For days?"

"Yes."

I sheathe my sword.

"Without anyone noticing?"

Dandelion nods.

"But the dolphins know all about it?"

"They can sense it," says Dandelion. "Because of the dragon line running up from their cave right through the Avenging Axe."

"But we've been living there," I protest. "We'd have noticed."

Dandelion shakes her head.

"The dolphins know."

I can't prevent myself from snorting in disgust. I can feel something of a headache coming on, not uncommon when talking to Dandelion.

"Maybe they just sensed Makri," I say.

"Hey!" says Makri. "I'm not an Orc."

"You're one quarter Orc. Probably enough to confuse a dolphin at long range."

"It's not Makri," says Dandelion, quite emphatically. "The dolphins like her."

I snort in disgust for a second time.

"They would."

"What's that supposed to mean?" demands Makri.

"It means it's strange the way these otherworldly creatures take to you. I still haven't forgotten the way the fairies in the Fairy Glade all flocked around you."

"Aha!" cries Makri. "I knew you were still annoyed at that. You couldn't stand it the way they ignored you."

"A man of my reputation does not depend for his status on a bunch of dolphins and fairies."

"The centaurs liked me as well," says Makri.

"Centaurs like anyone with breasts."

"The naiads were also friendly."

"Naiads have notoriously poor judgement. And will you stop bragging about how many non-Human creatures like you? It's nothing to be proud of."

"You've been jealous of me ever since I arrived in Turai," says Makri, hotly. "Always putting me down. Ever since I became Lisutaris's bodyguard you've been criticising me, just because I get to hear a few things and you don't. It's not my fault you got sacked from the Palace; you shouldn't have got so drunk all the time."