Martin Scott - Thraxas Under Siege (ARC)

"Use a spell," I scream. "Get us out of here."

Lisutaris snaps her fingers and we begin to drift out to sea. The dragon turns its head towards us but doesn't follow. Dragons are not keen on flying over water.

Lisutaris lies down on the deck.

"More thazis," she mutters. "I want more thazis."

I hand the sorceress my thazis pouch. She rolls herself another stick.

"When I get my strength back," she says grimly, "I'll come back and chase those Orcs all the way to the mountains."

I gaze towards the shore. Maybe I'll come back with her, and help chase the Orcs. Or maybe I'll just keep going till I reach the furthest west, and see if anyone there needs an Investigator. The way I've been feeling about Turai recently, just keeping going doesn't seem like such a bad option.

What with the malady, Deeziz's spell and the thazis, the greatest Sorcerer in the west is once more out of commission. She falls asleep as we drift away from the shore. I haul both Lisutaris and Makri into the small cabin, cover them with their cloaks, and go back on deck, looking towards Turai. Flames and smoke tower over the Palace and dragons still swoop down from the sky. I let the boat drift with the current, and I wonder if I'll ever see the city again.