Azure bonds - Kate Novak [111]
Then something poked at her, a swift, sharp shove. Alias, Olive guessed, demanding that I take my turn at watch.
"Go 'way" Olive grumbled, clutching the covers more tightly about her. "It's the lizard's turn. Let me have five more minutes. Tops."
"Five more minutes," an agreeable voice rumbled. "Then I will fry you where you sleep."
Olive's eyes shot open. Very slowly, she turned over to find herself looking square in the steaming face of the not-so-honorable Mistinarperadnacles.
"Boogers," the halfling whispered. She scanned the campsite for the others.
There was no sign of them. They were gone-all three of them. Dead already? Olive puzzled. Without a fight?
The tethers of the horses had been pulled up, but the twisted, half-eaten form of the purebred chestnut, Lady Killer, lay not far away.
The dragon followed her gaze. "Yes," Mist purred, "I had a wee bit to nosh before waking you. I get so crabby trying to talk to people on an empty stomach. The temptation to eat them wears on my nerves, you see." Steam poured from the creature's nostrils, engulfing the halfling.
Olive coughed back a breath of the noxious vapor.
"Now," the she-dragon demanded, "where is the lawyer?"
"Lawyer?" Olive squeaked, trying to gain her mental footing. How could the others leave me like this, unguarded, in so much danger? Of all the inconsiderate behavior!
"The woman who knows the old ways," said the dragon. "The warrior. I understand she travels with a pet mage and a lizard-creature."
Olive's heart leaped. They were still alive! Somewhere. They can rescue me! Aloud she said, "Gee, they were here a little while ago. Maybe they-" Her hand fell on Akabar's parchment map. Squinting in the moonlight, she could just make out writing on the back, but not what it said. Cautiously, explaining her every move to Mist in detail to avoid any sudden incinerations, the halfling drew out and lit a candle from her pack. She read the message to herself.
"A clue?" Mist asked hopefully.
"Yes," the halfling nodded. "See?" She held the map up to the dragon's left eye.
"And what does it say?" Mist inquired.
"You don't read Common?" Olive asked meekly, afraid of offending the vain beast.
"1 prefer the more visual arts," the lumbering creature said with a defensive snort. "Theater, sculpture, bards."
How about opera? Olive wondered. She held the parchment in front of her and read aloud: "'Had a vision. Off to Zhentil Keep. Follow soon. Hugs, Alias?'"
"Are you certain? There don't seem to be that many words to me," Mist said, her eyebrows raised in suspicion.
"She uses a lot of abbreviations. Like scribes, you know," the halfling replied.
"Do your friends usually leave you behind just because you sleep late?" the dragon asked.
"Well, you see, they knew I was a little reluctant to go to Zhentil Keep. I would have preferred visiting another city, like Hillsfar. I guess they didn't feel like waiting fur me to make up my mind to join them or not."
Mist raised up on her rear haunches, stretched, and yawned. Then she settled back down. "You have no idea the trouble I've gone to to find the two of you," she said. "Matter of honor and all that."
Olive couldn't have said what came over her, but some demon inside of her, tired of being pushed around and bullied, prompted her to ask rudely, "You mean you've brought us the chest of gold you promised us?"
Mist's eyes narrowed into slits. "Before I rush off to deal with the Zheeks for your friend's hide, I think a little late lunch would be in order."
The demon within vanished. "Oh," Olive said, "you wouldn't want to do that. Flying on a full stomach, you'll get cramps. Besides, you'll need someone to help you negotiate with the Keepers. They're a terribly bureaucratic bunch. Forms, red tape, memos. They