Dirt

by CC Hogan

Tekkinmod sat on a barrel, cursing.

  “I should learn to listen to you, Retton.”

  “No way could you have known. It just struck me as odd. What do you want to do now?”

  “Well, you are by far the better hunter of the two of us, old friend, but I am the richer. Go buy me a boat; a fast one.”

  “We are chasing them?”

  “No, forget them for the moment. We are going to see that idiot cousin of mine. Damned if I will have dragons messing in human affairs, and it’s time we move our plans forward. I have waited long enough. Now, go.”

  Retton nodded and headed back along the harbour, taking three of the men with him. Tekkinmod stood and walked up to the top of the pier, looking at the deep score marks where the dragons’ talons had gripped the edge.

  “Lord Tekkinmod?” From out of the shadows stepped a small thin man and a young woman.

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Eolin and this is Senin,” said the man. “And we can get you across the Yonder Sea far faster than you can possibly imagine. For a price.”