The argument was in full swing. The merchant was no longer merely complaining to the corvette's captain about the price hikes; he was slowly beginning to accuse him of every possible misdeed. Strangely enough, the ship's commander listened to it all with stoic calm. No one else around seemed affected by the tense atmosphere either, and the sailors stood alongside the porters, watching the ongoing spectacle with boredom. Even those merely passing by the commotion paid it not the slightest bit of attention.
Draco approached calmly and stopped off to one side, near a bored sailor. It seemed as though the sea dog was pretending to himself that listening to these shouts should at least catch his attention.
'Has something happened?' asked the dragon politely.
'No. . .' The sailor didn't even bother to look at his interlocutor, which suited the reptile just fine. 'Business as usual.'
'Really?' He tried to muster some interest that he could direct towards the unfolding scene, but his thoughts were preoccupied with bess. 'It's the first time I've seen anyone causing such a commotion in the harbour.'
'You haven't seen much, or you're not from around here,' the man snorted.
Draco sensed Kei's growing irritation behind him. He could only hope that the werewolf's belligerent declaration wouldn't lead to a brawl over some trivial matter.
'Not from here,' the reptile nodded, watching as the merchant loudly dredged up some seemingly minor incidents from the past, gesticulating very expressively as he did so.
'So you made it to the show.' A note of interest rang out in his bored voice. It was clear the sailor was just waiting for an excuse to do something more interesting than standing there staring at the gesticulating merchant.
'Do you often… see things like this?' Draco tried to get the man to open up while he wasn't looking at him. He knew full well that the sailor would quickly change his attitude towards him once he realised he was dealing with someone connected to the aristocracy, and one accompanied by private soldiers at that.
'Whenever Lord Horvater sets off on an expedition.' The man shrugged. 'He's always off on a whim, no matter who he wants to sail with.'
'In that case, you'll often see him here.' The boy suggested.
'Once or twice a month.' The sailor snorted again. 'If business is going well, even more often.'
'And is he always like that?'
'Yeah, always. He complains, but whatever he says, he pays in gold, so let him complain. Ask anyone and they'll tell you the same.' The sailor waved his hand dismissively. 'Captain Andersen knows him, knows the score; he's just waiting for Mr Horvater to finally say how much he'll pay.'
'It seems rather troublesome.'
'We're wasting time, but what can you do? It is what it is.'
'And he wants to take all that on the carts?'
'And probably more. We've got a big hold, so there's no need to worry about the quantity.'
'Won't bess be a nuisance on the journey?' The dragon gently steered the faltering conversation back onto the track he had in mind.
'Stubborn beast,' the sailor grumbled. 'Worse than a mule. Just sits there, won't budge, and growls at you if you try to get near him. Ungrateful scoundrel.'
'Perhaps Mr Horvater would like to sell him?'
'He'd like to, but no one's taken him.' The sailor shook his head in resignation. 'And now I'll have to deal with him again. Oh, I don't see our bosun helping with that.'
'It can't be that bad. Besses tend to be hard-working.'
'Tss… If anything, it's not this one.' This time, the sailor turned towards the dragon and fell silent.
It was clear that the sea wolf was taken aback by the other's appearance, but his gaze quickly drifted past the dragon's back and settled on Kei. Especially as the werewolf's hostility was practically oozing from him.
'Would Mr Horvater mind if I interrupted him?' asked Draco, trying to speak calmly and with conviction.
'R-rather not...'
The dragon merely nodded to the man and tossed him a gold coin in thanks. The startled sailor nearly toppled over, but instead bumped into a few people standing near him. A minor commotion broke out, catching the attention of both Captain Andersen and the merchant Horvater. Feeling their eyes upon him, Draco approached them.
'Gentlemen, please forgive me, I didn't mean to interrupt such a lively discussion.' He bowed slightly, though with a touch of nonchalance. 'Draco Ignis, apprentice to Earl Darius Bleist.' He introduced himself.
'But no harm done.' A broad smile spread across the merchant's chubby face. Curiously, his features did not match his thin, sinewy frame. Despite his loose-fitting robes, it was impossible not to notice how bony he was. Much of his appearance was clearly intended to distract attention from his figure: golden ornaments, garish patterns, various rings, and crystal earrings glinting with the light. 'Bovart Horvater, a small merchant, at your service.'
'Captain Jens Andersen.' The ship's commander tipped his hat. He seemed very strict, calm, formal and curt. He was dressed much like the naval officers the dragon had seen before, but unlike them, his uniform was light brown with leather trim on the elbows, cuffs and collar. It was clear he did not shy away from hard work on deck and was capable of handling the ship's ropes himself. His weather-beaten face was also evidence of long periods spent outside his cabin.
'I decided to approach because I was intrigued by your beast, Mr Horvater.' Draco nodded towards the bess.
'Oh, isn't it beautiful?' The merchant immediately sensed an opportunity. 'A very strong and hard-working beast,' he began to praise. 'Calm, trouble-free and obedient.' Even at first glance, he was mixing truth with understatements.
'Certainly,' agreed the dragon. 'Only… how to put it… It looks a bit different from my master's besses. That's precisely what piqued my curiosity.' He looked pensive. 'Is it some rarer breed?'
'Oh! I see the young master has excellent eye for detail!' An even broader smile spread across the merchant's face. 'How lovely to meet someone who can truly appreciate the beast's qualities. Please don't mind his appearance; I assure you he is just as swift and agile as other besses. Besides, he's still a youngster, barely four years old, so he's got another year to grow.' Horvater did his best to convince the dragon of the beast's virtues.
'Nevertheless, he's built differently.' The reptile pretended to be pondering something. 'He's less slender, more stocky.'
'That means he's got plenty of strength!' The merchant continued to gesticulate animatedly. 'He'll pull a loaded cart or even a carriage with ease. You needn't worry about training him either, as I've been looking after him since he was a cub.'
'Still, I'm most interested in his physical traits.' Draco turned so that he was looking more at the merchant than at the bess. 'I think my master would be interested in them too.'
The dragon could have sworn that Horvater's eyes had lit up with gold, not magic, but the clink of coins. The man was already beginning to count his profits, hoping to offload the burden. The merchant cast a quick glance at Draco and the soldiers standing a short distance behind him, no doubt committing the coat of arms they all bore to memory. Although, given the merchant's behaviour, it would be rather foolish to assume he hadn't recognised the name Bleist.
'Surely, such a respected expert would have noticed my bess' immediately.' Horvater rubbed his hands together, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the dragon.
'I'd like to show him to my master, but it seems you're leaving the capital.' The boy feigned slight concern and cast a quick glance towards the beast.
'Oh, I think we won't be setting sail until tomorrow. Isn't that right, Captain?' Horvater turned to the ship's commander, hoping for his support.
'We were in the middle of negotiating the rate,' the burly sailor reminded him. 'How much were you offering?'
'Thirty galleons per chest,' the merchant blurted out.
'Forty sounds better.'
'Thirty-five,' Horvater conceded bitterly.
'What are you all staring at?! Get to work!' The captain immediately began driving both his men and the merchant's porters to work. 'Move it, we don't have all day!' he added, walking off towards the ship.
'We will definitely be staying in Arkien until tomorrow.' Horvater approached and lowered his voice. It seemed that the previous performance had come to an end and now it was time for the first act of the next one. 'If the earl would deign to honour us with his presence...'
'Unfortunately, my master has been sent on business outside the city,' Draco cut the merchant short. 'It's difficult for me to ask you to wait for his return.'
'But of course, Earl Bleist is a busy man. However, as I said, we'll have to set off tomorrow. Unfortunately, some of my goods cannot wait too long, and others I can only sell at a specific time. I hope the young master will understand.'
'Yes, certainly.' The dragon once again pretended to be deep in thought, but this time he kept glancing at the bess, who had perked up slightly, displeased by the sudden commotion around him. 'Well then, since time is not on our side, perhaps there might be another solution. I've heard, incidentally, that you wished to sell this beast.'
'It pains me to admit it, but it's true.' The merchant was a brilliant actor. He could have played a minor role alongside Gizel, had they both decided to make a living from the theatre. Draco thought, amused by the idea. 'It was a difficult decision for me, but I feel that spending most of his time in the ship's hold isn't doing him any good.' Horvater shook his head, and his face betrayed the truest, deepest sadness. The role of a lifetime.
'It's commendable that you put the beast's needs above all else.' The dragon played along with what the merchant was setting up. 'I don't know if it's proper to ask, but what sum had you in mind?'
'This bess is unique, and besides, we're quite close.' The merchant continued his sombre musings. 'Nothing can replace him, nor compensate for his loss.' He glanced at Draco, waiting for him to take up the subject further.
'A poignant story, you're right.' The reptile shook his head, as if he truly believed it. 'Thirty-two Crowns should soothe your nerves.'
'But how can one put a price on a true bond with, after all, a friend?' Horvater dramatically shielded his eyes, pretending to hide a tear. 'Sixty Crowns might ease such pain.'
'You can't lose such a dear companion for the glitter of gold coins.' The dragon sighed heavily, trying to draw inspiration from Gizel. 'Thirty-four.'
'Sir, you have no idea how awful I feel having to consider such a cruel thing. I can barely bring myself to say it.' The merchant wrung his hands in despair, looking like a beaten dog. 'Fifty-five.'
'Suffering for the greater good of our loved ones is a noble thing and a value that money cannot measure.' Draco looked at the beast with sorrow. 'Thirty-six.'
'Wise words, truly wise. Therefore, we must grit our teeth and do what we must.' He nodded vigorously as he spoke. 'Fifty.'
'However, one cannot rely solely on bonds; character matters too, and from what I've heard, he has plenty of that.' The reptile struck a slightly different note. 'Forty.'
'When there is the strength to work and the determination to prove it, the motivation will follow.' The merchant pointed at the bess as if to say, Look, isn't he majestic? 'Forty-five.'
'I don't have the heart to separate such close friends, but for everyone's sake… agreed.'
A broad, genuine smile returned to Horvater's face. The merchant held out his hand, which the dragon shook to seal the deal. It seemed that both were equally pleased with the transaction.
'I understand that we'll finalise everything through the Central Bank.' Only now did the merchant take note of his interlocutor's financial standing, having previously assumed that he might ultimately ask for help with the purchase of his master.
'Of course.' Draco nodded and immediately began searching his inside pocket to pull out a small box. He took it out and opened it, then wrote on the card:
Purchase of a mount (bess)
Price: 45 Crystal Crowns
He channelled mana into the cardboard, which glowed with a green light, then burst into emerald flames and turned to ash.
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Draco watched with a certain boredom as the porters and sailors loaded the goods onto the ship. They were working very efficiently; it was clear they weren't doing this for the first time. Horvater had disappeared below deck some time earlier and only appeared on the quay now and then to supervise the loading of the more delicate goods. Captain Andersen, too, was keeping a close eye on everything happening below deck. On the quay, Kei grumbled under his breath about the sailors' lack of manners, Ari watched the work going on around him, and Forth looked around as if in passing.
James, on the other hand, decided to entertain everyone and began telling anecdotes about his trips to the port in the company of Master Vittoro. As it turned out, they used to visit quite often, and the blacksmith got into trouble far too easily. Both minor and major troubles. It was a pleasure to listen to, and there were even a few moments to laugh at.
Meanwhile, the carts that had been waiting to be unloaded were emptied and drove off for more goods, and others took their place. Only bess lay unchanging on the cobblestones, showing little interest, his gaze wandering over the people approaching him.
Time passed, and as Draco listened to his friend, he scanned the colourful crowd spilling through the port. One could see representatives of all walks of life and professions here. On several occasions, his attention was drawn to Hunters scurrying off somewhere, though they were not heading in their direction.
Finally, five Hunters emerged from the crowd: four in armour, with naginatas in their hands, and one in an official's attire. Two of the armoured men stopped a short distance from the start of the pier, whilst the others headed towards Draco.
'Finally,' muttered Kei, rolling his eyes.
'Good day, young master Ignis.' The official bowed, and the other soldiers saluted. 'I am Itwen Armanas, and I shall represent you on behalf of the Hunter Julius Erth.'
'Good day, Hunter Armanas,' Draco returned the bow as etiquette dictated. 'Can we get straight to it?'
'Of course.' The man pulled a green-bound ledger from the pouch at his belt, opened it and jotted something down. 'In accordance with procedures, I have verified your financial standing and found no objections to the execution of your assets management.' He wrote something down again. 'Please check and sign the record.'
The dragon looked at the book, in which all information concerning the young dragon and his property had been meticulously noted. He read through it and signed. The official closed the book and turned towards Horvater, who was approaching them.
The merchant and the Hunter had been talking to each other for quite some time. Several times they had confirmed something in the book and checked it. The merchant presented the documents, which were again verified against others taken from the bag. Finally, Armanas addressed both parties to the transaction.
'In accordance with applicable law and the guidelines of the Central Bank, I, Hunter Itwen Armanas, hereby confirm the validity of the contract for the sale of a bess concluded between Mr Bovart Horvater and Mr Draco Ignis. The contract is for forty-five Crystal Crowns, which will be transferred from Mr Ignis's account. Furthermore, I certify that the funds to cover the transaction have already been secured and will be transferred to the account specified by Mr Horvater immediately upon completion of the formalities. The agreement comes into force upon signature.' The Hunter pulled out three copies of the agreement and handed them over for inspection. 'Do you gentlemen have any questions?'
Draco shook his head and signed the documents. The merchant did the same. Finally, the Hunter stamped all three copies and handed one to each of them, keeping the last one for himself.
'That's all from me.' Armanas turned to the dragon. 'Is there anything else I can help you with, young master Ignis?'
'Could you wait a moment?' Draco noticed out of the corner of his eye that bess, lying nearby, had perked up slightly and twitched his ears.
'Of course, I am at your service.' The Hunter bowed and took a few steps back.
'Doing business with you is a pure pleasure,' said Horvater cheerfully. 'Bess belongs to you, young master; I hope he will serve you well.' He bowed and took his leave, only to return immediately to supervising the loading.
'So what now?' James looked after the merchant, then at the Hunters, and finally at the beast. 'You're just going to try it, like that?'
'Yes, just like that,' he said and moved towards the creature with pitch-black fur.
Draco crossed the short distance separating him from the bess, never taking his eyes off its red eyes. The beast raised himself to a sitting position, watching the reptile's every move intently. When the dragon stood before the creature, still not taking his gaze off its mesmerising eyes, he bowed slightly. Bess remained motionless for a moment, then returned the gesture. The beast snorted briefly, leaned in even closer and pressed its forehead against the boy's chest. Draco felt a warmth that was more than just a sensation of temperature.
The dragon smiled radiantly, sensing the beast's intention. He had been accepted. From now on, he was a rider. With joy, he placed his hand on bess's head and stroked the iridescent, soft fur. It was an extraordinary sensation.
'Your name will be Fenrir,' Draco declared with conviction. Bess looked up at him, raised his head and began to lick the dragon's face in a friendly manner. 'Stop it, Fen,' the dragon laughed.