Book 2: Chapter 6: Hard Bargain

    One of the girls let out a short, sharp scream.

    The nobles near the hatchling drew back in horror. One scuttled to the side so fast he toppled off the edge of the stage and fell with a crash.

    This created a cascade effect where everyone else hurriedly backed away. Within a few seconds, some outright ran for the door -- Valentina’s threats forgotten.

    Even Cressida gasped and did a half-shuffle-step to the side before she regained control of herself.

    Arthur stood stock still. Stunned.

    Valentina and Whitaker stood on either side of the sickness seeker and either seemed to be berating him for his lack of tact... or questioning how in the world this was possible while berating him.

    The little pink dragon lay limply on the stage, forgotten. It didn''t have the strength to hold up its head. Arthur didn''t like how its mouth lay open as if gasping for air.

    He couldn''t let this stand.

    He strode forward, having to sidestep to avoid people who''d taken the leaders distraction to run away.

    "What are you doing?" Cressida demanded. She followed behind him against the current of people.

    "The scourge can''t get to us. We''re carded," he snapped, frustrated not by her but by the actions of those around them. Had everyone lost their minds?

    Within moments nearly the entire room had emptied except for him, Cressida, the leaders, and the seeker.

    "I know that," Cressida said, though she seemed heartened by his words and increased the length of her stride to walk along beside him. "I asked what are you doing?"

    "The dragon’s dying. I''m giving it some time."

    Arthur remembered the black veins that had crawled through Ernie''s body. He vividly recalled how it had felt to stand next to his bedside, personally protected from scourge-sickness thanks to his own card while he''d been helpless to help his friend.

    Arthur only received his Master of Skills card because of the actions of a dragon. The very least he could do was to help another one.

    The little pink dragon stirred uncomfortably as he approached. It looked like it wanted to shake its head at them – it sensed they didn''t have the right cards -- but had already become so weakened it couldn''t make the effort.

    "I know," Arthur said. "I''m not here to link with you. I''m here to help you."

    The dragon wheezed in a breath, ribs inflating like a bellows. “It hurts...”

    The scourge-sickness, its own weakness, or the fact it hadn’t found someone to link with yet. Arthur suspected all three.

    How to explain this to a child? “I’m going to work magic over you, to give you more time. It won’t hurt, but you shouldn’t fight the magic.”

    The hatchling let out another wheezing gasp. He thought he caught permission in there.

    Reaching out, Arthur pressed gentle fingers on its vivid pink scales. In the next moment, the hatchling dragon disappeared into his storage space.

    That got everyone''s attention.?v€l?1n.

    Cressida lifted her chin. "I’m staying because I intend to link with this dragon."

    Whitaker barked a laugh. Valentina’s scowl deepened. "Don''t you have some sort of a flame summon card, child? Do you think that would be attractive to a pink dragon?"

    "Then I''ll buy a card that’s acceptable," Cressida insisted. "An intelligence enhancer or a tactic card..." she trailed off at the looks of doubt on the leaders faces.

    Reluctantly, Arthur agreed. The chances of the perfect card that just so happened to be on sale were slim. And once Cressida put it in her heart, she would have a hard time taking it out again. He knew that by painful experience.

    "Enough of this nonsense." Whitaker turned back to regard Arthur critically. "Your little stunt got my attention. But do you think we''ll let you walk around the hive freely with an unlinked Rare hatchling in your storage?"

    Arthur knew he couldn''t allow himself a moment of doubt. "Yes."

    The leader’s eyes narrowed and Arthur was very aware that he could strip the meat off his bones with the strength of his telekinesis. That was, if Valentina didn''t get to him first. But the elderly woman remained silent, watching this play out.

    After what seemed to be an age, Whitaker said, "Why?"

    "If you had someone with a better storage space you could trust, you would have sent for them by now," Arthur said. "You read my card. As long as the dragon is stored, it''s safe. Only a Legendary seeker or better could find it there. Furthermore, this gives you time to quietly pay a healer to arrive, or make other arrangements." He glanced at Cressida who smiled thinly back.

    "All of which we could do with you locked up," Whitaker said easily.

    "But you won''t want to draw attention to where the dragon''s gone." Arthur''s heart was pounding in his chest, but he didn''t allow the panic he felt at making this up as he went along to show on his face. Besides, he still had one winning card up his sleeve. "You''re the only ones who saw me store the dragon. And there''s one other thing."

    Whitaker''s eyes narrowed another degree. He looked like a snake about to strike. "What would that be?"

    "You know I''ll be loyal to you. I... I won''t take off with the pink because I don''t want it." He took a breath. "I want a chance at the Legendary egg. And I know I have to keep in your good graces to get it."

    Valentina spoke up, voice droll. "Am I to believe the most honorable Baron Kane had an extra Legendary he just happened never to tell anyone about? Especially after what happened after he lost the first?"

    "I wouldn''t ever disclose family secrets, ma''am."

    He half expected one or perhaps both of the leaders to strike him down for insolence. Instead, Whitaker turned to Valentina. Arthur didn''t see what expression passed over his face, but the old woman raised her eyebrows.

    “It’s a cheap price for the cooperation, Val,” Whitaker said.

    The old woman scowled but then turned back to Arthur. "I can''t guarantee you the first try at that egg. Once we open those floodgates, every high noble son and daughter will try their luck. The competition will make these Rare Prominades look like a puff of breeze in the face of a hurricane. Do you understand?"

    He nodded.

    Valentina turned to Cressida. "And you, girl. Do you want a shot at the pink? You keep your mouth shut about what you''ve seen."

    Cressida nodded, though her eyes were sparkling. Arthur had the feeling she was itching to run down to every card shop in the city and start throwing coins around.

    "Then, Ernest Kane," Valentina emphasized the name. “I charge you to keep our little pink dragon safe."

    Arthur''s knees kept him steady right up until the moment he walked out of the room. He leaned against the stone wall, breathing hard.

    Also, he had a notification.

    He''d gained another level in Acting.