Chapter 17: Avoid The Silvers

    Arthur stared.

    His first impression had only been partially correct. What stood on the rocky bank was a ghostly illusion of Doshi the dragon, transparent to the point where he could see trees behind it. It was the same type of semi-transparent outline he had seen in the village square — all colors washed and dim.

    “Wh-what?” he stammered and then his mind caught up with what the dragon had asked. “I wasn’t running from you. My master ordered me to wash.” He gestured to himself and then remembered he was standing naked, hip-deep in water.

    Thankfully, the dragon didn’t seem offended by his unclothed state. It stood patiently, looking down its long, crooked muzzle with a calm, but curious gaze.

    “Yes, the magic plant confounded me. Once I realized the power I sensed in the town came from you, I thought you had rubbed it on yourself to obscure your scent. But why would that be?”

    The dragon seemed to be speaking more to itself than to Arthur. So Arthur didn''t answer. Carefully watching to make sure the dragon didn’t react badly, Arthur took the opportunity to place the sopping clothing on the rock. It was still early in the day, but the morning light would hopefully warm and dry it soon.

    “How are you doing this?” he asked, gesturing to the ghostly image.

    Doshi lowered his head as if to get a closer look at him. “My card is of time-illusion, of course. It’s useful when I wish to be in two places at once. Still, my card doesn’t have nearly the power of yours.”

    Reflexively, Arthur opened his mouth to deny he had a card. Before he could, the dragon continued. “It is rare to catch a scent of a legendary rank card. Even rarer to find it in the heart of one so young.”

    “Please don’t tell,” Arthur said. “My master doesn’t know.”

    “Very well.”

    The easy acceptance surprised him. Arthur blinked, then was instantly on guard again. He fully expected the next question to be how he had gotten such a card... but to his surprise the dragon only settled down on the bank, feet tucked under itself like a cat. He seemed much less bouncy and energetic than before. Maybe it took concentration to cast an illusion? Or maybe Doshi was just pleased he''d found what he was looking for?

    Doshi seemed to be a very different creature from the red dragon which had been so menacing. He carried an air of contentedness around himself as if he was willing to wait at the bank all day. Nothing felt dangerous about him.

    Arthur chewed the inside of his check then mentally shrugged. The dragon didn’t seem offended by his bathing and he needed to rid himself of all tobacco scent before Second caught him. He bent for a bit of coarse sand and used it to scrub his hands and arms.

    Doshi watched without comment.

    “You can smell cards?” Arthur ventured. “Is that why you asked for Bert? He really did have a card?”

    “A low-ranked common. I’m certain some hatchling will be happy with him.”

    Arthur gaped. “You want him to be a dragon rider?” The thought of that boy riding a beast like Doshi made his envy flare up anew.

    “If he wants to be, and if a hatchling will have him,” Doshi said equanimity. “Would you like to be a dragon rider?”

    Finally, however, Doshi rose to his feet. Though he was an illusion of a dragon, he stretched out his wings as if he were flesh and blood. “I must go. Chancy says we are to carry the wicked men who steal from their neighbors to a transport dragon. From there, they will go to the border.”

    With a mingled pang of homesickness and regret, Arthur wondered if they would end up in his border village. He wanted to ask, but he knew the value of keeping secrets.

    “There are transport dragons?”

    “The purples mostly, the poor simple creatures.”

    “Wow.” He shook his head. “I didn’t know there was so much to dragons. My father said you didn’t even talk.” He didn’t realize what he had said might be rude until it was out.

    Doshi, however, took it with calm grace. “We do talk. But we find that children, especially carded children, are the only ones who talk back.”

    “Thank you,” Arthur said, “for talking to me.”

    Somehow, though the dragon’s lips didn’t move, he got the impression of a smile.

    Then Doshi’s form started to drift away into the breeze. Within moments it was gone completely.

    Arthur stared at the spot the dragon had been then shook his head.

    Did that just happen? It felt like a dream.

    Dream or not, the water was beginning to grow cold. He dunked himself fully one last time to make sure he was as clean as one good swim could make him. Then he headed for his clothing.

    His shirt and pants were close enough to dry so that they didn’t stick too badly to his skin.

    By the time Arthur made his way back to the town, Doshi and Chancy were gone, as were Bert and two of the men arrested for breaking into houses.

    Red and the rest of the men were packing up the caravan and readying to go.

    Arthur stole a few quick looks at Second. The man was talking with some of his men, not looking unusually upset. Most importantly, he paid no attention to Arthur.

    He might have gotten away with his snooping.

    Red caught him a few moments later and told him to yoke up the donkeys. After that was done, they were on the road.

    Arthur glanced back once toward the town. Then he glanced toward the sky. Far, far up was a lone flying figure. It might have been a bird, but privately he thought it could be a dragon in flight.