I shrugged and paid what he asked for the rest of the purchases. After stuffing most of them in my pockets, though the jar of sweets was too big for that, I made for the door.
He made another offer on the scarf.
I paused turned, made a counteroffer. His chin went up.
“Oh come on, mate. I paid what you asked for this lot, and we both know you overcharged based on the fact that I don’t have anywhere else to go. You’ll still make a fair profit on the silk.”
He would, and he did.
As I reached the stables on the headland, I was surprised to see Shi approaching at the same time. I waited, offered him a salute, and then we walked together to the stable. Rider Jimny should have been waiting, but wasn’t.
“You’ve been shopping?” Shi observed.
“A jar of boiled sweets,” I told him even as I stored it in the pack I had left with Dora. “And a few treats for Fin’s birthday.”
“You are very good to that boy,” Shi observed, standing straight and watching the stable door for Jimny.
“I’m his father,” I said as I straightened, the pack going on my back. Then I felt awkward. “Look, sir. I don’t mean anything by this, but… I’ve seen you trying to adjust your collar in flight when it gets cold.” I pulled the scarf from my pocket. “And I know you consider red to be a lucky colour.” Which was odd for a man who wore blue and rode a white dragon. “So I thought you might find this useful.”
He just looked at the scarf.
“You know, for the way back. To keep your neck warm.” If he didn’t take it soon, I was just going to drop it on the floor and leave it there.
“That is very considerate,” he said carefully as he took the length of material and wrapped it around his neck. “I will reimburse you.”
“You don’t reimburse for gifts.”
He would have argued, I’m sure, but Jimny ran in, apologising for his tardiness.
Chapter Four
I was on a training day, which meant boosting my physical and mental fitness. I was up to date on all academic training, so I was heading for the fitness room when I heard my rank and name called. Stopping, I turned to find Flight Captain Shi approaching, Fin at his side. Was that a flinch in Shi’s step? His gaze roved over me, I wore only trousers and a towel around my neck. Even that was blue so showed against my dark skin.
“Flight Captain, sir,” I greeted and offered a salute.
He stopped before me, a vaguely quizzical look on his face.
“I was on the way to the fitness room, sir.”
“I see,” he said. “I have another form of training in mind for you today.”
Fin moved to my side and automatically I reached down to take his hand.
“Follow me, Segasts.”
Again, Shi didn’t give us much choice. Swapping an uncertain look with Fin, I followed. We followed all the way to the far end of the fortress, and down more levels than I knew existed at this end of the fortress, and into — a cave?
“I can hear the sea,” Fin said.
“Correct, Mister Segast,” Shi said as he moved to the side and started lighting candles. He placed the candles in front of curved mirrors and those reflected the light off other mirrors to illuminate the rest of the massive space. It was clear that most mirrors had other candles so it could be lighter in here, but I had to trust that the captain didn’t require additional light.
The space wasn’t bright, but it was enough to see by, and it showed a large pillar, half the height of the tall cavern. “Thatpillar is sunk into a natural fault in the granite, down to the sea below us. This fault is probably what made the beginnings of this cave, though this cave has been enlarged by hand. Or possibly magic. I can’t be sure, I wasn’t here all those centuries ago.”
“Then why are we here now?” Fin asked.
“Because this is the safest place in all the Fortress to practise with magic,” Shi assured him. “Even for me.”
“The pillar is metal,” I observed. “You can hit it with electricity, and it safely conducts the power away, into the sea.” I blinked at Shi. “Sir.”
