Page 55 of Consort's Dragon
“Nope.”Kreed poured himself a glass of whiskey.“About time they both admitted they like each other.”
“That’s like?”Argent asked in puzzlement.
“It is for them.Drink?”Kreed refilled the dragon’s cup.
“Trying to get me drunk?You’ll need more than that puny bottle.”
“Is that a challenge?”Kreed drawled.
Griff could have warned Argent that Kreed could drink any man under the table.But then again, who knew what a drunk dragon might say?
Not much, as it turned out.Four bottles of Kreed’s special brew later and Argent lay face down on the table, snoring.
“Guess I win,” Kreed chuckled, eyeing the prone body.
Griff fingered his half-full glass, having only drunk sparingly.“Why do you think Argent really wanted to come with us?”
“’Cause he didn’t want to be alone?”Kreed said with a lilt.
Griff shook his head.“I think there’s more to it than that.From the sounds of it, I’m thinking he let Avera take those stones.Eggs.Whatever you want to call them.”
“You heard him.Dragons don’t share territory.”
“More like Verlora wasn’t big enough for two or more.You saw how one dragon decimated it.Verlora is basically a large island.Just like Daerva.The only place with any kind of room is Merisu.It’s massive.Lots of people.Lots of herds.Lots of wild places.Plenty of space for dragons to hunt.”
“You think he wanted the eggs to go there?But how could he have known they’d end up in Merisu?The little queen’s plan was to take them back to Daerva.”
“Could be Argent always knew she’d be captured.”
“You think he can tell the future?”
Griff’s brow creased.“No, because otherwise, he’d have never let himself be used to put Zhos away.You saw how peeved he is about being dormant for so long.That said, it’s possible he gets premonitions.Something like, if Avera takes the eggs, then it will turn out good.”
“You could ask him,” Kreed stated, eyeing the snoring man.
“As if he’d tell the truth.”Griff snorted.
“He seems honest.Too honest,” Kreed grumbled, most likely peeved about the fact Argent told him a man his size needed a bigger head, so he didn’t look like he lacked intelligence.
“There’s honest, and then there’s omitting details.I think Argent is holding back on us.”And Griff didn’t know how to get him to spill.
“You want me to lug him to bed?”Kreed offered as the hour got late.
“Nah.I got him.I’d hate for you to stumble and smash his head by accident.I doubt he’d be understanding.”
“Yes, sir, Cap, sir.”Kreed attempted to salute and poked himself in the eye instead.“Ouch.”
“I do believe this is the drunkest I’ve ever seen you.”
“Yeah.”Kreed grinned wide-mouthed, teeth showing, eyes sparkling.“I thought he almost had me, but I pulled it together at the end.”And with that boast—and a belch to shake the timbers—Kreed stumbled out of Griff’s cabin and immediately hit a wall that the sailor swore moved.Then he slammed into his cabin door that he claimed was locked—it wasn’t—and missed his bunk.
When Griff passed the cabin, with Argent slung over his shoulders, he saw his friend snoring on the floor.Simhi wasn’t there to stuff a dirty sock in his mouth.Still fighting with Monty, or off drinking and playing cards with the crew?
Griff entered Argent’s cabin, which had changed since they’d set sail.Somehow, despite a lack of physical resources, the walls were a lighter shade of wood as if freshly sanded.The room was warm, as if heated by a stove, and lightly scented, the aroma reminding him of a spice often used in desserts.The upper bunk had been dismantled and placed alongside the bottom to create a larger bed.
The larger mattress made Griff’s dumping of the limp dragon easier.Rather than immediately leave, he removed Argent’s boots, drew a blanket over him, and placed a bucket beside his head.Did dragons puke?He’d rather not find out.Vomit tended to get stuck in the cracks and it took forever for the smell to disappear.
As Griff went to leave, he heard a murmur.“I’ve spoken the truth thus far, and what I choose not to tell you won’t harm you or the crew.”
