“Rum keeps it calm,” Strangward said. “It seems to like it.”
“I suppose that would put a fire in its belly,” Botetort said. “Do dragons really breathe flame, like the legends say?”
Strangward rocked his hand. “Sometimes.”
Lila squatted in front of the dragon. Its eyes were glazed, its breath coming fast.
“I wouldn’t get too close,” Strangward said sharply.
“It’s not trained?”
“This one is not quite training size,” Strangward said. “But once you begin, they catch on quickly.”
Lila looked from Strangward to the dragon. This emissary’s more nervous than he lets on. It’s like he’s not entirely sure what this dragon might do. Is it because it’s a young dragon, and untrained? Or are they always that unpredictable?
“How old is it?” Destin asked.
“I’d say six months to a year. I don’t know for sure, since it was captured in the wild. But they grow fast. It’s nearly doubled in size since we sailed. We had to bring a young one. It would be impossible to transport a full-grown dragon.”
“Why? How large can they get?”
“Double the length of this ship.”
“Truly? They get that big?” Botetort’s eyes gleamed.
Before long, this dragon will be too big to get through the hatch, Lila thought. Even now, it would be tight.
“Is it a male or female?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Strangward said. “Dragons are like some people—it’s difficult to tell without close examination.”
“How long has it been locked in the hold?” Destin asked. “Shouldn’t it get some fresh air?”
“The ship is made of wood, Lieutenant. Would you give a dragon the run of a wooden ship?” Strangward patted the tile wall with the flat of his hand. “If our deal goes forward, it will have plenty of room to roam here in the wetlands.”
“I’m trying to imagine how dragons could be used in warfare,” Botetort said, rubbing his chin.
“Here’s an example,” Strangward said. “One problem you have in fighting the northern forces is that the mountains are a formidable barrier. Another problem is the distance you must travel to get to the enemy. A full-grown dragon could fly over the mountains, destroy a city, and be back in Ardenscourt in time for supper. It would no longer be necessary for you to send your soldiers north, year after year.”
The thane looked from the dragon to Strangward. “You have seen this with your own eyes?”
“Where I come from, the sight of a dragon will send any army fleeing for their lives,” Strangward said. He turned toward the ladder. “It’s crowded down here. If everyone’s had a look, perhaps we could continue this conversation back on shore.” He hurried all of them back up on deck. Von seemed visibly relieved when Strangward emerged from the hold.
Back in the palace, they reassembled in the presence chamber so that they could make their reports to the king. Lila noticed that Ash lurked nearby. When he heard about the dragon, he abandoned all pretense and moved in closer.
“Have you used them for reconnaissance work?” Montaigne asked Strangward.
“They can see long distances, and in the dark, so even the young ones would be suitable for that sort of thing,” Strangward said.
“Can they understand orders?” the king asked. “Can they tell the difference between enemies and allies?”
“Dragons are the most intelligent creatures I have ever encountered,” Strangward said. “They are much brighter than most people I meet.” He smiled a feral smile. “I have no doubt that they could make that distinction.”
Lila thought of the collar the dragon wore in the hold. It faintly resembled the flashcraft collars used here in the south. “Can dragons be controlled using collars, in the way that mages can?”
“With dragons,” Strangward said, “it’s more a matter of knowing how to train them.”
Something about the way he said it reminded Lila of a barker at the fair.
Maybe the king thought so, too, because he motioned to Destin. “Lieutenant,” he said, “can you verify the truth of what the emissary is saying?”
Destin licked his lips. “Your Majesty,” he said, “as a diplomat, Commander Strangward is protected by a certain—”
“No worries, Lieutenant,” Strangward broke in. “Truly. I don’t mind.” Smiling, he extended his hands toward the spymaster.
Destin took a breath, released it, then took hold of the emissary’s hands. He looked straight into the diplomat’s face. “Are you telling the truth, Commander Strangward?”
“Always, Lieutenant Karn,” Strangward said. “Or, at least, as often as possible.”
“Do you mean harm to the king, or the empire?”
“No,” Strangward said.
“Is this dragon as powerful as you say it is?” Destin whispered.
“If anything, I have underestimated its potential.”
“Can they carry soldiers? Or supplies?” Botetort asked.