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You step off the Scarlet Ascent�s gangplank with a sigh of relief. Solid land at last! A slight, pretty woman, well into middle age, catches your arm as you follow the lines of dock workers. �Visitors this way,� she says firmly. �You�re all to report to me, didn�t Cador tell you?� At your dazed headshake, she purses her lips and sighs. �I suppose I�ll have to have it out with Captain Morwyr later. For now, follow me .� The woman leads you through the twists and turns of the docking cavern, moving with a firm, slow step. As she escorts you through the maze of activity, she speaks in time with her stride. �I am Cyfrin of indigo Caswir, Covelady of Agendor Cove,� she introduces herself. �I run the Cove along with my partner, Nerthol, whose aqua Celwyddaur is Caswir�s mate. �Agendor is very small; our limited resources and dangerous waters cannot support a large seadragon population. Once the unbonded or dragon-bonded are grown, they generally strike out for deeper water or other shores. Sometimes they come back to breed. Many of our bonders go elsewhere as well.� She halts for a moment on the edge of the pier, and whistles shrilly. A moment later, you�re drenched with colder-than-ice seawater as something lunges out of the deeps. Your cry of protest is cut off as you see the enormous dragon, a creature that carpets a schooner�s berth with its broad, boneless wings. Cyfrin laughs, and caresses her lifemate�s dark blue muzzle. �You never change your tricks, do you, Caswir?� Horns as thick as your wrist dip as the indigo female shoves her nose into the Covelady�s chest. �You�d think I was ill if I stopped,� Caswir replies, her projected voice a mellow alto. �Now, what to do with our guest?� Grinning like a teenager, Cyfrin pirouettes neatly and saunters back toward the Scarlet Ascent. �That�s your department, O living navigational hazard,� she calls back over her shoulder. The enormous indigo seadragon bares her teeth in what you fervently hope is a mock-grimace. Snorting, she lowers her head so that her eyes are roughly level with yours. �Well?� Caswir says sharply, as you try not to breathe. �What shall we do with you?� You stammer that you don�t know. Eyes the size of your fist roll back in their sockets. �You don�t know. Let me give you some choices, then. �You can visit: The Beach The Tidepools The Residents The Library �Or,� she sighs, �I can get Cyffredin to take you on a tour.� |
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