Spike woke with a throbbing head and looked around. I have got to do something about that drinking problem of mine... he mused, But first... He took inventory of his surroundings. Some storage room long unused. In fact, it was extremely - he sneezed - dusty. Not the ship. No, not at all. He rubbed his head and found a lump on the back. Not to mention he was sore. Fell off the crate pretty sharding hard. he mumbled mentally. The door creaked open and he looked up. A man dressed as a dragonrider walked in and glared down at him. Spike thought about rising but his pounding head convinced him otherwise. Nasty hangover. Add to that a fall and a dragging and you have one shaffiting headache. "So, Pirate." the man said curtly, "Which ship're you from?" Spike glared up at him, plainly refusing. If he'd been standing, he would have spit on the man's shoe. Dragonriders... he seethed, They think they own the world. Well, they do not! This pirate won't bow to them yet. "If you won't tell us, we will find out." the dragonrider said, "And if you tell us now, we might spare you." "I have honor, you know." Spike snapped, "I will not sell out my crew, not matter what you bribe me with." The man took out a mark and started tossing it. He stared at the money, his eyes glittering. The dragonrider looked at his expression and laughed, "All pirates have one thing in common." he said. "They all have one obsession." Spike mocked, speaking at the same time, "They all crave gold." "Ah, so you've been interrogated before." "You could say that." the blond man said, rubbing a hand through his hair. "You're branded." "Ran into some hostile Holders. Not too different from your folk." he said placidly. "I won't tolerate your games long, Pirate." the man said, begining to pace. "Then stop calling me 'Pirate' and call me by my name." "And what is that name?" the older man's eyes were suddenly riveted on him. "Ironically, my name is Pirate." he replied with a small smile. "I said that I-" "Wouldn't tolerate my games long, yes I know." he interrupted, "But I am willing to play along for a while." "Listen," the dragonrider said angrily, "I will not stand for your mockery long. You will speak or be deported!" "Ah... To be deported." Spike said, feigning a dreamy glance, "It's a rather interesting trip. Worth getting in trouble, riding on a dragon." "You've been deported before?" "Of course." he looked back at the dragonrider, doing his best to lounge, "People don't let any pirate - honest or dishonest - go free." "But you were rescued." "Pirates like convicts. They tend to be desperate enough to join a crew." "And which crew did you join?" Spike gave him an annoyed look, "Captain Denir's crew, man!" he said as if he should know that, "Captain Denir - the most honorable pirate there ever was." The dragonrider made as if to leave and Spike held up a hand, "Got some more rum?" he asked. The dragonrider slammed the door in his face. The pirate chuckled to himself, "Rather hostile folk, no?" *** Bunali watched the dragonriders warily from her perch on the docks. She was playing the innocent daughter of a Captain's role again. Why her? Probably because she had a mind and did not mind using her mind! She smothered a chuckle at the confusing state of her thoughts. They were looking for a Captain Denir, now. Good ol' Spike... she mused, He'd never sell us out. Of course, they'd not find one. Fedrin had used his own name as Captain and that was all that was required. No history, no nothing. Just a name. Captain's not been a Captain long enough to make others fear him. There was Denir, then Button and then him. Feina and Jaiwen were sitting in a corner, drawing and writing. The other girl had already sold a few pictures - portraits - to people. She was rather good, actually. Bunali brought her attention back to the nearest group of dragonriders. They were speaking to the harbormaster. "No, there's no Captain Denir here." he was saying, showing them his clipboard. They looked at eachother then walked away. One, however, turned around and looked straight at her. She shivered and looked away. Strange people, dragon-folk. *** "He obviously gave us a fake name!" "He's insane man, we'll never get the right name out of him." "Maybe he doesn't know his Captain's docking name." Sienilli sighed in relief and inched away from the gathering of dragonriders. She nearly bumped into another. "Oops, pardon me." she said, moving the side. She received an odd sideways look in return. *** "Jrasse?" Defraf asked timidly, tugging at her sleeve. "Yes, Defraf?" she replied, looking down at him. "Are they going to hurt Spike?" he said, his eyes wide. "No, Defraf, they aren't." she said, trying to make her believe herself, "The law won't let them." The little boy nodded and smiled, "He'll never tell them." he said proudly. Jrasse spied a dragonrider eyeing their little gathering. She tugged at her shirt absently, wondering if the stories she had heard were true. Nonsense, they can't read minds! she snapped at herself. Or at least... I hope so... *** Sieng looked at the other older children. They had cornered him about what he knew about Spike. They were worried. "So, Sieng, will he sell us out?" Kihan demanded. "No!" he replied forcefully. "Do you swear it on your honor?" Kindin asked suddenly. "Of course I do!" the eleven turn old cried, "He'll never say anything." "Who'll never say anything about what?" a tall man asked, stopping. "His father'll never say anything about his mother not being his real mother." Loyan piped up. The man gave them an odd look and continued walking. Sieng looked at Loyan, his eyes wide, "That was a dragonrider." he said, stunned. "Obviously." Kindin said, "Anyone else see that look he gave us." Jrajan nodded feverently, "It looked like he saw something about us, but he thought it was wierd. Actually, it kinda looked like he was told something about us. His dragon probably saw us through his eyes. Do you think the dragon thought we should be Searched?" "Stuff it, Jrajan." Kihan snapped. The younger boy immediately stopped talking. Sietin shivered, "I don't like him." he said plainly, "He looked like he knew." Nods went all around the group. Indeed. It was as if the dragonrider knew who they were. back .:.:. continue