The people paid nervously, digging coins out of pockets, pouches and purses. They dropped them into Kory and Gannie’s hands as though making a peace offering or a bribe.
The shepherd pulled out five or six corroded coins, pressing them into Kory’s palm. “All I have,” he said miserably.
Kory patted his shoulder reassuringly, but took every coin.
Annella took the still-sleeping Elinor back from Peilanne and cradled her protectively on her way out of the inn. Kory tried to pat Elinor’s head, but the mother snatched her away.
One and all, even the long-distance travelers, slipped into coats and fled into the night. Kory and Gannie were left alone with the innkeeper, the barmaid, two hats full of money, and an inn of completely empty beds.
Peilanne, clearing tables, scowled at them. “Was that nice?”
Kory said innocently, “By any chance, do you have room for us to stay?”
“I have all the room I need,” Darien said coldly. “Thanks to you.”
Peilanne slammed the cups down. There wasn’t a coin on the tray; all tip money had gone to the storytellers. “All that looking out the window was a nice touch.”
Gannie looked back, all injured innocence. He poked at the fire. “Your embers are dying.”
“It will be fine.” Darien glared around at the empty inn. “After all, this is the Inn of the Waiting Fire.”
“And you still haven’t paid us,” Kory said flatly.
“And what should I pay you, for having ruined my business?”
Gannie boldly tapped Darien’s finger. “That ring looks nice.”
Darien looked down at it with amusement. “No, it doesn’t. It’s worth more than it looks, at least to me. Here.” Gannie watched in disbelief as Darien took two gold coins from the till and tossed one to each of them. “Least I could do.”
“And now,” he added heavily, “If you really can change into dragons, I recommend that you do so.”
Now his shadow was large on the wall. Kory and Gannie shifted uncomfortably. “It’s like we tried to explain,” Kory said finally, plaintively, “it’s just a story.”
“Not even that good a story,” Darien said conversationally. “It needed a better ending. Would you like to hear one?”
Neither of them said anything. From behind the bar Peilanne, polishing cups, watched closely.
“Once, not long ago, there were two irresponsible young men who told a story slandering two dragons. They made their living retelling this story, frightening people, spreading bias and fear against dragons, and hinting strongly that they were dragons themselves. They also hinted that they were being pursued by a black dragon, because of treachery on the part of a silver dragon, and embellished the story with other details that were almost completely untrue.”
Gannie bristled. “We based that story on actual fact.”
“You based it,” Darien said coldly, “on a real black dragon and a real silver dragon. You made up all the rest.”
“What’s the harm in that?” Kory said feebly. “A story’s a story.”
Darien smiled at him. “Not always.” He tapped his ring on the bar. “What kind of silly dragon would chase a pair of inn-hopping liars all over Krynn-”
The two storytellers smiled, relieved.
“-when all he had to do was find an inn, and wait there?”
Their smiles faded.
The innkeeper’s shadow spread and lowered from the ceiling, and his arms seemed to fade into it, until a black dragon, ring of shaping still on his claw, was crouched in the dining hall. “I haven’t finished paying my wager-” “We forgive you,” Gannie squeaked.
“Quite all right, really,” Kory quavered.
“Nonsense.” He raised an obsidian claw, pretending to think. “Ah, yes. You said I should make you a meal.” He smiled down at them, his sharp teeth gleaming red in the firelight. “My pleasure.”
From the bar, a silver dragon said firmly, “Not inside, Jaegendar.”
Although the window wasn’t open, Kory and Gannie heeded her hint. The two dragons followed, pushing aside the shattered casement. The fire died completely as the sound of panicked screams and flapping wings faded in the distance.
The First Dragoarmy Engineer’s Secret Weapon
Don Perrin and Margaret Weis
“Steady, steady …” Kang cautioned.
The Sivak and Baaz draconians, manning the ballista, waited tensely, eagerly for their commander’s order.