Warding Song

Lambton stood up on the forecastle to address his crew. “Good news, men. I’ve spoken to officer Rowles, and he informed me that once the prisoner has been escorted to jail, he’ll see to it that the local bank pays out our shares of the bounty. A hundred oros apiece!” he announced.

The hunters cheered raucously, thrusting fists into the air. “Don’t spend it all at once! What’s more, as a reward for your hard work, I’m giving you all a day’s leave.”

Another cheer followed, and then Daniel asked, “Begging your pardon, cap’n, but what about that dragon? Isn’t there a bounty on its hide, too?”

“Yes, there is. I’m sure we’ll take that dragon down eventually,” Lambton declared. “The beast is so damn skittish, that’s the real trouble.”

With a grin, Assipattle inquired, “So you’re saying it’s a shame the dragon is flighty?” This question garnered a chorus of groans, and he was struck with a volley of hard-tack chunks dug out of pockets. “Agh!”

“If you don’t wanna be pelted with thrice-baked biscuits then don’t make awful puns, Assiprattle,” mocked Daniel; everyone laughed.

“That’s enough, you lot. You’re not on leave yet! Back to work.” Lambton came down from the forecastle roof and sought out George, beckoning the other man aside. “I wanted to say, Mr Liddan, that I admire your self-control.”

George inclined his head. “Thank you, Captain. I’m just glad this is over.”

“Indeed. Still retiring? It’d be a shame to see you go after all these years.”

“Aye, Captain. Only this time I shan’t begin the retired life until I’ve seen the prisoner hanged with my own eyes. You only make that mistake once.”

Eleyna crouched in pitch-darkness, knees pulled up to her chest. She heard cheers, muffled by planks of wood. They were celebrating her arrest, most likely. Cheering for her to be … executed. I didn’t mean to get Patrick killed. Eleyna shook her head. It didn’t matter what she’d meant to do.

Tears pricked at her eyes. The rocking of the ship made her feel queasy; or perhaps it was her impending fate that churned her stomach. If her aunt was imprisoned too, Eleyna could break them both out, and they’d fly away on … that line of thought quickly snapped. Acora had abandoned her already.

Stupid dragon, she thought bitterly. Can’t believe I trusted him … thought he was clever … nothing but a dumb, panicky beast. Good riddance.

Trill had found a good wind to carry her, so that she could keep up. As long as she hung back far enough, the wingless ones might not see her, but she could still watch their floating nest. She wondered where it was heading to.

She already knew it was a long flight back to the islands there, because it had been a long flight south. She was glad to have found this good strong wind to carry her, or she might not have had the strength to keep up. Trill warbled anxiously; if she was tired, there was nowhere for her to land.

An island rose up from the horizon. Trill sighed in relief; but she couldn’t rest, she had to help Click-Grunt. As soon as the floating-nest reached the shore, she would swoop down and free him. Or so she told herself.

Then the shore came into view, and her nerve failed again. Here was the largest nest of wingless ones Trill had seen yet. She recoiled, helpless. There were too many of them … she tried to work up the courage to snatch Click-Grunt up once she spotted him, but even when her keen eyes picked out his small form and black head-fur, she couldn’t bring herself to.

Click-Grunt was taken off the large floating-nest into a much smaller one, and from there to the shore. The other wingless ones led him towards the largest nest. She looked for somewhere to rest and figure out what to do.

Eleyna heard footsteps and struggled to her feet, wincing. The door unlocked, and she blinked in the light of a lantern. Rowles beckoned to her. “Time to go.” Feeling numb, she stepped out and let him lead her up to the deck. On the way he asked her, “why did you do it?”

Caught off guard, Eleyna stumbled. “Why did I do what?”

“All of it. Lying, stealing the dinghy, freeing a dragon … why?”

He’d never believe her. “I’m sorry, Officer Rowles. You wouldn’t understand.”

“This would be so much easier for you if you would cooperate,” he told her. “Unlike your … associate. We’ve questioned them, but they refuse to talk.”

She wondered if he was talking about Aunt Cat. That meant her aunt was still alive! When she emerged and saw the town, Eleyna gasped.

Her hometown sprawled around the bay. For a moment she dared to wonder if she might get a glimpse of her old neighbourhood when they went ashore. It was not to be; Rowles and Lambton rowed the boat to the other end of the harbour. The people living around here were rich merchants, who stared at the young woman in handcuffs with hidden curiosity and outright scorn.

She was escorted to the fort and left outside a room to wait. The manacles pinched her skin and made it itch, but Eleyna didn’t dare try to scratch. Or speak. Or even breathe too loudly. Rowles finally brought her into the room, made her sit on a wooden chair that had manacles set into the arms, saluted the Imperial official sitting at the desk, and then walked out again.

The official spent a few moments getting his papers in order, not looking at her. Eleyna bit her lip and tried not to fidget, feeling more anxious than ever.

“State your real and full name,” the official instructed, making her jump.

“Um, E-Eleyna. Eleyna Skytte.”

“Repeat after me; I, Eleyna Skytte, swear before the Judge that I will tell the full and complete truth, on pain of torture, both in this life and the next.”

“I, Eleyna Skytte, swear to – I mean, before the Judge that I’ll tell the truth or get tortured in this life and the next,” she tried to repeat, her mouth rock-dry.

“Eleyna Skytte, you stand accused of the following charges. Lying to an Imperial officer. Theft and destruction of a dinghy. Theft of a dragon … and damage to a ship. The manslaughter of Patrick Erland. How do you plead?”

Eleyna hastily replied, “Not guilty.” But then, didn’t everyone say that?

He asked, “Did you or did you not give a fake name to Officer Rowles?”

“ … well, kinda, but … ”

“So you admit to the crime of lying to an Imperial officer.”

“I didn’t know it was a crime,” she said earnestly.

He wrote something on the sheet. “I see. Did you or did you not steal a dinghy named Acorazaria from the harbour at San Eduardo?”

“Um, yeah, but I didn’t mean to wreck it. There was a storm, and – ”

“Then why did you steal the dinghy in the first place?”

“To get off the island.”

“Where did you intend to go after leaving Amohanes?”

“I was trying to get to Limuanes, but I got shipwrecked instead.” It wasn’t technically a lie; she had intended to reach the nearest island and resupply.

“Why did you intend to go to Limuanes on a stolen dinghy?”

“To get more supplies.”

“With thievery, no doubt,” he scoffed. “Let me rephrase – what was your goal in all of this? You were arrested on the island of Madines – was that island your destination all along, or did you intend to go elsewhere? If so, where?”

Eleyna was grateful she hadn’t figured out the third clue. “I don’t know.” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t, honest! I didn’t have anywhere in mind … but if I’d not been caught, I guess we’d have gone to the closest native island.”

“We? You have an accomplice?”

“No. I meant … the dragon. But the hunters scared it, and it flew off.” Her chest felt tight and painful. Eleyna didn’t know why she even cared.

The interrogator pursed his lips, as if her attempt to tame a dragon was the most foolish thing he’d ever heard of. “There were witnesses to you stealing the dragon, which subsequently killed Mr Erland. Do you deny this claim?”

“I didn’t mean for him to get killed! It was an accident. I took his helmet for a disguise and – he should’ve had a spare, if he was fighting a dragon!”

She regretted the words immediately. “So you’ve chosen to blame him for his death rather than admit to your own role in it,” the interrogator noted.

“No! I … didn’t mean it like that. I liked Patrick. It … it was an accident.”

“That is the definition of manslaughter. A death caused accidentally is still a crime, albeit a lesser one than intentional murder,” the interrogator replied. “Before I pass judgement, is there anything you can say in your defence?”

Eleyna flinched. “W-wait. Don’t I get a trial? With a jury and everything?”

“Normally, yes. But since you're a pirate, and undeniably guilty, it would be a waste of time and money. No justiciar in their right mind would acquit you. Besides, nobody important will care. Now present your defence if you have one, I'm a busy man,” he prompted.

Eleyna frowned. “You … look, I’m sorry. Why are you being so cruel?”

“I’m doing my job. A man was killed as a result of your actions. ‘Sorry’ doesn’t bring back the dead.”

She flinched. “Now, since you’ve declined to present a defence of your – ”

“Wait!” she exclaimed, then admitted, “truth is, I was looking for my mum.”

“Your mother?” The interrogator had noted down everything she said, but he paused at this. “We were told you might look for your father.”

“I don’t know who my dad is, but my mum … my aunt said she was still alive and I should go to sea and look for her, so I stowed away aboard the Tenebra. Um, that’s the ship I was on, when Officer Rowles first met me.”

“Then why did you not simply explain this to him, and ask for his aid?”

“I didn’t trust him. I couldn’t, could I? He was an Imperial and I … ”

“ … am a criminal.” the interrogator finished. “Eleyna Skytte, you are sentenced to hang for the crimes of piracy and manslaughter, to be carried out at dawn. Before being escorted to your cell, you may ask one more question.”

It was all too abrupt; Eleyna could barely think straight. She managed to ask the question she’d been wondering about ever since first leaving San Nicolas. “My aunt. Her name is Catherine Flanders. What happened to her?”

He informed her, “Ms Flanders was arrested for the crime of fencing and selling stolen crystals in a fraud apothecary. As your guardian, because you were underage, the burden of your crimes also fell on her. The penalty for piracy is death. She was sentenced for that, and subsequently for treason, after refusing to testify against you,” he revealed. Eleyna flinched. “The sentence was carried out yesterday.”

Her jaw dropped; she couldn’t believe it. Her aunt died yesterday? She hadn’t been far from San Nicolas … she could have done something! Eleyna was too shocked to struggle as the guards came and lifted her out of the chair, frog-marching her out of the room. I should’ve done something.

They led her into the courtyard, past gallows that had a corpse hanging from the rope. Eleyna’s gaze was drawn to the morbid sight, she couldn’t help it. The lever, the noose and … “No!” She darted towards it as they passed, and stared in horror at her aunt’s body. She tried to say something, to apologise, choking on the words in her throat before the guards dragged her away.

They pushed her inside a cell. One wall was covered in mildew, the other two were smeared with chalk. Eleyna sank to her knees, trembling all over, and buried her head in her hands. Her breath hitched. She began to cry.

Trill had found a place to hide, a ravine in which she couldn’t be seen if she ducked down. But to see if anyone was coming, she had to peek out over the edge. It didn’t look like any wingless ones were following her, but …

She could see the largest stone nest from here. Click-Grunt was trapped inside it. Trill couldn’t bring herself to fly down there. All the wingless ones would see her and attack with rock-vines and biting-things … unless. The sun would set soon, and her dark scales would be much harder to see. She’d find Click-Grunt and get him out of wherever he was trapped. Somehow.

Once she’d decided that, Trill felt much better. She checked that no one was coming, and lay down in the gorge to sleep. The long flight had left her exhausted. It was better to rest now and wake up when night had fallen.

Footsteps approached the cell. Eleyna looked up in alarm. A young man came with a bowl of gruel. He opened the door wide enough to set the bowl on the floor. Then he locked the cell again and glanced up, seeing her face.

His eyes widened, and so did hers, as both of them recognised the other.

“You’re a guard?” she asked. “Since when? You hated the town guard.”

He glanced around for other guards and retorted, “At least I’m not on the wrong side of the bars. What did you do? And where have you been?”

“It’s a long story, but listen, you can get me out of here, right? For old time’s sake. C’mon, Pablo, you don’t want them to hang me, do you?”

“You must’ve done something awful to get that sentence … Wait, are you the one they’re talking about? The wannabe pirate who tried to steal a dragon?”

“I did steal a dragon,” she boasted, “and tamed it. I’ve been riding it all over.”

“Then where is it now?” he shot back, like they were bickering kids again.

Eleyna scowled. “None of your business. Pablo, you’ve gotta let me out. We were friends. They’ve already hung my aunt. Did you know about that?”

He looked discomfited. “I’m sorry, but I can’t … d’you have any idea how much trouble I’d be in if I let you escape? I only got promoted a month ago.”

“Seriously?” Eleyna demanded. “Oh, I’m sorry. They’re going to execute me, but I wouldn’t want you to be demoted,” she mocked. “How selfish of me.”

“If I free you, it’s going to be my neck on the line. What do you expect me to do? Free you and then we ride into the sunset on your dragon? For once in my life, I'm on a good path. I shouldn’t even be talking to you. We’re not allowed to speak to prisoners. Mum was right, you are a bad influence.”

Eleyna glares. “Oh, that’s rich, coming from you,” she sneered. “Do all your new friends know what you used to be? A grubby, pickpocketing little thief?”

“They know, and that’s your fault too,” he snapped. “After you disappeared and your aunt got arrested, the guard searched for you. They thought your aunt might’ve given you stuff to smuggle out of town. When they questioned me, I knew I’d get in trouble if I lied, so I came clean about all of it. They sent me to training to help me get on the right path.”

She frowned. “The Pablo I knew wouldn’t have let them do that.”

“I grew up. Maybe you should’ve done the same,” he retorted, walking away.

That git! He doesn’t know what I’ve been through … I can’t believe I used to date him. The bowl of gruel was still on the floor. She picked it up awkwardly and dipped her tongue in, then grimaced and set it aside. He thinks he’s better than me,‘cause he’s in that fancy uniform? He was as bad as I was!

She paced back and forth, wrists held awkwardly against her chest. Seeing Pablo brought back a flood of memories. The day they met, the time he’d asked for her help, when they first started dating and he told her about –

Eleyna stumbled to a halt, gasping. Entedines. The “Forbidden Isle’; a cursed place that “few people have seen, somewhere almost nobody has been”. “That’s it,” she whispered. “The third clue … it’s about Entedines.” Not that it mattered. She’d be dead soon. Figures I’d only work it out now.

Trill woke after sunset. She bade her time, trying to work up the courage to go near the nest of wingless ones. It’s dark, she told herself firmly. They won’t be able to see me properly if it’s dark. Well-rested, Trill knew she ought to go soon, before she lost her nerve. So she spread her wings.

There were four wingless ones on top of the largest nest. Trill folded her wings and dived, pulling up at the last moment and alighting on top of the stone nest. They cried out in alarm, but didn’t flee from her. Instead they pointed long sticks at her, which cracked like thunder and poured out smoke.

She felt biting things strike her scales, harder and more painful than ever. She bellowed, and one of them bit off her fang. Trill tasted her own blood in her mouth. She closed her jaws and lashed out with her tail, knocking the wingless ones aside. Three of them were crumpled in front of her; one had escaped into the nest through a small hole – where she knew it would tell the rest of them.

A sentry burst into the barracks, yelling. “Dragon attack! There’s a dragon on the roof!” After a moment’s stunned silence, the guards leapt to their feet and retrieved their muskets, marching for the battlements of the outer wall.

Pablo was stopped by Rowles, who borrowed his musket and told him to fetch hunters at the dock who could slay the dragon. The man left, but Pablo wavered. The dragon came all this way to help Eleyna. It thought she was worth saving. “ … Damn it, El,” he whispered, running for the key cabinet.

So much for trying to sneak in. Trill whimpered in pain of the biting-things in her scales. She crawled over the side of the stone nest and down into a large, open space. Footsteps thudded above her head. Confused, Trill glanced up and saw that the wingless ones were on top of a ring of stone.

They fired more biting-things at her. Trill screamed, half-mad with pain and fear – in retaliation, she sucked in a deep breath, and unleashed it in flames.

Eleyna looked up, eyes wide. She’d ignored the musket shots, or tried to, but then she’d heard that roar. Acora … ? Her heart thudded. She hardly believed he’d come for her, and walked up to the cell door. Guards rushed past it. “What’s going on out there?” she asked, but they ignored her.

If it was Acora out there, then Eleyna might have a chance to escape. The noise from outside had stopped. Her ears strained, fearing that she’d only imagined it. Then she heard musket fire, and another deafening screech.

Eleyna couldn’t help but grin; there’d be time to be mad at him later, but just then she was too relieved. Except she was stuck in here, and if they scared Acora off again he might never come back. “Hey!” she yelled. “Guards! Listen to me! Let me out and I’ll make the dragon stop! It’ll listen to me!”

If she tricked someone into opening the door and letting her out … there was no response. She could hear muskets going off, so Acora had to still be there. They’d stop if he’d gone, or if he’d been … no. “I mean it! I can help!”

“Shut up, you idiot!” Pablo appeared in front of the cell, her rucksack slung over his shoulder. He unlocked the door and beckoned to her. “Hold still,” he said impatiently, grabbing her manacles and fitting a key into that lock too.

Eleyna stared at him. “You – you’re letting me out? But I thought you said … ”

“I know what I said,” he snapped. “But that dragon of yours, it’s already killed three guards and it’ll kill more if you don’t make it go away. And I – I don’t really want you to be hanged,” Pablo admitted. “Don’t make me regret this. Just take the beast and leave, Eleyna … and then don’t come back.”

Eleyna grabbed his wrist. “Wait,” she gasped. He looked back at her. She pulled a few scales from her rucksack and pressed them into his hand. “Since I owe you one. I won’t forget this. Thank you, Pablo.”

“Just get out of here before you get us both in trouble,” he warned, hurrying away. Eleyna went back to the courtyard. The outer door was unlocked, and she whispered a quick prayer of thanks to the Rogue as she pushed it open.

The gunshots and bellows were even louder out here. Keeping close to the wall of the fort, she edged over to the far corner of it. Acora was crouched in the middle of the courtyard, wings and tail drawn tight against his body.

She wanted to call out, but the guards had stopped firing and they’d hear her. Eleyna was about to try and get closer to him, but when she stepped out, she caught his eye and he looked at her. Acora warbled and scampered over, sniffing at her. Eleyna embraced him. “You came back for me.”

“Escaped prisoner!” a guard yelled, firing his musket. Acora twisted his long neck up to flame at the man, who quickly took shelter behind a merlon.

“Acora, stop!” Eleyna shouted, abandoning all pretence of stealth. He looked down at her. “We need to go.” He crouched down to let her climb onto his shoulders. Once she was on board, as it were, Acora reared up to climb onto the battlements so he could spread his wings. The guards scattered, and Eleyna crouched low against his neck to avoid all the musket shots.

Then before she knew it, they were in the air – the wind rushed past her face, whipping her hair into disarray. Eleyna looked over her shoulder at the fort, at San Nicolas, knowing she might never see her hometown again.

Trill’s heart thumped and the biting-things peppered over her scales hurt so much, but she’d done it. Click-Grunt perched on her shoulders; Trill kept glancing back to make sure he was still there. At last she searched for somewhere to land, to lick her wounds and greet her friend properly.

Upon finding a deserted lake, Trill landed. She twisted her neck around to pick out the biting-things stuck in her hide. These ones were small, with no long sticks for her to delicately tug out, and she couldn’t reach them.

Click-Grunt hurried away, and came back with a long stick. Trill set the tip alight. Now able to see, he looked closely at her scales. He touched a sore spot; she hissed to warn him off. He wiggled those flexible claws of his.

She lay down so he could reach. Click-Grunt tried to be gentle, but it hurt, and Trill couldn’t help whimpering. At last he plucked out the biting-thing – she caught a glimpse of something black and round before he flung it aside.

He hesitated, and then pressed the burning stick to her hide. She roared and lurched away. Her scales didn’t burn, but the skin beneath them could. Click-Grunt chattered and moved towards her. Trill snarled, and he froze.

She’d thought he was trying to help. A horrible thought crossed her mind; what if Click-Grunt was angry at her for abandoning him, and this was how wingless ones punished betrayal? She whined, crouching submissively.

Eleyna mentally kicked herself. She’d tried to cauterise the wound, but of course Acora didn’t react well to having fire pressed against his skin. At first he snarled, then started whining instead. Oh no. Did I hurt him that badly? “I’m sorry,” she told him, though he couldn’t understand. “I’m sorry, Acora.”

He crouched with his head on the ground, wings and tail tucked in. Eleyna squirmed. If she could, she’d throw the torch in the water, but she needed the light to see. If the shot wasn’t taken out, the wounds could get infected. “It’s okay, Acora. I’m not gonna hurt you, honest.” She reached out to him.

Acora sniffed her hand, and recoiled; her hand was coated in his blood. “I’m sorry. I want to help. It’s the least I can do, after … ” she swallowed. “Y’know, I didn’t think you’d come? I know you’re scared of humans. If it weren’t for you I’d still be stuck in that cell, waiting for them to … ” she shuddered.

Aunt Cat’s body flashed through her mind, and her eyes filled with tears. “I thought I was gonna die.” Eleyna sniffed. “You saved my life … thank you.”

Acora crooned, shifting his head to nuzzle her. She caught herself and leaned against him. He was solid and warm … it felt reassuring. Then she straightened as he moved and opened his mouth, glancing at the stick in her hand. The tip of his top right canine, she noticed, had been chipped off.

She let him take the torch, and Acora held it up so she could finish digging out the pellets. It was easier with both hands, and luckily none of them had penetrated too deeply. Once she was sure all of the pellets were gone, Eleyna washed the blood off her hands in the lake. Acora dropped the burning torch into the water – it sizzled – and began to lick his wounds.

She yawned. Acora lay down; she curled up under his wing, using her rucksack as a pillow. He would keep watch, keep her safe, it was okay …

Rowles was not having a good night. Three guards were dead, several injured, the townsfolk were panicking, and the rider had escaped again.

He’d sent a guard to fetch the hunters, but by the time they grabbed all their equipment and arrived at the fort, the dragon had long-since fled. “It went inland,” Rowles explained, “and I’m afraid … it took the prisoner with it.”

“You mean the girl?” Lambton demanded. “It broke her out of the cell?” He stared at the fort as if expecting rubble, but the only signs of damage were scorch marks on the walls from the dragon’s fire, and claw scratches.

“No, sir. We believe someone let her out. Rest assured, whoever is responsible will be found and called to account,” said Rowles. “Of course, it’s not just the guards’ conduct that needs to be questioned. That dragon must have followed your ship from Madines; perhaps, Captain, if your crew had been a touch more vigilant, we could have avoided this whole mess.”

Lambton glared. “How dare you? Trying to foist the blame off on us; don’t you think we would have captured the beast if we could? It’s a skittish creature, never would have come close enough to be brought down.”

“And yet it was willing to attack the fort in an attempt to rescue its master.”

“Oh, and I suppose it's a coincidence that you were here when she escaped, the night before she was due to be hanged,” Lambton commented. Rowles bristled, but before he could defend himself, a throat cleared behind them.

Both men turned. George saluted them. “Gentlemen. I’m afraid I must part ways with you all; I assume we’ll be allowed to keep the bounty?”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Rowles assured him, “seeing as it’s paid and all that.”

Lambton frowned. “You’re leaving? Now, of all times? Mr Liddan, please reconsider; we could still use your help, and you told me that you wouldn’t resign until after the rider had been dealt with. She’s still at large.”

“Actually, Captain, I said I wouldn’t retire until the girl had been dealt with,” he corrected. “It’s just, this is the second time – third, if you count her escape from the Ascalon – that the girl has slipped from our grasp. It feels like the King himself is telling me to choose a different path, if you see what I mean.”

“I suppose,” Lambton conceded. “If that’s how you feel, thank you for your service; and you’re welcome to rejoin us any time. Your decades of service do you credit. Your skill and experience are invaluable; I’d be honoured to have you as a trainer or adviser of new recruits. I wish you the best of luck. I do hope you’ll return the favour.”

George nodded. “Of course; and thank you for your generous offer, sir.”

He shook hands with his former captain, and with Rowles, then returned to the inn he’d been staying at. George prayed to the Judge. Patrick’s soul was unjustly taken, your honour. I am only trying to right that wrong. I will never kill another person after I’ve had my vengeance against that wicked girl. The law of men has failed me now. I must take matters into my own hands.

After breakfast he went to the bank, then to the docks. The Ascalon was out in the bay, and George saluted it. Then he began looking for a ship sailing to Madines. Eventually, George came across a supply vessel that was heading to that island. “How much for passage with you?” he asked a deckhand.

His inquiry was relayed to the captain, who came down to the pier. “This is a cargo ship, man. We don’t have any cabins “cept for me and my crew.”

“I understand, Captain, but I just need to stay aboard long enough to get to Madines, and since I know you’re heading there anyway … but I wouldn’t expect you to let me come aboard without pay. How does four oros sound?”

The captain smirked. “Ah, well, you see that’d be a fine sum for the average sailor to earn,” he remarked, “but given you’re a man of wealth, and seeing as how I’m but a humble merchant sailor … why don’t we make it ten oros?”

“Absolutely not. It’s like you want to rob me. I’ll give you five oros.”

“Perish the thought! It’s a long voyage, five isn’t enough. Settle for eight?”

George felt impatient; haggling wasn’t part of the plan. “Six and that’s final.” He pressed the coins into the captain’s palm, and skirted around to go up the gangplank. “Excuse my rudeness. My name is George Liddan.”

“Welcome aboard the Doncella Del Mar, Mr Liddan. Pedro Sanchez at your service.” They shook hands. “What are you going to Madines for, anyway?”