Sam drew nearer, treading softly. Of the rippling auroras there was no sign, but he suspected that whatever magic they represented had not gone away. The blue wall was also invisible, but he felt a tingling as he stepped past where it had stood. Looking down he noted a strip of arcane symbols inlaid in the floor.
Nearing the Dragon, Sam became truly aware of the beast’s size. Its head was longer than he was tall, and several of the teeth, jutting past the scaly lips, were longer than one of his hands. It was the first Western Dragon he had ever been near, but something about it was familiar. He put it down to general dragonishness because its odor was similar to Tessien’s. He took another few steps closer, stopping when he felt the breath sighing through the Dragon’s nostrils ruffling the light cloth of his trouser leg. The beast’s presence was oppressive, and Sam longed to flee, to escape from the great predator. He held his ground, though his knees felt weak and his legs rubbery.
Should he speak? What does one say to a Dragon?
The eyes opened, regarding him with pools of liquid opal.
“I am Lofwyr.”
It was as though Sam’s ears heard words, but he recognized that the Dragon’s voice was only in his head. He had not realized it before, but Tessien spoke the same way. This creature, however, was far more menacing than the feathered serpent. That worried Sam. It lay before him almost dormant, while Tessien had destroyed a panzer with flame and magic. He swallowed nervously, then hoped his voice would remain steady. “They call me Twist,” he said.
“Your they are not many, Samuel Verner.” Amusement rippled in the air. “Though I expect their numbers will grow.”
Startled by its attitude and use of his real name, Sam forgot some of his fear. “You know who I am?”
“Obviously.”
The dracoform had the advantage of knowledge while Sam was in the dark. How did this beast come to know about him? Emboldened by his annoyance, he asked, “What do you want with me? Why have you brought me here?”
“You are here because I wish to help you.”
Help was the last thing Sam expected from a Dragon. “Why is that? We’ve never even met before today.”
“My reasons are my own. As Jacqueline informed you, we have a mutual interest in the affairs of Genomics Corporation.”
Unless the creature could read his mind, denial seemed the safest course. “I have no interest in Genomics.”
“You had a decker inquiring into its affairs and personnel.”
“What is that to you?” Sam asked with a brashness he really didn’t feel. “Are you a cop? Are you going to charge me with data theft or something?”
“So belligerent.” The Dragon’s expression remained placid. If that fixed, toothy smile could be called placid. Sam felt its disdainful tolerance. “A. A. Wilson, an employee of Genomics, seems to be someone who interests you particularly.”
“So?”
“Mr. Verner, you are not a child of your kind. Leave off the games. Normally, I would take your prying less than well, but your poking about has alerted me to an injustice against me and mine.
“Doctor Wilson has been making unauthorized use of Genomics resources and personnel in a project of his own. Though such initiative is sometimes admirable, he has not had the good judgement to confide his successes to me. As his benefactor, I have supported him, symbolically fed and clothed hint, and now he shows his gratitude by gifting another with the fruits of his labors. You are familiar with Mister Drake?”
All too, Sam thought.
“I can see that you are.”
Sam relaxed the muscles in his face, realizing it wouldn’t take a mind-reader to see his hate. “Do you want to help me bring him to justice? He has deaths to answer for.”
“Death is the only answer for death, Samuel Verner.
“Though you have tasted his violent villainy, he has caused little harm to me and mine as yet. Were he to do so, I would take action and openly chastise him. But a solution suited to me is not necessarily suited to you.
“Any direct action by me would be hard to justify in your world’s courts. He has committed no crime against me. Has he stolen from me or killed any of my retainers? Until now, he has only taken advantage of a faithless person, who will face his own reckoning in the fullness of time.
“Whether by plan or chance, all evidence of the misuse of Genomics resources leads only to Doctor Wilson. The doctor has been deceived by a lying tongue into believing that he works in his own interest. In the end, Doctor Wilson will be returned to the Earth and I will be deprived of the benefits that I sought to nurture.
“It is presumptuous of this plotter to believe that he may cull his feast from a herd that I have bred. And I find this schemer and his presumption… offensive.” Contempt hung in the air. “I am informed that you too find this Mister Drake offensive. And that is where our mutual interest lies.”
“So you want me to do something about Drake.” Sam sensed the Dragon’s agreement, and suspected he knew what Lofwyr wanted him to do. “I won’t kill him for you.”
“I understand, If you killed him, it would be for yourself.”
“Just what do you want?”
“I have yet to determine the exact nature of Mister Drake’s plans. I find that vexing. What I want is for you to continue your efforts against Mister Drake, to uncover his scheme, and report it to me.”
“Why not have Jacqueline do it? She seems quite good at finding things and she’s already on your payroll. Why me?”
“You are an unanticipated player.”
Player? People had suffered and died, but this creature seemed to think it was all part of some game. Did the Dragon see Humans as nothing more than pawns to be shuffled around a gameboard?
The Dragon stretched a paw and raked talons through its hoard. Sam took the motion to indicate its response to any refusals.
“Will you do as I ask?”
Sam feared to say no and dreaded saying yes. He needed a way out that would not anger the Dragon. “What do I get for doing your dirty work?”
“A great deal of money and a new identity, both of which you will need to find your sister and return her to her former estate.”
“How do you know about her?”