Chapter 41.4- The Seadragon's Roar

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Igneel released a roar as we flew around the island, banking left and beginning our arc. Through his eyes, I could see those on the ground snap their heads upwards, looking at me as we began to reduce our altitude. We moved to land at the watchtower instead of at the mine so I could get a better idea of the scape of things right from the beginning.

“Welcome to Crete, my Lord” I was welcomed by a long line of men the second Igneel landed. Good. They were quick and attentive at least. Now if only they knew better than to steal from me.

“Indeed, Stevron. It’s good to see you again.” I said, greeting the Captain of the Purple Seahorse, one of the largest warships in the Velaryon fleet, and the one I had placed in charge of this island.

“You as well, my lord. But it is a surprise to have you here. If you had sent a raven, then we could have prepared a more fitting welcome”

“Is that so, hmm? Well, it does not matter. I am only going to be here for a few hours at the most. It depends on how quickly I can get what I want.” I said.

“And what is that, my lord?”

“The head of whoever has been stealing from me and assurances that it will not be happening again” I said, keeping my eyes open but watching them through Igneel’s eyes. It was through Igneel’s eyes that I noticed the flinch that Stevron hid admirably well. Interesting.

“Stealing from you, my lord?” To Igneel’s ears, the words rang hollow.

“Yes. The shipments of limestone have been short lately.”

“Oh. Perhaps an error in the accounting on the other end, my lord?” He tried.

“Perhaps. But I will see the mine, if you don’t mind”

“Right now, my Lord?” He asked.

“I said I’ll be leaving in a matter of hours, Stevron” I said.

“Oh, oh of course.” He said, and then Igneel’s head came closer, sniffing at the man. He smelt of nervousness and fear, I noted as he took a step back. That didn’t mean he was the thief though. The fear could come from seeing a dragon right in front of him. Even Ser Ben with all. The time he had ridden on Igneel with me still felt a massive amount of fear whenever we approached the dragon.

I had agreed not to mention it in public, but it would be a while before I’d let him forget that he’d peed himself a bit when Igneel had laughed at one of his jokes. Thinking about that made Igneel chuckle even now. Except that I was the only one who knew it was a chuckle. To everyone else, it seemed more like a threatening snarl than anything else.

Stevron took two steps back. The men at his side took a few more.

“I will ready horses to take you to the mine, my lord” I said.

“I can ride Igneel just fine, thank you”

“Yes, my lord. But I assume you stopped here first so you could get a look at things from this end. We have the records for our shipments in the tower. If anyone has been stealing, the records would make it clear” He offered.

“Indeed. Now bread and salt before we step in please” I pointed out.

“Of course, my lord” He said, gesturing to one of the men to go back in the tower.