"They would like to apologize to the great Dragon Slayer, but none of them are willing to leave now."
Raptor was getting impatient with the bird, "Did you tell them that we have no time to wait?"
"Of course, sir. But none will leave at night."
"There has to be a way to get us there now," Drake insisted.
The old woman who'd pointed at raptor earlier walked over to them. "Oh, man. Not her again," Drake muttered under his breath.
She spoke in a much calmer tone of voice, so that none of the villagers could hear. The bird translated. "She apologizes for her wild entrance earlier. She did not meant to startle you. She is expected to act that way and she hoped to talk to you privately. She does not know why a Dragon Slayer and a Dragonmaster would travel together, but your mission to the Spire must be very important. She knows of one who can guide you through the dangerous areas of the night and who has a way to get you to the island."
Raptor was suspicious of her change in demeanor. "Why does she help us?"
Both the question and its reply were translated by the raven "She says she knows that you are here to help. If you'll go to the edge of the village, you will meet your guide. She also warns you not to be shocked by the guide's appearance."
"Scary enough to warrant a warning. This I gotta see," Drake remarked as they headed in the direction the woman had indicated.
There, they found a cloaked figure. Clearly female, and about six feet tall, she spoke in a low growl. "I am Mauri. I will guide you to a hidden dock. With luck, we will encounter no one on the way."
Raptor was surprised. <<"You speak Italian?">> He spoke in his native tongue.
Drake looked strangely at his teammate, "Well, that's interesting. I understood her but now I don't understand you.
Mauri sounded amused "It is a simple spell."
"So! I am not needed. Then I shall..."
Raptor grabbed the bird's beak between his thumb and forefinger. "You will come. You may still be needed."
"OK" Came the bird's muffled response.
---------------------------------
Mauri removed her hood as they entered the woods. Revealing large, pointed ears and that her mouth contained fangs. As they walked, they learned that she was half Beastman. Her mother was human and her father was a Beastman. while it was unusual, it was not completely unheard of. She had few friends among the humans, but the Beastmen accepted all "half breeds" as their own. The old woman was one of the few humans who talked to her. They made it to the dock without incident where they received their second shock. The boatman waiting for them was a nearly seven foot tall member of the Vile Tribe named Ghort.
Some members of the two groups tried to live in peace. They were a small fraction, but their numbers were growing. Mauri made frequent trips to the Dragon island, and Beastmen made poor sailors. As the boat made its way to the island, Mauri explained what she knew of the island and what they'd find there. "I am a priestess. That is how I've been granted my magical power. We in the order of the Goddess believe that the dragons serve as a link between the spiritual and physical realms. Once in a great while, a mortal being is named a Dragonmaster. A person who can serve as a messenger to the dragons. You received the mark from another world's dragon, but it will still grant you entrance to the spire and the dragon within will not harm you. There is still great danger before you, however. The island is home to fearsome creatures and those in the tower itself are rumored to be worse. I will aid you with my magic and Ghort has agreed to go as well. There is great danger, and there is no guarantee that the dragon there will help you."
"Still, it seems the best chance we have." Raptor couldn't help sounding gloomy.
Ghort grunted and hissed, his species' version of speech. "He was admiring your sword, Drake," the black bird translated , "He'd like to know where you got it.
"Ghaleon gave it to me. He said that it once belonged to a friend and it served him well."
Ghort spoke again when he heard the reply. "He said that the last Dragonmaster was a friend of Ghaleon's. If it's the same sword, there may yet be hope for us all."
"God," Drake muttered under his breath. "I'd better not be the chosen one."
Ghort landed the boat with practiced precision and prepared himself, holding a shield with his left hand and carrying several spears. Mauri held her staff tightly. The four of them made their way through the darkness.
