Free Samurai by Jason Hightman Page B

that served no purpose and brought no power. The Ice Dragon had come from a long line of weak Serpents who had each committed suicide after creating offspring who had the same indecent flaw.
    No. For a mate she would need someone morereliable. The Ice Serpent had even admitted it in one of his letters, and he agreed with her that children would serve to expand her power, if she could find a suitable mate.
    Perhaps if she could trick the right Serpent into falling for her, then, after linking tails in the lovechant, she could promptly eat the father and never have to deal with him again.
    The Ice Serpent would not do. She would have to look elsewhere.
    Perhaps…to Japan.

Chapter 11
S HOWDOWN AT S EA
    T HE SEARCH FOR A LAYTHIA was now in its ninth day without any luck. Fenwick the fox was all atwitter this morning, rushing about the ship’s living area with great excitement, but Simon, with sleep-encrusted eyes, was trying to ignore him, investigating the refrigerator and cupboards for a quick breakfast.
    Having a British father had a definite downside. Simon combed through boxes of plain crackers, unsalted potato chips, jars of mincemeat and potted meat, bottled gravy, oatmeal (but good luck finding any sugar around here), canned kippers, onions in a weird fluid, and something called digestives in an ugly plain brown box.
    There were fresh eggs, because they had hensbelow, but Simon was getting tired of them.
    English people hate food, he decided. Suddenly Fenwick bit his arm in frustration. “Ow!” yelped Simon, and turned to see the fox had retreated back, clawing at the metal globe.
    “What’s he off about?” said Aldric, entering with a drowsy squint.
    “He’s gone insane ’cause there’s nothing to eat but rubbish and balderdash,” Simon complained mockingly, and Aldric narrowed his eyes.
    “Is he pointing at something?” Aldric asked sleepily, trying to peer around the crazed animal.
    “It looks like it’s straight ahead,” Simon said, pointing at the tiny blinking light on the globe. Alaythia. “She must’ve slowed. We’ve closed in on her overnight.”
    He looked at his father.
    “The question is why has she slowed,” mumbled Aldric, coming to life quickly, heading to the ladder.
    “Do you have to go straight to the dark side of everything?” said Simon, the pit of his stomach already reacting as he climbed up after him.
    Above decks, there was nothing but clear, blue skies and an empty stretch of ocean. And then Simon saw the sun glinting on a little patch of ocean very far ahead. A silver spike that, after a moment, began to look very much like a ship.
    It was some kind of small, old yacht, and it was drifting aimlessly.
    Aldric hit a switch at the mainmast. All the sails on the Ship with No Name slapped outward, and the vessel sped toward the white yacht.
    They reached it before Simon was really ready. Though fully armed with crossbow and sword, Simon was not prepared for a confrontation with the Black Dragon. The old Dragon was capable of anything, even if he’d been friendly at one time.
    “Let me go aboard first,” Simon said, realizing there was no other choice. “If he’s friendly, I should be the one to make contact.”
    “Out of the question, Simon, we don’t know what’s on that ship.”
    “He’ll see you as an enemy, Dad. If you go in, you might lose it and shoot him before we even know if we can trust him.”
    “We can’t trust him. He’s a Serpent,” Aldric said.
    “That’s exactly why I have to go,” said Simon, but he still did not forge ahead without Aldric’s say-so. He’d at least learned that much.
    The yacht came in closer. No one on deck. The time for a decision was now.
    Aldric looked at Simon, and nodded reluctantly.
    Simon leapt aboard the other vessel with Fenwick following close behind. Aldric gave him a head start ofa few seconds, roping his ship to the other, and then followed.
    Simon pushed open the cabin door.
    Dark. Silent. It betrayed no life