Free The Sail Weaver by Muffy Morrigan Page A

just perched on her roost now and then.” His eyes were fixed on the porthole, tracking the movement of the creature beyond them. “And I’ve been working on Winged Victory , the plating’s been up and … Oh!” Barrett turned to him with wide eyes. “Oh, sir, is that … ?”
    Tristan moved so he could peek around the man, smiling as Fenfyr wheeled around a cargo ship lumbering out into space, his silver scales glinting in the dull light from the station. “That’s Lokey Fenfyr .”
    “ The Lokey Fenfyr ? Why is he here?”
    “Yes.” Tristan hoped that the look of awe on Barrett’s face wouldn’t be replaced by something else once he got to know Fenfyr. The dragon didn’t really take the dignity of his position seriously. “Didn’t they tell you? He will be serving as scout for the maiden flight.”
    “Oh, sir, really!?!” Barrett took one last look out the porthole and turned back into the crowd. “Fitting for Winged Victory, though. She’s the most beautiful thing the Navy has ever produced.” A gentle smile lit his face. “I’ve worked on her since day one, I even served some time on a construction gang, just to keep my hands on her and the men focused. You will love her the instant you see her, sir, she has a grace despite her size.”
    “Grace?”
    “Oh, I know I haven’t seen her with her sails. I know there are those who say she never will sail, but she is so beautiful and I know, deep down in my bones, the sails will take to her and she will be able to fly,” the man went on enthusiastically. Tristan hoped that if there was something amiss with the ship, this open and friendly man had nothing to do with it.
    “Her sails will love her,” Tristan said softly. From the moment he had gathered the willowisps together he had felt an affinity for the ship and knew the first delicate task—the sails bonding to the ship—would be accomplished easily. The Guild informed him before he left Earth that the sails were on the ship and waiting for the maiden flight.
    Barrett led the way across the crowded dock towards the airlock at the far side of the bay. Tristan followed, keeping his face carefully neutral even though each step caused an increase in his heart rate as it started to really sink in that he was here. A huge thump boomed through the deck, causing everyone to freeze, and look up towards the ceiling and the massive Dragon’s Portal slowly spinning open. The door clanked open and Fenfyr dropped down to the deck plating, his wings and feathers tucked against his body. The dragon let out a huge whooshing sound, his body adapting to the atmosphere after being in space. Tristan resisted teasing him about his tendency to make an entrance, and Fenfyr knew it. The dragon’s sly chuckle rumbled through the deck plating before he looked at Barrett with his head tufts forward.
    “ Lokey Fenfyr of the Guild Dragons,” Tristan said, waving his hand in the dragon’s direction.
    Barrett bowed. “First Officer Thom Barrett of Winged Victory, ” he said, straightening and eyeing the dragon with awe.
    Fenfyr inclined his head i n a short bob, grumbling softly before glancing around the docks with a snort.
    “Mr. Barrett?” Tristan snapped, the man was staring at Fenfyr as if he’d never seen a dragon up close.
    “Sir?” Barrett blinked at Fenfyr then turned to Tristan. “Sorry, sir! This way.”
    As they approached the portal to the gangway for Winged Victory Tristan felt his mouth go dry. He had no idea what he was walking into, and he knew that even though h e was comfortable as a Weaver, this was the first time he had served, truly served, as Warrior. It was a daunting feeling, that flutter of nervousness in his gut as he considered the enormity of what he’d agreed to—or been railroaded into at least.
    “Mr. Barrett, sir!” a man in a petty officer’s uniform said, snapping to attention.
    “Shearer,” Barrett said with a nod.
    “It’s good to see you back, sir.”
    “It’s good