Free Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) by John Forrester Page B

of interest. Did they smell that she was a woman, or did the spell of illusion block that as well? The men's eyes went wide with lustful hunger. It was almost like they were using their sense of smell to guide their hunger.
    "Over there," a guard shouted at the addicts now packed in around them, and the soldier pointed through the gate at a low building nearest the barracks. "You'll find all the drugs you want in there. Go!"
    To Sebine's relief, the men advancing towards her turned and charged through the gate, and the crowd of addicts clambered after them. The guards veered around the clustered mass of bodies trying to push their way through, and Sebine and Tael followed them towards the far gate where a man's eyes peered through with concern.
    "Open up!" the guard shouted, "Lord Oberon has urgent business in town."
    Sebine could hear keys jangling on the other side of the door, and soon the gate swung open.
    "What in the name of the gods is going on?" An overweight guard peered around them and gaped at the building burning off in the distance. Flames leapt into the air, illuminating the mounds of grey smoke drifting off in the distance.
    The two guards with Sebine and Tael pushed through the gate. One guard turned and spoke. "Close and lock the gate." His desperate voice faded as Sebine tugged on Tael's hand and they left the guards. But she could still hear his voice off in the distance. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll get the hell out of this insane city. We're cursed for what we did..."
    They took off and ran through the streets of Glar Bay, and wound their way around the maze-like streets, always keeping sight of the distant bay illuminated by the ghostly moon. Sebine almost tripped over a group of dogs snuffling through garbage in the dirty streets, but Tael led her safely past the growling creatures. Soon they reached the docks and Sebine pointed to the building where she had seen the harbormaster. They stopped to catch their breath, and she scanned the ships anchored along the pier. One of those boats had to hail for a Malathian City. They would leave right away, before the shadow creatures chased the desperate citizens to the sea.
    She strode over and knocked on the harbormaster shack, and waited as a man grunted and swore inside. "What do you want at this ungodly hour?"
    "Open up for Lord Oberon, I have urgent business with you!" Sebine's shouted, hoping she'd gotten the inflection of the old man's voice correct, as she'd only heard him speak a little in his chambers.
    The door swung open and the sleepy face of the bald-headed dockmaster eyed her with suspicion.  
    "There's a fire up at my mansion—"
    "Since when does old bones call his house of horrors a mansion?" The dockmaster spat and gave Sebine a hard stare. He sniffed at her and shook his head wryly. "Another trick by your witch? Ya look like Lord Oberon, but you smell too pretty to be old bones. Go on, show yourself." He rubbed his bald head with an irritated expression on his face.  
    Sebine realized she'd been discovered. How she proceeded next was very important, and she debated her next course of action. If she reverted to her own form the dockmaster might be surprised to not find the witch. But if she impersonated the witch, the man might be suspicious to discover her desire to flee the city. She decided truth was the best course of action.
    "We only want to leave Glar Bay and go to a Malathian city," she said, changing back to her regular form. "We tried before but were forced to go up to that horrible place." She glanced up at the fire now visible off in the distance. "Lord Oberon's witch is dead, I killed her myself after they imprisoned me and tortured my friend Tael here for information. And likely old bones, as you called him, is dead as well. If you are smart you'll leave Glar Bay forever. The witch had created some strange abominations—figures made of shadow—and they were killing the guards. Will you help us find a ship out