Free Drakonika (Book 1) by Andrea Závodská

irresistible to all women in Ragna and I'll have at least ten of them on each finger,” he said brightly as he rounded on Eagle with a broad smile. When he realised who was standing in front of him, he wished he had never said any of that. He was gazing directly into the grim face of General Xanthar, who must have been listening to him for quite a while.
    “ Indeed,” said the general in disgust, watching Jackal's “irresistible” face.
    Eagle hadn't had so much fun for a very long time. He had difficulty not to start laughing, while Jackal felt a dull purple flush creeping up his slender face.
    Xanthar rolled his eyes and growled grumpily, “Get out of my way,” he said in a scornful tone and pushed Jackal aside. At this time, it was quite clear to all three of them that there would be no promoting.
    Despite all the shame and sweat, Jackal didn't want to give up and he tried to shine in front of the general anyway. “Those are the papers he had in his pocket,” he said with the expression of a very experienced inspector. Well, at least he thought it looked that way.
    The general stopped right before the heap of papers that lay on the pavement, getting scattered around by the gentle breeze. He reached his hand above it and closed his eyes, seemingly very focused. This was probably a way he was able to tell if these papers really belonged to Magnus. Shortly, he opened his eyes again. Now he was certain that Jackal's tracking skills didn't fail. “He can't be far. I'm going to find him, even if I have to turn every single house in Ragna upside down,” he said darkly, as his gaze darted sideways to the street on his right. Now he was even more certain about what he had said. Close to the place where he was standing, there was a line of paper scraps, leading into the first left turn.
    “ It seems it won't be necessary. He didn't even bother covering his tracks,” Xanthar said. If Magnus heard the general's calm voice, it would have sent a shiver down his spine. Xanthar stepped forward immediately, with his elegant long coat flowing behind him. In his right hand, he was holding his precious staff which resembled a dangerous cobra overlaid with gleaming rubies. He didn't say a word to the guards, as if they weren't even there.
    It appeared that Eagle and Jackal were quite used to this kind of behaviour. They didn't wait a second as they sped off to follow the general even without a command. Whatever they might have had against him, it seemed they would find Magnus shortly and that was something they would not want to miss.
    The tracks led them to the Merry Pigeon inn. Xanthar didn't hesitate and smashed the door open. Each second of Magnus freely roaming Ragna was driving him insane.
    The inn was completely empty except for the bald inn keeper who was cleaning up the tables and washing dishes. The front door swung open just when he was scrubbing the floor. Rays of light penetrated inside. In the first moment, Xanthar's dark figure looked as though the devil himself had emerged on the doorstep.
    When the bartender realised that the general of the Magi Police himself, Xanthar Zaleon, was crossing the threshold of his tavern, he jerked under a table.
    The general didn't even wait for him to get out from under it. “I am looking for a small boy, ten years old, dark hair, loose rags, big hat,” he said swiftly.
    The inn keeper remained stiff like a statue. “I don't know, Sir... I haven't seen anyone like that around here...” he lied in fear that Magnus' visit could bring him trouble.
    A moment of silence ensued. It seemed Xanthar was considering if that could be true, while he walked around the inn at a heavy pace, looking for some evidence that would entangle the bartender's tongue. Eagle and Jackal curiously peeked in.
    “Are you sure?” said Xanthar with a sinister sneer on his face, picking up a big dusty hat from the floor with his cobra staff.
    If the bartender looked horrified before, it was nothing to how he