Dragon Ship. Natalie Yacobson

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СКАЧАТЬ there are dozens more. What kind of valuable cargo are they carrying? The King of Opal probably sent them to war. Their equipment is just perfect for war.

      Patricia noticed a magical creature aboard the flagship. It’s probably the reason they can’t use magic to win a battle. Everyone knows how powerful wizard’s work for the King of Opal. The graceful peri in her oriental garb resembled a piece of jewelry rather than a warrior. The wings behind her slender back seemed to be made of multicolored mist. Precious pendants hung from her belt and jingled with every movement, like a dancer’s. Among these pendants were vials containing poison. Surely Patricia knew of Peri’s cunning.

      Peri noticed it too and grinned slyly. Patricia would give anything to capture the ethereal creature and teach it a lesson. Is it possible to kill a peri? They’re supposed to be immortal.

      The peri walked along the side of the boat, then flew over the deck where the fight was going on. What was she up to?

      «There’s another fairy on board besides her,» Netopyrina determined. «She is the one blocking the magic of our ship.»

      «Is it just one fairy?»

      «We have to get her,» Netopyrina showed her sharp claws. «I’ll interrogate her.»

      «We don’t need prisoners. The ship feeds only on the blood of the slain.»

      «The only way to capture a magical creature is to take it prisoner, and the ship will be spared.»

      «How do we not get captured? Am I seeing double, or is Opal’s fleet multiplying?»

      Patricia couldn’t tell if it was magic or optical trickery. Or maybe the black ships growing behind the fleet were ghost ships?

      Suddenly, multicolored fins flashed in the water between the ships, and a hypnotizing singing sounded. The mermaids had come to help. If it weren’t for them, Opal’s fleet could not have been sunk. The tailed maidens proved to be aggressive and powerful. They summoned a kraken that encircled the Opal’s ships with all its tentacles. The cocky peri’s face stretched in disappointment. This was a turn of events she had not expected. She herself had barely managed to escape the kraken’s tentacles, and that was only because she could fly.

      «As long as you’re on the water, you’re lucky,» the flying peri grinned predatorily. «And what will be not on the water?»

      The mermaids were triumphant. Their whole flock swirled around the drowning shipwrecks on the water.

      «All the valuables that you have not managed to drag on board, we get!» The mermaid in the most bizarre crown made the stipulation. She is probably the leader of the mermaid pack.

      Patricia nodded in agreement. Her sword returned to her. It was a good thing it could fly like a steel bird. The sword had drunk so much blood that it would not fight again. The gargoyles, too, had turned back into fancy brass ornaments on the sides, but if there was a battle again, they would come to life again and rush into battle.

      Peri had long since flown away, and the trail of iridescent mist left by her wings still hung over the sea. She would report what had happened to the King of Opal. Well, good! Let him know of the avenger who had recruited a team of foulness, and tremble. They’re equals now. Patricia is no longer a weak little pussycat, but a pirate.

      Her monstrous crew was hauling barrels and chests from the sinking flagship. The mermaids were writhing in displeasure.

      «All the riches that have sunk are rightfully theirs,» Netopyrina explained. «That is the law of the sea. What sank went to the treasury of the sea king or the sea queens. In this case, they are the Princesses.»

      «I thought they were princesses.»

      «Do you tell by the crowns?» Netopyrina grinned.

      «Well, yes. And you need to determine by the color of the mermaid’s tail?»

      «Be quiet, or they will take offense and make a storm to flood us.»

      «Why on earth would they want to help me? I didn’t even call them,» Patricia marveled.

      «They probably don’t like the King of Opal either. Ever since the dragon burned one of the sea queens, they can’t stand all strong wizards.»

      «Is the dragon a strong wizard?»

      «Dragons are prone to greed and to magic,» Nethopyrina weighed on her clawed palm a gold coin that had rolled out of a chest brought aboard by a goblin.

      Patricia breathed in a full breath of fresh sea air. This is a triumph! She had won! How gratifying is it to watch the goblins working as porters and the sinking ships of the enemy.

      Patricia felt very lucky until one goblin hefted a sack glistening from within onto a pile of barrels and chests. Was there really fire in the sack? Or is it a firebird?

      «Oh, they have taken a prisoner!» The delighted Netopyrina flapped her wings joyfully.

      The bag shone brighter and vibrated.

      «The captive fairy is trying to free herself,» said the bog lady.

      «Is there really a fairy in the bag?»

      «Apparently, there was no cage on the Opal’s ships, so they put her in the sack.»

      «Can’t we throw her overboard?»

      «It won’t sink.»

      «Then what are we going to do with her?» Patricia was as frightened of the fairy as death itself. She knew what fairies were capable of when they served to the King of Opal. If we don’t get rid of the sack, the fairy will enslave the entire crew. She must have a talent for mass hypnosis and could mesmerize the whole crew for a while, fly up behind the wheel of the ship and drive it straight to her employer – the king. And thus all the dashing pirates will be captured by the magician. They could be collected from the deck while still sleepy and taken to the dungeons.

      «Interrogate her,» advised Netopyrina. The crew was also waiting for orders.

      Patricia did not want to talk to the cunning fairy from Opal, but there was nowhere to go.

      A fairy hostage

      There was no worse trophy than a fairy. She sang and summoned spells. She had to gag her. The dunghill weaved a cage of gray charms. They’re stronger than iron bars.

      Patricia knew that the fairy was an agent of the King of Opal and could contact him from a distance, but Netopyrina blocked her. How useful it is to have a fairy bat of your own!

      The captive fairy, on the other hand, was a massive inconvenience. Everything shook and rang near her, and objects flew in the air.

      «Stop it! You won’t get free,» Patricia shouted at her.

      The fairy gave her a sinister smile that made her blood run cold. The dagger, forgotten by someone, flew into the air and swooped down on Patricia like a bird of steel.

      While Patricia fought back, the fairy managed to summon a storm. The ship rocked from side СКАЧАТЬ