“Beggin’ the Cap’n’s pardon?”

Startled, Hunter opened his eyes. The speaker was a smallish man, a human, dressed in worn but clean overalls and a coat. A speckle of gray decorated his hair and a twinkle shone in his blue eyes. He carried a broom that he leaned on for support. Captain Hunter nodded for the man to continue.

“Thankee Cap’n. My name’s Wilkins. I’m the groundskeeper for the hospice here. Beggin’ ye favor but I couldna help but hear ya words with the big bloke a moment ago. Ye lookin’ for a drake egg are ya?”

Hunter sat up slowly in bed, cautious of his ribs, and eyed the man suspiciously. “Yes, I did say that. Why do you ask?”

“I might be someone who knows a bit about it. Yer first mate will be tearin’ up the waterfront, but he’ll not find a thing. The drake egg yer lookin’ for sits in a warehouse near the old dockmaster’s office where the old North docks used to be.”

The captain considered that a moment. “Mind you, I’m grateful for any words of help you might have but, naturally, I am suspicious. Drake eggs are valuable and in some places men would kill for one.”

Wilkins chuckled and continued to lean on his broom. “What’s in it fer me ya might say? Good question Cap’n and a sound one to be sure. I’ve my own business with the man ye named a bit ago.”

“Broggins?”

“Aye, that’s the one. Cap’n, have ya stopped ta wonder where that dandy of a vampire got his funds ta even try most a’ his venture? Sure he stole from ya it sounds like, but a body cannae steal all the way to a drake’s nest and back. That’s where the rub lies ya see. Cheated me out of a good portion of ma savings in a game of poker ya see. Now I’m not a man who owns much, nor oft do I care to, but what I do have I’d like ta keep and enjoy. The way I see it here? It’s only right that Broggins lose what he stole my money in the first place ta get.”

“If you have a grudge and know where it is, why not turn him in yourself”

“Well Cap’n, my word isn’t as good as it used ta be in many circles. Townsend would take some convincin’ and then there’s makin’ this stick.

Hunter eased himself from his bed and reached for his coat. He was suspicious of the man’s story, but if any of it was true, that meant the drake’s egg was within his reach. It was a chance he would have to take. At worst he would look foolish, something he had suffered before in his life and expected to probably suffer again in the future. Once he was fully dressed, the captain walked to the doorway and paused to look over his shoulder.

“How can you be so sure it’s there?”

“Fair enough question. I like takin’ a constitutional along the old North docks in the evenin’. The air comin’ in is cool ya see and helps ease me inta the evenin’. Well a night or so back, I’m walkin’ along and what am I seein’? Why the very man who cheated me outta my money! Naturally I followed him thinkin’ ta turn him inta Dockmaster Townsend. He lost me near the warehouses up there, but I saw he twas’ carryin’ a bag of meats and such. More’n his like would need. Now hearin’ yer tale, that bag makes sense ta me. He had ta been stockin’ up ta feed the beast when it hatched from it’s shell.”

“My thanks, Wilkins. I’ll see that any money I recover comes back to you.”

A twinkle of mischief shone in Wilkins’ eye. “Kind of ye Cap’n, but nae necessary. I’ll know when ye’ve got the egg and Broggins be in the Dockmaster’s tender care. At times like these, the Reach does become quite a small little place.”

With a faint smile, Hunter nodded and with a fast walk shadowed by a slight limp, he hurried out of his room.

After passing an upset cleric who thought Captain Hunter’s departure was an ill-advised idea, the captain nearly stumbled into O’Fallon who had just opened the hospice door. O’Fallon stepped back in surprise almost jostling into Moira, the Brass Griffin’s blacksmith. The pair exchanged a glance as Captain Hunter caught himself against the door frame and sighed, ignoring the sore stiffness that permeated his ribs and leg.

O’Fallon gave Hunter a surprised look. “Cap’n? What’re ye doin’? We came tae help ye over tae the Griffin.”

Hunter waved away the man’s concern and Moira’s offer to support him on his wounded side. “I’m appreciative but there’s a last bit of business we need to see to.”

“That’d be?”

“Catch an egg thief or at least his ill-gotten egg. I’ll explain on the way.”

Tags: Brass Griffin, Red Lightning, Steampunk