Chris Behrsin [Behrsin - Dragonseer (Secicao Blight Book 1)

DRAGONSEER

Chris Behrsin

Dragonseer Copyright 2019 by Chris Behrsin. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chris Behrsin

Visit my website at:

www.chrisbehrsin.com

To my wonderful mother.

CONTENTS

PART I

Faso

Secicao-powered automatons are the future of mankind.

Faso Gordoni

CHAPTER 1

T he wind from the airship's propellers came in chilly and strong. I bowed my knees and widened my legs to brace myself against the gale. Besides me, Faso got knocked back a little, almost sending that infernal automaton, Ratter, off his shoulders. Mr Sandorini, our mayor was here too, wearing his monocle and tweed suit much more traditional than Faso's pinstripes.

Soon, the propellers swung on their own hinges to face down, causing the wind to ease off. This revealed the banner hanging down off the bowsprit, red with four white sabres radiating outwards from a circle, looking much like propeller blades.

See that, Faso shouted in my ear, much louder than he needed to. That's the king's insignia.

Faso stood there high-and-mighty with his impossibly white skin, and his pin-stripe suit with the left sleeved flared out more than his right, to house his automaton. Though Faso was in his early thirties, his skin was so unweathered by the sun that he looked like he was in his mid-twenties. The automaton in question, Ratter, sat upon his shoulder with those red evil eyes staring at me, cold and assessing.

I know, I said. Being from a country town didn't make me ignorant.

You don't sound particularly surprised, Faso said with a smirk I wanted to knock off his face.

Why should I be?

That's King Cini's airship, Miss Wells. I don't know about yours, but my letter said he was only sending an envoy.

So what? Doesn't mean the king's come out to meet us.

What century were you born in, lady? The king's airship always travels with the king on it.

The racket died down and the airship landed neatly within its allocated circle. Two guards dressed in scarlet, the king's elite redguards with Pattersoni rifle bayonets, came up on deck and kicked down the ramp. The king came up next, resplendent in white fur and a tall felt crown. Honestly, despite what Faso had said, I wasn't expecting to see him there. His clothes had some kind of sheen about them, and his face was powdered white with such perfection that he seemed to emit a radiant glow. Kind of handsome looking, in a way, although overdone.

See what I mean? Faso shouted with no respect for the delicacy of my ear-drum. That's King Cini.

The king didn't look at the world around him, but instead at the guards whom he motioned onwards with his hand. One guard proceeded down the ramp and King Cini followed him, with the other guard trailing rhythmically behind.

Mr Sandorini and Faso genuflected automatically when the king stepped off his ramp. In response, I dropped promptly downwards, knocking my knee hard against the ground. Ratter, as if he knew his place, ran along Faso's arm and concealed himself within Fasos widened left sleeve. The noise from the propellers began to die down and a slight balminess returned to the air.

King Cini III approached the mayor first and offered him his hand. Mr Sandorini stood up and Faso then I followed. Honoured you could come to such a humble town, my liege, Mr Sandorini said.

The king waved off his comment with a dismissive gesture. It's these two citizens we rely on. He indicated Faso and me.

Then I guess we better get started, Mr Sandorini said.

Unfortunately, I can't be here long, Cini said. I have other appointments. If you could just leave me alone with them

The mayor raised his hand and coughed against the back of it. Very well. I'll be in the town hall if you need me. He walked back along the path towards town with a slight waddle in his gait.

King Cini III turned his attention to us. So, Mr Gordoni and Miss Wells, he said. I'll get straight to the point. We have a contract for you.

Faso stepped forwards. A contract? By all means, if you need more oil, I've been working on my automatons. Is it production speed you want? Because the more I create the more I can supply. You'll get much more out of my technology than you can with a dragon.

Damn that man. I tried to step in, but Faso was blocking me off with his shoulder. So, I put my arm in front of him, feeling something cold and hard in Faso's sleeve Ratter.

I took a step forward. Surely it's quality you want, I said. You can't get better than dragon roasted dragons who, I remind you, feed on secicao.

Secicao was the life-blood on which this country ran. A drink served out in cafetires that had significant augmentative properties. These properties were even stronger when the secicao was distilled into oil, allowed only in the military to create supermen of war.

Ratter now poked his head out of Faso's sleeve, ran up to his shoulder and bared two steel teeth at me with an ingratiating hiss. Oh, secicao, secicao, Faso said. If it's the power of secicao you want, you should see my latest technology. Ive created

The king raised a white velveted hand cutting Faso off mid-speech. What I want is for you two, both of you, to listen to your king. He walked up to the cliff face that the airfield overhung and looked south. Two of his guards followed him, sun glinting off the bayonets of their rifles. No doubt, King Cini said. You're both aware that the skirmishes in the south have been on the rise lately. Not just that, but the dragons have been attacking the Southern Barrier forts that barricade in our beloved kingdom of Tow and keep it safe.

I have heard, my liege, Faso said.

The king gave Faso a scornful look. He hadn't given Faso permission to speak. I was beginning to learn how this game worked. It seems, Cini continued, that the Southlands dragon threat is becoming more severe. We have automaton weapons, but the dragons are learning to outdo them, always finding flaws in the machines before we know about them ourselves.

With all respect, sir, Faso said. If you need automatons, I can supply

Obviously, Mr Gordoni, you don't like the sound of my voice. King Cini looked back to one of his guards who took his rifle off his shoulder and readied it with two loud clicks. A pocket of air travelled down Faso's throat.

Faso had now assumed a more startled posture, like a rabbit that's just seen a wolf. Ratter scurried up his sleeve and took refuge there. I'm sorry, your highness, he said. Speak away.

Good, Cini said. In short, we don't want more automatons. We want better augmented soldiers and for that we need a better grade of secicao oil. Both of you produce some of the finest in all of Tow each, as you know, with its own characteristic effects. But we need more and we need better to keep up with the war effort. I want you two to work together to combine your processes and surpass anything ever created before.

So, it appeared that Faso hadn't come to The Five Hamlets on his own entrepreneurial volition after all. I tried to hide my smirk. Faso's lips, on the other hand, were trembling as if trying to hide his scorn. You want me to work with her?