Making a Deal (#5) [incomplete]

The leather sack landed with a heavy thump on the table, its roughly sewn neck slumping sideways over the weighty contents. Wulfram glanced at it, one mahogany eyebrow twitching upward. Considering the offer, the knight errant raised his gaze to meet that of the man who'd thrown the bag onto the table. Lord Hollenthen met the knight's gaze with a deadpan look of his own, waiting patiently for the other man to accept the offer or continue haggling.1

Wulfram frowned to himself thoughtfully. "This beast -- where did you say it keeps lair?"2

Lord Hollenthen flicked his fingers irritably. "That's the worst of it; it seems not to have a single den. It has been sighted many times circling the crown of Mount Jolar, but it has also emerged in the foothills many miles away and apart. The beast never seems to come from the same direction twice."3

Wulfram lifted both eyebrows. "And you're certain of the identification."4

The heavyset underlord across the rough-hewn wooden table spread his fat hands, their many rings glittering distractingly. Wulfram did his best to ignore their opulent gleam. 5

"What else has wings and scales, steals cows and serfs for its dinner and blasts the fires of Hell from its maw?"6

"You'd be surprised," Wulfram grunted, rubbing at his thick moustache, but he was fairly convinced nonetheless. It was probably a drake, not a true dragon, but Hollenthen didn't need to know that. As far as the safety of crops and sharecroppers were concerned, the difference was minimal, anyway.