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Fardon's census gets sidetracked by an unpleasant discovery

As a reminder, the story may contain some mature elements, but as usual I'm aiming for a PG-13 baseline.

Icon art from the Fardon reference by  FeatheryFlukes

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Chapter 18 - As sure as eggs is eggs

"My lord!" Sir Victor said, as Terry entered the throne room. "There has been another sighting!"

"Indeed?" the furre asked. "Interesting. When Sir Fardon returns, we must make sure he is aware of this."

"Do we seriously want the ambassador to look for UFO's...?" the seneschal asked skeptically. "Is that the best use of his time here?"

"Well, no..." Terry admitted. "But when all is said and done, we have been seeing these a lot, recently. At an increasing rate, it would seem. If they are some new contrivance of the Hunters, or some other power, he needs to be ready for it. As do we."

"...And the Hunter envoy?"

"If it is some secret weapon of theirs, I rather doubt she will tell us," Terry reasoned. "In that case, it might not be wise to let her realise that we know. Of course, it is also possible that it is not the Hunters at all, but some other party entirely. Are there any details?"

"It was heading North, at a considerable pace," the tiger said. "Making a sound like a jet engine, but with a more organic shape and if it has a transponder, it's not compatible with our system. One of the witnesses shot 16mm film of the event, and we are having it processed. Prints are being struck for our own use, but I don't expect it to be especially clear."

"In that case," Terry mused, "It is entirely possible that Fardon will run into them himself."

* * *

"So, it is true," the green dragon said. "This should be interesting! Perhaps he can do something about the harassment."

Fardon considered the other dragon curiously. He was furred, with a fiery orange mane that flowed around his shoulders to form a ruff at the base of his pale green scaled throat. Clearly a hybrid of some kind.

"What harassment have you seen, uh - Gavrin, wasn't it?" the brown dragon asked. "The seneschal of Arstrom has reassured me that dragons are protected here, ever since Lord Terror took the throne - and unofficially, our kind was to be left alone even before then.
"There will always be the occasional renegade like the Earl of Lundgarten and Hunters who have gone under the radar..." Fardon broke off, remembering the Falnar had been hiding since before RADAR existed. "Uh," he faltered.

"I know about air traffic control if that's what you're wondering," the other dragon said, glancing up at the electric light fittings. "Though I dare say there's some as don't. At least one dragon has been hiding here since the Great Burning, but that was before my arrival here. Plus I travel... have some work in Narduran now and again, across the Eastern border - so I've been able to get a few modern contraptions myself. Got a micro-hydro plant running it all."

"Ah, good," Fardon said. "The point is, Hunters aren't allowed to ply their craft here and will face public execution if they do. Anyone hassling you is a criminal and Lord Terror wants to make it clear that you are free to defend yourselves if that should become necessary. Disputes between dragons, though... he's still thinking that through. Doesn't want his dragons murdering each other if he can avoid it."

"I have had a few intruders myself," Gavrin said. "Treasure seekers. Some I had to kill, others took the hint. I don't like killing the Small Races, but as you say... Sometimes we need to defend ourselves. But the real problems are further North, from what I hear. Poachers."

"Poachers!?" Fardon looked appalled. "Body parts? Lord Terror will go berserk if that's happening!"

"Fortunately that's not happened - to my knowledge," the green dragon said, looking disgusted. "I don't pretend to know every dragon in Arstrom, but I have met a few of my neighbours. Still, the lord won't like this either, if he's what you claim. No... It's eggs. that's the problem."

Fardon was a seasoned warrior, with countless foes - dragon and humanoid alike - dead by his teeth, claws and flames. He had removed innumerable heads and the sight of blood and death did not faze him at all. Yet at the thought of eggs being stolen, he looked distinctly sick. "Oh gods..." he moaned. "If someone's stealing dragon eggs... Gods! Lord Terror will invent a whole new execution method just for that, if I'm any judge."

"Well, that's what I've heard. Word is it's happening across the border too, Northeast of here. I couldn't swear that some of the intruders I had weren't pretending to be treasure-seekers, but were really scoping out my lair in case I had... well, a nest. Or even a partner of the opposite sex, for that matter - though I'm not sure the small races can even tell if we're the same gender anyway..."

"This has been going on for a while, right...?" Fardon queried. "We breed slowly. That's what makes this so horrific... You don't get many eggs in the first place. So if this is more than a one-off..."

"I am not interested in starting a family at this time," Gavrin remarked. "But if I was, I'd beef up the security. Understand that this is is second, third hand reports, though I do know a couple near the Brandhatch fells who lost an egg this way. Point is, I can't say how many of the rumours are just that - rumours. But they're persistent, and have been for decades."

"It was never my job to look into this," Fardon sighed. "I was supposed to tell you the news about Lord Terror and his plans to make dragons first-class citizens in Arstrom, in the hopes that you would help spread that news. Heck, I'm just doing this as a favour for him, and because my own Lord in Taria wants to see dragons thrive here too."

"I'll do what I can," Gavrin said. "I'll make a point of visiting the capital too, sniff out this lord for myself. But he is going to want to know about the egg situation, if he is all you claim he is."

"Thank you for your time," Fardon said. "Wind lift you."

* * *

"I am here at the behest of Lord Terror," Fardon began. "Think of this as a prelimnary census. He aims to make dragons first-class citizens in Arstrom once again, rather than outcasts to be feared. But to do that he know who currently lives in his realm."

"Either that, or he wants to draw us out so he can kill us and steal our stuff," the dragoness growled. "Are you sure he's telling the truth? He could be using you as a patsy."

"I am an ambassador for Taria under Lord Varl," Fardon said haughtily. "If Lord Terror is false, he's going to wreck the alliance and trade deal he wants so very badly. I am only doing this because I want to help Astrom become more like Taria - a mixed society."

"I can't argue with that," the dragoness admitted. "But if he wants to help us dragons, maybe he can do something about the poaching."

"Ah, yes," Fardon said. "Investigating that is definitely outside the scope of my mission, but I will absolutely report your concerns to him. I hate to ask this, but have you been... so affected?"

"Yes," the dragoness admitted, looking distraught for a moment. "Our child... Stolen away by those brutes! I don't like to ask for help - it's not considered dragonly by some - but if you can find out what happened to my egg... Even if it's bad news... It would give us some closure. And if you can return our child to us..."

Fardon's head tilted slightly. "I was only told of this today, by Gavrin. He had few details to share... But you are sure it wasn't... well, Hunters...?"

"No, it was definitely stolen," the dragoness insisted. "Hunters would simply have smashed the egg and left a mess, maybe remained to take a pot at myself or my husband! Instead, they left tracks."

"Footprints...?"

"That too, but I do mean tracks, like they'd used a cart or a sled to move it. Like they wanted to keep the egg intact! My husband took a photograph."

"That is reassuring," Fardon said, looking pleased. "I had feared someone was murdering our young. If it's abduction, there is still some hope. But as I have said, I am a diplomat for another realm and I cannot make promises.
"I will check with Lord Terror," he added. "But I am confident that he will have thought of this. I would be shocked if stealing the eggs from a dragon was not punishable by the neck."

"Yeah, right," the dragoness snarled. "What would he really care for our lot?!"

"Plenty. He is a dragon himself," Fardon said. "He just assumes the guise of a furre, for the Small Races do not love being ordered around by dragonkind."

"Seriously?!"

"Perfectly seriously. I have seen his true form. He is quite handsome..." Fardon trailed off with a stupid expression, and then suddenly shook his head.
"Regardless. I understand the reasons for his deception. Even in Taria, it is one reason we have human and furre lords as Lord Varl's advisors. Their participation in major decisions, and the fact that they have changed his mind on occasion, is widely known. By this, we reassure people that Lord Varl has not merely conquered the realm to use as a dragon's plaything.
"When your lord makes his own situation public, he will no doubt establish a similar system to assure the populace at large. As for the egg, I will inform him of this matter and ensure that he understands the gravity of it, which he most likely does already."

"If he does investigate, any photos you can provide might be useful," Fardon added. "Though again, that is something others than I will ask about. Oh, and you are welcome to visit the dragon-porch of his palace if you wish an audience with him yourselves."

* * *

"I have spoken to several dragons on the Eastern border," Fardon said, back in Lord Terror's throne room. "I can give you names and locations. One known as Gavrin has agreed to help spread word of your interest in helping improve their lot."

"But...?" Lord Terror prompted.

"But apparently, someone or some group - suspected to be among the Small Races - has been stealing dragon eggs. This, will obviously need further attention and I may not be the right person do to that."

Lord Terror had sat bolt upright and claws were visible through the rubber of his gloves. "Rrraggh!" he growled, furious. Sir Victor the seneschal stepped backwards a few paces.

"Fetch me Lady Silver," the lord demanded. The seneschal scurried off.

Fardon glanced at Lord Terror with concern. "Would it be better if I left you to this, your lordship?"

"No. Stay, Sir Fardon," Terry decided. "It might be best if you were here to repeat what you have said to me."

At that moment, the snow leopard entered, curtseying before the lord.

"Get up," the lord snapped. "It has been told to me that in the Northeastern part of the realm, dragon eggs are being poached. This is a most serious matter, and it occurs to me that it may be a means of sabotage by the Hunters to derail my plan for unity."

"You think I am responsible?!" the snow leopard looked horrified.

"That is what I wish to determine," Lord Terror snarled. "The Great Burning happened because dragonlets were abducted and murdered, and eggs smashed in dens. I will not have a repeat of that unfortunate incident - even if I must publicly remove the brains of those responsible as a warning to all."

"It was not me!" the huntress retorted. "It is true that I have been visiting parts of the North, but not for this! I gave my word that dragons would not be harmed by us, and my staff have been instructed to comply and spread the word."

"From what I gather, the last such abduction was some moons ago," Fardon broke in. "She cannot be personally responsible, and if it was done by Atlantian agents, she has officially ended that operation. Is that not so?"

"That may be," Terry growled, "But it does not answer the question of what became of the eggs, if as you say, they were taken whole."

"Your lordship," Lady Silver protested. "I know nothing of this. If it was so ordered, it is far above my pay-grade. But I can tell you that Hunters rarely target the young. We are not monsters, and our rules of engagement specify this.
"Slaying an adult dragon is one thing, but slaying children or destroying eggs... It is not done and only a renegade would stoop to such war-crimes."

"Even those who have lost their young to the thieves do not believe this to be the work of Hunters," Fardon stated.

"In the interests of maintaining diplomatic relations, I will nonetheless make enquiries to my staff," Lady Silver said. "But as I have said, if this is the doing of my fellows, it is not a secret I am privy to."