Cowboys & Dragons

Part 12

In retrospect, Eddy could not understand how they actually made it out. The dangers of the jungle were as perilous on the way out as they had been on their way in—even more so, since the dragons in the area had gone wild and, in their frenzy, burned large parts of the jungle. Maybe it was because of this, he mused later. Any other creature in its right mind would have hidden until the storm of rage and fire blew over.

They needed four days to journey back to the zeppelin they had come in. Four days of hiding, sneaking, and fearing for their lives—at least in Eddy's case. The condition of his partner worsened by the hour, his wounds festering in the humid air of the jungle, yet the grizzled bounty killer proved too stubborn to die. In fact, it was probably his display of iron will that brought them back to the zeppelin, where they basically collapsed into the arms of the waiting crew.

Eddy slept through the whole return voyage, and Azrael, who was as bandaged as a mummy, had to pour a bucket of water over him to wake him up once they landed.

The goodbye was brief, almost businesslike, as Isabella set them on land not far from a small town at the coast. As they stood in the shadow of the large airship, Eddy remembered something that he had wanted to ask Isabella since they escaped the Golden City.

"Tell me, why did holding the Black Diamond cause the Marquis pain, while it did not affect you in the slightest?"

Brushing her dark hair behind her ear, she smiled and replied, "Well, you know the old tales about dragons and their fondness of women who are pure. Seems like their artifacts share the same preference . . ."

Eddy's mouth fell open as he realized she was telling him that she was still a virgin.

Isabella just smiled at the reaction and turned to leave. Following an instinct, Eddy, who had never kissed a virgin before, snatched her up for one—and regretted his bold deed as he got a knee to the groin.

Women, assassin or not, they are all the same, he thought while going down with a painful grunt.

Isabella walked away, infuriation oozing from her stride, yet as she ascended the stairs to the zeppelin, she turned around to gaze at them a last time. Surprisingly, there was a smile on her face. Then she was gone, and the zeppelin lifted off.

"You think we'll see her again?" groaned Eddy, still on his knees.

"Maybe on the next trip," said Azrael, turning and walking toward the city.

"Next trip?" blurted Eddy, stumbling to his feet. "What do you mean by next trip?"

"That dragon ate my hat!" Azrael said in a gravelly voice. "I want his head for that."

"Oh balls . . ." moaned Eddy.