"I don't want your treasure."

Yellow smoke erupted from the dragon, and that was how it laughed.

"Little wizard, don't you want to come ashore and take a look? It's worth it. ”

"I don't look." Wind and fire are blood relatives of the dragons, but wind and fire are not conducive to fighting at sea, which is still Gede's advantage, and he has maintained it well. But the waterway between him and the great Grey Claw no longer seemed to be in his favor.

It's hard not to look at those green eyes that are watching.

"You're a very young wizard." The dragon said, "I didn't know that humans could gain power at such a young age. "It's in the same ancient language as Gede, because the dragons still speak that language. While humans must speak the truth when speaking primeval languages, dragons don't have to. Ancient languages are their language, so they can lie in them, or arbitrarily distort the truth for inappropriate purposes, leaving unalert listeners trapped in the maze of mirror language. In that mirror language, each mirror reflects the truth, but none of them are really at a loss. This was a warning that Gede had often heard, so when the dragon spoke, he listened with distrustful ears, ready to doubt. But the dragon's words seemed to be frank: "Little wizard, did you come to this Pando Island to ask me for help?" ”

"No, Dragon."

"But I can help you. You'll soon need help against the thing that hunts you in the dark. ”

Ged was stunned.

"What's after you? Tell me the name. ”

"If only I could name ......" Gede didn't say any more.

Yellow smoke coiled above the long faucet, and the nostrils were on fire.

"Perhaps, if you name it, you can control it, little wizard. When I see it passing by, I might be able to tell you its name. If you wait near my island, it will come closer. It will follow you wherever you go. If you don't want it to come close, you have to run, keep running, and avoid it. But it's far away chasing you.

Do you want to know its name? ”

Ged was silent again. He couldn't guess how the dragon knew about the shadow he had unleashed. How could it possibly know the name of the Shadow? Master Geng said that the black shadow had no name. But dragons have their own unique wisdom oaths, and they are also a race that has been older than humans.

Very few people can guess what the dragon knows, how to know, and those few who can guess it are the "dragon masters". Gerd was only sure of one thing: though the dragon might be right, though it might have a way of telling Gerd the name of the Shadow so that he would have the power to control it. But despite this, although it is honest, it is also entirely for its own purposes.

"It's rare for a dragon to automatically ask for help from humans." Young Gede finally spoke.

"But it's common for cats to play with mice before killing them." Long said.

"But I'm not here to play or toy. I'm here to make a deal with you. ”

The tip of the dragon's tail was arched like a scorpion, erect on the back of its armor, and hung high above the tower, like a sharp sword, five times as long as any sword. The dragon said indifferently: "I don't talk about trading, I only take things." What can you offer that I love but can't take? ”

"Safety, your safety. You swore never to leave the island and fly east, and I swore to keep you safe. ”

A loud rattle came from the dragon's throat, like the rumbling sound of boulders rolling down a mountain after an avalanche in the distance. The flames danced on the dragon's three-pronged tongue, and it raised its body again, entrenching itself over the ruins. "Provide me safe! You're threatening me! Why? ”

"By your name, Jevad." Gede's voice trembled as he said the name, but he still spoke loudly.

At the pronunciation of the name, the old dragon froze, completely froze. A minute passed, and another minute passed. Ged stood in the swaying boat, smiling. He gambled his adventure with his own life and made a bold guess. Based on the legends and ancient history of the dragon he had learned from the island of Jouk, he guessed that the dragon was the same dragon that ravaged western Ousco when Yephruan and Morred were alive, and was then driven away from Ousco by a well-known wizard, Walter.

Ged guessed right.

"Yevad, we're outmatched. You have the strength, and I have your name. Are you willing to negotiate a deal? ”

The dragon still didn't answer.

The dragon had been on the island for years, its gold breastplates and emeralds scattered among the dust, bricks, and bones, and it had watched its black-scaled flesh crawl among the crumbling houses, fly on the edge of the cliffs, and take a nap in the sun, not waking it from the sound of people or the passing sailboats. It is old, and now in the face of this young mage, knowing that it is a vulnerable enemy, it can't help but retreat when it sees the opponent's cane, of course, it is difficult to be presumptuous anymore.

"You can pick nine gems from my collection," it finally spoke, "pick the best gems and go!" ”

"Jevad, I don't want your gem."

"Where has human greed gone? Humans love shining gems to death, long ago in the north, oh, I know what you want, wizard. I can also provide you safe because I know what can save you. I know the only way to save you. There's a fear coming after you, and I'm willing to tell you its name. ”

Gerd's heart was pounding. He grasped his staff and, like the dragon, stood motionless, wrestling for a moment with the astonishing hope of the unexpected.

The deal he negotiated was not his own life. If you want to override the dragon in front of you, there is only one trick, and it is the only one. So, he put his hopes aside and resolved to do what he had to do.

"That's not what I want, Jevad."

When he said the dragon's name, it was as if he had tied the giant being with a delicate thin leather belt, tightening its throat. From the dragon's gaze, Gede could sense the long-standing viciousness and sophistication of human beings. He could see its steely claws, each as long as a human forearm. He could see its stone-hard skin and the flames that went in and out of its throat. Still, he tightened that belt.

He repeated: "Jevad, swear by your name that you and your heirs will never fly to the archipelago." ”

The dragon suddenly spewed bright flames loudly between his jaws, and then said, "I swear by my name!" ”

Silence covered the island, and Yevad's massive head bowed.

When it looked up again, the wizard was gone. The sails of the boat became a small white dot on the eastern waves, heading towards the islands dotted on the inland sea. The old dragon stood in exasperation, rolling over and destroying the towers, spreading its wings and slapping the overturned town. But its oath held it back, so it never flew to the archipelago from then on.

As the island sank to the sea level behind him, he looked east, and the fear of the dark shadow immediately returned to his heart. The danger of confronting dragons is bright, and the fear of facing the shadows is hopeless, and it is difficult to adapt to this transformation. He lifted the spell wind and sailed by the natural wind, because he didn't have the ** to travel now. He didn't have a clear plan for what to do next. As the dragon said, he had to run, but where was he going? He thought to himself that it would be better to go to Rouke, at least he would be protected there, or even ask the wise man for help. First, however, he had to go back to Lower Tonin and tell the islanders what had happened.

Everyone heard that Gede had left for five days and returned, and the people in the neighborhood, and half of the population of the town, rowing boats and running, all gathered around him, staring at him, listening intently to the story. At the end of the day, a man said, "But who saw this miracle of slaying a dragon, and in the end the dragon was defeated?" If he ......"

"Shut up!" The representative of the island hurriedly stopped, for he knew like most people that a wizard might tell the truth in a subtle way, or he might preserve the truth, but every time a wizard said something, it would be as he said, for he was well versed in it. So, as the men marveled at the miracle, they gradually felt that their long-standing fears had finally been lifted, and they rejoiced, and a large crowd gathered around the young wizard and asked him to repeat the story. More and more islanders are coming, always asking for another story. By the end of the evening, there was no need to bother, the islanders could speak for him, and even more so wonderfully. The village chanter has also put the story into an old tune and began to sing the praises of the Sparrowhawk. Not only the Lower Toning Island area is set off with fireworks, but also the small islands to the east and south of Yundong are also lively with fireworks. The fishermen in their respective boats shouted the news to each other, so that the news spread from island to island: evil is gone, and the dragon will never come! That night, the only one, was very happy, for there could be no shadow near him. All the hills and beaches are lit up with thanksgiving fireworks, laughing dancers dance around him, singers praise him, and Otsuka shakes its torch in the gusty wind of the autumn night, forming a thick spark flying in the wind.

The next day, he met Pelvieri, and he said, "My lord, I didn't know you were so brave. There was an element of fear in those words: because he had dared to make friends with Gede before, but there was also an element of reproach in his words, and Gede could not save a child by slaughtering a dragon. After listening to Pei Weirui's words, Gede felt the uneasiness and urgency that drove him to Pando Island again. The uneasiness and impatience drove him away from the lower tonin.

The next day, though the islanders were happy to stay in Nidtonin for the rest of their lives, to be praised and boasted of by the islanders, he left the hut on the hill without any luggage, with only a few books and a cane, and an ota rider on his shoulder.

He was on a paddle boat, the boat of two young fishermen in Lower Toning, who wanted the honor of rowing for him. The strait east of the islands was often crowded with sailing boats, and they paddled along the way, seeing houses on some islands, balconies and windows protruding into the water; They paddled past the Nai Hui Wharf, past the rainy Zhuoyu grassland, and past the foul-smelling oil sheds of Guise Island. Along the way, Gede's dragon slaying act always arrived at the destination one step ahead of them, for others to pass on to us. When the people of the island saw them passing by, they whistled and sang "The Song of the Sparrowhawk" to them, and Otsuka vied with each other to invite Gede to spend the night on the island, and asked him to tell them the story of the dragon slaying. ”

As a result, Gede began to sail away from the Ninety Islands. The ship sailed out of the inner harbor of Said, and as it raised its sails, a strong wind blew from the east. The strong wind blew strangely, because it was winter, but the sky was clear that morning, and the weather seemed to be mild and stable. It was only thirty miles from the island of Sede, so they sailed as usual. The wind continued, and they continued to sail. The boat, like most merchant ships in the Inner Pole, had tall sails that could be turned against the wind, and the owner was a nimble sailor who prided himself on his skills. Therefore, they strategically moved north to south, and still sailed eastward. But the wind carried the birds and rain, and the direction was uncertain and the wind was very strong, and it was very likely that the boat would suddenly stop at sea, which was extremely dangerous. "Sparrowhawk," said the owner, speaking to the young man, who stood gloriously at the bow of the ship, but the wind and rain had soaked both of them, and in the miserable sheen of the rain they could maintain their dignity very low. "Sparrowhawk, can you speak to the wind? May I? ”

"How close is it to Jok Island now?"

"We're halfway there, at most. But this hour, we didn't move forward at all. ”

Gede spoke to the wind, and it became lighter, and their ship sailed smoothly for a while. But suddenly there was a strong wind from the south, and because of this strong wind they were blown back to the west. The birds and clouds in the sky were broken and surging in the sky, and the ship's owner roared angrily: "This ghost wind is blowing in all directions at the same time!" My lord, only the spell wind can lead us through this weather. ”

Geth appears to be reluctant to use the spell wind, but the ship and its owner are in danger because of him, so he has no choice but to raise the spell wind for the sails. With the spell wind, the ship immediately broke the waves to the east, and the owner of the ship once again showed a happy face. But though Gede kept the spell going, the spell wind slackened little by little, and became weaker and weaker, until at last, when the storm was blowing, the ship seemed to hang firmly over the waves, and the sails drooped. Then there was a loud bang, and the boom made a great bend, causing the ship to stop abruptly, and then, like a frightened kitten, leaping northward.

At this time, the ship was lying almost on its side on the sea, and Gede grasped a pillar and cried out, "Lord, sail back to Sede!" ”

The shipowner cursed and yelled at him that he would not dismiss Seder: "Go back? We've got wizards on board, and I'm the best sailor in the business, and it's the most dexterous boat in the world—and now going back? ”

It was too late to say that it was too late, and the ship spun around like a whirlpool, and the owner had to hold on to the pillar to avoid being thrown out of the ship. So Gede said to him, "Put me back on Sede, and you will sail as you please." This gale is not against you, but against me. ”

"Against you? A wizard from Jok Island? ”

"Ship master, haven't you heard of 'Rouge Wind'?"

"I've heard of it, it's the wind that prevents the evil forces from invading the island of the wise. But you are a dragon sorcerer, what does this wind have to do with you? ”

"That's between me and my shadow." Gede replied as short as a wizard. They sailed fast, and they didn't say anything more all the way. With clear skies and steady winds, they sailed back to Sede.

When he came ashore from the docks, Gede's heart was heavy and terrified. The time series enters winter, the days are short, and the twilight comes early.

Every evening, Gede's uneasiness always deepened. Now, even turning a street swell seems to be a big threat. He had to restrain himself from looking back all the time, lest he see something that might be right behind. He walked to the Aquarium on Sedeyu, where travelers and merchants gathered, and not only was the town served good food, but he could also sleep in the rafter hall, which was the hospitality of the bustling islands of the Inner Pole Sea.

Ged saved some meat from his dinner food, and after the meal took it to the fire pit, where he persuaded the Outak, who had been curled up in his hood all day, to eat. He stroked the Outak and whispered to it, "Houyege, Houyege, little one, silent ......," but Outak refused to eat it, but sneaked into his pocket and hid it. Based on this, as well as his vague sense of uncertainty, and the darkness of the corners of the hall, Gede knew that the dark shadow was not far from him.

No one in this place knew Gede, they were tourists from other islands, and they hadn't heard "The Song of Sparrowhawks", so no one came to talk to him. He chose a straw bed for himself to lie down. However, while all the passengers slept peacefully in the huge hall of the rafters, he could not sleep all night with his eyes awake. He spent the night trying to choose his next step, planning where to go and how to do it, but every choice, every plan, was a predictable dead end that didn't work. No matter which way you go, at the end, you may meet the dark shadow. There was no shadow on the island of Jok, but he could not go to the island of Jok, because the ancient spell that kept the island safe and highly effective forbade him to enter. Even Rou Kefeng raised his head to surround him, and it could be seen that the thing that had been chasing him must be very close to him.

It had no form, it could not be seen in the sun, it was born in a territory where there was no light, no place, no time.

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