[i]BOOM[/i]

The village flashed with bright light and resounded with a deafening noise; a few small screams and more surprised murmurs rippled through the frozen villagers, all eyes on the same spot.

A cat streaked past the Dragon's feet as he stumbled back to the entrance of the alley to see what had happened -- but from this angle, with so many gawkers standing in the way, there was no way to tell. He looked back through the narrow alley toward the ships at the dock, then ahead again at the thin trail of smoke winding over the heads of the gathering villagers and their carts and fish-barrels.

Curse his curiosity.

He sidled forward, blended with the crowd, slowly made his way a bit closer so he might see -- a woman with a blue fiery hand, standing over a smoking crack in the concrete and a twitchy brute he recognized from the tavern. It seemed he'd missed a fight.

"Am I speaking with the Dragon?" A tall, thin woman in a hooded robe had approached Catarina silently, and she now stood over the broken brute with a small package secured tightly across her chest with a sling. She had greenish skin, big gentle eyes, and slits for a nose. She smiled appraisingly. "I've heard much about your great power, but forgive me if I'm surprised. I'm honored, to be sure."