where the moored ship is one of the smaller ones.’
‘We can have a look around, as we’re in no rush anyway.’ Draco was interested in both the ships and the aforementioned gates. He was curious to see how they compared to the ones they’d used on their journey to Enpine, especially given the size of the vessels in the harbour. Even those moored closest weren’t exactly small, and the ships of the line must have been even larger.
‘In that case, we’ve got quite a walk ahead of us.’ Ari looked around, his gaze sweeping mainly over the masts visible above the crowd. ‘The largest ships always moor closest to the warehouses.’
‘Not all of them,’ James shook his head. ‘If they’re carrying weapons, they have to unload in a separate basin right next to the naval port. There are even more Watchmen and Navy soldiers there. Checks aren’t just at the entrance; patrols often check documents as well.’
They entered a larger crowd and the chance for a quiet conversation vanished. Whether they liked it or not, they had to walk almost in single file, trying not to lose sight of one another. If Draco had been here alone, he would surely have lost his way long ago, without even thinking of returning to the carriage. Of course, he could have tried asking someone for directions, but judging by the general rush all around, it was unlikely that anyone would be willing to help.
The harbour stretched on for an incredibly long way. Earlier, the dragon had thought that the warehouses beyond the anchorage were situated in the main part of the port, but it turned out to be a complete backwater. At one point, he realised that the sounds reaching him had changed and grown louder. The same went for the smells. It was not the sea that dominated the air, but spices, fish and various aromas of unknown origin. Near the shore, little had changed, but the cobbled quay had undergone a veritable metamorphosis. The open space had widened considerably, opening up a vast square where
