Book II: Chapter 2: Pirates! And The Well Of Souls

Huang Ti smelled a rat.
The Minister had left with the dragon eggs in a suspicious set of circumstances. His suspicions were confirmed when they found the real minister, tied up and locked in a nearby storage closet.

In a race against time, they snatched horses from the stable and tore on after the stolen eggs and the carriage. As sunset approached, they reached the carriage. Kilan set the vehicle on fire, then lost control of his horse, spooked by magic.

Huang Ti and Arver maintained their pursuit, Arver picking off the driver and guards with his bow as Huang Ti leaped aboard and confronted the false minister on the flaming carriage.
It was difficult. The bureaucrat moved with the efficiency of a snake, dodging blows and delivering bites and stabs with poisonous spittle. The Imperial Guards were no pushovers either, their training allowing them to deal effective blows and distract the pirate captain.

Finally, as the carriage reached a full inferno, Huang Ti and the minister lept into the side of the road and the rice paddies. The minister was lost in the knee high water, but with cunning senses, Huang Ti found a leaping fish- then stabbed it. Upon death, it revealed itself as a spidery Neogi.

The pirates returned to An Biao, where they were directed to proceed to the Well of Souls. Trogdor was left behind in care of the ship.

After a long travel, they all reached the Well, where they were prompted to wait several weeks. To pass the time, Kilan and Arver decided to take the Magister's test. Kilan passed. As a cruel joke of some kind, The Black Council allowed Arver to take the test, never letting him even a clue that the Ministry of Magic was not a place for those in the service of gods or goddesses. They left him in a dark room for days, then tossed him out with a reccomentation to 'come back next year'

Of course, they full well knew that no divine spellcaster could pass the Test.

They later met with the Dragon Minister, Sae-Jin, caretaker of the well. This grim golden dragon was reputed for wanton cruelty and strange tastes. She wore the skull of a dragon as a grim headress, and dwelt in a lair of bones and screams, reputedly from her victims.

She accepted the eggs with grace, knowing full well they belonged to Hong Chi, the Minister in care of the Capital region. What happened to them, is a tale for another day.

The pirates were paid in gold for their delivery, and given an assignment. The Neogi carried a journal detailing 'The Leviathan Facility' a massive operation involving the infiltration of ports all over the Empire. If the pirates investigated the matter, and possibly destroyed it, there would be great reward.

The consequences of failure were unstated. Or perhaps, they were. When they left the dragon's presence, the next person to see her, a man dressed in offical robes, was pulled apart and eaten alive.