Page 95 of Of Steel and Scale

After a few minutes, I felt the presence of a pod of long fins. I homed in on them and quickly realized they were unaware of the danger that lurked above them. I sent out a broad beam warning followed by a request for aid to sink that ship.

There was a long pause before a distant voice,How?

I deepened the connection and sent an image of the ship, envisaging five or six long fins leaping high out of the water and smashing onto the boat either side of the mast. Then I sent images of the boat breaking, the long fins swimming away, and the boat sinking.

Basically, I was teaching this pod how to sink our boats, andthisboat was not as large or as sturdy as most of our fleet.

There was another long pause before she said,You warn,we do.

Thank you.

She didn’t reply, and I didn’t withdraw, despite the fact the intensity of the connection wasnothelping my headache. I kept track of them as they dove deep, keeping well under until they were behind the boat. Six then split away from the main group and began the ascent. I spun and limped back for the long viewer, picking it up and quickly focusing it—just in time to see the six rounded black bodies surge high out of the water and, with perfect synchronicity, came down as one along the boat’s entire length.

The boat—and the people—never stood a chance. The sheer weight of six long fins shattered the wooden structure even as it drove the boat under waves. I watched for the longest of times, but little more than broken bits of wood resurfaced.

For the moment, we were safe.

I sucked in a breath, then glanced around as the male returned. He landed neatly further up the beach and gave me the side eye.Hollow five wing sweeps away. Hide all.

Thank you, Tarn,I said.

He reared back on his hind legs and shook his head, as if trying to get rid of my reply.Hear you?

Yes, I said.

Why?

I hesitated. Kaia jumped in and said,Is kin.

Obviously, that was the only explanation needed, and the male seemed to accept it.Guard from cliff.

Kaia rumbled her approval and, as the male flew off, said,They come to aerie?

I rubbed my forehead against the increasing ferocity of the headache and switched to voice rather than internal conversation. “If you want.”

Safer.

I half smiled. “And the male can guard Gria when you’re not there?”

Plan.Also, cave larger.

“Does that mean you’re going to relocate your grace there?”

Not yet.

Not until we’d dealt with these birds, she meant. And I couldn’t say I blamed her.

Rua return, she added.Has two longhorn.

The latter was said with a thick rumble of approval. The younger female crested the mountain a few seconds later and swept down, one longhorn grasped in her rear talons and what looked to be a calf in her mouth. She banked her wings to slow, then dropped both her prizes on the sand within Kaia’s reach.

Is good, Kaia said.

Rua looked pleased. She backed away but didn’t land, her head swinging around to me.You need?

I’m good, but thank you.

She nodded and flew up to join the male on watch.

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