Page 13 of Consort's Dragon

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Do you see anyone else?

“But… but…” he stammered.

Just my luck.Finally find one of the blooded and he’s stupid.The voice—of the bloody dragon!—managed to convey a sigh that was matched with another exhalation of heated breath.

“I’m not stupid.Surprised, is all.I didn’t know dragons could speak inside people’s heads.”

How else would we communicate?

“With your mouth.”

Said maw opened wide.Do you speak dragon?

“Uh, no.”

Then I’d say my method is more conducive.Humans always like to complicate things.Pesky critters.

“Is that why you’ve been hunting my kind?”

I hunt those who trespass.I cannot abide thieves.The last part was hissed.

“I am not a thief.Verlora is my home,” Griff pointed out.

Did I hunt you?

“No.”

Then why are you complaining?

A question that stumped him.

Rather than anger it, Griff asked, “Do you have a name?”

Doesn’t everyone?I am called Argent.

“I am Griffon Leif, but my friends call me Griff.”He couldn’t have said why he added that latter part.

Hello, Griff.It’s been a while since I’ve encountered one of the blooded.Pity I couldn’t capture the female.I would have liked to have a mating pair.

The claim had Griff exclaiming, “You’ve seen Avera?”

Yes.However, we didn’t have a chance to speak, and now she’s gone.

“Gone where?”

Sailed away on a boat which I’d been saving for a snack.Of course, once she was aboard I had to give up on that tasty treat.

“Why?”he asked, relieved that Avera had managed to escape but curious to know why the dragon had allowed it.

You really aren’t very bright are you?Dragons don’t eat the blooded.

“What do you eat?”

Kraken is a favorite, but not many of those around here.Bats and rats are tasty, but beetles give me terrible indigestion.

This was either a dream, or Griff was going insane because the dragon was nothing as expected.“Have you lived here long?”

If counted by human methods, then around three decades.

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