Page 98 of House of Embers
Unlike youwas the implied addition.
“So you’re putting me and Viviana in charge of the training?” Wynter asked with a laugh. “That should be fun.”
“What training?” Viviana asked.
Kerrigan blew out a breath. “This has been a long day.”
Then she added Viviana’s name next to Ordrax’s. She sure hoped Ordrax could keep her in line. Bless him.
Wynter read over her shoulder. “How many more are we expecting?”
“The dragons decide,” Lowan told her.
“Hopefully ten more,” Fordham said, glancing at the list.
Lowan’s eyes turned to the long list. “This is more than has ever been bound in one day.”
“In recorded history,” Kerrigan corrected.
“And we will need someone to train the other riders and dragons,” Fordham told Wynter. “We need to get the rest of these dragons to our allies. It is the easiest way to guarantee their support. In the meantime, someone is going to have to train them. Dyta and Ordrax would be the best bet now that they’re bonded, which would mean you’d have to work with Viviana.”
Wynter shrugged. “Fine with me. Where else are you taking dragons?”
Kerrigan pointed out the details on her map. “We can make contact with Alura at Venatrix. Fallon and Hadrian are in Galanthea. Zina is in Herasi. Sonali in Bryonica, Noda in Concha, and Gerrond has provided us a contact in Sayair.” She moved her hands in opposite directions, one in the far north and one in the far south. “We have allies in Erewa, but I cannot reach them, and possibly allies in Elsiande.”
Wynter wrinkled her nose. “Elsiande is where Bastian is from. You can’t trust them.”
It was a point of contention. Therewerepeople in Elsiande that Kerrigan could trust. Ellerby had been her House of Dragons sponsor long ago, and she had saved his son, Ever. They were on their side, but she didn’t know if she should risk reaching out to them, if it would even help.
“There’re other more pressing concerns,” Kerrigan said, setting aside that discussion.
“Like how we’re going to move dozens of dragons across Alandria without the Society popping up to fight us?” Viviana pointed out.
“We have an idea about that,” Fordham said, waving away that concern.
“And we have another problem,” Kerrigan said.
She felt his warning down the bond. She hadn’t mentioned themetal crown to anyone else but Fordham. Even thinking about it felt dangerous. There was no guarantee they could find this old artifact or that she could even use it. She didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but it felt worth it to research it as well.
“What’s that?” Wynter asked.
“We have to decide who is going to which ally,” Fordham said. “Who would be best to deal with Alura Van Horn?”
“I believe that would be me.”
Kerrigan glanced up at the new voice, and a smile came to her face. “Dad!”
“In the flesh,” Kivrin said.
“You bonded?”
Kivrin’s grin turned fiendish. “Gelryn.”
The room went silent at the proclamation.
“Gods,” Viviana whispered.
“And Gelryn agrees that we should go to Venatrix as your ambassador with dragons. Alura and…Anya,” he said, speaking of his first love, “would listen to me.”
