Page 132 of Red Dragon
“I got caught up in trying to slay my enemies and let their minions skulk off with the shielder components.” Syla didn’t know if the dragon had figured that out yet—or even cared—but she hated to admit it.
The drive to slay one’s enemies is very difficult to overcome.
“I usually don’t have a problem. I’m a healer. I’m not supposed to want to slay anyone.” Syla looked bleakly at the ground, ashamed.
What had happened to her? She wanted to help her people but not by becoming a killer. That was everything she stood against.
Queen Erasbella slew more than a few enemies. You are not so unlike her as I first believed.
“Thanks,” Syla murmured, trying to be heartened.
Coming from Wreylith, it was quite the compliment.
You also assisted me today in escaping the mad god’s wrath.Wreylith would probably never admit that she’d been in true peril or that Syla—technically, the platform—had saved her life.Who would have thought such power could linger so many centuries after he left this realm?
“I knew there would be dangers here but not that they would threaten dragons.”
Few things do, but even our kind haven’t the power to stave off the wrath of the gods.
Syla didn’t know if the storm god had been wrathful or simply, as her mythology taught, mad.
You have proven yourself today. Before, I never would have considered bonding with one with no martial prowess and who thought to sit astride a dragon’stailinstead of her back.
“That was an emergency situation, and I was clutching it, not sitting on it.”
You are interrupting me.
“Sorry. Go on.”
Wreylith gazed at her, perhaps deciding if sheshouldcontinue. What had she intended to say? Was she debating something?
To the side, Teyla had paused in examining everything to raise her eyebrows with curiosity. Overhead, an orange-scaled dragon flew into view. Igliana had returned. She settled on the pillar, probably not knowing it had been used as a dragon rendezvous point an hour before, and watched from afar.
If you are willing to continue to improve your abilities to fight and defend yourself so that you will not be a hindrance in battle, I am willing to bond with you and assist you with protecting your kingdom.
“Bond?” Syla mouthed, stunned.
All she’d hoped for was that Wreylith would help with this quest and, now that it was over and Syla had failed, take her home.
You are familiar with the word and what it entails when related to dragons and riders?
“I know something of the relationship that Agrevlari and Vorik have.” In truth, she knew very little and wished she’d asked him more. How had he met Agrevlari? What had made the green dragon decide to link magically with him instead of only allowing him to ride?
Agrevlari!Smoke wafted out of Wreylith’s nostrils as she growled.
Maybe Syla shouldn’t have mentioned him.
“Will you, ah, not be seeing him again?”
He took advantage of the magical randiness flung about by those flowers.
“He was probably as much under their influence as you were. As weallwere.” Syla didn’t look at Fel and Teyla, not wanting to embarrass them, and only touched her own chest.
You are randy all the time with the rider captain. You must have enjoyed your encounter.
“Er, it wasn’t… unpleasant.” Speaking of embarrassment, Syla’s cheeks warmed. She’d thought the dragons too distracted with their own joining to be aware of what went on below. “I’m sorry if your encounter was less pleasant. At least he didn’t sing during it.”
Wreylith issued a noise close to aharumph. Dragons were proving to have a greater vocal range than Syla had realized.
