Page 76 of Red Dragon
My wooing song was magnificent, but she has, for strange reasons, aligned herself with the enemy. Were she not conflicted, she would have likely succumbed to my mating call, and we would even now be engaged in amorous activities.
“When she roared, she didn’t come across asconflictedto me. And Syla isn’t the enemy. She’s…”
I understand you enjoy sexual encounters with her, but sheisindeed a part of the nation that we seek to overthrow, and have not Garden Kingdom humans and your stormer tribes been antagonistic with each other for many centuries? I’veflown you down to attack their cargo ships and abscond with their food.
“Yes, yes, but she’s…” Vorik groped in the air. “Garden Kingdom troopsattackedher. She can’t feel that kindly toward them right now.”
They attacked her because rule of the Kingdom is being contested, and she’s one of the contestants, not because she does not still consider herself one of them.
“Will you stop being so logical?”
I am not incorrect, am I?
“No, and it’s very annoying. Do you know that other dragon that’s with them? I didn’t recognize her. She looks young.”
I do not know her. It is possible Wreylith summoned wild dragon allies from the far side of the world. There are many of our kind who live and hunt on the continent of Froha whom I’ve never met.
“They don’t attend the dragon tribal meetings, huh?”
Dragons, as you know, are usually solitary outside of mating season. We who work with your people make exceptions to band together into wings for military purposes. Being forced to work and serve together can create tensions, however.
Vorik remembered Agrevlari barreling into Ozlemar to protect Wreylith, who probably hadn’tneededprotecting.
That was not a tension. That was a typical way for a dragon to begin the courting flight.
“By getting rid of the competition?”
By ensuring other males do not harm the female one desires.
“Sir?” Wise called, lifting one of the parchment scrolls, the breeze tugging at the corners. He swatted away an insect large enough that it was visible from ten yards away. “I’ve figured something out, and I think… We may need to discuss it.”
Vorik waved an acknowledgment. “Can you find a place to land, Agrevlari?”
There are few in the area. The rainforest lacks clearings, the water is unsafe, and the tops of these trees would not support our combined weight.
“Well, look for something, please. We don’t want to get that far from Syla. We’re keeping an eye on them.”
As one does with one’s enemies.
Vorik sighed. “We need to make sure to get that moss thing first. I’d prefer that to trying totakethe components from Syla later.”
It was bad enough that his orders pitted him against her. He didn’t want to be a bully too.
Vorik swatted an insect pesteringhim, well aware of the diseases they carried and that their travel first-aid kits weren’t the most complete. It would be distressing if he had to go to his adversary for healing because he’d developed the Shriveling Sickness or Fatal Fengulu.
I see a perch.Agrevlari flew away from the river to a rare rocky outcropping that rose above the canopy.
Several wyverns that probably called it—or maybe a cave in its side—home squawked a warning at him. Agrevlari roared, and Tonasketal flew after him, ready to lend his might.
The roar, perhaps conveying extra irritation due to Agrevlari’s failures with Wreylith, convinced the wyverns of his threat, and they took flight, flapping off at top speed in the other direction.
There was barely room for two dragons atop the rocky perch, so Vorik didn’t dismount. It was a long fall to the ground. Tonasketal landed beside Agrevlari, their wings folded in to make room for each other.
If only the beauteous Wreylith were the one perched so close to me.
Trust me,Vorik replied. I’d rather be shoulder to shoulder with someone sexier than Wise too.
Despite the comment, which he made only for Agrevlari, Vorik waved for his lieutenant to show him what he’d learned.
