Page 99 of Red Dragon
What aboutvisitingdragons?Agrevlari flicked his tail toward his body, then also looked at Tonasketal, though Wise’s dragon had chosen a spot close to one of the fertile females and was attempting to woo her.
More than once, Wise had sent exasperated looks in his dragon’s direction, probably because of Tonasketal’s distraction—and his having flown them into a trap that could have been deadly.
Do you want me to make a request?Vorik asked as older men and women brought over platters of meat. His nose twitched at the spices. Not because they were unappealing—quite the opposite—but because they, too, could hide bitter poisons.
Need you ask, Vorik? I’d enjoy some of the fang porcupine and bayrok. But not the wyvern rotating on the spit there. They’re too close to relatives.
Almost everything being served is an offspring of the mad god’s tinkering. As you well know, those creatures are far easier to find these days than the juicier and tastier herbivores.
Yes, but some of the mad god’s creations were less dragon-ish than others. Are those rabbits on that spit? Do have some rabbits sent over.
I’ll do my best.
“How long will we stay, sir?” Wise asked.
Atilya sat across the fire from them, easily close enough to hear.
“As long as our hosts wish to feed us and provide good company.” Vorik offered her a seated bow.
It appeared more that the chieftess was interrogating you,Agrevlari said.
Yes, and I expect that to pick up again after she drugs us.
“The storm outside looks rough too,” Vorik added when a flash of lightning briefly brightened everything in the cavern. A faint buzz emanated from all the visible ore, as if the nearby electricity charged it further. He half-expected the dragons to spring off if surges of power went through them, but they settled lower on the ore, as if it felt good. “Maybe Atilya will allow us to spend the night.”
“You’re welcome to sleep here, Captain.” Something in Atilya’s voice made him think that had been the plan before he’d spoken.
Because the drugged interrogation would take that long?
A woman in her forties that Vorik recognized as a former instructor for the Sixteen Talons sat down beside Wise. Sheelbowed him, asked if he’d managed to swing his sword without falling off his dragon yet, and he smiled, appearing relaxed.
Yes, these were all former stormers, so why not relax and trust them?
Vorik did not.
Atilya lifted a platter. “We thank the earth, sun, and moon gods for blessing us with the power to find sustenance.”
“We thank the gods,” Vorik joined the others gathered around fires in saying the response to the short prayer.
Two older men had sat to his right. One wore a faded black rider’s tunic, the leather creased with age, and openly displayed a dragon tattoo on the back of his hand. Like the tunic, it was faded, which usually indicated the bond was no longer active, either because the dragon had died or had, upon deciding its aged rider wasn’t an effective warrior anymore, chosen to depart. It happened often with riders who survived enough battles and hunts to live long enough to reach old age. Since dragons had much greater longevity, they could have many riders during their lifetimes.
I haven’t gotten a chance to speak privately with Wise,Vorik told Agrevlari, wishing he had the power, as his brother did, to speak telepathically to other riders, not only dragons.Will you tell him—or have Tonasketal tell him—to be wary of poison?
One of the male dragons near a nesting dragon stood and growled at Tonasketal. Agrevlari rose to stand at his wing mate’s side. Numerous dragon tails went rigid.
You’re not picking a fight when you’re outnumbered, are you?Vorik asked Agrevlari.
Other than to glance over, the faction members didn’t appear that concerned. So far, none of the dragons had shown their fangs or breathed fire.
Tonasketal is flirting with a female that this oaf has decided has a link with him. Never mind that he decided that only in the last ten wingbeats.
I don’t suppose I could convince you two to focus on the mission instead of wooing females.
I am not attempting to woo anyone.
How long has it been since you lost yourself in musing ways to seduce Wreylith?
I am not attempting to woo anyonein this cavewhile we are outnumbered and possibly in danger.
