Page 93 of Red Dragon
“Catch me if I fall, please.” Syla tried to map a route, including possible toe and handholds, before turning so she could lower a foot over the edge.
Fall?Igliana looked at her, then at Wreylith.
Unlike stormer humans, those from the Garden Kingdom are rarely dexterous and agile,Wreylith told her, kindly sharing the words with all.
Is it because of the strange glass circles that so many of them wear over their eyes?
That may be part of it.
“It’s because I’m ahealer, not a hunter.” Syla decided she didn’t like it when dragons spoke about her. “I read books; I don’t practice climbing.”
“I can go down there instead if you tell me where to rub what.” Fel came to the bank and dropped to his knees.
“You’re still recovering from your injuries that I wasn’t able to fully heal.” Syla put the small container in her mouth so she could use both hands and carefully picked her way down. Dropping into the water from twenty feet wouldn’t kill her. And the predatory fish so fearless as to bite evendragons? She trusted one of her scaled allies would pluck her out before that happened. Hopefully.
Fel squinted at her, as if he would come down anyway, but Igliana shifted her head to watch, inadvertently blocking him.
Despite her myopia—andstrange glass circles—Syla managed to climb level with Igliana’s wounded belly. The fish—hadfishtruly done that much damage to dragon scales?—had left abrasions and punctures. They weren’t that deep, but there were dozens of them. Considering how briefly Igliana had been in the water, the number was impressive.
Syla shifted with extreme care to keep her feet and one hand clamped to the bank while she pulled the lid off with her teeth and applied an antibacterial salve that soothed as well as lowering inflammation. It had an anti-itch property, too. She’d used it on some of her bug bites that morning.
Oh. It’s so cool and refreshing.If dragons could have purred, Igliana might have. Instead, she issued pleased clucks.
Later, you will find it slimy,Wreylith warned her.
Why so crabby about everything, Auntie Wrey?
“Auntie?” Syla mouthed as she finished applying the salve. “Are you relatives?”
My sleep was interrupted during the night, and, yes, we are, but more distant than the termauntwould imply. Igliana came from the clutch of one of my sister’s offspring’s offspring. My sister, were she still alive, would have been deeply upset to learn that one of her descendants yoked herself to humans.
My parents love me and are proud of me,Igliana said.
They would have upset my sister too.
She was probably as crabby as you.
Wreylith growled, but it didn’t sound that ominous. Syla finished her work, managed to return the cap to her container and pocket it, and was debating how best to climb up when a rock she perched on gave way. She squawked and flailed, trying to grab a root. Her fingers only brushed it, and she fell.
Her spectacles loosened and Syla smashed a hand to her face to keep them on. Images of plunging into a den of deadly fish came to mind, but Igliana caught her a foot above the surface, jaws wrapping around her. Fortunately, her fangs didn’t penetrate. She even had a lighter touch than Wreylith.
Below the surface of the water, shadows stirred. Hungry fish that had been waiting for a meal?
Igliana lifted Syla and deposited her on Wreylith’s back.Climb aboard, human friends, and we shall depart.
“Maybe you should get a little figurine ofher.” Fel tilted his head toward Igliana.
Wreylith’s slitted golden eyes narrowed.Even if crafters remained who knew how to make krendala, one would never link one to an unproven callow youth.
Ignoring the insult, Igliana flexed her wings and swished her tail.I feelwonderfulnow.
“Are you going to pirouette?” Fel asked warily, lowering Syla’s pack down to her from the bank.
Most certainly, but I’ll use my magic to keep you from falling off.
“That’s notallI’m worried about,” Fel grumbled. Did his face look green already?
No pirouetting.Wreylith launched from the bank.
