Page 159 of Dragon Avenger (Age of Fire 2)

“Oh, that title’s long since washed to the sea. What are you doing manning the door-minder’s garret, Sobyor? You were once the best low judge in the three north thanedoms.”

“And high judge for three whole days, thanks to you. What in the worlds is that?” he asked, staring at Wistala.

“She’s my legs, if you’ll let me through this door. We’ve some small matters of business to attend, and I’m afraid they cannot wait. Admit us, and help me mind the mule, would you?”

“I’m . . . I’m not to recognize you,” Sobyor said. “Orders from High Judge Kal himself.”

“What authority does Judge Kal have to give you such an order? This is a Hypatian Hall, and I require admittance.”

“I am . . . I am not alone in here,” Sobyor said with a glance to his right.

“Who is in there with you?” Rainfall asked.

“A pair of firewardens.”

“Tell them—,” Wistala started to say.

“Hold your temper,” Rainfall cut in. “Sobyor, how is your practice in Thellass-tongue?”

“Mus mis palandam,” Sobyor responded.

“Rah-ya!” Rainfall said. He rattled off a string of speech Wistala didn’t understand, but it meant something to Sobyor.

“Opt,” Sobyor replied, shutting the panel.

“What are you about?” Wistala heard a gruff voice inside say. There was a brief rattle inside, perhaps a hand checking the lock on the door.

“My duty,” Sobyor’s voice replied.

Quieter now: “What was all that grotting about?”

The voices faded.

“Wistala, how would you like to perform your first duty in defense of the Hypatian Order?”>Jessup dropped his mug, sending mead across the assembly. “A . . . a dragon. A citizen?”

“And why not?” Rainfall said, wiping away the stray mead on his hand with a small cloth he kept in his pocket. “There are precedents, albeit ancient ones. She can understand our laws and take the oath.”

Jessup chuckled. “The teeth will drop out of his skull.”

“But we must hurry. I can administer the citizenship oath, and you shall witness it, Jessup, and then we will have a bill of sale, and it will be done. What say you?”

“I fear.”

“What do you fear?” Wistala asked.

“The course of these events. I don’t want to be the one whose witness frustrated the thane.”

“He’ll count me as an enemy if he does anything to you and yours,” Wistala said coldly.

Rainfall turned. “I must ask you, Wistala, for something of an imposition.”

“Nothing would be too great to my savior and host,” Wistala said.

“I’ll adopt you as my daughter. That confers on you full citizenship after you reside in Hypatia for six years. A simple oath gives you citizenship for now.”

Wistala had been practicing the words daily.

“I’d hoped to hear the words in the Hypatian Hall at Quarryness, but Jessup’s Inn won’t be hurt for having one more story to tell about its sign.”

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