Page 120 of Dragon Outcast (Age of Fire 3)

“My mate is sleeping,” Tighlia said, emerging from the Tyr’s cave. She moved rather stiffly.

Thralls exploded out of the corners of the plaza like a flight of startled birds, converging on the Tyr’s mate.

“Yes, some breakfast, just a little kern,” she said, looking from thrall to thrall. “No, no bath. Just some ointment for my joints. My shoulders again. Leafdrip’s formula and none other, now. Oh, leave off; the scale’s still lined from sleeping. It’ll smooth on its own.”

She shrugged off her attendants and took a long drink from Tyr’s trickle basin.

“Restless night again, glorious Queen?”

“Not a good turn to be had, NoSohoth.” She looked at the Copper. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“Our newest courier has returned with news from Bant,” NoSohoth said.

“My mate’s lame little indulgence. Well, out with it.”

“I bring news for the Tyr himself,” the Copper said.

“Be off with all of you,” she said to the thralls. “You too, NoSohoth. See what’s keeping my kern.” She sidestepped toward the trickle spilling into the basin.

The Copper regretted to see the shredded meat in gravy go, but the hard eye of Tighlia made him forget his appetite.

“We can talk here, you. No one will overhear. Come closer; I’ve never bitten a drake in my life and I won’t start this morning. What news?”

“I’m the Tyr’s courier,” the Copper protested. He wondered if he should relay her brother’s exact words.

“Don’t question me; it’s not your place. FeHazathant needs twice the sleep that he gets. I’m eager to hear every detail of my brother, and you have my promise that the Tyr will hear your report.”

“I’m under instructions—”

She interrupted in a quiet voice. “You would be wise to obey me. I’ve given my word: Tyr will hear your message. Will you offer insult to me by disbelief? There is no shortage of champions who will duel to defend my honor.”

“Yes, great Queen. Our journey—”

“Stomp the journey. How go things in Bant?”

“They are hard-pressed by the Ghi men. Two of their river valleys are lost. Their forces have been defeated, scattered, and discouraged.”

“What has my brother done to retrieve the situation, or is the Uphold lost?”

“SiDrakkon won a victory against the Ghi men. He destroyed a fortification before it could be completed, with small loss.”

“Ninny! You should have been shouting that from the moment you passed into the dome. A victory! FeHazathant must hear of this.” She rounded on a kitchen thrall hurrying up with a steaming bowl of milky, yellow kern. “You there! Let’s have a skewer of steaks for the Tyr’s breakfast, and if they’re not still sputtering from the fire you’ll be turning on the next spit.”

Within a dwarf-hour the court was roused and the Tyr came into the plaza to hear the story. When the Copper repeated his news and told of the battle, all the Imperial line began to twitter.

“Well, that is good news,” NoSohoth said when Tighlia nudged him. “A roar for SiDrakkon.”

The dragons roared, but to the Copper it sounded half-lunged.

The Tyr nodded. “Well, if it’s begun, at least it’s begun well. But open war…the Ghi men are strong and numerous and craft-wise. What’s the spirit of the warriors in Bant?”

The Copper chose his words carefully. “NiThonius says they’re in poor spirits. They’ve been broken by defeats. SiDrakkon believes this victory will bring them round.”

“What do you think?”

“I, Tyr?”

“Yes, you’ve been up there recently and I haven’t. What do you think? Can Bant win a war?”

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