Page 198 of Dragon Outcast (Age of Fire 3)

“Yes, I think that was it,” Halaflora added.

The man climbed back up onto the bronze and took up the reins. He prodded the bronze with his pointy boots, and the hag-ridden dragon flapped up into the clean blue sky.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Nilrasha said, looking up. “The creature’s riding him like a horse.”

“If that’s the great alliance, I think we should have no part of it,” Halaflora said. “I’d sooner trust a dwarf.”

That night the three of them talked the matter over across the feasting floor.

Nilrasha tore into her meal of kern-fattened pig, tearing off lusty bits and swallowing them, while Halaflora ate in her usual dainty style due to her trouble swallowing.

They presented a pretty contrast, the Copper thought. But he couldn’t consider aesthetics.

“I think we’ll have to tell Tyr SiDrakkon. This is a matter for him.”

No one objected to the compound name, a serious insult had they been back at the Rock. At least in that respect, all three were alike.

“I’m going to send word through the bats. I’m afraid it will get confused, so I’ll follow to answer questions,” the Copper said.

“What if the rider comes back? Shouldn’t you be here?” Nilrasha asked.

“I’m not even sure I’m the Upholder. The FeLissaraths have moved to their lodge cave, but they still attend all the Anaean ceremonies, preside over them, in fact.”

“I would go for you, your honor. But I cannot leave my post,” Nilrasha said.

“You could leave it in my hands,” Halaflora said. “I took the Firemaiden oath. I never did anything with the other maidens, but does that make the oath less valid?”

The Copper felt trapped between duty and need.

“No. I may need to argue, or even challenge. I’ll beg the FeLissaraths to return to the palace long enough for me to return to the Lavadome. I can break tradition and fly to one of the griffaran cuts in the mountainside. This is important enough. I can make the journey at night and rest in the day and be there in two days.”

“Will your wing hold up? You’ll be far from help if that man’s contraption fails,” Halaflora said.

“If the joint fails after all this testing and trial, Rayg will wish I’d been on the other side of the world.”

“Your blood certainly was up tonight,” Halaflora said, as they settled into their sleeping chamber. His mate had turned several of the stone globes into rather comfortable backrests, thanks to cushions stuffed with bird feathers. “I’ve never seen you like this. Is this what war is like?”

“No. Nothing like this, and Spirits keep it that way.”

“What way?”

“Far from here.”

“You smell hot. I thought certainly you’d take your jade up tonight.”

The world froze for a moment. “You thought what?”

Rhea finished cleaning out her mistress’s ears and scurried out of the room. Had the girl put on weight? Ten other equally trivial thoughts washed through his head, so eager was he to avoid the consequences of thinking about what his mate had just said.

“I’m sorry. Am I being too direct? All those years with SiMevolant as a brother. Some time at night to relax and refresh, then.”

“She’s a Firemaid. She swore an oath. I swore an oath to you, for that matter. She’s not…not my lover.”

“Oh, RuGaard. My lord, I won’t be hurt by the truth. I married a dragon, not some perfumed flower. There’s nothing wrong with a jade for a dragon in your…in your situation. Because of my health.”

“Have you gone mad?” He didn’t mean it, but the words came out. Anything to stop her from going on.

“Our mating wasn’t a real mating, after all. As much as it meant to me.” She looked down.

---