Page 199 of Dragon Outcast (Age of Fire 3)

“I had no idea you felt that way,” he said at last. They each studied opposite corners of the room for a moment. What came out next was inspired by kindness, rather than love, but he meant every word of it. “Darling. Let’s be mated again, then. Or mated for the first time. Whatever you call it. In tight spots, during wars and so forth, dragons have been known to mate underground. It’s tactics, you know. Just a matter of position.”

She looked up at him, blushing.

“Can we? Really? Would it be…proper?”

“Proper? Probably not. But it’ll be exciting.”

The sun rose in front of the mountains to the west and lit the night-curtains with its orange glow.

West? In front of the mountains?

The Copper’s sluggish brain took its time apprehending the wrongness of the lighting. He opened another eye and righted himself, rose, and put his head out of the curtains.

Flames dotted the plateau, but they were nothing compared to the conflagration below the temple. The city of the kern kings was a solid mass of fire.

He saw dragonwings silhouetted against the flames, and then another set, and another, flying in a line.

“What is it, my lord?” his mate said.

He pushed the curtains open with his tail. “War.”

“RuGaard.” He heard a dragon voice from above, soft yet insistent.

With a single soft wing-beat, FeLissarath alighted on the top of the temple, keeping to the shadows. His mate followed.

“We have terrible news,” FeLissarath said.

“A moment.” He turned to Halaflora. “Get the thralls and such meats as can be easily carried. Go to the Firemaid chamber. If they come into the palace, bring the roof down on top of the entrance and head down into the Lower World. Have Nilrasha fight and delay them; you just run. Leave the thralls behind if you must, but find the Drakwatch and tell them Anaea’s been attacked by man-ridden dragons.”

“I understand. Thank you for not treating me like…like…”

“I know. They may not come here. They may just be after gold.” He wished he could summon a prrum, and instead rubbed his snout on hers. “Go.”

As she left by the inner exit he climbed out on his balcony and up. Together the three dragons watched the flames spread.

“Less than a score, do you think, my love?” FeLissarath’s mate said.

“They’re causing confusion,” the Copper said, watching a trio of dragons land. “Burning the city but landing at the palaces. I think they’re after gold.”

FeLissarath spoke: “They’re man-ridden, RuGaard. We had a brush with one, but we lost him by going to ground by the river.”

“I know.”

“RuGaard, the Tyr must be told of this, the faster the better. Thank the Air Spirit for that clever thrall. Take the skyway to the plateau—”

“Yes, Upholder, I know.”

“After this night you’ll be Upholder, I fear.”

“What do you mean?”

His mate spoke: “We need a prisoner or two. Find out who they are and where they came from.” She stared into his eyes.

“The most dangerous game of all, my love? We must be careful. They’ll be tougher than wild griffaran.” He turned back to the Copper. “You must make the best speed you can to the Imperial Resort and come back with everything the Tyr can send. He should come himself, at that.”

“Oh, for DharSii’s old aerial host at this hour,” she said.

“We’ll try from above, dear. Don’t frame against the moon—”

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