Page 82 of Dragon Strike (Age of Fire 4)

“You’ll fight a cold wind,” AuRon said.

“I’ve fought worse. I have just completed a war for the Ghioz.”

“The Ghioz pay well? My island is poor in metal, you see.”

“I thought so, once. But the problem with selling out tooth, wing, and scale is that they temporarily belong to another. I’m determined that from now on if I must fight, I shall have the choosing of my opponent.”

“You wouldn’t know if a dragon named Wistala was also hired at some time?”

His counterpart stiffened as though AuRon had snapped at him.

“Wistala?”

His usual loquacity seemed to have fled.

“She sometimes goes by Tala,” AuRon said. Something about the red’s manner drove AuRon to caution; he decided the less he revealed, the better for all. This DharSii must not know they were brother and sister or he would have said so. “She’s an old ally of mine, from before the freeing of the dragon-isle. . . . I believe she long thought I was dead.”

“I have very bad news for you. She fell in battle. But a moon cycle ago.”

AuRon’s heart felt as though it had dropped out of his chest and lay pulsing on the thorns below.

“I fear . . .” DharSii began. “I fear the demen killed her. She fell down a chasm. I went down after her.” He raised his wing, and AuRon saw torn scale, fresh-healed wounds still weeping, and blackened marks that might have been burns.

AuRon tried to find words.

Red Stripe read his mood. “I can’t offer you any hope beyond saying I saw no body. I do not know absolutely that she is dead. I left her a message saying that she is to come to the Sadda-Vale at once if she ever gets out of that hole. Circumstances in the form of a counterattack by blighters forced me to quit the location.”

AuRon tried to imagine what another dragon might say. “I am sad to hear that. Our hunts together are one of my happiest memories. She was a clever dragonelle,” AuRon said.

“You admired that too, did you? Did she consider you for—”

“Oh, there wasn’t a thought of mating,” AuRon said.

“Why? The lack of scale? She was of generous mind. I doubt she would have refused you on that account. She would adapt.”

The use of Father’s maxim—that he must adapt to new circumstances—rather shocked him. Had this DharSii been close to Wistala? Why wouldn’t he say if they were mated? He had worn the expression of one who had lost a mate ever since her name had arisen.

“I—I’m mated already,” AuRon said. This DharSii had a quick mind, and it would occur to him that just because he was mated now, it didn’t mean that he had always been besung. But he showed no sign of it.

“I am happy to hear it. Is there a clutch?”

“Our first, just over their first year.”

He tore up ground with one sii as he spoke. “My compliments. Were it not such a long flight to the Sadda-Vale, I would offer you hospitality with my relations. They dote on stories of hatchlings.”

“I could use an introduction in Ghioz. I’d like a chance at earning a harness of coin myself. As I said, our island is poor in metals, and we have hatchlings.”

For the first time since Wistala’s name had come up, DharSii looked at him, close and thoughtful.

“This isn’t—this isn’t another infiltration.”

“What can you mean?”

DharSii’s griff didn’t exactly rattle, but they lowered visibly. “As I told you, I heard your story from Shadowcatch. The Red Queen makes war when she must, but she’s no mad-dog. Ghioz is the coming hominid power—anyone can see that—and I enjoy its favor. I wouldn’t want anything to upset my position.”

“I can leave you out of it. Just tell me where I may find her, and I’ll thank you for news of my . . . my friend.”

“It will cost me but half a moon. I feel as though I owe you something for the sad news I bear. The winds to the north will be that much fiercer, but I’ve come through worse storms.”

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