Page 117 of Dragon Fate (Age of Fire 6)

“We come to keep dragon from killing dragon,” Wistala said, stepping forward and putting herself in the empty ground between the lines of dragons.

“None need die,” CuSarrath said. “I’m just ordered to bring the parole-breaking dragon who was adopted under the name RuGaard back to NiVom to face the Tyr’s justice. RuGaard or war against the might of the Empire, what will it be, dragons of the north?”

“I’d like to tell my side of the parole-breaking, as you call it,” the Copper said.

“He will do nothing of the kind,” CuSarrath said, stepping forward. “RuGaard, in the name of the Tyr and the Empire—glaack! ”

This last was in response to Wistala leaping upon him and encircling his neck with hers. Wistala was the strongest dragonelle he’d ever known, probably stronger than most dragons, and CuSarrath had been watching DharSii as he came forward.

“We are not going to harm him,” DharSii bellowed. “On my hatchlings’ sheltering eggs, I will keep this oath. Hear Tyr RuGaard out and judge for yourselves.”

The Copper waited to speak. He waited so long it became excruciating for him, but it only honed his audience’s attention. When a hundred heartbeats had passed, he took a deep breath—

And began to speak. He kept still, moving only his head, which he held high. AuRon grudgingly credited him with a certain craftiness. Were he to turn and walk about, his limping would either disgust or evoke pity in his audience and he wanted neither.

“I’ve come here to surrender myself to you. Not in the manner you believe, to be put under escort, muzzled like a convict, and marched into captivity where, if I’m lucky, I’ll be comfortable as I’m slowly fed poisoned meat.

“No, I’m surrendering myself to your judgment. While many of you were not yet fledged, I was presented with a dreadful choice by NiVom and Imfamnia: resign my title as Tyr and go into exile, with my mate held as hostage to my good behavior, or see her die under my gaze before having my own throat torn out.

“While my own life is just as precious to me as yours is to you, I was willing, as you are, to sacrifice it for my dragons if I thought by doing so I could gain safety and security for the next generation. It would be much tougher to condemn my mate to death through my pride and obstinacy, so I chose exile.

“Keeping my promise and hoping NiVom and Imfamnia would keep theirs—though once before the Jade Queen had betrayed dragonkind when she handed us over to the Dragonblade and his hag-riders—I went to my brother’s remote island, only to find assassins waiting. While the words of our agreement were still echoing they broke their bond. I barely escaped with my life.

“Did they expect me to come south again after that, and meet my death immediately? Perhaps.”

The audience looked at each other uncomfortably, swishing their tails and shifting their feet. Were there orders to fall on him the instant he was within reach?

“Instead I went to the Sadda-Vale, and there waited and hoped. Hoped that a new Tyr would rise and right the wrong done to me and reunite me with my mate.

“This hasn’t happened. I’ve recently learned that in the intervening years, matters have become much, much worse. Perhaps to you it does not seem so terrible, for their madness has crept into the Empire slowly, like lichens, which you never see growing but when conditions are right can take over a cave in a matter of days. To me, when I heard how conditions in the Empire had changed, I could only believe that I’d been exposed to rumor and exaggeration.”

DharSii had helped him with his verbal presentation, teaching him to pace his speech and gradually let the speed and intensity grow.

“I intend to take my mate out, and as many dragons as I can,” the Copper finished.

This started a buzz from the assembled dragons. The Copper heard the words “Heavies” and “civil war” used.

Now, to take the offensive, the Copper thought.

“I can’t promise you anything, but that you won’t be bled and butchered for NiVom’s schemes.

“Yes, butchered. Didn’t you hear? The dead from the massacre at Ghioz were loaded onto a barge, taken up the Falnges, and dumped into the Star Tunnel. You’ve heard the Star Tunnel is off-limits, no doubt. Would you like to know why?”

He didn’t give them the chance to say no. “Someone is raising trolls in those tunnels. I don’t know how many of you have ever dealt with trolls, but they are the one creature moved by the Four Spirits with both the will and the ability to hunt dragons for food. They’re dreaded moonspawn, if you ask me, and now they’re twice as tough.

“What purpose have they? They’re very hard to command, so it’s not to serve as soldiers of the Empire. Mindless yet cunning murder is all they are capable of. If NiVom and Imfamnia could plan a murder of a score of feasting dragons, what else might they attempt? I’m convinced that one day they’re to be loosed into the Lavadome, when NiVom is finally done with the last of his enemies. When someone has something NiVom wants, they die. I would warn NoSohoth to keep clear of the Lavadome, for I’m sure NiVom wouldn’t mind having his wealth.”

“What do you want of us?” a dragon called.

“All I want is my mate. The dragonelle I pledged myself to.

The Empire has gone mad, and sooner or later NiVom and Imfamnia will decide she’s an inconvenience who must be destroyed. I must protect her, whatever the risk to myself. Were I killed, she might even be allowed to go free, as there’d be no further use for her.”

DharSii stifled an attempt by CuSarrath to speak. He probably wanted to mention his first mate, Halaflora, who allegedly died with fertilized eggs inside her. Lavadome rumor, based on court gossip, said they were another male’s, but he knew that to be false. Lavadome rumor also said that Nilrasha, his mate, had choked her, for she’d been found standing over the body with poor Halaflora’s blood on her sii. Halaflora had always been sickly and had difficulty eating. The Copper believed Nilrasha’s story that she’d choked on a chicken bone. He had to believe it, or many difficult years in the world had been wasted.

“I intend to rescue her from the rocky tower of her captivity and take her away, on foot, as she can no longer fly any more than I can see out of this eye.”

Wistala looked at the ground at that, he noticed.

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