Page 27 of Dragon Fire

“If not you, who else?”Genlitha put in, her presence a comforting shadow in his mind, as she had been since the day she’d spoken the words of claim over him.

Buoyed by his dragon partner’s faith in him, Gowan felt once again up to the challenge. He hoped.

“Thanks, Gen. I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all we can ask of ourselves, in the end. Your best is better than most people’s, Gowan, else I never would have chosen you.”

“A sea dragon who can flame, you say?” Gryffid once again had all of Gowan’s attention. The wizard’s expression was thoughtful.

“More like a land dragon who can swim like a fish,” Seth put in helpfully. “Hrardorr is mostly land dragon, but one of his ancestors was a stranded sea dragon who mated with one of ours in Draconia centuries ago. He has very muted coloring, unlike most of our dragons, and more webbing in his claws, which helps propel him through the water. I’ve never seen an actual sea dragon, but I suppose he gains those attributes from his sea dragon ancestor. But other than that, he is all Draconian. He flies well, flames with the best of them and was a fierce fighter on the border.”

“Was?” Gryffid asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Is he old then? Retired in the seaside Lair like the others?”

“Oh, no, Sir. He is Genlitha’s age. Not old at all, for a dragon,” Seth was quick to say. “But he did come here to recover. He was injured in the fighting on the border and lost his knight.”

“A tragic thing,” Gryffid said, compassion in his mutable gaze. “But is he still badly injured? Is he fit for this duty?”

“Sir, the worst injury was to his head. He was hit full in the face by skith venom and could not break free to wash it off for far too long. His eyes…” Seth swallowed, visibly looking for the right words. “He is blind, Sir. But underwater, he isn’t. I don’t understand how it works, but he can sense things underwater in ways that allow him to see, in a fashion. It’s only above water that he is…somewhat…crippled.”

Gryffid breathed a sigh. “Echolocation,” he said, the word meaning nothing to Gowan. “It is the way sea dragons see underwater. They emit a pulse of sound, and it comes back to them, telling them the distance to things. It is complicated to us, but natural to them. It seems your dragon friend inherited that aspect of his sea dragon heritage as well. Lucky for us—and for him.” Gryffid began walking again. “Come, we have much to discuss. I have a map in the hall that you need to see.”

Walking beside the gryphon over the green hills of Gryhpon Isle would have been pleasant if not for the dire circumstances that brought them to this foreign land. Flurrthith had given his all flying back to his homeland and simply couldn’t fly another yard. That was fine. Livia liked walking along the countryside. Gryphon Isle was lovely and like no other place she’d ever seen before.

They’d landed in a small cove surrounded by cliffs, out of sight of the enemy ships that nearly surrounded the entire island. Only small sections of coast were free of them—those sections that were either sheer cliffs or those that had dangerous hazards making it impossible for a ship to approach, such as sand bars or rocky outcroppings in the water that could destroy a hull.

The cove they’d chosen was one of the latter. Livia could see the navigation hazards sticking up out of the water all around the mouth of the secluded cove, and some way out into the ocean. And that was just what she could see above the surface. She knew without having to look that there would be even more unseen rocks just below the lapping waves. No way could a ship of any size run that gauntlet and make it to shore in one piece.

The cove was surrounded on both sides by cliffs, so that stretch of coast was free of ships, luckily for Livia and her friends. Xanderanth had landed first, scouting for Flurrthith, who looked completely exhausted. Leo and Xanderanth had stayed for a while to make sure Flurrthith was all right, but after Livia and Flurrthith had made it safely to the top of the sloping cliff face, Xanderanth had launched skyward again, to patrol the far side of the island until called for.

Livia knew he would be called for sooner rather than later. The element of surprise was one of the main things they had going for them and delaying too long would jeopardize that small advantage. She tried not to think too hard about it, concentrating on her task, which was to make sure Flurrthith made it back to his people safely. For all his bravery, he was still a child who might need some help, and Livia was it for now.

“You did so well flying here, Sir Flurrthith,” she praised him, hoping to raise his flagging spirits.

She wasn’t sure if he was just tired or also depressed. He’d accomplished his mission, but he hadn’t brought back a dragon army. She knew he had to be disappointed with that. She was too. She was more than disappointed. She was downright angry with the leaders of the Southern Lair, and if she ever got a chance, she would tell them so in no uncertain terms.

“I’m happy you think sso, Lady Livia. I had hoped…” His words trailed off, but she knew what he was thinking.

“I had too, my friend,” she replied, daring to reach out one hand and stroke the long feathers of his wing, folded on his back. He was very soft compared to dragon scale. “But you did your duty and got word to us. That some did not respond as they should is not your fault. Have faith. I know the king will not let his allies suffer alone. Once he hears what’s happening here, he will send whatever help he can spare. I know he will. Roland is a good and just king.”

“I jusst hope it’ss not all over by then,” Flurrthith answered dejectedly.

“Take heart, Sir Flurrthith. You did not see what I did when Hrardorr sent the enemy running from my home town. If Hrardorr lets loose on the pirates, I doubt they will stand against him, even after knowing what he can do from the last time. No,especiallyafter last time,” she amended her words. “They’d be wise to run at the first sign of him.”

“I hope you are right, Missstresss.”

Poor Flurrthith. It seemed nothing she could say would raise his spirits. They continued walking along until the crested the hill in front of them, and Livia paused. Below them lay a sloping plain that led downward to a town. A lovely town built in a style she had never seen. Each house was ornate with carved wood and worked stone. There were many marvelous statues and works of art everywhere. In fact, the entire place looked like something out of a fairy story.

And maybe it was.

Livia had heard that only fair folk lived on Gryphon Isle. Fey were the next best thing to immortal, and their artisans were said to be the finest in all the lands, for they had many years during which to perfect their skills.

And then, she noticed a dot in the sky, slowly growing larger.

“Is that a gryphon?” Livia pointed into the distance as Flurrthith raised his head, following the direction of her finger. Despite the name of the island, Livia hadn’t seen any other gryphons yet, besides her companion.

Flurrthith didn’t answer, but took off running across the grassy plain, as if to meet the newcomer. There was no way Livia could keep up. Once his cat body got going, he was bounding away faster than her human legs could manage. She watched him go, concerned, but she realized when the faraway dot resolved itself into a large gryphon that Flurrthith was happy to see his friend.

The flying gryphon landed and then enfolded Flurrthith in her wings, holding him close for long moments. Livia could see the older gryphon was female now that it was closer, and she looked enough like Flurrthith for Livia to think maybe it was his mother.

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