Page 38 of Dragon Fire

“It’s not the norm where we come from either, but the soul-deep bond between dragon and knight makes it necessary. And it all seems to work out. Many say the Mother of All has Her hand in the dragon pairings, taking personal interest in the knights and dragons’ happiness. I don’t know for sure, but it certainly seemed that way for my family.”

“It’s a beautiful thought,” Lizbet admitted. “Though my people believe the Warrior Goddess helps those who first help themselves. She is a bit harsher than the Mother aspect of the many-faced Goddess.”

“You come from a warrior household then?” Seth asked, truly interested.

“Yes. My parents are both warriors, and you’ve already met my gryphon-father. He is General Falthith,” she told him.

Seth was impressed. “A warrior among warriors,” Seth complimented the winged general. “I didn’t realize Flurrthith was his son.”

“None of the gryphons in my family are boastful. They are all high achievers, but do it quietly, with as little fanfare as possible.” Seth could tell she was very proud of her feathered relations.

He set to work in earnest, spending many minutes carefully sewing up the gash in the sea dragon’s wing. Both Leo and Lizbet were of great help, and Seth found himself answering astute questions as he worked, showing them both how to do what he was doing and explaining the why of it. He was happy to pass along his knowledge—especially to Lizbet who was the de facto healer for the sea dragons who frequented Gryphon Isle.

When he finished stitching and applied healing salve and a dressing over the stitches, the other two helped. Xanderanth had kept the pretty young sea dragon busy with their silent conversation, and when she was told it was over and she could move again, she seemed truly surprised. She looked at her bandaged wing for some time before lowering her head to Seth’s level. She looked him in the eye and thanked him in a gentle voice, her polite words and tone touching him deeply.

Xanderanth volunteered to escort her into the cave she’d chosen, and the two went off together, walking slowly, Xander supporting the sea dragon’s injured wing when necessary. Seth cleaned his tools while Lizbet helped. They talked about the tools and how she wished she had a set.

“Livia can have some made on the mainland and sent to you, or even better, if you have diamond cutters among your people, I might be able to show them these before I leave. I can’t leave them here, I’m sorry to say, but I’d be happy to let your people look at them and perhaps trace their patterns.”

“That’s a really good idea, Seth. Thank you. We do have craftsmen who I’m sure would be able to make such things, but they’d need to see a working set to know what they’re supposed to look like.” Lizbet sounded enthused about the idea of having her very own set of dragon healing instruments.

“And you’ll soon have an abundance of diamond in need of reshaping,” Seth agreed. “That’s how I got these.” He put the last needle back in its metal case and closed the lid. “Livia had them made from the diamond blades Hrardorr retrieved from the bottom of the harbor. The rest of the blades were cut down into jewels and other harmless things, but she had a number of them made into sets like this for dispersal to Lairs throughout the country. Until she did that, last week, there was only one set per Lair. Now, most have two sets, which is a boon with all the fighting our dragons have been facing lately.”

Seth would have said more, but Leo came back from checking on the dragons in the cave. His gaze seemed troubled.

“Xander doesn’t want to leave Lady Shara tonight. He says he’ll stay in the cave with her, to make sure she’s all right,” the young knight told Seth, Lizbet listening too.

“To be honest, that’s a relief,” Seth told Leo. “She seems somewhat timid and afraid of me,” Seth knew his disbelief sounded in his voice, but he couldn’t help it. He’d never had a dragon be afraid of him—or of any human, actually. “I’m staying here tonight, though, in case she needs me. And I still have to see to Hrardorr. I know he got hit a few times during the battle, but he’s been on the move since then and hasn’t wanted me fussing over him. I’m about to put my foot down, though.”

Seth looked over at the dozing dragon a few yards away, near one of the bonfires they’d lit. Hrardorr had done a yeoman’s work today and was justifiably tired, but Seth would treat his wounds while the dragon slept if he had to. There was no more reason to put Seth off. The sea dragon had been seen to, and now, it would be Hrardorr’s turn. Seth would abide no further argument.

That tough stance would work, too, since Hrardorr was so tired he could barely lift his head. If not for his huge expenditure of energy today, the dragon could easily have escaped Seth indefinitely, and they all knew it.

“I’m staying too,” Lizbet surprised Seth by saying. Her voice was musical, but firm. “Shara and I are close. I often spend time here with her when she comes ashore. I will see to my friend’s recovery.”

“Then I suggest you two see to the bonfires. We’ll need them later tonight,” Seth said quietly, seeing the way Lizbet and Leo’s gazes seemed locked in the firelight. “I’m going to treat Hrardorr.”

“Do you need our help?” Lizbet asked kindly, but Seth was already shaking his head.

“Thanks, but I think most of his wounds are relatively minor. If I find anything I can’t handle, you’ll be the first to know.” Seth walked toward the other fire and the dark dragon dozing next to it.

They’d set up several stacks of dried wood at various points along the beach and set them to blaze, lighting the area. There was one near the mouth of the cave, one where they’d treated Lady Shara and this one around which Hrardorr had settled, liking the warmth after having been submerged most of the day.

Hrardorr didn’t put up any argument when Seth started checking him over, finding a few arrow holes in his wings that needed stitching, along with a gash on his tail that required a pot of salve and a dressing. Seth worked steadily, taking his time and making sure Hrardorr was as well treated as any hero who had just saved an island full of people and gryphons, should be.

They didn’t talk much—both being bone weary—but Seth did manage to tell his dragon friend how incredibly proud he was of Hrardorr’s actions today. Hrardorr didn’t put up too much of an argument, and he surprised Seth by talking to him a bit about his encounter with the sea dragons. They chatted off and on while Seth put Hrardorr’s wounds to rights, and then, Seth guided his weary dragon friend toward the cave where the other dragons had settled. It was plenty big enough for all three dragons and their two-legged friends.

Seth watched Lizbet and Leo covertly as they worked quietly together. It was clear there was an attraction between the two, but Seth had no idea how it would all work out. Leo was a knight, and he’d become a great knight in time. The signs were clear.

If Seth felt a small pang of envy, it was understandable…wasn’t it? He still liked Leo, but he almost missed what he knew he, himself, would never achieve. Seth would never be a knight, but being Hrardorr’s friend and being healer to a Lair full of dragons was good enough. Wasn’t it?

Seth wasn’t so sure anymore.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Leo sat on the beach as the night wore on. They had plenty of light from the bonfires Xanderanth had lit before going into the big cave to sit with the sea dragon, Lady Shara. Hrardorr was in there, too, sitting slightly apart from the other two dragons, already sleeping. It had been a big day for them all.

Leo and Lizbet had added fuel to the fires, keeping them going from the piles of driftwood he and Xander had gathered earlier. Leo talked silently with Xander, checking on the sea dragon. Xander told him she was resting easily now, warm and secure, though very drained from her ordeal. She seemed to be taking comfort from Xander’s presence, and the young male dragon refused to leave her side.

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