Page 26 of Dragon Fire

Dust rose from the courtyard, but not much. The place was tiled in hard stone and kept conspicuously clean. Probably because gryphons landed here all the time, and the wind generated by their wings would be about the same as a dragon’s. It would be dangerous to have debris flying everywhere every time a flier landed. Every Lair was kept clean of debris and sand, as well, Gowan had learned, for just that reason.

Genlitha came to a much softer stop than Gowan expected, her wings out for balance as she came to an abrupt halt on the flagstones of the courtyard. She held her head high, scanning those around them, holding absolutely still, leery of what would come next.

Gowan slid off her back, as did Seth, each of them going to either side, their swords remaining sheathed at their sides, their stances wary. Gowan waited to see what would happen next. The moment was tense while the gryphons all around the courtyard looked hard at the newcomer trio.

Finally, a large mottled brown gryphon came forward to meet Genlitha face to face. He stood a moment, striking a strong pose, then dropped in a gryphonic bow, holding her gaze. Genlitha returned the gesture, meeting him as an equal.

“I have sseldom sseen ssuch magnificent flying, milady,” the gryphon spoke aloud, though Gowan instantly recognized his tone as that of the gryphon who had spoken mind to mind with them. “I am Ferator, Captain of the Home Guard Flight.”

“I am Genlitha of the Southern Lair,”Gen replied, including them all in her speech.“Thank you for your kind welcome, Captain Ferator. With whom can I trade battle information?”

“I coordinate defensse of the keep only, milady. For the battle againsst the piratess in the water and on the beachess, you need to sspeak with General Falthith. Or the maker himsself. He comess.”

Ferator stepped back, making way for a tall man in a brown robe. He was old, but not decrepit. His eyes sparkled with energy, and his gait was that of a man half his apparent age. Was this the great wizard himself?

“Excellent flying, milady!” the man in the robe said without preamble. He was grinning up at Genlitha, his expression one of admiration and welcome. “I have seldom seen the like.”

Genlitha bowed her head respectfully, and Gowan realized this must indeed be Gryffid. Genlitha only showed such respect in the presence of the king or royal family…or the last of the great wizards, apparently.

Gowan looked over at Seth and nodded. They moved as one, as if they had rehearsed, which they most definitely had not. It was just that, after training in sword work together for so long, Seth had begun to pick up on Gowan’s non-verbal cues. They would face the wizard together and see where this led.

Gowan wasn’t sure what the protocol was in dealing with a wizard. Nothing in his life prior to this had prepared him for such an occasion, but he’d been born of nobility. He remembered the courtly dance. A bit. And Seth could help too. He understood politics far better than Gowan, he freely admitted.

“I am Sir Gowan of the Southern Lair, and this is our healer’s apprentice, Seth. We have come to render what aid we can, in whatever capacity you see fit.” Gowan bowed respectfully, as did Seth, just on the other side of Genlitha’s head. They had moved forward a few paces to meet the man in the robe.

“I am, as you have no doubt guessed, Gryffid. Be welcome in my domain.” The man answered their introduction, but did not bow in return. Gowan figured wizards were like royalty in that respect. “Tell me, what news have you brought and what reinforcements?”

Now came the tricky part. Gowan looked at Seth and the younger man stepped a pace closer to the wizard, taking the lead on breaking the news.

“As you know, Dragonscove was attacked recently. The main reason we were able to repel the pirate fleet was a very special dragon named Sir Hrardorr. He is part sea dragon, which means he swims like a fish, but he can also flame like the dragons of our homeland. He crept up on the pirates from below and behind, rising out of the water to flame their sails before they knew what was happening. He is out there, even now, doing reconnaissance below the waves. He will check in soon and tell us exactly what we’re up against.”

“Genlitha and I function best as the high guard,” Gowan put in. “Nobody can see her from below when the skies are in our favor, as they are now.”

Gryffid looked at Genlitha with an appraising eye. “I can see that. You have remarkable coloration, milady, and impressive flight skills.”

“Thank you, sirrah,”Genlitha answered in as meek a voice as Gowan had ever heard out of his dragon partner. If he wasn’t much mistaken, Gen was nearly overcome at the idea of speaking with an actual wizard.

“I will not stand in the way of your plan,” Gryffid said quietly. “Lady Genlitha, if you wish, you may resume your overwatch.” Gryffid stepped back, and both Seth and Gowan worked quickly to take the packs from Genlitha’s back so she could fly unencumbered by the supplies for her human friends.

Within moments, she was free of all physical burdens and had launched herself neatly into the sky once again. She seemed relieved to be out of the wizard’s presence, which Gowan found surprising, but he’d talk to her about it later.

Gryffid watched her take off with an admiring look, then closed in on Gowan and Seth who were standing together, near the small pile of baggage. The wizard made a quick motion with one hand and three servants moved out of the shadows by the courtyard wall to pick up the luggage and whisk it away, within the walls of the massive keep.

“You will have rooms here, during your stay,” Gryffid announced, motioning for Gowan and Seth to fall into step with him as he began walking toward the main archway that led into the keep. “I assume your dragons will be doing reconnaissance for a bit longer before going into action. That gives you just enough time to refresh yourselves from the long journey and learn what’s been happening here on the ground so you can share the information with the dragons. How many more dragons are you expecting?”

“Sir…” Seth spoke while the three came to a halt. Gryffid turned to face them, an expectant look on his face. “Sir, the problem is, the leadership of the Southern Lair is waiting to hear from the capital. One of my fathers went to talk to the king personally, but it will be a day at least before orders come back to the Southern Lair. For now, it’s just us. Genlitha, Hrardorr, Gowan, me, Lady Livia, who is with the gryphon, Flurrthith, and one other knight-dragon pair—a dark blue dragon named Xanderanth, with his knight partner Leonhardt.”

Gryffid frowned. “Where are these others you speak of?”

“They landed on the far side of the island to avoid being seen by the pirate fleet. Flurrthith and Livia are making their way here now, over land if need be. It was a very long flight for young Flurrthith. Sir Xanderanth and his knight will fly at Genlitha’s direction once we know where best to place him.”

“I see.” The wizard looked troubled and a little angry, if Gowan was any judge.

“But Sir, you must understand,” Gowan tried to mitigate the damage. “Hrardorr alone is the reason Dragonscove was not overrun. He is worth an entire Lair full of regular dragons. His abilities in the water are unmatched.”

Gryffid turned that cunning gaze on Gowan, and he felt a moment of apprehension. What did he know of wizards? He was a simple soldier. He knew sword work and strategy. The politics of wizards and gryphons was beyond him.

Although…he knew dragons now. Thanks to Seth and Genlitha, he was learning more and more every day. But did that qualify him to meddle in the affairs of wizards?

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