“I can help with the animals!” Tylie grinned. “This one’s a monkey. And that one is a seguano lizard. Isn’t it fascinating that they all look like their mothers rather than their sire? None are little dragons, are they? I wonder what powers they’ll have. I’ve been taking veterinary courses at the university, but dragon-blooded animals weren’t discussed.”
“Until now, they’ve been rather rare in the world,” Sardelle said. “And very distant descendants of dragons. These will be quite different.”
“I know, but I would love to help. I wonder how intelligent they’ll be.”
“I don’t want them just stuck in a zoo,” Trip said, “but I don’t know how… I admit, I’m already daunted by the idea of raising eight babies, ma’am. Maybe my grandparents would consider moving to the capital to help. Though it’s more expensive over here, isn’t it? They might not be able to afford it.”
“I understand the property values on this particular street have gone down dramatically,” Sardelle said dryly, looking toward the weed-choked lot across from their house. Rysha hadn’t noticed any activity in the other houses on the small, dead-end street when she’d visited previously. “Perhaps you could negotiate with the owner of that lot over there and build something on it. Something with a lot of bedrooms.”
“Maybe Pimples could help,” Kaika said, smirking. “Have you met him yet? He’s in Wolf Squadron. He designs houses as a hobby. Of course, I don’t know if any have actually been built.”
“What happened to the property values?” Trip asked, seeming puzzled. He must have grown accustomed to magic quickly and forgotten that other people saw it as something terrifying, if not outright evil.
“It’s the oddest thing. After we moved in, almost all the renters and homeowners on the street moved away.” Sardelle gazed blandly toward Shulina Arya.
After demolishing the tray of tarts, she had dropped down to the yard where she now lay, eyes closed and curled up like a dog with the end of her tail covering her snout. Previously, when Rysha had seen her around the city, she’d been in her golden ferret form, but maybe she’d been too tired to consider shape-shifting.
“Given the size of that dragon lawn ornament,” Kaika murmured to Rysha, “I think the adjacent land owners would have to pay people to live in their houses.”
“I don’t know why. I imagine having a dragon nearby keeps the vermin down,” Rysha said.
“Do dragons eat vermin? I’ve only seen them eat cheese, tarts, and sheep.”
“I’m not sure, but the vermin should be too scared to make homes near a dragon lair.”
Kaika smirked. “I wonder if anyone has told General Zirkander that he’s living in a dragon lair.”
“I suppose we should wait and see what Angulus has to say before making long-term plans,” Sardelle said. “He and Ridge are on their way.”
Trip blinked. “Here?”
“Yes. Jaxi warned Ridge you were coming at the same time she told me. He and Angulus were at the citadel, waiting for you to report in.”
Trip shot Rysha a dirty look. “I knew we should have gone to the fort first.”
Rysha lifted her hands. “I wasn’t piloting. Shulina Arya wanted tarts. If General Zirkander wants dragons to visit his office, he should keep a tart supply at the fort.”
“I think that’s the primary reason he doesn’t keep food of any kind in his office and was horrified when his mother brought in Spring Blooms Fest cookies the other day. Dragons have excellent noses.”
I’m convinced they’re part dog, Jaxi spoke into Rysha’s mind, or more likely, everybody’s minds. Have you seen the way Bhrava Saruth sniffs people?
“Yes,” Trip promptly said. “He’s the one who told me who my sire was. After smelling me.”
“Maybe dogs are part dragon,” Tylie said. “Or have a common ancestor.”
A raven flew over the house, circled the gathering, then landed on her shoulder. She didn’t appear surprised. A pet? Maybe she would be a good person to help raise half-dragon animals. But poor Sardelle. She wouldn’t want more than a dozen cages in her house, would she? The cottage was two stories, but it wasn’t that large. Rysha believed there were only three bedrooms. And no animal-raising rooms or sheds out back.
“Ah, they’re almost here.” Sardelle nodded toward the street, though nobody had come into view yet.
Now that full daylight had come, the sun hiding behind clouds, Rysha occasionally heard a steam whistle or shout from the arterial street farther away, but this lane remained quiet and untrodden. Diminished property values indeed.
“I’ve sent for our resident dragon-blooded scientist, too,” Sardelle added. “Tolemek. He wasn’t up yet, but he’ll come over shortly. I believe I’d like his help when it comes to removing the babies and, ah, pups—whelps?—from the devices. He may even have some familiarity with them, as he’s quite well read on ancient magic now, especially when related to science and medicine. I believe these stasis chambers would qualify under that heading.”
Trip didn’t seem to hear her. His gaze was locked on the empty street. Finally, the clip-clop of horses at a trot grew audible. He shifted from foot to foot and tugged at the hem of his uniform jacket.
It sounded like a lot of horse hoofs. Rysha imagined an arrest squad coming to take Trip and his siblings away, but Sardelle merely smiled toward the road. Rysha realized that if the king was coming, he would have bodyguards.
Yes, she was right. Angulus, wearing his state robes and a hat decorated with gold trim and the Iskandian royal emblem, came into view. General Zirkander rode next to him in a pressed undress uniform. Eight armed men in the king’s guard uniform surrounded the pair as they advanced down the street. Zirkander wore his usual irreverent smirk, especially when his eyes met Sardelle’s, and seemed more bemused than daunted by his royal escort.
The king stopped right next to Rysha, startling her until he dismounted and Kaika flung herself at him. Rysha supposed that was confirmation of all the rumors that proclaimed them to be lovers. When their lips locked, it was a certainty. Angulus must have worried about Kaika being gone on this special dragon-finding mission, especially when Blazer and the others had come back without her.
“This isn’t how reporting in usually goes,” Zirkander told Trip. “The lower-ranking officers go to the location of the higher-ranking officers, not the other way around.”
Zirkander glanced at Kaika, as if to inform her, too, but she was clearly busy, so he waved a dismissive hand in her direction.
“Yes, sir. Our transportation—” Trip glanced toward the empty tray near the window, “—craved sustenance.”
As Zirkander walked toward Trip, Rysha stepped away from Angulus and Kaika to give them their privacy. They were murmuring to each other now, lovers’ murmurs.
Rysha thought about joining Trip to offer him whatever support he needed, but he, Sardelle, and Tylie were clustered around the stasis chambers, pointing and discussing while updating Zirkander. Not wanting to interrupt talk of magic and how to raise young babies, something with which she had no experience, Rysha headed over to Shulina Arya instead. It amused Rysha that none of the king’s guards had batted an eye at the dragon’s presence in the yard. Such things seemed to be expected at this house, at least by those in General Zirkander and Sardelle’s immediate circle.
Since Shulina Arya’s eyes were closed, she probably wouldn’t mind someone leaning against the side of the house beside her. The toddler had wandered back inside, and an argument over the proper use of game pieces wafted out. Rysha remembered Sardelle’s young students and guessed they were babysitting at the moment.
Of course you can rest beside me, Storyteller, Shulina Arya spoke into her mind, one violet eye opening. A sleepy violet eye. I will make you a spot. She thumped her tail, as if to offer it as a bench. How did the dragon riders and dragons of old find accommodations at the end of a day joined in valiant battle?
The riders had bedrooms in the outposts, I believe. And the drag
ons had… well, our textbooks call it a stable area.
A stable! As if a dragon is the same as a horse?
Most likely the dragons had a different term for it.
I should think so.
Shulina Arya thumped her tail again, and Rysha climbed on it, turning around so she could lean against her side. She wasn’t positive it was all her idea. Shulina Arya, though much friendlier than other dragons, had that power about her, power that inadvertently, or maybe intentionally, compelled others to obey her. Still, Rysha found the spot comfortable. The dragon didn’t radiate body heat, like a horse or dog might, but she radiated something. Rysha had the sense of being protected and felt safe and oddly content.
Where do you usually sleep, Storyteller?
The barracks at the army fort.
Barracks? I have seen this place. These dwellings are not dissimilar to stables.
This is true. Aunt Tadelay had said almost the same thing when Rysha announced her intention to join the military.
It is not a suitable habitat for an honored dragon rider.
I’m not a dragon rider, though, Rysha thought. Just a very new lieutenant in the king’s army.
You rode a dragon last night!
Yes, and we appreciate it very much, but I wouldn’t presume that you want to fly me around all over the place.
If you tell me more stories, I will certainly fly you places. And we will go into battle together. Did you not enjoy utterly destroying that obnoxious and destructive bronze dragon?
I did, Rysha admitted, especially after he tried to force himself upon me.
As soon as the words came out, she wished she hadn’t said them. It would be worse if Trip found out, but she also hated to admit to Shulina Arya or anyone else how weak and helpless she’d felt without Dorfindral in her hand.
No man forces himself upon a dragon rider! Shulina Arya’s voice thrummed with power and indignation, almost hurting as it bounced around inside Rysha’s skull. But it grew less certain when she added, That is true, isn’t it? I admit that I wasn’t alive during the first era of dragons and riders.
Rysha smiled. It does seem unlikely that anyone would want to risk the ire of a gold dragon. Especially a female dragon. You are larger than even Bhrava Saruth.
Of course I am. My mother was wrong in believing me a runt. Shulina Arya rose to her full height and spread her wings, dwarfing the house behind her. She shifted her tail to the side, urging Rysha to slip off.
Several of Angulus’s guards noticed and fingered their weapons uncertainly as they glanced back and forth from their liege to the dragon.
Human king, Shulina Arya announced in a booming telepathic voice.
Almost everyone turned to look at her, Angulus included. Only Trip looked at Rysha instead, lifting his eyebrows.
Not certain what was coming next, Rysha could only spread her hands.
I, Shulina Arya, friend to all humans who approach in peace and enemy to those who bear me ill will, have decided that Rysha Ravenwood will be my rider. You must do what must be done to make this official.
Horrified that the words had come out as an edict, and to her king no less, Rysha cleared her throat. “We say please,” she whispered to the dragon. “And call him sire.”
“A dragon rider?” Angulus asked, his tone hard to read, but he didn’t look like he appreciated having edicts issued to him. His cool gaze turned to Rysha.
She wished she had Dorfindral in hand so she could strike a noble pose, one of a great warrior ready to go into battle. At the least, she wished her uniform were less rumpled, ripped, and plastered with dried seaweed.
“We were just discussing the possibility, Sire,” Rysha explained, feeling even more dwarfed than the house by the dragon wing stretched over her head. “I didn’t request it, but… we did go into battle together against a bronze dragon.”
“They were magnificent, Sire,” Trip put in.
Rysha smiled at him, appreciating the support, even if she doubted his words meant much more to the king than hers did. And Shulina Arya’s? Rysha didn’t know. The dragon hadn’t been here that long. Had she even spoken with the king before?
“If you are interested in having a rider,” Angulus told the dragon, “I am certain I could find you a suitable and very experienced warrior. Colonel Grady has been practicing with his chapaharii blade.”
“And he writes those ballads,” Zirkander said. “Maybe he’ll do one to immortalize the Iskandian ally dragons. He just needs to find some words that rhyme with dragon. Pun? Stun? Bourbon?”
“You’re not helping,” Angulus told him.
“Sorry, Sire. It’s early, and I was interrupted before I finished my coffee.” Zirkander didn’t appear contrite in the least, especially when Sardelle swatted him and he merely winked at her.
I have chosen my rider, Shulina Arya announced to them all. You will continue to train her to help her become a great warrior, and she will continue to tell me wonderful stories all about the history of dragons in this world. Her tales are brilliant. A lieutenant is far too lowly a rank for such a great storyteller.
“Ah, we have minimum time-in-service rank requirements,” Zirkander said, looking at Kaika. “Hasn’t she only been out of the academy for four months?”
“Five months,” Kaika said.
“Well, that changes everything.”
Shulina Arya had fallen silent, but her long neck lowered, and she stared steadily into Angulus’s eyes. It was possible they were speaking privately, but Shulina Arya might be attempting to influence him with her power. While Rysha appreciated that the dragon wanted her as a rider, she didn’t like the idea of tricking the king or forcing him to agree. She wanted to earn the position and for everyone to believe she deserved it.
You do deserve it, Trip said silently. Just make sure there’s room for me in the bed with you and your dragon. He winked. In case we decide to use a bed sometime.
I’m sure a dragon wouldn’t want to sleep in the bed with us!
No? Trip shared an image of General Zirkander lounging in his own bed in his pajamas and socks while reading a newspaper. There was a gold ferret draped over his lap.
Had he plucked that image from Zirkander’s mind at some point? It didn’t seem to be supposition.
We’ll figure something out. I do know she’s not interested in sleeping in a stable.
What if you put a mattress in the stall and called it a guest house?
Trip.
Just trying to figure out how many buildings I need to put on that little lot over there, if I can get a good deal on it. And can start making money on the side. How many warts do you think I’d have to heal to buy a piece of property?
Thousands. You better find something people are willing to pay more to have healed.
Corns?
Human king, I assure you this is the right decision, Shulina Arya said, her tone more conciliatory than before. Less demanding. Rysha Ravenwood will make a most excellent rider. And we will protect your country together from foul and treacherous dragons who disguise themselves as humans and dragons high above themselves.
Angulus’s eyebrows drew together, and he appeared to be focusing quite hard to keep his thoughts clear, but he managed an offhand tone as he stuck a hand in his pocket and said, “Zirkander, is this dragon trying to influence me?”
“I believe so. Yes, Sire.”
“She has tart crumbs between her teeth.”
Shulina Arya’s eyes narrowed. As friendly as she was, it would probably be wise to remember what she was.
Rysha didn’t point that out. She mostly held her breath and waited to hear what the king would say. Even though she had never truly expected anything like this, she couldn’t deny the thrill that ran through her at the idea of officially being assigned to ride Shulina Arya into battle, with Dorfindral in her hand, ready to cut down enemies.
“I see that, Sire,” Zirkander said. “Do you think it’ll be Lieutenant Ravenwood’s job to provide those tarts whe
n she’s her rider?”
Angulus narrowed his own eyes, but at Zirkander instead of the dragon. Maybe he’d expected a less irreverent answer. Though, from what little Rysha knew of the general, she wasn’t sure why he would.
“If they truly defend Iskandia’s shorelines, I’ll provide them,” Angulus said.
Rysha straightened. Did that sound like consent?
“She, however, will be responsible for cleaning the crumbs out of the dragon’s teeth.”
“Seems fair, Sire,” Zirkander said.
“Very well. I’ll have the orders drawn up.” Angulus looked at Kaika. “Who’s her commanding officer?”
“Major Fwen in the 39th Artillery for now, Sire,” Kaika said. “It’ll be Colonel Dyre if she passes the elite troops training. Assuming she’s going back to that.” Kaika spread a hand, as if she wasn’t sure if this was a promotion, a transfer, or simply a special designation.
Rysha had no idea, either.
“Oh, she’s finishing it,” Angulus said. “If she doesn’t pass the tests, I will have to insist that another be chosen for this elite position of dragon rider.” He lifted his chin, looking at Rysha and Shulina Arya.
Rysha felt panic well up inside of her. She’d intended from the beginning to pass the tests and officially be invited into the elite troops, but she’d missed so much of the training that she feared being able to make it this year. If she failed, did that mean she would lose this opportunity? That Colonel Grady would ride Shulina Arya while making up horrible rhymes for dragon?
Excellent, human king. Shulina Arya lowered a wingtip to Rysha’s shoulder. My rider will easily pass all tests you have for her. She is extremely capable.
Clearly, Shulina Arya didn’t sense her panic.
“Good,” Angulus said, smiling slightly. “Then it won’t be a problem.”
Rysha couldn’t tell if he believed she would pass and approved of that or didn’t believe she would pass. And approved of that.
“Also, my name is Angulus.”
Human king, Angulus, yes. Shulina Arya lowered her wings and dropped to all fours. There should be a ceremony to make this official. With baked goods.