“It already has. I am grateful for this opportunity.” Beyond grateful, in fact.
He was alive for only one reason – because of the dragons. If he had not married a dragon companion, if the Eldest had not given him that scale, he would be dead and his mission over before it had even begun. He wished he could tell Elizabeth that she had already saved his life.
Chapter 15
Frederica had to suppressthe desire to skip as she climbed the path to the clearing with Elizabeth. She would have liked to run, but that would be unfair to Elizabeth, who tired easily these days and seemed in particularly low spirits today. But how could she restrain her excitement? Against all her expectations, she was going to meet with a potential companion! Cerridwen had brought the news this morning that there was a nestling willing to consider her, only a few days after she had spilt her blood on the Dragon Stones.
But she should be more considerate of Elizabeth. “Do you wish to stop to rest for a little?”
“No, I am perfectly well. And we are practically there.” But she was frowning.
“Do you disapprove of this? My desire for a companion?”
For the first time since they left the house, Elizabeth truly looked at her. “No, I am delighted for you. And for me – I would be so glad not to be the only companion of the Nest.” She hesitated. “I am sorry to be out of sorts today. I had a bad dream last night, and somehow I cannot shake it from my mind.”
Relieved, Frederica said, “Oh, it is so annoying when that happens!What did you dream?”
“I was on a ship being attacked by a sea serpent. I keep seeing it, all those teeth as the head came towards me, and hearing the creak of the wood as the ship broke up.” She shivered. “It was remarkably vivid. I could even smell the salt air.”
“That sounds terrifying! I am glad we have dragons here instead of serpents. I do not think I would like them.”
Elizabeth seemed to relax a little. “I prefer our dragons, too.”
But as they entered the clearing, Elizabeth’s frown returned at the sight of the large sea-green dragon standing beside the Dragon Stones. “That is not my favorite dragon, though,” she said in a low voice. “Quickthorn tends to be irritable.”
But Frederica’s gaze was already fastened on the small dragon beside Quickthorn. Why, it was barely the size of a fawn, and utterly beautiful, with scales of russet and auburn.
Elizabeth stepped forward. “Honored Quickthorn, it is…” She seemed to stumble for words. “Good of you to join us here today. May I present Lady Frederica Fitzwilliam?”
Frederica tore her eyes away from the little dragon in time to see Quickthorn toss her head. She made a quick curtsy. “It is an honor to meet you.”
“But not as much of an honor as it is to meet the nestling,” said the dragon. Irritable, indeed!
Frederica pulled out the manners she had misplaced in her joy over the nestling. “That is, perhaps, more exciting, since there is a chance he might become my companion, but I am honored and pleased to meet any dragon.”
“Why?” It was a demand.
That was easy, even though the question made her nervous. What would happen if Quickthorn disapproved of her? “Because you fascinate me. I feel inexplicably drawn to dragons and want to know more about you, to learn how you see the world and why you hold your beliefs.”
“Not because of the power it would give you?”
“That would be nice, but it would take years and much study. From what Elizabeth – Companion Elizabeth – tells me, I would have to learnto use my Talent anew, so I would be weaker, at least for a long time. And to learn to use it well, like Companion Amelia, takes decades of hard work. I am not a particularly attentive student.”
“What do you use your Talent for now?”
“The odd illusion and some sendings, and more recently for truth-casting. The only thing I am particularly good at is weather magic, and that is not useful except for keeping the rain off. An umbrella works just as well.”
“You could stop a drought by making it rain,” the dragon challenged.
“Only if I am willing to cause a drought somewhere else by stealing their rain,” she retorted. “Some people may not care about that, but I do.”
She had not meant to say that about the weather. Then it struck her. “You are a truth-caster, too, are you not? Or can all dragons do it?”
“Only a few of us,” said the dragon grudgingly.
“No wonder you are so grumpy, then,” she said with more candor than tact. “It can be unpleasant to know what everyone really thinks all the time. I suspect I would like people better if I knew less of their inner thoughts.”
Quickthorn drew her head back in surprise, but the displeasure in her aura lessened. “I would not argue that point. This nestling is Agate, and he has agreed to meet with you. Nothing more than that; this is merely to see if you are compatible.”
