Once they’re all through, we do a more thorough count.Somewhere along the way, we kind of lost track of screening children or people with small children.More than three dozen children are now in the mix, with accompanying parents, but we’ll be returning to Hyperion with six hundred and forty-one adults, which is far more than I expected.
“You found more than three hundred at the Renaissance festival?”Jean asks.“That was a great idea.”She shrugs.
She’s a little annoying—clearly fishing for praise.It was a good idea.
“You know, I’ve always loved gold,” she says.“It’s my favorite color.I’m not sure whether a bond could be transferred, but if it can, I’d be happy to bond you instead.”
Noted.I walk away, following Liz toward the front of the group, and I’m proud of myself for not melting the irritating woman.As satisfying as it would have been, and as irritating as the woman was being, it would have upset Liz.I’m almost entirely certain.
When I open the portal back to Iceland, it’s hard, and it’s smaller than the others have been, so it takes a while for all the humans to pass through.
But Hyperion’s impressed, at least.You will choose one to bond.
I shrug.Eventually.
Now,he says.You look haggard, brother.
I’m fine.
He doesn’t argue, but I can tell it’s hard for him.This bought her one more day,Hyperion says.But if she can’t bring back even more tomorrow...
I know.I’m not the only one growing tired and in need of energy.
Some of the strike blessed cornered a water blessed this morning and tried to eat him.Hyperion looks at the river.The water blessed are angry.All of them are—we’re in big trouble here.
He doesn’t say it, but now that even our horrific cannibalism doesn’t work...we are doomed unless we can find enough humans to bond.Hyperion and I both follow the other blessed to the large pavilion where Liz is having the blessed gather to bond the newly located humans.She’s asking the blessed to let the weakest ones bond first, but appeals to charity don’t work for us.Weakness isn’t pitied—it’s despised.Still, I can’t help noticing that Hyperion, Asteria, Gordon, Rufus, and I aren’t clamoring to bond anyone yet.I wonder whether they’re waiting to be noble, or for the same reason as me.
Which makes me wonder who theywantto bond but haven’t...
And why.
12
Liz
When you die and are brought back, but your siblings think you’re dead, and then you’re gone all day long every day...when they ask if they can come watch all the humans you brought back bond new dragons?
You say yes.
I don’t want to, since they’re brights themselves, but when I’m staring at their eager little faces...I can’t say no.
“What are the rules?”I ask for the third time.
“We won’t interfere,” Sammy says.
“And we won’t let any dragons bond us,” Coral says.“Duh.”
“And?”I look at Jade.
“You said there were only two rules.”She’s frowning.I wish she didn’t look quite so old.It’s barely been two months since the Boo Bash, but it feels like the kids have turned into tiny adults.
“She wants you to say the biggest one again.”Coral crosses her arms.“You’re being annoying.We could have bonded fifty dragons while you were gone.”
I fire up my very best glare.
“No one can bond fifty dragons,” Sammy says.“Dummy.”
“Maybe two,” Jade says.
