“And that’s what she suggested?”
“Apparently, something with an enjoyable sting is appealing.” Syla gestured to the wyvern-statue horn in the nest.
“Interesting. Agrevlari hasn’t mentioned desiringsting. He loves to sun his belly and be rocked in the sea by gentle waves. He seems to like the same types of comforts that I do.”
He is male,Wreylith said, as if that explained everything, and gave a dismissive tail flick before rotating and shifting in her nest.The first egg comes.
Vorik picked up one of the jars. “I can sense this one is more magical than the others. It even has a feel of… I don’t know…dragonnessabout it.”
“Yes. I…” Syla glanced at Wreylith, but she appeared distracted, fangs on display as she grunted and shifted about, glowering at a wall. “I found some magical tools and ground up her discarded scales from when she was shedding, then mixed the powder into a known formulation for a healing tincture. It’s a bit of an experiment to see if it enhances the medicinal qualities.”
“Huh. Maybe it will. Dragon magicispowerful.”
Disgruntled growls emanated from Wreylith, and Syla worried that the process wasn’t going well, but when she stood to peek into the nest, she spotted the first egg. A faintly glowing golden oval, it was much larger than any egg Syla had ever seen.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” she breathed.
Wreylith growled, shifting and probably trying to lay the next one. It might be some time before she could appreciate her future offspring.
“Ithink it’s wonderful anyway,” Syla said, then asked Vorik, “How many eggs do dragons lay at a time?”
“Usually only a couple, but I’ve heard of up to seven or eight, and your Wreylith is magnificent, so I would expect her to produce a high number of quality eggs.”
I do not object to your marriage to that one,Wreylith said.He is appropriately respectful of dragons.
“Agrevlari has taught me how to honor your kind.” Vorik inclined his head toward her.
I would think Ozlemar a more likely instructor and disciplinarian.
“He’s taught me when it’s a good idea toavoidyour kind,” Vorik said.
“It seems like it would always be a good idea to avoid him,” Syla said.
Vorik nodded at her. “Unless you are like my brother and enjoy pain.” He picked up one of the jars she’d pointed out as astringent and stinging. “If you ever need to give him a present, he might like this.”
“He’s not on my gift list.”
“How strange.”
Wreylith grunted and circled in the nest again, careful not to step on the first egg, though it looked like it would be sturdy. Was that slight magic that already emanated from it? It was hard to tell around her powerful aura.
“This is less dramatic than I expected,” Syla admitted after a time. “Human women often scream and clench things while cursing their husbands for getting them with child.”
“Areyouplanning to do that?” Vorik glanced at her abdomen.
“It is tradition, but I would have to curse the gods, since they were behind things.”
“I did playsomesmall role,” he said.
“Your role was magnificent.” She leaned forward to kiss him, but Wreylith startled her with a roar. A great gout of fire streamed forth, bathing the wall, splitting rock, and spreading heat that they felt at the other end of the laboratory.
“You said you wanted something more dramatic?” Vorik asked dryly.
A second egg has been laid,Wreylith stated.
In the end, there were eight, and the fortunately sturdy stone wall was bathed in fire several more times. Looking exhausted, Wreylith settled onto her nest.
You may inform Agrevlari that the eggs were successfully laid,she said, glancing toward Vorik.When they hatch, if thereare any males, perhaps I will allow him to name them. They are, after all, inferior.
