The dragons perched in the trees and hanging from the aviary walls grunted and squawked, and Valenna turned to see what had upset them.
Haldir was staggering through the netted aviary door, tripping on the shrubbery scattered around the enclosure. When he reached them, he leaned against a tree.
“I hear you did the smart thing,” he panted, his beautiful, cruel face smug.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Evander said placidly without looking up.
“You pulled your application,” Haldir said, rubbing his swollen nose. “Which means you are speaking to the new dragon master.”
Evander frowned. “You do realize the last two were eaten?”
Haldir slid off the tree, stumbled, and leaned against it again, trying and failing to appear sober.
“You’ll make an excellent lunch for Hera,” Evander said dryly. “She likes meaty prey.”
“It won’t last once the Cobblepinions hear you broke the oath and refuse to trade with you,” Valenna said.
Haldir leaned close to her, his breath rank with ale. “They won’t hear about it, because you don’t want to end up back in Sennalaith, do you? Why? What did you do to send you on the run?” He hiccupped in her face, then reeled around. “I saw Cadmus’s order,” he said, affecting a deeper voice. “Prepare the hydra for the paddocking.”
“What?” Evander cried, sliding out from under Hera and jumping to his feet. She shied again, and he barely managed to hop over her sweeping tail.
“You heard me, Trevelyan. Cadmus wants the hydra, and we’ll have to put a muzzle on all three heads. It’ll be quite the show for the village. Won’t I be popular?”
“Hera isn’t for sale,” Evander said. “She’s mine, and even if she wasn’t, hydra are too shy for combat. She’ll panic. She’ll attack her own side.”
“I don’t care what happens when she’s on the battlefield. I care about Cadmus’s money. That”—he stabbed a finger at Evander—“is how to run a dracorium.”
“Hera,” Evander gritted, “belongs to me.”
Haldir smiled. “Not anymore.”
“Be reasonable, Haldir,” Valenna said. “If she’s frightened at the paddocking, she could attack her own keepers. She could attack bystanders. She’s only this gentle because she trusts Evander.”
Pretending he didn’t hear her, Haldir spoke over her head to Evander. “Make sure your overfed elephant is ready tomorrow.”
He staggered out of the aviary and left Valenna and Evander in stunned silence. Evander stood rigid, a muscle in his jaw ticking, his hands clenched at his sides. Then he bent down and began to gather his tools.
Speechless, Valenna watched as he stuffed the towel, the salve, and the file into a leather satchel.
“What will Hera do …” she began, but stopped when Evander lifted the bag by the strap and hurled it onto the ground. It broke open, spilling its contents. His breath whistling in his nostrils, Evander tore off his glasses and crammed them into his vest pocket, then leaned against a tree.
“I’m so sorry, Van. I know Hera is special …”
Evander cut a bitter laugh. “Oh, she’s more than that. And I raised her from an egg. I am her mother. I am the only person she trusts, and I’m supposed to send her into battle? How can I do that?”
“Tell the master dracologist the truth,” she ordered, “or I will.”
“No, you won’t,” Evander said. “Because if you do, I’ll say I killed the tuber and you’re lying to protect me.”
Valenna’s mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t.”
Evander smiled grimly. “You have no idea what I would do for you, Val.”
He clicked for Hera to follow him and strode toward the exit. He paused and rubbed some of the salve on her bulging sides before she attempted to squeeze through the door. All three heads didn’t fit together, so she laid her left one flat on her back and jammed her massive shoulders through the frame. She stuck for an instant, and Evander hefted his shoulder against her rear, pushing with all his might. Talons scraping the dirt, she finally broke free like a cork from a bottle and held her three heads aloft again, snorting bashfully.
Evander stepped aside, holding the metal curtain for Valenna. She ducked out, and he followed her, wiping sweat from his brow.
“It’s alright to be angry,” Valenna said as they walked down the path together. “Let it out. Shout. Kick something. Let it out.”
