She landed with barely a sound.
I stayed mounted, my breath shallow as I stared at the three dragons, all of whom now watched me with unblinking, impossible eyes.
Do not move,Kaelith warned, her voice cool but taut.They are not here to hurt you, but they are not here to comfort you either.
The Striker’s gaze narrowed.
And I realized this wasn’t a greeting.
It was a judgment.
The gray Striker stepped forward, his talons pressing into the mossy earth like he meant to stake his claim. Kaelith’s body tensed beneath me, a low rumble rising from her chest before her lips peeled back to bare her teeth, a warning laced with flame.
Then his voice slipped into my mind.
We have answered your summons.
The words were clear, crisp, but carried a lilting undertone, like wind through glass chimes. It startled me.
How can he speak to me?I asked Kaelith.
It appears you have the ability to open communication with all dragons,she answered.
No. Only those with shifting ability,he said.
You are Shiftlings.
The gray Striker turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing on me.
Not exactly,he said. His scales shimmered then, slowly the dull gray deepened into a muted violet, mirroring Kaelith’s color.
Kaelith’s head extended, her interest sharpening.You are Shiftlings.
Not like the ancients, he said.We cannot alter our shape or species. Only our color. It is a means of defense where we come from.
Can I ask your name?I said quietly.
I am Norven, he replied. Then he motioned with his tail toward the other two. The Swordtail is Olzar. The Clubtail, she is Alteth.
My gaze flicked to each in turn. The Swordtail gave me a curt nod, the Clubtail said nothing, but I felt her weighing me with every breath.
Welcome,I said.
Norven took another step forward.We have come to test you. To see if you are worthy of an exchange.
Exchange?
But before I could ask, Kaelith’s thoughts pressed into mine again.
They mean a pact. A trade.
The lost horde had not come to greet me.
They had come to judge me.
I kept my eyes on Norven as the light rippled off his scales, the violet shimmer retreating back to dull gray like the color made him uncomfortable, like beauty didn’t belong on his skin.
“What do you want?” I asked softly.
