Anxiety nipping at his heels, Lucien arrives at the dragon roost. Dawn hasn’t yet risen, and the lingering shadows are cold through Lucien’s riding leathers. The gear doesn’t quite fit, but it’s good to wear. Lucien likes having the weight off his neck, too. He left the collar in Kazia’s chambers, because he doesn’t want to meet his dragon in chains.
Salarin stays at the entrance, her disapproval clear. She doesn’t think Lucien should leave the palace, even under Prince Marek’s supervision. Especially without wearing the collar.
The nervous part of Lucien agrees, though for different reasons. He can’t help worrying that leaving Kazia alone is a mistake.
But today’s meeting is a long time coming, and for that, Lucien isn’t anxious at all.
Three dark shadows wait on the broad ledge, one looming above the others. Loska is the largest dragon Lucien has ever seen. Lucien can hardly make out Marek and Sei until he gets close. Sei appears very alert, while Marek looks sleepy.
“Hello, Your Highness. Adjutant Sei.” Lucien intends to be on his best behavior today. Marek doesn’t have to help him. Marek probablyshouldn’thelp him. “Nice to meet you again, Loska.”
Loska’s massive head veers closer. His glossy claws are even more enormous than Lucien remembers from his last regrettably intimate encounter.
You look very ordinary,Loska rumbles inside their heads.I don’t see why Tezurit is so interested in you.
Marek chuckles. “Are you jealous? Is Tezurit your new ladylove?”
Don’t be absurd. Tezurit is a small child, barely five decades old.Rocks rattle with the swish of Loska’s tail.I prefer older dragons.
“What about Yavran?” Sei asks. “Yavran is younger than you.”
Loska lowers himself to the ground, bringing the rigging into arm’s reach.You must be mistaken. Yavran’s violent wit can only come from a mature mind. Speaking of Yavran, her eyes are keen. We should leave soon.
Marek passes around helmets. Lucien takes his, heart thudding. He hopes Kazia is all right. He hopes Kazia believes he’ll come back.
As he climbs up the harness, another voice slips into his head. Light, familiar, curious.
Loska says you are coming to see me. Took you long enough.
***
Sunrise transforms the landscape as they land at Rainbow River. The waters blaze gold and red and violet, hints of green and blue dancing beneath the surface. Lucien stands at the edge of the cliff, helmet in hand, amazed. He hasn’t seen this much colorsince he arrived in Draskora. The sight rivals the finest gardens of Sandrelle.
“No swimming,” Sei says. “The water is very poisonous.”
“That makes much more sense,” Lucien says. But beautiful poisons don’t matter when Tezurit’s familiar presence tugs his mind.
This isn’t a deliberate message. It’s the same mental ripple Lucien felt on the border. The wordless question of a venturing soul that brought Lucien here. Listening to that question was a mistake. A disaster. The best thing Lucien has ever done.
Far overhead, white-gold scales gleam in the sunrise.
“Talk all you want, but no flying off,” Marek says. “I’m taking you back to Ostomar by noon, even if Loska has to bring you in his teeth.”
Oh, no. That would be terrible,Loska says gleefully.
For some reason, Sei looks a little queasy.
“I won’t let Kazia worry,” Lucien says.
Marek just stares. “I meant as a matter of national security. But that’s great too.”
Lucien keeps himself from reassuring Marek that he hasn’t breathed on Kazia. He knows how unconvincing that would be. Then the wheeling shape above begins to descend, and Lucien stops paying attention to anyone else on the cliff.
Tezurit lands lightly, barely stirring the earth. She’s a creature of elegant golden lines, every part of her in perfect balance. Small for a dragon, perhaps a third Loska’s size. She could carry two riders at the most. Her scales glow with the dawn, white and gold reflecting the rainbow waters below, and her eyes are dark as a starry sky.
Wings loosely settled, Tezurit is poised to fly away at any moment. But she remains still as Lucien walks out alone.
“Hello, Tezurit,” Lucien says.
