Abruptly reminded that the sky shield was down, and the building her room was in wouldnotprotect her from a dragon, Syla groped for a conciliatory response.
It was inadvertent spying. I wasn’t aware that this artifact could allow that. Please forgive my transgression. I would not intentionally disturb your kind.Syla stopped, realizing she sounded obsequious and that a dragon wouldn’t respect that.
The silence that followed worried her. What if the female dragon was now flying toward the castle? Intending to end her for her presumption?
Syla rubbed her face. To have survived everything else this night only to be snapped in two by a dragon who wasn’t even involved in the conflict…
I’m a healer,she added on the off chance that it might matter.If you’ve any wounds or know anyone in need of my services, I would be happy to offer them at no cost. As a means of apologizing for my inadvertent intrusion.
“Obsequious, Syla,” she groaned to herself. “You sound evenmoreobsequious.”
A healer capable of effectively treating dragons?The female’s telepathic voice sounded closer now—maybe shewason the way to kill Syla.It takes magic to heal a dragon in a way that nature and time cannot, and humans are generally pathetic and inept.
I am moon-marked.In case the dragon didn’t know or care what that meant, Syla added,My ancestors were blessed by the gods before their kind left this realm. Those of us with the moon-mark have the ability to use magic in some way or another.She didn’t mention the shielders. They already had far too much attention from dragons.I am a healer and have used my power onmanybeings in addition to humans.
Dogs, cats, horses, a gerbil… She didn’t mention those.
Hm.
Syla scratched her jaw. What didthatmean?
I recently battled a storm yeti and inadvertently stepped in a basilisk den. I have a wound.
I… I could take a look.By the eyes of the moon, Syla hadn’t expected the dragon to actually be in need of her services. Could she truly use her magic on a dragon?
If you are able to heal my injury, you may live.Did the dragon sound even closer? Was she coming to pick up Syla?
That’s very generous. What if I, uhm, fail?
There is a transgression that must be accounted for.
Does that mean you’ll kill me?
I shall make it swift with little pain. Despite being called awilddragon, I am more civilized than many of my brethren.
Good to know.
The dragon didn’t answer.
Syla swallowed and stared at the figurine, feeling betrayed by her father’s gewgaw. He’d loved her. He surely hadn’t meant to leave her something that could offend dragons. He must not have known.
Since he’d passed, she could never ask him.
“Unless the dragon kills me and I meet my father in the afterlife,” she said, jumping when a shadow flew across her window.
The red dragon had arrived.
10
Shouts and cries of, “Dragon!”and “Man the cannons!” and “Look out!” penetrated the window of Syla’s room.
Her instincts yelled at her to scramble under the bed and hide. As ifthatwould keep a dragon from getting her.
But she had, however inadvertently, called for this dragon to come. She had to do her best to make sure it didn’t kill anyone in the area.
After gulping in a breath of air that wasn’t as fortifying as she wanted, Syla grabbed the figurine and her pack, then made herself open the window so the red-scaled creature could find her.
The dragon came into view, beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Even larger than the big male that Vorik rode, she exuded tremendous power. Her muscles relaxed and flexed as she flew, lingering fires from the harbor and atop the bluff highlighting her sleek belly. Golden eyes reflected the flames, or maybe they even glowed from within, fueled by her magical power. Her great wings spread as she descended in an elegant glide, angling to come over the courtyard walls and right at Syla’s room, as if the dragon knew exactly where a princess would be found.
