Not adragon, Wreylith said.Another puny and insignificant human, perhaps.
I’ve seen it work on hounds too. Even more so. For life, they give their loyalty to the healer.
Hounds!Wreylith issued a snort that stirred Syla’s hair and made her open her eyes.Hounds give their lifelong loyalty for a cube of meat. As we’ve recently discussed, dragons are not kin to weakling and pathetic hounds. Nor chickens!
“Do you wish me to continue?” Syla’s palm was on the embedded fang, but she’d paused funneling magic into the injury. The dragons were probably distracting her. “It is easier to focus without patients nattering.”
Wreylith flexed her sharp talons. Syla watched them but didn’t skitter back. Many people would have.
Nattering!A wisp of smoke wafted from her left nostril.
“Nattering,” Syla said firmly. “Shall I continue?”
A rumble—a growl?—emanated from the red dragon’s chest, but she kept her foot raised.Do so.
Vorik smiled as Syla closed her eyes again. Maybe it wasn’t wise, but he was starting to like her.
I don’t think there’s any chance of a dragon feeling bound to a human, gods-gifted magic or not,Vorik told Agrevlari.Especially one as powerful as Wreylith.
Correct,Wreylith said, even though Vorik had meant to send the words only to Agrevlari. He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that the powerful red dragon could intercept private telepathic communications.Should she attempt to enact her puny magic on me in any way,Wreylith continued,or should she vex me in any way, I shall slay her.
Syla’s lips twitched, but she didn’t draw back or even open her eyes. Once again, her face was set with concentration.
Sensing the healing might take a while, Vorik sheathed his sword and walked to the base of the lighthouse. Dawn wasn’t that far off, so he knelt to gather more berries. Under the light of day, it would be easier to avoid the thorns. Not that he minded a few scratches. For such delicious treats, he would endure everything from sword wounds to Agrevlari’s sarcasm.
Many minutes and many consumed berries later, a roar of pain made Vorik spring to his feet, drawing his sword again. Fearing Syla had inadvertently hurt—orvexed—Wreylith and roused her ire, he ran toward them in case he needed to protect her.
But Wreylith was turning away from Syla and flinging her forelimb toward the cliff overlooking the sea. Something flew away, blood droplets arcing through the air as it descended over the edge. The fang. Syla must have cut it out with her magic. Or maybe she’d used another tool from her kit. Did she also have antique tweezers to go with the venom extractor?
Syla lowered her arms and backed a few steps from the snarling dragon. Wary, she asked, “How does that feel?”
If the roar of pain had been any indication, the fang’s removal hadn’t been a delight. But surely the injury would bother Wreylith less going forward. She had to appreciate that.
That dreadful fang left its venom scorching my veins, and there is a hole in my foot.Wreylith turned toward Syla again.How do you think it feels?
“Painful, I’m certain,” she said.
Though he didn’t wave his sword threateningly, Vorik continued forward to stand at Syla’s side.
I should have slain the basilisks for presuming to attack a dragon, a dragon with far superior might and power than they.
Vorik, reminded that Wreylith had intercepted his comments before, refrained from saying to Agrevlari that she was as pompous as he was.Later, he might mention that.
“I did my best to remove the venom near the wound, and thenuse my magic to break down that which remained in your blood, altering it into an inert substance that your body can eventually excrete, but you are…” Syla hesitated as Wreylith’s head lowered, her glowing golden eyes boring into her, “large,” Syla finished.
I was not the runt of my clutch,Wreylith said.
“I assumed not,” Syla said blandly. “Should you chance upon mugdart root, you could make a paste that would soothe the wound.”
Dragons are powerful beings with sublime constitutions. We do not needsoothing.
“I have an herbalism book along with maps of prime areas around the world. If you like, I could show you where medicinal plants that can ease pain can be found.”
I don’t need my pain eased. Wreylith bared her fangs.
“All right.” Syla looked a little disappointed that the dragon didn’t show interest in what was apparently a passion for her—who broughtherbalismbooks along when escaping from an attack zone?
Wreylith lowered her lips to hide the fangs.You have removed the nettlesome tooth, and the wound will heal. I will not slay you today.
