If someone doesn’t do something, blood will be spilled, Maledinni as well as dragon. I call to Rhan, “Is Ragdyn mated?”
Rhan turns to look at me. He’s a striking man with flaming red hair and fierce golden eyes, as tall as Stesha, and holds himself with as much confidence. The scarlet dragon Ragdyn is almost as large as Scourge and Auryn, and has an unusually spiked crest and long, sharp teeth. The pair performed well during the games, but they weren’t averse to several underhanded tricks to gain advantage.
“He is not,” Rhan replies in a deep purr, his golden eyes narrowed as they flash over the flare. He catches on quickly to my idea, and so does Ragdyn. Without another word, Rhan strides forward, his massive dragon pacing beside him.
I move to Stesha’s side and place my hand on his arm. “Sorry, it’s all I could think of to appease Kane.”
Stesha gives a small shake of his head. “It’s a good idea. I should have thought of it myself. Ragdyn would likely have come here for a mate eventually.”
The mighty Ragdyn stops in front of a raspberry pink Beta dragon. She huddles closer to the ground, but her eyes are upturned toward the Alpha, showing both apprehension and interest.
A blonde woman with a pink sheen to her hair comes running across the dragongrounds and wraps her arms protectively around her dragon. “Dragonmaster?” Menelope calls in a quavering voice.
Scourge has moved forward to glower at Ragdyn and see that he causes no harm.
“You and your dragon are safe,” Stesha calls back to the woman.
“What do you and Ragdyn think, Rhan? Is that skinny pair worth anything?” Kane calls to his fellow rider.
“She’s beautiful,” Rhan says in his deep voice, but he’s not looking at Omaira. He’s looking at Menelope.
Stesha watches the four of them for a long time, and then he turns to Kane. “Ragdyn and Rhan may stay with my flare for three days, and Omaira may decide for herself if she wishes to mate Ragdyn.”
“If he does, I suppose we must take the woman as well,” Kane says, sounding unimpressed. Rhan looks at him sharply but doesn’t say anything.
“Riders and dragons cannot be separated.”
Kane is watching the Beta pair with sullen eyes. “They are skinny, weak things. It’s not a fair trade. A Beta dragon and two hatchlings for two Alpha females? Do you know that farmers who loan bulls to mate with cows are paid stud fees? Auryn deserves stud fees for mating with Nilak.”
Nilak hears her name on Kane’s tongue and hisses with displeasure.
Stesha’s last shred of patience has just snapped. He rounds on the former witchfinder. “If Omaira agrees to mate Ragdyn,you will be taking one of my most seasoned battle riders and her rider. Omaira and Menelope fought and retook Maledin from the Shadow King that you couldn’t overthrow yourself. Both of them fought tirelessly and suffered injuries during the Battle of Lenhale, and they proved themselves during the Dragon Games. Menelope will be leaving friends and family behind. Have you considered her in this matter? She and Omaira are beloved by all the dragons and riders in Maledin. If you must think of this as a trade, then the trade is sorely unbalanced in your favor.”
Both Omaira and Menelope hold their heads a little higher during Stesha’s impassioned speech, and Menelope turns a pleased shade of pink that matches her dragon’s scales. Rhan saunters over to Menelope and says something in a low voice we can’t hear. He towers over her, looking dangerous with that red coloring in contrast to Menelope’s sweet and pretty blonde and pink.
Menelope watches him in apprehension for a moment, and then she takes a breath, puts her hand on her hip, and lifts her chin in challenge. Her answer is carried to us on the breeze. “You’re very confident. Even with a broken leg, she can outfly your dragon. Ragdyn had better work hard to prove himself to her.” Giving Omaira a final caress, she turns and walks up toward the castle.
Rhan grins darkly, showing his dragines, and follows her.
It looks to me like both Ragdyn and Rhan will be working hard to prove themselves the next three days.
“I hope Menelope isn’t too attached to running water and clean bedding,” I muse. “She’s not going to get much of either out east.”
“We are not animals,” Kane snaps back. “We’ve been working with the local villagers to build a proper hall and barracks.”
“Have you managed to entice Ravenna to make her nest there yet?” I ask sweetly.
Kane glares at me, a vein throbbing in his temple. Then he marches to Auryn, collects Nilak’s hatchlings, and nestles them in the crook of his arm and a fold of his cloak. Then he climbs up his dragon’s flank, and they fly away, presumably to wait out the next three days away from the rest of us.
The flare is put out by the scarlet Alpha’s intrusion, but they give him space and respect. Scourge keeps a close eye to see that Ragdyn remembers his manners. I watch them for a while before turning to Stesha. He’s holding Nilak’s Omega hatchling and has his hand pressed against his dragon’s scales.
“Is Nilak all right?” I ask him gently.
He nods and pats her side. “She says she expected this to happen when she refused to join the wild flare back during the Dragon Games. That’s what Auryn wanted apparently, but she knew Kane and I would have to fight to the death. She says the hatchlings will be safe with their father.” He looks down at the Omega dragon against his chest. “Gods, I hope so. They’re still so small.”
I lean against Stesha’s side and stroke the Omega’s scales. “I’m glad this one didn’t want to go.”
“As am I,aash’lin. I have heard that flares who exchange mates and offspring are more successful at living peacefully alongside each other’s territories. I think there will be goodwill among the dragons because of this, though the riders are another matter. Peace among the flares means Auryn’s sisters will be safe here, and Nilak’s hatchlings and Omaira, if she chooses to go, should be safe out there. But I wish I knew for certain. It’s times like this I wish I could speak with Destrin. He had so much more experience than me.”
