He lands on four massive legs.
They seem to be fine,he says into my mind.I think they’ll be here tomorrow. No dangers around them. Shall we go, wife?
I go over and embrace him. “Yes, husband. Let’s go.” I turn to the girls, who’re peeking out from inside Bryar’s cave. “We’re going on our honeymoon. Thanks for the wonderful wedding!”
They wave and smile, just wanting the dragon gone.
I grin and swing one leg over his neck until I’m sitting on his back.
He beats his wings and we take off, immediately soaring over the edge of the plateau and high above the jungle.
Anywhere in particular we’re going?
“I was thinking the same place as before. The peninsula with the soft ground. And the ocean all around it, except not quite.”
That was a nice place,he agrees.We shall see if it’s still there.
I lean forwards, getting out of the strong wind from our speed. “You think it might not be?”
No. It was just a figure of speech.The warmth of his amusement brushes against my thoughts.
You married a dragon, wife. That carries certain risks.
“I was assured the risks mostly involved arrogance.”
What an outrageous thing to say. I can’t imagine who’d utter such words.
“It wasyou,” I remind him. “When you proposed.”
There’s great wisdom in it. Truly words to take note of.
Beneath us the jungle stretches toward every horizon, endless green broken only by rivers that glitter in the afternoon sun. The wind tears at my hair and clothes, but I barely notice. Flying with Vyrathion has already become my favorite thing in the world.
Which is fortunate,he observes.I intend to do quite a lot of it.
“Ah. I thought maybe wading through mud was becoming a secret pleasure of yours.”
Morgan, I am a dragon. If I ever say I enjoy the mud, I expect you to grab a sword stab me until I recover from my severe illness.
“I'll do my duty.”
That is what wives are for.
I laugh and wrap my arms more tightly around his neck. Below us, a herd of massive grazing dinosaurs stampedes away from our shadow.
“Speaking of duties, I should probably warn you.” The caution in my voice makes him immediately suspicious.
Warn me about what?
“I snore sometimes.”
Barely, but I agree that’s technically true. Oh, I get it. You’re stating the obvious again. Very well, my turn. I sometimes breathe fire.
I frown. “But not… accidentally? Right?”
No. Well, not yet. Perhaps one day.
I bend close to his back. “It’s not something you should really try for. Who knows what or who you might incinerate with a sudden sneeze.”
