Page 49 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

I gave her a soft pat on the snout, brushing my fingers over her warm scales. Her forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air and prodding the furniture.

“Look at it!” I said, shoving my new armor prototype into Vaela’s arms. The silver scales glittered between the rows of wire, making a clattering sound. “Isn’t it perfect?”

“Feels sturdy,” Vaela said, holding it aloft. She inhaled. “And smells like⁠—”

“It’s a honey, lemon leaf and beeswax mixture. It was the strongest concoction I could come up with from what Nisse had in her store cupboards. At least, without drawing suspicion and having Nisse ask too many questions about what I needed all the ingredients for.” I sucked in a breath, realizing I was rambling. “Anyway, I coated every one of the scales individually with a tiny paintbrush to create a barrier between the armor and the flame.”

“You sound hopeful,” Vaela noted.

“I could tell just from the feel of them that these scales were so much better than the last batch I collected. I used the bigger scales as the primary layer, tucking the smaller ones behind for added protection.” Min preened at my words, making a sound of agreement that had me grinning. I was feeling really good about my upgrades.

“How did you manage to get your scales before?” Vaela wondered.

I shrugged. “There wasn’t exactly a shortage of dragon scales at the academy. Collecting them was much riskier, though, so I could only manage to take a couple at a time. If I’d been caught there, I would have been punished severely before ever involving the kingsguard.” I blew out a breath that ruffled the hairs along my forehead. “I likely would have lost my job and been stripped of my certifications.”

Vaela shook her head slowly. “All for trying to save lives.”

I regarded her as a newly familiar warmth filled me. It felt good for someone else to know about the armor. Vaela was the first person I’d trusted with my project, and perhaps she’d be the only one I ever told. A secret shared was a secret exposed. But for some reason—perhaps a foolish reason—I trusted that she would protect it as fiercely as she protected this town.

As fiercely as she protected Min.

“Shall we test it?” Vaela asked. “I think it’s dark enough now.”

I nodded. I didn’t expect anyone to be venturing out to Bramble Cottage at this time of night unless there was some kind of emergency, but after the way the last prototype had smoked, I knew using the cover of darkness was for the best.

I darted onto the porch, taking Vaela with me. The moon was only a sliver, the air crisp, as the shadows closed in around us.

Min rumbled with excitement.

“She’s looking well,” I noted as we walked across the meadow next to the cottage. I remembered how worried she’d been yesterday.

“We’ve taken it easy today,” Vaela said in a low voice. “Minimal flying. Good meals. I even considered sneaking her out to the lake, but I didn’t want to risk Cyrus’s wrath.”

“He can’t be that bad,” I said.

“No, I think he’s mostly a blustery old man. But I don’t want to press him, especially with the kingsguard so close. If I ever have a star-hope in convincing him to sell me that lake, the last thing I need is an altercation.”

“Do you really think he might sell?”

“It’s not looking promising.” She laughed as we reached the far side of the meadow. “Aside from convincing him that dragons aren’t the blights he believes them to be, I need to come up with the funds. Wrangling pays decently, but raising a dragon is also costly.”

I’d never considered that.

She set the chestplate down against the edge of a large boulder. “How about here?”

“That’ll work.”

“All right, Min,” Vaela called, waving her over. “You’re up.”

I moved a safe distance away as Min took up position in front of the chestplate.

“Don’t go crazy,” Vaela told her. “A small stream is fine. We don’t need to set the woods ablaze.”

Min’s eyes reflected in the dull light. They seemed to be full of mischief.

“I mean it,” Vaela said. “This is serious.”

Min made a disgruntled sound and flicked her tail.