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Naf took a deep breath and pulled the Ghioz up. Hischhein’s face was red and flushed as Naf let him breathe.
“Sir, forgive his madness,” Hieba pleaded, on her knees before Hischhein. She kissed his feet in desperation, and AuRon felt his sii claws slide within their sheaths.
Naf kneeled and bowed his head. “You have my apologies, Counselor, but I had to be sure. The Silver Guard will stand true to the queen, now that we know the queen is true to us. But I’d heard that she’s become intimate with this ambassador, and has had him brought to her bedchamber in secret.”
Hischhein’s eyes widened. “I am deep in court secrets, and I have not heard this.”
“No one knows more secrets than a washerwoman. The same one who does the queen’s sheets attends to my bedclothes. She gets all the gossip from the chambermaids. I pay her well.”
“You’ve more layers than an onion, Commander. I shouldn’t want you as an enemy.”
AuRon curled himself on the ledge like a great hunting cat of southern jungles. “Naf, I wait to hear how I fit into this.”
“That was my job, dragon,” Hischhein said. “I want you to know I speak for the queen on this matter. She will offer you mountain, forest, and plainland on our southern borders to live as you will, with the soldiers of Dairuss seeing that you are not disturbed, if you will help us in our need.”
“The promises of man rarely outlast a generation, Counselor,” AuRon said.
“Our queen rules not just by word, but by law, as well. She obeys the laws laid down by previous rulers and their Council. Were we to break this, all would be weakened. Besides, a dragon on our southern borders will discourage invasion from the barbarians farther south.”
“Would that you were dwarves! They get to the point with half the words.”
“Very well. May I call you AuRon?”
“Yes,” AuRon said.
“Hazeleye has told us something of your past. Our enemy is the one that ordered your family hunted out of the mountains, that the eggs and young of your parents might be taken. I do not know what sort of filial loyalty dragons have, but beyond that, he has done likewise to other dragons on the other side of the Inland Ocean, or so Hazeleye tells us. We know very little of this Isle of Ice, save that it is a foggy place surrounded by treacherous rocks, and no strangers get outside the port.”
“They know this not only from me, but from others, as well,” Hazeleye said. “None have been beyond the port at the glacier bay.”
“You need a dragon to fly over it, and spy out his land?”
Hischhein looked uncomfortable. “Much more than that. We’d like you to join the other dragons under the wizard. Serve in this flying army of his. And when you get the opportunity, kill him.”
Chapter 21
AuRon’s blood coursed hot with anger. He saw the people, speaking to him as through red gauze.
“So I am to be an assassin?” AuRon asked. “I’ve learned to hate that word. An assassin is a sneak. Am I to worm my way into the cave of his enemy to kill him as he sleeps?”
“He’s made slaves of your brethren, AuRon,” Hieba said. “It’s not just elves and dwarves dying—dragons fall in this war, too. He has them under some spell.”
“This war will lay waste to ancient lands and nations,” Hazeleye said. “Barbarians will fill the void. A civilization built by elves, men, and dwarves that goes back further than any in living memory will be gone, with savages squatting in the doorways of monuments whose making they could never comprehend.”
“No more writing, no more music—,” Hieba began.
“My friends, I came here thinking you were in danger. Take my advice. Ally yourself with this wizard. If you cannot defeat him, you might as well spare yourselves extinction. Adapt to the new world. That is what I am trying to do.”
“I see the legendary selfishness of dragons is not exaggerated,” Hischhein said. “Even when it comes to their own people.”
“What about the favor you owe me, AuRon?” Hazeleye said.
“I’ve heard you out without roasting you. That favor is paid. Count yourself lucky that after you freed me, I did not dedicate my life to hunting down those who slaughtered my parents and sisters.”
“Do you know both sisters are dead, AuRon?” Hazeleye asked.
“Jizara stayed by Mother’s side. You know as well as I that they both died. Wistala made it out of the cave with me, and I heard of her death from her slayer, the Dragonblade.”
“I knew the man. He was skilled, but a braggart when it came to telling scores. She may still live.”
