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With a single soft wing-beat, FeLissarath alighted on the top of the temple, keeping to the shadows. His mate followed.
“We have terrible news,” FeLissarath said.
“A moment.” He turned to Halaflora. “Get the thralls and such meats as can be easily carried. Go to the Firemaid chamber. If they come into the palace, bring the roof down on top of the entrance and head down into the Lower World. Have Nilrasha fight and delay them; you just run. Leave the thralls behind if you must, but find the Drakwatch and tell them Anaea’s been attacked by man-ridden dragons.”
“I understand. Thank you for not treating me like…like…”
“I know. They may not come here. They may just be after gold.” He wished he could summon a prrum, and instead rubbed his snout on hers. “Go.”
As she left by the inner exit he climbed out on his balcony and up. Together the three dragons watched the flames spread.
“Less than a score, do you think, my love?” FeLissarath’s mate said.
“They’re causing confusion,” the Copper said, watching a trio of dragons land. “Burning the city but landing at the palaces. I think they’re after gold.”
FeLissarath spoke: “They’re man-ridden, RuGaard. We had a brush with one, but we lost him by going to ground by the river.”
“I know.”
“RuGaard, the Tyr must be told of this, the faster the better. Thank the Air Spirit for that clever thrall. Take the skyway to the plateau—”
“Yes, Upholder, I know.”
“After this night you’ll be Upholder, I fear.”
“What do you mean?”
His mate spoke: “We need a prisoner or two. Find out who they are and where they came from.” She stared into his eyes.
“The most dangerous game of all, my love? We must be careful. They’ll be tougher than wild griffaran.” He turned back to the Copper. “You must make the best speed you can to the Imperial Resort and come back with everything the Tyr can send. He should come himself, at that.”
“Oh, for DharSii’s old aerial host at this hour,” she said.
“We’ll try from above, dear. Don’t frame against the moon—”
“Am I a wet-wing?”
The Copper only half listened to them talk. He watched another trio of dragons come in, landing on a triangular temple top. It was hard to see at this distance, but it seemed figures dropped off the dragons as soon as they landed. The dragons took off again almost immediately.
“This is for my benefit as well,” FeLissarath said. “We may get lucky and snatch one out of the saddle. In case of trouble, make for the big smoke column and climb. Whatever happens, we shouldn’t lead them back here. If we’re separated, we’ll go to the high pass lookout and meet there. RuGaard, are you still here?”
The Copper extended his wings. “Back in three days if I can. Four days at most. More means I’m dead.”
“If you don’t see us again, lad, remember us every time you take a wild bighorn,” FeLissarath’s mate said.
The Copper launched himself into the night.
It took time to gain altitude, and he did so on the dark side of the mountain backing up the temple. Curse the bright moon tonight!
He saw the FeLissaraths take off from their palace and wheel around north to keep the attacking dragons on the moon side. He saw them gain altitude.
Three shapes dropped out of the sky upon them, falling like hawks.
The FeLissaraths closed up on each other, with the male slipping a little below the female, guarding his mate’s vulnerable belly.>The dragon said something to the man, but it didn’t take long. The Copper suspected much of the wordplay had been lost. He hoped the meaning remained.
The man showed his teeth and raised his hand to his chin. He gave a twist of his hand, as though fixing his faceplate.
“We may return,” the dragon said.
