AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Let the drake sing, old fellow,” Tyr said. “At least he’s got an appreciation for the old virtues and deeds.”
“Sir, I’ve no time for songs,” Yarrick said. “I’m here to see that justice gets done to this brave little fellow. He saved six eggs.”
“Did he? Did I doze off and miss part of the story? Well, if you say so. What’s your name, lad?”
The Copper opened his mouth, but couldn’t find words.
“Perhaps he’s in awe to be in the Imperial presence,” NoSohoth said. “You’ve nothing to fear, drake. Glorious Tyr is grandsire to all of us, a part of our lifesong whatever our parentage. Just answer honestly and no harm will befall you.”
“Nice to see daring young drakes plunging in among enemies instead of crying for help. Not enough about. Not enough,” the Tyr said. He settled down over his sii and saa, perhaps to be less threatening.
“I…I’ve no name, sir. I’m…my sire and dam…dead.”
“What? Who?” Tyr said. “NoSohoth, what’s this? Are you keeping ill news from me again?”
“No, Tyr,” NoSohoth said. He turned to the Copper. “There’ve been no attacks in the Lavadome in two generations. Are you from one of the Upper Provinces?”
“I’m not sure. Perhaps. I came down the river. I’ve been traveling for ages…ages, it seems.” The Copper wished his voice hadn’t sounded so squeaky. He wondered if he could even be heard over the surr-whooosh of the Tyr’s breathing.
“Yarrick, where did you find him?”
The avian straightened up. “The lake circle.”
“The lake circle, Tyr,” NoSohoth corrected.
“Oh, never mind that,” Tyr said. “We’re old friends, and this is a friendly visit.”
“Of course, Tyr,” Yarrick said. “On the far bank, to the north. Downstream from the thrall crossing.”
“Who were your parents?”
The Copper wondered if the truth would be a mistake. Something about the friendly stare of Tyr made him tell the truth. “AuRel and Irelia, sir.”
The dragons looked at each other. “Irelia? That’s no staion-name. AuRel…hmmm, what line?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“I don’t know, Tyr,” NoSohoth corrected again.
“I don’t know, Tyr,” the Copper repeated.
“He’s lying. He’s an outcast; I’ll put my fringe on it,” a hard-edged voice said. A beautiful green dragon joined the others in the garden. She was rather fleshless about the hips, more so than Mother at her hungriest, and had startling violet eyes.
The dragons and avians dipped their heads at her approach, save for the Tyr, who tickled her under the chin with his tail. The golden drake in the garden bowed especially low.
“Now, Tighlia, how could you know that?” the Tyr said. “Do you know his parentage?”
“No. If I had, I’d order them to have such a cripple drowned.”
“Then do be quiet. I let you have your way with the drakka, don’t I? Let me see to this drake.”
He looked back at the Copper. “You found your way here through the Lower World? Down a river thick with dwarf trunks and demen boats?”
“Yes, Tyr.”
“You’re a drake of singular purpose,” Tyr said. “What did you expect to find here? Safety?”
The Copper wanted to tell the Tyr all about his dreams of protecting his kind from lying, torturing assassins, but when surrounded by all these great dragons, it seemed a silly hatchling fantasy.
