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I cocked my head. "Oh? The roof? The walls?"And their ears?
"Clothes, boots, a book or two. A box for scales. A scale to measure the scales." Dex grinned at his own pun.
I groaned. "Couldn't you put the scales on the scales if we come back with scales? We may not. Personally, I think you should—" I paused.
"Were you about to suggest I scale back the amount I've packed?"
"I might have been," I agreed. "I prefer to leave the puns to you."
"I don't mind if you claim a pun or two once in a while." Dex led the way to the door. "Sometimes I think I'm…dragon the conversation down."
I groaned again. "Did you plan that one?"
"No, I just winged it." Dex grinned. "Puns are so much better on the fly."
"Can I claw myself out of this conversation?" I asked.
Dex threw back his head and laughed. "See, you're just as bad as I am."
"Unlikely," I muttered. If the zealots didn't kill me, Dex's humour might. I opened the door and handed Dex's pack to a waiting servant. "See that tied to the Keeper's horse." That was another bone of contention. I would prefer an armoured car or two, but he Keeper wanted to travel the old fashioned way.
The servant made a face, but nodded and hurried away with it. Hurried as much as one could whilst carrying his own body weight.
"Maybe I did overpack," Dex mused.
"Just a bit," I agreed.
"I presume you under-packed?"
I hesitated. "I never under-pack. I pack sparingly, knowing you'll make up for it. We don't want to kill the horses for a few spare shirts."
"I like to look good." Dex led the way down the corridor toward the stables.
"You could do that better if you stay here."
"Are you going to let up on that at some point?"
"No, probably not." I nodded to Czari as she passed in the opposite direction. "At least until we get back in one piece."
"It's your job to make sure I do," Dex said.
"Hence the reminders that staying here is safer."
Dex stopped and squinted at me. "Perhaps I should leave you here and take my chances alone with Kerina and Viva." His mouth was upturned, but his eyes flashed with annoyance.
I squared my shoulders. "That won't be necessary. My opinion has been made clear enough. I'll shut up about it." Truthfully, from the look on Dex's face, he might actually follow through on his threat.
"Good." Dex resumed walking. "I would suggest that woman trouble has made you uptight, but it's no more than usual. Maybe you need to spend some time with an Intimate or two."
"I'm just concerned," I replied. "I don't mind admitting the dragon scared me. I've dealt with a dozen sand dragons, but I cannot predict whattheywill do. A winged one…" I shuddered slightly. "Its mind was more—" I searched for the right word. "Chaotic. I don't think it knew what it might do until it did it. An unpredictable human or shifter on the ground, I can deal with. A great creature with talons and an appetite is another matter."
"You really were scared," Dex said, a hint of wonder in his voice. "I didn't think anything frightened you."
"Turns out I'm only mortal after all." I smiled slightly.
"I suspected you might be, but I didn't have proof until now." Dex clapped me on the back. "I feel better knowing you're as fallible as the rest of us."
"I didn't say I was fallible."
