Page 38 of The Dragon Queen

It'sstillsilent,though,themetalgleamingsubtlyinthesun.IfIhadn'talreadywitnesseditspower,I'dhavenoideaitwasanythingspecial.

"It'sfickle,"Rookoffers. "Justlikemostofyourancestorshavebeen."

"Great."Itchingbeneathmyskin,Itaketheringoff,justtoproveIcan.Ibreatheasighofreliefwhenitslidesoffeasily,butIalsocan'thelpfeelingatwingeofdisappointment. "That'llreallyhelpmefulfillmydestiny."

SomethingpassesoverRook'sgaze. "Itmayyet."Hereachesoutandclosesmyfingersaroundthering,tuckingitawayinmypalm. "Keepit.Ourfamily'spowermayyetfinditswaytoyou--whenyouneeditmost."

Anunconsciousshivermakesitswaythroughme.

Rookstepsback,releasingmeandglancingbackuptowardtheclearingwherewewerepracticingearlier. "Takeyourrest,"heurgesme. "Andwhenyoureturn,therewillbenomoretempertantrums."

"Imakenopromises."

Sighing,herollshiseyes,butleavesmeinpeace.

Ashewandersaway,Iinspecttheringagain,holdingituptothelight.Otherthanitssize-changingmagic,itstillseemsunremarkable,butatthispointIknowbetterthantowriteanythingoff,basedsolelyonappearances.

Athoughtoccurstome. "LordRook?"

Heturnsback,raisinganimperiousbrow.

"YousaidmygrandparentsweregreatShadowDragons--plural."Ichoosemywordscarefully. "Butthenyouonlytalkedaboutmygrandfather."

"True."

"So?"Ishereallymakingmeask? "Whataboutmygrandmother?"

Andyes,that'sheteronormative,butifmyothergrandparenthadbeenanothergrandfather,heprobablywouldhavementionedthat.

Adarkcloudcrossesoverhisface,anditmightbejustme,butthere'sasuddenchillintheair. "Shediedinoneofhisrages.Protectingmeandyourfather."

There'sasharp,stabbingpangoflossinmymidsection.Iclutchtheringcloser,eventhoughit'sstillsilentinmyhand.Iblinkacoupleoftimes.

"Whatwasshelike?"

Rook'smouthtiltsupwardattheedgesbeforewobblingandreturningtoitsusualgrimline. "ShewasagreatShadowDragon.Butwithinherdarkness?"Clearinghisthroat,heturnsaway. "Shewaspurelight."

---