Page 24 of Consorting with Dragons

“And you’re not bothered by that? That I wouldn’t want to be with you?”

“Of course it bothers me, but I really have no choice either. If that were the case, then I’d have to do everything in my power to change your mind. To get you to agree. This was a ‘done deal,’ as you say, the moment I touched you in that warehouse onLycanus 3. You’re mine, Rylan, and nothing can change that for me. Nothing. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth.”

A loud knock came on the door before I could make any kind of stunned reply, and the general turned a furious face toward it. “Go away,” he called out. “I’m busy now.”

I laughed at his frustrated expression, and the little dragon in my lap, who had been sitting quietly, laughed when I did. He was mirroring me, and it was so cute that I couldn’t help but hug him again.

“And you,” the Marshal General said reprovingly to the little creature. “You’re not helping much, you know.”

A sharp knock came on the door again, and when the Marshal General called out for whoever it was to “Come the hell in, damn you and stop pounding on that door!” The door opened to reveal two men—a tall, thin, older one with a full gray beard and severe features, and a younger man, tall, with a long nose, and the short, pale blond hair so many of the Horvathians seemed to have.

“Marshal General Fortina, my name is Colonel Bentine, and this is Lieutenant Mythe. We’ve come to pick up the vetami hatchling. Lt. Mythe is considering taking him on as his trainer.”

“Oh. Yes, all right. May I present Prince Rylan of Moravia.”

He gave me a short, unfriendly glance and didn’t bow. Neither did he unbend in the least when he shifted his disapproving gaze to the cute little creature in my lap. He totally ignored me and looked back at the general.

“Marshal General Fortina, you’ve done well in obtaining the egg and overseeing the hatching, but I’m happy to say you won’t have to continue that service any longer. I’ll be taking charge of the hatchling, and Lt. Mythe here will relieve you of the burden of his further training.” He turned to look at me. “As for you sir,” he said in a frosty tone, “I’ll ask you to put the hatchling downand stop interfering in his care. Holding them like that spoils them terribly.”

I was so shocked by his rudeness that I gasped aloud. “Now wait a minute,” I said, putting a proprietary hand on the little dragon in my lap. At the same time, the General shouted at him.

“Colonel Bentine! You forget yourself. You’re speaking to an honored guest and a royal prince.”

I wasn’t through yet either. “And I’ll have you know I have notinterferedin any way whatsoever with this hatchling!” I yelled at him. “Which just so happens to belong to me!”

“Belongs to you? What do you mean?” Bentine started spluttering. He turned immediately to the general. “What does this person mean by that, sir?”

The little dragon snuggled closer to me and seemed to need comfort—which I gladly gave him.

Fortina stood, inserting himself in front of me, and he looked furious. “This person,as you refer to him, is Prince Rylan of Moravia and my intended mate, so keep a civil tongue in your damned head!”

I tried to stay quiet, but I just couldn’t. I peeked around the big Horvathian standing in front of me. “I agree that somebody dropped the ball around here, but I can assure you it wasn’t me.”

The older man flushed an ugly red and shot me another glance. I thought I’d probably made an enemy there, but I didn’t care. “Ball, what ball?” He turned to Fortina. “What does he mean?”

“It’s just an expression—he simply means someone failed in their duty, and I have to agree. We did fail this hatchling from the day we left to retrieve the egg and no one from your facility showed up to take charge of it, even though we notified you. I’m a Rider myself, butnota trainer. This little dragon has had a poor reception from the Horvathians. And I think it’s time that mistake was remedied.”

“Thevetami,” the odious man said, emphasizing the word, “will do much better in the hands of a qualified trainer.” He glanced over at me again. “Not to mention someone who is an actual citizen of Horvath at the very least.”

Before I could reply, Fortina took a step forward, straightening to his full height, some inches above either of the two, and glared down menacingly at the older man. “I’d like to remind you that I’m your superior officer. I think you’ll agree that I have had some experience in training vetami, and I still have had very little success, because this little dragon is special. He’s extremely intelligent and can communicate better than any dragon I’ve ever seen. Furthermore, sir, might I remind you once again that you’re being an insubordinate ass. I’ve a good mind to have you brought up on charges!”

Bentine’s face flushed again, and he drew himself up and stiffly saluted.

“Of course, Marshal General. I-I’m very sorry. I apologize for any misunderstanding.”

“Prince Rylan also happens to be the grandson of King Davos of Tygeria and the entire Axis Forces. You will show him the respect he deserves for that as well.”

He looked a bit shocked, and his face paled, but I didn’t think he was one bit sorry for being so rude to either of us. He gave me a short, stiff bow.

“Naturally, I meant no disrespect to His Highness. I apologize. I’m sure his family must be worried about him and anxious for his rapid return. His Highness has been most kind to the vetami, and we appreciate his untrained efforts, but surely, you’ve explained to him the impossibility of this situation. Occasionally, a new Rider is lost because of disease or injury, and we’ve had to replace them. It’s worked out well in the past and I’m sure it will again. We still have time to change this youngone’s behavior if we immediately impose a strict regimen on him. But first we have to take charge of him.”

“How many times?” I asked, interrupting him, my voice a little louder than I intended it to be.

He glanced at me in complete confusion. “I beg your pardon?”

“You said this had happened before, when a hatchling lost his intended Rider. I was wondering how many times this has happened in the past. Can you tell me?”

“Well, not exactly. Not off-hand, that is, but I assure you…”

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