Page 104 of Consort's Dragon
Argent pressed his lips tight.“Let’s say we do agree to help, who’s to say the humans won’t betray us again?”
“Because you have my word,” Avera stated firmly.
“And mine,” Griff added.
“Me too!”Simhi chimed in.
“As if I’d let me drinking buddy languish in an egg,” Kreed scoffed.“Fear not, lad, I’d drop you into a volcano just so I can have someone who can keep up with me.”
Argent ducked his head and a second later his shoulders shook.Did he cry?
Before Avera could put a hand on him to console, laughter burst free.“You are the most irreverent group I’ve ever dealt with.Back in my day, no one would have dared to speak to me like this.”Argent met Avera’s gaze.“It is refreshing.In the past, my servants often lied in an attempt to remain in my good graces.Lies I ignored because I could taste the fear in them.Fear of what I would do.But you lot have absolutely no respect for my status.You treat me like I’m one of you.”His expression twisted into a grimace.“And while I should dislike it, it’s actually quite enjoyable.”
“It’s called being friends, mate.”Kreed slapped him hard on the back, not that Argent budged.
“Friends.”Argent rolled the word around.“What a concept.”
“They don’t speak for me,” Monty huffed.“I think you’re a prick and you owe me three jackets and two pairs of pants!”
“You’re just jealous because I’m more handsome than you,” Argent replied with a wink.
Monty lifted his chin.“I’m not the one with an empty bed at night.”
A red-cheeked Simhi looked everywhere but at Monty.
“Empty by choice.I’m picky about my bedmates.”Argent’s gaze slewed to Josslyn who pretended to not notice.
“We’re off-topic.The discussion was about leaving for Velunda.Starlight can only take me and Griffon.The rest of you?—”
“Will come with me,” Argent drawled.
Griff snorted.“As if you’d help.You’ve made it very clear you didn’t want to be a part of this.”
“You forget, my kin are still being held captive.I feel a certain obligation to free them, which would put them in my debt, a wonderful treasure to own,” Argent explained.
“Do you really mean that?You’ll take some of us?”Avera couldn’t help but be hopeful.
“Why not?If you all want to hasten to your death, who am I to stop you?”
In the end, it was decided that Starlight would take Avera on her back and Simhi in her claws, leaving Argent with the heavier load.Griffon rode in the harness, Gustav, Kreed, and Monty in claws and tail.
Josslyn remained behind because as she reminded, “I’m good with giving orders not wielding swords.”
It didn’t take long for them to get ready.They would be travelling light, after all.Either they succeeded in their mission, banishing Zhos and hopefully eliminating Benoit at the same time, or they failed, in which case they’d be dead.A sobering realization and yet there was no real choice.Inaction would lead to death as well.Better to take a chance.There was still time for the dragons to change their minds and help.
As they went to leave, a gathering of people outside blocked her way.Word of Avera’s arrival—and the way she’d fought the night before—had gotten around, leading to people milling outside the home Gustav had them quartered in.
Avera glanced at Gustav.“What should I do?”
“Talk to them.They’re looking for hope and reassurance.”
“From me?I don’t even know what I’m doing.”
“But you’re trying to do something and that counts,” Gustav muttered in reply.
“I hate giving speeches.”She felt so awkward, but she couldn’t ignore the gazes fixed on her, requiring reassurance.She cleared her throat and addressed her people.“Fellow Daervanians, you might have heard about me.Avera Voxspira, rightful heir ousted by Benoit and his lies.A man who will pay for his treachery, but as you know we face another dire threat.”
Avera clasped her hands and kept her voice steady.“There is an ancient evil doing its best to murder us all.That evil is currently in the castle, whispering in Benoit’s ear, invading the minds of the mist-stricken, sending monsters to tear down this last bastion of freedom.Today my companions and I leave to confront this threat to our kingdom.”
