Page 112 of Consort's Dragon
“I’m fine, just a little chilly.”While the acid didn’t eat her flesh, it had taken her clothes.
“Put this on.”He stripped his jerkin, then his shirt which he tugged over her head before dragging her back into his arms.“I was so fucking scared when I saw you go over the edge.”
“I had to do it.It was the only way to kill Zhos.”
“But how?I thought nothing in our world could kill it.”
“Something Starlight told me.About how the last portal opened over the lake and dumped out a lot of dust.A dust that transformed the Lake of Tears into the poisonous body of water we know today.”
“A poison from Zho’s world,” he murmured.“That’s brilliant.”
She didn’t mention the fact she hadn’t been sure it would work.“I had to do something when the rift closed.”
“My brave, brave wife.”
She is a queen who served the people well,Starlight agreed.
And without asking of others what she wouldn’t do herself.Astonishing.Argent sounded impressed for once.
The other dragons suddenly landed, forming a semi-circle around them, disgorging their guardian passengers.At the sight of them, Avera found her anger roused.
“You.”She glared at the women in white.“How dare you bargain my life.”
“A ruse.”Opal pulled back her veil.“We never planned to kill you.”
“Just offered me up to Zhos and Benoit so they could have the honor,” Avera spat.
“Because that was what the vision showed,” Kachezi explained.“You don’t know how many scenarios I saw over the last eon.All of them ending in failure and Zhos prevailing.Until I had the vision of you.You alone had the fortitude to face Zhos and the intelligence to realize how it could be ended.”
At that Avera snorted.“Anyone could have figured it out.”
“And yet, no one else did.”Opal shrugged.
“Surely your vision showed you Zhos dying in the lake.”
Kachezi shook her head.“The method of its demise was never clear.Only that you would be the one to bring it about.”
“So all the fuss about retrieving the eggs and the way you used the emperor?—”
“All part of getting you to this place to fulfill your destiny, and as we’d hoped, you succeeded.”
Avera crossed her arms.“It doesn’t excuse the lies.”
“We understand you’re upset, but know that we acted for the good of everyone.”
“I find that hard to believe.I’m sure the dragons you enslaved would disagree.”
“We never meant to harm them and now that Zhos is gone, they are free.”Opal waved a hand and the collars fell from the necks of the beasts.
It took them a stunned second before they bugled and leapt into the sky.
“Now what?”Avera asked.“What devious plot do you have next?”
“None.We did what we set out to accomplish.You’re the one with a future ahead of her.You and your consort.I foresee decades of prosperity under your rule.”
“Assuming I take the throne.I’m not sure I want it.”With Benoit dead, the people could choose whoever they wanted.
“It’s those who crave power who shouldn’t have it,” Opal murmured.“Which is why you will make a good queen.And now that the world can flourish, and the dragons are re-hatched, it is time for us to go.”
