Page 33 of Consort's Dragon
“Why the higher births in that sex do you think?”
“My grams used to say it was because the women’s wombs sensed a war coming.Hence, they produced men who could be trained to fight.”
“A war with who?”
“Grams never said, but I wouldn’t put much stock in her claim.She also used to swear dragons were real, and that one used to live in Mount Ygnis.”
Avera kept her mouth shut rather than confirm dragons did indeed exist.Despite having seen one with her own eyes, she struggled with the truth and the fact history had so thoroughly erased them.No reason to upset Prielli’s innocence.
At dinner, which she attended, Titus was present for the first time in days, and he beamed widely as she approached.“It’s been much too long since we’ve dined together.I apologize for being preoccupied.”
“You seem quite pleased with yourself.”
“Because I am.The Assassins’ Guild?—”
“Is no more.I heard.I am told that, given the master’s untimely demise, you couldn’t find out who hired them.”
“Alas, all the correspondence in his office was burnt the same day of the attack.We almost caught the arsonist, but as we chased him on foot, he ran in front of a wagon and was crushed.”
“Was he also the person who killed the master?”
“That remains a mystery, unfortunately.However, my soldiers are still routing out any assassins who remain.”
“Why bother if the guild is no more?”
“Because a lesson must be taught about trying to interfere with matters of state,” he said matter-of-factly.Avera didn’t know if she should be impressed by his firmness or appalled by his ruthlessness.He pulled out her seat.“Shall we dine?”
She sat and as they ate, he entertained by pointing out people of his court and relating their quirks.
“Lady Chantilly likes to bathe in warm goat’s milk.Lord Juno has two pregnant mistresses plus a wife minding seven children at home.”Amusing tidbits that had her smiling.What a relaxing relief after the week she’d had.
Relaxing rather than stressing about the stones and Zhos.
What had happened to her urgency in returning them?Not too long ago, she’d been desperate to accomplish her quest, yet now that she had the dragon eggs still sitting atop her dresser, she’d not once thought of bagging them up and hightailing it to the port to see if she could bribe her way out.
“Is something wrong?”Titus asked.
“It occurs to me that while I dine and chatter inanely, Zhos is likely spreading its vile influence among my people.”
“Fear not.We will handle that foul being.”
“When?I don’t want my people to suffer because I delayed.”
“Very soon.Keep in mind, even once we hatch the dragons they will require some time before they are of a strength to be of any use.The book claims they require much fresh meat those first few weeks.”
“It still sounds risky to me.Aren’t you worried they will decimate Merisu like they did Verlora?”
“They won’t, because you and I are the key.”
“You’ve said that before, but I don’t see how.Why would they listen to us?”
He went quiet and glanced left and right.“We shouldn’t speak of this here.May I visit you this evening?”
“Where?”
“Your parlor.”
“Without a chaperone?”Avera frowned.She couldn’t have said why her reluctance to be alone with him.She’d not balked at the time she spent with Griff or with Titus in his office.Blame the fact she’d been taught to not entertain gentlemen in her private chambers.
