Page 40 of Consort's Dragon
“That and also more people like me who can hear you.”
Why would I need another when I have you?
“I am not staying,” he exclaimed as he heard Monty loudly saying, “What’s the cap doing?Is he trying to get eaten?Why hasn’t he chopped off its head?”
I think I shall start my meal with him.Argent craned once more to look, and Griff lost patience.
His sword exited the scabbard, the wolfframm blade glinting in the partial moonlight.The metal, rare and very precious, mined from a fallen star, exhibited special properties that allowed it to slice through just about anything.He pressed the point of it to the scaled chest.
“Leave my friends alone.”
Argent’s head whipped around, and it hissed,You dare to threaten me?
“Only because you’re stubbornly refusing to listen.You cannot eat my friends, and I need to go.”
Then you leave me no choice!
Griff braced himself, reluctant to fight the beast, at the same time he couldn’t give in to the dragon’s unreasonable expectations.“I don’t want to kill you, Argent, but I will if you refuse to listen to reason.”
As if you could kill me,the dragon snorted.But rather than rejoice in your failure, I shall grant you your wish.But if you want to depart, then I will need some of your blood.
“Excuse me?”
Blood.You know, the red liquid that drips from wounds.Why must you pretend to be so stupid?Or perhaps it’s not an act?
“Why do you want my blood?”
I can’t exactly fly for days without a perch, and your ship isn’t suitable for landing.Hence a change in size is needed.
The first part made sense, the latter… “When you say change in size, are you saying you can shrink?”
Of sorts.It would be much easier to show you.But for that, I need the blood from someone with the proper lineage.
He hesitated and Simhi muttered, “Just give it what it wants.”Simhi might only hear one side of the conversation, but it proved enough for her to understand what occurred.
“How much blood are we talking about?”he asked.
More than a few drops, but not enough to harm you.If you fill that cup on the ground, that should do it.
A cup full?He glanced around and saw the battered tin vessel lying on its side.Not a huge tankard, but still a daunting amount to fill, and for what?So the dragon could join them?What an intriguing idea.
“What’s going on, Cap?”Kreed yelled.
“Just give me a moment.Argent and I are negotiating.”He snatched the cup off the ground and handed it to Simhi.“Would you hold this for me?Argent wants my blood so it can shrink.Given it needs a full mug, I’d rather not spill any on the ground.”
“How’s blood going to make it small?”Simhi eyed the dragon with skepticism.
“Guess we’ll find out.It’s not as if I havemuch choice.”
You don’t.
Griff grimaced as he poised his blade over his palm.“Another day, another scar.”Before he could change his mind, he slashed.Blood ran quick and bright, but Simhi caught every dribble, and as the liquid reached the rim, Griff slapped the wound and applied pressure.
“Now what?”Simhi asked, holding the filled cup aloft.
Tell her to place it on the ground in front of me.
“Put it down in reach of the dragon.”
