Page 49 of Consort's Dragon
“I’m not afraid of drama.Don’t forget, our union would cement an alliance between our two countries with countless benefits.We could eliminate tariffs between our nations.Share knowledge.”
“Assuming Benoit is ousted.”
Titus waved a hand.“He will be.I won’t have an imposter sitting on my consort’s throne.”
“Even if I did agree, there is the issue of heirs.You claimed to not need one, given your plan to live eternally.However, I will have a normal lifespan, meaning I’ll need someone to rule after me.And, if I can be morbid, preferably two or three heirs so that there is a spare in case of an accident.”
“If you want children to inherit Daerva, then it will be my pleasure to provide.”
Avera didn’t know a delicate way to say the next part.“Given your past experience with fertility, I am concerned.”
Rather than take offense he laughed.“Such a polite way of saying I’m impotent A valid concern.However, my viziers seem to think that my issues in that regard have been resolved with my rejuvenated youth.According to them, I should be able to get you with child.”
A clinical way of saying they would be intimate.Together.
Her cheeks heated.“That is good to know, but raises another issue.Where do we live?I cannot rule Daerva from Merisu, just like you need to be present in your own country to ensure you don’t lose control.”
“We shall travel back and forth as often as needed.Don’t forget, the dragons will aid in that respect, flying us across much faster than sailing by boat.”
“They can fly that far?”She couldn’t help sounding skeptical.
“I can’t see why not.”
He didn’t, but she did.Such a great distance offered nowhere to rest.Unless dragons had unlimited stamina, she didn’t see how it could be done.
“Would they even allow it?They aren’t horses trained with saddles.”
“While the book didn’t depict it, the blooded did ride them back in the day.”
“Sounds terrifying.”
His lips curved.“I’d have said exhilarating.Imagine the faces of your people and the imposter if we were to arrive atop dragons.”
She did see it, had dreamt it actually.Only it wasn’t Titus who rode with her.
“You’ve given me much to think about,” she murmured.
“While you ponder the merits of becoming my consort”—an arrogant way of asserting claim when in truth her people would seehimas the consort—“let us discuss what will happen once we reach Mount Ygnis.”
“You’re going to toss the eggs in.”One of which resided in her saddlebags, one with Titus, and the other pair with the viziers.Just in case, as Titus said when they split them.Should something happen on the road, he didn’t wish all four to be lost in a fell swoop.
“Given what happened to Verlora, I shall be slightly more cautious.For one, it will be just you and I and the viziers inside the volcano.We shall deposit the eggs in the magma, and then flee to the shrine before the volcano reacts.”
“Isn’t this shrine at the base of the mountain?That hardly seems far enough to protect us once the volcano explodes.”
“But as far as we’re likely to make it before the lava begins flowing.The shrine is encased in metal and impervious to the heat of the magma.It has been there for at least a thousand years and withstood both minor and large eruptions.The viziers assure me it is a safe place to wait for the dragons.”
“What of earthquakes?Griff—er, the pirate who kidnapped me—claimed the ground shook hard enough to create chasms.”
“We’ve never had any tremors in Merisu.”
“You’ve never hatched dragons either,” she pointed out.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine or Kachezi would have seen something.”
Should she criticize the amount of faith he put in his viziers’ supposed foretelling?She’d yet to decide if she truly believed.Could be they’d guessed lucky.Her skepticism was aided by the fact Avera rather hated the thought of her actions being predetermined.
“When will I meet them?”she asked instead.
