Page 53 of Consort's Dragon
“But why do you like it?”
“It’s shiny.”
The reply made Griff snort.“That is the dumbest reason.”
“Why do humans collect it?”Argent countered.
“Depends on the item.Jewelry because it’s valuable and pretty.But some of the things in your hoard, the chalices and gold plates, serve an everyday purpose.”
“A dragon uses its hoard to bargain.Humans are easily bought.And you might scoff, but there is pleasure in staring at pretty things.”
“Is that why you requested a mirror for your room?”
“Is there anyone more perfect to stare at than me?”
Monty, who’d been quiet for once, snorted.“You ain’t that pretty.”
“Says the jealous boy.”
“Am not,” huffed Monty.
“It’s perfectly natural to envy me all the things you didn’t inherit.It must not be easy going through life with your little…” Argent’s gaze dropped to Monty’s lap as he smirkingly said, “mind.”
Monty turned red and took a swig from his mug.
Talking to Argent proved quite the experience as the dragon didn’t lie or hide, but at the same time kept pointing out humanity’s inferiority—according to dragons.
“I am curious, if the egg resurrected you with all your memories intact, why change your name?”Simhi asked.She often chatted with Argent, to Monty’s annoyance.
“A new life deserves a new title.”
“How did you choose it?”
“Lance did, in a sense.He said the sheen of my scales reminded him of liquid mercury.But Mercury’s been used as a name before.I do like the look of dark silver though, hence Argent.”
Griff changed tangent.“Can we talk about Zhos?”
The name brought a grimace to Argent’s lips.“Must we?”
“Yes, because while you might want to ignore it, we can’t.”
“Fine.”Argent sighed.“What do you wish to know?”
“Where did it come from?”
“A bad place not of this world.It crossed over during a rift that formed during a particularly rare celestial alignment.”
“Meaning more of its kind could come through?”Simhi queried, brow creased.
“Possible.Guess we’ll soon find out.”
“What’s that mean?”Griff asked.
“The rift opens every thousand years or so.The next one is in a few weeks.”
That dropped all their jaws.
“Should we be preparing?”Griff clenched his fists rather than throttle Argent for only just now telling them of this danger.
