Page 60 of Consort's Dragon
Griffon!
The shock of it jolted and Avera abruptly sat up in her bed, disoriented and with her heart pounding.It had felt so real, and yet what a strange thing to imagine.Blame what she would soon do.
As she sat up, she noticed she no longer wore her garments.She’d fallen asleep in her dusty riding habit but somehow woke in a gown of pure white, similar to what the viziers wore.Her hair had been brushed and braided.Who’d done this to her while she slept?Slept so deeply she never noticed being dressed nor did she have a nightmare featuring Zhos.They’d been happening more and more often of late.Always the same.A voice taunting her, telling her she’d fail.How she’d die.Reveling in relating the depravity it would commit on her people.
As Avera emerged from her room, she found Titus and the viziers sitting down to eat.The women had finally removed their head coverings.
“Who undressed me?”Avera couldn’t help but sound accusatory.
“I did to save us time, seeing as how we will depart after the meal,” Klothi stated.
At least it wasn’t Titus.Still, the temerity galled.“I could have done it myself after my nap.”
“Nap?”Titus chuckled.“It’s morning.You slept right through dinner.”
“That long?”The news stunned Avera.
“You obviously needed it.At least you will be well rested for the big day ahead,” Titus stated.“Come and eat.You’re probably hungry.”
Not really.The knot in her stomach remained and it didn’t help she moved as if still half asleep.What had Klothi put in the drink?As the viziers and Titus ate and spoke, Avera struggled to bring the fork to her mouth.
When they completed the meal, Titus clapped his hands.“Let’s hatch ourselves some dragons.Do you need me to carry your egg?”
“I’ve got it,” Avera muttered.She grabbed her satchel and slipped on the white slippers that had replaced the boots she’d been wearing.The white, filmy garments seemed an odd choice for traipsing in a volcano, but she had little choice as her other outfit had disappeared.
The satchel went over her torso, the weight of the egg bumping her hip.Titus carried his one handed while the other two appeared to be ensconced in white satin sacks carried by Kachezi and Karoki.Avera quietly followed Titus and the viziers as they moved back down to the main level, but rather than exit through the door, Klothi waved her hand over a section of flooring.With a grinding noise, the stone moved aside, revealing stairs leading down.
Avera roused herself enough to ask, “Where do these go?”
“To the heart of the volcano.”Titus reached for her hand and squeezed it.“We are about to make history.”
Or destroy those who would have written it.
Chapter15
Despite Avera’strepidation over their planned action, she descended the stairs with the others.Protesting would likely do no good.They seemed determined to go through with this, and she feared the reprisal if she refused.Especially from Titus.The man practically vibrated with excitement and his eyes held a gleam that discomfited.He showed no doubt, no worry, nothing but a giddiness that had him practically skipping, whereas Avera practically dragged her feet.As for his viziers, they’d returned to being faceless behind their veils.
The steps went down a few flights before ending in a tunnel that ran straight and narrow, forcing them to walk single file.The air within the tight confines warmed the deeper they went.Sweat beaded Avera’s brow while the dry air parched her mouth.
“Almost there,” exclaimed Titus, who led the way.He set off at a jog towards the orange glow at the end of the corridor.When he disappeared from sight, she knew they’d arrived.
They emerged from the tunnel into the heart of the volcano, and Avera wavered as heat blasted her head to toe.It hurt to breathe.Her eyes felt dry enough to shrivel into raisins.Her skin practically crackled as it tightened from the sudden loss of moisture.
Like the volcano in Verlora, Mount Ygnis had a ledge that ran around the circumference of the bubbling magma lake.However, it lacked a treasure trove.Would these new dragons be collectors as well?There didn’t appear to be any nearby towns for them to pilfer.
“Let us spread out,” Karoki stated, walking left while Kachezi turned right.Each of them held their bag with an egg.
Klothi pointed.“Move to a spot equidistant from Karoki.”
“Why?”Avera asked.
“Because we don’t want the eggs landing atop each other.”
An obvious point that Avera should have figured out.With ginger steps, she placed herself at one of the four points, putting Karoki straight across from her and already cradling her egg.Avera stood a pace from the edge where the magma rippled orange and red with streaks of black.Her stomach clenched into a ball.The heat had her feeling faint, or was that fear?
No one else appeared frightened.Titus teetered right on the edge, egg in hand, looking all too eager.
“Shall we toss them in on the count of three?”he suggested.
