Page 67 of Consort's Dragon
“Will you be coming back?”Griff asked.
Your crew would be miffed if I didn’t return, seeing as how they all adore their precious captain.
“Wait?What?”Griff stammered, trying to make sense of the words, but not quick enough to avoid the sinuous tail that wrapped around him and lifted him from the deck.
The crew screamed, panicked and fearful at their captain being taken.
Kreed yelled louder, “Stop the caterwauling.The cap is fine.He and the dragon have an understanding.”
Not really.Griff understood nothing.Although, he really, really hoped Argent didn’t drop him.If he’d thought riding gripped in a clawed paw was bad, bobbing along like a kite on a string behind the dragon proved to be worse.Up and down, side to side.Griff, who was never seasick, felt queasy.
“Where are we going?”he asked to distract himself.
Merisu.
“Obviously.Are you heading for the volcano?”
I’m not sure.With so many of my brethren hatched in such a small area, my appearance might cause strife.We do not share territory well.
“Meaning those dragons aren’t your friends.”
Friendship is a human concept.We exist.We are the same and not.We do not usually associate.
“Sounds lonely.”
Another human emotion.
“Are you claiming you don’t feel?”
Feelings are for the weak.I am dragon.My life is about hunting, gathering, learning, and hoarding.
“What’s the point if you have no one to share it with?”
I used to be surrounded by blooded.
“Servants don’t count.”
I enjoyed conversing with a few.Your father, for one.
“I wouldn’t call what you do conversing.More like bitching, moaning, mocking?—”
And what do you think humans do?
“We laugh.We share experiences.We help one another.”
Not all.Although, I will admit your crew are rather intriguing.The old one who works in the belly of your ship has some interesting thoughts.
“They’ll be even more interesting next time now that Garth knows you’re a dragon.”Because his crew weren’t dumb.They’d put the pieces together.Argent missing, dragon appearing.
Back in my time, we had tinkerers.One made me the most intricate harness.
“Harness for what?”
Nothing.Argent went silent.
To Griff’s surprise, they alit on the shore of Merisu with Argent’s tail depositing him gently.
“Why are we stopping?”he asked.“I thought we were going to the volcano.”
