Page 68 of Consort's Dragon
We are not alone in the sky.
“Say what?”Griff craned to look and blinked as sunlight glinted off something in the bright blue and cloudless expanse overhead.
Be quiet.
Before Griff could ask why, a dragon plummeted towards them.Argent didn’t move, but rather sat tall and—dare he say—arrogantly, waiting.The beast that alit was much smaller than Argent, its scales silvery sheened, its appearance dainty.
Greetings.I am Argent, formerly known as Verlora.Argent bowed his neck, but never took his gaze from the smaller dragon.
Greetings to you, as well.I was known as Daerva but have yet to choose my new name.My hatching had some unexpected issues.Her head pivoted and her gaze slitted.Why do you travel with a blooded?Are you not aware of the betrayal?
I know what the humans did.However, this one has proven useful.
Watch yourself.In the eons we’ve been gone they’ve plotted against us.I know not all the details, but can assure you, it is unpleasant.
I’m aware they kept us in the shell and used us to guard Zhos’ prison.
Did you know they plan to sacrifice us again once the rift between our worlds opens?
Argent hissed.I suspected as much.Never again, though, will I donate my life and blood.
I’m afraid our kin won’t have a choice.The blooded have trapped them.I only narrowly escaped being collared.
“What collars?”Griff blurted, somehow a part of the conversation.
As if you don’t know,the small dragon hissed.The blooded who hatched our eggs betrayed us again, placing collars around the necks of Merisu, Okkilam, and Pequilh.I only narrowly escaped.Alas, our brethren weren’t as lucky.The blooded control them now.
How is this possible?Argent huffed.We are dragon.A human cannot order us around like a dog.
Tell that to the three who are captive.
Why didn’t you free them?Argent exclaimed.
How can I when the blooded have ordered them to capture me if I come near?Merisu struggled to give me warning before a command forced it to attack.
Argent stiffened.That is disturbing.
Hence why I chose to move on.Given the issues with this continent, I shall find another to roost upon.
Verlora is mine,Argent hissed, claiming his stake.
Keep it.I was thinking of seeing how my namesake isle is.Surely Daerva is as magnificent as me.
Griff felt a need to interject.“Um, Daerva has been taken over by an imposter.Benoit had the Voxspira family killed, all of them but Avera, and stole her throne.It’s also where Zhos is strongest, so you might want to avoid it.”
So, it truly does awaken?
“Yeah.Apparently, once your eggs were removed, it managed to start wiggling free from its prison.Or ice lake or whatever’s holding it in place.Avera tried to get the stones back to stop it, but the emperor got to her first,” Griff summarized.
Stones?You speak of the eggs as if they are unimportant objects to be used.
“Sorry,” he hastened to say.“I only recently found out they were eggs.You have to understand, until I met Argent, I thought dragons were a myth.”
This world is very annoying,the small dragon said, and he could practically hear the sniff.
Agreed.
“Did you happen to see someone called Avera?”Griff asked.
