Page 74 of Consort's Dragon
“I told you, it will be different this time.Once Zhos is gone?—”
What if your plan fails?What if the rift doesn’t open?Or you can’t get Zhos through?
“Then all this will have been for naught.”Karoki sighed, her shoulders rounding.“I need something to eat.Do not move from this rooftop,” she ordered, and in reply, the pendants on the collars hanging around the dragon necks glowed.
Karoki glanced Avera as she passed.“Don’t even think about trying to remove the chains.”
“They’re trapped, I know.”Avera hugged herself and waited until Karoki had been gone a moment before saying, “I am sorry for what’s been done to you.I did not realize their plan.”
And if you had?
“I would like to say I’d have tried to stop them.”
At least you ensured Daerva escaped.The tan cocked its head.
“Do you think Daerva will return to rescue you?”She stumbled a little using the name, having a hard time reconciling it with the country she knew and the dragon it belonged to.
Unlikely.Why would she risk being caught?
“Because you’re family.”
The bugling of the dragons almost sounded like laughter.
We are not related in the same sense as you humans perceive.
“Well, you must be friends, seeing as how you’re the only dragons in existence.That gives you a commonality.”
Friends…Green stated musingly.That isn’t something we’ve ever contemplated.
“Maybe you should.Perhaps working together you can figure out a way to free yourselves.”
If we do escape, then you cannot use us to eliminate Zhos.
Avera shrugged.“I know.But I now wonder who would be worse for the world.Zhos or Titus?Both seem determined to cause chaos and death.”
Power can be addictive.
“To others, maybe.I never wanted to be a queen.I was happy being the forgotten princess.”Her lips turned down.“When Zhos ensured the deaths of my family, I had no choice but to take on the role.The people of Daerva needed someone to lead them.Unfortunately for them, I failed.Failed to protect them from the traitors who killed my mother.Failed to find the eggs and keep Zhos quiet.Failed to realize what Titus planned.Failed you.”
Tell us your story.The tan dragon settled on its belly.
“Why?”
How else can we understand the world we’ve hatched into?Tell us your story, Avera Voxspira.But before you start, bring us some sheep.We’re hungry.
And so, Avera led the lambs to slaughter, but thankfully it wasn’t as horrible as expected.The dragons kindly snapped the necks first and then cooked the meat before eating it, although she declined when they offered her a chunk.
As they crunched, she told them everything.The story of her life.The things she’d learned about Zhos and what she knew of the plan hatched by Titus and the viziers.By the time she finished, true darkness had fallen, or would have if not for the orange glow of the lava rivers.
Thank you for your informative tale.Hearing it has helped me choose my new name.The blue dragon stood tall and bugled as it stated,Calixte.
“Oh.Thank you.”Avera understood enough to know it considered taking her mother’s name an honor.
I shall be Lance,the green dragon announced, leaving only the tanned dragon.
I should have liked Gustav, but as he might still be alive, I shall select something similar.Gunther.
“Very fine names,” Avera stated even as she hid her surprise at them going with human ones.“I should probably go see if there is something to eat.”She rose and stretched, her body stiff from sitting so long.
