“It’s poor management that led them to such a downfall,” Merna said.
“That’s certainly true,” Mr. Nethenabbi acknowledged. “Though I do think the press has been harsh on the whole exchange, particularly Lady Scaleheart. At least there’s one good thing to come of it all: Mr. Calwood, who is a friend of mine, is fortunate that he can keep all the eggs from their breeding.”
Mamma exclaimed over his connections and their clan’s vast empire of dragon nests. Merna even put away her book to look moderately interested.
Alyce hung on every word of Mr. Nethenabbi, and took the lead in asking him questions. “So, when do you anticipate having fully grown dragons at the Netherfield nest?”
Nethenabbi smiled at her, warmly and sincerely. “We have brought eggs with us, which we expect to hatch in the winter, under the hatch-mothering of Nedine. It will be a decade or so before they reach full maturity. However, we have also brought an adult dragon with us, my Azafira.”
Alyce leaned forward, pulled more by his boisterous smile than the content of his speech. “How smart, a headstart as it were. Will you take tenant farmers, then, supported by your dragon?”
“No, Azafira is far too nest-tetchy presently to work with farmers. We will use her for occasional shipments to and fro Netherfield, to aid in construction. But her main purpose is for the derbies.”
Nedine, with obvious pride in her brother, added, “Louhan has raced in many Kinellan derbies. He’s quite an accomplished rider, and has a true psychic bond with Azafira. He really couldn’t bear to be parted with her.”
Valeraine straightened in her seat. A psychic bond with a dragon was rare, and she had never met someone who had one. “How did the bond develop?” she asked.
“The dragon has been my companion since I was a boy, ever since she was tamed by my mother,” Mr. Nethenabbi said. “It was because we grew up together, connecting over many years.”
“It’s the only bond on record in the Nethenabbi clan,” Nedine bragged. “He is exceptional.”
Selaide stole the conversation, uninterested in rare magic or impressive dragoneering. “Will Netherfield be hosting a derby then? With a proper ball? There have sometimes been balls in Galsopshire, but the magnificence of Netherfield would outshine all of those.”
Nethenabbi said, “Of course we will host a derby, with a proper ball. Within a month, I think. It will be the finest derbyGalsopshire has seen in decades.” He looked at Alyce and said, “Longbourn will of course be invited.”
“Your house will certainly be invited to the ball,” Nedine said with consoling condescension, “but as I understand it you have no dragon fit to race. What a shame it is that Longbourn cannot participate in derbies.” Nedine gave a pointed look in the direction of her brother, one of smug censure, as if underlining an earlier point. It seemed they had been gossiping of Longbourn, and not complimentarily.
The silence that came upon the room was not filled by Alyce, who was far too much of a peacemaker to have a true response to Miss Nedine’s insult. It was not filled by Selaide, who had little care for dragon racing so long as she got her majestic ball to attend. The silencemighthave been filled by Mamma, nervous and fluttery, if she had thought of something to say quickly enough. It might even have been filled by Kesley, honey tongued and not of Longbourn house, able to position himself as a neutral party and diffuse the situation.
But the one who broke the silence was Valeraine, with her chin up and her hands clenched at her sides: “Longbourn is a dragon house. We have a powerful dragon, who does more for our tenant farmers than yours presently can.”
Nedine seemed to relish the challenge, leaning forward in her seat to match Valeraine. “But he’s too old to race, isn’t he? It’s quite an accomplishment to have kept him alive for so long. Your house must take such good care of him. How many decades has it been since he won a derby?”
Valeraine couldn’t say. Didn’t know. Lelantos had never raced in her lifetime, and it might truly have been generations since he won. Derbies were so far from the business of Longbourn that she wasn’t even sure how she would go about discovering the history. Had one of her grandfathers ever taken down the records of Lelantos’ victories? Or had they not cared, even then?
Mr. Nethenabbi rested his hand on Nedine’s forearm, as if to restrain his sister, but she continued.
“He is getting quite long in the wing, as I understand it, and may expire any day now,” Nedine said. “Though his presence does extend the technicality of the title of dragon house to Longbourn, you —”
“Longbourn will fly in your derby,” Valeraine interjected.
Several people laughed at this declaration. Papa let out a chuckle, as he knew exactly how unprepared Longbourn was for a derby, and how funny it might be to see them try. He stifled his laugh quickly, though, knowing it would only hurt his daughter to hear it. Mamma and Selaide gasped, more from astonishment than humor. From Miss Nedine Nethenabbi there was a scoff, but not a confident one. She did not have the advantage of the Longbourns, who werecertainin how unprepared Lelantos was to fly in a derby. Nedine only suspected from the rumors (and conjecture based on the ramshackle appearance of their nest, which she had seen from her grand carriage upon arriving).
Mr. Nethenabbi shared his smile with Valeraine. “Of course, Longbourn is welcome to the derby.” He addressed the next question to Papa, as it was men’s business. “Who will ride it?”
Papa, who was never quick to speak and had no insight to provide to this question, shook his head slowly. Before he could admit there were no sons to take up the mantle of dragon rider (he was certainly too old to do it), Kesley came to the rescue.
“I will be happy to serve Longbourn house as their rider, on Lelantos.”
Papa nodded to this, tranquilly, as if it had always been the plan.
“Quite unorthodox,” Nedine said, “but I suppose you must do what you can. It’s a pity we won’t be able to truly test our mettle against the distinguished Longbourn house, but instead an alliance between Longbourn and Sidton.”
“I’ve been part of this nest for years now,” Kesley reassured. “This is practically my home, even if I don’t bear its name.” He gave his cocky smile and told the men, excluding Miss Nedine with the tilt of his shoulders, “Lelantos will have the advantage of being the only non nest-tetchy dragon at the derby, if I don’t miss my mark. Perhaps he will surprise you yet. Longbourn house has certainly surprised me.”
Kesley winked at Valeraine, a gesture so quickly there and gone that she thought she might have imagined it.
There was no immediate response to this volley, and the room lapsed into silence.
