03 - Sworn (31 page)

“Human girl.” If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of a smile in her voice. “Fancy meeting you here. Again.”

“We weren’t looking for you,” Aren said. “Again.”

“And yet here we are.”

Aren looked back at the baby dragon. “They’ve grown, just in the past few weeks. Quite remarkable.”

Ruby shrugged, a gesture that flowed from her shoulders to her tail. “We don’t waste time. They’ve eaten well, and my cave was well-stocked with treasure. They were nearly ready to grow the first time you saw them, and now they have. It’s not complicated.”

“You did say they’d be out on their own in a few weeks,” Aren replied. “I just didn’t think they’d be so... impressive.”

Florizel whinnied as the dragonling crouched, eyes fixed on her. Ruby raised her head. “Enough,” she said. “Leave it.” The dragonling continued to advance, and Ruby let out a warning growl. That got its attention. The smaller dragon stepped back.

“You can’t talk to them at this age,” Ruby sighed. “I do try. At least she listens better than her brother.”

Florizel’s head whipped around to search the dark for another dragon.

Ruby chuckled, a rumbling sound like an avalanche. “He’s gone,” she said. “You only have the two of us to contend with right now. This one listens better, but her brother was the more accomplished hunter. He left us several days ago.” Ruby stretched, digging her claws into the stone-strewn river banks as though they were made of garden soil, arching her sinuous back toward the stars. “This one’s smarter, too. She recognized you, human prince. Lucky thing she’s more curious than hungry.”

“Lucky, indeed,” Aren said, sounding uncomfortable. “If it’s food you’re looking for, we left a dead gryphon upstream a ways.”

Ruby’s long nose wrinkled. “I know. She smelled blood and I let her track it this far, but I don’t think she’ll be pleased with what she finds. If she wants to be a scavenger, though, she’ll have to learn to take what comes.” She turned her eyes on Florizel. “I prefer fresh meat.”

“Not this one, please,” Aren said. “She’s a friend.”

Ruby snorted her disappointment. “I guessed as much.”

“We left a fire burning,” I said. “I don’t suppose you’d let us go back to it?”

“Oh, of course. Let’s do that.”

I couldn’t say no if she wanted to join us. We were lucky we weren’t a meal yet. I led the way, with Aren and Florizel walking behind and Ruby after them, just close enough to make us all uncomfortable. The dragonling trailed behind her, making a racket as she bounced over the shore and kicked rocks into the water.

“Can’t imagine why she’s a poor hunter,” Aren said quietly.

Ruby growled. “I heard that.”

When we reached the fire the dragonling continued on, sniffing the air and the ground.

“Go,” Ruby called, and waved toward the cliffs. “Find your prize.”

Her child darted upstream.

Ruby made herself comfortable on the rocks. The firelight flickered off the glow of her red scales, a mesmerizing sight. Her appearance was as horrible and as beautiful as I remembered, and now that my fear had abated somewhat, I was able to appreciate it. It wouldn’t do to get too comfortable, but perhaps I could be one of few people to ever truly enjoy the company of a dragon.

Yes, before she decides to eat you.

“You’re far from home,” Aren observed.

“Home no longer,” she said, “though I intend to return for my treasure some day. It’s mostly gold now that the young have devoured the best of it, but still. I’d hate to see it fall into someone else’s claws.”

“Or hands,” I added, remembering that it was cursed. I’d done more reading on that subject in the school library at Belleisle, and had become even more glad that I hadn’t taken any for myself when Ruby offered. It would have turned me into the worst version of myself. I didn’t wish to consider where that might have led.

Ruby grinned. “I wonder how that would have worked out for you.”

“Me, too,” I admitted. “Not that I want to see. I just wonder what it would look like.”

“If I may say,” Aren said, “you seem more contented than last time we met, Ruby.”

“Hmm. I feel better, too. Since we left the cave behind, I’ve felt more alive. I thought I belonged there with my young and my treasure. That’s all a dragon should want. That and fresh meat once in a while, and I’d filled up on that before the wee ones hatched. That cave served me well on previous clutches, and I was confused as to why I felt discontented this time. It became a little better once I was in the open air and able to stretch my wings. And then the hunters came and killed one of my young, and I felt despair. I hated it, and I hid away.” She glared at me. “What?”

I realized I wore an expression of something between amazement and confusion, and tried to smooth it away. “I just… You’ve never spoken this much to us. Been so open…” I struggled to find something to say that wouldn’t anger her. “It’s nice.”

She inched her face closer to the flames and let her eyes fall half-closed. “I’m changing as I age, and I don’t care for it. I was happier when I was younger, when I didn’t have so many thoughts and words in my mind, when I knew nothing but hunger, rage, greed, pain in my muscles after a mating or a fight. Or both. The great pleasures of life.”

She seemed to expect an answer to this. “All wonderful things for a dragon, I’m sure,” I said.

Her scaly lips pulled into a smile. “Don’t pretend you don’t know those urges, little human. In any case, life was simpler when that’s all there was. But now I think about things that have nothing to do with survival. I have questions, I want to share my thoughts, be a part of the world. This is pleasant, what we’re doing now, but it’s shameful to me as a dragon.” Her wings rustled. “I need to accept it, or do the right thing and put an end to my life. I haven’t decided yet. Now, girl. Your prince told me more of your story, but he did a terrible job of it. It’s your turn. Tell me what happened after you left me last time, up until when we just met by the river.”

I couldn’t say no, even though conversation was the last thing my tired brain needed. I’d made a promise when she let us go that first time. I tried to keep my eyes open and my yawns in check, and to make things as interesting as I could.

Ruby rested her chin on the ground and relaxed, but kept her green eyes on me as I spoke. They crinkled in the corners when she caught me glossing over details I wasn’t comfortable discussing in front of Aren, but she didn’t interrupt me or demand more. I thought Aren would fall asleep, but at the end of the story he was as awake and attentive as Ruby.

“Better,” the dragon said. “Much better, thank you. This was quite entertaining, and clears up a few things I’ve wondered about humans. This love situation in particular is strange and fascinating.”

Aren smiled. “I probably did a bad job of conveying certain aspects of the experience.”

“You tried,” Ruby said, and let out a hot breath. “Listen to me, offering reassurances. I’m a sad shadow of a dragon.”

“At least you’re not asking for them yet,” Aren offered. “So what happens now? You have your story, and to your satisfaction, but I’m not sure we’re done with it yet. If you’d consent to once again not eating us...”

Ruby turned her gaze on him without moving her head. “I think we can dispense with that pretense now. We all know I’m not going to eat you.”

Florizel lifted her head. “I didn’t know.”

“Best stay light on your feet, tender morsel,” Ruby muttered.

Florizel moved farther away and laid down behind the thick line of trees.

“So what, then?” I asked. “Are you and your young one going to Tyrea? I suspect you’ll be safer from humans over there. We heard that the magic hunters are taking an interest in the borderlands these days.”

“We’re well away from human habitations now,” Ruby said. She yawned, revealing sword-like teeth and filling the air with smoky breath. “This is a good area for hunting.”

Somewhere in the woods, Florizel moved farther away.

Ruby lifted her head as a long shape descended from the moonlit sky. The dragonling landed in the shallow river and splashed toward us. Ruby pushed herself up and shifted her front half into the water, grabbed the young dragon, and dunked its head under.

“Clean your face after you eat,” she said when it popped back up, sputtering. “Go to sleep.”

She settled back down, but the dragonling remained in the river, pacing back and forth, flapping its wings. Ruby watched the performance and sighed. “You don’t need my permission. Go, if you think you’re ready. I’ll not stop you. Be safe, little fool.” She snapped her teeth at her child, apparently a dismissal.

The young dragon darted in and head-butted Ruby under the chin, then raced downstream, picking up speed until she spread her wings and lifted off to spiral into the night sky.

“Will she be all right?” I asked.

Ruby watched the fire with heavy eyes. “She will, or she won’t. I doubt she’ll let me know. I didn’t see my own mother after I left the nest. Don’t even remember what she looked like.” She yawned again. “This is why I find it so interesting that you’re going back to yours, Rowan.”

For some reason, that voice speaking my name set the skin on the back of my neck crawling.

“I desire to know more about this,” she said. “About your attachments. It’s fascinating.”

“Would you like to join us?” I asked.

Aren had been taking a sip from the water-skin, and choked on it at my words.

Ruby shifted her forelegs to rest her chin on her wrists. “You wish it?”

“Rowan,” Aren whispered, as though that would keep the dragon from listening in. “We should talk about this.”

Ruby smiled, and her ivory teeth glinted. “I’ll leave you for tonight. I think your horse friend will sleep better without me here, anyway.”

A snort sounded from the forest.

Ruby lifted her bulk onto four feet, turned, and started downstream. “I’ll think on it,” she called over her shoulder. “You do the same. This could be entertaining.”

I looked back at Aren, who didn’t seem impressed. “Entertaining?” he repeated. “This is a terrible idea. We can’t trust her. She’s just going to draw attention as we get near civilization. And—”

“And she can fly. You can’t go far when you’re injured, right? If Florizel carried you…”

His jaw dropped. “You can’t ride the dragon. You noticed the spines on her back, right? I can’t imagine that would be pleasant or comfortable.”

“We’ll see. It’s something to think about, at least. This will get us to Stone Ridge more quickly.” I was excited by my idea now. “If Ruby carries me somehow, Florizel could take you, or you could fly and give Florizel a break once you’re able. Ruby’s not going to turn on us.”

“You can’t know that.” He spread blankets out to make one bed, but I suspected there wouldn’t be many affectionate touches this night. “You’ve had some crazy ideas before, but this one might be the worst.”

I crossed my arms and resisted the urge to scowl. “Everything has worked out so far.”

He glared at me. “Would meeting up with Callum Langley have worked out so well for you if Florizel hadn’t found me, and if Nox, Kel, and Cassia hadn’t agreed to help rescue you?”

My stomach tightened as his words sank in. “I thought you’d forgiven me for that.”

He didn’t say anything.

“Gods, Aren. I said I was sorry.”

“I wish you’d talk to me before you do something crazy.”

“You weren’t there to talk to when I left Belleisle.”

He laid down on the blankets and made space for me in front of him. “Let’s not fight.”

“Why, because you don’t want a crazy person mad at you?”

He closed his eyes. “I didn’t say you were crazy. I said your ideas were. And I think we’re both too tired to talk rationally about this. Can we just get some sleep?”

At least I couldn’t argue with that. I lay down beside him, and was surprised when he wrapped one arm around my waist.

“You’re a strange person, Aren.”

“So are you. Go to sleep.”

21

ROWAN

A
night’s rest mellowed Aren’s opinions on the subject—or at least gave him the distance he needed to see that we really had little choice. His arm was better in the morning, but the gryphon had clawed deep into muscles that remained too stiff to attempt flight. It left us with little choice. A dragon’s assistance, or extra days of walking. When Ruby returned, Aren agreed that we should at least discuss the idea.

Her laugh at the notion of carrying me to my family didn’t help my confidence, but I thought she’d see the journey through as a form of entertainment, if nothing else. Aren said a dragon couldn’t be trusted, but she hadn’t betrayed us thus far. If it meant helping my family, I’d take that chance.

“So how will we do this?” I asked, and adjusted the pack on my shoulders. Aren stood next to Florizel, looking pale and tight-eyed and more nervous than I’d ever seen him. I ignored it.

“I’ll carry you in my claws, if it suits you,” Ruby replied, and demonstrated by cupping one long-fingered forepaw with the deadly sharp talons curving back toward her chest. “If I use both, it should be more than enough room for you. Terribly cozy.”

“That will be fine,” I squeaked. It seemed incredible that I managed to speak at all with my mouth so dry. This idea suddenly seemed exactly as terrible as Aren thought it was. Worse, maybe.

Ruby rested the back of her paw against the ground, and I sat on the palm. She smelled of smoke, and something hard and metallic. Not unpleasant, exactly, but some deep instinct begged me to flee.

She sat up on her haunches and cupped the other forepaw around me. I drew in a sharp gasp at the sudden movement as she lifted me, but felt secure enough. The world around me shifted to a dizzying angle, and I pushed myself to a more comfortable position in the cage of her claws.

“Just try to remember not to squeeze, please,” I called.

“Hold on, Ruby,” Aren said. I thought he was going to call the whole thing off. I half-hoped he would. Instead, he said, “Do you have any egg shells left from your last hatching?”