on doing that?” It finally made sense now as to why the dragons weren’t more upset over the news. They had been waiting for this exact thing since the two of them had left.
“She is kin of dov. We will find her.”
“How? There are thousands of people in the Braebach. You can’t just find one among all of them.”
“You have little faith in our lim?”
“No offence intended, but no I do not.”
“Then I will explain. My time in the south was not without profit. I spoke with Insignor and Essdra of the elven nobility. He told me that the ones we seek will be in the north.”
“In the north… You still don’t understand. There is a lot in the northern Braebach. What if they are in Shienhin? Are you going to attack the city and hope to find your Dragon Lords?”
“Insignor also said that the blue dov will speak of the place that we will find them. Setur is nearing us now.”
“Anything else this prophetic elf thought to mention?” Torroth thought it impossible that even an elf could know what was happening in the north from the far south.
“He said that two human warriors would be required for our mission to not see failure.”
“You knew this the whole time. I can’t believe it. You played me from the moment that you announce your arrival this morning.”
“You will join us on this glorious hunt.”
“I figured out that much just now. I should be enraged at you, but that is the worst part. You are right. We have to save Inadar even if it means saving her from herself.”
“Humans can seem to be exceedingly unintelligent, but then they have flashes of wisdom. I believe humans have a word to describe the rare event. Shocking. Or was that the effect of a storm of thunder… It is unimportant. Now one other human warrior must be found and we must hear Setur.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you just complimented me.”
“Do not presume to understand my meaning.” Iradaemi stretched and appeared to be examining her wings.
“I can’t help you with finding another warrior. These are just a bunch of farmers here. Can I ask you a question?”
“There is nothing to do until Setur arrives so you may as well amuse me.”
“At least you aren’t trying to eat me.”
“Humans are unfit for consumption. What is your inquiry?”
“I am thinking of asking Anissa to marry me. We aren’t actually married like I told Onwier, but I am thinking of asking her to marry me. I have only known her for a few weeks but…”
“You aren’t yet mated and you wish for my advice. I am pleased. Two sparks of wisdom in the span of one sun.”
“Don’t insult me. This is serious. How do dragons choose a mate?”
“You ask a great deal of me. No one must be told of this. Dragons mate for life so we must be sure of our choice.”
“That is why I am asking you. I know I won’t live as long as you, but I want to know how you make such an important choice.”
“An important decision indeed. I will help you. Dragon females choose our mate when he hatches. A female dragon of a hundred years waits until she finds the male most suited to her. It sometimes takes many years, but when the sagno dov kea is sensed, then the female raises the hatchling to be her mate.”
“That doesn’t help me. I just met Anissa a few weeks ago. She didn’t raise me; although, I think most women wish they had had a hand in their husband’s upbringing.”
“Of course humans can’t take the time to raise their prospective mate. They rarely live to be one hundred.”
“Why did you tell me if you knew it wasn’t going to help?” Torroth tried to keep the irritation out of his voice.
“Because of this. Humans do not have the chance to ensure their mate becomes what they need to match themselves. They must find another human that fulfils these requirements. I understand it to be a crude method, but in the case of humans, it is unavoidable. I believe that leaving such an important thing up to sinam… chance, it is reckless. Your courting rituals are poor equivalents of our methods.”
“Please humor me and tell me exactly what you are getting at.”
“Is she a worthy mate?”
“How would you define worthy?”
“Is she strong? Can she provide for you if you are injured? Will she remain faithful to you? Can she bear you many