“They are probably planning on turning us over to the army now. Can you imagine what kind of reward they could get?”
“A few gold coin? I can’t leave that dragon in slavery! It is a noble creature that shouldn’t be shackled. Their realm is the sky.” Inadar plopped down on the bed.
***
“Some tea?” Fenar was outside Urake’s door with a tray of tea things. She smiled at Cero when Urake invited her inside.
“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Urake accepted a steaming cup and breathed in the aroma.
“I have always wanted to see a dragon.” Fenar poured another cup and gave it to Cero who was watching her suspiciously while squirming strangely every few moments.
“I should have known. I suppose there is no harm Cero.”
“She works for you too?” Cero undid the top button on his shirt, allowing a little green head to poke out inquisitively. The dragon’s forked tongue flicked out and tested the air before Bani crawled out of Cero’ shirt. He paused for a moment before spreading its wings and gliding to the floor a few yard or so away from Fenar’s feet.
“It’s beautiful. It looks like his scales are made from pure emeralds.” Fenar pulled a piece of meat out from under a linen napkin and dangled it in front of the dragon that was slowly inching its way forward. When he saw the meat, Bani advanced a little faster until he was a couple feet away. It then struck at the meat and tore it from Fenar’s fingers. Bani ran up Cero’s leg and sat on his shoulder to devour the morsel.
“Hear anything else of interest?” Urake asked after taking a sip of the tea.
“Just the usual gossip. I did overhear a couple of your people. Inadar and Torroth, I believe. They were planning on leaving tonight.” Fenar poured herself a cup and sat at the table.
“I suspected as much. She knows more than she should, but I doubt that she knows enough to be a problem.”
“They changed their minds.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. It seems that the girl believes that Cero has enslaved the little dragon. She also believes that young Cero is able to do this because he is a Dragon Lord.”
“What? No. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Bani just thinks that I am his mother. I would never do anything to try and hurt him.” Cero protested the injustice of the accusation.
“Interesting. Just to warn you, she is staying to try and free it, so keep an eye out.”
“Hmm. Thanks for the warning. I believe that she will be a handful, but it might take some time for her to get used to us. Torroth could be a real help if he were to put his mind to it.” Urake laughed as Bani finished his meal and began a high pitched purring warble that sounded like he was in pure bliss.
“Thanks for the tea and the meat for Bani. He enjoyed it immensely.” Cero gave Fenar one of his smiles.
“My pleasure. It was nice to meet little Bani. I must attend to some things, but let me know if you need anything else.” Fenar nodded to each and took her leave.
Chapter Eight: Confrontations
“What do we do now?” Cero inquired after they had spent a few days in Warton. Tusul had been working around the clock to finish a few pieces of armor and various weapons for Urake. Emeck’s new under armor fit perfectly and Cero was close enough to the same build that it didn’t take much to make another set for him. Arken’s armor was in the works right now. Niman, Torroth and Inadar had turned down offers for armor of their own. Niman’s concerns about it only slowing him down were echoed by both Torroth and Inadar.
“I am going to pick up a couple things from Tusul, but you should probably keep Bani out of sight.” Urake put his boots on and began lacing them up.
“I mean, where are we going next after Warton?” Cero dangled another piece of meat up for Bani to grab. The little emerald dragon gingerly tugged it from Cero’s fingers before chomping down with gusto.
“Shienhin, then the shipyards. We want to help Em’risi, but we need to find out more. There is still that problem of people seeing your little dragon.”
“Bani isn’t mine. I think he sees it as the other way around.”
“Just be careful. Dragons are things of terrible legend and untold power. There are many who would