a full day each way.”
“I can survive for a couple of days by myself,” Magda said. “If Abigail and Anatoly just leave me some firewood and some food.”
“You won’t be entirely alone,” Ixabrax said from behind them.
“Quite right,” Magda said with a smile. “I couldn’t hope for a more formidable guardian, and honestly, I want out of this bed more than you can imagine.”
“You might be surprised,” Alexander said.
“Sorry, I forget you’re injured as well.”
“One other thing,” Alexander said to Anatoly. “All of the men are away with the army and the women are pretty put out about it. I nearly got mobbed when I strolled through their market. I suggest you wear some of that armor,” he gestured toward the pile of armor and weapons they’d collected, “and come up with a story that involves Lord Zuhl’s official business.”
“Right,” Anatoly said. “With the size of his army, I imagine he’s got every able-bodied man on the entire island under his banner.”
“I’m sure of it,” Alexander said. “I’ll be back in a few days.”
Alexander opened his eyes as he lay in his bed on Tyr. He was greeted by throbbing pain behind his eyes and Anja’s snout shoved into the doorway of his Wizard’s Den.
“Are you back?” she asked.
He nodded, closing his eyes and sitting up. He swung his legs off the bed, knowing it would hurt and welcoming the distraction of the pain in his leg over the pounding in his head.
“I’m sorry I got mad at you,” Anja said, “but I just can’t stand the idea of you leaving me. It makes my stomach hurt.”
“I know, but it’s for the best. Once this war is over, I promise I’ll visit, provided your mother permits it.”
“That’s not enough. I want to be with you. I could help you.”
“I’m sorry, Anja. I know you believe that, but you’re wrong. You would only put me in greater danger and risk your life in the bargain.”
“Put yourself in my place. If I was going off to war and you were being made to stay here, wouldn’t you want to come with me? Wouldn’t you want to protect me?”
“Of course I would. Believe it or not, I understand how you feel more than you know. My wife and sister are both in danger, and my father is leading my army against a force he can’t withstand. I want to be there with all of them, but I can’t and it hurts.”
A big tear welled up in Anja’s catlike eye and rolled down her snout onto the floor. “Please don’t leave me.”
“Anja …” he stopped when he felt Bragador approach. His precognitive awareness of her or any other dragon, save Anja, still puzzled him.
“Child, stop torturing the man,” Bragador said, stepping up next to her daughter. “Can’t you see that leaving you will hurt him as well? He’s made the right decision for both of you.”
“But I hate it,” Anja said. “I want to go with him. I can’t stand the idea of losing him.”
“I know, Child,” Bragador whispered. “You never should have had to suffer this.”
“What do you mean?”
“You were never meant to bond with a human. Young dragons are supposed to bond with their mothers. You were supposed to bond with me.” Bragador’s voice was steady, stoic even, but Alexander could see the turmoil in her colors.
“I’m sorry that I love Alexander, Mother, but I can’t help it.”
“I know. You have nothing to apologize for. The fault is mine. I allowed Phane’s people to steal you away from me and it breaks my heart that you will suffer for my failure.”
“It’s not your fault, Mother. Just like it’s not Alexander’s fault. The blame rests squarely with Phane and he deserves to pay for everything he’s done.”
“Perhaps you’re right, but we are not meant to exact that price.”
“Maybe not, but that’s what Alexander is going to do, and I want to help him.”
“Anja, hear me well, Phane would kill you, or worse,” Bragador said. “Child, in single combat, he would kill me. You’re rushing into something you do not understand, something quite beyond you.”
“Then we should all go,” Anja said. “He can’t kill all of us, and when we’re done, he’ll be dead.”
“At what cost? Who among us would you sacrifice to kill this one human? He will die of age before you are old enough to bear children of your own. How many dragons would you see die to kill Phane?”
Anja frowned but didn’t respond, instead withdrawing her snout from the Wizard’s