a Dragon’s soul. Often, this results in the release of new Dragon powers. Once a Dragon has completed this quest, he or she is regarded as a full adult member of the Dragon community, and is expected to bear a burden of responsibility and take a mate.”
Lia said, “So, you haven’t–”
“I have started.”
“Am I to understand, then, that exchanging oaths with a Human Dragon Rider was not a defining incident for you?”
“You think too much of yourself, Hualiama of Fra’anior!” His growl sounded so much like an admonishment of Amaryllion’s, at that moment, that Lia felt her lower lip tremble. Her terrace lake brimmed … and she despised her weakness. Grandion already thought her fragile, just a Human girl. The Dragon growled, “Nay, you meant it well, Lia. I … apologise.”
Briefly, a smile curved her lips. An apology from a Dragon?
With a visible twitch as he realised what he had said, Grandion complained, “By the fires of the Great Dragon himself, I’m starting to think like a Human!”
With that, the mountain of torment and confusion resulting from the last day dissolved into mirth for Lia. She knew an edge of panic lay at its root, but found herself incapable to withhold her laughter, especially as she took in Grandion’s increasingly bemused expression. She laughed until her stomach hurt and tears trickled down her cheeks. Too deeply wounded, her mind rebounded to a ridiculous extreme.
“What?” his discomfited laughter rumbled forth. “What’s so hilarious?”
At length, Lia chortled, “At last, one Dragon in this Island-World has achieved enlightenment.”
“ENLIGHTEN-WHAT?”
He coughed out a fireball at least ten feet in width, destroying a prekki-fruit tree across the dell from them. Oh, Grandion! Teasing him was a sport she could never tire of, even if it affronted a proud young Dragon. Despite his quick smile, Grandion’s belly-fires proclaimed his annoyance for an hour afterward.
Much discussion of the Maroon Dragoness’ words ensued, and much debate about the bargain Lia had struck with Ianthine. Grandion was scathing. “For what purpose did you grant that vile slug a favour? For knowledge which will haunt your nightmares ever after?” Flicker was more pragmatic. “As long as you never meet Ianthine again, Lia.” Hualiama concluded that if she could discover from which Eastern Island an envoy had come to Gi’ishior, fifteen and a half years ago, then she might learn her mother’s name and fate. But first, they had to return to the monastery offshore of Ha’athior.
As for Ra’aba, she refused to speak about him.
“We will not return to directly to Fra’anior,” said Grandion. “We must find your family, Lia.”
“Master Jo’el was very clear on the order of events–”
“On his order of events.”
Quirking an eyebrow, Lia smiled, “You’ve a better idea? Tell us.”
Grandion naturally set off on the wrong wingtip, snarling at Lia and squashing her–only half-jokingly–beneath his forepaw, before Flicker intervened to inform him that Lia was being neither insolent nor obtuse, but merely asking for clarification. His fires simmered down to a dull roar.
Arrogant male Dragon that he was, he made no move to release her.
Lia demanded, “Let me go!”
“Judging from the direction you say the Dragonships took while leaving the Fra’anior Cluster,” Grandion said, ignoring his captive’s wriggling, “we can surmise that Ra’aba removed your family toward Yaya Loop, or to Ur-Tagga Cluster, the closest of the Western Isles–both of which make for strange choices. Yaya Loop is inhabited by cannibalistic Human tribes, and Ur-Tagga would invite an enterprising Western Isles chieftain to take matters into his own paws for profit.”
Lia corrected, “Hands.”
Flicker burbled, “And you say I play with my food, Lia? Just look at Grandion.”
“I am not food! And I’d thank you to get your fat foot off my chest this instant, you weirdly flying chunk of flexible gemstone.”
“She might do that squeaking noise if you squash her a little more,” the dragonet suggested.
The Human girl drew breath to yell at her draconic companions, when the cunning reptile tapped his paw against her diaphragm. What came out was, “Grand-eeeyooo!”
Grandion snickered happily, making smoke billow out between his fangs. “Perfect.” Flicker zoomed around the Tourmaline Dragon, touching wingtips with him in celebration.
“Islands’ sakes, gently with the little Human,” Hualiama complained. “We’re breakable.” She shoved Grandion’s paw with all of her strength, but she might as well have attempted to move an Island. Lia gave up with a long-suffering sigh, peering up at the Dragon between his knuckles. “Fine. Grandion, where do you suggest we look?”
“Well, I conclude that we’ll find the King of Fra’anior in neither of those