Thigocia blinked at the gentle old man. He had obviously learned the proper way for a human to greet a warrior dragon. She thumped her tail twice in response. “And peace to you as well, Sire.”
“I will make sure their food is ready,” Emzara said, turning to leave.
Noah bowed to Makaidos. “Hail, new king of the dragons.” As he lifted his head, large tears streamed from both eyes. “It is a pity that your coronation comes on a day of sorrows. Today you have lost a father, and I have lost a grandfather. While death and destruction surround us, shall we weep together or rejoice that God has rescued us from this calamity?”
Makaidos glanced at Thigocia. “With all due respect, Master Noah, she dragged me in here. I would have died fighting alongside my father.”
Noah waved his hand. “Trust me. I understand. God sometimes has unusual ways to bring about his purposes.” He lifted the lantern toward the rafters. “Would any human conceive of such a vessel? If I were to destroy all flesh, I doubt that I would plan to cover the earth with water and then load a stampede of goats, monkeys, and squirrels onto a monstrosity like this!” He chuckled softly. “Preposterous! Three thousand years from now, will anyone even believe it happened?”
The boat rocked again, slinging Noah to the floor. As the ark leveled, Makaidos extended a clawed hand and lifted the old man gently to his feet. “Perhaps they will believe it,” Makaidos said, “if anyone lives to create the next generation.”
Thigocia thwacked Makaidos on the leg with her tail. “Behave yourself!”
“Father!” Shem rushed to Noah’s side. “Are you all right?”
“I am.” Noah brushed a coating of sawdust from his cloak. “What about Eve’s Door?”
“I couldn’t believe it!” Shem ran his fingers through his hair, bouncing on his toes like a child. “It was already closed! All we had to do was seal it!”
Noah lifted a wrinkled hand. “Praise to Elohim! He watches over even the most careless of his flock!”
Japheth bustled into the chamber, still carrying the bucket and clutching his side. “Adam’s Door and the window are sealed.” He closed the door behind him. “Shall I seal this one as well?”
Noah shook his head. “No need. It will hold. When the rain stops, we will want access to the window.”
“Before I sealed the shutters” Japheth slowly opened the interior door again “this bird barged in.” A large, wet raven flew through the doorway and darted into the rafters. It floundered from beam to beam and scattered droplets until it managed to perch on a wide truss near the ceiling.
“Very strange,” Japheth said. “It seems to have forgotten how to fly.”
“Leave it be,” Noah said. “It has been battered by the storm, and it’s exhausted. We can leave birdseed out later.”
Japheth set the bucket down and patted Thigocia’s front leg. “Do you want to see your quarters? They’re not much more than stalls, but we humans have the same accommodations, so we’re not playing favorites with anyone.”
Thigocia jerked her leg back and smirked. This human could learn a lesson or two in manners from his father. “Thank you,” she said. “I would like that.”
As Japheth led Thigocia into the dark chamber, Makaidos followed. “I would also like to see my quarters. I am exhausted from the battles.”
Japheth glanced back. “I wasn’t sure if you would need a separate room for an egg nest, but that can be constructed later.”
“An egg nest?” Makaidos repeated. “Dragons bear their young alive.”
Japheth scratched his head. “I guess I should have known that.”
“Few humans do. We have not produced many offspring since the day of our creation.”
“Anyway,” Japheth continued, “the stall is plenty big for you and Thigocia, even if you have a . . . a baby. I don’t know what you call a little dragon.”
Makaidos halted. “We have the same stall?”
Japheth stopped and turned around. “Yes, of course. We thought ”
“My son,” Noah interrupted, walking behind the group. He caught up and draped an arm over Japheth’s shoulder. “Dragons have morals and rituals that are similar to those of humans, and as God’s prophet, I have the authority to join Makaidos and Thigocia in wedlock. We will create their covenant veil immediately.”
Japheth tilted his head at his father. “Covenant veil?”
Noah clasped his hands together. “When two dragons join, they must pass through a spiritual veil that tests their hearts’ willingness to commit to their union forever. If either dragon