smell of smoke was faint but undeniable on the air, but he detected other smells associated with humans, too—hides being cured, meat roasting, a hint of crushed herbs, which seemed far more pungent than when the plants were left whole.
That was Elliya’s village, the home of her tribe. The home she wanted him to share.
And now he could see more of the humans—all female, armed with spears, posted near the chokepoints that led to their dwellings. He only counted four more beyond that first pair, and he supposed that was for the best. He could handle a few humans.
As though in response to that thought, Elliya seemed suddenly just a bit heavier in his hand.
I can handle these other humans, at least.
A thousand possible approaches to this first encounter with her people flitted through his mind, followed by twice as many potential outcomes. It was impossible to guess how these humans would react to him or whether they’d be able to help Elliya.
Thrusting those speculations aside, he adjusted his wings to glide down toward the village. He shifted Elliya into one hand, clutching her against his chest scales, and made no effort to mask his approach. The sentinels near the box canyon caught sight of him within moments and raised cries of alarm.
Falthyris aided them by releasing a roar into the night air. When that echoing dragon call faded, more human shouts filled the silence, and more females rushed out of the cliff dwellings with spears in hand.
Holding Elliya closer still, Falthyris landed heavily, kicking up dust and stone. A group of females was already gathered between him and the dwellings ahead, all of them appearing young and lean, all of them undoubtedly huntresses. And, despite the fear glimmering in their eyes as Falthyris straightened and lifted his head high above them, they stood their ground, holding their weapons at the ready.
Falthyris released a huff through his nostrils, unable to prevent the licks of fire that came out with it. The females were speaking to one another, more and more of them arriving every moment. One jet of flame would’ve been enough to incinerate them all. Had humans forgotten so much about facing his kind?
He kept Elliya against his chest, sheltered by his body, and swallowed the threatening flames. She was infinitely more vulnerable to their spears than him.
“Send forth Telani, mother of Elliya,” Falthyris commanded, his voice rumbling and gravelly.
The huntresses murmured in startlement, exchanging wary glances.
Falthyris lowered his head and bared his sharp teeth. “Do not try my patience, mortals!”
With a collective gasp, the huntresses shrank back—but to their credit, none fled.
“I am Telani,” an unarmed female called in a strong, steady voice as she strode through the group of huntresses to stand before Falthyris. She was clearly Elliya’s elder—there were fine lines on her face that Elliya did not have, and steaks of gray broke up her long black hair—but the resemblance between the two was readily apparent, especially in those dark eyes. “What business have you here, dragon, and how do you know of me?”
Falthyris clenched his jaw. These were Elliya’s people, this was her mother, and yet he found himself reluctant to so much as show her to them. She was his alone.
But to protect her now, I must counteract those instincts.
He forced himself to extend his arm. Elliya’s torso was draped across his scaled palm, legs dangling over the side. She did not stir.
“My child!” Telani rushed forward without a hint of hesitation to lean over Elliya, touching the younger woman’s face. “What has happened? What have you done?”
That quickly, Falthyris knew where Elliya’s courageous spirit must have come from.
“Dunehounds,” he replied, battling the instinct to snatch his mate away. “She has suffered from a fever for several days.”
“Oh, my daughter, my heart,” Telani said, smoothing hair back from Elliya’s face. She looked over her shoulder at the other humans. “Fetch the medicines and bring them to the pool. Go!”
A few of the females—each unarmed, like Telani—jolted into motion after a brief pause during which their terrified eyes had remained fixated on Falthyris. They all ran back toward the cliff dwellings.
None of the huntresses looked away from him despite their open fear and uncertainty, but neither did any move closer.
“Help her, human. Heal her,” Falthyris said.
Telani tilted her head back to look up at him. “We must bring her to Cetolea.”
He failed to see what good glowing water could do for his dying mate and wondered briefly whether he’d made a mistake in bringing