Page 89 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

“This, here, is my lake,” Cyrus said, gesturing behind him. “And this dragon has set her claws in it one too many times. It’s time for me to put my foot down. I’m not running a bloody spa for beasts!”

“I don’t think so, Cyrus Goddard, you old grump!” Seraphine crowed. Townsfolk parted around her as she stormed up to him, hands on her hips. “Go on and get down off your high horse, because you don’t get to decide anything.”

“It’s my bloody lake, woman,” he crowed.

Seraphine didn’t even flinch, instead poking one bony finger into his chest. “And according to the town charter, in times of great crisis, all natural resources that fall within town borders become the property of the community until the crisis has been dealt with. As far as I can tell, Ember Ridge is still burning. That seems like a pretty big crisis to me.”

A murmur of agreement swept through the crowd.

“And the lake would qualify as a resource,” Eden added, a triumphant grin curling across her face.

“Seeing as Min is a contributing member of this community,” Seraphine continued, “she has every right to use the lake.”

Cyrus opened his mouth to reject her statement, but a voice rang from the crowd. “For Min!”

“For Min!” another voice cried, sending a chill through me.

“For Min. FOR MIN!”

Cyrus blanched as he looked around, one man standing against hundreds. I rose to my feet, hands curling by my sides. Whether he wanted to accept it or not, nothing was going to stand between me and getting Min into the lake.

He threw his hands up in defeat. “Bah!”

Seraphine led the cheer, but I couldn’t even take a moment to celebrate, hearing another wheeze rattle up Min’s throat.

“Come on, girl,” I said, trying to rouse her enough to stumble forward. “You can do it. You’re so close. Just a little further to the water.”

“Get a cart,” Matty called. “A flatbed and rope! Does anyone have rope?”

Answers arrived from the crowd, and the next thing I knew, Min’s legs had been secured with lengths of rope, and the townsfolk lined up in four rows. It was everyone. Trystan and the crew from the infirmary and the bakers from town and random members of the kingsguard and Dalton and children and⁠—

“One. Two. Three. Heave!” Matty shouted, tugging on one of the ropes with all his might. “Again! One. Two. Three. Heave!”

Together we managed to drag Min onto the flatbed, rolling her down the bank to the lake.

“Push it into the water,” Matty called, shouldering the wagon with a group of men.

I waded out to the water as Min was rolled from the cart. Water splashed over my face. I trudged through the muck on the bottom of the lake, trying to reach her head.

“Min!” I called, scooping my arms beneath the edge of her jaw. “Here you go,” I said, keeping her snout above the water. “That’s it.”

She sucked in a ragged breath as Matty and Eden dove down, untying the ropes from her legs.

“You’re okay,” I whispered, stroking the smooth scales of her snout. “You did amazing today. Truly. All you have to do now is rest.”

Min whined in the back of her throat.

I fought off a sob. “What do you say we retire, huh? Together. I think we’re both deserving of a little break after all this.” I knew that today was her last flight. There was no doubt about that. And I was devastated for her. More than that, though, I just wanted her to survive.

I wasn’t ready to give up my best friend. What would my life look like without her?

Min’s giant eyelids fluttered.

“Think of all the things we could do together,” I whispered. “Your favorite things. We’d have so much time on our hands. Every morning I’ll get you ham and cheese rolls from the bakery. A whole basket of them, just for you.”

Her tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

I gave a wet laugh. “You’d like that. And when you’re stronger, we can go bother Cyrus and try to convince the old grump to sell his lake again.”