Page 94 of The Infirmary for Dragon Burns and Midair Mishaps

The woman caught her lip between her teeth, laughing. “My bigger issue seems to be that I can’t get rid of it.” She pushed the door open wider, revealing a small, wriggling wyrm, no bigger than a loaf of bread. It sat on the steps like it was waiting to be invited inside.

“Shoo!” Seraphine said, brandishing her mop. “Go on. Shoo!”

The wyrm opened its mouth, threatening sparks.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Seraphine said, dragging the woman inside and closing the door on the wyrm. “We’ll get you patched up and on your way.”

“Why don’t you follow one of our burntenders?” I said.

Talani stepped forward, picking up a form from Seraphine’s desk as she went. “I’ll be looking after you today. My name’s Talani.”

“Ricky,” the woman said, following Talani into an exam room.

Seraphine started mopping again, huffing when there was another knock at the door. This time a shaggy-haired young man popped his head into the infirmary.

“How can we help you?” Seraphine called, barely lifting her eyes from the floor. “Dragon burn? Midair mishap?”

“Uh…” He hesitated. “I’ve actually just misplaced my… gloves. I was wondering if they were here?”

I perked up at his question. Seraphine stopped mopping and glanced my way, eyebrows arching dramatically. I scowled at her. Stop being so obvious!

“Eden, missing gloves?” she said. “Think you can handle that?”

“Matty,” I said, turning to him, keeping my expression neutral. “Can you please finish up today’s exams?”

“Sure thing,” he said, rubbing his hands together as he gathered up the students again. “Next we move on to the wonderful world of fractures. Who here has ever used a splint?”

An eager hand shot into the air again.

I bit my lip and shook my head at the sight, then turned to the shaggy-haired visitor. “If you want to follow me this way,” I said, waving him through a door. “I think we have what you’re looking for.”

He trailed after me into the storeroom, and I locked the door behind us.

“So, uh…” He wrung his hands together, looking round awkwardly at the stacks of linens and bandages. He lowered his voice, checking over his shoulder like someone might magically appear. “I was told you could make me some armor for dragon riding. Armor that doesn’t burn.” He dug into the pocket of his trousers and put a handful of gold coins in my hand. “I can pay whatever the cost.”

I gave him half of his money back. “That’ll do.” I rolled a carpet back along the wooden floor, giving the boards a thunk with my boot. A moment later, a hatch opened, and I spotted Vaela’s narrowed, curious expression.

I crouched next to her. “We’ve got a customer.”

“He knew the password?”

I nodded. “Asked for gloves.”

Vaela threw the hatch back, revealing a short wooden ladder. “Come on down,” she said brightly to the stranger.

The man gave me a curious look, then followed her through the hatch. I waited until they were gone, then turned around and tucked the coins into a large jar hidden on one of the shelves behind a pile of old linen. It had been labeled Lake Fund.

I grinned as I struggled to fit the coins inside.

“Eden?” Vaela called.

I jerked, heart racing as I shoved the jar to the back of the shelf. “Coming!”

I smoothed my hands down my skirts, then followed them into the workshop. At the bottom of the ladder, warm, yellow lanternlight filled a massive room that was brimming with benches and long tables and tall wooden posts that held half-finished chestplates. Piles of dragon scales adorned the tables, sorted by size and color, and jars of salve filled shelves along the wall.

“New order?” Nisse asked, looking up with interest from the tedious task of painting dragon scales with the protective layer. She smiled at the man, gesturing to a pedestal. “Step over here, my friend. Let’s get you measured.”

Vaela tossed her the measuring tape. “What were you thinking?” she asked the rider. “A simple chestplate or the works?”