Page 96 of Dragon’s Ending

“Why?” I asked eventually. Why me? Why me?

“I think,” Mortimer said carefully, “that there are a number of strong, intelligent leaders among us. Those who also understand responsibility towards those less powerful than themselves are somewhat rarer.”

The room seemed suddenly still.

“Your father commands obedience,” Mortimer continued. “You inspire attachment. Those are not the same qualities.”

That was probably the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me, which was deeply unfortunate because it had come from a terrifying ancient dragon who’d threatened to kidnap my boyfriend.

“I don’t know,” I said at last. And I was being honest. That was possibly a bad tactic to use when talking to Abimelech Mortimer, but sod it—my mind was frazzled. I didn’t know what I could bring to this council thing. I didn’t know if I’d even be a member of this family this time tomorrow, let alone in the future.

“How—” I stopped myself. Asking if a dragon who’d been shunned by their family could possibly have a role would be to announce to him the problems in this family. And we couldn’t show weakness.

I took another tack. What if I weren’t exiled? “How would it work if a member of this council were to have, say, head of family obligations? How much time would it take? Would it meet physically? Where?”

I closed my mouth very firmly. The questions were spilling out as if I were really considering this.

“I have discharged both my head of family obligations and my leadership obligations without issue,” Mortimer said. “I cannot believe that anyone with shared rather than sole responsibility would be unable to balance the two.”

I heard the rebuke. But his eyes were extremely sharp on mine, and I knew he’d gleaned far more than I’d wanted him to from the fact my head of family status had been hypothetical.

“As for the rest, that is for the council itself to decide.”

The room fell silent, a weapon I already knew Mortimer used to devastating effect. I was still half-convinced I was having one of the wilder dreams of my life, but if I wasn’t… Did I want this? This level of sheer responsibility?

I already knew, deep inside. I did.

“There are going to be numbered agendas. And minutes,” I realised mournfully.

“So you’re willing to be part of this?”

“Possibly,” I said, “but I’ll need to talk to Ben before making a final decision.”

To get Ben’s take on the whole thing, on me being part of the whole thing, and because it was going to have an impact on our future. Plus, Ben would probably want to know all the terms of reference and if there was a written constitution and all that kind of stuff. Things that would never have occurred to me before I met him, and which I was deeply grateful I had him to worry about for me.

“How many dragons will be on this council?”

“I’m still deciding. I’m choosing them for their qualities, rather than to meet an arbitrary quota. My only stipulation is for an even geographical representation to avoid accusations of unfairness.”

He gave me the very faintest of smiles, announcing this conversation was over and that he was not displeased with how it had gone. “You may let your father back in now.”

Before I knew what I was doing, I opened the door. Ben fell into the room from where he’d been leaning against the door, and I caught him.

My head was still spinning from everything Mortimer had said, but I had Ben in my arms, and that was the most important thing.

BEN

Mortimer rose smoothly to his feet as I regained both my balance and what was left of my dignity.

“Well,” he said mildly, as though none of the last hour had happened. “Thank you for your hospitality, Rhodri. It has been a most illuminating evening.”

Illuminating for whom, I wanted to ask. Personally, I was completely confused.

Rhodri produced a small, polite smile. “You’re welcome to stay the night, of course. The roads are unpleasant in this weather.”

For one surreal instant, I pictured Abimelech Mortimer in one of the guest bedrooms, with Glenys offering extra towels and warning him about mice.

“A generous offer, but unnecessary,” Mortimer said. “My driver is waiting.”