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“You’re such a careful huntress.”
“Wouldn’t I have killed her long ago? I had opportunities every other day. I could have done it easily when we where hiding together, listening to those cursed dragons smashing the upper level. A quick pounce and—snap! She was so slight, you could practically poke a claw through her. What did the griffaran messenger want?”
The Copper couldn’t decide whether she was being callous or just her usual practical self. She was a born warrior who left the dead behind and kept her regrets, if any, private. But maybe her instincts were such that when she had an enemy, she’d pounce. Grabbing a loin and shoving it down a rival’s throat would be too roundabout a way of doing it. And if she wanted an accidental death, she would have just tossed Halaflora down that endless flight of steep steps as they took in the view, and then claimed she slipped.
“We have a new Tyr. SiMevolant. I’m to return to the Lavadome. I suspect his first edict will be that everyone paint themselves blue or add stripes.”
“Si-SiMevolant? What happened to SiDrakkon?”
“He’s dead. When I saw him last, he looked healthy enough.”
“Is SiMevolant smart enough to execute an assassination?”
Would a killer be so ready to use that word? the Copper thought. His mind was turning quick enough circles, and he tried to put Halaflora out of his mind. “He may have just been pretending to be a fool so no one would suspect him. How did the title of Tyr fall on those golden haunches, I wonder?”
“Who will you leave in command here?”
“According to the message, there’s to be no war. Which sounds like SiMevolant. He’s just stupid enough to believe that it takes two to make a war.”
“Challenge him if you get the chance,” Nilrasha said. “You can defeat him. He’s big and thick-scaled, but he doesn’t know the first thing about fighting.”
“I’ve never had much luck with duels. I always seem to come off the worse,” the Copper said.
“Still angry with me?” she asked.
“Only if you killed my mate.”
“Do you forget what you said? We can’t be mated while she lives. She no longer lives. After a decent mourning period we can have our happiness. She would have died over your eggs. I can give you many.”
The Copper snorted. “This is not the time for that kind of talk.”
“I just…I just want to know that you don’t hate me. What must I do to make you believe I tried to save her? Stuff a horse down my throat and choke myself?”
“You’re too tough to choke on a horse. I must sleep. I’ve got a long flight tomorrow.”
“I wonder what SiMevolant has planned for you?”
“Tyr SiMevolant,” the Copper corrected.
“Not for long, I think. He won’t last his name-year.” She displayed her teeth and rattled her griff.
He left AuBalagrave at the Uphold, with instructions to defend the temple and inform the kern kings that he was in mourning over the death of his mate and would perform no functions, ceremonial or otherwise, until further notice.
Then he took to the sky. Thoughts of Halaflora took all the joy out of flying; now it was just a dull, exhausting routine. He broke his journey at the Tooth Cavern bridge to speak to Rayg and the Firemaidens and Firemaid.
“Supposedly there’ll be no war,” the Copper said. “But I want you watchful here nonetheless. I’m sure these hag-ridden dragons know of the existence of this bridge and this portal into the Lower World. They may use it to reach the Lavadome.”
The dragons nodded their agreement. Then the Copper pulled Rayg aside, to the little bench where he kept his plans and designs.
“I understand you’re to be congratulated,” the Copper said.
“For what? Construction on the bridge has stopped ever since that fight in the cavern.”
“Rhea. You’re mated, I hear.”
Rayg looked across at him, sucking on his fleshy cheeks. “I didn’t know you paid attention to that kind of thing.”
“I do. How would you like Rhea freed with you?”
