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Authors: Christopher Rowley
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There was nothing to say. The wild dragoness and the young had chosen not to return to the fort with Bazil. In truth, there was no place for them there. In the current situation, they would be a sore embarrassment to the legion and spur unrest in the town.
The curtain pulled aside, another, even vaster bulk slid into the stall. Suddenly the place was crowded. Relkin climbed up into his cot and got above the massive dragons.
Their visitor was the Purple Green, the largest dragon in the legions and a former wild dragon who had lost the power of flight when his wings had been clipped by the enemy. The Purple Green had once contested with Bazil for the green dragoness herself. Since then he and Bazil had become fast friends.
"I heard that it went badly today," began the great wild one in his usual manner, getting straight to the bad news.
"It did not go well," said Relkin from his cot.
"This means the same thing as badly, right?"
"Right."
"Humans have many words and often turn them inside out. It is hard sometimes for a dragon to understand why." The huge wild one settled himself and exchanged handclasps with Bazil. The dragons spoke together in dragon speech.
Relkin gave a mental shrug. Dragons were utterly confident that they were the superior species. It was better to let them think this way, it made life easier for the poor, overworked dragonboy.
The Purple Green continued to press.
"So now we must consider what to do. We cannot let them hang the boy."
"I suppose not," said Bazil.
For some reason this annoyed Relkin beyond endurance, and he spoke up.
"And what do you think you can do to stop them? What can anyone do? Run off and live wild in the forest?"
"Why not?" said the Purple Green.
They fell silent. Relkin cursed himself for bringing up the idea.
"Because we'll starve. Dragons eat too much to live wild."
"Nonsense," said the Purple Green, "I, the Purple Green of Hook Mountain, lived many years in the wild. I roamed from Dragon Home to Mt. Ulmo, all the length of the north-land. I went where I willed, and I ate whatever I found there."
"But that was when you had wings," said Relkin, "and now you fight for the legions and eat legion food because you would have starved ta death without them. You think Baz and I can make it as hunters? We haven't hunted since we were youngsters back home in the village."
"We three will go; we will hunt together. I have learned many things while I lived among humans. There are many ways to hunt."
Relkin suppressed his immediate answer. The thought of trying to hunt deer and elk and suchlike with a pair of huge, ground-bound dragons for company was too ludicrous for words.
"And what about Manuel, what does he say?" Manuel had done wonders in his months with the Purple Green. Although there was a certain distance between them, Relkin respected Manuel's skill with the dragon. Relkin had cared for the Purple Green himself and understood how damnably difficult it could be. The wild one's temper was volcanic and easily awoken. Manuel rode out these tantrums with commendable aplomb.
The Purple Green snorted with disdain at the mention of Manuel, however. This surprised Relkin, for he had always thought that the Purple Green liked the new dragonboy. He had always said so, usually on his way to condemning Relkin for some dereliction of duty to dragonish comfort.
"You haven't told Manuel of your plans then?"
"Boy knows nothing. I cannot trust him on this matter."
"Great," muttered Relkin, "we run off to the woods, and I have to take care of both of you."
"You did it before. You did well. I understand that now.
At the time I did not realize. I was ignorant of these matters. You did good job, you can do it again."
Relkin felt his cheeks color.
"You're crazy, I am not going off to the forest to look after the two of you while we starve to death."
"So you want to stay here and be hanged?"
Relkin's anger skidded to a halt. He looked down, unable for the moment to meet
The curtain pulled aside, another, even vaster bulk slid into the stall. Suddenly the place was crowded. Relkin climbed up into his cot and got above the massive dragons.
Their visitor was the Purple Green, the largest dragon in the legions and a former wild dragon who had lost the power of flight when his wings had been clipped by the enemy. The Purple Green had once contested with Bazil for the green dragoness herself. Since then he and Bazil had become fast friends.
"I heard that it went badly today," began the great wild one in his usual manner, getting straight to the bad news.
"It did not go well," said Relkin from his cot.
"This means the same thing as badly, right?"
"Right."
"Humans have many words and often turn them inside out. It is hard sometimes for a dragon to understand why." The huge wild one settled himself and exchanged handclasps with Bazil. The dragons spoke together in dragon speech.
Relkin gave a mental shrug. Dragons were utterly confident that they were the superior species. It was better to let them think this way, it made life easier for the poor, overworked dragonboy.
The Purple Green continued to press.
"So now we must consider what to do. We cannot let them hang the boy."
"I suppose not," said Bazil.
For some reason this annoyed Relkin beyond endurance, and he spoke up.
"And what do you think you can do to stop them? What can anyone do? Run off and live wild in the forest?"
"Why not?" said the Purple Green.
They fell silent. Relkin cursed himself for bringing up the idea.
"Because we'll starve. Dragons eat too much to live wild."
"Nonsense," said the Purple Green, "I, the Purple Green of Hook Mountain, lived many years in the wild. I roamed from Dragon Home to Mt. Ulmo, all the length of the north-land. I went where I willed, and I ate whatever I found there."
"But that was when you had wings," said Relkin, "and now you fight for the legions and eat legion food because you would have starved ta death without them. You think Baz and I can make it as hunters? We haven't hunted since we were youngsters back home in the village."
"We three will go; we will hunt together. I have learned many things while I lived among humans. There are many ways to hunt."
Relkin suppressed his immediate answer. The thought of trying to hunt deer and elk and suchlike with a pair of huge, ground-bound dragons for company was too ludicrous for words.
"And what about Manuel, what does he say?" Manuel had done wonders in his months with the Purple Green. Although there was a certain distance between them, Relkin respected Manuel's skill with the dragon. Relkin had cared for the Purple Green himself and understood how damnably difficult it could be. The wild one's temper was volcanic and easily awoken. Manuel rode out these tantrums with commendable aplomb.
The Purple Green snorted with disdain at the mention of Manuel, however. This surprised Relkin, for he had always thought that the Purple Green liked the new dragonboy. He had always said so, usually on his way to condemning Relkin for some dereliction of duty to dragonish comfort.
"You haven't told Manuel of your plans then?"
"Boy knows nothing. I cannot trust him on this matter."
"Great," muttered Relkin, "we run off to the woods, and I have to take care of both of you."
"You did it before. You did well. I understand that now.
At the time I did not realize. I was ignorant of these matters. You did good job, you can do it again."
Relkin felt his cheeks color.
"You're crazy, I am not going off to the forest to look after the two of you while we starve to death."
"So you want to stay here and be hanged?"
Relkin's anger skidded to a halt. He looked down, unable for the moment to meet
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