Dragon Rule - E. E. Knight [30]
“And Nissa,” AuRon asked, dredging up the name from his memory.
“Nissa means ‘morning dove’ in my language. Our nickname for her. Now she only answers to the Ghioz court name the Red Queen gave her, Desthenae.”
“Married at eleven, to one of the Princes of the Sunstruck Sea,” Hieba said. “Not our doing, some Ghioz title in charge of her sold her maidenhood and absconded when the Queen’s rule collapsed. We’re just grateful this Prince made her a wife, instead of a concubine, as the men in those parts are wont to do.”
“Those white-turbaned fellows?” AuRon asked. He’d fought them once, to defend his blighter allies in the mountains of Old Uldam.
“It’s a fractious land,” Naf said. “For the most part they keep quarrels among themselves.”
“I hardly know the world outside our island,” Natasatch said, in her shaky Parl. Istach corrected her pronunciation.
“Hieba made an unofficial journey to see her,” Naf said. “She’s, well, even influenced her husband to prefer us to the old Ghioz states in matters of trade routes. Their caravans offload here now, rather than in Ghioz.”
“I’ll be happy to fly you down there,” Natasatch said. “I’m learning that I enjoy travel.”
“Very kind of you—lady . . .” Naf said, searching for a title.
AuRon harrumphed. “We don’t have any sort of rank you need to refer to. Though we have come to talk to you about this business with the Grand Alliance.”
“It’s a pleasant day,” Naf said. “Perhaps it would be easier for us all to talk outside. I’ll have some chairs brought.”
Once they settled in, Hieba and Naf seated with a few of their court in attendance, AuRon and his family facing them, and some roast mutton long since gone down dragon gullets.
“I’m here to convince you to rejoin the Grand Alliance,” AuRon said.
“That fat SoRolatan was almost as bad as the Ghioz,” Hieba said. “He’d pluck cattle right out of a field or dip his neck right into a net full of fish. He threatened to burn down the dome if we didn’t bring him more coin.”
“Did he protect you from anything?” AuRon asked.
“Biting insects, I suppose,” Naf said. “They avoided his reek.”
“Your kingdom is in an odd predicament,” AuRon said. “I understand it fell into the Grand Alliance rather than joining.”
“I would have your counsel,” Naf said. “Perhaps fresh dragon eyes can perceive that which is puzzlement and dilemma.”
“Counsel? My eyes won’t help you much in political murk,” AuRon said.
“Then let’s escape it. Come, AuRon, I’ll fly, if you’ll humble yourself to bear a human on your proud and unconquered back. Like Tindairuss and NooMoahk of old, eh?”
They brought out sewn-together sheepskins rigged with stirrups and horn. “It’s a saddle for an elephant, if you must know. They’re used down in the logging camps to the south.”
AuRon’s mouth watered at the memory of elephant. Chewy, but one could dine for days.
It took some time for Naf ’s saddlemaster, or whatever his title was, to adjust the straps so they fit snug on a dragon. Naf eventually put on a heavy cloak and climbed on.
“Keep your scarf about you,” Hieba said, rechecking his stirrups. “It’s cold, flying on dragon-back.”
“Ah, AuRon,” Naf laughed, “you’re wider than the hunting horses a king rides for pleasure. It’s like sitting atop a flat old plowhorse.”
“Be sure not to tip him,” Natasatch said. “That would be a terrible beginning to our diplomacy.”
“He’s tougher than he looks,” AuRon said. “Ready? Don’t be alarmed, I flap the most taking off.”
With that, AuRon launched himself into the air. Naf kicked him hard in the throat as his heels sought purchase, hanging on for dear life.
“What direction first?” AuRon asked.
“North,” Naf said.
AuRon swung toward the blue green of the Falngese river. “Here, to the north, is where we first met. Wallander’s an ally of ours, of sorts. The traveling towers don’t cross the lands since the Ironriders waged war on the lands west, but there