Dragon Rule - E. E. Knight [62]
The Copper recognized the banner—the knotwork-and-goat-tracks design of the Grand Alliance. It gave him a turn for a moment: Was this some scouting party returning?
No, there was no mistaking that gray dragon with the regrown tail. His brother AuRon. And that near-orange-striped fellow, DharSii. He’d turned up unexpectedly again, like the musked stone in a game of Nose-Hunt.
What sort of game was his brother playing?
He forgot his empty stomach, called the Griffaran Guard, and flew to the other side of the river. He alighted just behind NiVom.
Some blighter elders, a few walking with the aid of sticks or staffs, stood behind the banner of the Grand Alliance. AuRon and the DharSii fellow both bowed.
AuRon cleared his throat. “On behalf of the Grand Alliance, we’d like to welcome Tyr RuGaard to Old Uldam and the foothills of the Bissonian Scarpes. You should have sent messengers; we weren’t able to prepare a proper reception and a feast worthy of our Tyr.”
“Here in the borderlands I won’t stand on ceremony. What’s going on here, AuRon?” the Copper asked.
“You’re looking at the new Protector of Old Uldam,” AuRon said. “The blighters of the Bissonian Scarpes asked to join the Grand Alliance. I accepted, as I think you’ll find them worthy allies—provisionally, of course. King Naf has already spoken in favor of it. It’s up to the Tyr and our friends the Hypatians to further cement the alliance, of course. If you so choose.”
The Copper spotted AuRon’s daughter, Istach, standing protectively at her father’s exposed flank. Every time he looked at her face, his heart gave a thump, thinking Jizara had somehow returned.
One of the blighters extended a bundle of wheat and another a piece of honeycomb to him, yammering something in their tongue as the griffaran circled close overhead.
Well done, AuRon. A terrific joke.
The whites of NiVom’s eyes showed up against the red at the center, but he kept his griff still. Old habits of the Lavadome, no doubt.
“AuRon, you already have an Uphold to manage. As I told NiVom when this expedition set off, it’s too much territory for one dragon to cover. You’d forever be flying. No, we must have someone else.”
“Perhaps CuRemom. He’s a bright Ankelene,” NiVom said.
“No, blighters need someone robust and energetic. CuRemom is energetic enough, but only in his workshop. No. AuRon, what do you say to your daughter Istach taking the position?”
Istach, who seemed to be going out of her way to avoid notice by hanging back behind DharSii, popped her head up like a startled turkey.
“Me?” she squeaked.
“My Tyr, we hardly know her.”
“Her parents do, they’re just a long day’s flight away. They can help her along.”
“We came all this way for nothing?”
“It was a splendid exercise,” the Copper said. “Surely a commander as careful as you has a path of retreat selected. I look forward to watching you follow it.
“I think, as these blighters seem to hold you in some regard, AuRon, that we should pick as a Protector a dragon related to you. Istach it is.
“A female Protector?” NiVom asked.
“Why not? Many a widowed dragon-dame has served in her husband’s stead.”
“But this dragonelle is barely fledged. Her mind will be on mating and feasting and society. A collection of mud huts is no place for a dragonelle.”
“I think I should manage,” Istach said, glaring at NiVom. “As you said, my Tyr.”
“Well done, my new Protector,” the Copper said, laying his tail across hers.
“I had my first uphold at a young age, Istach,” the Copper said. “It’s a tremendous experience. Govern an uphold well, and you can be trusted with any responsibility.”
“I wasn’t any older than you when I was leading these blighters,” AuRon said.
“I must have a dragon I can trust. I can trust you.”
“But why did you let us go to the trouble of building a bridge?” NiVom asked.
DharSii smacked his lips. “We thought a celebratory feast was in order. Given that mountain of supplies filling those canoes heading upstream toward your landing and on the other side of the bridge, we