Dragon Rule - E. E. Knight [72]
“I’d like to hear NiVom’s opinion, personally. He’s a smart dragon,” AuRon said.
“Imfamnia’s smarter,” Natasatch said. “She doesn’t let you know just how smart she is. She plays the birdbrain, but she doesn’t act like one.”
“So, you think we should side with them?” AuRon asked.
Natasatch paused a moment before answering. “No, my love. We have to be sure we back the victor, correct?”
“Yes. From what I know of Lavadome politics, being on the losing side could be deadly.”
“Then we must support both.”
“Just how do we do that?” AuRon asked.
“Simple. You’ll work with Imfamnia. Do all you can to ensure her faction succeeds. She likes you, I can tell. She’s taken you in on her plans very early.”
AuRon didn’t like the sound of that.
“I think she likes me too much.”
“Well, you’re an interesting dragon. Besides, your accent is irresistible, it’s not Lavadome at all.”
“I often wonder why you feel so at home with that oversized snakepit.”
“I don’t know. Perhaps my family came from there. I don’t know anything about where I was hatched. I was taken away so young.”
“You do look a little like some of those dragons, around the griff and the jaw. You and Nilrasha, your scale lie very similarly. Maybe you are from a Lavadome family.” AuRon wasn’t sure he liked where this chain of thought led.
He continued: “No, if I’m going to support someone, I’ll support the Tyr. He trusted me here, and by doing so stopped a war with a friend of mine. I’ll support him.”
“I suspected you would. Well, Imfamnia and I get along.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to just find a reasonable dragon to take our spot—perhaps one of the offspring—and go back home?”
Natasatch stretched and rolled over on her other side. “The island? I’d rather take my chances here, to be honest. At least there are metals to eat.”
“Metals or no, too many plots and plans on the cooking fire for my taste. I had enough stratagems and deception in my life just getting that collar off your neck.
“Besides, by ensuring that one of us is on the winning side, you’ve guaranteed one of us will lose, too.”
“The victor can afford to be magnanimous.”
“I’ve seen victors who use their victory to engage in bloody slaughter, too,” AuRon said.
“Oh, that’s hominids, they’re always gutting each other to make a point. A dragon may humble an enemy, but he’ll let them live. Look at Imfamnia or that striped orange friend of yours.”
AuRon wondered what DharSii would think of all this. Where was he? He said something about trading some gathered dragon-scale for coin and paying another visit to the Lavadome. Scale wasn’t worth as much as it once was, with so many dragons above ground these days, but he thought he could get some coin. Well, no use chasing him down.
“I think I’m due for a visit to my brother,” AuRon said.
“What, already?” Natasatch said.
“It’s possible that NiVom and Imfamnia’s plans are well-advanced. Maybe if they learn he’s suspicious of them, they’ll forget whatever it is they’re planning.”
“While you’re doing that, I think I’ll invite Imfamnia over for a visit.”
AuRon only knew one or two ways into the Lavadome, and a windy tunnel out of it. Long flights didn’t fatigue him the way they did other dragons, so he made the trip in two days.
He wondered how much Natasatch would tell Imfamnia. Well, it didn’t matter. Not even NiVom and Imfamnia would be able to put their plans into effect, with the head start he had.
He flew straight to the Imperial Rock and spoke to NoSohoth about getting a private audience with his brother on an urgent and secret matter.
The Copper dismissed his Griffaran Guard to wait outside. “Our Protector of Dairuss never was one to start a fight.”
“I have finished my share,” AuRon said.
“Follow me. It’s late, and I know a place we can talk.”
He led AuRon down a series of ramps and passages going down through the heart of Imperial Rock.
They ended up in a big, sand-floored cavern. AuRon wondered if it was an arena or a theater of some kind.
The acoustics in this cavern were strange. The sand soaked up