Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [61]
"Where's my other chain shirt?" she asked.
Dragonbait shrugged and signed that he hadn't been able to find it.
"Dragonbait!" the swordswoman cried with annoyance. "It was lying across the chair. Are you certain you didn't just choose not to bring it?"
Dragonbait shrugged.
For months the paladin had tried to talk Alias out of wearing the chain shirt she'd gotten from the evil sorceress Cassana. The piece of armor was exceedingly immodest and consequently earned Alias a good deal of unlooked-for attention from men, but it also carried powerful enchantments that protected her far more than a full breastplate could. After she'd worn it for over a year, Dragonbait had ceased objecting to it. Alias thought that he had finally surrendered to her logic. Until now.
"You are such a stick-in-the-mud!" Alias grumbled. "Next thing I know, you'll try to get me to wear a veil like Zhara."
It would be easier to get Zhara into Cassana's armor, the paladin signed.
Alias laughed. "There's no time to argue about it now." She picked up her old chain shirt and slipped it over her tunic, then picked up the breastplate.
"Well, now that I have no choice but to wear this awful, bulky plate, you could at least help me get into it."
Dragonbait helped the swordswoman attach the breast and back plates of her old armor about her torso and fastened the shoulder plates to the chain.
"Forget the rest of the pieces," Alias said. "I'm not used to that much weight.
Leave them here." She strapped on her sword and shouldered her pack as Dragonbait placed the rest of her armor on an empty shelf. The swordswoman stepped up behind the saurial. When he turned around, she lowered her head meekly and said, "I'm sorry I was so rude to Zhara. Forgive me?"
Dragonbait looked very stern and signed, It is Zhara you need to apologize to.
"I will," Alias promised. "Later. The next time I see her. Don't be angry with me now… please?"
Dragonbait ran his claw along her sleeve, so that her brand tingled comfortingly.
Alias could sense from the saurial's smell that he was still disturbed by something. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Grypht isn't from the Nine Hells, the paladin signed.
"I know that," Alias agreed. "He couldn't be, but there's no sense arguing with Breck about it. Kyre said he was, and Breck worshiped Kyre."
Grypht is a friend, Dragonbait signed. He is one of my people.
Alias's jaw dropped. "You mean he's a saurial?"
Dragonbait nodded.
"Why didn't you say something?" Alias asked.
Breck wouldn't trust Zhara because she was Akabar's wife. He would not trust me if he knew I was Grypht's friend. Breck is too angry, Dragonbait signed.
"Of course he's angry. Wouldn't you be if you found me in ashes like Kyre?"
Alias asked.
Breck's anger is dangerous. He cannot be trusted. Grypht and Akabar could not have murdered Kyre, but Breck is too angry to consider any other possibility.
"He'll cool off on the trail," Alias replied.
Only bloodshed will cool him off, the paladin signed, but Alias was distracted by the sound of Heth calling her name.
The page appeared in the armory door all out of breath. "Lord Mourngrym asks that you hurry," the boy said. "He says it would be easier to hold back the tide than to keep the ranger waiting any longer."
"We're coming," Alias said.
Let's leave by the kitchen door-it's closer to the stables, Dragonbait signed.
Alias nodded, and they hurried to join Breck Orcsbane.
*****
Grypht laid Akabar down on a bed of crushed grass and sank to the ground beside him. His burden had begun to stir, and the lizard decided the ape would probably prefer to waken in a less awkward position then slung over the shoulder of a stranger. Actually, Grypht was grateful to find an excuse to rest. He'd grown unaccustomed to trekking up and down hills for long stretches of time. Not wanting to waste time, Grypht laid his staff across