Fenni was tired of Starrus’ power trips. Everyone knew Master Giddi was more powerful than Starrus, so why wasn’t he head of the Wizard Council? “Apologies, Master Starrus,” Fenni said, “but I’m no longer a trainee. I’m a qualified mage. You said so yourself.”
“Yes, yes, as that may be, however, that doesn’t give you the right to come in at all hours of the night riding a dragon. They’re dangerous beasts and you shouldn’t bring them near here.”
“Dangerous?” Fenni raised his eyebrows, sure they weren’t as effective as Master Giddi’s. “Not as dangerous as the twenty tharuks I’ve just killed while on dragonback.”
Master Giddi was striding over the snow.
Master Starrus said, “We can’t tolerate this. You’ve overstepped your bounds.”
“Consorting with riders is despicable,” interjected Master Reina. “They insisted we banish our friends and loved ones, then shunned us for years.”
Master Hemlon gazed down his pudgy nose at Fenni. “Dragons can turn on you.”
Behind Starrus, Master Giddi raised an eyebrow. A sudden chilly wind wove its way between the three council masters. The masters clutched their cloaks around them to ward off the chill.
“I have a question, if I may?” Fenni asked. “What’s more dangerous? A dragon or a tharuk troop?”
Starrus snorted. “A tharuk troop, of course.”
“Zens’ blasted beasts,” replied Master Hemlon.
Fenni nodded. “I thought so. Well, the dragon and I have just killed troops of those beasts, so that leads me to my next question. What is more dangerous, a dragon or a bunch of prejudiced fools who would let their own hatred get in the way of killing a common enemy?”
Master Giddi stifled a snort.
“Which master authorized this activity?” Starrus snapped. “You’ll be raked across live coals if you’ve engaged in this manner without approval.”
Fenni glanced at Master Giddi, who shook his head.
So Master Giddi wasn’t going to get involved? Shards, he was about to have his new mage crystal stripped from him.
“I did.” A voice rang out of the forest. Jael walked into the clearing. “And I’ve just returned from burying the family we were trying to defend.” Ignoring the council masters, he came over, shaking Fenni’s hand. “Well done, Fenni. You fought admirably, as did the dragon rider who was hurt. Did you get him to safety?”
“Yes.”
“Well done. A successful skirmish.” Jael clapped his arm over Fenni’s shoulder and turned to the council masters. “Any more questions? If not, Fenwick and I are a little battle weary.” Without waiting for an answer, he steered Fenni toward the cabins.
Master Giddi’s voice drifted across the clearing. “I didn’t give up my wife just to let you fools ruin the Wizard Council. Those young ones have mettle, and from now on, I’ll be fighting with them for the good of Dragons’ Realm. Even if it means fighting you.”
Give up his wife? What was he talking about? Master Giddi had never been married, had he?
§
Kierion was used to waking up at dawn, so he was alert when Master Lars and Master Tonio marched into the infirmary. They chatted with Marlies, but by the way Lars’ gaze kept flitting to him, Kierion knew he was in trouble. “Riona, can’t I flee on dragonback?”
“Nonsense. Tell those men you were killing tharuks. Does it really matter who you fight with?”
“Good point. You’re sharper than my sword.”
Riona chuckled.
“Good morning, Kierion.” Lars loomed over him. “How are you feeling? Marlies tells me you banged your head.”
Had she said how? Could he get away with a lie?
At the foot of his bed, Tonio watched impassively, his eyes crawling over Kierion’s face. Some people said the spymaster could smell a lie. Others said he could read faces. Whatever the case was, Riona was right. He might as well take the dragon by the talons. “Morning.” Although the gash was healed, his head still throbbed. “Actually, a tharuk threw a rock at me, when I was fighting a group of them with two wizards, so it wasn’t technically banging my head.”
Marlies was at a nearby table, pounding herbs. She winked at Kierion.
“And you’re aware that consorting with wizards is forbidden?”
“I’m aware that tharuks are overrunning the realm. Does it really matter who I fight with?”
Riona interrupted. “Good choice of words. You’re quoting the wisest of dragons.”
“Kierion, I told you if you missed kitchen duty again, you’d be in deep trouble. I’ve spoken to Benji and you haven’t helped in days.”
“With all due respect, Master Lars, you told me I had to organize kitchen duty, which I did, impeccably, via my new roster.”
Lars huffed his breath out. “Start from the beginning and tell us everything. I want to know who you were with, how many tharuks you killed and how you did it.”
“And I want to know exactly how many times you’ve been out.” Tonio folded his arms.
Gods, that man was so austere.
“And who got hurt in each fight,” Master Lars added.
“I might as well be honest,” Kierion told Riona. “I’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Except the privilege of riding me,” she said.
Well, there was that.
Master Lars took a seat, beard in hand. Kierion told him about fighting with Fenni, his best friend. Although Kierion felt as guilty as a dragonet stealing tidbits, he glossed over Adelina’s injuries, left Riona’s out, and downplayed his own.
When he was finished, Master Lars said, “Despite your kitchen duties, you seem to have spare time on your hands. So, tomorrow morning, bright and early before our dragon races, you must catch the entire quota of fish for the race day feast.” Master Lars looked at Tonio, and sighed. “The wizard was his best friend from Montanara. At his age, we might’ve done the same.” His blue eyes pierced Kierion. “Although the wizard was your friend, mages are dangerous.
