“Dragonmancer Noctis,” she said, addressing me formally, “you look like you have been in the wars again.”
I grinned at that.
“You know, I’m beginning to think that I’ve always got one foot in some scrape or other,” I replied. “You on the other hand, Claire, are looking absolutely amazing.”
A murmur of astonishment greeted my words. Glancing around, I discovered respectful awe in many of the faces in the crowd of soldiers. I realized, too late, that it probably was not the done thing to tell the Seer that she was looking particularly hot.
Claire’s laugh rang out, as clear and merry as a wedding bell.
“You are proving to be quite the source of inspiration for many,” she said to me.
“I don’t know about that,” I said with a shrug. “I just do things.”
“Ah, but it is action that defines us. It is action that fires the imaginations and enthusiasm of our fellows.”
“If you say so, Claire,” I said, smiling. “I’m just glad that we were able to help at least some of our girls and boys make it home.”
Claire’s flawless face was furrowed by a frown. “Yes,” she said sadly, “it could have been a lot worse.”
“Would you care for a rundown of what happened?” I asked the Seer.
A ghost of a smile played around Claire’s mouth. It was almost like I had said something amusing.
“If you like,” she said.
“Right,” I said. “Well, I guess it all started when we were accosted by some of these damned ratfolk. We were on the search for… Well, you know what. We battled these ratfolk, and then this—“
“Wild dragon appeared, yes,” Claire said smoothly.
“Exactly,” I said. “And then, while searching their abandoned settlement, we came across a—”
“Bearmancer?” Claire said.
I frowned suspiciously at the Seer. “Right. A bearmancer. A bearmancer, who was in possession of these—”
“Two crystals?” Claire hedged.
I threw up my hands, laughing in exasperation. “Why am I even bothering to try and tell a goddamn Seer news. No doubt you already knew all of this was going to take place.”
Claire said nothing, but her red and blue eyes shimmered enigmatically.
“I see a lot,” she said, when I did not rise to the bait of silence. “But not everything I see is cut in crystal.”
“Did you see this?” I asked, and I pulled the waifish woman to me and kissed her.
Distantly, as if heard from the other side of a thin wall, I heard gasps of awe. I figured that it was probably something to do with a mere Rank One dragonmancer having the balls to lay a smooch on the Seer herself. That’s the thing about almost being eaten by a dragon though—it really helps to put your priorities in order.
“Mike,” Claire said softly, as our lips parted and the world expanded back out to its proper size, “I came here because I wanted to make sure that you and the others were safe.”
“Very conscientious of you,” I muttered.
“Yes, but I also came to tell you that it would be better for you if you stayed here for as long as you can.”
“You don’t think I should head back to the Academy?” I asked.
Claire shook her perfect head. “Joining the expeditions into the Subterranean Realms will be more beneficial—not just for you, but for the warriors that follow you.”
“I lead no warriors yet, Claire,” I told her. “Only my coterie. You know that they don’t entrust Rank Ones with command of anyone.”
Claire rolled her mismatched eyes and put a smooth palm to my stubble-roughened face.
“You might not lead, Mike Noctis,” she said in a sure voice, “but men and women follow you regardless. You’re a natural leader—the best kind. The kind of leader that doesn’t even know he is leading; that could lead even from the back, so that the soldiers following him believe that they accomplished their aims on their own.”
I looked at her in unconcealed wonder. “I don’t know if that’s true...” I said, chancing a glance at the faces crowding all around us. “I mean, these guys go through hell for us.”
Claire beamed. “No, they go through hell with you. And they keep on pushing through whatever hell they find themselves in because you, and your friends, stand beside them.”
I looked down at my boots. I wasn’t overly comfortable when it came to being heaped with praise.
“So, no going back to the Drako Academy?” I said.
“You can visit the Academy,” Claire said, lowering her voice so that only I could hear her words, “but it’s essential that you should be made out to seem integral to the efforts here.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because the Martial Council would give anything to have you strapped to a table while the Lorekeepers use you as a bull among the heifers, now that they know you have the means to rejuvenate your seed.”
“Yeah,” I said, “a working vacation does sound more enjoyable than that.”
General Shiloh cleared her throat at that point, and Claire politely turned to her.
“Yes, General?” she said cordially.
“I was wondering, Seer,” the General said gruffly, “seeing as you are here, whether I could invite you into my tent for refreshments? There is something that has only just come to my attention. A development. I would be greatly pleased to have your view and advice on the matter.”
“I would be more than delighted,” Claire replied amiably. “I would deem it a favor if you let Dragonmancer Noctis come with us.”
The look on the General's face told me that this was definitely against protocol, but she did not dare contradict the wish of such a hallowed figure.
“Of course,” she said, leading
