‘Dismount.’
‘Do I have to walk from here?’
‘No. I will carry you in my forelimb.’
‘Why?’
‘Sanguino will be waiting, and his one good eye will be watching. I do not want to arouse any feelings of envy within him, therefore I will not carry you into the tomb on my back. You are his insect after all, not mine.’
Sable released her grip and slid down from the dragon’s back. She staggered, then Ashfall’s talons grasped round her waist, keeping her upright. The grey dragon took off again, and they soared over the first river of lava, low enough for Sable to feel the wave of heat that rose up from it. She coughed as the vapours enveloped them, then Ashfall started to climb as the tomb openings came into view. At least a dozen dragons were watching, their heads poking out of their homes as Ashfall approached. Sanguino lifted his neck as he caught sight of her.
Ashfall hovered by the entrance to the tomb.
‘I have done as you asked,’ said the grey dragon. ‘I have brought your insect back.’
‘You have my thanks, Ashfall,’ said Sanguino. ‘I will not forget this.’
Ashfall tilted her head, then dropped Sable onto the ledge at the entrance of the tomb. The grey dragon turned, then climbed away out of sight.
‘Sable,’ said Sanguino, his face nuzzling her as she crouched on the rough floor of the cavern. ‘My rider; you are back. If you had died, I… I would have…’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘Thank you for sending Ashfall to look for me.’
‘I would have done anything to see you return to me. If Ashfall hadn’t gone, I would have walked.’
‘I was over a hundred miles away; you would have died.’
‘Without you, my rider, I’d rather be dead. It’s not just about the flying, though that is very important to me. You are dear to my heart, Sable.’
She smiled. ‘And you are dear to mine.’
His good eye narrowed a little. ‘Blackrose doesn’t know that Ashfall went for you; she has been sleeping since yesterday evening. You shouldn’t have lied to her.’
‘I happen to disagree.’
‘An apology to her would be in order.’
‘I disagree with that too, but I’ll do it for you.’
Maddie ran over, a waterskin in her hands. She passed it to Sable, and the Holdfast woman grabbed it and drank, her hands trembling from exhaustion.
‘You look a right state,’ said Maddie. ‘Still, better than being dead. Blackrose is going to freak out when she sees you, though. Are you hungry? Stupid question, I guess. Millen is heating something up for you on the fire.’
‘What about you?’ said Sable, resting the waterskin on her knee for a moment. ‘Are you in trouble with her Highness as well?’
‘No. She blames you, completely. To her, I’m an innocent victim of your manipulation.’
‘Good. Let’s ensure we keep it that way.’
‘But… well, it isn’t really true, though, is it? I knew what we were doing.’
Sanguino’s green eye glowed. ‘It’s not right that you should take all of the blame, my rider.’
‘It is right,’ said Sable. ‘It was my idea; my plan. Maddie and Millen had no choice in the matter.’
‘But I’ve used the Quadrant a dozen times to get supplies,’ said Maddie.
‘Yes, but you didn’t know how to use it to rescue her. You would have tried had you known.’
‘What about before that? I knew you had it before Blackrose was captured at Yoneath.’
‘I was using my mind powers on you then.’
Maddie raised an eyebrow. ‘Were you? I don’t think so.’
‘If I say I did, then I did, and that’s all Blackrose needs to know. It’s vital that your relationship with Blackrose isn’t compromised. Let me take the blame, alright? Now, where’s that food you promised me?’
Maddie helped Sable stand, and put an arm round her shoulder as they hobbled over to where Millen was sitting by the hearth. Sanguino turned and followed them, keeping his good eye on Sable the entire time. They sat by the fire, and Millen looked up from a pot that was bubbling over the flames.
‘Sable,’ he said. ‘This seems familiar – me cooking your dinner while you’re off doing crazy, reckless stuff.’
She smiled. ‘Next time, tell me when the important games are on in the city.’
‘I doubt there will be a next time. Blackrose said she’s leaving for Dragon Eyre as soon as her wounds have healed. She blames you for those wounds as well, by the way.’ He glanced at Maddie. ‘She’s going to go mental when she wakes up.’
‘I will not let any harm come to Sable,’ said Sanguino. ‘Blackrose was too fast for me last time, and I didn’t know what she was going to do. This time, I will be prepared.’
Millen spooned food from the pot into a bowl and passed it to Sable. She took it, and began to eat, her throat sore, and her fingers still trembling. The warm food felt wonderful, and she devoured the contents of the bowl in minutes, then drank the rest of the waterskin.
‘Like Blackrose,’ she said, putting down the empty bowl, ‘I’m going to need to sleep for a while. I’ve used up most of my battle-vision reserves, and when I relax, I’m liable to fall over.’
‘I will protect you while you sleep, my rider,’ said Sanguino. ‘You need fear nothing.’
She smiled, then her eyes closed and she slid off the seat into unconsciousness.
* * *
She awoke in Sanguino’s cavern, upon a low mattress with the dark red dragon’s tail coiled round it. Raised voices were coming from somewhere else in the tomb.
‘You’re awake,’ said Sanguino, his head resting on his forelimbs as he watched her.
‘So too is Blackrose by the sound of it.’
‘Indeed. She has discovered that you have returned.’
Sable stretched. ‘How long was I asleep?’
‘For a day and a night,’ said the dragon. ‘The dawn has come again.’
‘That explains why I feel better. I’m thirsty, though.’
‘There is
