wanted to know this man in every way, though fear of the unknown still plagued the recesses of her mind.
Lana shrugged, feeling just a bit shy, knowing what was to come later that night, though it remained unspoken. Better to concentrate on the more immediate future and the meeting that had been arranged. “I’m not used to being around so many people. Not to mention dragons.”
“I know.” He leaned down to place a kiss on the crown of her head.
“You’ll have to ease into it, and I know Tor will enjoy having the whole wallow to himself. He’s such a big fellow, he needs the room.”
She laughed lightly, feeling warm inside that he would take Tor’s comfort into consideration. For that matter, she was warmed straight through to know he had given her feelings some thought as well. Roland showed her around the circular suite, explaining the uses of the various rooms, and before she knew it, the others were arriving for their little strategy session.
Roland stepped back to transform.
For Tor’s benefit, he told her. I’ll stay near though, should you need me.
91
Of the dragons, Tor bounded in first, plopping down in the center of the heated wallow and kicking up a little whirlwind of sand. Roland nodded toward a broom leaning against the curved wall and Lana took hold of it with a grin, sweeping the sand back into the pit indulgently as the baby dragon basked in its warmth. Rue and Tilden followed at a more sedate pace, taking the far end of the sand pit and sitting quietly while they welcomed two other adult dragons, one a deep, almost burgundy red, and the other with bright yellow gold scales.
Once Tor settled down and the sand was back where it belonged in the wallow, Roland, in dragon form, led Lana around to a grouping of chairs set by the widest part of the wallow. All the dragons craned their long necks to settle nearby, and it was quite obvious that was the place the meeting would be held so all present could participate—human and dragon alike.
Of the dragons, Roland was the most compact and well able to settle on the ledge with the human company, taking up a position just behind Lana’s chair. It was clear both humans and dragons looked to him to lead this little get-together. He didn’t disappoint.
Lana, may I present Ires and Kann, Roland indicated the dark red and golden yellow dragons in turn, they are partners to Samnel and Josh, the weapons masters of this Lair. As if on cue, two strange knights entered, making their way to the chairs and bowing respectfully to Roland. He extended the introductions to Tor and the newly arrived knights, and soon the group was assembled. Hal and Jures rounded out the group, and the meeting was underway.
Lana tried her best to answer all their questions about the various weapons she’d seen, evaded and fought against. The weapons masters asked astute questions, which Tor helped answer when she got stuck.
92
She even found herself drawing pictures of some of the weapons, as best she could, on parchment the men had brought with them.
Tor took part too, explaining how each weapon performed and how he had managed to evade them. The dragons asked him detailed questions about his flight patterns and evasive maneuvers, and Lana was proud of the way he answered. She knew he was smart, but she was coming to realize just how intelligent he was for his age as she watched the older dragons and the way he so obviously impressed them. Roland rubbed up against her and she felt his warmth as they shared the special moment.
After more than an hour, the weapons masters seemed grimly content with the amount of information they’d been able to elicit. Lana was tired and thinking about the threat Salomar posed to these good knights and dragons worried her. Tor, she saw, was nearly asleep as the last of the dragons left, followed closely by the knights. As only the young can, he fell sound asleep between one breath and the next, and Lana was truly alone with
Lana shrugged, feeling just a bit shy, knowing what was to come later that night, though it remained unspoken. Better to concentrate on the more immediate future and the meeting that had been arranged. “I’m not used to being around so many people. Not to mention dragons.”
“I know.” He leaned down to place a kiss on the crown of her head.
“You’ll have to ease into it, and I know Tor will enjoy having the whole wallow to himself. He’s such a big fellow, he needs the room.”
She laughed lightly, feeling warm inside that he would take Tor’s comfort into consideration. For that matter, she was warmed straight through to know he had given her feelings some thought as well. Roland showed her around the circular suite, explaining the uses of the various rooms, and before she knew it, the others were arriving for their little strategy session.
Roland stepped back to transform.
For Tor’s benefit, he told her. I’ll stay near though, should you need me.
91
Of the dragons, Tor bounded in first, plopping down in the center of the heated wallow and kicking up a little whirlwind of sand. Roland nodded toward a broom leaning against the curved wall and Lana took hold of it with a grin, sweeping the sand back into the pit indulgently as the baby dragon basked in its warmth. Rue and Tilden followed at a more sedate pace, taking the far end of the sand pit and sitting quietly while they welcomed two other adult dragons, one a deep, almost burgundy red, and the other with bright yellow gold scales.
Once Tor settled down and the sand was back where it belonged in the wallow, Roland, in dragon form, led Lana around to a grouping of chairs set by the widest part of the wallow. All the dragons craned their long necks to settle nearby, and it was quite obvious that was the place the meeting would be held so all present could participate—human and dragon alike.
Of the dragons, Roland was the most compact and well able to settle on the ledge with the human company, taking up a position just behind Lana’s chair. It was clear both humans and dragons looked to him to lead this little get-together. He didn’t disappoint.
Lana, may I present Ires and Kann, Roland indicated the dark red and golden yellow dragons in turn, they are partners to Samnel and Josh, the weapons masters of this Lair. As if on cue, two strange knights entered, making their way to the chairs and bowing respectfully to Roland. He extended the introductions to Tor and the newly arrived knights, and soon the group was assembled. Hal and Jures rounded out the group, and the meeting was underway.
Lana tried her best to answer all their questions about the various weapons she’d seen, evaded and fought against. The weapons masters asked astute questions, which Tor helped answer when she got stuck.
92
She even found herself drawing pictures of some of the weapons, as best she could, on parchment the men had brought with them.
Tor took part too, explaining how each weapon performed and how he had managed to evade them. The dragons asked him detailed questions about his flight patterns and evasive maneuvers, and Lana was proud of the way he answered. She knew he was smart, but she was coming to realize just how intelligent he was for his age as she watched the older dragons and the way he so obviously impressed them. Roland rubbed up against her and she felt his warmth as they shared the special moment.
After more than an hour, the weapons masters seemed grimly content with the amount of information they’d been able to elicit. Lana was tired and thinking about the threat Salomar posed to these good knights and dragons worried her. Tor, she saw, was nearly asleep as the last of the dragons left, followed closely by the knights. As only the young can, he fell sound asleep between one breath and the next, and Lana was truly alone with
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