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Chapter 29: Dragon Friends

THEY RIGGED in silence for a long time. Eventually, Ar began humming a dissonant Clendornan tune, while Jael fiddled with the adjustment of the flux-pile. They were operating at about half efficiency, but Windrush had perceived their needs well and set them on a strong, steady course. Judging from the navigational library, they should easily make it to Eri Nine, perhaps within a few shipdays.

In time, Ar stopped humming and turned to Jael. He looked calmer and more relaxed than she had seen him in a long while—or what seemed to her a long while. In fact, it had only been a couple of shipdays since their unwitting entry into dragon space. I just wanted to tell you that I'm glad, he said, and there was a glimmer deep in his eyes that seemed almost sorrowful.

Glad it's over? Glad we're still in one piece?

He shook his head and looked out at the valley that stretched before them. They were making a gentle right turn past a white, billowy cloud. No, he said. Glad that it happened. Glad that we went in. I may have spoken hastily when I promised to return. But I'm glad we were there. And glad that you were right.

Right?

About Highwing. And the others. I apologize, Jael, for not believing you. I hope you'll forgive me.

Yawk. To give. I will. Rark. Ed hopped onto Ar's shoulder and nuzzled his ear.

Jael smiled. Of course I will. Is that why you're being so quiet?

Ar stroked the ridge over his left temple, then gently touched the parrot's neck. Actually . . . I was wondering how we could tell anyone else about this. And my conclusion is, we probably shouldn't.

Startled, Jael thought about that for a while. I think . . . I agree, she said. I don't see what good it would do for the whole spacing community to know about them. She imagined the chaos that could result from the dragon realm being invaded by curious riggers. The thought made her shudder.

Actually, it's more that I don't think anyone would believe us, Ar said wryly. I don't want to be laughed at, any more than you did.

Chuckling, Jael banked to follow the course of the river below. It didn't matter to her if anyone would believe them—as long as Ar believed. Maybe one day, if she ever saw him again, she would tell Dap. Maybe. In the meantime, they had a lot of flying ahead of them, if they were to carry out their commission for Mariella Flaire.

One day we really ought to talk, you know, Ar said, after a long while.

Jael looked at him curiously. He was starting to look almost melancholy. She wondered if he was feeling a letdown. Talk? About what?

About humans. About friendships. About trusting.

She furrowed her brow in uncertainty. I don't follow.

Ar hummed a few almost-harmonious bars while he tended to the flying for a moment. Well . . . just that it seems to me that . . . some things have changed around here. In your thinking, I mean. Am I right? Am I wrong?

Jael frowned and took a long time in answering. Trusting . . . yes. She'd hardly noticed. The dragons. The ifflings. Ar. Ed. And even, in a way, her father. Maybe, she said finally. You could be right. She shrugged. Give me some time to think about it, okay?

Okay, Ar murmured. He pressed his mouth into a straight line, staring without moving. Finally she touched him on the arm to make sure he was still conscious. His mouth slowly formed a zigzag.

Jael tickled the parrot's bright green throat and rubbed his beak with her knuckles. Ed made a gurgling sound. Someday we can talk to your heart's content. But just now, can we do some flying?

Ar's eyes sparkled a luminous purple. With a decisive nod, he took up his half of the net again, and matched Jael's efforts move for move—and together they reached out for the current that wound, silvery and long, before them.

END

 

(The tale of Jael and the dragons of the realm is continued in the sequel, Dragon Rigger—also available in ebook format from E-Reads.)

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