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He sidestepped frohtly cloudy eyes the color of aging gold coin He stared back defiantly If this dragon was going to watch his own kind torn to bits for nest raiding without singeing so much as a feather--

"Really? That’s terrible," the Tyr said

Yarrick fluffed his wings "This drake--still with egg-wet behind the griff, if I’izzard to the deuts to spare in that one"

Rescue?

It took the Copper a et over the shock He felt doubly fortunate that the fight with the demen turned out the way it did, even at the price of a stab in the firebladder What if the griffaran had found hi relative of yours eager to prove himself, my Tyr? He shows the old FeHazathant spirit"

"NoSohoth," Tyr said, "is this some relative of mine? Why hasn’t he been presented todrake, too He’s taken honors fro at the front end of hiriff tips lowered his head and looked at the Copper closely "He’s no hatchling frolowered "Hmmmm Yes Why does that not surprise me?"

"Let us sing of glories proudly won," a golden drake said from one of the flower beds The Copper saw a couple of bats flit under an overhanging rock behind hie," NoSohoth , old fellow," Tyr said "At least he’s got an appreciation for the old virtues and deeds"

"Sir, I’ve no tiets done to this brave little fellow He saved six eggs"

"Did he? Did I doze off and miss part of the story? Well, if you say so What’s your name, lad?"

The Copper opened his mouth, but couldn’t find words

"Perhaps he’s in awe to be in the I to fear, drake Glorious Tyr is grandsire to all of us, a part of our lifesong whatever our parentage Just answer honestly and no haring in ah about Not enough," the Tyr said He settled down over his sii and saa, perhaps to be less threatening

"I…I’ve no name, sir I’m…my sire and dam…dead"

"What? Who?" Tyr said "NoSohoth, what’s this? Are you keeping ill news froain?"

"No, Tyr," NoSohoth said He turned to the Copper "There’ve been no attacks in the Lavadoenerations Are you from one of the Upper Provinces?"

"I’m not sure Perhaps I caes, it seems" The Copper wished his voice hadn’t sounded so squeaky He wondered if he could even be heard over the surr-whooosh of the Tyr’s breathing

"Yarrick, where did you find hihtened up "The lake circle"

"The lake circle, Tyr," NoSohoth corrected

"Oh, never mind that," Tyr said "We’re old friends, and this is a friendly visit"

"Of course, Tyr," Yarrick said "On the far bank, to the north Downstrea"

"Who were your parents?"

The Copper wondered if the truth would be aabout the friendly stare of Tyr ons looked at each other "Irelia? That’s no staion-name AuRel…hmmm, what line?"

"I…I don’t know"

"I don’t know, Tyr," NoSohoth corrected again

"I don’t know, Tyr," the Copper repeated

"He’s lying He’s an outcast; I’ll put reen dragon joined the others in the garden She was rather fleshless about the hips,violet eyes

The dragons and avians dipped their heads at her approach, save for the Tyr, who tickled her under the chin with his tail The golden drake in the garden bowed especially low

"Now, Tighlia, how could you know that?" the Tyr said "Do you know his parentage?"

"No If I had, I’d order them to have such a cripple drowned"