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"You rew sick to death of the sight of me in Anaea They’ll believe that"

"I shall But I won’t enjoy it"

He wound his neck around hers, squeezed her, then broke it off and looked across and down the river

"I did enjoy that, however," she said "I’ons can htfully perverse"

"We’ll have to find out"

They said no more The Copper told the kern train that he was exhausted and would spend the night on the riverbank, washing and resting and preparing for his return to the Imperial Resort with a bellyful of fish

And with that he hurried off toward the high rocks of the griffaran

Yarrick’s perch looked h perch grew so exhausted he had to set the Copper down on a ledge and bring the aging grand coht! Yark! It is that lame copper fellow"

The bird-reptile cocked its head so Yarrick’s good eye was pointed straight at hiain We heard about a battle in Bant, let loose victory cries on your behalf"

The Copper wondered ould happen if Yarrick knew the truth of his "rescue" of the eggs He felt a twinge as he cleared his throat and spoke the words he’d rehearsed in his o, Yarrick, you befriended ain, and beg the Tyr to come to me All thisthese days Molting Fishing is all I do any to the perch I’ll send a younger set of feathers The Tyr will co as he once did"

The Copper waited until the shafts of sunlight falling to the river disappeared Though he sought it, sleep evaded hi tunnel journey Better than he would have without Rhea’s endless cleanings and polishings, he supposed The girl--no, woman, now--could do wonders et ash and a brush

He saw the Tyr flying, a griffaran to either side, turning slow circles in his clihted rather heavily, and the griffaran retired

"It is you, Rugaard Or, I’? I know you don’t like court ceremony, but this is a little extreme"

"I’ve seen NiVohtened "You have Co for his pardon, have you?"

"Your honor, it’s all lies He never attacked your granddaughter"

The Tyr sighed "He’s always been a bit of a brawler You should know He’s welcome to come back and defend or explain himself anytime; he doesn’t need to send e hi hiraced, and a coward to run away froe issued and accepted, but no harm’s been done apart from the bites and scratches on Ie to her was to her dignity, but she’s a flit young thing and has little enough to hurt" The Tyr rested in thought "NoTannadon and another, you say?"

"Ihi"

"He should have stayed and defended himself The spirits would have seen his have a way of working out"

"Do they? How did they work out for your son, your clutchwinner? And what of this DharSii? I don’t know his story, but NiVom seemed to think he was the victim of treachery NiVom wouldn’t hurt a female--of your line or any other--unless he had been attacked first He said he had no idea how the ot on her"

"Iain? She was getting a good mate, in all likelihood the future Tyr, there even if his lip was a bit torn up"

"She would if itas queen over the Lavadome"

"She would have had that anyway They were to be uess is she doesn’t want to wait and leave anything to chance It’s a plot, your honor It’s a gaer"

"Yes, danger and I are old friends" The Tyr paused, and his expression went blank "No! SiDrakkon hardly knows the dragonelle I’ll swear he’s not spoken to her more than three times, all at banquets"

"If you becoh he knew the answer

"With NiVoone, the title of Tyr passes to my mate’s brother, for at the hlia be happy to see her brother in your place?"