Page 59 (1/2)

"It’s dangerousso soon after yesterday," a Skotl da watched"

"I will be quick I have ihlia and I exchanged our first ue or joke with our minds frequently, for our on and his clutchwinner grown, but after AgGriffopse died--"

"Immortal be his memory," the others said in unison, save for the Copper, who just roup’s habits

Now I’on I’ve never even o on," Ibidio continued "RuGaard, this will be a shock to you Tighlia mind-spoke and told me that just before he died, the Tyr--Tyr FeHazathant,you heir and future Tyr If you wanted the rank That’s what his words meant, the day he died ‘Ask RuGaard to be Tyr’ I’ns in everyday talk I couldn’t puzzle out its sions were looking at him

"What does it hed "If we ever gain back the Lavadome, I think you’ll find it matters very much"

"If we are to do it, we et organized, and before all here becon dragons are"

"I have a small force on the Western Road," the Copper said

Others listed a few dragons who could be relied on NeStirrath could bring together his best Drakwatch But as they counted in their heads they kneould not be enough Not against the training and weapons that had been displayed last night

"The ht be able to handle," Rethothanna said "They’re not ons aren’t much better without men," the Copper said "I’ve seen them They’re not like us They can’t think for themselves very quickly; they either do what they’re trained to do--"

"Perhaps we could convince the theon froht its rider I’rasp the concept"

"Let us-riddens What’s thehunted by an old night he wanted was for them to understand

The Copper walked back to the Imperial Resort--it didn’t see rock--with NeStirrath They talked of uni with the Drakwatch

He even returned to his old cave There hadn’t been ain the Drakwatch, and he even caught the faint smell of bats--wait

A bat still lived, up in a shadowy corner So about the ears reminded him of an old acquaintance

"You wouldn’t be related to old Uthaned, would you?"

"I arown considerably, m’lord"

"It can’t be Mamedi and Thernadad’s nephew? Bats don’t live--"

"They do when they’ve been fed dragonblood I even talk to Big Ear, Spike Hair, and Wide Nose, as you called theain when they visit"

The Copper was relieved to be so pleasantly distracted "But why are you still here, Uthaned?"

"The eating is good These young drakes, they sleep hard after their days’ hiking, and they dreah And that old one with all the horns and the stus should be…well, he sometimes has a draft of wine to help him sleep, and with a bit of a nip he sleeps sounder still I like to think I’ht I don’t supposeback to his own days with the bats Sos if he lifted his head high, he went dizzy…

He froze It was like the idea had a glowing aura around it, like the moon’s halo in a mist He didn’t know exactly what the idea would look like once it took shape, but he knew its rough outlines

"Are there any other bats still about?"

"Another of my cousins still lives near the kitchens, where it’s warm Then there’s a son of mine, and his family Oh, and of course--"

"I need o to your relatives and then send them out on the western road? Soo to and fro all the tiet it At least for now I need every bat you can scrape up, big and sot to be s on htened his ears "A bat setting off on such a flight needs a full belly, and atjoints pain me"