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Maturing hatchlings--clutchwinners, for the rave’s own chaons and s bore food and carried ater for thecloaks when called for The huirls polished scale, cleaned teeth with bristle brushes, and adjusted saddle pads with their niers The Copper hoped that in time a fir, whenever he presented theo to the swelling Rhea

Iht them poor work and too dreary-toned for words So would SiMevolant, though he would have been arch about it SiDrakkon would have approved, for the h so the Tyr RuGaard hears it this time!" HeBellereth, the aerial host commander, roared

"This is my rider," the ranks boo of ons, switching rider for dragon

"WithoutIf I fall, he dies If he falls, I will see to it he rests on the eround My blood is his nourishment His sweat is mine So be it until death or our Tyr releases us"

Of course, theof the last, too

The Copper passed through the Black Rock, li froons and dragonelles, and even a watchbat here and there bowed--or crossed their wings, in the case of the bats--to hihter at his aardness A Skotl or two, and the odd Wyrr holdout or Anklene radical, glared at hi as they fear

He looked in on the workshop, and the thrall’sbrood stood with the rest, though their textiles and footere of her quality

He paused, and put his head close to his mate’s

"There’s sofor those quiet evenings around the feast floor in Anaea"

"We’re in charge of the Lavado A little piece of him deep inside turned cold He could still ad what she wanted And above all, be grateful for what she had done for hihlia

But at that moment, he would rather have had frail little Halaflora Halaflora understood the burdens of rank and station When his ered for bows and scrapes as Imfamnia had once wanted expensive baubles

Then they went back up to the top level, or "their level," as Nilrasha styled it She nuzzled her head under his as he stepped out onto the platfor the Gardens What little was left of the Iarden walls, drakes and drakka perched atop broken coluon-rider’s rotting severed head back and forth with their tails and had sport snapping at the flies seeking the putrescent flesh

The Drakwatch and Firemaidens looked up

Time for the words a Tyr had to say now and then, to remind everyone that life wasceremonies and discreet little intireat awakening The blighters had their Age of Wheels Then the other hohter of our kind Never forget the betrayal and fall of Silverhigh, or the fate that we in the Lavadome so narrowly escaped The malice of hominids knows no charity or reason

"They must be subdued and taonblade once tried How on-blades are there beyond our borders?

"Join me and look to our future We need only master ourselves, and we can master the world! Today, here, atop this ancient stone, surrounded by the caves and egg shelves and trophies of our birthright, we dragons have inaugurated a new age Let our enee of Fire!"