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"The Tyr and I ask you for the benefit of your experience The Lavadoroup of Firemaids to offer assistance to the Hypatians and build an alliance Do you believe they will accept?"

"Hypatia is" Wistala searched for the right words "Hypatia is not like the Lavado a decision There’s no all-powerful Tyr to win over and settle ave a hus "When you understand the Lavado figured out the flow of the water, watched the lava run down the other side of the crystal Beautiful colors

"Dragonkind is depending on you, Wistala," Nilrasha continued "We can no longer stay underground, at least as dragons rather than some kind of slaves I fear we’d turn into little ons to be brought to the surface To survive, we have to return to the surface We’ve been so long underground, in hiding, we know very little of the Upper World We need friends up there who can guide us to safety Friends we can trust"

"I onkind? If I a an alliance of equals? Hypatia des obey laws I want to be able to promise aid, not obedience"

Nilrasha extended and settled her griff Perhaps the Queen was not used to being questioned so closely

"What kind of forces may I promise?" Wistala asked

"So you will do it?"

"I am a Firemaid and will obey Not that it ons will thrive only if they learn flexibility in their relations with the ho, and ‘Upholds’ "

"The Fireonelles and threescore drakka"

"But the drakka cannot fly, and it is a long way to Hypatia"

"You haven’t been long a Firemaid Thanks to our experience with the new Aerial Host, we’ve learned the best way to fix sorip the straps It’s not altogether different fro as they stay flat, flight is still possible It’s actually easier to carry two rather than one, for better balance"

Wistala thought of her desperate trip carrying dwarven wounded and es froo

"I’m no warrior"

"We will send Ayafeeia with you She’s our best Do not worry She is sensible I spoke to her over my first meal She will act as your maidmother when she sees fit, but will leave the Hypatians to you"

"Suppose I fail?"

"We will come to the surface in any case Otherill sicken and die"

Wistala had heard about the kern But so the Queen

"You love my brother"

"Yes He’s different"

Wistala watched her breathe "True" She wondered if she should talk about the murder of her parents, expand upon a few details left out of the conversation at the asseed, it seeer wanted to claw his eyes out

"May I ask one more question, my Queen?"

"Oh, you may ask But there are questions I choose not to answer, so this to me? Does my brother fear ons as to his ideas That way you can later be asked and assigned in court with proper pomp and ceremony"

"Perhaps matters of state in the Lavadome are more complex than they appear," Wistala said