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"Yes, we y island But eventually we’ll be a crowded, sick isle full of thin-scaled dragons eating seal-blubber and fish"

"Difficulties that can be overcome Why could we not fashion tools and mine as the dwarves do? Are our lier We would have to engineer tunnels tall and wide"

"If we fight for one set of humans, we’ll just ainst us"

"You’re too clever," he said

"You’re too cautious Even a few dragons may make a difference You told me an old friend was in trouble Can we not help hions wouldn’t help him I’ve seen the fliers who hunt hion"

"All the ht now Will not these fliers be just as much a match for us toone beyond reason You’re worried that your brotherIs it his success that troubles you?"

AuRon felt his firebladder pulse He’d never felt like biting his mate in his whole life until now The impulse shamed him "Whatever he has planned, it’s not for our benefit, or that of dragons There is no interest but his own in these doings"

They watched the dragonelles stoonelle took off Three others joined her, one of the isle’s altered , AuRon?" Ouistrela called "We’re off to inaugurate this ‘age of fire’ A new age of dragons! Battle screao?" Natasatch said

"I haven’t decided"

"Every o, I will"

"What about the hatchlings?"

"You and your sister were fending for yourselves by this point Not all of our kind are leaving There are dragons on this island hoping soe of diet I expect they’ll survive Just as well The sheep will be la soon and they could use a break"

AuRon read the resolution in her eyes "Well, if we’re going to get involved in this e ht as well do so with soo, too, Father!" the hatchlings clamored in various iterations

Perhaps there would be wounded we could let theht to him

"Let them take care of theh Re at their disappointed faces, "talk to the wolves as often as possible They will teach you , and above all, cooperation The strength of the wolf is the pack, as they say"

"I’ve often heard that quoted," Natasatch agreed

AuRon, with his mind ret had vanished There was just need for action "I’ve an idea where our first stop should be We fly to Juutfod"

AuRon had not been to the dragontower since his tih he had visited the wharves where Varl tied up his boat and soons as part of their daily lives Without the Wyriven up their raids on the south and used their dragons to protect fishing fleets and remote settles had sprouted around it, like warts And the town beneath had taken inspiration fros with thick walls and heavy-timbered roofs, and wooden ho froon-rider rose to meet him

He’d been told a few of the riders and their ons of the Isle of Ice had coons were content to be saddled and reined, it see as they ell fed and rested in co

His old friend Varl had settled in this village He sons had always found tasty on the Isle of Ice

"Perhaps you’d better talk to them," AuRon said to Natasatch "I’ll keep watch above"

Once he was sure of Natasatch’s reception--they let her land and she began to speak with the dragons and dragon-riders there--AuRon went seeking Varl aroup-houses near the docks His boat wasn’t in, but Varl sometimes took months off between the seasonal fish runs