Dragon Fate: Book Six of The Age of Fire (40 page)

“You think it’s some kind of vessel for traveling,” Wistala said. “Perhaps we’ve been mistaken—perhaps it doesn’t go from place to place, but from time to time. Maybe they’re back before Silverhigh, even. The Age of Wheels, when the blighters ruled.”

“Your brothers have it in them to tame the blighters, I suppose.”

“There are so few dragons left. Some philosophers think that below a certain point, a population just can’t make a comeback. Natural decrease and all that.”

“Fates forbid,” Wistala said. “I intend to put up a fight.”

“How will you do that?” DharSii asked.

“I’m sure now, so I’ll tell you. There are more eggs on the way. Quite a few, judging from my appetite. I’m twice as ravenous as I was with the set from the Sadda-Vale.”

“You wish to have them up here? ”

“I like the view. They’ll have to be tough little drakes and drakkas to make the climb down when the time comes for them to go into the world.”

“I suppose I’d better arrange for a few herds of sheep and goats. They’d do well in these hills. Dwarfs, you think, as herdsmen? It’s remote enough for them. There’s a lot of good limestone about, so they could establish an impressive delving. Who knows if these streams have been prospected for gold?”

“I’ll leave that to you. I wonder what sort of world they’ll grow up in.”

“That’s rather up to all of us, isn’t it?” DharSii said.

The moon was coming up, swollen and greenish, as it always seemed when near the horizon. Wistala felt a kinship with it; they were both in their full and heavy phase. But rising toward a future zenith. In the clear air each splash and mottle on its chalky surface stood out.

DharSii yawned and stretched, a sign that he was putting his thoughts away for the evening. He settled into a comfortable repose and placed his neck across hers.

“Remarkable,” he mused. “I can’t remember when I’ve seen such a moon.”

Together, they watched it rise.

Drakine Glossary

FOUA: A product of the firebladder. When mixed with the liquid fats stored within and then exposed to oxygen, it ignites into oily flame.

GRIFF: The armored fans descending from the forehead and jaw that cover sensitive ear-holes and throat pulse-points in battle.

GRIFF-TCHK: An instant, an immeasurably short amount of time.

LAUDI: Brave and glorious deeds in a dragon’s life that make it into the lifesong.

PRRUM: The low thrumming sound a dragon makes when it is pleased or particularly content.

OLIBAN: A valuable resin that, when burned, has a calming effect on male dragons.

SAA: The rear legs of a dragon. The three rear true-toes are able to grip, but the fighting spur is little more than decoration.

SII: The front legs of a dragon. The claws are shorter and the fighting spur on the rear leg is closer to the other digits and opposable. The digits are more elegantly formed for manipulation.

TORF: A small gob from the firebladder, used to provide a few moments of illumination.

Draconic Personae

AETHLEETHIA—Daughter of Scabia, mate of NaStirath

AGLABERARN—Silver, member of the Light Wing

AYAFEEIA—Leader of the Firemaids

AUSURATH—Red, AuRon and Natasatch’s son, Commander of the Heavy Wing of the Aerial Host

AURON—Gray, brother to RuGaard the Copper and Wistala

BAMELPHISTRAN—Commander of the Aerial Host

CUSARRATH—Wing Commander of the Aerial Host

DHARSII—Red striped, formerly of the Lavadome, dragon of the Sadda-Vale

HERMETHEA—A dragonelle of the Juutfod tower, formerly prisoner on the Isle of Ice

ISTACH—Daughter of AuRon and Natasatch, the former Protector and “Recluse” of Old Uldam

NASTIRATH—Gold, Aethleethia’s mate, dragon of the Sadda-Vale

NATASATCH—Protector of Dairuss, AuRon’s mate

NOSOHOTH—Formerly RuGaard’s adviser, now the wealthiest dragon in the Empire

NIVOM—White, Tyr of the Upper World

OUTHROTH—Silver, Protector of Wallander

RUGAARD—Copper, brother to AuRon and Wistala, former Tyr of the Lavadome

SCABIA—White female (rare), ruler of the Sadda-Vale

SEEG, OF THE DEEP ALLIANCE—A free dwarf

VARATHEELA—Daughter of AuRon and Natasatch, member of the Aerial Host

WISTALA—Sister to RuGaard the Copper and AuRon

YEFKOA—Fastest-flying dragonelle in the Firemaids, Ayafeeia’s personal messenger

E. E. Knight
graduated from Northern Illinois University with a double major in history and political science, then made his way through a number of jobs that had nothing to do with history or political science. He resides in Chicago. For more information on the author and his worlds, E. E. Knight invites you to visit his Web site at
eeknight.com
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BOOKS BY E. E. KNIGHT

The Age of Fire Series

Dragon Champion
Dragon Avenger
Dragon Outcast
Dragon Strike
Dragon Rule

The Vampire Earth Series

Way of the Wolf
Choice of the Cat

Tale of the Thunderbolt

Valentine’s Rising
Valentine’s Exile
Valentine’s Resolve
Fall with Honor
Winter Duty
March in Country