Free Realm Of Blood And Fire (Book 3) by Dionne Lister Page B

Sinjenasta was injured in a skirmish we had with a couple of gormons, and his wound is infected. He hasn’t got long to live unless we get him to Vellonia.
    But what can we do for him here that you can’t do there?
    I’m not sure, but I have a gut feeling that something in Vellonia can help.
    You want me to use my people as packhorses just because you have a gut feeling?
    Arcon winced at the insulted tone in the king’s voice. Bronwyn won’t be at her best if Sinjenasta dies, and if she’s distracted, it will be all the harder to fight off the gormons when they attack. We needed a whole circle, and we’re so close to Bronwyn and Blayke joining us. Please, King Valdorryn. I think your son, Pandellen, might know more about healing gormon-inflicted wounds than I do.
    Some of the dragons are already upset with me over letting my son, my daughter—their beloved princess—and our master of war, be used as camels, or some kind of flying workhorses. I don’t want to risk any more dissent. You know our history only too well. If you want our support in the war against the gormons, you’ll listen.
    Arcon balled his fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms. He shut his eyes and took a deep breath to fend off the insult that wanted to fly off his tongue. If The Circle isn’t whole when the gormons attack, we won’t need your help. We’ll all be dead.
    Valdorryn didn’t answer, and the silence continued—a palpable presence that felt like thickening of the air.
    “Valdorryn!” The disembodied voice boomed throughout the dragon city and the clearing in which Arcon sat, causing everyone to jump. Avruellen put a hand to her chest, her eyes wide.
    The dragon king paled, his scales lightening by a few shades. Oh, no, not again. He shook his head.
    “I wouldn’t have to interfere if you would make the right decisions. I have trusted you to do what is best for the dragons. Be the leader your people need, Valdorryn. If any dragon wants to argue with your decision, put them in the dungeon. Now, I would appreciate it if you helped Arcon. Don’t make me have to interfere again—I have more important things to do.”
    Arcon blew a breath out, looked up and mouthed, “Thank you.”
    Y-y-yes Drakon, almighty God. I will instruct my dragons straight away.
    “That’s more like it. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” And he was gone.
    Arcon gave the king a moment to recover before he said, I think Sinjenasta means more to him than we realize. I am sorry to have to ask this of you.
    I should just give up and leave the governing of Vellonia to Drakon. Hmph. At least no one will argue with me. The whole city heard that conversation. I’m going to go and ask for volunteers. If I can get enough, we’ll fly you all here. We’ve also got a couple of harnesses somewhere that dangle beneath the dragon, like a sling. We use it to transport sheep and cows when we want them for breeding—it’s too easy to accidentally kill them if we carry them in our claws. They should be there by this time tomorrow. I’ll be glad when this war is over.
    You’re not the only one. And thank you.
    Hmph. See you in a couple of days. The king cut the connection.
    Arcon stood. “Valdorryn is sending dragons. They’ll be here by this time tomorrow.”
    “I’m not surprised, after that interruption.” Avruellen lay out her bedroll. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad Drakon butted in. I can’t believe the dragons could be so petty.”
    “There are dragons, like Talians, that are not as smart as we’d like them to be. It’s those ignorant ones we have to be careful of.” Arcon unrolled his bed, too.
    “Why can’t everyone be as smart as us?”
    “I don’t know, sister. But it’s getting harder to avoid the idiots.”
    Avruellen laughed and looked over at Corrille, who was out of earshot, cuddled against Blayke. “You’re not wrong there.”
    Bronwyn, Toran by her side, laid her bedroll next to her aunt’s. She collapsed onto