Free Dragon Scales by Sasha L. Miller Page B

growled. "You tangled with a manticore? And you thought this was the best way to get the scales?"
    Amantea shot Isaia a querying look, baffled. He'd heard of manticores, but he didn't know much more than that it was a fool's errand to go anywhere near them.
    "They poison anyone in their vicinity. It's a slow sickness, and the only known remedy includes powdered dragon scales," Isaia explained.
    "Oh," Amantea said. That made as much sense as Naldo wanting the scales to cast a spell on Isaia. And if he and Isaia had had a bad breakup, Naldo would've thought Isaia would say no. Which was stupid; Isaia wouldn't let anyone die just because he didn't like them. He'd saved Amantea in the lake, after all. "That's stupid. Why didn't you just ask for them?"
    "He'd say no," Naldo said, glaring at Amantea like it was all his fault Naldo had tangled with a manticore and come out the worse for it.
    "I wouldn't have," Isaia said, sounding hurt. "I know we didn't end on the best of terms, Naldo, but I wouldn't let you die."
    "Hah," Naldo muttered. He leaned heavily against the doorframe to his home.
    "Is it too late?" Teria asked, sounding annoyed. "Or would the antidote still work? Because you owe me, witch, and I plan to collect."
    Naldo's mouth fell open slightly, and he looked at Isaia. "You'd still...?"
    "Yes," Isaia snapped. "You only had to ask, you damn fool. But like usual, you're too stubborn and self-centered to think about anyone but your damn fool self. You can have the damn dragon scales, and then you will do anything Teria and Amantea ask of you, given how much your actions have affected their lives."
    "Done," Naldo said, the word barely audible. He slumped, looking two seconds from passing out. Amantea opened his mouth, but then shut it, baffled. Why had Isaia included him in that? He didn't want anything from Naldo, except to keep his nest safe, and that was already done.
    Teria crossed the lawn, approaching Naldo. She grabbed him by the arm, pulling him upright. "I'll check out the antidote recipe. Join us when you've got the scales."
    Isaia nodded, and Teria all but dragged Naldo into the house. Amantea shook his head, still baffled. "I don't understand why he wouldn't ask. Surely that would've been easier to start with."
    "Naldo doesn't trust anyone," Isaia said. "It's why we didn't work." He frowned, looking at the house. "I'm going to need your help getting the scales. Stay here a moment."
    Amantea nodded, though he had no idea what that entailed. Isaia headed toward the house, disappearing inside. Amantea took a deep breath, running a hand through the tangles of his hair. He was nearly done. He would be able to go home soon. Why did that thought hurt so much?
    Isaia reappeared before he could come up with an answer to that question, striding across the lawn with a wicked-looking knife in his hand. Amantea's eyes widened. Did he have to cut the scales out?
    "I'm not going to hurt you!" Amantea blurted out when Isaia approached and offered him the knife. "I have to cut them out?!"
    "No, no," Isaia said, smiling. "You'll be prying them out. The knife is just the only thing I could find quickly. I'm going to shift into dragonling form. The scales under my front legs are loosest. Just find a few that are ready to molt and pull them free. It won't hurt at all."
    "Oh," Amantea said, taking the knife gingerly. It was heavy and the blade was thick. He swallowed against a surge of nerves. What if he screwed it up and did hurt Isaia?
    "Try and get three," Isaia said. Amantea didn't get a chance to ask why, as Isaia started to shift. Amantea took a few steps back, giving him room to change.
    Dragonling form was apparently Isaia's smaller dragon form, the one without wings and with the spiky, bobbed tail. It took Isaia several minutes to shift, and Amantea approached him nervously, nearly jumping out of his skin when Isaia flopped over and then rolled to lie on his back.
    "I guess that's easier," Amantea muttered. Why did he have to