Ryn

Chapter Seventeen

A Queen or King belongs at the forefront of every battle and war. They must be prepared to lay their life down for their people, else they are cowards and undeserving of the crown.

This is Our Law

~ From the Dragonling Grimoire

Mako didn't catch any hippos, but we managed to wrangle a giraffe down to eat. The evening sun was still burning strong as we carried it back to the palace - or rather, to the two irritated fyns waiting in one of the many gardens that sprawled around it. Dmitri was slamming his tail repetitively into a slow moving stream, killing several fish along the way. Alek was draped inside the tightly-packed branches of the massive dragon blood tree that the garden centered around. I could see his flashing scales among the newly blossoming flowers.

"Dmitri, Alek!" I called as Mako dropped the giraffe nearby. We landed beside it, prompting Dmitri to shoot to his feet and bound over, pushing his way between us as he began to groom my scales. Mako slid away before meeting my gaze briefly, red eyes alight with amusement, and sitting beside the giraffe carcass.

Alek slunk down from the tree's branches like a cat before striding over. He held his head high, watching Mako with critical eyes as he walked over to me with exaggerated grace. He greeted me with a simple nuzzle on the shoulder before turning to face Mako with a slightly patronizing look.

"Iciclecrash colony?"

Mako met his gaze evenly and responded respectfully. "Yes sir."

"Involved in the war?"

"My mother has been making battle plans for a long time. I have been giving her advice on occasion."

"Are you finished with your studies?"

"I finished before the end of winter."

"Alek." I called, interrupting the interrogation. Alek snorted, smoke curling from his nose as he turned and walked back to me. "Good boy. Mako is just here to meet you."

Alek rolled his eyes at my comment, but didn't say anything. I took that as a good sign as slipped away from my mates. Dmitri snorted in disdain and followed.

"It's nice to meet you." Mako said diplomatically, dipping his head. "Ani's mother and mine were broodmates, and we grew up together."

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Alek and Dmitri exchanging a dark glance with each other. My tail flicked out and smacked each of them on the shoulder. "He's not into wyks, you guys."

I watched in growing amusement as shock and horror spread across both of their faces. Dmitri made a chuffing sound of embarrassment and shook out his wings. "Well, I suppose it's fine."