“I’m not sure what they are, but she’s correct,” Scalla said, yanking out the pigtails in irritation. Weirdly that was enough to make her look like less doll-like, despite the short, pastel peach A-line dress and chunky Mary Janes in the same shade. “Do you mind if I have a seat?”
I looked at Flea and Jez who nodded. We all ended up back on the couch, Scalla sitting in the armchair. “I’m involved in an organisation that seeks to better represent the interests of dragons.”
“What, the Dragons Liberation Front?” Jez said with a cackle.
“Ah, yes actually. Have you heard of us?”
“No…” I tried to think of a way of explaining the popularity of that style of name on Earth but gave up. “So what does the DLF stand for?”
“Wish it stood for DILF,” Jez said, getting to her feet. “I’d like some hot, older guy to spank me on the arse and make me call him Daddy.” She demonstrated what that would look like with a grin on her face, much to Scalla’s horror. “But I’m going to go and brush my teeth, hopefully without having to wrestle a spider for my toothbrush. I’m pretty sure that guys dick tasted a bit like bin juice.”
“Jesus, Jez!” I said, throwing a threadbare pillow at her.
“What? I said only a little bit. So puritanical.”
“That’s your porter?” Scalla said, narrowing her eyes, then shaking her head with a blink.
“No, she’s my friend acting as my porter. Look, don’t worry about Jez, she’s always like this. But this organisation. Isn’t it risky, talking to a dragon rider about it? I’m assuming you haven’t gone to Alden and his crew about this?”
“Dear gods, no. If there’s anyone bound up into the current system of subjugating and keeping dragons in a state of arrested development, it’s him.” Those big brown eyes turned to me. “I wasn’t sure if I should contact you, my handlers are of two minds, but after you helped the sick students out, I thought it worth a try. I also have plausible deniability. My family pedigree is impeccable, generations of high-scoring merit candidates who have all taken their place in the government for the betterment of Aravisia. They’ll never believe you if you sque
al on me.”
“So, what’s the point of your little secret club and why are you after Tess?” Flea said.
“We believe that dragons are treated like barely sentient transport devices. Their lives, breeding, interactions are all carefully proscribed to keep the human/elf elite in power and everyone else beholden to them.”
“Human/elf?” Flea whispered.
“I think whatever is translating for us is struggling with the term,” I hissed back.
“Everything, from the children’s books and toys we play with as children to the state patronised shows we watch as adults, is designed to maintain the status quo.”
“The same could be said for any society,” I said. “If you’re trying to be a progressive voice in Aravisia, that’s awesome, but what does that have to do with us? We’re not Aravisian.”
“No, and that’s part of the threat you pose, and you’re not even aware of it. Your dragon speaks, has his own mind, contradicts what he doesn’t believe is right, isn’t content to do as he’s told. He’s potentially a one-tonne animal that refuses to mind his betters. Do you know how dangerous that makes him in this country? Dragons never used to be bonded to human/elves when they were just out of the shell. Our records show that they grew up in their family group until late adolescence, then decide whether they wished to take a rider or not. Dragons participated in the governing of the country, were part of the collective wisdom due to their longevity. Now they are little other than winged tau.”
“She speaks truly.” Our eyes jerked down to see M reclining sleepily along my arm, only just awake.
“I believe that the more Miazydar’s abilities are demonstrated, the greater danger he’s in. It might have already started with the poisoning attempt.”
Is that what happened? Were you poisoned?
Later, he replied.
“I think you’re correct,” M said. “So what is it that you want?”
“When you’re better, I want you to meet some of the higher-ups in my organisation. I think we can help each other as well as reverse what dragons have been reduced to.”
“We’ll meet with these people,” Miazydar said, turning to me. “I’m not sure if they’re merely malcontents or the first native humanoids to show some sort of sense since we arrived, but I’m willing to find out. I’ll be ready to fly us to the place of your choosing the day after tomorrow. There will need to be a pretext for our journey and the place will have to be close or we risk breaking the conditions of our stay here.”
Scalla nodded. “I’ll bring a picnic basket and there’s quite a pretty waterfall near here. It would be plausible that we take you somewhere to rest and recover in the sun. I’ll see you early in the morning, a day from now.”
I waited until Jez had gone to her room and Flea was outside having a cigarette before I spoke to Miazydar. “Where did you go? What happened? Were you poisoned by the keletha? Did something attack you?”
He’d settled down into my arms, his long snakelike neck running along my forearm, his eyes heavily lidded. “I don’t know.”
“What? How can you not know?”