Warriors of Wind and Ash (Merciless Dragons #2)

I chuff out a frustrated breath and swerve my head away from him.

“You’re doing well,” he says.

“I’m not.”

“You are. So well, in fact, that I think we should make our first excursion.”

I whip my head back around and huff smoke at him. “I’m not ready for the palace.”

“Not quite, but I’ve been talking with a few of the others. We’re going to visit the market just outside the east gate of the city. Sort of a trial run, as it were. We’ll be in disguise, and there won’t be any dining, dancing, or court conversation to worry about. It’ll be good practice for you and Hinarax, and we might pick up some information. At the very least we’ll get an update on the state of things among the people. A few of my friends will wreak a little havoc while we’re there, but they’ll keep their distance so no one links us to them.”

A little havoc sounds far more satisfying than the painstaking work I’ve been doing—cramming knowledge into my brain, trying to learn how to use fiddly little tools like forks, practicing the different types of bows and salutes that are appropriate in a court setting. I’d much rather learn about the rebellion—how humans use their small size and stealth to their advantage when faced with a greater foe. “You said you’ve been harassing the Vohrainians. How, exactly?”

“Like any other army, they have to receive supplies. Sometimes we intercept the carts and wagons, steal the goods, and give them to the people. Remember when Anzuli and the others left yesterday? They went to burn one of Vohrain’s census stations.”

“Do you have more allies, beyond these caves?”

He huffs a laugh and props his back against my shoulder while filling his pipe. “There are members of the resistance all over Elekstan. A good two dozen of them have been undercover as Vohrainian sympathizers for weeks, working on a special project for me. Did you know Rahzien established two weapons forges on Elekstan soil, long before he conquered this kingdom?”

“I heard something to that effect, once, but I was never told where they were.”

“The most recent one is located in an old mine not far from here, between the Capital and Guilhorn, in the hills to the east. It runs on water power harnessed from a subterranean river. It’s been in operation for a few months, harvesting Elekstan resources with a very specific purpose—to design more accurate guns for Vohrain’s army.”

“Some of my dragons were assigned to that area.” I inhale the fragrant herbal smoke unspooling from Meridian’s pipe. “I was told to have at least three of my clan on guard in that region both day and night, but they never told us why.”

“Now you know.” He blows a smoke ring toward the waterfall. “Did you also know that Vohrain is conscripting anyone with even the slightest magical ability? The few healers left in the land are now confined to the palace, forbidden from using their powers on anyone but the Vohrainian soldiers. Imagine being forced to heal the enemy.”

“That would be infuriating,” I reply.

“Indeed.”

“Conscription, identity papers, census stations… Human life is far too complicated,” I tell him.

Meridian chuckles. “No doubt. A lot of humans seem to enjoy adding conditions and regulations to their lives. Personally I prefer to live free of all that. But to dismantle a system, you sometimes have to conform to it, so you can get close enough to hit where it hurts. This morning some of our folk will be creating a controlled explosion to destroy the gallows at the center of the market. The gallows has stood there for ages, mostly inactive, but the Vohrainians have been making frequent use of it lately, executing anyone who openly rebels or refuses to show Rahzien the proper deference. Speaking of which—you and Hinarax must remember to bow and step aside for the Vohrainians. That is the one rule you must follow during our excursion.”

“Very well.” I’ll hate it, but for Serylla’s sake I would do anything. Bow to an enemy, eat with a fork, walk in boots… even wear a fucking cloak.

“You and Hinarax have about six hours of humanity left, yes?”

I bob my head in confirmation.

“Good! Then we’ll set off as soon as we assemble your disguises. Oh, I forgot to ask—have you ever ridden a donkey?”

I stare at him blankly.

Meridian makes an apologetic face. “Of course you haven’t. Well, you learn something new every day.”

“Or a thousand new things every day,” I mutter, following him toward the cave. As the path narrows, I shift back to human form.

Meridian casts a glance over his shoulder and does a double-take at my nude body. “Fuck, man—you can’t be swinging that thing around in polite company, or even in unsavory company. You’re a fine specimen, but not everyone is as comfortable with large dicks as I am.”

“When I lost my temper and transformed, my clothes were shredded,” I reply. “I will need new pants.”

He sighs. “Do you think pants grow on trees?”

I stop walking, suddenly uncertain. “No… I don’t think so. I believe you fabricate them somehow… though I’ve never given much thought to the process.”

“God, no—it’s a saying.” He laughs. “Something that grows on a tree is common, easy to access. Pants are less common, less easy to access.”