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Did he have enough time to get out of town before Tyron had healed?
A few days.
Derlin nodded trying to hide his relief. Can I see him for a bit?
Of course. The healer waved Derlin toward the door. I m off to check on my antidote. Don t
spend too long, I don t want you to tire him. If he s sleeping let him be.
I will. Derlin waved to Laren who watched him with sad eyes, then rushed to the healing ward.
No one was about. Luckily he knew where to find Tyron.
The dragon rider s golden skin had an unhealthy pallor and his long, slow labored breathing
echoed in the room. Derlin caught himself subconsciously matching Tyron s breaths.
I m going to miss you, he whispered. They hadn t even started a relationship, not really and he
already felt the ache of being apart. He d get over it. He didn t have much choice.
Tyron s lashes fluttered. Derlin froze, afraid to twitch in case it awakened Tyron. After a long
moment Tyron lay still again. Derlin didn t move away until Tyron s breathing evened out again.
He would miss his dragon rider. Certain Tyron would remain asleep, Derlin left.
Laren stood outside the ward, not having moved since Derlin had left him. Don t you have
class?
Derlin hoped his friend wouldn t get into trouble for missing classes while he helped Derlin out.
Naw, they can t exactly do anything to me. The worse is they ll give me extra spells to study and
as I already know them all it s not really that big of a punishment. I m going to miss you. Laren s
sad expression tugged at Derlin s heart.
You ve been a good friend. I m going to miss you too. Take care of the dragon for me and don t
let her eat any knights.
Laren laughed, a sad shadow of his normally happy sound. I won t. She d probably just lick them
to death anyway.
Yeah, Derlin agreed. Derlin stepped forward and hugged Laren close. Maybe one day you can
come visit, huh?
Sure, send me a letter. Laren s thin smile told Derlin that his friend didn t expect to get any mail.
I will. He wouldn t. They both knew this was goodbye. The cleaner the break, the better off they
were. Goodbye.
Derlin turned around and headed home. He had to pack his meager belongings and get out
before Tyron woke up. If the dragon rider gained consciousness enough to send people to find
Derlin he d never get out in time. Derlin could ignore Laren, even though it made him sad but he
couldn t say goodbye to Tyron, not while looking into his eyes. Better to be branded a coward,
then persecuted for talking to dragons.
His mind spinning with the logistics of his escape, Derlin didn t pay attention to his surroundings.
He entered his living quarters unaware of its inhabitant until the door slammed close behind him.
Hello Derlin, going somewhere? Sir Lyrit s smile didn t reassure Derlin& not at all.
Sir Lyrit! Good evening. What can I do for you? His voice didn t shake, he was rather proud of
that.
Derlin, I think you know why I m here.
He stepped the rest of the way inside. I can t say that I do.
Derlin s heart pattered in his chest. Sir Lyrit had never seemed dangerous to Derlin before. The
dragon rider was rich and powerful but he d always appeared laid back. The man before him
wanted answers. Derlin knew he wouldn t get out of it this time. What did it matter he was leaving
anyway. He didn t think Lyrit would stop him from leaving after he told him the truth.
I can talk to dragons, Derlin blurted out.
Anything else?
Wh-what do you mean anything else. Isn t that enough?
Well, it is a handy skill I have to say. Lyrit got to his feet.
Derlin s mouth dropped open. He didn t know how to respond. That completely wasn t what he d
been expecting. Shaking off Lyrit s weird behavior Derlin grabbed his satchel and started stuffing
clothes in it. He didn t want to press his luck. Lyrit could just be luring him into relaxing so he
could drag him off to prison.
What are you doing?
I m leaving. Maybe if he said it enough times he d start to believe it was the right thing.
What about Tyron? Are you going to save him only to break his heart? Lyrit s narrow-eyed stare
pinned Derlin as effectively as if he held him still with his hands.
Tyron will be fine. Derlin s heart ached but he d stick with his story.
Are you that afraid?
Derlin laughed. Not a sound of amusement but a broken noise ripped out of him. My family has
been persecuted for centuries for our talents. Why would I think anything was different now?
Because we re dragon riders. Being able to talk to dragons is the best thing I can think of for a
groomer. Lyrit frowned. If that s the reason you re leaving you don t have to. We ll keep your
secret.
Derlin bit his lip as he considered his choices.
They ll keep quiet too. They aren t going say anything if that s what you want. I still don t think
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