The dark-haired woman glanced up toward her, her eyes dancing, cheeks flushed.

Caranth flew Minith!

Fiona whipped her head back around to catch M’tal’s eyes, but the bronze rider showed no signs of having heard the news.

“Caranth flew Minith,” Fiona told him. “Did you know?”

M’tal looked abstracted for a moment, then shook his head. “No, Gaminth is still sleeping.” He quirked his eyebrows up at her. “How did you know?”

Fiona turned her head toward the approaching pair and M’tal followed her gaze.

“You guessed?” he said. “Just because they’re late?”

“Lorana can talk to any dragon,” Fiona said by way of broaching her new notion.

“Yes.”

“That’s rare, very rare,” Mekiar said, glancing toward the approaching couple. “The last one who could was Torene of Benden, wasn’t she?”

“I believe so,” M’tal said with a note of home pride in his voice. “But, as far as I know from the Records, Torene could only hear and talk to the dragons.” He paused, forcing a quick grimace from his face. “It appears that Lorana can also feel the dragons.”

“It’s not all bad,” Lorana said as she and Kindan drew within earshot. Kindan gestured for her to take the seat near M’tal while he strode quickly to sit opposite her beside Mekiar.

“Did you say that Caranth flew Minith?” Fiona asked, even as Shaneese efficiently bustled about with two more place settings and fresh mugs.

Lorana grinned, her eyes dancing. “You heard! I thought maybe you did, but I wasn’t sure!”

I heard, Fiona thought, glancing at Lorana and smiling when she noticed the woman’s reaction. She turned to M’tal. “If a person can talk to all dragons, is there any reason that they might not also be able to talk to people the same way?”

M’tal turned to Lorana, then back to Fiona. “She told you?”

Before Fiona could respond, Lorana gave a large gasp and turned to M’tal. “Quickly, Jeila comes! The bronzes—”

M’tal jerked in unison to a loud, raucous bellow, which was instantly reinforced by several others.

“The bronzes are blooding their kills!” J’gerd shouted from near the doorway.

“T’mar!” Fiona cried, rushing out of her chair.

“No, stay here!” Lorana called to her, jumping to her feet. “Kindan, come with me.” She assured Fiona, “We’ll go to him.”

Fiona nodded once quickly in agreement and waited until they had turned the corner out of the Cavern’s entrance and out of her sight before sitting back down with a heavy sigh.

“I’ve never heard of so many mating flights in one day,” Mekiar said, his eyes rheumy with pain. He rose from his seat slowly and raised a hand invitingly to Fiona. “Perhaps you’d care to join me in some clay?”