Noriago thrust his face in front of Weysh’s, breaking his eye contact with Carmenna. “She’s with me now, and I say she doesn’t want to talk to you. You have a Given—unless you plan to keep a stable of reluctant women like your real father. At least my parents are properly mated, you know?”

Weysh’s fist flew.

He connected with Noriago’s jaw and felt blazing satisfaction right in his gut as Noriago’s head snapped to the side.

“Weysh!” Carmenna screeched, and her voice shuddered through him like nails on a slate, far too similar to the way his mother and sister had screamed at him only an hour ago. It doused the fire of his rage and he backed off.

But Noriago snapped his eyes up to Weysh, a line of blood trailing down the side of his mouth, and smiled, savage and hateful. He jogged back into the middle of the street and changed into dragon. A dame in a ridiculous feathered hat cried out and dove to the left to avoid his swinging tail and her bags went flying, the contents spilling out all over the ground. Weysh rushed to help her up and gather her things.

“We can’t fight out in the open street, Noriago,” Weysh yelled up at him as the woman leaned against him, moaning in distress and patting her precious hat. But Noriago ignored him and lunged, jaws wide.

“By source make my movement quick!”

Weysh recited Harquette’s Speed Burst to launch them both out of the way. He stood and turned to Noriago, astonished by the sheer audacity of him. “Are you insane?!” he shouted. The older woman fled, screaming, to the safety of the street side. Weysh took a hurried glance around to make sure no one would be underfoot, and changed.

Noriago roared and rushed him. He slammed his bulk into Weysh, who stood firm as the other dragon snapped at him like a raving hound. Weysh strained and heaved him off, and though it was unwise to open his wings to an enemy, Weysh spread them and tried to fly, hoping to at least lure Noriago away from town.

He only got a few feet off the ground before Noriago screeched, and Weysh could hear the mockery in it. Running? He grabbed Weysh by the tail and yanked him down again. Weysh howled, spikes of pain running along his tail and spine.