“Certainly,” Arcolin said, his mind whirling. Samdal not fit to be Chancellor? When a boy, he had seemed as apt as any other in the skills they learned and the tasks they were given. But he had been surprised that a Chancellor would come himself rather than send a messenger. He opened his hand with the ring, and the dragon extended his tongue, curled it around the ring, and took it in. “I have a few other things from Horngard—” The torc, bracelet, and earrings, the dagger.

“They are not necessary,” the dragon said. “The ring, however, should return.” Then it nodded to him. “I also commend your responsibility in the matter of the kapristi. We must talk more of this later, but for now—” He glanced at Samdal, then back at Arcolin. “For now it is clear that dragonkind must once more take note of events in the House of Dragon. This is your personal quarters, I perceive; I cannot in courtesy ask you to leave, but I must speak with this Samdal alone.” Turning to Samdal, the dragon said, “You will accompany me?”

“I—I—” Samdal looked at Arcolin as if hoping for rescue.

Arcolin could think of nothing to say. He did not believe the dragon would actually kill Samdal, but he expected the encounter would be unpleasant, and if the dragon said Samdal was unfit to be Chancellor, he would lose that post.

“Samdal, you have my answer,” he said as the silence lengthened. “I am not the right person for this task. I wish you—and all Horngard—good fortune in finding someone suitable.” To the dragon he said, “Sir, as this man has been my guest and we were friends as boys, I would hope no harm comes to him.”

The dragon’s stare was daunting, but Arcolin did not drop his gaze. “Those without wisdom often come to harm,” the dragon said at last, “but I would wish harm on no one who does no ill.”

With that Arcolin had to be content; he bowed, and the dragon gestured. Samdal moved as if he were led by strings like a puppet in a fair stall, and the dragon followed him out. Arcolin sat down again and picked up one of the pastries on the tray, then put it down again. Later. The dragon would talk to him later about … about the kapristi? About Horngard? Both? He put his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes. Well … the ring was gone, and with it all temptation and also the old ache and resentment.

He called Burek in and told him the whole story.

“Horngard! So … that’s why you did not mind that I was a bastard who had left home under a cloud?”

“Exactly. I’m glad you’ve reconciled with your grandfather, but equally glad you’ve not tried to go back into that … that…”