“I am with them now. The takeover of the latest body went smoothly. No one suspects. I find I am starting to hate this, though,” Anora returned bitterly. “This killing of humans in order to use their bodies. I found this murder particularly reprehensible.”

“Anora is weakening!” was the alarmed thought that flashed from Maristara to Grald.

“None of us likes it,” said Grald, lying, for he enjoyed the killing. “I am going to be forced to slay my own son. You don’t see me whining over it.”

“And when will you kill him?” Maristara demanded. “We cannot make a move until you have taken over the half-dragon’s body.”

“Tonight,” said Grald. “The arrangements are made.”

“And the Walker?”

“Slaying him will be my first course of action once I am in my new body. I will take care of that tonight as well.”

Maristara and Grald waited for Anora to object, but her colors were hidden.

“Good,” said Grald. “Then if all goes according to plan, the army of Dragonkeep will make ready to march against the humans tomorrow.”

“So soon . . .” Anora murmured.

“Is this a problem?” Maristara asked irritably.

“No, I am prepared to act.”

“Not too precipitously, I hope,” Maristara said. “The timing must be right. The humans must be made to think that this cannon of theirs brought about the catastrophe.”

“You have no cause to worry,” Anora returned, her colors taking on a fiery glow. “I know what I am about.”

“Very good,” said Maristara. “Then we will each keep the other apprised. Good fortune to us all. Tomorrow will be a momentous day for all of dragonkind.”

“A day too long coming, if you ask me,” Grald muttered.

“No one did,” said Anora, and her colors disappeared with snap.

20

DRACONAS HURRIED THROUGH THE STREETS OF DRAGONKEEP, hoping to reach home by suppertime so as not to worry Rosa. The hour was sunset, and the streets were crowded with other homeward-bound people. Draconas had to dodge and weave his way along the narrow streets. His disguise as a hoyden aided him in this, for he bumped, shoved, jostled, or pushed people as needed and received in turn nothing more than a muttered scolding or a threat to box his ears, whereas an adult behaving in a similar rude manner would have ended up in a fistfight.

Worrying about someone worrying about you is not a dragon trait. Independent, solitary beings, dragons enjoy the freedom of doing what they please when they please without thought or care for any other. Humans, on the other hand, need to care and be cared for in return. That Rosa and Anton were coming to care deeply for the young girl who had intruded into their lives was becoming increasingly apparent to Draconas. Their caring was an added and unexpected burden, a burden he did not need right now.