‘‘It must be Fiat. He would stop at nothing to regain control of the blue dragons.’’ Gabriel’s hand was warm as it took mine. ‘‘Just as Kostya has nothing to lose but everything to gain by keeping Maata and Tipene from me.’’

‘‘You don’t think he’ll hurt them?’’ I asked, a sick feeling making my gorge rise.

He didn’t dismiss that idea nearly as quickly as I would have liked. ‘‘To do so would bring an all-out war against him, not only by the silver dragons, but by others as well.’’ He sent an inquisitive glance to Drake.

The latter nodded. ‘‘Killing your guards would constitute an act of war against a sept of the weyr. The members would be obligated to uphold the terms of the treaty and destroy him in return.’’

‘‘You know, Porter looked surprised when I asked him what demon lord he worked for,’’ I said slowly as I mused over the facts. ‘‘I wonder if Cyrene heard correctly when he said he was working for a dreadlord.’’

‘‘Dreadlord?’’ Drake asked, pouncing on the word. ‘‘He said that specifically?’’

I nodded. ‘‘What’s the significance of that? It’s just another word for demon lord, isn’t it?’’

Drake and Gabriel exchanged glances. ‘‘In modern usage, yes, but in centuries past, it meant many things . . . including a wyvern,’’ the latter said.

‘‘Oh. You think Porter was working for a dragon? One of the ones you mentioned?’’

‘‘I don’t know,’’ he said, his eyes dulling slightly. ‘‘It is an interesting thought nonetheless.’’

‘‘So what are we going to do?’’ I asked, suddenly swamped with exhaustion. I tried to remember the last time I’d slept, and couldn’t.

Gabriel pulled me up against his side. I leaned into him, feeling warm, safe, and cherished. ‘‘First we get you out of the country.’’

‘‘You are welcome to stay with Aisling and me,’’ Drake offered. ‘‘The thief takers evidently have found your house, Gabriel.’’

The latter nodded. ‘‘Then I think we will need to have a look into Kostya’s locked chests. The phylactery must be contained in one of them.’’

‘‘And the amulet?’’ I asked.

‘‘It poses many questions, but I do not see that it is of much importance,’’ Gabriel said after a few moments’ thought. ‘‘It was kept in an unlocked chest, and Kostya would never put it there if it held value. It is possible that the thief taker was deliberately trying to mislead you into believing he was not in the employ of a demon lord.’’

‘‘Or he could be operating for purposes of his own,’’ Drake said.

Gabriel nodded.

‘‘What if it turns out that he’s working for a dragon after all?’’ I had to ask.

Gabriel pulled me tighter against him. ‘‘Then we will deal with that situation, too. But of first importance is the phylactery. It is the only thing I can use to barter for the release of my guards. I must have it.’’