Zirkander elbowed him, much as Leftie had done to Trip earlier.
“Don’t tell me you and your sarcastic mouth weren’t thinking the same thing, Zirkander.”
“Actually,” Zirkander whispered, “I was thinking that Angulus better finish pinning on that medal quickly and give the dragon whatever he’s got under that cloche.”
“Do you get used to that and stop finding it alarming?” Angulus asked Rysha, tilting his head toward Shulina Arya.
Shulina Arya appeared curious, unthreatening, and maybe even eager, but she still exuded typical dragon scylori, and it couldn’t be easy to ignore her. Most of the spectators had grown silent and wore the enraptured looks Trip had come to recognize as they gazed at her. His grandparents looked as much stunned as enraptured, and he assumed this was their first dragon sighting. Certainly, their first up-close dragon sighting.
“It depends on how early in the morning it is when she pokes her head in, Sire,” Rysha said calmly, appearing unflappable speaking to the king, as always. “And whether I’m wearing my spectacles or not. If I’m not, the large gold blur can be a tad alarming.”
A mental throat clearing sounded in Trip’s mind. Judging by how wry Angulus’s expression became, he heard it too.
“I believe that’s our signal to get on with things.” Angulus accepted one of the last medals from the assistant with the velvet-lined box, then stepped forward to pin it to Rysha’s pocket flap. He raised his voice so the spectators could hear him. “We are grateful for your assistance and your bravery in dealing with Iskandia’s enemies and trust that you will have a long and fruitful career in Our military, since it is clear to Us that you were destined to be an officer and a dragon rider.”
Angulus looked over at Rysha’s parents before continuing on, and Trip was tickled when they squirmed under his gaze.
“We hope that there will be fewer attacks on Our fine country in the future,” Angulus went on, “but We are relieved that you and the noble dragon Shulina Arya are here to defend Us.”
Rysha grinned over at Shulina Arya, and Trip sensed the dragon had said something to her. She radiated pleasure at being called noble, and the tip of her tail lifted and waved about, the gesture somewhere between a dog wagging and a cat swishing its tail. Trip hadn’t seen it before. Maybe excitement that she couldn’t quite contain? There wasn’t room for her to twirl here.
Zirkander, Therrik, and Kaika, who were standing behind the tail, scooted back lest they be whipped by the scaled appendage.
Angulus finished pinning on Rysha’s medal, then waved to his assistant with the box. The man lifted a velvet tray and withdrew another medal from underneath it, this one larger, with a very long ribbon.
Angulus looked at Shulina Arya and seemed to be considering how to get it around her neck when the medal was lifted from his hands. The audience murmured as it floated through the air by itself. The ribbon unraveled and slipped over the dragon’s head. It settled around her neck, the gold medal coming to rest against the gleaming scales of her chest.
“We also thank you for your help in defeating Our enemies, Shulina Arya,” Angulus said formally, lowering his hands.
Nobly, Shulina Arya replied, the word going out to everyone.
“Nobly,” Angulus agreed, then gestured to the second assistant.
The man watched the dragon warily as he approached with the covered tray. Shulina Arya’s head shifted, her violet eyes locking onto the silver cloche with more intensity than she had considered the medal. The man halted, perhaps thinking those eyes were locked onto him. He looked like he might flee.
“Over here, Adlei,” Angulus said firmly, pointing beside him.
But it was Sardelle, once again sending out a sensation of soothing, that affected the man. He managed to get to the king’s side with the tray. Angulus accepted it, then held it toward the dragon.
“A small token of our appreciation, Shulina Arya.” Angulus lifted the cloche with dramatic flair.
A gorgeous array of colorful miniature tarts of different varieties lay on the tray. Lemon, blueberry, apple, and ones made with exotic fruits that Trip couldn’t identify.
A surge of delight emanated from Shulina Arya, one he suspected the entire audience experienced. Then her great tongue slid out to lick the various tarts. Trip, remembering the jawbreaker incident, imagined them falling onto the ground and the tongue following them, having difficulty picking them up. But Shulina Arya knew how to handle tarts. After this first taste, which Angulus watched with an unalarmed and bland expression he must have spent his entire reign mastering, the tongue withdrew, and the tarts floated one by one into Shulina Arya’s mouth.
I wonder if Bhrava Saruth is going to be upset that he wasn’t invited, Trip thought so the soulblades could hear him.
A second dragon would not have fit in the gardens, Azarwrath remarked.
I understand a similar assortment of tarts was delivered to his temple, Jaxi replied.
But no medal? Trip asked. No adulation from a crowd of potential worshippers? Is a tart delivery enough? He seems like a rather needy dragon, and he did help with the battle.
He did, Jaxi agreed. And that’s why the king invited him to come. But he declined. Due to extreme busyness. You see, there was a write-up recently in the newspaper about the bravery of Iskandia’s dragon allies, and he and his temple were mentioned. Somehow, a line got in about his godliness and how he is available at his temple to give blessings, and especially enjoys blessing young, beautiful women.
Uh, Trip thought. Did he write that article?
Sardelle and I suspect that he visited the journalist late one night and exerted his dragonly influence.
Is the journalist female?
It seems she is.
That dragon is shameless, Azarwrath said. Though from what I remember of my era when dragons had more of a presence in the world, shame isn’t a word in their language.
Unsurprising, Jaxi said.
What of Phelistoth? Trip asked. Was he recognized? He also arrived in time to help.
He was not interested in being recognized. He dislikes crowds, especially crowds of Iskandians. He is, after all, a Cofah dragon, even if Tylie has chosen to live here. Angulus wasn’t quite correct in naming Rysha as the first rider. Tylie has been riding Phelistoth around for years. She simply isn’t a warrior at heart—and Phelistoth considers himself a scholar rather than a fighter—so they never stepped forward to proclaim themselves here to defend the country. That said, Phelistoth certainly ends up in a lot of fights for a dragon who doesn’t like battles. It may have something to do with his aloof personality.