Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

Aisling asked, looking curiously at the First Dragon. “Can he make something as big as a castle appear out of thin air?”
    The First Dragon smiled.
    “He created the race of dragons, kincsem ,” Drake told her. “A castle would be as child’s play to him.”
    “Well,” I said after giving Baltic a chance to thank his father for magicking up his heart’s desire, “that’s awfully nice of you to save us the trouble of rebuilding. Thank you.”
    The First Dragon ceased smiling. I felt as if the sun had gone behind a cloud. “The choice of whether this place is a reward or punishment is yours, daughter.”
    “You will not punish my mate,” Baltic said, and would have continued if I hadn’t stopped him.
    “Fine,” I told the First Dragon. “You’ve made your point. I’ve failed you again. If you’d just tell me exactly what you want Baltic to do, I’ll convince him that it’s within his best interests to do it. But please, no more mysterious comments and hints at unknown things and references to events I have no memory of ever happening because, to be honest, I’m really getting sick and tired of it all.”
    The First Dragon’s eyelids dropped over his eyes, making me feel even more as if I were on trial-and my defense was made up of the Marx Brothers. “The end is within your grasp, daughter. The choice of which end it will be is yours.”
    “Oh, for the love of ... See? That’s exactly the sort of mysterious crap-” His eyes widened. I cleared my throat. “Mysterious comments that drive me bonkers.”
    “That’s not an awfully long tri-ow!” Jim yelped as Aisling leaned down and whispered furiously in its ear.
    “You refuse, then?” The First Dragon began to turn away. “So be it.”
    “No, I don’t refuse!” I started toward him, but Baltic held me back, saying, “Mate, do not distress yourself. It is a game he plays. He enjoys trying to destroy my happiness.”
    “Well, I’m not going to let him. Now, you just listen here,” I threw caution to the wind and marched over to where the First Dragon was strolling out of the circle of people. I caught at his sleeve, my temper getting the better of me even though I knew it was the sheerest folly. “I’ve done everything you asked, not that you ever really came right out and said what I had to do, but I’ve tried. I’ve wheeled and dealed ... dealt ... whatever, and I’ve made sacrifices, and I’ve tried to keep the peace to the very best of my ability, but that’s evidently not good enough for you!”
    “Man alive, is she yelling at the First Dragon?” Aisling asked Drake, her eyes huge as I shook the First Dragon’s sleeve.
    “I believe she is,” Drake answered. “It is not something I ever wish to see you doing, in case you were thinking along those lines.”
    “I’d be afraid to,” Aisling admitted.
    “Ysolde, maybe you should take a few minutes to calm down,” May said, taking a few hesitant steps toward me. Her gaze kept skittering to the First Dragon as she added, “I think your emotions are running a bit high right now.”
    “Of course they’re running high!” I let go of the First Dragon’s sleeve to run my hand through my hair. “He’s trying to drive me insane.”
    “Baltic?” May asked, nodding toward me, obviously hinting that he should do something to stop me.
    Baltic crossed his arms and leaned against the wall of Dauva, but he said nothing.
    “Look, I don’t mean to be rude-”
    “Too late,” came a soft voice behind me.
    “But if you’re frustrated with me, I’m doubly so with you. So if you’d just once and for all tell me-”
    “This is beyond tolerable,” Thala said suddenly. “I have better things to do with my life than witness your pathetic little dealings. You’ll be mud beneath my heel soon enough.”
    She shot a look of pure loathing at pretty much everyone, and leaped on me, sending me flying backward with a wicked blow to my face. Pain stretched across my back for a second before there was a snapping noise, and then Thala was off, racing away with the black sword box in her hands, the broken leather strap trailing behind her.
    Baltic, who had caught me before I could hit the ground, gave a shout and tossed me forward to Drake before he ran after Thala. Pavel sprinted after him with only one backward look.
    “Really, Thala,” I yelled, my hands on my hips. “You have to pick now to do this? You don’t see that I’m busy with the First Dragon?”
    “Should we go