Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

says you’re the most bloodthirsty person he ever met,” Brom said with a rare grin.
    “He is utterly and completely wrong.” I was unable to keep from hugging him just one more time, ignoring his protest. “I haven’t a violent bone in my body. Now, someone needs to go help Baltic.”
    “Holland and I will go,” Nico said as he moved toward the door. “The thief-taker will stay to protect you and the other dragon.”
    “My cup runneth over with joy,” Maura said somewhat acidly.
    Savian gave her a sour look. “I’m not thrilled with the job, either, princess, but it’s what I get paid to do.”
    “Mercenary and violent-what a charming personality you have,” Maura answered, looking at her fingernails with apparent fascination.
    “Better than traitorous and trigger-happy,” Savian snapped back, glowering at her.
    “I didn’t shoot Baltic, you horrible man; the dragons who were with me shot him!”
    I ignored them both, bit my lip, and glanced at Brom. Now that I knew he was safe, I itched to help Baltic, sure that my presence would have a steadying influence on him, not to mention I might be able to avert potential disaster with my own-admittedly sometimes wonky-magic abilities. “Savian, I think you should stay here to protect Brom. And keep an eye on Maura, of course.”
    Savian, in the middle of responding to yet another of Maura’s insults, frowned at me. “I don’t think Baltic would like you in the midst of any sort of battle, Ysolde.”
    “Nonetheless, it’s where I’m going. Brom, I want you to stay with Savian, no matter what, all right?”
    He started to shrug off my hands on his shoulders, but stopped when he got a good look at my face. “All right. But I’m not helpless, you know. I can make stink bombs. I read about it in the chemistry book I found downstairs.” He gestured toward the dusty and worn Spanish textbook that sat on the edge of his bed. “Those would be useful.”
    “Of course they would, and if you have anything lying around up here to make them, then you have my full approval to do so, and drop them out the window at any of Maura’s tribe you see.”
    “They’re not my tribe in the sense you mean,” she corrected. “I don’t lead them. I never did. I was just in charge of a small espionage team, one of whom you evidently turned into a rock, and the other two of whom abandoned me the moment your wyvern got pissed, so really, calling them my tribe is completely incorrect.”
    “Espionage,” Savian said with a disbelieving snort.
    Her nostrils flared at him. “I happen to be quite good at it, just as I am quite good at escaping tight situations.”
    “Really?” He looked thoughtful for a moment, then whisked out a pair of handcuffs, and before Maura could do so much as squawk, slapped one over her wrist, and the other on his own. “There. That will ensure that you don’t escape before Ysolde is through with you.”
    “What the-you can’t do this to me!” Maura wailed, struggling to get free from the handcuffs.
    “I just did,” he answered with grim finality.
    “Ysolde!” Maura appealed to me. “This is intolerable! Make him take them off. He can’t do this to me! I have things I must do, and I can’t do them tied up to this self-aggrandized, puffed-up policeman!”
    “Puffed-up policeman!” Savian was clearly outraged. “I’ll have you know I’ve received three commendations from Dr. Kostich himself for my work with the L’au-dela. Three commendations!”
    “Bully for you. And while we’re on the subject of bullies-”
    “Can we argue about this later?” I interrupted, heading for the door. “Savian, you should probably take off the handcuffs.”
    “I will. Later,” he said with a dark look toward Maura.
    She growled at him.
    “Brom, stay with Savian. Savian, I expect you to protect him with your life.”
    “Of course,” Savian answered, and I read absolute sincerity in his face.
    “Oh, this is just what I need,” Maura said, sighing. “For the last time, will you let me go?”
    “Not until Baltic says we’re done with you. You’re just going to have to stay with me while I protect Brom and Ysolde.”
    “I don’t mind helping with that. I like them . Ysolde, I will be happy to protect your son, too,” Maura said, an annoyed expression on her face as she glared at Savian, jerking the arm connected to his. “I did, after all, go against everyone here to offer to show you where the bolt-hole is hidden, so that you