Light Dragons 03 - Sparks Fly

unable to resist asking.
    “Perhaps I will punish you as I did a week ago.”
    I thought for a few seconds. “That wasn’t punishment! That was you being bossy as usual, and making incredibly hot love to me outside when everyone in the pub was asleep. And don’t you even think you can distract me with thoughts of just how wonderful that outdoor interlude was, because it won’t work.”
    Baltic set down his fork and raised one eyebrow.
    “All right, it’s working a little bit, in so much as I think I’ll take a couple of blankets out to the north ruins, but that’s as far as I’ll go. Baltic, whether you want to or not, I’m going to restore your honor to such a state as will make your father happy, and by the saints, you will help me!”
    He frowned as he took the last bite of frittata. “I do not care what the First Dragon thinks of me.”
    “He’s your father!”
    “And about this, he is wrong. I have explained that to you.” His black eyes glittered dangerously at me, but I knew that underneath his anger, a little morsel of pain existed.
    I pulled the second frittata off the stove and went over to sit on Baltic’s lap, gently kissing his face and smoothing back his hair as I said, “My love, I do not doubt that you are right. The First Dragon is wrong to blame you, but he is the First Dragon. He is the ancestor of us all, and he has placed a task upon my shoulders. Would you have me fail when he has done so much for us?”
    “He has done nothing but give us grief all our lives.” Baltic’s fingers tightened on my legs as he turned his face into my neck, kissing all those spots that made me shiver with delight.
    “He resurrected me twice, and for that I will be eternally thankful, because it meant that you and Brom are in my life. I can’t refuse to do what he asks, not when it concerns you. I know you think this is nothing but folly, and I don’t blame you in the least for being offended that you’re in this position, but please, my love, my most adorable love, do it for me.”
    His sigh ruffled my hair, but dragon fire wrapped around us. “What is it you wish for me to do?”
    “I think the First Dragon wants you to pay penance for your mother’s death. No, don’t say it. I know you weren’t responsible, and you shouldn’t have to do it, but if it will make him happy and fulfill the task he’s bound to me, then you’re just going to have to do it.”
    “Bah,” he snorted, gently pushing me from his lap and giving my behind a swift pat in the process. “If I do what you ask of me, you will understand that it is for your sake alone that I do so.”
    “I understand.” I smiled up at him as he stood and stretched, enjoying, as I always did, the sight of his shirt pulled tight across his impressive chest. I fought the need to stroke that chest, reminding myself that this was more important.
    “What must I do in order to fulfill this penance?”
    “Well ... ” I thought for a moment. “I’d say in this case it was to make reparation for the damage done. When your mother died, you killed Chuan Ren’s guards, didn’t you?”
    “Yes.”
    I kissed his chin and returned to finish the frittata. “Which prompted her to attack the black dragons?”
    “In a way. She declared war against us and the green dragons, and within six months, the entire weyr was at war with one another.”
    “Right, so really, I think the First Dragon wants you to pay for that, for causing the Endless War.”
    “I didn’t cause it!”
    “Of course you didn’t! As much as I hate to speak ill of the dead, Chuan Ren was a vindictive woman, and one, I suspect, who loved to be at war. I have no doubt she set you up to provide her ample reason to declare a weyr-wide war. But your father obviously views things differently, and thus, you’re going to have to make reparations for that.”
    He thinned his lips and stood with his hands on his hips. “How do you expect me to do that?”
    “A good start would be to lift the curse off the silver dragons.”
    “No.”
    “It would show everyone-the First Dragon included-that you were sorry for how things turned out.”
    “I will not lift it. I have no reason to do so.”
    “But-”
    “No!” He marched over to the door, obviously about to leave, but paused and sent me a scathing look. “If that is all you have to suggest, then I will go into town and meet the builders. They are arriving today, and I must take them to Dauva.”
    “Wait a second. I’m not