“Don't know. I think I can try.”
She turned to Ran. “And will you go with him?”
She didn't need to be able to see into the dragonrider's mind to know that he wanted to. That he yearned to go north with Lugg to seek this Xoster. For once he seemed undecided. He didn't reply for several seconds.
In the end he said, in stumbling English, “No. I am sworn to protect you, Cait.”
His assumption that she needed protecting riled her, but she said nothing. In truth she couldn't help feeling relieved. She needed all the help she could get. She really didn't fancy the idea of heading to the An alone. And without Ran they had no chance. He was the only one who could open the wyrm roads.
“And you, Nox?”
He shrugged. “I guess I'll go with you, too. I'm a city person. Quests for mythical dragons are
