#iskierka

--

"I am sorry, my memory fails me. I am only trying to understand my relation to you." Laurence says hesitantly. "You say I am not your captain, nor do I command you. Did you save me from drowning for need of my services?"

The Kazilik tilts her head, looking at him oddly for several moments. "Oh. Yes." She says. "Indeed, I am the one in charge here."

--

"One good deed, and she has drowned, sunk to the bottom of the sea, her and Laurence both." Granby says miserably, leaning off the deck of the lopsided transport.

Little is beside him, a tight arm around his shoulders, as if he fears Granby might leap off into the sharp rocks below. "She proved noble indeed," he says.

"Do not be ridiculous," Temeraire chides, perched uncomfortably on a nearby rock. "I am sure they are both perfectly well. We were not that far from shore. They must've only got turned around in the storm. I would not be surprised to see Iskierka flying in at any moment, with Laurence on her back, crowing outrageously about having found my captain."

--

Beside him, Iskierka is muttering furiously. "That great coward, hiding behind other dragons, and while I'm expecting an egg too! Face me one-on-one, and I will scald him, I will boil him alive."

"What is she saying?" Lady Arikawa asks, peering past Laurence with interest.

"I believe she is frightened of the sea-dragon." Laurence says hastily. Glancing over, he sees Iskierka is baring her teeth while the giant dragon looks on dismissively. "You yellow-bellied overgrown snake," she hisses, "Come out of the water and fight me for real."

After all this time, the arsonist queen herself, Iskierka. Boy those spikes made it a real challenge. I wanted to add more but it was slowly turning ugly soooo for my peace of mind I stopped at 3 rows of spikes. My old design of a Kazilik 10 yrs ago (my Oc Malik) :