“It is not a war,” Kostya answered, still staring out the window. “What the silver dragons conducted was nothing less than genocide.”

I bit back the comment that it sounded like they had started the whole thing by trying to force the silver dragons back. “That would explain why Gabriel was so hostile when he saw Kostya, but not why he made the reference to not liking the hospitality offered.”

“The aerie was Kostya’s hiding place,” Drake answered.

“That’s a heckuva way to hide yourself, in a prison cell,” Jim said, rolling over so Pál could scratch its tummy.

Kostya’s back twitched.

“The aerie was invaded, and Kostya taken prisoner. When I received word from him that he was no longer safe, I went to rescue him, but we were not prepared for the force that awaited us.”

I could tell by the way Kostya muttered that he wasn’t happy at all about having to call on Drake for help. Somehow, that made me feel better.

“I know I asked you this before, and you said you didn’t know, but you’ve got to have some idea who the dragons were who infiltrated the aerie.”

“I did not know the few I saw,” he answered, his eyes troubled. “They were ouroboros.”

Jim sucked in its breath.

“Ouroboros?” I poked through the dusty drawers of my memory. “Isn’t that a snake eating its own tail?”

“That is a stylized version, yes. In dragon terms, an ouroboros is an outlaw, a dragon who is expelled from or willingly rejects his own sept. They are considered dead by their former sept members…it is from that death that they regain life.”

“That’s why Gabriel said they didn’t belong to any sept.” Things clicked into place, even though there were still a lot of questions to be answered. “OK, question number three—”

“Four,” Drake said. “You asked what an ouroboros was.”

“That wasn’t—argh! Guys?” I turned to Pál and István. “Am I on three or four?”

“Four,” they answered simultaneously.

“Dragons!” I took a deep breath. “Fine. Question number four, not that I’m going to forget this, buster. What is Kostya going to do now?”

Drake’s troubled gaze went to his brother, who refused to turn around. “Alas, that question I cannot answer. I believe his first goal is to establish if there are enough members still living to re-form the sept.”

Kostya turned at that, a smile curving his lips. “I will have my sept, brother, do not fear. I will retake that which was once ours.”

Jim groaned and covered its eyes with its paw.

“That sounded remarkably like a threat,” I said slowly, a little chill forming in my heart. “You’re not thinking of carrying on where your old wyvern left off, are you?”

“I swore that I would not rest until the black sept was whole once again,” he answered, his voice rife with emotion. “And so I will not.”

I shook my head and started to get up. “The silver dragons—”

“Aisling, this is nothing to involve us,” Drake interrupted, pulling me back against his chest.

I twisted around to look at him. “Yes, it is. Gabriel is our friend—I think—possibly—and I’ll be damned if I just sit around while your brother tries to fulfill some madman’s plans.”

Kostya rounded on me. “I did not support Baltic’s actions, but I understood his reasons for taking them. He was not mad…just mistaken in his methods.”

“You call destroying your own people in an attempt to annex another sept the act of a sane man?” I asked.

“Atta girl, Ash,” Jim said.

“They were black dragons once!” Kostya yelled, fire erupting in three different spots in the room. “And with the help of Drake, they will be black dragons again!”

“Cease this!” Drake bellowed, causing me to wince. “We have discussed this enough, Aisling. And you—” He turned his emerald-eyed glare on his brother. “You will remember what I said. The green dragons will not protest your appeal for reinstatement to the weyr…provided you do not start a war.”

“Well, thank god for someone speaking common sense,” I said, relieved that I wasn’t going to have to try to make Drake see reason.

“I will not stay here to be so abused!” Kostya sent Drake one last glare before exiting the room.

“If I say I think I liked him better when he was imprisoned, would you think I was crazy?” I asked Drake.

“At this moment? No. István, would you make the travel arrangements? Pál, I will leave security of Aisling’s family and the house in your hands.”

“Why is Kostya helping us if you’re not going to help him take over the silver dragons?”

Drake’s jaw tightened. “He foolishly believes he can manipulate me into changing my mind. I do not suffer any compunction at taking his help now, however. He will need our aid later, when it is time for him to rejoin the weyr.”

István finished putting out the fires and toddled off, Pál about to follow him. “Will we be gone long?” he asked.

“No. I hope to be back within a few hours. But her family will be vulnerable until we return.”

My heart warmed at the thought of him taking such good care that no one was harmed. “Uncle Damian is off with one of his army buddies. He said he’d be around if I needed him for bodyguard duty, but I’m sure he’ll be OK puttering around on his own.”

Drake nodded. “It is your stepparents I am more concerned about.”

“What if we got them out of town?” I said, musing over the situation. “We could send them on an overnight trip to somewhere within day-tripping distance.”

“That is what I was thinking. With a suitable guard, of course.”

I smiled. “I kind of figured you were having us shadowed when we went out.”

“They are your family. They must be protected from harm by any untoward attacks from the red dragons,” he answered, turning to Pál. “Aisling will see to it that they are gone for the evening.”

“And I will see to their guards,” Pál said, giving me a little grin before leaving the room.

“Alone at last,” I murmured, pushing Drake back down into a chair.