"Listen to them," Mirram urged him. "You may have a dragon's power, but not a dragon's wisdom."
Koe could not help but stare openly as they regarded one another. It was something between them. Perhaps his son had been her husband? There were a great many things he did not know about the situation. Curiosity was the bane of most but the blood of bards. To know and to understand. to compose with real emotion in your mind instead of secondhand accounts. Koe always wanted to be where the action was. Horon did not understand that it was not in them to leave him alone. Not like a human, who always was worried about how it was going to live. The choices between living and dying, the right thing and the wrong thing. Never an easy decision to make.
Something in the way they regarded one another. Something in the way they were clinging to each other. Emotionally instead of physically. She was right, and Horon could not see it. Let us help and the world will be right again he wanted to say. Let us help and everything will be all right. Horon did not seem the sort of man to believe a lie like that. Koe wanted the right thing. He wanted everyone to live. Statements he could not support changed nothing.
"Your help," Horon said finally. "Would be welcome."
"And what of you?" Koe turned his head to Vedette. "I won't ask you to stay, if you don't want to."