“She’s made her choice,” Thorat said. “She’s not becoming a priestess.”
“That’s hardly your choice to make, young man,” the Aralel said.
“It’s all right,” Iola said. “I’ll go again. Eppie doesn’t have to.”
“But you’ll die,” Thorat said.
Darna looked back and forth between the two of them. She was sure that they were still in love with each other, yet Thorat’s fear didn’t seem to matter to Iola. She reached for his hand.
“I’ll have to die some time anyway,” Iola said. “Better among the dragons.”
“No,” the Aralel said. She stopped Iola and Thorat’s reaching hands with a gesture, and they both sat back, chastened. “As your superior in this temple, I will not permit you to fly again. If anyone flies, it will be one the dragons have not carried before. That is what the oracles have decree
