"By the time he grows that big, I doubt concealing him will be the least of your problems," Daud says, as much of a wet blanket as ever. Red might manage to stay within the physical size of a variety of tamed beasts for some time yet, but he's no tame beast. Once he grows intelligent enough to understand the world around him, to speak and think for himself, well ... anything could happen.

"Strange have any useful advice on raising your own dragon?" Oh, he hadn't responded to that, and he hadn't heard Billie respond over the courier, but he'd be surprised if she didn't. Mercy keeps watching the cat back, challenging.