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Amantea hadn't noticed before.
    "Where were we?" Naldo asked. Before Isaia could answer, however, Naldo threw up a hand, smiled, and said, "Oh right, the part where I activate the trap." Magic flared, bright blue arcs of energy crackling up from seven points around where Isaia—and Amantea—stood. "It's dragon-proof. I mean, you're welcome to try and break it, but—"
    Isaia growled, throwing out a hand. He said something rapidly that Amantea didn't quite catch, and a pulsing yellow orb of energy materialized and careened toward the cage. Amantea blinked rapidly as it shattered into a thousand bright sparks—and then the cage retaliated, snapping a sharp electric crack toward Isaia. It coursed through him and jumped to Amantea. It felt like Amantea had been struck by lightning. Everything hurt, sharp and white, and he couldn't breathe through the pain... and then it was gone, replaced by Naldo's laughter.
    Amantea sat up slowly, shaking his head. His arms and legs felt like liquid, and it hurt to take a deep breath, but he seemed whole. Isaia was panting softly, on his knees in front of Amantea.
    "There's a rebound effect in place," Naldo said. Isaia hissed. "I can trigger it whenever I want, as well. Will you give me the scales now? Or should I go get your sister and put her in a similar cage?"
    "Never," Isaia spat. He didn't even look at Amantea, and Amantea tried not to let that hurt. Isaia didn't owe him anything. Naldo stepped up to the cage, reaching out toward it, and Amantea knew what was coming. Standing, he stumbled the few steps over to where Isaia knelt. He put one hand on Isaia's foot and shut his eyes, activating a portal and hoping, praying, that they weren't about to end up at the bottom of the ocean or in the middle of a volcano.
    The portal magic washed over him, soft and reassuring, whisking them away from Naldo's backyard. A short second later, they settled on firm ground, the portal closing behind them. Amantea took a deep breath, ignoring the sharp ache that earned him. They were in a field of tall grass, but that was all Amantea could tell from his position on the ground. Isaia spluttered, standing, but Amantea only slumped down, his head starting to throb. Unanchored portals hurt, one of the many reasons they were a poor idea. On top of the shock from the cage, he wanted to curl up in his nest and sleep for a week.
    "Where are we?" Isaia asked. Amantea didn't answer. He didn't have an answer. "Shift, flit. I'm not talking to a dragonfly."
    "Fuck you," Amantea muttered, pressing his hands to his temples. He didn't know if Isaia heard him or not, but in the next second, the dragon was looming over him. Amantea didn't look up, too tired and hurting to put up any resistance when Isaia picked him up.
    "I told you to stay in the house," Isaia said, lifting him so that Amantea could see the scowl on his face.
    "Fuck off," Amantea said. His head gave a vicious throb, and he curled forward, burying his face in his hands. It was probably a bad idea to show weakness in front of Isaia, but he couldn't help it. It hurt , worse than the only other time he'd ported without anchors to bring him to a specific place. Granted, he had only done it once, and he hadn't been zapped by magic beforehand.
    Isaia let out a sigh, long and drawn out, and then began walking. He brought his hand in close to his chest, and Amantea didn't question it, just curled up in Isaia's palm and tried not to focus on how every step jarred his head and the ache in his chest. At some point, despite the pain and unpleasant movement, he dozed off.
    It was dark when he woke. His head felt like he'd spent the previous night drinking elinflower elixir, but he was warm and comfortable otherwise. A fire crackled nearby, and he could hear the soft sounds of nightbugs flying overhead. Yawning, his stomach rumbling a complaint that he hadn't eaten in… ages… Amantea shuffled around until he was sitting up.
    He'd been asleep in a pile of silk. It had