Sampson had eaten the treat with a deep rumble that was his purr, paying attention to her words. He understood what she said, picking up most of it from her tone – but dragons knew key words, and were smart enough to string them together. He dropped his head as she hugged him, pressing her gently then watching her go with a gentle rumble she didn’t hear but felt through her feet.<br/><br/>When she got to the front of the house, the last of her things were being loaded. Her grandmother was talking to two more footmen, dressed to ride and both carrying rifles. “… with all precautions. Keep sharp and don’t forget to look up every so often. Stealth zeppelins can carry snipers. Oh, Jack. There you are. I have something else to give you – it is only for the journey, and when you reach the Academe, you are to hand these to the Headmaster – students are prohibited firearms.” She waved a third man forwards. He held a case which he opened, showing two pistols settled in blue velvet. They had several sets of initials engraved down the barrels, all ending with G, the last two being J.G., and the family arms on the butt. She had been taught how to shoot in the two months – not well, but enough so that she would only hurt her attacker, not herself or her men. “You only use these if something happens,” her grandmother said firmly.<br/>