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Gold chose not to answer, as he was pretty sure whatever he said would only make this even worse than it already was. He had no idea why Kayin was so annoying to him. Why he seemed to be able to make him snap so easily.
"You're welcome to go ahead and attack me," Kayin said. "I saw what you did with that archer. I know you can mess me up pretty good."
"Yes, of course, what a great idea. Attack the person with the dragon while I'm on the dragon in the sky. That won't end up badly at all," Gold said quickly, mostly to convince himself that it was a bad idea.
"That's what you were thinking, though," Kayin pointed out, not unkindly. "Wasn't it? I suppose I can't blame you. And you're right, it's a horrid idea, I just thought I'd give you some options."
"Maybe I was." Gold gritted his teeth. "If it was a horrid idea, why did you suggest it in the first place? Do you really want a midair fight so badly? Hoping I was stupid enough to take the bait?"
“I was appealing to your emotions,” Kayin said with a tilted grin. “And as I’ve said so many times before, I will not let you fall off my dragon.”
"My emotions… right." Gold was running out of ways to be angry that wasn't attacking Kayin. "You've said that many times, but I am yet to actually believe you."
"I wouldn't!" Kayin protested. "If I were going to kill you, I'd do it myself, with a knife. I wouldn't let you fall to your death. That's terribly messy."
"Less messy than stabbing me?" Gold raised his eyebrows. "Pushing me off just takes a little shove and then I'm gone forever. Seems easier."
“Eh. I’d rather see the light fade from your eyes,” Kayin said, with a wide grin that revealed his pointed canines. “And if I didn’t want people to find you, a quick stab and toss into the ocean works much better. Take it from an assassin.”
"Wonderful." Gold leaned forward slightly, the word more growled than spoken. "Lou umei cul." His lips curled into an annoyed grimace.
“I must agree,” Kayin said. “However, I am taking a liking to you, so I think I’ll keep you.”
"You're taking a liking to me?" Gold couldn't keep the doubt out of his voice. "You could have fooled me."
“That was the goal,” Kayin said amusedly. “Really, I do think you’re quite funny.”
"Huh. Is your go-to strategy always to annoy and threaten the people you've taken a liking to?" Gold asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It is when they're a threat to me," Kayin retorted. "I try to keep myself safe, thanks."
"So I'm a threat to you?" Gold laughed. "I find that hard to believe." From what he'd seen, Kayin was a very dangerous person when they wanted to be.
“Yes! I saw what you did with that amulet,” Kayin pointed out. “I’m not going to take any chances.”
"I suppose." Gold shrugged. The amulet was definitely a powerful magic. It had helped him get out of many tough scrapes before. "So… Why exactly have you taken a liking to me? I don't think I've done anything all that likable."
"You're feisty. And strong. Funny," Kayin listed, then shrugged.
"Feisty?" Gold repeated, staring at Kayin in shock. He had never been called 'feisty' before. "How am I feisty?" Gold continued, trying not to sound too disbelieving.
"You don't put up with people's shit," Kayin said. "You're. . . spunky, is the word for it."
"Huh." Gold leaned back slightly. "Thanks, I guess." He didn't know how Kayin's compliments made him feel. Weird, that was for sure. "How much longer until we get to a town?" He continued, changing the subject as naturally as he could.
"An hour, maybe. Possibly longer," Kayin said mildly. "Play it by ear, is what I think."
"Alright, fine." Gold sighed and shifted slightly into a more comfortable position. He was getting a bit tired from all this up and down and excitement. Gold wanted to sleep… but he was on a dragon. There was no way.