Season’s Dragons: Winter, page 22
Good. One step forward right off the cliff. I looked over at Ashe and he returned a look that said he didn’t know what to do either. I probably had a better shot than some scrawny teenager who only happened to have authority because he had purple eyeballs.
Fair enough.
“So, everyone knows that there’s going to be a fight between two of the royal dragons? Right? I’m sure Kennith’s been warning you about it?” The crowd nodded to my lukewarm introduction.
“Ya, lass. What’s your point?” There was a collective grumbling as Ashe waved at the crowd, telling them to shush.
“Uh, so the fight’s going to be taking place in two days. I know. Not a lot of time.” The murmurings began again, while even the barkeep looked a bit uneasy this time around. Ashe didn’t stop them immediately, instead giving the tavern a bit of time to let the news sink in.
“But I’m going to go for a big ask.” I put my hands together in a makeshift prayer. “I…we’re betting on Aria. Not King Lazarus. So we’re asking if you could give us a hand.” Louder murmurings.
“Better plan. We stay home, because between you and I lass, they’re dragons. It ain’t about who’s supporting who.” There was a roar of agreement, followed by another round of beers. Okay, not going so well.
“But it can be! I know this is going to sound like a tall tale, but I traveled with Aria. Yes, I traveled with a royal dragon. I don’t know what you guys get out of the current king, but you guys aren’t more than living furniture aren’t you? Guarding…guarding what? Dragons? Let’s be honest, they don’t need guarding.” I had their attention for once. They wanted to either see me blow their minds or watch me crash and fall.
“That’s what you are to the current king, because nothing changes. Aria though, she wants things to change. She’s got a lot in here,” I tapped my chest, hopefully landing close to where my heart was, “Because you shouldn’t be decorations. There should be something, some purpose for you to be royal guards! Aria’s going to need people like you, and not for her sake. For the change she’s trying to make. You know, so that you can get to do something more than standing there all day!” There were looks of concern as Ashe shot me a worried look. A second passed. Then two. Finally, one of them spoke out, somewhat apologetically.
“Look, lass. We’ve got families and such. We’re not trying to do something heroic and dangerous. We’re just trying to get by, and having someone shake things up isn’t really why a lot of us are here for. Ya, we know how to shoot a crossbow, or swing a poleaxe, but that’s it. Now, that kid over there with the purple eyes? She’s the kind of folk you need. Not us.”
Ashe didn’t bother trying to stop the uproar in agreement. We were losing the crowd in record time.
“You got any ideas?” I looked over at Ashe, trying to find an out. Instead, I heard Aria’s melodic voice ring through my ears, offering me a solution served on a plate of questions.
“No, but I do.”
Aria descended the stairs into the tavern, flanked by Sebastian and two older Pact Mages. Instead of the black cloak, she wore a white, furred coat loosely draped over her dazzling blue dress. Gold embroidery fell down her shoulders, giving her a regal aura that I’ve never seen her wield, but now that it was there, I couldn’t imagine her without it. There was a silence as the bar patrons looked at her in disbelief.
“Aria! What are you doing here?” I managed as she crossed her arms, turning her glare at me.
“One, I thought I told you to stay home. Two, I suspected Ashe would pull something like this and try to get you involved. Let’s just say that I’m one step ahead of her, and I very much don’t appreciate her pulling a stunt like that.” She was so serious and bitter. Wait, her?
“You mean he right? Ashe is a boy,” I blurted out as the entire tavern watched Aria’s expression soften, surprised at the change of topic.
“She? She.” The two of us looked at the mischievous Pact Mage as he shrugged.
“Whatever you want me to be!” He had this crackling laugh that made him sound like a fox, which did not help us at all. At least it helped soften the mood.
“Regardless.” She cleared her throat as she turned to address the tavern.
“I know it is strange for a royal dragon to ask for your assistance, but I have my reasons. I wish to keep the fight between my brother and I, and not the organizations built around us. Thus, I would like you to act on my behalf, or on behalf of King Lazarus if you wish. I would like you to convince as many guards to not participate in our fight in two days and secure the castle for the victor. While I do not believe many will do so, I know that rash actions happen in the heat of battle, or in a moment of vengeance.” She paused, letting the crowd soak up her every word. See, if I had those fancy eyes and was a dragon then I would also amaze the public.
“King Lazarus has not taken such considerations into mind, so I’m forced to ask you to do what I cannot. Hopefully my willingness to be with you in this final hour has changed your mind on what kind of dragon I am, but if it does not, I will not force your minds. Finally, I offer the opportunity for four capable individuals to assist me personally. It is for those who seek glory, not those who wish for the safety of the castle nor the comfort of family. Thank you.” She gave a small bow as the entire tavern erupted into clapping. She walked over to me, still with a deathly glare in her eye, and yanked my arm.
“Come on, we’re going to have a talk,” she grumbled, dragging me forward. Fortunately for me, footwork was one of those things that I heavily invested into as a child, and I’d only gotten better with time. With one perfect lunge forward, I pecked her on the cheek. I had the delightful sight of her expression suddenly softening up as her face lit up like the sunset. There was dead silence in the bar as they waited to see whether I’d get murdered or not.
“Missed ya, sweetie.” My statement was met with embarrassed stammering by the cute princess right beside me.
“Y-You’re not supposed to be doing that in public!” she sputtered out, trying to keep quiet and failing spectacularly. There was a roar from the patrons as it turned to a rowdy mess of cheering and gossip as she dragged me out of the tavern. I gave a parting wave, complete with a stupid grin before being forced up the stairs by Aria. Dragon strength was no laughing matter, even in her human form.
We were outside now, and she had dragged me to a secluded alleyway in between the tavern and some other restaurant where patrons weren’t permitted to spill beer all over the floor. Sebastian looked like he was dragging Ashe out into the alleyway as well.
“Be honest, you liked that.”
That got another embarrassed smile out of her as she rubbed her cheeks, right where I had kissed her.
“I did, but that’s not the point.” Aria’s voice was soft, almost a whisper as Ashe and Sebastian started going off on each other immediately, their ruckus doing an excellent job of covering for us.
“Are you really going to use Coronacht, Charlotte?” She was going right for the jugular. Her hands around my wrist softened, and gently slipped down until her fingers were entwined around mine. Just what I tried to do on our first date.
“It’s not right you have to do this alone. Heck, Aria, if he’s a dragon just like you, then what’s to say that I don’t lose you?” I watched her eyes grow wide. She never even thought about herself, only about protecting me.
“So, after I found out there was something to do, well, I have to do it right? It’s our world, so we do it together? Not our world where you make everything?” I gave a disarming smile as she grumbled, still with slightly peachy cheeks.
“You’re not allowed to take what I said drunk like that.”
“Ya, but do you still believe it? Even after the wardrobe change?”
We exchanged a glance down at our entwined fingers, then up into each other’s eyes. Her diamond speckles shimmered ever so softly as the bickering noise of the Pact Mages outside made for the perfect cover of white noise.
“I do, but I want to keep you safe. You know this.” She leaned in closer and I wrapped my other arm around her. It’s been so long since I felt her by my side.
“You know how you feel when I get hurt. Imagine if I didn’t do anything, and you died out there.” I stroked her soft, white hair as her arms wrapped around my waist. I could see that she was finally beginning to understand what I felt, as her eyes turned from surprise, then regret, then finally soft sniffling.
“I could still die.” She wasn’t really being serious anymore, and neither was I.
“I could too. Doesn’t change a thing.” I leaned in to give her a soft kiss on her forehead.
We spent a few minutes like this as we overheard Ashe and Sebastian bickering. Something about responsibility, recklessness, and whatnot. I was just happy to have her back again.
Finally, the two of us separated from our embrace. Her smile was back. Her voice was soft again. She was crying a little, but I brushed those tears right off her face.
“You don’t have to do that.” She gave a tiny laugh before continuing. “We have two days. Let’s spend tonight together, but you should spend the last day with your family. They should know the risks that you’re taking.”
“Or I could spend them both with you?” I managed a hopeful smile, but she was having none of it. Those diamond eyes narrowed, as she slowly shook her head. I supposed it would be recklessly irresponsible to not say potential goodbye to my folks.
“Fine, fine.” I relented as she gave me a glowering frown. “I wanted to spend them both with you.”
Then like lighting, she pecked me on the nose with a quick hop. Now it was my turn to blush. I didn’t know she had it in her to be flirty like that, but now that I was on the receiving end, it was a fun departure from norm.
“I know, but you’re not allowed to. Now let’s break up the two morons, okay?” The sound of their bickering was dying down now, but still loud enough to have everyone staring at the two of them.
I was still rubbing my nose, blushing, as the two of us approached the grumbling Ashe. Seems like he’d lost the argument. Sebastian was looking bored as ever, though a fair bit more smug.
“Good news, Ashe. You aren’t grounded. Bad news, you have to protect this dork with your life. Got it?” Aria put her hand on his shoulder as his eyes opened up in surprise, before a massive smile grew across his face.
Ashe looked like he had won the lottery as Sebastian shook his head in disbelief.
“Ha, old man! In your face!” Ashe snapped his fingers before running off into the middle of Mithil, ecstatically jumping and cheering with boundless energy. He was giving the crowds quite the show.
“I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Sebastian shook his head in dismay as Ashe paused suddenly, before racing back, panting.
“Right, got to keep near you Charlotte! Almost forgot!”
Now it was Aria’s turn to regret her life decisions, at least until I pecked her on the forehead again.
Chapter 20: A Dragon’s Parting Gift
“Is that a roost?” I blurted out in disbelief as I walked up the trapdoor leading to the uppermost levels of the Acadamae.
It was hard to describe it as anything else other than a massive dragon roost. The upper levels didn’t exist at all but was instead a massive hollow chamber that could serve as a dragon’s lair.
Large, sweeping balconies jutted out of the massive walls to provide us lonely humans some ability to match a dragon’s stare. Buildings and giant beams of metal were welded onto the floor and onto the walls to provide structural support, having been put there by some ancient draconian architect. Even looking at the roof made my mind spin. It was a dragon-sized circular door, with impossibly massive steel handles.
Once upon a time the floor might’ve been covered in treasure, but now only floorboards remained. Most of them were bundled to the sides of the massive roost, with some bundles leaning against various buildings.
Onyx dragon scales were neatly filed away, a forever-diminishing supply of irreplaceable material. It was mind boggling to think that the entire supply of black dragon scales consisted of three table sized stacks.
Discarded, leaning against the right side of the building, was the spear Coronacht. It was taller than me and carved out of two lengths of dragon bone. Strange, glowing spirals webbed across its length, almost as if it were alive. A dark indent at the handle of the spear betrayed its fragile origins; it was a weapon that could only be used once.
“This place is amazing…” I whispered, still taking in the sights as Aria watched on with a smile. It took a lot to get me awestruck, at least after Aria made herself a part of my life. Things have a habit of being ho-hum after your girlfriend turned out to be a dragon. This roost though, this roost was something else.
“I admit, I was taken aback, just like you are now. However, this place will not last.” Aria’s fingers wrapped around mine as we approached the door to her makeshift home.
“Even if we do not fight, Chronos’ old home will not last long. Perhaps he foresaw the approaching conflict. Maybe they all did.”
The metal door swung open with a clang, as I shuttered a little. Subtlety was not a part of any dragon’s repertoire.
The building was another story. It was quite cozy, with soft glowing crystals blanketing the entire room with an eerie blue glow. Speckles of light greens and purples flickered around the room for variety.
The entire place looked like it was meant to house one person, but was roomy enough to accommodate an entire family. A massive circular bed was sprawled across the middle of the room, partially covered in discarded clothing and old tomes. The bed looked like it could host said family sleeping together in a sprawl. Fit for a queen, or a very small dragon.
“Quite the living arrangements,” I said, still dazzled at the many glowing crystals as Aria locked the door behind us. In the soft blue glow, her eyes were like sapphires, sparkling brighter than the clearest rivers at dawn.
She turned around and took my other hand, before pressing me against the door. I thought she was going to kiss me or give me another lecture. Either one would’ve been understandable. Instead, her eyes shimmered softly, as if she was holding back tears.
“You know, normally when you’re pressing me against the door, that’s the cue that I’m getting a kiss.”
I watched her cheeks grow flush, but she didn’t say a thing. She only squeezed my hand harder. It was endearing to see her being so forward rather than being speechless.
“This might be our last night together.” Her voice was a somber song that betrayed her true feelings.
“I want to follow my heart, and I thought that by protecting you I was doing what I needed to do, that this was my fight. On reflection, I’ve realized that my victory was never as certain as I had hoped, and I’m sorry.” Her tone was a rare combination of her deeper natural tone, and a gentleness I’ve never heard in her serious tone. She was gripping my hands tighter than ever.
“Maybe let go of my hands a little bit? Please?” I playfully begged as her eyes went wide, before letting them go. “Thanks, but I don’t blame you.” I rubbed my wrists, a little sore as she stared up at me, waiting anxiously for what I had to say.
“I’m not very useful in all the background politics, mages that and dragon this. But I would’ve liked it if we could’ve stayed together for that time.” I watched her gaze shift from me to the floor. Was she disappointed at herself, or at me? “I know it’ll be safer if I stayed back home, but not everything’s about keeping me safe. And I was really worried about you too.” I finished off with a chuckle.
“Aah, what I meant to say is that apology accepted! And maybe don’t leave me in the dark like that because…” I caught myself before I wanted to go on about how bored I’d been the entire time. Aria already looked like she was beating herself up. No need to make it worse.
“You know, we should also talk about it. What we’d do if one of us doesn’t make it. Then we can do whatever we like, how about that!” I gave a gleeful smile as she looked up at me in surprise. Was she crying a little?
“I thought it would drag down the mood and everything…” She softly sniffled as I kneeled to match her height.
“Aria, I know you want to protect me and keep me happy, but at the end of the day you can’t protect me from everything.” She shook her head before leaning forward and slamming her forehead into mine. I winced, feeling my head bang against the metal door before I landed on my butt. Ow.
“Yes, but I’m a dragon, and you’re not. One of us can take a lot more punishment.” She gave a pout at first, but once she saw I was still recovering from the headbutt, her tone suddenly changed. I tried to steady myself, but Aria beat me to it.
“Charlotte? Are you okay?” I felt her hand on mine as I shook my head a little. Still ringing.
“Ya, but no doing that while there’s a metal door behind me, okay?” I tried to alleviate her worry with a smile, but instead I felt her arms slowly hook under my legs.
“Hey what are you…” I began, surprised as first as she lifted me up in a princess carry, and casually dumped me in her bed. Despite our differences in height and weight, she had no problems. By the end of it I was blushing, romantically mesmerized as she sent a lost stare my way.
“What?” Aria replied, a little confused as she looked around for the source of my embarrassment. I pointed a finger her way.
“That was a princess carry. The one that you use…ya,” I softly whispered, watching her cheeks light up like a bonfire. She was mortified, yet she still had a cutesy smile on her face.
“I didn’t mean it that way! Or I did…but I didn’t!” She sat by my side as I pulled myself up. Our eyes locked in agreement. For a pristine moment, we exchanged glances before I broke the silence.
“Not to break the romantic tension, but would you mind if I started with the whole ‘planning in case we die’ thing?” I began and she gave an emotionless nod. I didn’t want to talk about it either, but it needed to be said.
