Lady Naravie Greyson

  I struggled to keep pace with Mother as she sped across the sky. The sands below us were flowing in liquid fire now, rivers of glowing molten sand.

  Suddenly Mother stopped and I took the chance to reach her.

  “Mother!”

  She turned to look at me and her eyes were Golden Slits, panic was there and she looked as if she were going to fly away at any moment.

  “L-leave me.” She said, her voice quaking as she spoke.

  “I'm not leavi-” I was cut off as she lunged towards me.

  Her claws dug into my shoulder and I fell backwards under her weight. We spiraled down to the sands and I felt as we hit one of the rivers of lava. It didn't burn but I felt like I was resting on a bed of coals. I squirmed out of Mother’s grip and found myself a spot of unmelted sand. She stood in the lava, unbothered by the molten sand swirling around her claws. My blood dripped from the wound, not deep enough to worry about but certainly distracting.

  “Mother please, calm yourself!” I cried.

  She let out a growl but did not come closer. Her eyes were locked on the blood coming from my shoulder before she gripped her head with one powerful arm.

  “No. I killed them. She will be ashamed. Ashamed. I killed so many. I hurt my child.” She was babbling the same words over and over again, shaking her head as if she were trying to throw something off of her.

  “Mother please, breathe. Its me. You have not hurt me. I have received worse wounds from Tiran while we were sparring.” I said as I took a cautious step towards her.

  Her eyes were still filled with panic but I saw her take a breath as I approached. The molten sands began to lose some of their heat as she calmed and I gave some soft reassurances to her. I saw her eyes welling with tears as her panic began to fade.

  And then Mallak appeared.

  I hadn’t noticed him until I heard the beat of his wings and I looked up to see him descending towards us. I tried to tell him to leave with my mind but the damage was done. Mother returned to her panic in full and I heard her breathing become erratic.

  “You tricked me!”

  “I did not! He means no harm!” I cried, making sure Mallak could hear.

  “You were just waiting for him! To bring me to her! To make me face her!” Mother roared, loud enough that I ducked my head behind a wing to shield myself from the noise.

  “She was not. She did not wait to give you chase when you fled from Father’s home.” Mallak growled as he stood in the swirling lava.

  “Do not speak to me in that tone Whelp. You will not be taking me back this day.” She hissed, putting herself in a stance to fight.

  “I will not fight you unless you give me no choice, Cousin.” He growled.

  She leapt at him and Mallak must have been surprised because she managed to drag her claws down his neck, spilling fresh blood that hissed and steamed as it hit the lava. Mallak threw her off of him and looked ready to leap at her when I put myself between them.

  “Stop! Do not fight!” I roared, my own voice sounding much too small compared to them.

  “Child! Look o-” He didn’t finish as I felt a sharp pain in my side.

  I looked down to see Mother’s tail embedded in my scales, red blood already pouring across it as she pulled it from my side. The look on her face went from one of excitement to one of horror. I saw a moment of clarity in her eyes before she took a few steps back, looking at her own claws and scales before throwing herself into the sky.

  Mallak did not give chase and as she left the sands cooled. I turned my gaze to the male dragon and bared my teeth.

  “I had it under control! She was listening! And then you arrived and ruined it!” I roared.

  “I’m sorry, I saw you bleeding onto the sands and assumed she was attacking you!” He roared back, standing over me his eyes filled with concern as he looked at the wound in my side.

  “I’m fine.” I spat.

  “You have a hole in your side.”

  I placed my claws over the wound and poured over it with my magic. The blood hardened under the warmth and I felt the flow of it stop a moment later. Looking at it as I removed my claw showed the hole was still there but the bleeding had stopped. Mallak gave me an impressed look.

  “You are a healer?”

  “No. I can control water, and blood is just water with extra things in it. So I stopped it.”

  “I have a brother who is a water dragon three centuries my senior who would not be able to do what you just did. He has tried. Interesting.” Mallak said, his eyes twinkling.

  I turned away to see Mother disappearing over the horizon. I wanted to give chase but right now I wouldn’t do any good. I let out a sigh.

  “She will be alright.” Mallak said, his tone calmer now.

  “I worry she is going to hurt someone else.”

  “There are few in that direction she could do harm too. Few dwell on the coast between the Sea and the Sands.” He explained.

  “Fine.”

  He took flight and I followed. The pain from the wound in my side was aggravating as we flew back towards the black mountain but I just let out a growl when Mallak offered to carry me. I was going to find Mother and help her anyway I could once I could fly at my full speed again.

  Sir Tiran Greyson

  I stood before Xaranta as he rose to his feet and Mallak took off after Ereneya and Naravie. The massive spike of rock that had erupted from the ground looked blunted and simply seemed to have knocked the breath from his lungs. He righted himself and rolled one of his shoulders as he moved away from the spike of rock. It was probably fifty feet in height and half as wide with a flat top. The Massive Dragon looked down at us as he caught his breath.

  “Apologies. That was unexpected.”

  “Shes been having episodes lately.” Irand replied.

  “Truly? I imagine things are not quite as stable as I had hoped with her. But that is not the reason for your arrival here is it? You wish to speak with me do you not?” He asked, looking down at me with those burning eyes.

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  “Yes sir.” I replied, suddenly feeling very small and alone before him.

  His mouth curled back in a smile revealing the hundreds of teeth that were larger than me in his mouth. I had thought spending time with Ereneya and Naravie would make him seem less intimidating but his size and presence outstripped either of them.

  “Now young man, you can speak plainly. I do not make a habit of harming mortals. I prefer kindness to violence.” He said, his gaze softening as he spoke.

  He came to a rest on a carved section of the wall similar to the one that Mallak had been resting in but so much larger. I hadn’t realized it was a resting spot simply because of how large it was. He may say he preferred kindness but his presence alone was intimidating. I steadied myself and mustered all the will I could to speak.

  “I came here to ask if you would offer me the chance to become…” I stopped as it sounded utterly ridiculous to say it.

  “... One of my sons?” He offered.

  “Yes.”

  “Indeed. And I have already agreed. You need pass my trials but you seem a capable young man, I doubt they will be very challenging for you.” He said with a thunderous chuckle.

  “I…” I choked on my words.

  I had seen Mallak’s scars and I knew what he had said about his Father’s ability to attract people like us but… I felt a presence in my mind and I looked towards Alvina before Xaranta’s voice echoed in my head.

  ‘Do you fear rejection for who you are? I can assure you that I and all of my sons understand your situation.’ He said, his voice so much softer and comforting via telepathy.

  ‘Mallak mentioned that and it is a worry but I… I am not as strong as you may think.’ I replied.

  ‘Show me why you would believe yourself not to be strong.’ He ordered.

  I let my memories play before him. Everytime Argan had assaulted me. Cornered me. Lorded his position over me. Each time he had forced himself on me. And finally the memory of being cast out into the snows by my Parents. When I came back to myself I felt tears running down my face. And a gentle hand resting on my cheek.

  I looked up to see a tan skinned man with short black hair looking down at me with a soft look in his glowing eyes. Horns curled out from under his hair and he wore nothing to cover his chest, only robes to cover his lower body. He was taller than me by at least a head and he was well muscled but leaner than Mallak. But my eyes focused on the scars on his chest. The same place as Mallak’s and mine and just as decorated with Tattoos as Mallaks. Xaranta gave me a gentle look before his voice echoed in my head again.

  ‘Child, that does not make you weak. I and all of my sons have endured similar cruelties. You have survived something that no one should ever have to experience. You are strong indeed. You do not need to be strong here.’ He said softly.

  I felt the tears fall in greater numbers. Since the battle of the Basin Fortress, no since my duel with Argan, I had been doing my best to be strong and resolute. All of that melted away as Xaranta gazed down at me. I wasn’t sure what possessed me to move but I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him as I cried. I felt his arms wrap around me in a gentle hug. I’m not sure how long we were standing there before a Draconic roar echoed in the cavern. I took a step back and turned to see where the noise had come from. Xaranta kept a hand on my shoulder as he stood next to me.

  Mallak soared back into the room and landed upon the stonework before us. Naravie followed and I saw the massive red spot on her side as she landed behind Mallak next to Odessa. Xaranta waited a moment before he spoke.

  “I see you have returned without Ereneya.”

  “She fled after injuring her daughter.” Mallak replied.

  “She wouldn’t have done that if you had just stayed away.” Naravie hissed, sounding every bit like Ereneya when she was angry.

  “Of course, its not like I smelled your blood on the wind before I arrived.” Mallak growled.

  “I had it under control!” Naravie growled back.

  “You were outmatched, you were just blinded by affection! She was going to attack you regardless!” Mallak roared, turning to face my sister.

  The two of them looked ready to attack one another before Xaranta’s voice filled the cavern.

  “Enough! Mallak, cease your antagonizing. And you, child of Ereneya, will not be fighting anyone this day. You have suffered injury enough.”

  Mallak heard the words and backed down, wandering over to the carved out stone that he had been lounging in when we arrived. Naravie glared at Xaranta, her golden eyes filled with the same rage that I had seen in Ereneya’s the day she had interrupted the ritual at Heskari’s castle.

  “He interrupted when I was getting through to her. She was listening.” Naravie growled.

  Mallak stayed quiet but I could feel the silent hatred in his stare.

  “If Ereneya was willing to attack you child, I do not believe your words would find purchase in her mind. Perhaps I am wrong and she has changed much from last we met but I doubt it. She was ever my Sister’s daughter. For now you need a chance to mend your wounds and clean yourself.” He pointed to a doorway large enough for his draconic form to enter. “Through there you will find a stairway leading down beneath the mountain to a spring. As one with an affinity for Water, I am sure you will find the water refreshing after being in the desert for so long.”

  Naravie’s rage flickered at the mention of water and she was still for a moment before she gave a slight bow. She held out her claw for Odessa and the young woman climbed onto it as my sister headed out of the room. Mallak was glaring daggers at her until she was out of sight and her footsteps faded.

  “You are too kind Father.” Mallak growled.

  “She was attacked by her Mother, Mallak. If I had attacked you or your brothers how would you be feeling?” Xaranta asked.

  Mallak was silent as he tucked himself behind his wing and seemingly curled up for a nap. Xaranta returned his attention to me.

  “We shall speak more once we have the rest of your group sorted.” He said with a smile as he clapped a hand on my shoulder.

  He turned to face Alvina and Irand and strode towards them. I jogged alongside him as I struggled to keep up with his stride. Irand and the Dragoness were having some telepathic conversation as we approached. Alvina shrunk down into her humanoid form to stand before Xaranta, a defiant look on her face.

  “Ease your stare child of Heskari, I mean you no harm.” Xaranta said with a chuckle.

  ‘You know my Mother?’

  “We have not met since she was only a century or so old. But I have kept tabs on her through a mutual friend. You know of the merchant Cyan yes?” Xaranta asked.

  Recognition sparked in Alvina’s clouded eyes and she nodded.

  “They keep tabs on many of their trading partners. They do not give out too many details but enough to keep us informed of one another. They have spoken of the eldest daughter of Heskari often enough that I could recognize you.” Xaranta explained.

  “Its the eyes isn’t it?” Alvina asked, her gaze falling.

  “I would be lying if I said no. They are a most striking feature.” Xaranta said softly.

  Irand reached over and grasped Alvina’s hand in his own. The gesture seemed to comfort her.

  ‘Well then, Lord of the Desert. My companion and I would ask if we may peruse your collection of magical records and tomes. We have a mission in mind.’ She said, glancing over at Irand.

  Xaranta nodded and a smile crossed his face.

  “Of course of course. I do hope this knowledge will not be used for ill mannered purposes?”

  “Only if you count sabotaging the Church’s goals as ill mannered.” Irand said.

  I gave him a confused look and he shrugged and brought a finger to his lips. Xaranta’s grin widened.

  “Not at all young man. I do not believe I caught your name.” Xaranta said as he held out his hand toward Irand.

  Irand shook it and smiled.

  “Sir Irand Greyson of Calanai.”

  ‘Alvina the Cloudweaver.’ Alvina said as she held out her hand for Xaranta to shake as well.

  The Elder Dragon obliged and gave them a smile.

  “Wonderful to meet a young couple.”

  The two of them sputtered and grew red at the words. I decided to join the conversation.

  “They aren’t a couple. Irand has some people back home. I believe the two of them have an arrangement at present.” I explained.

  Xaranta looked surprised as he spoke.

  “Oh. I apologize for making assumptions. I ask for your forgiveness.”

  “Its alright.” Irand said as he tried to cover the blush on his face.

  “Well allow me to have someone guide you to the library. It seems my Son is too busy sulking to be of use in that capacity.” Xaranta called out, loud enough that Mallak could not have missed it.

  If the other Dragon heard him he made no motion to rise.

  Xaranta was silent for a moment before he smiled and nodded to Alvina and Irand.

  “Your guide is on her way. She should be along in a few moments. For now, young Tiran and I have matters to discuss elsewhere.” Xaranta said as he turned to face another doorway and began striding towards it.

  I followed him as we left the main room and headed towards a massive stairway leading upwards toward the peak of the mountain. Xaranta transformed into his full Draconic form and held out his claw for me to climb onto. I hopped up and he took flight, gliding over the stairway as we rushed towards the sunlight.