Sir Tiran Greyson

  As we emerged into the sunlight I lost my breath, literally. I had been standing on Xaranta’s open claw just fine and as we emerged from the mountain I found it hard to breathe. I fell backwards trying to catch my breath and I felt Xaranta touch down. He spoke something and the breath returned to my lungs as I coughed while trying to suck in more air.

  “Apologies. I often forget those who have not been here before require an enchantment to help them adjust.”

  I managed to suck in a breath and sit upright to see him.

  “It's not a problem. But I never had an issue when I was flying with Ereneya, so why now?” I asked.

  “Ah, the inside of the Mountain is enchanted to be of habitable pressure but outside the rapid change in pressure can cause sickness. When you flew with Ereneya, the pressure gradually changed and so it was not a major issue. But here you went from ‘Normal’ air to extremely thin air. Thus the feeling of being unwell.” He explained while I finished my coughing fit.

  “Ah.” I managed.

  He waited for me to finish before he slid me off of his palm and curled up around me on the cliffside. We were on a flattened edge of the mountain that looked out over the seemingly endless red sands. It wasn't overly hot despite the black stone surrounding us and I basked in the easy heat. Xaranta also seemed to be enjoying the sunlight before he looked at me and spoke.

  “So tell me Tiran, why do you seek dragonhood?” He asked.

  I sat for a moment, thinking about my answer. I had prepared for questions of course but now all my planning seemed unnecessary. I spoke plain and simple.

  “I want to be able to protect my Brother and Sister. I want strength to defend my home. I want to be able to see my Sister grow and be there alongside her. I want a body I feel comfortable in.” I replied, my voice even and calm.

  “And?” He offered.

  “And I want the power to make sure no one can take advantage of me again.” I said, quieter than before.

  He was silent for a moment and I thought he might be unsatisfied with my response but when I looked up at him I saw the same draconic smile I had seen on Naravie a few times. A low rumbling chuckle shook the cliff before he spoke.

  “All fine reasons. I suspect that you would enjoy a long talk with my eldest child, Vandril. I did not suffer abuse like my sons before I became a Dragon but I have helped each of them through their recovery from it. Though you seem like you have come through it with steel in your soul.” Xaranta mused.

  “I had a wonderful family looking after me. Even when I was going through it I… I never felt like I was beyond hope. I just didn’t want to worry them about a problem they couldn’t help.” I explained, remembering all the times that the others had helped me without knowing.

  “Well, should I grant you my blood, I expect you to be open about your struggles. We look after one another here.”

  “Why?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Why do you look after one another so much? From what I’ve heard, Dragons are solitary creatures and the males even more so. Heskari and her daughters are the exception from what I’ve heard.” I said quickly, not wanting him to think I meant offense.

  “Ah, yes. You will notice that only one of them lives here with me. Mallak is a bit of an older soul than his brothers and less prone to outbursts. The rest of my sons dwell on islands to the East, all of them dwelling on their own but able to contact me if needed. We may not dwell together but we do care for each other, it is simply the nature of things that if we spend to much time as a group we have arguments. Never have we had a fight where any of us were in true danger but we have had some where the people of the desert have been at risk. So we dwell apart for much of our lives.” He explained.

  “But why? What made you wish to do that?” I asked.

  He was quiet, looking out over the desert for a long while as the sun crept higher. Eventually he let out a sigh.

  “Because I made a vow to be better than my Father. When I first became a Dragon, My Father had twelve sons. I had thought him a good man, a kind one. I was wrong. After I had come into my own, he brought us all together and trapped us within a cage of stone and steel. He told us that only the strongest of us would be allowed to leave. The last one remaining. It took three weeks for us to begin fighting. As the youngest and smallest, I had no chance of escaping with my life. But another of my Brothers defended me from the rest, He slew four of our brothers by himself, with the last fight ending in both of their deaths. I was the last to remain and my Father was so disappointed that I had not slain any of them. I fled. I ran and found my sister, Ereneya’s Mother Callira, and told her of what had happened. She and her Mother helped me to grow stronger and learn to use my power. And when I had learned and grown, I returned to my Father. He had a new son, his “Strongest” son. I killed my Father and warned my brother that if he continued on as Father had taught him, he would meet his end. He fled from me and I claimed my Father’s hoard for myself. After that I lived alone until I felt Ereneya’s surge of power from Ecantel and I came here to see her. I found her curled up beneath my Sister’s Corpse, half starved and deep in slumber. She was alone. She had no one. Following that I swore that my sons would not be alone in their lives, even should something happen to me they would have each other. So I have kindled that relationship between them all. They may bicker and fight on occasion but they would never harm one another in earnest.” He spoke as if he were merely telling an old story, though when he spoke of his Father and Brother his voice became hard and angry.

  “So it was not just because of your Brothers?” I asked.

  “Nay. I… I wished to live alone. When I saw Ereneya huddled beneath Callira’s wing something bloomed in me and I had a change of heart. My oldest son was only a few decades younger than him and my oldest living son was only a few years behind that.” Xaranta explained, his tone growing mournful at the mention of his oldest son.

  “What happened to him?” I asked.

  “He died defending his brothers from humans who had grown to despise us. He was a kind soul and he tried to form peace with them. They declined. Their kingdom no longer exists.” Xaranta growled, leaving no doubt what he had done there.

  We sat in silence for a long time, both enjoying the warm afternoon sun. Eventually he shifted and I blinked my eyes open, having fallen asleep at some point.

  “I have made a decision.” He growled.

  I was on my feet immediatley in excitement.

  “Normally I would perform this trial myself but there are others here who need my aid as well. Would you allow Mallak to act as judge in my stead?” He asked, his massive head looking down at me with those burning eyes.

  “Of course!” I said, ready for any challenge he could offer.

  “Wonderful. I will do my best to stay in touch as well. It is a long trial, which is why I cannot oversee it myself. Your sister needs guidance on how to aid her mother and your brother’s mind swarms with questions that he will find no written answer to.” Xaranta said as he rose to his feet and motioned for me to climb up again.

  I bounded up his arm and onto the back of his neck as he leapt back into the crevice we had ascended through and we began a rapid descent. He landed back in the massive room where we had met and we found Mallak still covering himself with his wing.

  “Mallak, are you still pouting?” Xaranta asked, his voice reminding me of how Sir Greyson had teased us.

  “I was helping.” Mallak growled.

  “You were indeed. She may have been blinded by her love for her mother. Or perhaps you underestimated her persuasiveness. It is in the past now. Would you be willing to assist me in another matter?”

  Mallak uncovered himself and rose to his feet. He did look like he was pouting, even as a dragon. The two of them stared at one another and I was about to ask what they were talking about when Mallak’s maw split into a grin.

  “Oh, this is going to be good. Isker will love him.” Mallak said with a laugh.

  “I’m sorry?” I asked.

  “Pay him no mind. He has agreed to act as a judge in my stead. I do trust him to be honest, and you can speak to him about anything you would with me. The trial will proceed until such time as Mallak or I deem it ended. It could be several months. Are you prepared Tiran?” Xaranta asked.

  “I am.”

  “Very well. Then I wish you luck, young knight. Mallak, play nice.”

  “Have I ever not?” Mallak asked, looking offended.

  “Your brothers.”

  “They can handle anything I can throw at them. Especially Vandril.” Mallak snarked.

  The two of them laughed and it brought a smile to my face before I hopped down to the floor. Mallak knelt to allow me to climb onto his back and Xaranta smiled at us. Mallak leapt into the air and we were off down another tunnel, wind rushing past us. He kept going, out of the mountain and further and further over the sands. Eventually I felt a prodding in my mind.

  ‘I hope the old man didn’t scare you.’

  ‘Not at all. He is quite kind.’

  ‘That he is. Now we head for Rowen. A village on the southern edge of the desert. There your trial will commence.’ Mallak said with a chuckle.

  ‘What's so funny?’

  ‘Isker is going to flip his lid when he finds out.’

  ‘Who is this Isker?’

  ‘A friend who you will get to know very soon.’

  Lady Naravie Greyson

  I grumbled to myself about nothing in particular as I descended the massive stairs. Odessa was on my back and I felt her touch the spikes on my back as I continued on. I could hear the sound of water before she finally spoke.

  “You are going after her aren’t you?”

  I stopped and turned my head back to look at her.

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  “I was planning on it.”

  “She attacked you.”

  “She was scared. If I can get her calmer… She needs help.” I said as I continued on.

  “You do not have to do it alone.” Odessa said, climbing up my neck until she was resting on my frill.

  “You could get hurt.”

  “So could you.” She said, running a gentle hand along my scales.

  “If you haven't noticed, I'm a Dragon.”

  “A dragon who in the past few months I have seen on the brink of exhaustion several times, burned alive and now impaled. You have a tendency to get in over your head.” She said her tone was gentle but her voice was trembling.

  I was quiet for a few moments as we descended before I responded.

  “I don't want to lose anyone else. Lord and Lady Greyson are gone. My best friend of twelve years is a prisoner to someone who abused my brother for years. I… I don't want to lose you. Or My brothers. Or Mother.” I explained.

  “It is not your duty to protect everyone.”

  “But if they fall or get hurt then I'll regret it forever. And now Forever could be a very long time.” I growled as we reached the bottom of the steps and a massive arch opened before us.

  I walked through and the moisture hit my scales. It was so wonderful I actually let out a sigh of contentment. I hadn't realized how much I hated the dry air of the desert until just now. The damp hot air brought a relaxed ease to my muscles and I approached one of the many pools in the cavern.

  The pools were massive, easily large enough that I could swim in one at my full size quite comfortably. They were crystal clear and most of them seemed to be bubbling with heat like the Hot Spring I had created back home. The smell of sulfur was faint but noticeable but it didn’t phase me over much.

  I wasn't sure how large the cavern we were in was but it was large enough that Xaranata could have fit quite comfortably. Which made sense I supposed, it was his home. But still the scale of everything here was enough to make my head spin. Our home in Calanai was built for our human bodies with space for our Draconic forms but this was built for Dragons. I wasn't sure I liked it.

  Odessa climbed off of my neck and I shrank down to my human body. Odessa let out a cry and I looked down to see the dried over wound in my side. It looked bad, like someone had run me through with a particularly dull dagger, but it felt fine. If anything I was annoyed by it because it had ripped my shirt. I looked up at Odessa with a serious face.

  “Do you think you can sew it back up?” I asked.

  “I don't know if my thread will bind a wound like th-” I cut her off with a wave.

  “No no. Can you mend my shirt?” I asked.

  She froze for a moment like I had given her a grave insult before a look of confusion crossed her face.

  “I'm sorry?”

  “Can you mend my shirt? I rather like this one.” I said as I ran a hand along the blue tinted silk.

  “Are you not concerned by the hand sized hole in your side?” She asked as she approached and inspected the wound.

  “It looks worse than it is. I'm fine.” I said with a shrug.

  She glared up at me and I did my best to show I was serious. Eventually she relented and held out a hand.

  “Go clean the wound and I will work on the shirt. But if you feel even slightly unwell you will come directly to me.” She commanded, cupping one of her hands to my face and placing a kiss on my lips.

  I tried and failed to hide the blush that rose across my face and she gave me a mischievous smile.

  “I didn't realize Dragons were so willing to follow orders.” She whispered in my ear.

  “Only from you.” I croaked wishing for far more than just this moment.

  She smiled and pulled away as I removed my shirt and pulled the needle and thread from her bag as I turned towards the pool and clambered over the edge into the water. As soon as I felt it I let out a gasp of joy. It was glorious. I sank into the pool and smiled as I spread my arms and legs wide to enjoy the comforting warmth of the water. I waved a hand and took control of a small current, guiding it to flow through the wound in my side.

  As the water passed through my hand I heated the water until it was nearly steam beneath my grip as it poured into the wound. Heat didn’t bother me anymore and the scalding water cleaned the wound as I watched the blood flake off. It took a few minutes before I was satisfied with the cleaning of the wound and I inspected it to be certain it hadn't hit anything.

  I had been right, it looked worse than it was. While the wound was fairly deep, it had failed to do any real damage beyond the skin. With the blood removed, that was fairly obvious. I prodded at the wound and found it sensitive but not painful so I assumed it was fine. If something was wrong I would find out later but so far nothing seemed amiss.

  Eventually I swam to the surface and looked around for Odessa. She had found a spot to enjoy the water on the edge of the pool where she was dangling her feet into the water while she hummed and sewed. From what I could tell she seemed close to being done, her fingers working with superhuman speed as she smiled.

  I floated there, head barely above the water while looking up at her as she worked, almost falling asleep as I listened to her humming echo throughout the cavern. Eventually she sat the shirt aside and smiled down at me.

  “Feeling well still?” She asked.

  I nodded.

  “I fear I may have forgotten how to swim on my own in this new body. Would you mind helping me learn?” She asked in a voice that was anything but innocent.

  “O-of course.”

  I watched as she peeled off her own shirt, and then her dress. And then her undergarments. My face reddened as I saw her slowly remove each, keeping her eyes on me as she did so. Finally she slipped into the water and pushed off the wall and floated over to me. I caught her hands and pulled her close to keep her floating, feeling all of her press against me. She gave me a mischievous smile as she leaned into another kiss.

  “Its the first time we have really managed to be alone since we’ve been together. Care to make use of it?” She whispered in my ear.

  “I-I would love t- Mhmm.” I stopped as her hand slid down beneath my pants and found a sensitive spot.

  She slid further until the tip of her finger was hovering just over my entrance. She gave me one last questioning look.

  “Do you still want me to do this?” She asked, a serious look on her face.

  “Yes. So much, yes.” I cried.

  Her smile returned and she plunged her fingers into me as I let out a screech of pleasure that echoed across the cavern.

  Sir Irand Greyson

  Alvina and I stood, waiting for our mysterious guide to appear. Mallak was still sulking behind his wing and Alvina was eyeing him warily. She was still a little red from Xaranta’s comment and I still wasn’t sure how to approach that. We had been intimate and since we had left Heskari’s castle we had spent most of the evenings in our tent just talking about our lives and our families. I knew her better than almost anyone back in Calanai, being able to literally walk through her memories with her was helpful, and she knew me more intimately than anyone except maybe Ruhn and Raya.

  But Xaranta’s insinuation had brought up some thoughts. I had promised Ruhn and Raya an answer to their problems and I was with them. I loved them, I had admitted and Accepted that much to their faces. It had been even more apparent after we had left Calanai. But now… I still wasn’t quite sure what our relationship here was. I did care for Alvina, it had been something I had been mulling over the past month. If I was being honest I would say I loved her. But I also did not wish to return home with a Dragon in tow and have to dump that on the Royals. Not to mention I wasn’t certain Alvina would actually go to Calanai or if she would return to Heskari’s Castle. That thought alone made my heart ache.

  I was ripped from my thoughts as I heard the fluttering of wings and scratching against stone. I looked up to see a woman perched on the stone edge above us. No, not a woman. A Harpy.

  A pair of white and gray wings tucked against her side as massive talons gripped the stone. Her eyes were black with golden rings like a hawk and her hair was a pale green mixed with white streaks. Her face was human aside from the eyes and her upper body looked roughly human until the wings emerged from her shoulders. A skirt hung off of her waist and what we could see of her legs were scaled like a hawk as well. She looked down at us with a rather intense gaze and spoke.

  “Are you the ones that Xaranta wanted me to guide?” She asked, suppressing a yawn as she spoke.

  ‘I believe we are, yes. He said he would be calling upon someone to guide us to the library.’ Alvina said warily.

  “Oh yes that would be me! Also are you a telepath? You look funny. You must be a Dragon too then! Like Mally!” She said, babbling the words excitedly.

  Mallak made a groaning sound from his alcove and the harpy giggled as she covered a smile with her wing.

  Alvina glanced at me and I heard her voice in my mind.

  ‘Harpy’s have a reputation for being airheads. Short lived fools.’ She groaned.

  “Oh, are you telling your friend that Harpies are generally idiots and uncultured fools?” The harpy chirped from her perch before she hopped down to stand in front of us.

  Alvina sputtered and the harpy smiled.

  “While that is true in general I’m a bit of an exception as you’ll see.” She said as she stepped up to us.

  She was taller than I had thought, standing over a head taller than I but being far too thin to be human. She looked as if a strong breeze might lift her off the ground and maybe that was just part of being a harpy but I still felt concern seeing someone look so fragile.

  ‘I apologize for the insult-’ Alvina started to apologize and the harpy waved her hand.

  “It's fine, you are hardly the first to have thought such. Lord Xaranta noted I was an exception to that rule and he is quite kind to have given me the chance to look after the books in his library. I am Geena. I am the caretaker of the many tomes Lord Xaranta has brought into his library.” She explained with a cheerful smile.

  “Ah thank you then. Is it a far walk?” I asked.

  “Not at all. A few moments walk and we shall be there. I was just outside enjoying the nice day when Xaranta called me.” She said as she began walking towards one of the many hallways leading out of the room.

  Alvina and I followed her as she walked onward.

  “So what are your names?

  “I am Irand Greyson.”

  “And I am Alvina.”

  “Wonderful to meet you both. Now anything in particular you are looking for in the library or just perusing?”

  “I was actually looking for curatives and magical healing.” I said, avoiding the exact nature of the curative I was looking for.

  ‘And I was looking for means of transformation into a changeling.’ Alvina said simply.

  “A strange series of investigations but Lord Xaranta told me to help you so I shall.” Geena said happily.

  She led us on through a series of stone hallways and up several flights of stairs before she pushed open a pair of large doors revealing a massive room with bookshelves lining the walls. I looked over to see Alvina almost salivating at the sight.

  Geena led the way inside and directed us to a table in the central portion of the room. Rolling ladders stood alongside the shelves but she simply flew up to the bookshelves and began plucking books from them with one of her talons and holding them in the other. Alvina and I had taken our seats and watched her for a few moments before Geena returned to us and set a small selection of tomes on the table in front of us.

  “So these are some medicinal applications of magic, none to specific but applicable in most senses.” She gestured to the books in front of me before pointing to those in front of Alvina. “And these are the tomes we have on changelings and their creation.”

  “Oh, thank you.” I said as I looked gently opened the cover of one of the books she had brought.

  Alvina gently began sifting through the pages of her tomes and Geena seemed content as she flew up towards a small alcove and picked up her own book and began reading.

  ‘So Harpies are generally not smart?’ I asked Alvina, linking my mind with hers.

  ‘No, she is definitely an oddity.’ Alvina assured me.

  I shrugged and began to pour over the tomes she had brought. It was going to be a long few nights.

  Princess Ereneya Vasarn

  I landed with a heavy thump on the cliffside as the sea waves battered the cliff below me. Even after a millenia, Mother’s enchantment’s still held strong. I approached the entry and placed one bloody hand on the rock face. The stone shook for a moment before it slid to the side and exposed an entry cavern like that of my home in Calanai.

  I stumbled in and ran my hand across the interior stone, fingers shaking as I left a smear of Naravie’s blood in my wake.

  I had hurt her again.

  I had carved my claws into her shoulder.

  I had stabbed her with my tail.

  Xaranta’s boy had been there. He would help her. She would be safer with them.

  My mind raced as I thought how she must be feeling right now.

  The stone slid past me and I stepped into my Mother’s old home. Everything had remained almost untouched since I had been here last. Everything had a small layer of dust but was otherwise in the same condition as when we had left to see my Father. I suddenly felt very small, like I had been out too long and she was going to appear to scold me.

  I trudged through the main room, past the door that led to the garden and into my old room. It was untouched. The toys I had brought home over the years, the books I had collected. Everything I had enjoyed about my old life. I fell onto the bed and let out a breath. Everything suddenly burned, like I was sick with fever. I was exhausted. A quick rest and I would head back to find Naravie. No I would find Mother? Who was Naravie?

  I didn’t let the question bother me as I shut my eyes.