Lady Naravie Greyson

  I leaned against the edge of the spring as Odessa had her head on my shoulder. The water was pleasant and both of us were tired after our fun. It was Odessa who eventually broke the silence.

  “As much as I would love to stay here for another few hours, I’m afraid the water isn't quite so kind to my skin as it is to yours. And dinner is sounding absolutely wonderful right now.” She said as she held my arm with pruny fingers.

  I nodded realizing only now that my skin was still as smooth as ever and I hadn't pruned up from nearly two hours in the water. I had demonstrated just how long I could stay under the water without coming up for a breath and I think she had quite enjoyed it. Heh.

  As we dressed and headed up the stairs I had Odessa climb up onto my neck again. Now that I had had a chance to clean the wound and spending time in the water had numbed the pain I spread my wings and took flight up the stairs. It was easily wide enough for me to do so without even worrying about touching the walls. We reached the main room from earlier and I found Mallak’s alcove empty and Xaranta coiled in the much larger carved out section I had noticed earlier.

  Even curled up on himself he was massive. It was still unnerving, even if I had seen that he was kind. Odessa and I stood before him as I reached out to his mind to wake him. I had only barely touched his mind when he stirred and shook himself awake. His eyes brightened as he looked at the two of us.

  “Ah, you return!” His tone was excited and I tilted my head.

  “I wish to take you to my sister. But I suppose that will be a journey of several hours and you will likely wish to eat beforehand.”

  “You mentioned she was alive. But Mother seemed certain that she was dead. How?” I asked.

  “Alive in a sense. She is able to speak to us and she now slumbers but her body is deceased. It will be easier to show you. But for now, food.” Xaranta said as he rose.

  “Wait! Where is Tiran?” I called.

  “He has gone with Mallak to be tested. It will be some time before he returns here.” Xaranta said with a chuckle as he climbed up higher into the mountain.

  “Will he be safe?” I asked, flapping my wings to follow after him.

  “Indeed he will. The village he is being tested at is away from any threats and Mallak will not allow a potential brother to meet his end.” Xaranta said, seeming very self assured.

  “Mallak seemed less than friendly earlier.” Odessa called after the Elder Dragon.

  “True but you were less than kind to him as well. I do trust My Son’s judgement and if he claims Ereneya was about to attack you then I believe it. Mallak is generally one of my kindest boys, but he does not take hostility well.” Xaranta explained as he climbed into a tunnel and I flew next to his head.

  “We've had a rough trip here.” I growled.

  “I would not think the journey between here and Calanai to be difficult? Only lengthy.” Xaranta mused.

  “When we met Heskari, one of her daughters attacked Odessa and I and while she helped us recover she helped to cure my Magic Blight but Mother…” I trailed off, not wishing to breach that subject.

  “She interrupted the ritual and Naravie burned alive.” Odessa said, her voice harsh.

  “Ah, yes the Ritual’s magic is volatile. Even a spark would have that effect I suppose.” Xaranta said as he nodded his head in tune with his steps. “Has she been more aggravated since you set out?”

  “Yes. Since we started planning to come here, she’s had a shorter temper. It was most obvious when we arrived at Heskari’s Castle.” I explained before Odessa could make it sound worse.

  We continued on, I had to truly fly to keep up with Xaranta’s massive steps, and eventually we arrived in a room that looked similar to Mother’s Kitchen back home. It was laid out in much the same way and the only real difference is there was a larger space sized for Dragons to reside. I watched Xaranta shrink down to human size as he approached the kitchen and I did the same, catching Odessa in my arms as we landed.

  “Now do either of you have an aversion to meat or any vegetables?” Xaranta asked as he approached the far wall and opened a hidden door.

  Odessa and I shook our heads and he smiled as he vanished inside before returning with something resembling a section of a tree trunk. It was Dark Brown on the outside like bark but inside was pink with a few green pieces as well. It had wisps of steam curling off it and I could smell it from a dozen feet away, a faintly grotesque smell that made me curl up my nose.

  “Dune worms. They cycle the sands and eat many of the small vermin that reside within. And when properly cooked are both delicious and good for the body.” Xaranta said as he pulled a small crate of vegetable out of the cooler room with his tail.

  The section of dune worm had to be at least eight feet in diameter and I had my doubts as Xaranta placed it on a large stone slab that began to faintly glow under his touch. I heard the sizzle of meat and I watched him use his claws and his tail to cut and pulverize vegetables, some of which he dashed across the top of the meat and others were kept aside. It took some time before he declared it fully cooked and by then the smell of the room was off onion, garlic and salt. As someone who had been making do with travel rations it smelled divine in comparison.

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  He set a plate in front of each of us with a sizable piece of the worm meat before digging into his own much larger portion. Odessa gave me a slightly concerned look as I took a bite. I had had Mother’s cooking and some of the royal feasts back home in Calanai, I wasn’t sure this was better but if not it was nearly as good.

  I took bite after bite of the meat and smiled at the first piece of properly cooked meal I had had since Heskari’s. She and Alvina were excellent cooks as well and I wondered to myself if all Dragons were… maybe we all just wanted good food? Xaranta smiled as I grinned and ate and I heard Odessa digging into her portion as well.

  It took a few minutes for me to finish but I enjoyed every moment of it. When I was done I looked up to Xaranta and he laughed.

  “Everyone expects me to be quite the miserable cook. I like proving them wrong. Many of my sons still visit specifically for meals.” He said with a chuckle.

  “It is quite delicious.”

  “And more importantly its filling. Many think we Dragons hunt magical beasts merely for sport but they provide much more filling meals for us than traditional animals. So it is easier to fill one’s belly on magical creatures than with normal beasts.”

  “We don’t have beasts like those in Calanai…” I said, trying to think of any.

  “I would imagine not. With Ereneya being as magically stunted as she is, it would not surprise me if her magic had not spread outside her domicile. But were you to live there for a few more decades I have no doubt the beasts of the kingdom would inherit magic from you.” He explained as he continued eating.

  “What do you mean Mother is magically stunted?”

  “Her mind has warped her body. Her grief and her unwillingness to face it has led to her growing rapidly and then stagnating. And her magic has been consuming itself to sustain her. I’m sure you had a similar conversation with Heskari, her mind is keeping her from growing and it's using much of her magic to do so. It is why I did not give chase when she fled, it is not a problem one can fix with force, only her own power can mend it.” Xaranta explained.

  “Is that why she has been so hostile to Heskari and others?” Odessa asked.

  “More than likely. In Heskari’s case I believe it reminded her of her own mother and that was the root of the problem. The more she thinks on it the more it will push back against her. The mind can do many things to try and protect itself, some of which hurt them more in the long run. And when a mind has magic it can simply exacerbate that problem.”

  “So how do we help her?” I asked.

  “I am uncertain. I have ideas but they could simply make the problem worse. I think having you talk to Callira and inform her of Ereneya’s mindset these days could help. She always knew her daughter better than anyone.” Xaranta said as he took the last bite of his meal.

  “How do we know she won’t lash out like Ereneya? Naravie has received more than enough injuries for the entire trip already.” Odessa hissed.

  “My Sister is many things young Weaver, but a danger to Hatchlings she is not. Especially her own Grandchild.”

  “I had a question about that actually. When a human becomes a Dragon by drinking blood, does that make them share blood? Mother’s home uses an enchantment that recognizes our blood and I never asked if that made me… hers.” I asked.

  “It does indeed. Unless special measures are taken, the familial blood of the parent of the same sex as the Dragon will be replaced to be that of the Dragon’s. So in your case, if you used magic to identify your Mother’s bloodline, it would show Ereneya as your mother not your human mother.” Xaranta explained.

  “Thats…. Strange.” I said softly, not sure how to feel about my Human Mother’s removal from me.

  “It is not often an issue as it is generally a small part of the magic that makes up our kind but it can be a sore point for some. I had one of my sons who was abused by his mother and he wished to be rid of her blood in him and keep the Father who had tried to protect him instead. I obliged him.”

  “Tiran might have something like that.” I said softly.

  “Oh?”

  “His… His Birth Father tried to make amends just before we left. I don’t know all the details but Tiran seemed conflicted.”

  “I will speak to him on that then. It takes only a little extra work to make it happen…” Xaranta mused, trailing off as he seemed to be deep in thought before he shook his head.

  “But that is a problem for later. For now, are you ready?” He asked as he looked to the two of us.

  I glanced over to Odessa as she finished eating and nodded.

  We handed him the plates and he gave each a quick blast of flame before he set them aside and grew to his full size.

  “You wish to ride along until we get outside child, my wings tend to knock others off balance.” He rumbled.

  I carried Odessa up his back and I held onto her and one of his back spines that was larger around than me as he rose from the ground and sailed upward. I was almost afraid he was going to hit the roof of the cavern when he veered hard to the right and we briefly in a tunnel before emerging into the daylight. He wasn’t wrong, the force of his wingbeats would have knocked me loose were I any weaker and Odessa was clinging to me for dear life. I let go of his spike and let the wind carry us off his back. I heard Odessa yelling as I shifted in mid air and flared my wings. She was still holding onto my arm as I began to push myself to catch back up to Xaranta who was gliding along at a rather slow pace.

  ‘Sorry if I scared you.’ I said to Odessa.

  ‘I just wasn’t expecting it. I thought your injury had hurt you and you had blacked out.’ She said as she scrambled up my arm.

  ‘Sorry.’ I said again as I looked at Xaranta in the distance.

  Out in the Daylight his scales shown like Sunset Red with the black tips looking like shadows. His size was easier to grasp now, I estimated he was at least as large as the Royal’s Castle in Calanai and with his wings spread out he would have covered half the city. I felt small flying up next to him as I brought myself up next to his head.

  ‘Good to see you.’ He chuckled mentally.

  ‘You weren’t kidding about the wind.’

  ‘Apologies, it is difficult for me to prepare others and I do not often get the chance to fly without company anymore.’

  ‘So where are we headed?’ I asked.

  ‘To the Castle of Ecantel, preserved and guarded by enchantments placed by yours truly.’ He said with only a hint of pride.

  ‘She’s still there?’

  ‘Indeed. She wished to remain and I obliged her. I believe her logic was that if Ereneya were able to return there she would be of sound mind.’ Xaranta explained.

  I nodded as Odessa climbed up to sit upon my head. Together the three of us soared across the desert sky towards my Grandmother’s Resting Place.