I woke to Isdana smacking me in the face with her arm. I knew it was Izzy because this was the fourth time she had done it. I could only be so annoyed about it given I had seen her how feverish she had been just a day prior. Her face was still a bit sunken and she had once again tossed her blanket aside. Which I would have been fine with except that she was still in nothing but her small clothes and we were sharing a bed at the moment so it was more than a little awkward.

  I let out a groan as I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and stretched my arm. One was still in a sling and I would kill to have Alvina or Ereneya here to mend it. We were in Izzy’s room and I saw shelf after shelf decorated with sea shells and smoothed stones. There were also a handful of broken weapons, smaller than her current pair of daggers so I assumed from when she was younger.

  I also noticed the cold as I felt it against the bare skin of my chest, my surgical scars prominently on display. They didn't bother me but I still didn't care to show them off when I didn't have to.

  Voices came from the main room of the cottage and I headed over to the door and peeked through. Isker was staring into the fireplace while Mallak held a block of ice to his jaw and let out a groan. I slunk out of Isdana’s room and made my way over to them. Isker didn’t look up as I sat down next to them but Mallak gave me a nod as he pulled his ice away from his jaw. I could see a dark bruise covering his cheek as he spoke.

  “Good to shee you awake little brother.” He said, his voice slurred.

  “What happened to you?” I asked.

  “That Golem that you fought. Ishker brought the two of you back and I went off to find that thing. I found it alright, it knocked out a handful of my teeth before I managed to crush it. You did a number on it though, Good Job.”

  “Thanks. Couldn’t destroy it though.”

  “Tiran, you fought off a magic imbued construct that managed to nearly break my jaw. The fact that you are alive is a feat. I reached out to Father once I returned and he helped me perform a mending spell on your head. Its slow so best recommendation is keep from moving too much for the next week or so.”

  “Thanks. What do we do about the Southern Kingdoms?” I asked.

  “We? Nothing for now. The rest of our brothersh are on their way to the Mountain and once they arrive we can discush what we plan to do with Father.” Mallak explained, flexing his jaw and wincing in pain.

  “Our Brothers? I’m not one, not yet.” I said.

  “Yes you are, in all waysh except blood. Father made his decishion before you finished your convershation back at the mountain, he just needed an excushe for you to wait until the resh of the family could get here. You’ve got a few monthsh.” He explained.

  “You mean he-”

  “He viewsh you ash one of hish shons.”

  “Oh.”

  “Father wanted it to be a shurprishe when I brought you back to the mountain but when he heard what happened he told me to tell you when you woke up. He would be here but he’sh working on shomething important that he can’t interrupt.”

  I sat in stunned silence for a few moments and watched the fire with Mallak and Isker for a few moments before I spoke.

  “Are you feeling better Isker? I… I tried to speak before I passed out but I couldn’t muster the strength.” I asked.

  “I’m doing better, yes. I’m just worried for Izzy. Mallak’s cure for her poison made her so much weaker. She’s going to be inconsolable.”

  “Perhapsh it will make her be nicer with the villagersh. Take up another trade besidesh killing.” Mallak growled.

  Isker’s frown turned into a scowl and he glared at Mallak who seemed unbothered. I watched as the two of them had a silent staredown before Isker broke his gaze.

  “Maybe.” He admitted.

  I heard the click of a lock and I turned just in time to see Izzy slipping out the front door. Mallak gave me a warning look while Isker seemed to not have noticed.

  I rose from my seat and gave the two of them a nod.

  “I’m going to get some fresh air.” I lied as I headed to the front door and slipped out.

  It was late afternoon and the sky was starting to turn to sunset. I found Isdana already a fair ways down the road towards the desert and I tried to jog after her and immediatley felt nauseous. I fought down the urge to vomit and settled for a brisk walk. She was almost to the edge of the sands by the time I caught up with her.

  She was sitting on the branches of an ancient stubborn that refused to wilt. She looked back at me in surprise as I approached. I walked up and took one jump to reach the branch next to her. I took a seat at her side and looked out at the flowing dunes in front of us.

  “You heard them talking?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  “You seem well enough right now.” I observed, glancing back to where the cottage was in the distance.

  “I feel so fragile. I haven’t felt that way in a long time.” She said, clenching her hands.

  “Your in better shape than me right now.” I chuckled, holding up my sling.

  “True. You talk in your sleep. I heard you whining about it.” She said with a small laugh.

  “Oh?”

  “Ahem, ‘I promise Irand, I’m not holding back, I just have a bad arm.’ or ‘Nire, there is only so much I can do with one hand.’ She said with a chuckle.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “Oh.” I blushed remembering my less than wholesome dreams of Nire from the past day or so.

  “I figured you were having a better time asleep than awake.” She said with a smile.

  “I would probably still be asleep if it weren’t for someone smacking me in the face every time she rolled over.” I laughed.

  She joined me in my amusement and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “Sorry… I’ve never shared my bed before.” She said before I watched a blush spread across her face. “I er… that is I haven’t had anyone… I mean…”

  I watched her sputter for a moment before she clamped her mouth shut.

  “Don’t worry, up until a year ago I hadn’t either.”

  “Would that be a lady named Nire?” She asked.

  “It would. She was a friend when I was growing up. Our Mothers had us play together and… I think she is part of the reason I am the way I am. Most of the noble girls had dolls and we did as well… but when we played together she and I would play in very different ways. They weren’t noble girls having tea, they were pirates on the seas looking for treasures. Or a pair of mages rebelling against the church. And once we were old enough to be unsupervised she would drag me to spar with her brothers. I never won back then but I held my own. She and I were together before we headed here but now shes on a ship and I won’t see her again for a long time.”

  “Oh. I didn’t realize you were… taken.” Izzy said with a blush.

  “Oh I'm not, we discussed it before she left. She has a problem with a certain part of the male body and if I ended up becoming a dragon she and I couldn’t be together. But we are still friends. But if prior to our coupling was any indication, I’ll be turning heads when I return to Calanai.” I explained.

  She gave me a long look that I couldn’t quite place. It looked like a wolf sizing up prey.

  “What is it like, having people who like you?” She asked.

  “You have Isker.”

  “No I don’t.” She replied, dryly.

  “But-”

  “You heard him back there. He would rather I take up a trade. Be one of the village folk. I hate the village. My Father lived and died here. My Mother died defending them. Isker raised me like his own and I’m still an outsider. I don’t care what Mallak says, my avoidance of the village folk is because they watch me like I’m an outsider.”

  “Have you tried to reach out to them?” I asked.

  “I have. Three times. The last was over ten years ago.” She said, her jaw setting in a hard line.

  “Did something happen?” I asked.

  “One of the young men said I would make a terrible wife someday. And that I would have to give up my status as a Forged Guardian eventually when I had my child. So I punched him and broke his jaw. And then his friends got involved and I started a street brawl. Isker didn’t say anything when I came home bruised up and missing a tooth. We trained the next day like nothing had happened. He doesn’t care. He looks after me out of a sense of duty.” She said, glaring out towards the sands beyond.

  “So what do you want him to do?”

  “I want him to treat me like his damn daughter! I know he and my parents were together! The little I have gleaned from the village told me that. I just want him to treat me like family, not like I’m some strangers child. He raised me and he doesn’t give a damn what I want. He just does what he knows. He can’t look after himself, thats what Mother and Father did. And I have had to pry every story of them from him myself. I just want someone who cares.” She said, tucking her legs up against her chin as she balanced on the branch.

  “I care.” I said softly.

  She glanced over at me skeptically.

  “I know what it's like to be an outcast who can’t speak with anyone. I was lucky enough to have a pair of siblings who were kind enough to get me to open up, even partly. I may not know exactly what you are going through, but I understand enough.” I said.

  She rested her head on my shoulder, gently to avoid pressing on my broken arm, and let out a sigh as the sunset lit up the dunes in brilliant gold and orange.

  “Would you like to stay out here with me tonight?” She asked.

  “Hmmm? It’s quite cold.” I observed, already shivering from the chill in the air.

  “I have a spot. Come on, I’ll show you.” She said as she hopped down from the branch.

  I hopped down as well and the world spun for a moment before she grabbed my shoulders and steadied me. I gave her a smile and followed her as she led the way to a small thicket of trees off the road where a platform was set up in the branches. She helped me up to it and hopped up to reveal a trunk filled with blankets. She draped one over the platform so that it was almost a tent and then laid out several of the blankets in what could only be described as a nest of fabric. She settled in and stripped off her outer clothes and folded them neatly to one side.

  Her smile was excited and nervous all at once and I returned it. I slipped out of my shirt and pants as well and set them to the side before settling in next to her. It was cramped in the small shelter and we were pressed up against each other, sharing in the warmth of each other’s company.

  “I’ve never taken anyone here. Not even Isker. It's better with good company.”

  “Most things are, I’ll have to see about showing you more of them.” I said, pressing my forehead to hers.

  She was silent for a moment and I thought she might have fallen asleep until she spoke softly.

  “Would you? Show me things? I’d love to see beyond this valley.” She asked softly.

  “If you would like.” I said with a smile.

  I thought that was it but then I felt her move just a bit closer and press her lips to mine. I was a bit surprised but I met her. She was desperate, needy. I did my best to guide her and when she finally pulled back, I could barely see her flushed face in the post sunset gloom. She was giving me a shy look as she pressed against me.

  “Was that okay?” She asked, her voice trembling with nerves.

  “It was wonderful. And as much as I might want to show you some more wonderful things, I think I would need both hands for that. So another night then.” I said.

  She smiled and adjusted herself to be more comfortable, cuddled up to my chest. I could feel the warmth of her breath against my neck as her breathing slowed and she fell asleep against me. I smiled and wrapped my good arm around her, holding her close. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

  I stood on the deck of the Ship. My Ship. We had survived the storm after I had fried the inside of the Leviathan’s mouth. The Inferni Captain had helped us give the dead from the creature a burial at sea before he had named me Captain of the ship Father had left me. The crew had been wary of me since my change but I had done my best to smooth things over.

  We were following the Inferni ship to a free port where we could do business. If any of my crew wanted to jump ship and return to Port Talon, they could do so there. But for now I had acquired a few of the Inferni’s junior crewmen. One of whom was now my first mate. She was apparently a third generation member of the Pirate crew that served under the Inferni, and she was happy to be rid of him. I think it was mostly that she got to give orders now but she was suited to the role. And she seemed to enjoy watching me stumble about on the deck every time I tripped over my own tail. I was still getting used to it.

  But my new First Mate was a woman by the name of Jill Tresa. She wore a very seaworn jacket and carried a fire spitter on her hip. They were apparently a weapon created with Inferni magic and they could be used to launch small balls of fire at targets like a crossbow. I really wanted one. But she was a short woman with brown hair and some adorable looking freckles. But her eyes were deadly serious and she looked as if she was always a moment away from killing anyone who annoyed her. She hadn’t yet but I wasn’t going to discount the possibility.

  But the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t watching made me think she had other thoughts going on behind those bloodthirsty eyes. I hoped Tiran was having as much luck as I was, wherever he was now.