Omnixius
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DKP 7-14 Come with me
🕑 Added 2021-12-18 17:17:01 +0000 UTCHis footsteps echoed on the cobbles that made up the broad palace road. All around him was the world of humanity bustling in a never-ending hurry to get things done. It was their curse, a cruel fate to have so little time that drove them ever onward to build and create. He had heard their scholars debate the nature of mankind and describe it as a quest to leave a memory behind. Dragons had no such need for memories. They lived so long and cared so little for what came after. There was an almost balanced harmony between the two races, where one rushed about while the other slept away ages.
Balisha and Solesta changed all that. They decided that dragons had something to learn from these little creatures. While most of the dragons were sure they didn't, the twin goddesses gifted them with the human form and pushed them to go and see.
He looked to his right as he passed a market and could smell the cooked meats. It was one of the great surprises of mankind that fascinated the dragons. The preparation and cooking of foods was something dragons never considered. Humans developed thousands of ways to create foods that varied by people and region. Many dragons were smitten by the lure of sweet things to eat that only the humans could provide. If their food was bad enough, it was followed by beer, ale, and wine. Dragons developed such a taste for wine that it was rumored some even parted with gold to acquire it.
He felt the bile rise in his throat to think of a dragon parting with gold for something so pointless as wine. Surely it was only a rumor. A story told by the elders to frighten younger dragons.
The food wasn't all that enthralled dragons, though. There was what the humans called art and culture. A dragon would find a suitable cave or dig one out, creating a chamber deep underground where its hoard could be stored. This was usually just raw ore dug out of the ground and piled up. A dragon could smell the metal in the stone and often laired where the metal was abundant. For a dragon, this was all they needed and cared for. However, humans did things with gold and silver that amazed the dragons. They heated it up and separated the metal from the stone. They purified it and enhanced its strength, using it to make what they called coins. They also used the metal to create all manner of devices and art. They wore the precious metals and called it jewelry. They shaped it into vessels to drink from, plates to eat from, and images of their gods to bow before. Often they cut and polished stones that shone like stars in the light. These they used to adorn their objects of silver and gold, creating things of intense beauty.
Dragons lusted after these items and bartered with humans to acquire them. Some dragons dug raw ore from the earth for the humans so they could melt it down and make the items. The humans and dragons would then divide the wealth, giving the dragons refined coins and metal artworks.
He could almost stomach the idea of a dragon lusting after the gold and silver, but it was the art that made little sense. Humans carved objects from wood and stone or used colored paints to create images on canvas and walls. They used the fabrics of plants and animals to create what they called rugs and tapestries, often going to great lengths to make them elaborate. These items held no value to a dragon, yet the dragons wanted them. They couldn't feed from a rug or a painting, so why did these items catch their eye?
Why did the simple human habits of bathing, brushing, or embracing make dragons wonder? He never understood it or cared for many of the human ways. So much of what they did was to keep their frail bodies from expiring. They were prone to disease and easily injured in the slightest fall. They washed to ward off this disease. They cooked to purify their foods and brewed their beers and ales to make them safe to drink. They could die from an undercooked piece of meat or an infection caused by a splinter. It was exhausting to watch them toil and labor, rising with the sun and working all day. Their chores never seemed to end as they ran about making the most of the light. Of course, they would; the humans were nearly blind in the dark. When the sun set, they put out candles and lamps to gain a few precious hours more to labor. They slept through the nights and were up again the moment Solesta's light brightened the skies.
He stepped to the side to allow a carriage to pass him and thought of that too. Humans built machines to aid them. Dragons didn't even have the word for machines. There was no need for them after all. If a human was too weak to accomplish a task, he would gather two or more to help him. If this wasn't enough, they would use ropes, poles, and the animal they called horses. They would come together in great numbers, working as one to move an object a single dragon could have lifted and carried away. Still, these cranes, pulleys, and devices of wheels allowed the humans to do things with greater ease.
They built ever higher and adorned their creations with the artworks they loved. As dragons began to mingle with them, a sort of understanding was reached. Dragons were often treated with great respect and admiration. Men gave them gifts and bowed low in supplication. It wasn't long before dragons founded kingdoms of their own, and humans toiled to appease their new rulers. This was the golden age where balance was achieved. Dragons and humans found harmony, and then the wonders began.
The minds of humans were ever creative. They dreamed of things far beyond their ability to achieve. However, when dragons began to walk among them, those dreams became a reality. With dragon strength and ability, it was possible to build things ten thousand men couldn't do. They could also do it in a fraction of the time. A hundred men might take a week to level a hill a dragon could do in an hour. A man with a chisel might need two days to shape a stone a dragon could do in minutes. A dragon could then lift the stone and put it in place.
Even this wasn't the height of wonders yet to be achieved. Next came the amazing revelation that humans could use the weave. Not only were they gifted in the weave, but they could gather its power far more readily than a dragon could. This proved to be the one thing humans excelled at that no dragon would ever be able to match. It was also the first indication of why the divines valued these humans so much. He should have seen it all those years ago, but he was blinded by the wonders just as the others of his kind were.
Dragons understood the weave and began to teach it to the humans only to discover the humans outstripping them in its use. Some humans could work weaves no dragon would dare to attempt. They would have to sacrifice twice their weight in precious metal to power such a thing, yet the humans did it easily and without the cost. Humans then did something amazing and combined the weave with their arts creating the technique of shaping. Now there were shapers, men and women who could tie the weave to an object and empower it with the magic of the world.
It wasn't long before these practices were put to use building and creating. The structures went ever higher, threatening to rival the mountaintops for their mastery of the skies. Eventually, they did away with the need to build up, and the first floating structures were born. Men began to live in the sky itself, a domain once solely dominated by dragons. Some dragons even had floating structures made for themselves, so they could lair in the clouds. It was a time of great achievements, and nowhere was this more apparent than the city he now walked through.
Calathen was the heart of dragon and human cooperation. A lone mountain was shaped and cut into tiers so that the city might be built on its slopes. The palace near the summit was made to look over the whole of the land. Even the street he walked down was made specifically with dragons in mind. Every gate was massive, and the inner lanes wide so a dragon might enter in its true form and walk all the way to the palace. The two largest gates were dedicated to the goddesses who made this possible. The sun gate, or the golden gate as men now called it, was dedicated to Solesta. The moon gate on the opposite side of the city was dedicated to Balisha. Men didn't even have a memorable name for the moon gate. So thorough was their scouring of Balisha's name from the land. They stripped the gate of its metal, burned the wood of its doors, and filled in the remaining archway. Now a gate a third of its original size stood in its place. It was intentionally unmarked, left plain and drab by human standards, a fitting memorial to the treacherous goddess.
How those memories echoed in his mind as he walked these streets again. This city was once the capital of human and dragon cooperation. Great cathedrals to every divine were built here, as was the once grand temple of she who sleeps. A dozen ornate buildings floated in the skies above, reachable only by the weave or the wings of dragons. The city flowed with wine and honey, and an entire district was devoted to making gold and silver treasures. Many of these were paid to the dragons for their aid in building the city. It was a time of great wonder, but then a dragon took things too far.
If thinking about a dragon trading gold for wine made him shudder, thinking about what happened next nearly made him ill. A female did the impossible. She somehow developed a bond with a human man. In her madness, she began to share his house and eventually his bed. It was all kept secret, but what she did next became the catalyst of destruction. She dared to call on Balisha and ask to be blessed with his child. Balisha, the wicked fool, betrayed all she and Solesta had worked for and in secret granted the blessing.
Solesta found out after this dragon became pregnant. What followed was her rage that Balisha would try to keep such a thing from her. There had been an agreement between them that such a thing would not be allowed. Solesta was the guardian of the dragon's way of life, and while she was willing to allow the humans to enrich it, she was not going to allow them to dilute it.
Balisha saw it the other way around that both races would achieve new heights through this union. Suffice it to say; the two never reached an agreement. Solesta did what was right; she called the dragons to flee before they too were tainted by Balisha's wicked scheme to weaken their blood. For the first time in history, the dragons and the heavens were divided as the divines themselves picked sides.
What followed was a conflict the likes of which will never be repeated. Men clashed on the ground while dragons fell from the skies and the heavens tore open as the very divines slew one another. Over the course of months, the fighting became catastrophic and whole regions were stripped of human and dragon life. The once-great cities that stood as the jewels in the crown of their races were being ground to dust. Some so badly devastated that hardly two stones stood on another.
It was here that Solesta made her heroic sacrifice after seeing the devastation being wrought. She flew directly into Balisha's heaven, where she knew the goddess would be her most powerful. If she could slay Balisha, the war would be over, and the dragons saved. She almost won, but Balisha did the unthinkable and drew on the power of those souls that dwelt in her heaven. She absorbed them like a dragon absorbs gold and fashioned the power into a lance of pure light. He remembered seeing the skies boil like water and tear open as that terrible weapon pierced the great red dragon that was Solesta.
In that terrible moment, she knew she had lost. With her dying breath, she tried to protect the dragons by shielding them with a final blessing. She fell for what seemed like an eternity, her body fading away in a trail of light until only her heart remained.
He shuddered at the terrible imagery and pressed on with his task. The city around him was very different from the one he once knew. Even the palace had changed over the centuries, its once-grand gardens now a fraction of their former size. They had once been large enough for a dozen dragons to land in, now perhaps two at the most. Of course, most of this had to be rebuilt as what happened next was the first true moment of fear of his life.
The earth shook and the skies filled with black clouds. The temple of she who sleeps suddenly ruptured in a hail of stones and fire. Her main temple far to the south was said to have been swallowed by a crack in the earth. She was asleep no more and what she saw displeased her. She was the source of all life in the world, from the smallest insect to the largest dragon. She scorned all she had created and cursed what her children had done. She condemned the divines and banned them from interfering with the world.
No one saw her physically, but her voice echoed like thunder as she cursed the land, the skies, and everything that dwelt in them. Beasts poured out of the earth, scouring the land and driving humans and dragons alike from the north and south. The giants were made to mock the dragons giving the human form the size and strength to slay them. The humans were mocked by the trolls, beasts who lived short lives but bred quickly and in vast numbers. These occupied the abandoned ruins that men once called their homes. Other creatures of various sizes and strengths were cast onto the world's surface to compete with men and dragons. Both would have to fight to survive, constantly at odds with each other and the new dangers.
All of this was Balisha's fault for breaking her promise and tampering with the natural order. He shook his head and focused on the task before him. Nothing would be gained by living in the past, and his bitterness for Balisha would only cause him to make mistakes.
Ahead of him was the gate to the inner ring where the temples could be found. It, too, was large enough for even the biggest dragon to pass through, and the doors were thrown wide. He passed without incident but noted the large number of soldiers standing by. This new emperor and his three empresses commanded an impressive number of people, many of which were followers of a divine.
The people inside this gate were often finely dressed and held their heads high. He saw the soaring spires of the cathedral of Astikar, the great dome of the golden temple of Ulustrah, and much to his anger, the white marbled roof to the new temple of Balisha.
He looked away and set his eyes on the distant steps that would take him into the palace. He tried not to think of the conversation he had earlier, but the words came back.
“Forgive me, great father, but I have to question your logic,” she asked as he prepared to leave. “What can you possibly gain by going to them?”
She was too young to understand and didn't realize how much the dragons had lost. They used to have an order to their lives based on age and wisdom. Since the devastation, this had collapsed, and dragons were isolated from one another. He knew what it was once like, and he felt the loss keenly. It was hard to explain to her how important it was to try. If it worked, he might save her life and more, denying more blood spilled in Balisha's name.
Again he focused on his task and headed for the broad steps at the base of the wall. The sun was low, and the city of Calathen was settling in for a cool night. Despite the hour, the streets were alive with people, and the gates to the palace were particularly crowded. Women of Ulustrah questioned every person seeking entrance, asking if they meant to harm the emperor or his wives.
He was able to answer truthfully and passed their defenses unhindered. Now he was inside the lower courtyard, heading for the ballroom. It wasn't going to be hard to find as he followed the crowds of people. His agents told him this was becoming a common affair. These new leaders of the dragon empire openly welcomed others and sought to meet the nobility of their conquered land. The palace was open to the nobility, emissaries, heads of families, guilds, and important trades. Guards were everywhere, standing in groups of threes, one each from Astikar, Ulustrah, and Balisha.
“It must anger you to know men call her goddess once again,” came the memory of his companion. He realized she had touched a nerve when she asked that question this morning. How he tried not to be angry about it, but now he had to admit it simmered like a fire. Balisha had been dead to the world for thousands of years, but a few simple mistakes had brought her back.
“Daughter,” he had replied with supreme effort to speak calmly. “You do not understand just how much it does anger me. But soon, we will have what we need to put an end to this curse.”
“But aren’t we embracing it by doing this?” she asked with a shake of her head.
He understood her point of view but explained that there was no other way to get inside unnoticed. She implored him not to go and asked why he was taking such a terrible risk. The question was logical, but he had already answered it a dozen times. It was obvious she hadn't believed his answer, or she wouldn't be asking again.
“Too many have died already. I am not willing to sacrifice another daughter if I have any chance to spare her.”
She took on a calculating look that was too common among his kind these days. It was a sort of weighing of what might be lost or gained. Too many were overcome by a need to accumulate things, especially the older ones who hoarded away treasures from the past.
“You would take this risk for her, even when she represents everything you are struggling to prevent?”
“She is young and does not understand our history,” he replied. “I should never have agreed to the original plan. I should have gone myself to collect her.”
“You could not have known he would fail to make her see reason,” the woman replied. “There was no need for you to go in person.”
Her words were simple and logical yet again. No, there was no reason for him to go, but many would be alive today had he done so. He tried to explain how all he wanted was to complete his task without sacrificing those he was trying to save.
“And what about the other ones?” she pressed. “Even if you succeed here, the others will take her place. Indeed the old one has already positioned herself as the true power.”
He knew all this already but reasoned that it was worth the risk. If he could win her to his side, she might turn the others. At the very least, it might stumble his enemies and give him an edge in the forthcoming struggles. It was a risk, but the potential reward was sparing her life as well as the others. Even if he failed with the others, saving just one was worth it, especially her.
“She is the key. Without her, the faith of Balisha will falter, and her lies will be laid bare,” he replied and stepped away. “Now, wait for me here. If I am not back before morning, flee to the east and tell the others.”
“Great father, don’t go,” she pleaded. “We need you.”
“I have to go,” he said and walked away.
Now he passed into a pillared hall where dozens of humans in fancy dress lingered and talked. He thought about how he would get out and memorized the path he took. It would also require a fair amount of magic, but this too had been taken care of. When the time came, he would use a weave to summon a colorful mask decorated with feathers. The humans used to wear such things to events they called masquerades. This one was heavily enchanted to conceal more than the face. When worn, the wearer's hair color would change, and her outfit would appear as a simple black gown. It was vital to his mission, and he would not dream of attempting this without it. Everything depended on being able to leave without notice. If the alarm was raised, the resultant battle might lead to the very deaths he was hoping to avoid. Even the man who was at the heart of it wasn't to be blamed, and if his life could be spared, it would.
He arrived at pair of grand doors thrown wide to allow the flow of guests easy entrance. All around were flowers and other frivolous displays that humans we're so prone to. With a shallow breath, his nerves were steadied for what was to come next. He had to enter the very heart of their enemy's stronghold, where he would be vulnerable.
He did his best to avoid making eye contact. It had been a chore to get this far, as masking his presence wasn't easy. They had hidden outside the city for a full day until the unmistakable mark of their nature faded. Still, whenever one of them looked at him, he wondered what they saw.
Now he paused to take in the scene of the grand hall. Decorative arches supported the ceiling held high above by graceful pillars. Every surface was decorated with mosaics or painted with lavish images. Candles burned on great chandeliers that hung from the arches, but there were a great many magical lights as well, illuminating the room with a soft glow. Music played from one side where a dozen men and women in fancy red outfits worked at instruments to make the delicate tones. It was just enough to be heard of over the din of voices from the great multitude within. Hundreds sat at tables or stood in groups talking over glasses of wine. They were dressed in their fineries with hairs woven and full of flowers, feathers, or jewels. The air was heavy with smoke, perfume, and the scent of spices and cooked meats. Doing his best to avoid others, he began the search but quickly found the other instead.
Gersius stood across the room, dressed in a blue coat embroidered with silver and adorned with dragons and moons. It was an obvious reference to the goddess he served in ignorance. He had no idea what Balisha's true nature was, but ignorant or not, it made him an enemy. Beside him stood a tall woman in a golden gown covered in lace and jewels. She stood just a little taller than him, with hair as red as a dragon's scales. This was the old dragon that had come to aid him, the one who called Astikar her lord. Even now, her eyes burned with the red fire that marked her true nature.
She was a mystery to him. He had no idea how she had come to be at Gersius's side and wondered what power was preventing Solesta's blessing from reaching her. Of course, it had to be Balisha, and that knowledge only made his plan more urgent. He wanted no part in dealing with her. Indeed his past efforts almost certainly guaranteed she hated him.
Weaving through the crowd, he caught the gaze of several women who smiled at him approvingly. He tipped his head ever so slightly as he had seen others do. He couldn't afford to act differently and drew on his knowledge of these events from long ago. Arriving at an open area, he paused to watch a good twenty of the humans engaged in what they called a dance. He knew many of these dances from before when his kind was naive and eager to learn. It was here that he saw the dark-haired one that worshiped the goddess Ulustrah. She was talking with a man who looked uncomfortable. He had dark hair and copper skin, marking him as a son of the scale. So the report that yet another dragon served this man Gersius was accurate. He began to wonder if there were a dozen more in the room about him. How did they deny the power of Solesta that was meant to save them?
The music changed, and so did many of the dancers. He pressed on, hunting through the crowds until, at last, he saw a radiant light.
There she was, standing with two others as they conversed. She wore a simple gown of silver that shimmered in the light and was embroidered with lace flowers. Her shoulders were bare, and the front was cut modestly low, revealing a necklace of silver dragons encasing a bluestone. The gown ran down her body like silken water, accentuating her delicate curves and ending an inch from the floor. Her silvery-blue hair was woven as the humans often did, but she had the flower known as dragons tears all through it. Her eyes blazed with the blue fire of her kind and were accentuated by the pale color of her fair skin.
He was captivated by the sight of this little creature. She smiled and playfully tapped the shoulder of one of the men to whom she was speaking. They smiled back as she began to twist gently and sipped her wine as if this moment was nothing but a pleasure.
It was an odd moment that felt almost unreal. She seemed so alive and full of happiness that it radiated from her. It caused a moment of confusion to well up from deep inside. This was the dragon that followed the man Gersius? This delicate woman who wore such a simple gown while laughing as she conversed with humans? Watching for several minutes, he began to wonder if perhaps Solesta's blessing was failing. This dragon was at ease and accepting of the nature and ways of the humans around her.
He watched for so long he lost track of time. Dozens of humans came to speak to her and left again to blend into the crowds. The raven-haired woman even joined her side for a while, the two holding hands as they spoke with guests. A funny moment came where the two suddenly looked to the right, and he followed their gaze to see them staring at the red-haired woman. The two shared a last glance, and the raven-haired one left and hurried to join Gersius and Sutherisa.
Finally, he took a breath and approached as the one known as Lilly returned to conversing with two men.
“Pardon me, my Lady,” he said as he stepped up beside her. He watched as her eyes turned to him, and she seemed surprised that she had to look up to see his eyes. He could tell she was studying his face and had a peculiar reaction to something he didn't quite understand. Her eyes darted up and lingered in the space above his head just a moment before she smiled widely.
“Forgive me, have we met?” she asked in a delicate voice.
“I am afraid I have not had such an honor yet,” he replied, dipping into a gentle bow. “I am the Lord Durmont. From south Cammishon.”
There was an odd pause as she seemed to focus on the air around him before finally giving him a reply. “I am not familiar with that land. Is it very far away?”
“It is not of the empire. Further south beyond the forests of the border,” he replied.
“South, you say?” Lilly replied and swirled her wine as she looked away a moment. “You know, we have had a great deal of trouble with the lands to the south. Our empire nearly went to war with several of the kingdoms there.”
He realized the mistake he had made by choosing a land in the south to claim as his point of origin. Of course, she knew of the conflicts, and her reply was meant to goad him into saying too much.
“I am further south of the tribe lands,” he said, at last, hoping that would appease her.
“Then you have traveled a long way to be here, oh forgive me.” she turned and spoke to the others, asking for a moment to speak with the new guest and promised to catch up with them later. He was surprised at how gracious and considerate of human behavior she was. When they were safely away, she turned back to him and took a sip of her wine. “So tell me, what brings a Lord of Cammishon so far north?”
“I am told great things are happening in the lands to the north. An empire is forming, an empire that has at its heart a dragon.” He tried to be gentle in his word and mannerisms. It would be unwise to make her defensive, especially if he needed to dominate her. He was relieved to see her smile again as she nodded ever so slightly.
“It does indeed have a dragon. Have you met her yet?” she replied playfully.
With another slight dip of his head, he acknowledged he had. “I believe I just have.”
“You have a good eye for dragons then. Some of these people still don’t know that I am one of them.” She finished her words with a playful twist and turned to look longingly at the people dancing. He could see her watching them as she swayed gently to the music.
“I am not so easily deceived,” he said and leaned in closer. “It might surprise you to know that I have met a dragon or two before.”
She turned to regard him and tilted her head to one side as she stared at him curiously. It was the oddest behavior, as if she was studying something about him. He thought of the cursed gift the women of Ulustrah had, but thankfully no such insight was given to those of Balisha.
“So you came here because you heard good things?” she repeated to continue the conversation.
He nodded as she looked back to the dancers. “I wanted to come and see this new empire for myself. To see what the new political power to my north intended. And most of all, I wanted to meet this dragon. I had no idea she was so beautiful.”
A blush crawled across her cheeks as she tried not to smile. After all, she was a dragon, and flattery was nearly a vice for them. Behind him, the music changed, and the dancers on the floor switched, and he saw an opportunity. It was bold and reckless, but it would give him a chance to talk to her almost privately.
“Would you care to dance?” he asked, causing her to look back almost as if startled.
Lilly gazed about the room, her eyes searching out the others as she struggled to reply. “I really shouldn't. I only dance with Gersius, Thayle, and Sarah.”
So they called her Sarah now. He tucked that information away and wondered why none of his agents had been able to report it. Turning to follow Lilly's gaze, he could see her staring at the man Gersius who held the woman known as Thayle with one arm.
It would seem your companions are already engaged,” he prompted.
“I am not sure they would approve,” Lilly said quickly and set her glass aside. “I wouldn’t want to upset them.”
“My lady,” he began softly and dared to take one of her hands. “I have taken notice of how you watch the dances. I am sure they would not mind one little dance.”
She looked at his hand over hers and chewed on a lip. It was such a silly reaction that he, once again, found himself questioning who this dragon was. She was so human-like in her mannerisms and worried what others would think.
“Please,” he pressed as the music started. “It would be my honor to dance with so beautiful a woman.”
Her smile returned, and she very gently nodded her head. He wasted no time leading her to the room set aside for the dancers. The dance was a lighthearted but formal affair with a straightforward pattern of steps. He was not at all surprised that she knew every one of them and moved with practiced grace. He stared into blue eyes that shimmered like bottomless pools of water as she spiraled around him.
“So your new empire, do you have any plans to expand?” he asked, feigning diplomatic interest.
“We plan only to win the war with the Doan. Oh, and maybe to reclaim the old lands to the north that were once part of the empire,” she replied.
“I see. How about trade? For generations, the kingdoms that make up your land have been locked in agreements with the commonlands. Is there any room for a new agreement? My lands would benefit with open trade to the north.”
They spun in a small circle as she laughed at his comment. It was an unexpected reaction, but she only smiled again as he pulled her back and the steps resumed.
“We are no longer trading with the commonlands. Several of their noble houses have declared us unfit to rule the empire. They have refused to support or trade with us. There is even talk that we might soon find ourselves in conflicts with the neighboring kingdoms.” The way she said it was as if it was of no importance, and her eyes seemed to be searching him once again. He even noticed her glance over his head several times as they conversed.
“I see. It would seem there might be some room for negotiation of a trade route or two?” he said to fill the role he was playing.
“You're not really interested in talking to me about trade routes,” she said flatly and danced to the side. “If that was what you wanted, you would have spoken to Lord Berkshire, our head of trade. Or at the very least, Gersius, who understands these matters far better than I do. You are here for something else, something you are being dishonest about.”
He was stunned at how casually she accused him of lying while going with her dance as if it mattered not.
“I must confess that I am not interested in talking about trade,” he said as she spun about.
She returned to his hands and looked him firmly in the eyes as the next steps began. “Then what did you want?”
“I wanted to meet you,” he said honestly.
“You wanted to meet me? Why?” she pressed.
“You could say I have a fondness for dragons. I have known other dragons before.”
Lilly hooked his arm as they danced in a circle and pointed out that he had already told her that. She wanted to know what this fondness for dragons had to do with her. He realized this was not going as he planned it. He had become distracted the moment he had seen her and was now playing a foolish game. He decided to answer her question with one of his own and see where it led him.
“Tell me, why do you follow this man, Gersius?”
He felt her hand twitch and saw her eyes narrow a little. Everything about her body language changed, and he realized the question had upset her.
“Gersius is my husband,” she replied with a firm voice. “I stand at his side and go where he goes.”
Now it was his turn to twitch, but his eyes went wide as she shocked him with her reply.
“He is your husband?” he gasped.
“Yes, you didn’t know we are married?” Lilly asked.
No, he most certainly did not. Flashes of pain came racing back, as did the memories of long ago of the mistake made when a dragon fell in love with a human. He struggled to control his voice and reply before the pause became awkward.
“I must admit I did not know that.”
“Why do you think I am an empress?” she asked, her tone sounding somewhat insulted.
“I thought that you were an empress because you were the dragon. I assumed it was an honorary title.” He replied truthfully but had his wits not been so jarred; he would have chosen his words more carefully. He came to a sudden halt when she planted her feet and yanked her arms away. She stood there on the dance floor glaring at him as he struggled to regain his composure.
“I am more than just a dragon. I am his wife, and I love him,” she stated with sincere conviction.
“My lady, I did not mean to offend you. I was just misinformed. I have to admit I am surprised a dragon has chosen to marry a human. As I said, I know a few dragons.”
“Yes, so do I. They all wonder why I would do such a thing. I will tell you why, because he is the greatest human to walk these lands. He has ever treated me with dignity and respect. There were some rough parts in the beginning, but those only served to make us stronger. He has shown me nothing but love since we met, and I want nothing but to be a part of his love.”
He was dumbstruck to hear her speaking of love as if she was aware of what it was. He knew of the term love from the ages past when they walked among humans. The humans spoke of it from time to time and tried to explain it, but it was a topic that dragons simply did not understand.
“If you know other dragons, then you understand why I am surprised. As I said, I meant no disrespect.” He had to be careful now. She was agitated, and he could feel her withdrawing. He had hoped he could win her trust and get her to follow him someplace more secluded, but if she was about to leave, he would be forced to act.
“Did you want anything else, Lord Durmont?” she said in a tone that more than indicated their time was over.
He stepped up closer to speak clearly and be heard over the music. It was now or never, and he had to be sure it worked. With practiced focus, he reached out with his solus and enveloped her, his power pressing from all sides.
I do want one more thing,” he said firmly and focused on overwhelming her. His power was ancient and great, and young dragons instinctively did what their elders told them. If he pressed his influence on her just right and spoke with a commanding tone, she would be helpless but to obey. Once away, he could explain the truth and thus end the threat of the dragon knight.
“I order you to come with me,” he said with power and command. He could feel his strength washing out as it overwhelmed her. “Now, follow me into the gardens.”
Her eyes blinked as her head gently tilted to one side. It was not the response he was expecting, but the next one took him entirely by surprise. Her hand lashed across his face with surprising speed, producing a painful stinging.
“If you ever give me a command again, I will tell Gersius. He will not be as gentle as I am,” she hissed and turned away.
He stood there stunned as he felt his solus suddenly rejected by her own. It was as if she was shielded from this very thing. He could no more touch her solus than he could touch the moon.
He quickly glanced around the room to see that a few people had noticed the exchange and realized his time was up. He needed to withdraw before whispers of what had happened reached Gersius or anybody else who protected her.
He made his way as calmly as possible out of the banquet hall and into the gardens. He kept his pace brisk and his motions calm so as not to appear to be fleeing. All the while, his mind was swimming with confusion over what had just happened. How had she resisted him? It was as if she was already dominated and completely under the control of another being. He wracked his mind trying to understand it as he passed out of the gates into the upper city.
Never had any dragon resisted him unless it was magically shielded or…
He stopped dead in his tracks as he rolled his head and sighed. She was bound! He didn't even need to think about it. It made all the sense in the world. The dragon was bound to the man Gersius, and he had ordered her to love him. That explains why she was so insistent that she loved him and why she was so well protected.
She was a prisoner of this man’s mad campaign. Yet another victim in a war started eons ago. She didn't serve him of her own will; she was a slave bound to his. He wondered briefly if he should go back and try to free her. If he could kill Gersius, she would be free, and her rage would likely destroy half the palace. If it worked, he wouldn't even need to win her over, and she would willingly join him for rescuing her.
No, the thought was vain and foolish. The other dragons would try to stop her, and the palace was crawling with battle priests. Even he could not fight so many in so confined a space. The risk was too great, and the potential for disaster was almost guaranteed. No, he could not risk going back.
There was another way, though. One that was far more poetic and would offer her some justice. It would take careful planning and a bit of time to prepare, but it would do just the trick. As he vanished into the shadows of the lower city, he made a vow to free Lilly from her slavers control. He would set her free and then ask her to dance. She was such a lovely dancer, after all.
