Kaden was not pleased that this was the second time he had to be berated by an ambassador for how he entered a nation. It’s not like it was his choice that they set up all these ridiculous rules. He had to laugh inside his head that he kept breaking some of their most basic rules by merely being himself. He could hear his brothers saying that some rules were meant to be broken in his head.
“I know you all feel like you can do whatever you want because of the honorable deeds you’ve preformed…” Kaden was tuning in and out of the lecture by the fire ambassador Malfor. His eyes lazily drifted around the room they had led them to.
He at least had the grace to not yell at them in front of the people. He had taken them to some compound. Kaden wasn’t sure if this was the one they were supposed to go to or not. He had no idea what their temples looked like here and if this was one of them. Their dragons were led away to some stables. Other dragons could be heard not too far away from them when they arrived, so none of them protested at the request.
Kaden couldn’t help but feel that every step they took was always through mud and grime. It shouldn’t be hard for people to understand that they’re only trying to help people and do what’s right. Time and time again, bureaucracy has been there telling them how exactly they should be helping people. Clearly, their group knew what they were doing. They didn’t need this lord or that important person to tell them how they should go about it.
He couldn’t help it, he was feeling dismissive of the ambassador. They had just put down the House of the Serpents in another country, interrupting a coop. Before that, they managed to stave off another one in the white city. To be lectured that they shouldn’t have gone through a tunnel with their dragons was ridiculous. Kaden knew it. Reese knew it. Even Evonne knew it was ridiculous for him to be lecturing them over it.
Sayori held her hand out to interrupt him. “Malfor, that’s enough.”
I looked bewildered that she did such a thing and could only stutter out a few words in response.
“We were shot out of the sky in the water nation by serpent agents. We shot Serpent agents out of the sky at the white city. Five water matriarchs blessed us. Five of them, at one time, ambassador. We are not leaving our dragons to wander in random tunnels alone when they have so frequently been targets of rage and vengeance.”
He shook his head at her and said, “What makes you think they were unsafe in those tunnels? We have done everything we can to make sure no one goes down there.”
She tossed her hands up. “I don’t know! Maybe ask the dead creature that is feeding on glowstones down there if it’s safe or not.”
His eyes cut away.
Evonne put her hand out to him and said, “Ambassador, it is not a big issue. We handled the creatures just fine. I implore you to reconsider this ban against the riders and their dragons in those tunnels, though.”
His eyes softened on her. “Ms. Baum, I know you want to keep dragons safe, but you have to understand…”
“No.” Kaden’s eyebrow perked at Evonne’s boldness. It was a side he had yet to see from her. “You did not witness what we have witnessed. These assailants are targeting riders and their dragons without mercy. It is best to not severe the bond between them, regardless of how temporary you feel.”
“I…”
Sayori stepped closer and said, “Exactly. This was poorly thought out. You need to change it.”
He shot a glare at her and said, “I will bring your thoughts to the fire council.”
A silence hung between them and Reese gave an awkward cough. “So… about those games...”
They all let out a huff and Kaden couldn’t help but shake his head. Malfor waved his hand dismissively as he turned around toward the door of the room he had taken them too. “Yes, of course. The games are starting here in Cinamount. The temple is a few miles outside of the town. You can start your pilgrimage there.”
“Are we expected at any of the temples in a specific timeframe, sir?” Asked Evonne politely.
“No,” he smiled at her with kind eyes as he said it. “We discussed the situation at hand. With everything that has been happening, you four have had a rush of a pilgrimage. That’s not how this should be. You should see what each nation has to offer, not be saving them from their own destruction.”
Several of them cut their eyes to each other, reflecting on the end-of-the-world vision they had been given.
“Go to the games, enjoy yourselves. Don’t cause any more problems. I’m only here for the opening of them. Then I’m back to the citadel.” He stepped back toward Evonne and took her hand. “I won’t be able to protect you if I’m not around.”
The last line was too intimate, too direct to Evonne. Kaden looked to Sayori for an answer and she gave him a clueless shrug.
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“Thank you, Ambassador. You have done so much already. We will not burden you with our pilgrimage.”
Reese leaned forward and said, “except you clearly have a problem with the serpents here too. I know a guy who knows a gal who knows about a dragon riding crew who has been pretty adept at snuffing those folks out.”
Sayori pushed Reese off balance and he laughed as he caught himself in a stumble.
“Please do not chase after any criminals, serpent or otherwise. Let our people handle it. You’re just riders, not even white mages. Don’t play the savior, it could get you killed.”
“Yes, sir,” said Kaden.
He gave a few more basic instructions on where they were and how to get about in the fire nation. They were in some type of dragon docks. There were rooms and board for traveling dragons and dragon riders. It was essentially a hotel for dragons. The thought of a dragon hotel amused Kaden to no end.
The fire nation would take care of any costs included in their stay, but the ambassador warned them about frivolous spending and behavior. He made sure to remind them that they were representatives of their nations and they needed to act that way.
“Evonne,” he looked back at her as he spoke to them. “I advise you to teach them about our fire principals before you even attempt to reach the temples. The matriarchs haven’t been keen on visitors for a while. You, of all people, know how hard it has been with getting into the Guardians of the Flame.”
Kaden’s eyebrow raised again, but he knew Sayori was still not going to be able to tell him what was going on.
“News of your exploits has reached us, so be wary of people who want to befriend you for your fame. You’re going to have a hard time getting around unnoticed.”
“Great,” said Reese with a sigh.
“I hope you all have fun and look forward to seeing you all when you’ve been blessed.” He gave them a deep bow and bid them farewell before exiting the room.
The room was filled with an awkward silence. Sharing glances, a bubble of amusement formed and soon they were laughing hard. It felt like he just needed to vent about something rather than them actually doing anything wrong. Malfor seemed like the type of guy who always wanted to be in control and when something was amiss, his whole being broke.
It wasn’t long before they were pushing themselves out of the room and exploring the compound he had left them in. Kaden could feel Zuma being playful and excited, so he knew that he didn’t need to worry about the dragons there.
It wasn’t long before they ran into Meinor again. When Kaden had first met him, he was abrasive and suspicious. They won him over very quickly when they were the only ones on the walls of the citadel defending the sleeping victims from brutal assassination. Then he had the audacity to listen to him when he told him of corruption he discovered by a vision and voice of a matriarch of all things. After that, the man treated them as equals, even though they were far from his rank.
“There’s a great rice shop down in the city. I want to take you guys too. The food is the attraction, but we might meet some of the gladiators there. It’s a popular hangout for them.”
Kaden could swear Reese’s eyes were sparkling. For someone who had admonished the normal fighters in their skills earlier, he was excited to see what they could do. Maybe it was the entire spectacle of the event that was getting him worked up.
They hadn’t eaten since the night before on the train. Kaden hadn’t realized it with how busy they had been, but his stomach was definitely hollow and a tasty rice restaurant seemed like the perfect solution. He led them out of the compound and down way too many steps. They were perched at the top of a hill. It was a workout just to get to the dragon hotel. It made sense with the nature of the winged beasts, but he knew he was not going to look forward to climbing up the steps a second time today when they went back.
“I’d say watch out for this or that, but honestly, the people all blend together. It’s why we’ve had a hard time pinning down the serpents.” Meinor said as he led them down the steps.
“You mean they aren’t being obvious in dark robes and creepy masks?” Sayori said with a scoff.
“Nope. They are completely blending in. They aren’t even attacking that often. Just enough to remind us that they’re around. We haven’t been able to track a single one. Each time we’re about to catch them alive…” His gait slowed as he took a deep breath. “Well, you lot know how they are.”
They didn’t say much else until they reached the bottom of the stairs. Meinor jumped in the air with excitement as she started skipping into the street. It was like a different world there. The buildings were made of stone and anywhere else, this would seem drab and lacking in color. Their windows were made of colored glass, shimmering and shining down ribbons of light into the streets.
The vendors they passed were full of boisterous laughter. Loud colors were strung across the alleyways with patterned banners and signs. The city was preparing for the games and everyone seemed to have a favorite team or player they felt should be represented. Kaden actually saw some embroidered flags with some names on it. He didn’t think he’d see actual signs made for the players, but then again, he had never been anywhere there were dragon games.
They had turned a few corners, went under several bridges and over a few walkways. Kaden was truly lost on where they were. Meinor didn’t seem to mind all the people passing by. He was right. There was nothing unusual standing out about any of them. They were just people going about their days. Kaden wondered how they’d find anyone who had ill intent there.
They rounded one more corner and Meinor said, “it’s up just ahead. I promise, you’re going to love it. I’m usually waddling back to the compound after this place.”
A building with a large, beautiful stained glass mural was up ahead. The glass was the colors of fire with a blue rice bowl right in the center of it. He marveled at how it shimmered on the walkway as they got closer. There was no sign showing it was a restaurant outside of the shimmering glass. He was looking forward to this adventure.
The glass shattered as a body flew out of it, flying into the street. It was a large man armed with a knife, trying to cradle his head as he hit the stone. A silhouette of another figure was in the window, the light from the shop blocking out their details. Kaden could tell they were tall and muscular from the shape.
Stepping over the broken glass and into the street, they walked to the man that went through the window and grabbed their head, pulling it up to them. They leaned down to say something to the man and Kaden could make more of their figure out.
They were dark-haired and tanned. They wore various types of leathers, with bright yellow woven in and out. While their clothing had some casual styling to it, it also looked as if they were prepared for a fight. Looking at the mess in front of him, Kaden knew why they wore such things.
The man lifted his head up in a sudden movement and tossed the man back to the ground. His arms opened wide, and he said, “Meinor! You arrived! I never thought you’d get here! Come, come! I just ordered a new pot.”