Hess and Lady Hurem had been okay with just getting a glimpse of Kaen’s chest before allowing him to pull down the new shirt he had received after his original one was covered in blood.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to know you and the three dragons are alive,” Hess repeated once more. “It was a long night, and there were tears from everyone but Callie. She never doubted Pammon would be ok.”

“You mean Pammon and me?”

Hess snorted and shook his head. “Not once did she mention her older brother. Seems she might have had doubts.”

Lady Hurem let out a laugh that had been well practiced over her lifetime. One that showed how much she appreciated the joke, yet with all the refinement a woman of her standard should show. “I have often mentioned to my husband how much your daughter reminds me of Sulenda. So strong and brave. If you two ever need a night by yourselves, we would gladly entertain her for a day or two.”

Hess’s eyes went wide, and Kaen saw he was actually shocked at her offer.

“I… I will let my wife know. We would be grateful… I mean, I am certain that Callie would love a night with you two.”

Lady Hurem waved his comment off with a flick of her hand. “Do not worry about being formal with me. I remember what it was like needing a night away with my husband and no child. In times like this, you probably need one even more.”

Hess stood up and gave a slight bow. “I am grateful even still.”

Lady Hurem stood up and smiled. “No need for that, please. We are family, and as such, we look after each other. Now, I will let both of you two discuss what you must do. I have things to attend to.”

Hess nodded. “I hope you know how much the city appreciates what you are doing, Lady Hurem.”

Clearing her throat, Hess saw the look she gave him. “Bridgette, please. We are not that far apart in age, and once again… we are family, so please call me Bridgette.”

“I will try… habits, but thank you again, Bridgette.”

Content with using her real name, Lady Hurem moved to where Kaen was and kept him from rising with a hand on his shoulder. She leaned over and kissed him on his forehead before whispering in his ear. “I am grateful to have you as a son. My daughter is doing better than I can hope. Just remember, she wants to be used and needed, just like you. So let her be.”

With those words spoken, she squeezed Kaen’s shoulder and walked with all the dignity and grace Kaen had ever seen.

“Boy… you’re in over your head,” Hess muttered once the door shut and they were alone.

Snorting, Kaen cleared his throat and nodded. “Don’t I know it.”

Hess looked at the map and where Kaen had drawn a square.

“That is a massive amount of land to search. If your promise of Glynnis hadn’t come, I’m not certain we could find the bow or those arrows before it might snow.”

Kaen nodded and drew a few arrows on some other spots.

“We were totally outplayed. Stioks and his strategy were perfect. We showed our hands, believed he was where he wasn’t, and fell into his trap.”

Ignoring Kaen’s complaint, Hess focused on the map, running his fingers slowly along the area Kaen had marked. After a moment, he took the pencil and marked a few spots.

“Stop complaining. As with everything you know, fights never go the way you expect. Remember the cave or the orcs and even the bandits. No matter what, if you can come home,” Hess held up his stump and pointed to it with the pencil, “even if you are missing an appendage, it is still a win.”

Kaen sighed and picked up his cup, rotating it slowly between his fingers.

“You still haven’t commented on what I told you Juthom said about Hoste.”

Grunting, Hess leaned back and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, he grimaced. “Holy dwarf balls, Kaen, what am I supposed to say? I mean… I don’t think that damn dragon was lying. If what he says is true, the plan you have laid out is your best option. What else are you going to do?”

Kaen looked at the drink in his glass and then turned his attention back to Hess.

“I need your pickaxe.”

“My pickaxe?”

“The one you used to work with when we were in Minoosh. I need to start getting stronger, and someone I know once showed me the best way to do that is hard work. Besides, I need to start looking for more ore. If we can’t find those arrows, we’ll need to be able to make more.”

“And the scales? Are you really going to send them to the dwarven kingdom?”

Kaen nodded, still turning his cup as he thought. “Aldric and the guild can have some since two corpses are so close, but Bosgreth owes me, and I am about to cash that favor in. That still leaves a bow.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Hess saw the look on Kaen’s face and knew the answer before he told him.

“You’re going to the wood elves, aren’t you?”

“Always a step ahead,” Kaen replied, chuckling softly. “No one else makes a bow like them. I’m going to also see if anyone has a rune for sale. Any places I could look?”

Hess grimaced, sucking in a breath through his teeth. “I’m out of the loop on that. Honestly, though, I know of one person who might, and she does owe you… otherwise, you would need to talk to Herb and ask him.”

Kaen raised an eyebrow as he listened to Hess. “Owes me?”

“Yes… you saved her, and she owes you. Talk to Selmah. I’m certain she has something in her vault that might help you.”

Kaen stopped turning his cup and looked at the ceiling, considering his dad’s words. “I guess I could ask, but I would feel bad making her do something as a favor.”

“Goblin shite, she would do it on her own, and knowing why would make her ten times more likely to help,” exclaimed Hess. “You’re fighting for this entire kingdom… no, the whole land out here. She will see that and do her part now that she is limited.”

Wincing, Kaen nodded slowly. “Still, I will offer to pay.”

“As you should! But do not play some role where you cannot accept charity if she offers it. Let her feel she is repaying you and contributing to this fight. That alone is more than some gold in her pocket will ever do.”

Kaen exhaled his breath before taking a long, deep one. After letting it out slowly, he smiled and nodded. “I guess I sometimes forget that. Everyone plays a role. Even my one-armed dad.”

Hess laughed and gave Kaen the finger with his one good hand. “It still works, as you can see. Now, I need to head back to the inn and update Sulenda and Callie before I go to the school and start searching for your lost stuff. Anything else?”

Kaen stood up, moved to where Hess was, and grabbed him in a bear hug.

“This is all I need.”

Hess hugged him back, both laughing and grunting as they squeezed each other.

“Tell my sister I might have words with her when I see her next.”

Hess snorted and smiled. “I’ll make sure to tell her.”

Kaen moved to where Amaranth had been dozing.

Studying the green dragon, he saw her eyes open and watch him.

You realize that you breathe loudly.

Unable to help it, Kaen laughed and stood beside her, holding his hand near her snout. She moved it to him, and he began to scratch the scales, working his way along her upper lip and down the base of her skull.

Trills rang out through the courtyard as he worked for ten minutes, scratching scales and moving to different areas he had learned over the years.

When he finally stopped, Amaranth snorted loudly, lying her head on the grass she was on, and groaned.

Your mate is correct. You can do amazing things with your fingers and hands.

A coughing fit broke out, and Kaen knew he was red even though no one else was around.

“Thank you… I think,” he replied, watching the green dragon smile. “And thank you again for trying to help me get better.”

I could say I am only doing this because it is in my best interest. If something happens to you, Pammon will no longer be the mate I desire. That would be a lie, though. I still owe you for my freedom even if you continue to say I don’t.

Putting his hand on her snout, Kaen smiled and shook his head.

“You don’t have to do anything because I did that. You have repaid any possible debt multiple times already.”

Her eye sparkled, the green color swirling until it almost went silver and back to green.

Have you ever been… I believe the word you use is a slave.

I have not.

Then, until you are, there is no way to express the gratitude and joy I feel every day. I wake up and know that if I wanted, you and Pammon would allow me to fly in any direction I desire. There is a part of me that is finally free without worry of choosing life over death if I say I don’t want to do something. Having been oppressed and not being allowed to choose my own path, I know what it means to have ones will crushed by another.

Each time you make a request of me, it is precisely that. A request. You don’t order me. You don’t force me. Even though you have the power to bend my will and break me with just your words, you never do that. For that, I will always be grateful. And then there is… this thing you call family.

Amaranth shook her head as she snorted softly. There was a build-up of moisture around her eyes.

Pammon tried to describe it to Glynnis and me when we first arrived. Dragons don’t have family. Even a mate is not family. At any moment, a male could leave his female, happy to pursue others he might find a better fit. Pammon told me he would not be like that.

A slight thrum came from Amaranth as she watched Kaen’s face.

It was funny to see one so big and large and as powerful as Pammon struggles with how dragons are. He made sure that both of us knew he wouldn’t pick one over the other and that he wouldn’t take another mate unless something required it, and we were both okay with it. Glynnis and I thought he was being foolish, but the longer I watched you and him and how you two treated each other, the more I understood this concept.

Shifting, Amaranth slid back slightly till she sat on all four legs, towering over Kaen but bent her head low.

I realize now that you see me as family. You don’t see me as a dragon to control or a tool. I hear how you talk about me, and Ava has shared with me how you defend us, telling time and time again that the kingdom does not own us. That is why Glynnis and I are willing to trust you and those you deem worthy with our eggs. No greater gift can be given by a female dragon than her child.

Amaranth moved till her snout was on the ground, and her eyes looked directly into Kaen’s.

Pammon’s story tells that more than I think you may ever realize. She sacrificed her life for her child. She put him in a position where he would find a human. Instead of hiding him somewhere, he might hatch and grow strong enough to be free. She knew that it was better to have a human instead of being alone. She is undoubtedly looking down from the place where dragons go when we die and smiling to see the man her child has bonded with.

Kaen didn’t realize it as he watched tears slowly trickle from Amaranth’s eyes that he was also crying.

Kaen Marshell, King of Dragons, rider of my mate, I owe you more than a dragon could ever know. You have given me a family. You are going to give my child a family. For that, I would fly you to the heavens and back. Since that is not required right now, I will pour out all of my magic every day until you are well because…

Amaranth began to shudder, huge tears flowing from her color-shifting eyes.

Because you are my family.

Kaen moved forward, brushing his hand along her snout and wiping away the tear that had just fallen, watching as it flowed along the scales.

“Thank you,” Kaen whispered, putting his head against hers. “Thank you for being part of my family.”