By the time the three of them had exited the forest, the sun had lowered in the west. Hills of varying sizes rolled across massive fields, rippling throughout the land and ranging from barren to supporting full ecosystems. Though none were like the massive crimson wood the dragon had appeared in.
Beyond the eastern horizon, a line of jagged shapes caught the dimming light of the sun. Stretching from the northern coast to beyond their sight, these peaks turned golden in the orange rays, threatening to pierce the darkening sky.
Waiting for them beyond the line of red trees was a wagon made from ebony wood, its bed roofed with a thick white fabric that sheltered its cargo. Inside, more than a dozen metal containers were securely and neatly arranged. The hatchling could smell the cargo before it reacted to the presence of the humans. Several calls and cries rose from the bed as they stepped from the forest edge, each belonging to a different species of beast. Though each of their scents carried similar sweet scents to the apples it had consumed earlier, they were all different. Some carried a sour tang that ranged from barely perceivable to almost overpowering, while others held a much more subdued, almost savory taste that was just as varied.
Next to the wagon was a tower built in stark white stone, its skinny frame supporting a rounded balcony at its top. Despite its plain appearance, the infant could see something stirring just beneath the surface of its construction, like light dancing beneath clear water.
When the trio approached the wagon, Reil ran his hand over the wagon’s fabric. The cries began to settle as the white cloth turned gold briefly, before beginning to fade. By the time it returned to its original color, the cries had stopped completely.
“Naroe, tend to the cages while we have the opportunity,” he said while gesturing to take the dragon. “I’ll figure out how our new friend will be traveling with us.”
Naroe didn’t move. “I think I’ll be fine holding him.”
His master paused and raised an eyebrow. “I understand you feel a bond of some sort has formed, but I think it’d be best if we found a container for him.” His eyes moved down to the hatchling who stared back at him with an almost empty gaze. The contrast between it and the natural intensity of the dragon’s eyes made Reil question again what it was they had found.
And again, White was unable to sense Reil’s thoughts as he had with Naroe. Even as they had walked, he had heard the surface thoughts of the younger human, but none were like the statements he had heard before. Those had been focused, loaded with intent. These thoughts flowed by as if being carried by a river, which made them much easier to ignore.
Naroe had gained White’s trust in that incident, even if White hadn’t consciously realized it, and thus he was more than happy to be carried to wherever. Especially if it meant going with the one who had ended that conflict.
Naroe hesitated before handing the still-passive dragon to his master. “I really don’t think he needs one,” he reasserted.
Reil’s brow furrowed quizzically. It was rare for Naroe to be so insistent with him.
“What makes you so sure?” the older human questioned.
Naroe could only offer a shrug. “A feeling.”
Reil looked at him for only a moment before turning away and making his way to the front of the wagon. Naroe’s instincts were good, Reil knew this well, but so were his own. In addition, his instincts were enhanced and backed by decades of experience. But here was a creature that he felt nothing from, a creature he couldn’t feel anything from, as if its very existence was a blind spot to him. In addition, his apprentice had somehow bonded with it.
Reil shook his head. Whatever had occurred, it had not changed Naroe and everything pointed to this being a dragon, ignorant of itself and the world around it. However, he still found its incredibly relaxed state disconcerting.
White, for his part, was trying to see the being that had emerged from the forest in the one that carried him now. In his arms, the hatchling felt a comforting warmth propelled by a steady flow of energy that moved through every fiber of the man’s being. The intensity that had been in the forest was gone, but White could feel that same light pulsing from deep within the elder’s core.
Yet still, despite having been taken in his arms as Naroe had done before, White could not feel Reil’s thoughts or intentions.
The two reached the front of the wagon where a fabric-padded seat the length of the vehicle acted as the driver’s area. Resting past that was a large trunk that was built into the wagon with several drawers lining the driver’s area. Reil sat White on the seat before opening the top of the massive trunk, producing several pieces of meat and a long tube.
“Here you go little one,” he spoke as a grandfather would to a new member of his family. “I believe you’ll like these.” The meat he gave White was dried, but the dragon could smell the familiar sweetness from the strips and was quick to begin his meal, taking several at once within his mouth. Though the meat’s texture and taste were completely different, they had a similar effect to the apples. “You have quite the appetite it seems,” the old human’s words held just as much amusement as warmth. “It’s a shame I only have those pieces.”
White stopped eating and turned sharply at Reil, whose smile faded. White hoped to hear assurances that there was the possibility of more food in the future. When Reil only continued to stare at him, White began to take smaller bites.
Naroe’s words drew the dragon’s attention, though Reil didn’t turn away. “Looks like we’re in pretty good shape,” he called out while walking over. “Most of them just needed dinner, weren’t any messes…” the apprentice trailed off when he noticed his master staring. “Everything alright?” he asked tentatively, his gaze moving to the hatchling.
Reil nodded, recovering. “Yes, I believe so,” he replied calmly as he looked back at Naroe. “I’m going to be in communion for a moment.” Reil uncapped the tube and shook out its contents, a thickly rolled parchment with hundreds of tiny crystals embedded into unseen designs across its surface. “I believe White can ride up front with us without issue, but he’ll be sleeping with you.”
Naroe’s smile returned fully at the decision. “Sounds good to me,” he turned to the dragon. “I promise I don't snore.”
White paused to look at him, unsure of his assertion, before finishing his meal.
Reil took his apprentice aside then to whisper in his ear, but that dragon could still hear his words in full clarity.
“He is still an infant,” the older human began, “but it’s clear his mind might be more complex than we initially thought.” His apprentice moved to look at him, but Reil pulled him back. “There is a high chance he understands us rather well, but I believe we’ll need His Majesty to understand him.”
Naroe looked back at White, who sat patiently looking at them, his meal finished. Naroe turned back to his master. “I don’t think there’s much to understand,” he whispered back. “He’s just a kid without a home.”
Reil stared at him, and Naroe knew what he had struck. But it didn’t change that he felt it was the truth, and Reil understood that perfectly.
“I’ll contact Varen tonight and let him know of our intentions for when we arrive tomorrow,” he said as he moved back a little. “Ask him to make preparations for the rest ahead of time so we address this quickly.” He glanced at White again, who only blinked at him, before looking back at his apprentice. “I’ll follow your feelings on this, though I feel he’ll be living in a controlled environment regardless of either one of us. In the meantime, enjoy your time with him but please, don’t overload him.” He gave the larger man a smile that matched his light’s warmth. “Just because he can understand you doesn’t mean he’ll be able to listen to you all night.”
Naroe returned the smile and nodded before Reil clasped him on the shoulder and moved to the back of the wagon. As the towering youth turned back to the dragon, he found it watching him as if waiting for his word. He couldn’t resist his smile broadening at the attention the small dragon was giving him.
White felt his joy as well, and while he didn’t understand where it stemmed from, he was happy to be the cause of it.
Naroe reached over and petted the dragon. “I get why Reil’s so nervous about you, but I hope you don’t end up stuck in The Sanctuary.”
He walked around and hopped onto the other side of the long seat, pulling out a large cover and cushion from one of the trunk’s compartments. Only needing one of his arms to hold White comfortably, he picked up his new friend before getting comfortable in his makeshift bed. When he was on his back, he placed the dragon back on his chest. The blanket was thick and soft, providing a comfortable bed for the hatchling and a cushion between it and the human.
White got comfortable in his new position before turning back to the apprentice, the young man’s hazel eyes seemingly echoing the amber spark from earlier. Something in the dragon told it these were the actions to prepare for sleep, but it felt no such intention from the human. It tilted its head at Naroe, and that was enough for the human to know its question.
“How old are you?” He began.
White blinked. As a being who only acquired the ability to perceive reality that morning, he hadn’t had time to digest the generous amount of understanding he had been given regarding the world around him. Now this human had brought the passage of time as a concept to his attention.
He held up a single talon.
“A year?”
The dragon shook his head.
Naroe blinked. “A month.”
The dragon shook his head again.
Naroe worked his jaw. “Were you born yesterday?” His voice was half a whisper at this point, but his grin had grown wide once more. White felt something spark aflame in the trapper’s core.
White shook his head again and pointed to the nearly set sun. He traced his talon in the air to where it had been when he awoke on the beach.
Naroe let out a wheeze, startling the dragon as he sat up partway. “You were born today?” White stared up at him, matching his wide-eyed surprise before nodding. The human collapsed back onto his pillow, a breathless laugh escaping his lips. “How in the world did you get here?” He spoke with the minimum amount of air required before breathing deeply. He centered himself as he had been taught by Reil and White felt the flame that had erupted begin to condense into a tiny sun.
White could feel its warmth, and he realized that this had been what he connected to. At the very least, it was the gateway.
Naroe’s eyes moved back to the dragon. “Was there anyone else there?”
White shook his head, the surprise ebbing away.
The apprentice paused before asking his next question. “Did you hatch from an egg?”
White traced his memory back to the near spotless beach and shook his head again. Naroe’s grin lessened then, his mind trying to work out the possible explanations for this dragon’s sudden appearance. That last answer in particular left him with no grounded theories.
“Do you know anything about the world?” He finally asked. White shook his head again, and Naroe hummed in response. Every instinct told him that White had been answering truthfully through the exchange and that only made things more confusing. “An understanding of our language, but no instinct to run from a charging keeper. Abilities that interact with the souls of others but with no connection to the Planes…” he trailed off as his mind worked.
White found the whole experience curious, the sensation of Naroe’s mind sorting through his knowledge and memories was like a library coming to life. He felt the pages all turning, looking for an answer it was unsure it possessed as he watched from its window.
The image dispersed in flames as Naroe grunted, his eyes moving back to the smaller creature. “Do you know what the Planes are?” White blinked, turning to the expanse of land that lay before them. “No,” Naroe said, pulling his attention back. “The Planes of Light and Dark?”
White stared blankly at the human. He understood the words that had been said, but he did not know what they meant. The realization struck him as odd.
Naroe gave a slight nod, his arms moving to lay under his head. “I figured you weren’t born from either one since the Keeper attacked you, but I thought I’d ask. But I’ll take that as you can understand us, but not because of any worldly knowledge.”
White ran through the human’s statement once more before coming to understand it and nodded. He did not know how he understood his surroundings or the human’s speech, but he knew it came easily. He did not know much more than that though, other than he enjoyed food and his current company.
“I wish we had a better way to communicate,” he said, reaching over to pet the dragon. “I think I can figure out the easy stuff, but I’d like to figure out the complicated stuff too.”
“Then your best bet is still His Majesty,” Reil spoke as he came around the side where Naroe’s feet lay, his face grim. He opened up the main trunk again, placing the parchment back in its tube and putting it away. “Varen will set up an escort to meet us at the gate. They’ll get us to the nearest warp bay and we’ll meet with him by the Heart.”
“Then why do you look worried?” Naroe’s smile faded.
“Because his Majesty had just left for Andromeda.”
Naroe’s demeanor shifted fully then. “Why?”
The older human shook his head. “Something’s triggered their instruments, but they can’t make sense of it.” His eyes moved to White then, scanning but not with hostility. “I don’t like the timing, but they requested His Majesty’s assistance in deciphering the matter.”
Naroe glanced at White then and saw he lay unfazed by his master’s gaze. The notion that this newborn had any insight to offer decayed even further in his mind. “What do you think?” He asked as Reil pulled a large tied sack out of the trunk.
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“I can’t convince myself it’s a simple coincidence, but the Empire has been silent for a while now.” He shrugged a motion that made Naroe’s skin crawl. He never liked the idea of his master not having an answer, but watching him do it in the same breath as mentioning that ancient terror twisted his gut.
White, who had been resting directly above where the feeling formed, turned to his new friend. The sensation made him uncomfortable, as it didn’t mesh with the image of the human that had been forming in his mind. For the first time he tasted anxiety, and he hated it.
Naroe’s eyes moved back to White then, noting the smallest change in the tiny creature’s gaze. He began to pet him once more, an echo of his earlier smile forced onto his lips before turning back to his watching mentor.
Reil had taken in the scene and softened his gaze. “I don’t think it’s them though,” he continued. “Andromeda may be a prime target, but it’s too deep into the continent. No one else noticed anything and they haven't found any damage, at least not yet. Even if it wasn’t them, it doesn’t change the coincidence.” His eyes moved to the small dragon on his apprentice’s chest. “I was tempted to follow His Majesty, but he’ll cover ground much faster than us, and I would hate to extend our cargo’s journey even longer.”
“What about General Mareth?” Naroe asked. “Could she make something?”
Reil shook his head gently. “She went with him, both as protection and to assist in their investigation.” He turned to the back of the wagon, still looking at them. “We’ll just have to wait for their return. In the meantime, we’ll decide how to proceed with Varen.”
Naroe’s smile returned in earnest then. “Think White can stay with me while we wait?”
Reil allowed himself a chuckle. “We’ll see. While the King’s gone, Varen will have the final say.” He gave his apprentice an amused side-eye as he walked back out of sight. “You’ll have to talk to him.”
Naroe’s gaze returned to White. “Don’t worry, General Rain’s great.” His hand moved back behind his head as he closed his eyes, yawning. “I just hope his daughter isn’t there, she’d make things difficult.”
________________________________________________________
White stared out at the passing greenery around them, taking in every detail without intention. The sun now hovered over the peaks he had seen when they had exited what Naroe had explained was “Tirion’s Grove.” The peaks they had been making their way to since early that morning.
Reil had been the first to awake before the sun had even emerged from beyond the rolling hills. He spent over an hour taking sections of beasts out of their cages, each organized to have the least likelihood of friction, and let them stretch their legs for a while. He had taken the time with each of them to imprint general commands and instincts to keep them in check for the journey. Birds were allowed to fly high and far, while various small critters scampered about the hills. Some almost sparkled in the pre-dawn, darting at intense speeds across the skies and fields. Others melded in and out of what shadows the fleeting night still provided, their movements seemingly heavy despite their grace.
None entered the bounds of the crimson forest, and all returned to Reil before long. White had watched all of this, Reil giving him a nod when he had first emerged from behind the wagon. Though he saw nothing like what had occurred the day before, he could feel something pulse through the air every time Reil interacted with the cages. Every time the small creature felt it, the back of his skull itched.
Reil said nothing that morning except to wake Naroe with the instruction that it was time to leave. It was only when Reil took the front seat that the wagon began to move forward unprompted.
It had been slow at first, but it gradually gained speed as it turned out onto a barely trodden path that snaked through the hills. White felt that same light gradually pouring from Reil once more as it did. It ignited from his body and seeped through the wooden frame, seemingly bringing the vehicle to life. While White could see traces of yesterday’s flame in embers only he could see, this was a far gentler light that gave him the same feeling as when Reil had been handling their still quiet cargo. It was as if the old human was gently encouraging the wagon to move, and so it was.
Now, several hours into the ride, the once-distant mountains were showing their true size. White had watched clouds pass and be split by the snow-topped range, and their morning shadows had reached them before he had even seen that. He had yet to see even where they began or ended.
What he could see was that their course was taking them to a canyon that looked to snake through the range.
Reil and Naroe had not spoken much since they had departed, but it was not a bad silence. Naroe had pulled out a small leatherbound book, tied by a single strap. He had been reading its contents the entire way, idling stroking White’s head as he did so. Reil kept his eyes on the road for the most part, his gaze occasionally flicking to the wagon bed and White. While the dragon had kept his eyes forward, more specifically the enlarging mountains, he had registered Reil’s glances as rays of sun on a cloudy day.
“They’re quite a site, aren’t they?” The older man asked.
He had said it when White had felt the warmth of his focus, so the hatchling looked back at him and nodded. White did like them, though he couldn’t quite say why. He supposed it was just because of their size. The trees in the forest had been big to him as well, but this felt different.
“‘Sancutary’s Teeth,’” he continued, “where our home met the planet a long time ago. When it arrived, it changed the world in many ways.”
“I remember my first time seeing them,” Naroe spoke up. “I’ve never felt so small, but I can’t imagine how you feel White.”
White looked back at the closest peaks, his eyes tracing down their slopes to the nearing canyon. In truth, this was not the only path to their destination, but it was the closest one they had. Though it did not appear that way to the small creature.
To him, they were so large that they had completely restricted their path to a single option. He had realized then that this was why they impressed him so much. Yet, this thought also quietly disturbed him. A part of him, a rather significant part it seemed, disliked being limited to this one option.
His eyes moved back up the steeply carved rock to the slopped land above and wondered what he could see if they were up there.
An amused chuckle came like a warm breeze and White turned back to a smiling Reil. “This is the first time I think I can guess what you were thinking.” He said, ignoring his apprentice’s questioning look. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get to see soon enough.”
The sun was still high when they reached the ravine, its light filled the winding carved path until they came to its end. What awaited them there was a void.
A wall of clean, purest black stood at more than twice the height of the wagon. It was clean, completely devoid of any dust or marks. As White stared into its surface, something seemed to hover just beyond his senses. It wasn’t until the wagon came close to touching it that he was finally able to feel, rather than see, movement underneath the surface. Something stirred then, recoiling at his notice, though the wall remained visually unchanged.
He felt another pulse from Reil, something much stronger than any he had felt that morning, but just as gentle and warm.
Movement again from beneath the surface, but this time a deep bassy hum sounded. The wall split down the middle, its two pieces receding into the rock that surrounded them, and all was silent again.
The first thing White noted was the smell of a village’s worth of baked goods even before he saw the rows of humble buildings. Each was built from piled gray stone topped with sloping red shingles. Cobblestone roads stretched out from the main path down alleys and were lined with stalls, several of which hosted parked carriages and wagons drawn by horses of various sizes, many of which carrying full loads. In the distance, White could see the road stretch far beyond the village, trailing down seemingly endless farmland.
But no business was being conducted, nor was anyone treading the various paths. Instead, the near entirety of the town’s population stood by the gate, their wide eyes locked onto the trio’s carriage from behind two lines of over three dozen armored humans that stood parted from the newly opened entrance. All were clothed in simple but clean clothing, the only exception being the farmers who appeared to have stopped in the middle of their work to be there.
Upon seeing the travelers, they broke into excited cheers with broad smiles and waving hands. The guards who kept their path clear crossed their arms over their chests and gave deep bows.
One set was garbed primarily in black and shades of blue, their gear adorned in cool-colored feathers with spots of white accenting the masterfully crafted metal. Their helms were shaped to resemble various birds of prey with beaked visors that covered their faces.
On the opposing side stood their opposites, a group armored in white and shades of yellow. Etched into their plate were the designs of various beasts, their pauldrons shaped into clawed paws that rested on their shoulders. Their helms were made into the roaring faces of their chosen iconography.
As the carriage rolled forward and the wall closed behind them, Riel waved a hand at the gathered citizens. Many called out “Welcome lord Reil!” and attempted to present him with baskets of various goods, though not one attempted to get closer to the wagon.
The wagon stopped directly between the two lines and the guards rose. One in white armor, a larger human with the helm of a lion, approached the old trapper. As he did, Naroe disembarked and began moving down the crowd, which had closed in behind them, thanking the people for their welcome and graciously accepting what offers he knew his master would be willing to take.
“Lord Reil,” the approaching human began in a growling voice that matched his helm, “it is our honor to welcome you to Roarshire, and back to Lugatea.”
Reil met him with a pleased smile. “Sir Kear, it’s wonderful to see you again, and as a captain no less! You honor us by bringing your troop all the way here as an escort, though I hope we didn’t take you away from anything important.”
The man named Kear shook his head. “No trouble at all my lord. This entrance is still not used often and we wanted to be sure you had as smooth a journey back to the capital as possible. To that end, we’ve prepared a teleport circle for you just outside of the village.” He stopped then, his gleaming visor turning to look at White, who hadn’t moved.
The small dragon had been taking in the sheer joy and excitement he felt from the crowd of humans, but also glancing at each of the armored figures that stood nearby. Those in bright armor exuded a light like that of Reil’s, but the ones in black possessed something similar to what had been inside the wall. A darkness that coated their bodies as comfortably as their armor.
When he noticed the captain’s gaze on him, a duller feeling than what he felt from Reil, he met it with his usual impassive expression. The air between them began to gain that same shimmer as it had when Reil first looked him over and it didn’t take long for the warrior to turn back to his still-smiling senior.
“He’s quite the discovery, isn’t he?” Reil said in way of an explanation.
Kear gave a nod.”I’d say so, though I must admit I’m a little concerned at him being out in the open.”
White, to his confusion, was inclined to agree. But as the excitement in the crowd began to die down, it began to be mixed with some other emotions. Many citizens had already taken note of his presence and openly stared at him in awe and bewilderment, with some beginning to grow a little concerned. White could feel as much the guards as he did their captain, but many of their gazes were also locked onto him. The ones in black were akin to a gentle breeze, while their counterparts were on a level lower than their captain. However, with many staring at once, it felt like his body was split between a hot day and a chilling night.
“Consider it socialization for him,” Reil responded with an optimistic tone. “He’s rather smart too, so Naroe and I would like to keep an eye on him.”
Kear nodded without hesitation. “If that is your judgment, sir, then I’m happy to defer to it.” He turned back to the line of black-clad humans and approached the one at the end whose helm resembled a crow.
Naroe returned after placing several filled baskets into the bed, bringing one filled with still-warm pastries up to the front with him. He pulled out a buttered roll and offered it to his master who accepted it with a thankful nod. After pulling one out for himself, he showed the basket to White. “Want one?”
The small dragon looked inside at the assortment of near-identical treats. Thinking back to how Naroe had handled them, he reached for one at random, taking it in his small hands before sitting up and biting in. There was none of the energy that had been in his previous meals, but it was a wonderful new experience regardless. The warm and fluffy bread was perfectly baked and filled with a sweet cream. Just like that, White almost completely forgot the gazes centered on him.
Naroe stroked the dragon’s head, how pleased he was with White’s enjoyment flowing freely through their link before the captain motioned them forward.
Reil gave another wave and round of thanks to the people, apologizing for needing to be on his way so quickly. They waved back, their eyes still sparkling with the excitement of putting a face to a name they all knew. The wagon pulled forward once more, keeping pace with the two lines of marching guards as they traveled down the main road.
They were deep into the farmland when they finally came to a spot off the side of the now dirt road, where a circle of crystals similar to those in Reil’s parchment but the size of White was waiting for them. It was large enough that the carriage had ample room to park inside.
Both Kear and the crow-faced warrior took up opposite positions on each side of their vehicle, the rest of the troops circling behind them. “We’re posted nearby, so we’ll be parting here,” said the captain.
Reil nodded. “We appreciate the escort and expedited transport captain. I’ll be sure to give my regards to Rain and Graves for your troop’s help when I see them.”
Kear crossed his arms across his chest in salute, giving a slight bow. “Anytime lord. The border has been uneventful, thank the Planes, so we were grateful to have the chance for a change of scenery. Especially in aid of one like you.”
The master smiled at him and nodded before giving thanks to the rest of the troops around them. “Keep your stalwart vigil, Knights of the Order. The kingdom depends on and is grateful for it. I will keep you all in my thoughts, wherever my next task takes me.”
White began to feel power pulse from both warriors beside them and the world around them blurred and bled into a mix of colors. All around them, it began to spin and White heard the soft tones of a flute from beyond the vortex. It was only a few notes, but the fading sound seemed to calm the chaos, and soon the world around them settled into a completely different sight than when it had begun.
They now occupied a space in a clean, silver chamber with high ceilings more than five times the height of the carriage. Scattered around were several counters and tables in the same style as the room itself, each holding various apparatuses that utilized the same crystals White had been seeing since he was found.
Surrounding them were several robed individuals, some holding what looked to be smaller versions of the devices that littered the room. They were garbed in the same style as the black-clad guards from their escort, with several feathers and trinkets decorating their fully covered bodies, but none had the look of warriors. Instead, the only metal on their bodies was in the form of beaked masks that covered their hooded heads.
One wearing the face of a raven stepped forward, giving the same salute and bow Keal had. “Welcome back Lord Reil,” he said before rising and nodding to the younger human, “and to you as well Sir Naroe.” His voice was aged from use but was embedded with a melodic tone that bordered on pompous. Yet it still carried the same respect the captain’s had. “We’ve been anticipating your arrival since we received the news last night.” His beaked hood turned to the dragon sitting between the two new arrivals. “I take it this is him?” As he spoke, his compatriots moved to the back and began unloading the containers from the carriage.
Reil gave him a nod. “It’s good to see you too, Poe. And yes, this is White.”
Poe took another step forward, prompting Reil to hop down from his seat. White didn’t move as the black beak came within inches from his snout, feeling the dark equivalent of Keal’s light wash over him. The chill it gave was almost cautious, it picked across his body inquisitively as if testing him for a reaction. When the small dragon gave it none, it draped over him like a mother’s embrace.
“I see now what you meant when you said you felt nothing at all,” the masked man turned to Reil. “But I’m certain there is something there.”
“I thought as much, but was hoping you would be able to discern more than that.”
Poe put a gloved finger to his beak in thought. “His material makeup is completely alien, though I assume you had guessed that as well. I cannot discern any details in the structure either, but not for lack of sight.”
Reil’s brow furrowed at that. “What do you mean?”
The ebony mask turned back to White. “From my perspective, it’s as if his body is in a state of constant shift. It’s hard to explain and I can’t tell if it’s his natural state or a reaction to my probing. Has he shed any scales or the like that I could examine?”
The older human shook his head. “No, he hasn’t even relieved himself. He does eat, however, so a saliva sample should be possible.”
“And you still intend to keep him with you?”
“At least until His Majesty returns, unless Varen has any objections.”
Poe glanced over at the various containers being hauled out and cataloged by his subordinates, his finger still to his beak. “Well, it’s not like you didn’t bring plenty for me to look at already. Though I hope the lord general will allow me to check in now and again.” He turned back to the trapper. “You’ll find him waiting in the eastern field by The Sanctuary's Heart. But first, I’d like that sample please.”