The three of us left the Estate and wandered into the afternoon light of the quiet square. I don’t think any of us had a plan besides leaving Mother and Father to have the Estate to themselves. As we wandered out I smiled and breathed in the slight afternoon breeze. I looked at my Brothers and smiled.

“Well, I think we need to be away for the afternoon.”

“Definitely. If it's anything like when we were waiting for you to Hatch… Well lets just say we got familiar with the Mountain during those days.” Irand said with a grin.

“I think a drink to pass the time wouldn’t go amiss. The Goblets open this time of day, pass a few hours and turn in for the night?” Tiran asked, practically dancing with nervous energy.

I nodded and Irand shrugged and we set out, The Gilded Goblet was a large Tavern situated in the center of the Market Square and it was always the busiest establishment in town, everything just tasted better there and the staff were always friendly to everyone. It had been common for the three of us to head there at least once a week and waste away an evening over food and drink after a long day of training.

When we arrived there was a small crowd of people inside, gathered around tables where games of dice were set up. With my new hearing I could catch pieces of people's conversations and nearly all of them led back to the approaching conflict. They were worried. Most people didn’t have the coin to pack up their lives and flee, and those who did were too established to consider leaving everything behind. I shut out their talks as the three of us made our way to the bar and hopped onto the stools. Gaty the Owner was behind the bar and smiled as he looked at us.

“Ah, the Greyson boys and… Company. I assume you are the Dragon who was the center of the all the Nobles Gossip last week?” He asked, pouring a mead for Irand and a glass of Wine for Tiran.

“Indeed.” I replied, gesturing to my horns.

“Well good on you for caving in Argan’s chest piece, bastard had it coming. Now ma’am what can I get you?” Gaty asked.

“Do you have any Brackberry Mead?” I asked, looking over at Irand as he drank his.

“Of Cou-” He had turned around and was reaching for an upper shelf when he stopped and looked towards me.

“I have only ever had one person request that drink…. Do I still have only one person who has requested that drink?” Gaty asked.

“Well no one else likes how sickly sweet it is. Can’t let it go out of fashion just because I wasn’t around for a few weeks.” I said, feeling my heart racing as Gaty smiled and chuckled as he grabbed the bottle off the shelf.

“Ah, so Tiran’s hunch was right. What finally tipped you off?” He asked.

I glared over at Tiran who shrugged as he sipped his wine. Gaty gave me a confused look as he poured the mead in front of me.

“I drank Dragon's Blood and got stabbed by someone I trusted. And a few conversations with someone like me.” I grumbled as I took the mug and took a deep drink.

“Ah so I was right, that Dragoness was like you. She always seemed angry and Withdrawn so I never tried approaching her.” Gaty said with a smile.

I gave him a confused look as he chuckled to himself and he gave me the most mischievous smile I had ever seen.

“What? Tiran didn't tell you about me? Tir I'm hurt. You didn't tell them who took away your beautiful tits?” Gaty said with a playful glance towards Tiran.

Irand had been halfway through a gulp and he choked as he let out a laugh. O cast a nervous glance towards the crowd of gamblers but to my surprise I couldn't hear them anymore even though they were only twenty or so feet away. Gaty must have noticed my look.

“Don't worry about them, they won't hear our conversation.”

“You were the one who helped Tiran?” Irand asked, clearly perplexed by the idea.

“He was, or rather they were. Do you want to show them your Oh so fun trick Gaty?” Tiran asked as he drained his cup.

Gaty laughed and nodded. He reached a hand up behind his back and pulled a string loose and his chest expanded or rather her chest did. Pulling at the bun where her hair was held it fell around her shoulders in a beautiful cascade of Black locks. She waved her hand and her clothes shifted from the Tavernkeep's suit to a simple dress and apron. She smiled at Irand and I's shocked faces.

“Well Miss Greyson, I didn't expect you to be so surprised. I am the Witch Gatrel, part time Tavernkeep and part time Witch. All times trickster.” She said with a playful smile.

“How the Hells do you hide those under your shirt?” Tiran growled into his cup as he blushed slightly.

“A bit of magic and very creative binding. I could have showed you how, just imagine someone is arguing with you and them boom, suddenly you have massive tits.” She said with a laugh.

“It would be amusing but I prefer having pecs instead.” Tiran laughed.

“Mmm that is fair. You have very nice pecs. Half the ladies in town fawn over you, you know. I know more than a few who would have no problem with the… equipment you have either.” Gaty said as she waved her hand and an illusory duplicate of herself walked out from behind the bar and began checking in with the other patrons.

“I appreciate the offer Gaty but the answer is still no. Besides, I might have a solution to that problem.” Tiran said, glancing over towards me.

“Oh?” Gaty asked as she tilted her head.

“My Mother knows a Dragon who might take him in.” I explained.

“Oh? Well you will make a very handsome Dragon Tiran. You already have the eyes for it.” Gaty said, propping her head up on her elbows as she stared at Tiran.

Tiran’s face went very red as he did his best to ignore her. I cleared my throat and her attention shifted to me.

“So Gaty, if you are a woman why hide that?” I asked, curious about it.

“Well for one, I’m not a Woman. Not a Man Either. Sometimes I feel like one or the other, Others I feel like none at all and still other times its both. No one save those I take to bed now what I’m packing and its going to stay that way. If you must address me, you can simply refer to me as a They.” They said with that same playful smile.

I nodded and their smile faded for a moment before they spoke.

“So, can I assume that the one who stabbed you was none other than Lady Tarand?” They asked.

My face immediatley turned sour and Irand spoke up.

“I wouldn’t press her on that Gaty.”

“Well I ask not out of my usual nosey nature but because I worry for her health. Shes been in here everyday since she returned to the city drinking enough to drop half a dozen knights. Hells, I’ve seen Ogres who had less of an issue with Alcohol.” Gaty said as they straightened up.

I scoffed as I took a large drink of my mead. Gaty's eyes did not leave me as I did my best to ignore them.

“What do I care if she turns to drink? She tried to kill me.” I growled, not looking up at them.

“Ma'am. She was your best friend for damn near two decades. I doubt you could truly ignore her drinking herself half to death. She's over in the Corner booth. I'll give you two privacy to talk whenever you decide to head over there.” Gaty said as they stepped away from the counter and started organizing bottles on the shelf.

I cast a sidelong glance at Tiran and Irand before I reached towards them with my mind.

‘Thoughts?’

‘Gaty isn't wrong. She was your friend. You loved her.’ Tiran said.

‘And she stabbed me. Twice. And was going on and on about how she always hated me.’

‘If you would rather she die of drink then we won't stop you.’ Irand said as he finished his drink, rose and wandered over to the gambling crowd.

Tiran said nothing further as he did the same, leaving a handful of coin on the bar counter that Gaty quickly swept into their pocket without so much as a glance at me.

I let out a Hiss-Crack as I rose from the bar and began walking towards the booth Gaty had mentioned.

I smelled her long before I actually saw her. I noticed it from the scent her perfume mixed with Brackberry Mead. She was slumped in the booth with her head barely visible over the table, though said table had about eight bottles on it in various states of empty. I stood there for a moment glaring before she looked up and spoke to me.

“Ah, the Dragon. Come to slay me?” She asked, slurring her words as she grimaced.

“Why would you be worthy of my attention, human?” I growled.

“Because I killed my best friend. The Knight you carried away. Killed him with my own two hands.” She said, looking down at her hands with sneering revulsion.

I blinked back my surprise. She couldn't really believe she had killed me? I suppose from her perspective they had been fatal wounds, or at least the gut wound had been. I said nothing but sipped my mead and watched as she tried to sit up straight in the seat.

“So have you come to get revenge for his life? I won't stop you.” She said with her eyes downcast.

I felt anger flaring in my mind, she had tried to kill me and now she was just giving up? Pathetic.

“You killed him for your church didn't you? Why do you mourn so?” My anger was barely concealed beneath the words and she refused to look at me.

“Because I was doing what I had been told, as I always had. I was being the loyal little servant I had been raised to be. But when I saw that Dragon carrying him away, his blood staining my fingers… I… I realized what I had done. He was indeed my best friend. And I killed him at the request of people who couldn't care less about me.” She waved the bottle back and forth in front of her before taking another drink. “I killed him, My best friend, just so I could return home not to praise or a reward, but my Father ordering me to be wed to a monstrous man so he could have noble standing.”

I looked at her hands and there was indeed a ring on her left ring finger, simple and plain. I felt my Blood boiling as I spoke.

“You took another as your betrothed before your former was even cold? Are you that Heartless, Human?!” I hissed as she finally looked up at me, a fire of defiance smoldering in her eyes.

“You think I wished to? I wanted to request that I choose my own spouse as a reward for what they made me do! I wanted to be free! And instead they put this damn ring on my hand and said I was wed to Argan upon the day of my return! There was no celebration, there was no reward, I was simply told that all I was good for was bearing his Children.” She rose from her seat and stood on shaky feet to meet my gaze. “Do not speak to me of being Heartless, Dragon. I wanted to be free to pursue my heart for one Godsdamned time in my life but even that chance was taken from me! Now I live or die knowing that I killed Siran for worse than nothing. One of the best Men I have ever met is dead by my hands because of a Nobleman’s disgusting Lust for Power!”

I staggered back as she spoke. She hadn’t loved me. Some part of me had prayed that maybe she had been lying that day she had betrayed me.

“You truly never loved him?” I asked, fighting back tears. “He… He told me stories of how much he loved you. Of how much he cared for you. He was so excited to see you once again in Riverstone.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

She fell back into the booth, that fire in her eyes gone and replaced with a dull unfocused stare.

“No, No I didn’t love him. Not like he loved me.”

I felt my heart breaking all over again hearing her say that here, in the calm and quiet mood of the Tavern.

“I couldn’t. I tried. And tried. And tried. But no matter what I did I couldn’t. Before my Father had ordered me to kill him I… I thought that perhaps maybe we could come to an agreement…” She trailed off as she brought the bottle to her lips.

“Agreement? Of What nature?” I asked.

She looked up at me with broken eyes and I could see the sorrow there. She truly thought she had killed me. She was empty now.

“I… Siran could not give me what I needed. He could not give me Pleasure. Not for failings on his part mind but I… do not enjoy the company of Men. I’ve known that since I was quite young but it has become more apparent since I first laid with Siran. When my Father ordered me to seduce him. I thought that perhaps we could satisfy the barest conditions of our marriage and he might let me… indulge myself outside of our Union. But then my Father ordered his death and I could not refuse. I had hoped you and yours would do the deed and then maybe I could rationalize it away to myself but… no. This is my burden to bear and I cannot. This will be the death of me, of House Tarand. My Father will not have an heir by blood if I can help it.” She muttered as she put another of the bottles to her lips.

I placed my hand on the bottle and kept her from tipping it back. She looked up at me with no fear in her eyes, merely grim acceptance. I reached towards her mind with my own and found not an open one as I had when I reached out to her in Riverstone but a solid Fortress gate. Her mind was steel and she refused to budge, even intoxicated as she was. Her eyes narrowed as I poked and prodded.

“I may not be versed in Magic, Dragon, but since he showed me this I have taken every step to defend myself.” She growled.

“Why?”

“Because I will not have the sanctity of my mind warped by those blasted priests at the Temple. I've seen how their incenses affect those who visit. And I will not be a complicit pawn in their schemes. If I'm going to die then I will do so of sound mind and Iron Will.” She said as I felt those unshakeable defenses coil around me.

It was like the world was pressing in around me and I realized what she was doing, it was similar to the paralysis I could inflict on prey. But not quite enough.

I focused my mind into a sharpened point and lashed out at her defenses. It took only a moment and I was through, diving deeper and deeper into her thoughts. There was something Mother had showed me could be done with Telepathy and I aimed to try it.

I reached the ‘Bottom’ of her thoughts and my mental vision was overtaken by a churning sea of Black Waves coursing around me. I saw her a short distance away, huddled down as the waves crashed down on her, soaking her to the bone and pulling her ever deeper into her own despair. The waves were her own thoughts and her own feelings. I could see memories of our childhood together among the waves, playing together within the city squares and Gardens. Running between the buildings with reckless abandon. Sharing whatever treats we managed to find with one another. My heart ached at the sight of them.

I ran forward on the waves as I felt her mind pursuing me, attempting to cast me out from her thoughts. It was like running through mud, with each step pulling my steps down and down. Every time I sank deeper and deeper into her thoughts and I could feel her regret and self loathing, her hatred towards herself and those who had forced her into this.

It was no easy thing to hold off her defenses from dragging me out while staying above the muck and mire of her mind but after a few moments of trudging along I reached her inner self and I gripped her shoulders, claws digging into the flesh to get her attention. Her inner self, eyes dark with exhaustion and soaked through with Despair and Regret, looked up at me with an almost Pleading. She wanted me to finish her. I shook my head with a smile.

“Hello Love.” I said, pulling at the last connection to my old self and using his voice to speak to her.

Her eyes widened and she looked up at me with hope.

“Siran?” She whispered.

“Not Siran anymore but I was once him.” I said with a smile as I saw the black waves that had been drowning her calm to mere swells in the water.

She looked me over as if she were seeing me for the first time.

“Wha… How?”

“Well as I was trying to explain before someone stabbed me, Drinking Dragon's Blood turns you into a Dragon but it also forces your body to take on many of the Dragon's own traits. Such as matching their sex.” I said with a bemused chuckle.

Sophia stared at me with something akin to awe for a moment before shutting her mouth and I saw the black waves begin churning once more.

“I still stabbed you. I tried to kill you.”

“If you are willing to move past it then I am as well. I don't want to hold it over you, not knowing it was your Father who ordered it.”

She was still and silent for a moment before she nodded, eyes welling with tears. I pulled her close as I wrapped my arms around her. I could feel her shuddering with quiet sobs as I held her there. Eventually she broke the embrace and I gave her my best toothy smile. She gave me a small grin in return.

“It suits you. You look… quite beautiful.” She said, her face flushing slightly as she spoke the words.

I gave her a shy look, feeling my face grow warm. I leaned in close, feeling her mind open up around us as my own thoughts crashed against hers. The Dark Waters were washed away by brilliant Cerulean Blue waves and we were left standing upon a still sea as smooth as glass. I looked around at the calm before returning my gaze to her face.

“No more thoughts of Death and Darkness, alright? I don’t want to lose you.” I said as I saw thoughts flicker through her mind in rapid succession.

I didn’t have more than a moment to react before she leaned in close and pressed her lips to mine. I tried to step back but she pulled me into her, gentle and soft. I returned the Kiss as I cradled her face in my hands. When we broke the contact I gave her my best smile even as my face grew warm and my mind raced. She let out a small laugh as she watched me.

“Well Lady Greyson, I must say I prefer this side of you. Quite cute and dare I say that someone taught you how to kiss since last we were together?” She said with more barely contained laughter.

“Oh I uh, I had a pair of people who gave me some lessons.”

“A pair? You were only gone for a few weeks and you already found someone to be that close with?”

“It was um… It was apparently quite a while in the making. They had eyes on me before I changed. But once they saw me like this they wanted me to be with them… much more directly.” I said, still flustered remembering that evening with Raya and Ruhn.

“Oh? They must have been quite special for you to agree so quickly.”

“I um… they were. They also made me realize that I don't care for laying with men.” I squeaked.

Sophia blinked a few times as she processed what I said and gave me a look.

“So you're saying you only prefer women?” She asked.

I nodded.

“I assume then that these two were simply a one time trial.”

I nodded again.

“So you haven't found anyone?”

I paused before shaking my head.

“Well, I found someone who likes me but I haven't spoken to them since the first time we met. But she knows who I am and who I was and… she seems nice.” I said, staring down at the mental water below our feet as my face went bright red.

I didn't look up until she placed her hands on my shoulders and pulled me into a hug.

“I'm glad you found someone. You deserve someone who will support you.” She whispered in my ear.

“But what about you?” I whispered back.

“I'm a lost cause I'm afraid.”

I pulled away from her embrace and looked up into her eyes with every bit of pleading I could muster.

“No you aren't! Just tell me what's wrong and I will help! I'm stronger now! I can help! Whatever you need!” I cried.

“Not with this I'm afraid.” She said as she pushed me backward and I was ejected from her mind back into the waking world.

She set the bottle down and looked up at me with regretful eyes as she held up her left hand.

“My Wedding ring. Cursed to bind me to Argan. If I don't return to him every so often the magic in this ring will kill me. Removing it is suicide.” She said sadly.

My mind raced trying to remember what Mother had told me of curses but it had been shallow and uninformative. I gritted my teeth before I cast my mind towards the Bar and found Gaty's mind.

‘Hey Kid. What's up?’

‘Can you break Curses?’

They were silent for a moment.

‘Depends on the Curse. I can break most anything but it depends on how strong it is and how long we have to break it.’

‘Sophia has a ring that binds her to Argan. What do you think?’

Another long pause.

‘I'd need to see it. Bring her to the back room if she's willing. I'll grab your brothers.’ They said as I watched them disappear through a door behind the bar.

“What if I know someone who could help you remove it?” I asked.

She perked up, with a bit of light reflecting in her eyes. She gave a brief nod and I motioned towards the door behind the Bar. We waited until the gambler crowd wasn't looking and then snuck our way over to the door and slipped inside, a more difficult activity than I thought due to Sophia having drank eight bottles of Mead already.

It wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a small back room, not a room large enough to accommodate my true form five times over. It was brightly lit and filled with colorful rugs and tapestries. Hazy incense drifted through the air and we could see Gaty riding a ladder around the perimeter of the room grabbing various objects from jars and dishes on the shelves that I could see made up the Walls. They stretched high enough that if I had been in my Draconic Body I would have to fly to reach the top. The room was a slightly oblong circle and I turned back to see the door we had entered through simply hovered in the air, not attached to any form of wall.

Sophia's eyes were wide as she looked around at the magical space. We were still standing in the entryway a few moments later when Irand and Tiran slipped through the door and ran into us.

We made room for them as Gaty approached us with a smile on their face.

“Welcome to my Sanctum! Tell anyone it's here without my permission and I can and will curse you!” They said without their smile fading.

The four of us nodded. I glanced behind me to see Tiran and Irand glaring at the back of Sophia's head and Sophia was making a great effort to ignore them. Gaty gave the two of them a look as they approached Sophia.

“So where is this Curse?”

Sophia held up her hand with the Ring upon it. Gaty begin mixing the items they had collected in a bowl and it was quiet for a moment before they held it beneath their face and inhaled deeply. Their eyes took on an ethereal glow and they began looking over the ring and turning Sophia's hand over and splaying her fingers to view each side of it. Eventually they stopped and let out a sigh.

“See this is why I hate Church Magic. They are really really good at making very specific kinds of magic.” Gaty growled.

“So you can't break it?” Sophia asked, her shoulders slumping.

“I didn't say that. I can break it but you're not going to like the time frame. Twenty years, give or take, of weakening it before it would not lash back at you with permanent results.” Gaty said with a sad smile as Irand whistled.

“Twenty years…?”

I had never seen so many emotions rush through her eyes as I did at that moment. Grief, fear, anger and finally, Hope. It was faint but there was a light in her eyes when she spoke again.

“Could we start now?”

“We could, its just a small mixture. I could give it to you in weekly doses. Swing by, play the part of the Drunkard and I can slip you some more of what you need.” Gaty said as their eyes scanned a shelf of jars and pots.

Sophia nodded and Gaty launched into a blur of motion as they grabbed a handful of ingredients and began grinding them in a mortar. We all stood there for a few moments looking at one another as we waited on Gaty to finish. Tiran and Irand were watching Sophia closely but they didn't seem to have the anger at her that they had held earlier.

When Gaty returned they held up a small bottle barely larger than their palm. It was clear and filled with a cloudy gray liquid.

“Now then, three to four drops of this on the ring every day. It's going to make you tired afterwards so I recommend it during your evening washing. Whenever you run out, bring it back and I'll make some more.” They said as they handed the bottle to Sophia.

She nodded and slipped the bottle into a pocket before quietly thanking Gaty. I saw her brush away a few tears before she turned to us.

“Well then, I think I had better make my way back. Else Argan will be sending guards to collect me.” Sophia sighed with a slump to her shoulders.

“I could walk you back, at least most of the way.” I offered quickly and I think I heard Tiran smothering a laugh behind me.

Sophia gave me a warm smile and we left the Goblet with our hoods up and sneaking along the back alleys of the city. It was approaching dinner and most of the streets were empty as we darted between the buildings. We said little until we were a block or so from her Family's estate and we stopped in an alleyway made dark by the setting sun.

“Well here we are Lady Tarand, home safe and sound.” I said, imitating how I had bid her good night in the past.

“Well Lady Greyson, I believe such a noble escort deserves fitting payment.” She said with a small laugh.

“Oh you don't need t-” I was interrupted as she cupped my chin with her hand and pressed her lips to mine.

I let the kiss carry my mind away as she pressed my back to the wall and ran a hand down my side, tracing a finger in small circles at my waist. She broke the kiss and worked her way down my neck while her hand was getting agonizingly close to my… parts. Just before she reached anything in truth she pulled away, panting and smiling at me.

“Well I think that should suffice.” She said with a flustered smile before she hurriedly turned to leave.

I grabbed her hand, lightly, and pulled just gently enough to get her to stop.

“No.” I whimpered, Mother would have a fit if she heard me sounding so pathetic so… Desperate.

She looked sad as she walked back towards me. She pulled my hood up and I stared up at her with such longing.

“Lady Greyson… we cannot. Perhaps once I am free, and if your new friend has not claimed you for her own. But for now we cannot. No matter how adorable that face is.” She said, brushing her thumb against my cheek.

I wrapped my arms around her in a hug and buried my face in her chest. I felt her return the gesture and she ran her fingers through my hair with a small laugh.

“You really are beautiful. I cannot begin to apologize for what I did to you. I can never make amends for that mistake. But I hope that at some point in the future you can count me among your friends once more.” She whispered to me.

“You already are.”

Her hands froze and I reached out with my mind.

‘This must not be shared but…’ I trailed off as I second guessed my decision for a moment. ‘... My name is Naravie.’

‘Nuh-Rah-Vee… It is a beautiful name. I will guard it with my life.’ She responded within my mind.

I could feel her conviction and as we broke our embrace I smiled up at her.

“Stay well, Lady Tarand.” I said with a curtsy.

“And you as well, Lady Greyson.” She smiled as she returned the gesture.

As she left the alley towards her estate I scrambled up the side of the nearby building and watched to make sure she made it inside Safely before I leapt from the rooftop and spread my wings, my heart happier than it had ever been. Now on to my Brother's Duel.