I awoke there the next morning wrapped in their arms and I enjoyed the embrace. Last night had been revealing, not least of all because no matter what Ruhn did it didn’t seem to have the same effect as Raya did on me. I had come to the conclusion that men were not up to my taste, even a wonderful one like Ruhn. I think he had realized it as well as over the course of the night his attention had drifted to Raya over me. I smiled as I lay in their embrace until they finally awoke.
“Good Morning.” Raya said with a smile.
“Good Morning.” Ruhn said as he sat up and stretched his back.
I heard the distinct sound of a pop as he did so and I pulled the blankets from his side of the bed over to us as he got up and began to get dressed.
“Leaving so soon?” I asked.
“Well, if I head back to the City now I can play last night off simply as ‘Needing to keep the Deal secret’. The Church will still be unhappy but they won’t be as livid as if they knew what actually happened. And I believe Raya has her own schemes to present to you. The Church views her as inferior and cares little if she is around or not so she is a bit more free to move as she wishes. I’ll be heading out soon so you might want to share your scheme Raya.” Ruhn said as he pulled on the last of his clothes.
Raya looked at me as we both pulled the blankets closer around us. I could feel her pressed against me still and I realized how warm she felt, not feverish but… warm. Like even the cold chill of the morning couldn’t touch her.
“Are you feeling well Raya?” I asked.
“Yes? You're so nice and warm…” She said softly as she buried her head against my chest and I realized the heat was coming from me. “I want to go with you to your home. I want to discuss a few things with your mother and you.”
“Things that you don’t want the Church to hear?” I asked.
“Definitely. But we can stay here a few more minutes, right?” She asked as she pulled the blankets over her head.
We ended up staying there more than a few minutes as it was well into the morning before we had a small breakfast of whatever she had grabbed before we left. We emerged from the Estate with her in traveling leathers. I imagined most anyone who did not know she was Queen would never guess, she looked like a particularly well off adventurer more than anything.
I took off from the Estate with her on my back and made my way back towards home in the western mountains. I could feel her giddiness at flying again as I spoke through our mental connection and she kept asking for me to make slight detours so she could see things from the sky. By the time we reached the entrance to the cave it was mid afternoon and she was wide eyed with excitement as we landed.
I shook the soreness out of my wings and opened the doors to find everyone else strewn about the main chamber. Mother and Father were looking over some maps at the table, Tiran had his nose deep in some heavy looking tomes and Irand was doing the same but lying on one of the couches. They all looked up as Raya and I entered the cave and the boys made to rise to their feet before Raya shook her head and waved her hand at them. I saw my brothers exchange nervous glances but they went back to their books. We made our way to the table where Mother and Father waited and the young Queen gave the both of them a small nod as she approached.
“Have a good night?” Mother asked.
I gave her a slightly embarrassed nod and she chuckled before returning her attention to the map. The map showed the valley and they had various game pieces on it and were gesturing at several points. A battle map, something I had seen a handful of times back at the castle.
“We don't know where they are going to be coming from though. It could be either of the canyons. They would have less resistance going through Rushwater Canyon but it's the harder trek, especially with the horses. There is the Basin Fortress but if they caught us unawares they could take it before we even knew they were there.” Father said as he gestured to two spots on the map that had been marked.
“But if they headed through Broken Rock then they would have the benefit of a well traveled trading road to travel upon. They could be here almost a week earlier.” Mother said, rubbing her chin in thought.
“How do you know Military strategy?” Father asked, a bemused look on his face.
“Well I was once the Prince and Heir to a Kingdom. This was something my studies had me learn, though I've never truly made use of the knowledge until now.” She remarked, giving him a smug look.
“Prince? You were a Prince?” Raya squeaked.
The two of them looked at her and Mother smiled.
“I was. It didn't suit me nearly as well as this body does though.”
I could swear Raya was drooling at the thought but she blinked and collected herself. She looked down at the map and pointed to the canyon between the two they were talking about.
“This is where they will be coming from. It's the quickest and easiest way for them to enter our lands.” She said confidently.
“You mean it was.” Mother said with a devilish grin.
Raya tilted her head in confusion.
“She brought down the Canyon only a few days ago. It would take months for them to clear it enough for it to be passable. Thus these two options.”
I looked at Mother and she gave me a smug look. I knew they had said they were going to see if they could slow down the approaching army but this… How much power did she have?
Raya looked as dumbfounded as I did and it took her a moment to collect herself before she spoke.
“Regardless I have come with a few important questions. Ruhn and I have been looking for ways to work against the Church and their overbearing authority. So far everything we have looked into has not been guaranteed to work and or would have them in outright rebellion. If, after this war is finished, we were to work against the Church to limit their influence, would you aid us?” Raya asked, her eyes pleading where her words would not.
The question was mostly directed at Mother but she glanced at me as well. I felt Mother's eyes flick to me and then she pressed against my mind. I opened the connection and she spoke, softly and quietly.
‘What do you believe would be best?’
‘I think the Church not being able to rival the Crown would be good for us. And having the Crown on our side wouldn't be bad either.’
‘Fair points. But what if our involvement causes the Church to retaliate against us?’
‘They will attack, regardless of what we do. They have already proven that.’
‘True. Then you think that the Royals can be trusted?’
‘I do.’
‘Good. You were right. They do seem like Good People.’
She pulled back and looked at Raya.
“Yes I think we would stand with you, Young Queen.” Mother said.
I saw Raya visibly relax when she heard that, as if she had had a dozen arguments to make to try and convince us.
“Thank you.” Raya said with a bow. “My other question would be if you are able to enhance humans at all like the Church can do with their Paladins? It would obviously be best if the Royal Family had Magic to be able to do this on our own but… well generations of service alongside the Church have expunged any Magic either of our bloodlines may have once had.”
Mother closed her eyes in thought for a moment before they snapped open and she placed a hand on Father. He winced for a moment and I saw his armor swell slightly, his face grew less worn and when he opened his eyes there was a fire there that I hadn't seen since he first started training me.
“I can, I do not know if she is capable of this just yet. Temporary Enhancement I can offer to many without taxing myself but a more permanent variety would be a rare thing. It would take significant time and energy to be able to pull off.” Mother said as Father looked himself over.
Raya's shoulders dropped slightly with relief as she heard that and she stood straighter as she spoke.
“Without Naravie able to serve as our Champion due to present circumstances, we would be relying on Tiran to serve in her place. Would you be able to enhance him so that he could match Argan when the challenge inevitably comes?” Raya asked, her eyes pleading.
There was a crash and we all looked over to see Tiran staring at us, fear creeping across his face. Raya was the first to speak.
“I know. I know. After what he did to you… I do not wish to make you face him but you know he will be relying upon your fear of him and see you as a weaker opponent. And with your Status as Knight Captain we cannot refuse to allow you to fight him simply because of present circumstances.” She said methodically, clearly having been practicing this in her head.
“Will you be able to face him if you can challenge him on an even playing field?” Father asked.
Mother and I remained silent but we both kept our eyes on him as he rose to his feet. He strode towards us shakily and I realized just how small he looked. Always it had seemed Tiran was our equal in every aspect but now…. Now he looked so small and that light of fear did not leave his face as he stopped in front of us.
“If I lose to him…” He said his voice shaking as he spoke.
“You are a far better warrior than he. You are among the most capable knights I have ever seen. Standing on an even field with him I have no doubt that you can crush him in a challenge.” Father said as he kept his gaze locked on Tiran.
Tiran took in a deep breath and most of the fear in his face vanished. It did not fully leave his eyes. He nodded to Father and the Old Knight placed his hand on Tiran's shoulder with a smile.
“I know you Tiran. You are stronger than him. Do you believe you are ready to face him? To pay him back for everything he did to you?” Father asked, genuine concern in his eyes.
Tiran was silent for a moment as his gaze fell to the floor. A moment later he looked up to meet Father's eyes and nodded.
“I knew you were strong enough for this. You are my Son after all.” Father said as Tiran rushed forward and wrapped him in a hug.
Father wrapped him in his arms and when they parted Tiran looked a bit shaky but resolved. He looked at Raya and a small smile broke on his face.
“It would be my pleasure to put Argan in his place.” Tiran said, his voice quivering slightly as he said Argan's name.
The Queen nodded and I left her to speak with Tiran and Father while Mother and I walked outside onto the cliff’s edge. We stood on the cliff side and looked out across the valley.
“Sir Greyson is a good man.”
“He is.”
“I wish there were more like him out there. The world would be better for it.” She said, her voice sounding odd.
I looked over to see her eyes wet, not crying but approaching it.
“Whats wrong?”
“When I changed, they acted like they accepted me but he… he did. He doesn’t care as long as you are safe and cared for. It brought back memories of home. Of how I thought things might have been…” She said, her thoughts far away from here.
I leaned against her as we looked out over the valley in silence. After a time the others emerged from the cave and we turned to find them checking their equipment.
“The Queen will be needing to return to the city and her Knight Captain will be needing to go with her. We have much to prepare, as I am sure the two of you do as well.” Father said, nodding to the both of us.
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Mother gave him a nod and the two of us shifted. She carried Father and Irand to the outskirts of the city while I deposited Tiran and Raya at the Palace balcony I had taken off from the day before. The farewells were brief and Tiran pledged that he would keep Ruhn and Raya safe.
Mother and I returned to our home and I landed less gracefully than I had intended. My wings gave out as I aimed down and I rolled tail over snout into the side of the mountain. As I shifted back and collected myself I felt a deep rumble through the stone and looking to Mother I found her struggling to contain laughter.
“I think carrying two people is my limit if I need to fly for any length of time.” I said as I brushed some loose rocks off of my clothes.
“I believe that one is your limit, Hatchling. Two is straining you.” She said as she shifted down next to me.
We entered the cave and I collapsed onto the couch, letting my shoulders stretch out as I let out a sigh of relief. She wandered past and ruffled my hair.
“I'll be back in a few hours, get some rest.” She said as she disappeared through the door leading down to the springs.
If I hadn't been in pain from my wings I might have tried to follow her but as it was I spent the next few hours doing my best to stretch out the aches in my back. I eventually made my way up to my room and stepped into a scalding hot shower. The hot water helped with the pain in my back and when I stepped out of the shower I yelped in surprise as I saw my wings emerging from my back. I inspected them in the mirror and I found them emerging from just below my shoulder blades, a strange mixing of human skin and Dragon scale at their base. I stood there for a few moments flexing them and attempting to lift myself off the ground, which was a little awkward but doable.
By the time I left the bathroom I had managed to pull them back in, they would be useful outside to be sure but inside they were more than a little inconvenient. I was in the middle of preparing food when Mother returned, carrying several pieces of raw metal with her. I finished the meal and brought it over to the table as she laid out ingots and raw metal chunks on the floor next to it.
She looked over at me when I had finished setting out the food. No,not looking at me, studying me. I could see her moving her fingers as she mumbled to herself.
“Coming to eat?” I asked.
“Go ahead. I'll eat once I'm done with this. What manner of weapon are you most comfortable with?” She asked.
“I was trained with a hand and a half sword but I'm also comfortable with a spear.” I said as I dug into the plate.
She nodded and went back to mumbling. I watched her intently as I ate but she seemed entirely absorbed with whatever she was doing and I had cleaned my plate and rinsed it by the time she clapped her hands together and smiled.
“Perfect! Now, you stand here and hold your arms out to the side. This is going to feel odd but I promise it will help.” She said, pointing at a spot just in front of her pile of metal.
I did as she asked and I watched her begin weaving a spell, longer and more complex than anything I had managed. It took a few moments before anything noticeable happened but the metals in front of her began glowing before they flowed like water, mixing together in small streams and flowing up my body. It did indeed feel odd, I could feel the weight of the metal as it crawled up my body and coated it. The heat was beginning to become uncomfortable by the time she dropped her hands, sweat pooling across her body, and smiled.
I looked down to see flawless plate armor coating my body. It was finer than even the armor I had been given as Champion. In the grooves of it glowed runes of red and blue flame. At my feet was an equally flawless sword, A sapphire set into the crossguard and a ruby set in the pommel. I turned the blade over in my hand and looked up at her as she panted.
“I had to brush up on some old theories but I remembered how to do this. It took me a lot of trial and error when I first made some for myself. But you get the perfected version, armor that will mold to your body whichever form you take and it will grow with you. Your body is still soft, your scales can’t protect you fully yet but with this you shouldn’t have to worry over much.” She explained as she slid into one of the chairs at the table.
“Are you okay? Do you need anything?” I asked as she looked pale and her eyes were bloodshot.
“Used a lot of magic to do that. And I hadn’t fully recovered from collapsing that pass. I may act like I’m a bottomless source of magic but breaking an entire canyon, blessing your father and doing this taxed me. Magic has never been a strong suit of mine but its easier to do widespread damage and destruction than fine tuning like that. I’ll be fine in a few days. Just need some rest and plenty of food and I’ll be fine. But we need to talk. We haven’t had much of a chance to speak privately since you hatched.” She said, shaking herself awake and taking a large drink from her mug.
I sat down next to her and she took a few deep breaths before she spoke.
“A few things you need to know in case the worst does happen in the coming days. I have no intention of letting it happen, but neither did my mother.” She said as I began to speak in protest. “ But, the first order of business is that you have an unusual amount of magic flowing through you. I believe it is in part due to the fact that you were drained and I barely managed to get you enough energy to complete the transformation, your body overcompensated for the lack of magic by storing more than is anywhere close to normal for a hatchling of your age. It is a power that many of our kind will covet if they know you have it so keep it hidden from all those except the ones you trust.”
She gave me a hard stare and I gave her a concerned nod in return. She stared for a moment more before she took another drink.
“Secondly, if anything does happen to me and I cannot be present to help you grow, there is one thing I wish to tell you and one I wish to show. I want to tell you that to the Southwest is a Vast Desert and in the center of that Desert is a series of large mountains formed of black stone. A Dragon lives there who will take care of you if you tell him you are my Hatchling. If I fall or I am captured or banished to the Gods know where, go to him. Please. He is a grumpy old Wyrm but he is a good soul and a wise one as well. As for what I wish to show you… let me rest and eat for a few moments. It won’t take long but I need to catch my breath.” She said with a smile.
We sat together at the table as she ate and I mulled over what she had said. I had seen the maps beyond the kingdom’s borders. I knew of the desert she spoke of. Even with a Dragon’s Wings it would take months of travel to arrive there. And I didn’t like her talking about if she fell. It wasn’t going to happen. Not this time. She finished her meal and rose to her feet with a bit more color in her skin and less ragged breathing. She wandered over to the stairs that led down to the springs and made her way down with me trailing behind closely. When we reached the bottom of the stairwell she waved her hand and the wall slid open, revealing stairs that headed even further down. It was illuminated by glowing crystal much like the rest of the cave was and it took several minutes of walking before we reached the base of the stairs and she turned to me.
“I have not shown another person this in my entire time as a Dragon. Ready?” She asked, a nervous smile on her face.
I nodded and she traced a symbol into the stone and it swung open like a pair of grand Palace doors. Inside was a massive cavern easily capable of holding Mother in her true body several times over, illuminated by those same crystals and massive braziers that burned with roaring flames. The cavern was impressive but it was what lay in the center of the chamber that took my attention. A Mountain of gold and gems that stretched dozens of feet into the air and covered almost the entirety of the floor of the cavern. There were other items mixed in, swords, shields, cloth and other items I couldn’t make out from under the gold. The sight of it stirred something in me, not an overpowering thought but…. I wanted it.
We stepped into the cavern together and the door shut behind us. My eyes flicked back and forth between her and the collection and she gave a proud smile.
“Where is all of this from?” I asked when I finally spoke.
“My home. And the nation my father tried to marry me off too. Benefits of being attuned to Earth Magic is that when things get buried I can find them again. And my home was a very wealthy trading kingdom so there was plenty to find. When I do interact with humans this is where I draw my wealth from. Its… difficult to give up pieces of it but it's never more than two or three at a time so I can bear it.” She winced slightly as she spoke of giving up pieces of it.
I felt the same pang of regret that she must have at the thought of giving up pieces of such an impressive hoard of treasures. She gave me a knowing smile as she let out a small laugh.
“It gets easier. When I first gathered it all up…. Well let's just say that there is a reason I became very good at hunting. But the reason I brought you down here is because it's yours.”
“Mine? You can't mean you're giving me all of this.” I said, looking at her like she was mad.
“No no, I meant… if you have need you may take from it. If it is needed. And should something happen to me, it belongs to you. My only Hatchling.” She said, looking out across the Hoard.
I grabbed her arm and squeezed it tight.
“Nothing is happening to you! You're too strong! You're too smart! I don't want to lose anyone but you…” It was suddenly hard to breathe and I stared up at her with pleading eyes as I choked on my words.
She pulled me in close and ran a hand through my hair, scratching her claws against the base of my horns.
“I have no intention of leaving you alone. But if it does happen, I do not want you to struggle like I did. It took me well over a century to truly learn what it meant to be a Dragon. And I had to do it alone. You have your Brothers and your Father but… their lives are fleeting. I have had few among humans that I would call friends and even fewer that I could say I cared for but you… you care for them. And the Royals. And I imagine a handful of others. I don't want to leave you alone to mourn them when they pass but if it means that you would live, I would gladly pass through the veil of the afterlife.” She said, pulling me tighter into the embrace as her voice trembled.
I wrapped my arms around her as I felt her chest shudder as she kept in sobs. I held onto her as I heard her cry as she held her arms around me. When she finally stopped I looked up to see her eyes red and her cheeks were swollen.
“Are you alright?”
“Ye- No. Whenever I look at all of this…” She gestured to the Hoard. “I just see her. Lying there where they killed her. It's never gotten easier and I…. I have no intention of making you suffer like that.”
“Do you think we can protect them?” I asked.
“I believe we can. It will be difficult, I have neglected my ability to fight for centuries now. Raw power will only get one so far. So we train. You will help me remember my training with a blade and I will help you in learning magic and how to fight like a Dragon.” She said with a determined smile.
I nodded and she pulled me in for one last quick embrace before she dragged me out across the hill of gold coins. She showed me a secluded part of the cavern that housed a collection of bookshelves lined with tomes that had been lovingly cared for despite their very clear age. They were tomes on Magic, specifically our kind of magic, and Dragons in general. Apparently Callira Brightscale had been collecting such knowledge long before she passed and when she fell Mother had taken the tomes with her.
She spent the next few hours covering basic things with me. We covered things such as how to care for my new body. I never would have guessed that a Dragon could get sick but here I was being proven wrong and Scaleblight sounded positively awful. Next she covered partial transformations, which was apparently what I had managed to do by accident with my wings. They were not easily maintained, apparently they could exhaust the magical reserves of a Dragon fairly quickly and the fact that I was able to do and maintain it by accident was an oddity.
Finally we began discussing magic. Draconic Magic was different from Mortal Magic in several ways but the main one boiled down to Affinities. Humans each had an affinity for a single elemental Magic and some bloodlines steeped in Magic had two. It was inherited from their parents and allowed the innate use of certain types of magic to be easier.
Dragons however were all born with two affinities. A natural born Dragon had one of each of their parent's affinities. A Hatchling like me had their own Affinity and a secondary one inherited from their scale parent. A Dragon's Affinities were apparent by their scales, in my case my Blue Scales tipped with fiery orange showed a Water Affinity with my secondary being Fire, similar to Mother. Her Blackened Scales were a sign of her Affinity for Earth and the Red tips were a sign of a secondary Fire Affinity.
A Dragon's Affinity didn't make it easier to cast spells of their corresponding element but it did give them an almost innate control of their associated elements. For example pulling a river out of its banks to wield it like a weapon, as I had done against the Church's agents. However my new power and control would be far greater than before I hatched. Mother estimated I could probably pull the Lake next to the Capital from its basin if I wished.
We could still do unaligned Magic, basic enchanting and utility spells, but they had to be learned through the old fashioned way of study. We had it slightly easier because of our innate Magical reserves of power but it was still a process.
A Dragon's secondary Affinity also allowed them to alter their Primary Affinity's element to a degree. Mother could heat or cool rock and stone for instance. We left the cave for me to test my abilities and it was difficult but I managed to heat some water to a boil in the small lake at the base of the cliff. I could manipulate clouds and I found that easier than trying to boil water on my own.
I also found out that while I could breathe underwater with no difficulty Mother could not. She could tunnel and feel the vibrations through earth and stone with her claws but I was an aquatic creature with webbed feet and water lungs.
By the time we finished the sun had dipped below the horizon and I had had quite enough of magic for the day. My arms ached and I felt drained, apparently a sign of dwindling magical reserves. I ate a light dinner and collapsed into my bed.
I awoke to knocking on my door and a pressing weight on my body.
“Naravie? You need to eat. It's almost noon and sleep alone won't restore your strength.” Mother said as I heard her footsteps heading down the stairs.
I crawled out of my bed and half stumbled my way down the steps. This was awful. My head felt like it was a lead ball on my shoulders, my arms felt they had cracked open while my legs felt like someone had strapped weights to them. I reached the main room to find a selection of foods laid out on the table.
“I know how it feels. Like it takes all your strength just to stand. Eat. It will help, I promise.” She said as she placed a hand on my shoulder and took a seat next to me.
It felt like a massive effort but I managed to slowly clear the plate in front of me and by the time I had, the pressing weight over my body had lifted if only slightly. I don't know when I fell asleep but when I awoke I was still seated at the table, my head leaning against Mother's shoulder. I sat up and tried to wipe the sleep from my eyes and shake the exhaustion out of the rest of my body.
“Feeling better?” She asked as she closed a book she had been reading.
“Much.”
It was true most of the pressure across my body was gone and I no longer ached. My mind was still somewhat foggy but I blinked up at her as I yawned.
“You have felt it twice now, your reserves dwindling and running low. Once as a Human and now again as a Dragon. You must be mindful of your strength and see that you do not burn it too quickly. It is why many of our kind rely so heavily on their claws, teeth and tails, because we can fall back upon our magic if pressed. But if you expend your Magic early then you are left defenseless. So you must be mindful, I know how intoxicating that power can feel. How unstoppable it can make you feel. But even a Dragon has their limits. If you expend your reserves then your body will force itself into Slumber. I do not mean sleep, Slumber is a state our bodies enter into when we reach exhaustion and we do not have food to replenish ourselves. It is a deeper sleep that can last for decades or centuries without outside intervention. Until your body has generated enough magic to empower your body again.” She explained running her claws through my hair.
I nodded as I looked up at her again. There was concern in her eyes, she wanted to make sure I understood it.
“I understand. How do I tell when I'm reaching my limit? Both times it just felt like I had unlimited magic and then it was suddenly gone.”
“It takes time to learn, testing one's limits and toying with your power to figure out where it ends. Just promise that you will not rely on your magic.”
“I promise.”
She watched me for a moment before she nodded and picked at her food.
“Tomorrow we will train with blades. Do not judge my form, it has been centuries since I handled a sword.” She said with a slight smile on her face.
I laughed a bit at that and we said little the rest of the meal. I helped her clean the dishes and then stumbled my way back to my room and collapsed into my bed.