Pen’s classes had been going well. So well, in fact, that Valor and Waver were a little bit terrified.
It made Valor wonder if any dragons had run this ruse before. No, it made them wonder if any of Pen’s ancestors had run this ruse before. She went about it with all the smoothness and confidence of an expert, it sounded like, so they wondered if she had the knowledge of infiltration in her banks. Even if she did, it wasn’t like they could ask her.
Regardless, neither of them could deny that she was a truly talented child. Not only could she talk, but she was incredibly cunning and charming. Valor was unsure what future could await a dragon who could talk to humans. She didn’t fit into the world as it was.
No, that wasn’t right. Her existence would probably force the world to change altogether, eventually.
One day, soon after Waver and Pen returned home from school, Waver’s childhood friend visited once more, and Valor was finally forced to put their plan into action.
“Oh!” Ori of Weave exclaimed, seeing the baby dragon out of her cage. “You have a new friend! A baize? She’s so cute!”
Waver quickly picked Pentwec up off of the floor, cradling her in his arms, and walked over to Ori. He caught Valor’s eye, and they both nodded at each other.
“Ori,” Waver said. “Valor wants you to make a binding oath. We promise you will love the terms, but we can’t tell you your end until you swear to this little one with your blood that you won’t divulge dragon secrets to humans. Do you trust us?”
Ori blinked. A smile slowly spread across her face.
“Blood oaths? How exciting! And if this means what I think it means, I could hardly want more.”
Wasting no time, Waver guided Ori through the process. He used a sharp knife and cut Pentwec’s scales just between her knee and foreclaws, directing Ori to wipe the baby dragon’s blood with a finger, and place it on her tongue. She cringed at the taste of stone blood, but did so regardless. Then, she cut her own finger, and placed it for the baize to lap up delicately, like a bat might.
“I swear,” she said, solemnly, “that I will never reveal dragon secrets to humans.” Her eyes glittered in anticipation, then widened when Pentwec spoke up.
“I swear that, when in Ori’s presence and not the presence of other humans, I will translate dragon words for her to the best of my ability.”
Wasting no time, Valor offered their open mouth in turn to both the dragon and the baffled noblewoman, who gingerly allowed Valor to lick her finger clean at Waver’s signal. At Pentwec’s turn, she chittered madly as Valor instead licked her all over like the hatchling she was.
“...this counts as a dragon secret, doesn’t it?” Ori said, with a hint of forlorn but a whole lot of excitement.
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“We can’t have you take care of her entirely,” Waver explained. “Because her mother put her in our care, and we’ve been... letting her audit classes in town, I guess.” Waver elaborated on their arrangement with the schoolhouse.
“Oh, my. That’s quite a bold plan,” Ori said, feigning scandalized. Just from looking at her, Valor could see her mind working.
Oh, she fully understands what this means for Pen’s future, doesn’t she? And she wants it. It excites her.
Ori’s eyes widened again. “Oh, it’s amazing to hear what sorts of things you say, Valor. Waver always refused to translate, but you’re a fantastic conversation partner, aren’t you?”
“...I don’t deserve them,” Waver admitted, causing Valor to shove him with their snout. “Anyway, when it isn’t a school day, we think we can trust you to take Pentwec -- that’s the name her mother gave her -- to the castle, or wherever, as long as you bring her back in the evening. That should help you satisfy some of your curiosity, and, um...”
Valor knew Waver was withholding the rest of the sentence for the sake of Ori’s pride. “And keep you company,” they knew he meant to say.
Ori had always been something of a bubbly child, but being the only daughter of the dux, she only ever had servants and teachers. Not a single friend, or ally, except for the youngest son of her father’s most dependable knight -- in other words, Waver. The older boy was her only friend. When Waver was ousted from the petty nobility, even as Ori felt sorry for Waver and resented his mother, she must have felt betrayed by Waver’s lack of resistance, Valor thought. She must have felt like her only friend had abandoned her.
No mere sense of justice or desire to meddle would explain how often the girl had ventured into dirty streets and stinking barns just to visit the two of them.
Valor didn’t entirely sympathize with her. For a member of the upper provincial nobility to impose herself so often on a struggling young commoner, Valor thought she was being awfully thoughtless. She would probably never understand Waver’s terror at the idea of being discovered by his family, or persecuted by the dux, as a result of Ori’s expeditions.
But most likely, they thought, Waver had never changed in her mind. To her, he was still at least a military noble, just immersed in his projects and interests and in slightly dire financial straits. She probably never saw, or never wanted to see, that he was already well beyond her reach. Below her reach.
And now that her belief in Waver’s ability was actually, truly vindicated... Valor would see her true mettle.
As Ori kept up the conversation with Waver and Pentwec, they could see in her eyes that she was thinking seriously. As excited as she may have been to be a part of Waver’s life again, Valor knew that she wasn’t so shallow that she couldn’t see the larger implications. Now that she knew -- truly knew -- that dragons had language and intelligence, she was forced to take a position. She was forced to consider what she would do about it, when she came to power, and what that would cost.
Valor thought that by denying his abilities, Waver was trying to coddle her, even if he didn’t know it. He had been protecting her from having to choose.
Ori flashed a bright smile at Valor after Pentwec translated. “You have good eyes, Valor. Indeed, I’ve learned much, and I have much to think about. Pentwec, I’ll get in touch soon so we can decide when we can play. Waver...” She hesitated.
“I’ll see you soon,” Waver said gently.
“Yes. Soon. Please take care of him, Valor.” Her smile this time was less diplomatic and more plaintative. She gave a graceful curtsy and twirled on the spot, beginning her long walk into town.
With their guest gone, Waver and Valor both collapsed into their nest. Valor spread their wings out for Waver to rest under, and covered their snout with their tail. Waver graciously took them up on their tacit offer, staring up at the ceiling of the ranch with his hands behind his head. Pentwec clung to the walls with her claws and stared down at them, her own long, furry tail drooping with gravity.
she declared.