Sir Tiran Greyson

  I watched as Ereneya quietly fumed. Her eyes were flicking to each of the three other Dragons. I had seen them mend Odessa’s leg and the salve they were using looked similar to that which Gatty had used the first time we had met. The smell stung my nose and I didn't have a doubt what it was. The Leader, Heskari, eventually seemed satisfied with Naravie’s wounds and walked over to us.

  She was impressive, even in her human form, her arm was thick with Muscle and her eye seemed to see right through me. Her remaining eye was a pale green like leaves just before fall. She was taller than I or Ereneya and I had no doubt that if she wished us harm there was little any of us would be able to do.

  The other two Dragons were both much less intimidating. I had seen the one who attacked Naravie and she seemed… unrefined. Her approach was to use raw power and nothing else. True she had quite a bit of raw power and she looked like she could throw me around with little effort but that had been true of many opponents I had fought.

  The other looked delicate in comparison to her sister. In her Draconic form it had been hard to tell but in her human body I could see the scars on her neck. They were deep and I could see the signs of wounds that would never fully heal. She was lean, similar in build to Naravie nowadays, and her blonde hair fell down past her waist in a gentle cascade. If I had to fight either of them I would absolutely choose the brute, the lean one made my hair stand on end with just the way she cast her eyes about the room.

  As the three of them exited the infirmary I saw Naravie curled up next to Odessa’s cot, already sound asleep. She had mentioned seeing the lean one’s mind to Ereneya but… well I loved my sister but she could be a bit too trusting sometimes. I cast my eyes to Heskari as she spoke.

  “They will need a few days to recover. Wings are not a rush job and the human girl needs rest for the mending of the bone to take. We have rooms for you to stay within, I assume you would like shared quarters?” She asked, casting a bemused glance at each of us in turn.

  Ereneya said nothing and Irand took a step forward.

  “That would be wonderful. We thank you for the hospitality and the aiding of my sister and her lover.” He said with a slight bow, genuine thanks coming off the words.

  “Of course. It was our mistake to have attacked, it is only right we correct our errors.” She said, nodding to him with a smile.

  Heskari led us through the halls, all of them lined with windows of multicolored glass. Ereneya was growling something to Irand but I focused on those in front of us. Heskari had positioned herself between the three of us and the other two. I had no doubt that even if Ereneya and I fought her together we would lose. Just being this close to her made bells ring through my mind. She didn’t seem to mind our presence overall but I still wasn’t convinced we were safe yet.

  Eventually we stopped in front of a pair of large doors, both half carved with patterns. Heskari gestured for us to enter and I pushed through them while Ereneya and Irand lingered behind. It was a room large enough to accommodate a Dragon, even one of Heskari’s size, furnished with a collection of Furniture that all seemed to be made from different materials and in different styles. The far wall was one massive stained glass mural, depicting four dragons. Heskari, Alvina and the other were easy to pick out but the fourth was smaller and turned to face outward. I looked back to see the two smaller dragonesses staring at the mural with tears in their eyes. I stepped aside as Ereneya and Irand were ushered in.

  “These are our guest quarters. If you follow the hallway to the right and do not deviate from it you will come to the exit where you can take off and land. If either of you young men wishes to leave without her you may simply ask me. One of us will be bye to fetch you all when the Evening meal is ready.” Heskari said, her voice rough but I noticed it caught when her eye drifted up to the stained glass behind us.

  Irand and I nodded in thanks and Ereneya begrudgingly did as well. The three of them left and we waited a moment after the door had closed before I felt Ereneya pressing against my mind.

  ‘I do not trust them.’ She growled, still eyeing the door.

  ‘The have Odessa and Naravie under their care right now. It doesn’t matter if you trust them or not, we cannot afford to anger them.’ Irand responded, unblinking as Ereneya glared at him.

  ‘The Brute is the least dangerous among them. Heskari is stronger than you and the lean one, Alvina, is… unsettling.’ I offered and both of them looked at me.

  ‘The Brute is the least dangerous? What are you talking about, did you not see what she did to Naravie? Alvina is most likely a competent mage but those scars make me think she isn’t as strong as you think. And I have beaten Heskari before. I can do it again if needed.’ Ereneya said, flexing her hands as her claws appeared.

  ‘Until they make a hostile move I don’t think we should dismiss their hospitality. Heskari seems to be willing to aid us at least.’ Irand said as he turned to stare at the stained glass.

  ‘They were hostile enough when we encountered them at first. Don’t count on them remaining kind.’ Ereneya said as she perused the rooms adjacent to the main area.

  ‘Might they have a valid reason to be hostile? I see four dragons in this mural and only three have we met.’ Irand responded.

  ‘She could be roaming about the Castle.’

  ‘Or she could have been killed.’ I supplied.

  ‘Think what you will, just don’t let your guard down.’ Ereneya said as she entered one of the rooms and slammed the door.

  I stared at my brother and we both shrugged as we looked in the remaining rooms and claimed a bed for each of us. After that I made my way out into the hall and began walking. The halls were spacious and the stone was smooth. A pleasant breeze drifted through them and I could smell the sickly sweet scent of flowers drifting through and I followed it until I found myself outside in an open air garden in the afternoon sun. Dozens of flowers were in bloom in various planters filled with what looked like fresh soil. I wandered through it, noticing the delicately placed stone paths and how the walls of the castle shielded the garden from the strong winds.

  Despite how high we were, it was warm unlike when we flew with Ereneya. I took in the scents of the flowers for a few moments as I stood with the sun warming my face. A memory flashed in my mind of Lady Greyson tending to her garden back home, scolding Siran and I for knocking over one of her planters and her making us work in the garden for a month after that as punishment. It hadn’t truly been much of a punishment but it had been an enjoyable time to spend with her. I was still lost in thought when I heard humming coming from behind me. I turned to see the brutish girl walking by with a watering can, gently humming to herself as she sprinkled the blooming flowers. She was as lost in her thoughts as I was and she hadn’t yet noticed me standing there. I watched her as she watered them, lost in her own thoughts as her song grew quicker and more upbeat. She spun on her toes and I saw a smile form before it vanished when she saw me staring. She went from graceful and delicate to hard and angry in but a moment.

  “I did not see you, Human.” She growled.

  “I did not mean to interrupt.”

  “Interrupt what?”

  “You seemed to be enjoying your song.”

  She bared her hanged teeth but I saw a blush creep into her face. Not some head over heels embarrassment but anger at something private being observed.

  “You shouldn’t have seen that! That was…” She cut herself off and ignored me as she went back to watering the flowers.

  I took a breath before I voiced my reply, hoping that she wouldn’t attack.

  “Your sister’s song?”

  I felt the mistake as I spoke the words. Her eyes widened and the draconic slits went razor thin as she flexed her knuckles.

  “You know of her? You know of my sister?!” Her voice was a dull roar.

  “I do not!”

  “How did you know then?”

  “I saw the window in the room Heskari gave us! I figured she had meant a terrible fate. I know nothing else!” I said quickly before she could pounce.

  Her eyes softened slightly and the tension in her shoulders relaxed just a hair.

  “A terrible fate indeed. I wish we knew what happened to her.” She said, her voice sour and bitter.

  “What do you mean? Did she run off?”

  “NO! She… She was taken by a Male. We tried to pursue and save her but…” One hand went to reach up to her right eye, which I now noticed was slightly off to her other.

  “He bested us. All three of us. And he took her. She screamed for help but if Mother had pursued we all would have died. And we never found her. We used magic. We searched with our own eyes. My twin. Gone. Most likely violated or kept as a trophy. Do you know what thats like Boy?” She growled, the metal of the watering can groaning in her grip.

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  I swallowed hard as memories of Argan flooded my mind and I met her gaze.

  “Yes. I do. At least in part.”

  “How would you know? You are a man! Privileged and Strong! How could you know what its like to fear your own kind?” She spat, rage making her voice tremble.

  “I was born with a woman’s body. I know all too well that feeling.” I said, taking a step towards her.

  That seemed to make her stop and think. Her expression went dumbstruck as she stared.

  “You are…. A Woman?”

  “I am a man with a Woman’s body.”

  “Like Alvi… and Vaki.” She mumbled, soft enough that I barely caught it.

  “What was that?”

  “Nothing. You wish to be a man? Like one who hurt you?”

  “No. I wish to be a Man like the one who raised me. And to make those who hurt others like me learn from their ignorance.”

  “A Good man? There are precious few of those.”

  “I hope to be one.”

  “You are a fool.”

  “You seem to be as well.”

  “Angering a Dragon is often regarded as a mistake, Boy.”

  “So I’ve learned.”

  “And yet you goad me. Why?”

  “I speak the truth.”

  “Asshole.”

  “You can always shut me up.”

  “I won’t attack a guest unless you harm my family.”

  “And I mean you no harm unless you attack mine.”

  She stared down at her flowers, a look of shame crossing her face.

  “I… I already did.”

  “And you and your family have endeavored to make that mistake right. You were trying to protect your sister. That I can respect. And My sister can heal given time to recover.”

  There was a long silence before she let out a long, low sigh.

  “Then let us start over. Hello human, I am Ilgard.”

  “And I am Tiran Greyson, pleasure to meet you.”

  Sir Irand Greyson

  I wandered the halls of the Castle marveling at it. It was incredible. The stonework was smoother even than Ereneya’s home and it was wonderful to simply look at. But that wasn't why I was wandering. I was looking for a library. Any kind of repository of knowledge. Magic or mundane. This might be one of the few places that had the answers I was looking for.

  I had been wandering for almost an hour through the halls when I came across the Lean Dragoness, Alvina she had called herself, idling in the halls in a simple dress. I raised a hand in greeting and she turned and gave me a quizzical look.

  ‘Why are you looking for it?’

  “Who says I'm looking for anything?”

  She rolled her eyes and I felt a presence against my mind, enveloping me.

  ‘I may not have delved into your mind but to me your thoughts are like a shopkeeper’s stall, plain and bare to the world. You are looking for a library, for knowledge. Why?’ She asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  “I… private reasons. I would not speak them aloud, for fear of listening ears.” My thoughts were betraying me I was sure.

  ‘Then do not speak them. Show me.’ She replied and I felt her pressing up against my mind, begging to be let in.

  I had only a few thoughts of hesitation before I did so. I had heard Naravie describe standing within someone's mind and I now understood, as Alvina stood before me in Greyson Manor. Her dress had changed, from a simple affair to a Noblewoman’s gown as if she were attending a ball. Her scars were gone and she smiled as she twirled her dress.

  “Is this how you always appear?” I asked, noticing the ways the dress was hugging her body.

  “Not always. But I like this form. Now show me your reasons, none will be able to see us here but you and I.” She said softly.

  “My closest friends cannot concieve a child but require an heir to fulfill our plans. I have been searching for a means to cure their infertility or find some other way for them to beat a child.”

  As I spoke the words I saw the memories of our long conversations playing out in the windows, after which most led to much more private acts. The Dragoness definitely noticed as I saw a blush creep into her face alongside something else. Jealousy. I recognized it often enough from my days in the knighthood, it was a similar look to how the other knights had viewed Tiran and Siran.

  “You are quite close Friends.” She said dryly.

  “We are.”

  “The rest of your group does not know of these acts.”

  I was silent for a moment before I nodded.

  “You are a strange person, Irand Greyson.”

  “How so?”

  She did not reply, instead she wandered up to one of the windows and ran her fingers along it. It sent a shiver up my spine.

  “You experience discomfort with your body but only intermittently. Yet you have no problem exposing yourself to them. You seek a solution but you already have two ideas for how to solve it on your own.”

  I blinked and tried to guard my mind which earned a laugh from her.

  “I mean no harm. I apologize for the intrusion, I live within my mind and I tend to pry at secrets when I enter another's. I do not have tomes that could cure Infertility. But I could offer others if you wished…” She stopped as she approached me and we stood face to face.

  She was looking me over and as she had paced around the room I hadn't failed to notice the very purposeful way in which she moved.

  “And what would those tomes entail? And what would the price be?” I asked, hoping against hope that she could see what I was distracted by at the moment.

  “Well I do not give up my tomes easily. But you may study as you wish. I do not require payment.”

  “But you would like something in return.”

  “I would.”

  “You would have to specify what it is you want.”

  She blinked but gave a nervous smile.

  “I would like you. If only for a night.”

  I had guessed what it was but her directness still caught me off guard.

  “Isn't that a bit improper for such an elegant lady?” I asked with a smile.

  That pushed something over the edge and she barked out a laugh that sounded like an ancient witch not a young woman. I watched as she cried from laughing and when she had recovered she focused her gaze on me.

  “I am no elegant lady. I am a hermit who lives with my Mother and Sister because living on my own would be too difficult. I'm sure you have noticed that I cannot speak in the waking world. Using telepathy is a terrible plan among most mortalkind and few understand sign language. So when we leave our home to visit settlements I must communicate with Mother or my Sister to have them ask things for me. And before you make any comments about my youth, I am not nearly as young as you think. More than three centuries have I traveled with my Mother. For a Dragon I am still relatively young but that means little when interacting with mortals.” Her face was a mask of grim amusement but I could see the pain in her eyes.

  “I didn’t mean to offend. I just… we’ve only just met. Do you really want someone like me?”

  “How do you mean?” She asked, tilting her head in confusion.

  “I… I’m just plain. I may be clever but I’m nothing special. I’m an average swordsman, I’m rather unpleasant to look at compared to my Brother and Sister and I… I’m just human.” I said, not sure where the words were coming from as they tumbled from my lips.

  “Just Human? Hmmm…”

  She circled me, looking me up and down. When she reached her original position she shook her head.

  “It matters not to me. I disagree on your looks, you fit the role of one of the dashing heroes from my books, but that is your decision. From what I have seen of your memories you are quite skilled in swordplay. And as far as just human… Whats wrong with that? I know you seek to change that but would you be so unhappy to remain human?” She asked, taking a step forward so we were only inches apart.

  “But would really wish to do this with someone you have only just met?”

  “True, but I have seen you. Seen the crevices of your mind. Seen all of your doubts. And I do believe I would choose you whether I knew you or not.” She whispered, hovering just in front of me.

  I leaned forward and felt my lips touch hers. I was pulled back to reality where the same was happening. She leaned into it and I obliged her, pushing her back up against the wall and giving her my most charming smile as we pulled away. Her red eyes were flicking about with excitement. Her face was red as she gave a nervous smile and pulled me in closer still.

  “I think we should take this somewhere more private.” She whispered in my ear.

  I nodded and she slipped out of my grasp and took me by the hand as she led me through the halls of the Castle. Normally I would have mapped the route in my head but I was too busy watching her and the little excited glances she gave each time she looked back at me.

  Eventually we arrived at a door decorated with many runes engraved in the door. She spoke a word I didn't understand and the stone slid open to reveal a bedroom. The only reason I knew it was a bedroom was because a bed was half buried against the far wall. The rest of the room was filled with a large desk and then lined with bookshelves. There were two floors and the second was a large ring above the first with even more books neatly organized on ancient looking shelves. Some looked newer but most were worn with age. I could smell the old pages as we entered and she smiled as she pulled me through the room towards the bed.

  She released my hand as we stepped in and she gave me another nervous smile. I gave her one of my own before I spoke.

  “Nervous?”

  “Yes… I've never…” She traced the lines in my chest through my shirt as her face fell.

  “You've never…?” I offered, confused on what she meant.

  “I've never been with anyone before. Before I was injured it never appealed to me and then after it… it has been hard to find one willing to ignore my scars.” She explained.

  “Then would you like me to be the one to begin, Princess?” I asked as her eyes snapped up to meet mine.

  Her eyes widened slightly but the nervousness faded as she nodded, excitement flashing across her face. I had a small laugh at her expression before I began pulling off my shirt. When it was off I stood before her with my bare chest and she looked puzzled. I looked down to see the scars I had grown familiar with across my body. Some I had received as a child, the results of carelessness or foolishness, but others were larger and deeper, new and still fresh from battle. The most recent was through my gut where a spearman had been driven through my side, the only reason I had survived was because Ereneya had dragged me to Gaty. Alvina approached and she traced the scars with a clawed finger, gentle and puzzled.

  “You bear many scars.”

  “I have been fortunate to survive so many fights.”

  “You do not belong on a battlefield.”

  “I will not abandon my siblings to fight for our home. I may not bear their magic or strength but I can be clever. It has served me well.” I replied, running a finger along her neck and avoiding the scar that ran across it.

  “You are too brilliant to lose to the chaos of battle. From what I saw, you are more clever than most humans.”

  “You give me too much credit. More clever than Naravie and Tiran aye but I still have much to learn. But for now, I believe it is time I give you a lesson.” I said as I placed my hands on her waist.

  She squeaked as I picked her up and carried her to the bed. As I pulled at the straps of her dress I heard her make a shuddering sound that took me a moment to realize was her laughing. I whispered a prayer in my mind to Raya, praying that I had been a good student to her.

  Nearly two hours later I was breathing heavy as Alvina curled up against me, her bare skin hugging my side. She had fallen asleep after we finished and I had to admit that she certainly went for longer than I had thought. I fluttered my eyes closed as I listened to her soft breaths. Perhaps I was a good student after all.