Chapter 17 Forever
Forever
Everyone was dancing. Wherever Caden looked, people were swaying, jumping, twisting and swirling.
He saw that they all wore some piece of clothing that was either black or white or both.
People’s eyelids or cheeks were smeared with silvery glitter that resembled Iolaire’s shimmery scales while others wore glittering, black lipstick that was the match of Raziel’s armor.
Drinks were pressed into their hands. Cold cans of beer or wine or champagne.
Glassware would have been a nightmare down here and dangerous for the humans.
But the drinks were good and thirst-quenching.
The Ambrosia from his first drink still fizzed in Caden’s blood, heightening the effect of the alcohol in every drink.
He felt buzzed, but not drunk. Dancing on the edge of a cliff about to fly and not fall.
Rose was leading him deeper into the Below.
She looked back at him over her shoulder and grinned.
He found himself grinning back so hard that his face hurt from it.
He expected her to be leading him to some spot where Marban’s throne had been dragged out and propped up just to annoy Valerius a little bit.
But instead she took him to the spot where they had met.
He was surprised he recognized it because he had been so anxious when she’d come up to him and told him to follow her if he wanted to make it out of the Below again.
People immediately cleared away around them.
A spotlight illuminated them, causing Caden to blink and bring a hand up to shield his eyes.
The music lowered and the crowd quieted as if expecting this.
Caden lowered his hand slowly as his eyes adjusted to the brightness and looked into the equal brightness of Rose’s face.
Someone handed her a microphone and she said, “Testing. One, two, three.” Her voice echoed around the cavern. “We actually got this thing working the first time. Good show, guys!”
Rose laughed and waved at some of Marban’s people who gave awkward “you're welcome” back.
She then focused on Caden. “I figured we’d get the music, dancing, booze and food just right, but not even Marban has his speeches go off without a hitch.”
There were grins and guffaws from the crowd.
Rose took Caden’s right hand. “But you’ve always managed to turn what we expect into the unexpected, Caden.”
People roared with agreement. They stomped their feet and thrust hands with drinks into the air. Caden ducked his head, smiling, but shyly.
“We always work hard and party harder in the Below because we never know if there’s going to be another chance. Another sunrise. Another tomorrow. Or, even if we get those, another opportunity for us to have something good,” Rose explained.
Caden’s smile went pained even as there was murmured agreement from the crowd.
“That’s why we focus on today and not tomorrow!” A young man shouted and there was laughter and nods.
Rose nodded, too, before she added, “But since you came to us, those tomorrows have seemed a little surer. Like a light on the horizon. The coming of the dawn and a brand new, beautiful day.”
Caden felt his throat tighten and tears forming in his eyes again. Really, everyone was saying such amazing things! He hadn’t done that much! They had all done it! They had helped him. Especially Rose.
“To be honest, these days I’m excited about tomorrow,” Rose said as she lifted a drink with her other hand.
“Because I can finally believe that it could be better than today. That there is hope. That the dawn will bring with it something wonderful. And I don’t think I’m alone.
To the White Dragon King Caden! The People’s Dragon! ”
“To the White Dragon King Caden!” The toast echoed from one end of the cavern to the other. “To the White Dragon King Caden! The People’s Dragon!”
Caden lifted his own drink first to Rose. “To friendship. To hope. To all of you!”
There were shouts of acceptance and happiness. They toasted him again and he toasted all of them. Rose somehow got rid of the microphone and they hugged tightly.
“I’m so glad I met you,” Caden told her, breathing it into her ear.
“Me too,” she answered back with a tightening of her arms around him.
“I love you, Rose.”
“I love you, too, Dragon Boy.” She pulled back and kissed his cheeks. “Now, let’s get this party started!”
The people filled in around them. The music pumped up to ear shattering levels. Caden could feel the bass through the ground into his boots and up his legs. His chest vibrated with the beat. He was dancing as much with Rose as all the people around him.
Wally and Landry were at his sides with Wally doing a strange butt waggle dance that actually caught on. Soon Wally was leading a conga line throughout the Below that Caden was fully a part of. It led him back to the Gash. That was when he saw Valerius.
The Black Dragon King had stopped and was kneeling down by a small roped off area where there were cut flowers and votive candles. They were for the people who had died that day he and Caden had met. Caden broke off from the conga line and joined him.
Valerius!
Caden reached for the Black Dragon King’s shoulder just as Valerius was reaching back for his hand.
Their fingers linked as Valerius gently adjusted one of the votive candles so that it was straight and made sure the flowers were situated fully in their vases .
Scholarships in the names of each of those lost had been created.
A statue and plaque would commemorate them too.
Valerius rose up and framed Caden’s face with his large hands.
“Seeing you here right away has stopped Razel from ripping Mephous’ wings off,” Valerius told him. “Even with all this dancing.”
Caden saw the Green Dragon King grinning over Valerius’ left shoulder. “He doesn’t look repentant. In fact, he’s making dancing motions.”
“Of course, he is!” Valerius tossed his head.
“Is being in a conga line considered dancing?” Caden asked, all innocence.
“Conga--”
“Kid, bring Grumpy Dragon and pick up the pace!” Wally called as he had doubled-back around, snaking towards them with the conga line.
“Grumpy--”
“Frowny-faced Valerius is back!” Landry called from her spot behind Wally, her hands on his shaking hips, and dozens of people after her.
“Frowny--”
“C’mon, my frowny, grumpy Dragon! We’re getting in a conga line!” Caden grinned.
“Oh, no, I--”
But Caden had no fear as he pulled Valerius after him like a kite.
The conga line opened to allow them to join.
Soon, every Dragon Shifter was in the line.
Esme was especially enjoying herself, flirting with a young man who looked very keen on touching her backside.
Mei simply narrowed her eyes just once at the man who tried to slip his hands from her waist and he nearly melted into a puddle.
His hands did not move again however. Kaila was the very end of the conga line, calling herself the “wild tail” as she swept the line through the crowd, picking up more and more people while dumping others.
The calls of “whee” echoed even over the music.
The conga line finally led them to a raised dais where the throne that Caden had thought would be there was. It was set out with something just as large covered beside it. Valerius frowned, but then smoothed his face into a neutral expression quickly.
Marban was sitting on the throne with a cigar in his hand. The crowd opened to allow Caden and Valerius to approach. The old Swarm Shifter had a small smile on his lips.
He is pushing it with this, Valerius sighed.
Just let him have his moment, Caden said. He’s been great with everything else.
He has. That’s why this is surprising, Valerius admitted.
They stepped up on the dais in front of Marban who was still smiling at them and wreathed in cigar smoke. The music abruptly cut off and everyone was silent. Caden blinked and looked around a little. He couldn’t read what was happening here from anyone’s expression.
What’s going on, Valerius? Caden asked.
I don’t know, Valerius admitted. There was a touch of hurt. Things seemed to be going so well between us.
I agree. Let’s not jump to conclusions then, Caden said, but he held onto Valerius’ nearest hand tighter.
The other Dragon Shifters appeared just behind them, below the dais.
No one was saying anything. But Caden knew that they were ready to come to his and Valerius’ aid, even if the only danger was to their character.
Rose, Wally and Landry were there too. He couldn’t read on their faces what they thought of this either. But they were prepared for anything.
“I used to say that there were two kings of Reach,” Marban said, his voice soft yet carrying. He stroked the arms of the throne that so mirrored Valerius’ above. “I meant, of course, Valerius and… myself.”
Marban touched his chest and let out a long swirl of smoke. No one said anything. Caden swallowed hard. Valerius and Marban were friends. More than that. Surely, Marban wouldn’t be betraying Valerius and him both now!
“Because, back then, I thought of myself as King Valerius’ foil. The shadow king to his proclaimed one. But now, I recognize that King Valerius had power he didn’t want, and I wanted power that I didn’t have,” Marban said quietly.
Caden blinked. The tightness in his chest eased. The crowd were listening intently. Caden was sure that there were many there that thought of Marban as their leader and Valerius and Caden someone else’s.
Marban’s trying to fix that, Caden realized.
Yes, he is, Valerius agreed, having read Caden’s earlier thought.
Valerius’ expression was almost sad. All the tension was drained from him as it was from the other Dragon Shifters. Before tonight, before their fight together with the Behemoth, they wouldn’t have had Valerius’ back, but now they did.