Chapter 29
Fern
Why can’t I wield the same power as Drathnor? I could hear the frustration in Auren’s voice, see it in the way she poked at the crystal egg. Why was I born in a time when queen dragons are not seen as sentient beings, but as treasure to be fought over?
Destroying cities? I asked tentatively, realising that I hadn’t been bonded to Auren for long enough to know exactly how she felt about things. Having people run before you, screaming? I shuddered, the vision ready to replay inside my head with little prompting. Is that truly what you want?
I watched the massive dragon’s head drop down, coming to rest on her front claws. Smoke trickled from her nostrils as she let out a huff of breath.
Perhaps. Her eyes closed slightly. If that’s what it took to get me some peace. Humans wouldn’t think to lead me into a breeding pen if I laid waste to their precious cities. Male dragons wouldn’t mob me, depriving me of my liberty, if they feared for their lives.
A glance sideways at Viridian, but the green dragon paid her no mind. He organised the firewood he’d brought down into the underground room, larger branches at the bottom, kindling at the top.
That’s because in this time, dragons and humans alike have forgotten what it is to fear a queen dragon.
We both turned to stare at Viridian. He stepped back from the firewood, nodding to Auren, who lumbered to her feet.
The enslavement of my mother, Zafira, made humans complacent and dragons desperate, he said.
Neither is a fitting way to treat you, my queen.
Oh? I watched the scales on Auren’s neck start to shift. Not in a rattle, but almost. And what is the appropriate way to treat my sisters and I?
Reverence. The green dragon stated that so simply, gazing into her eyes, but not moving an inch as Auren prowled forward.
There is a reason why we called gold dragons queens, and it has nothing to do with human notions of royalty.
It is because the females of our species rule our hearts and sometimes we are lucky enough to have that affection returned.
Your mother and father were a perfect example of that.
Auren’s head jerked back as if stung.
I did not get the chance to meet your mother, but I have heard tales of her, I said, gingerly placing my hand on her flank, and while the muscles contracted, she didn’t throw me off. People said she was a great queen. What would she do in this situation?
Auren grabbed the crystal egg, and it started to glow weakly as she stared into its milky surface.
My mother? she said. I carry her memories with me. She gave her life so that we might live and… The air became electric, as if the egg was enough to spark the firewood to life. Perhaps it is time to remind, human and dragon kind alike, what a queen truly is.
Fire burst from her jaws without warning, blasting the wood pile.
As I stumbled backwards, flames licked the ceiling, and for just a moment I feared they would consume us all, only for her jaws to snap shut.
The fire died down to a merry crackle. Auren turned my way, the light of the red flames reflected in her eyes.
She didn’t realise it, but she achieved her goal then, looking utterly terrifying and beautiful.
Queens once ruled all of Nevermere, she said, and it felt like there was an echo inside my head, making me think I was hearing more than one dragon’s words.
I need to know more. How they were deposed.
Why our numbers dwindled. How we went from the devastating power of Drathnor to…
Her claw flexed and the egg went rolling free. This.
I found myself smiling despite the fact it wasn’t hard to imagine Auren terrorising Nevermere the way that Drathnor did. Perhaps that was because she dared to do what I never could. Dare to let her anger come pouring out, burning the wood to a crisp.
And anything else that got in her way.
With a shake of my head, I moved closer, ready to vow I would help her in anyway I could. What exactly, I didn’t know, but I’d work it out.
The answer is in the earth, my queen, Viridian said, his eyes gleaming.
What earth? Auren spun around to face him. Where must I dig to find the answers?
It felt like Viridian’s certainty evaporated then. I’d never seen a dragon look sheepish before, but he seemed to do that just then. Claws flexing, then set down, head swaying side by side, he blinked, trying to formulate a response, but I cut in.
If it’s history you seek, humans record all manner of things in books.
I sighed, remembering walking through the keep library to my history class.
If I breathed deep enough, it felt like I could still smell the musty scent of so many books clustered together.
Records from hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ago.
These… books. Auren stepped towards me. Where would I find such things?
And it was then I felt a pang of sympathy for Viridian. I too was going to have to give Auren an answer she wouldn’t like.
Well, the largest library in the country is back at the keep.
Her muzzle pulled back slightly, revealing a flash of fang. My heart started to race as ancient instincts tried to alert me to the danger I was in.
Then we will return to this keep. Her wings fluttered. I will order that… general to give you all of the books we need.
I would happily do this research for you, I replied. I could bring the books out for you to look at. A single flicker of flame out of her nose made me reconsider that idea. Though there is probably no need. What I read and learn, you can see through our mind link.
If anyone gets in your way, it won’t be for long, she growled.
A grin spread across my face, unable to be repressed. I was never going to be able to don a sword and cut a swathe through the Royal Riders to defend my dragon, but this was a role I was eminently suited to.
There is nothing I would like better than to discover everything you need, Auren.
Her head moved fast, startling me, but rather than her jaws chomping down on me, her forehead pressed into my body. She was as hot as a cherry red coal, but I clasped my hands around her, trying to give the dragon what comfort she might need.
Then you must eat. She plucked the rabbits Viridian had brought down and put the whole things on the fire. The air filled with the stink of burning fur, which forced me to cough and then dragons to pull back in disgust. Why do humans insist on burning perfectly good meat?
We usually do that after the creature has been skinned. I peered at the fire, then pulled back, fighting for breath. I’m not that hungry, so I’ll forgo dinner for tonight.
Thank the gods.
Viridian darted forward, snatching the rabbits from the fire and then ran upstairs to dispose of them.
The air slowly cleared, though was now considerably warmer.
Auren settled down, arranging her tail just so, before holding up her wing.
I slipped underneath it, settling against her side, just like I had on our trip to the keep.
Sleep now. Auren’s tone was much gentler.
For in the morning, we will fly back and make clear that we will not tolerate any further attempts to curtail us.
They want to insist on my rider attending their cadet training?
Then they will discover what happens when they try to tame a wild queen and her bondmate.