7. Drakonis
7
DRAKONIS
D rakonis’s face stayed neutral as Duke Loukas Dagron slammed his fist into the gleaming cherry wood table. His protruding blue eyes narrowed under his rough navy brow. Weighty lower lids dragged to the middle of his wide nose making his pupils more catlike in the candlelight.
“Your highness this is unacceptable! The farmers at Zillah may be far from the capital but it a challenge to your authority to act as they do!” Blue scales along the bridge of his nose and cheekbones gleamed with every clipped word.
“We will not act until we have the all the information Grand Duke,” Drakonis answered.
“If it were up to you, brother, I worry we will have a full-scale rebellion in a matter of days. Think about the lost assets we would have. No men for war, fewer women for weaving and bread making, and no children for the labor force,” Kazimir said. He leaned back in his wide ornate chair, his long, amethyst, scaled fingers caressing the cleft of his chin. His robes were of the brightest gold with inlets of deep silver petals and trees embroidered into the lapels.
He cares not for the people, nor is he competent enough to see where he will lead dragonkind. Drakonis’s dragon growled. He agreed with an internal grunt.
Kazimir’s influence was powerful in the capital of Ouroboros but not in the farmlands of Zillah. Most farmers drafted during the Great War served under Drakonis’s command. Women in rural villages, thought to be property to the nobles, healed, hunted, and nursed the sick and injured. Drakonis knew there would be no rebellion. If he had even an inkling, he would fly out there himself.
Assert your influence and end this meeting as soon as possible. The dragon commanded. “ There are much more interesting things we have to attend to.”
An image of Clara entered his mind. Her round, light brown eyes bore through him just as they had in the library. Drakonis leaned his cheek against his scaled fingers, dismissing that the place where Clara had touched him still warmed.
“Now is not the time,” he thought to the dragon. While a part of him wished to see her again, to learn of her intentions, he could not afford to be distracted.
Drakonis scanned the room. The most pertinent ministers were at the table with he and Kazimir. His mother, slender and elegant sat on a platform above in a gilded throne. Gavril stood at her side with hands clasped behind his back.
This had to be another test from his father. An emperor must always have full control of his vassals. Whoever could control the ministers controlled the government, a skill Emperor Konstantin did not have.
Kazimir had to have known this, judging from his smug look, which was why he invited two of the ministers loyal to him, and only one that had loyalties to Drakonis.
His cerulean eyes glanced over at Mikhael Bringas: His minister of justice. His down-turned shaped emerald eyes were serious. He slicked brown hair accentuated his wide forehead and narrow chin. Darker brown hair peppered his jawline with glimpses of forest green scales beneath it and upward over his bottom lip.
“What say you, Viscount Bringas?” Drakonis questioned. “Would you agree with Grand Duke Dagron that we should enact swift punishment to these farmers?”
The Viscount shook his head. “Messengers gave their requests to me this morning. Their complaints are about a shortage of food, and a larger tax on their cattle. Marquis Zenos, you are the one in charge of the granaries. Is lack of food a growing problem or unique to only Zillah?”
Valen Zenos. A marquis that had the most influence over the smiths of Lav, Kazimir’s mentor. Drakonis had kept his eyes on him since he tried to lure Clara away. The man was not daft politically, so his motives to steal away a princess of two kingdoms was suspicious.
“I would have to look at my reports,” Valen said, brushing the matter off. “But I have no reports considering the granaries. Had there been a shortage, the crown would have known about the issue.”
“Which part of the crown?” Viscount Bringas pressed. “If his Imperial Majesty Konstantin has knowledge, he would have passed it on to his Highness Drakonis given he is the one who leads the people. Had His Highness Kazimir known he would not have called this meeting.”
Drakonis held back a smile. Kazimir frowned beside him. The crown was in a perilous position right now. Every decision had weight. Marquis Valen’s eyes briefly cut to Kazimir who made no further expression or sound.
“Since Marquis Valen needs to look at his reports,” Drakonis began, exaggerating the answer. The Marquis and Grand Duke’s scales glowed brightly. “I say we table this issue for now until further investigation is conducted.”
“I will tell Imperial Father to expect a rebellion. That will make you look quite brilliant.” Kazimir’s voice was light, but his expression narrowed.
“I will not have Viscount Bringas dispense justice to the farmers when all they are asking for is food. That would require soldiers and arms from Lav. And as you say, Kazimir, it would be quite the shame to waste resources.”
Drakonis held back a laugh at Kazimir’s face. He looked as if he had choked on wine.
“Viscount Bringas, please work with Marquis Valen. If there is a need to visit Zillah, then I will visit myself.”
Drakonis moved the parchment aside, looking through the list he and Gavril had built.
“Your Imperial Highness, if I may?” Drakonis waived at Viscount Bringas to continue. “I was speaking with Duke Komnenos. How do we intend to respond to King Nordskov’s recent treaty with the Oceanus kingdom?”
Everyone straightened at the question.
Dammit. Drakonis hissed in his mind. He did not expect such a question.
“Is there a cause for concern? We would have no reason to go to war with the gargoyles.” Drakonis said.
In fact, it was something he was actively avoiding. During the Great War, he fought back-to-back with Ragnar Nordskov and his generals. He knew their honor and, while many dragons disliked gargoyles, he did not see a need to establish dominance. Only a symbiotic alliance.
“Because of his recent marriage, King Nordskov now has exclusive access to trade with Oceanus,” Kazimir started. He looked disgusted as he spoke. “We may be at peace now, but he could leverage his advantages in an attack against us.”
“King Nordskov is not one to attack unprovoked,” Drakonis challenged. That he was sure of. Ragnar was a noble gargoyle man. And from his reports, he was blissfully married. War was the last thing on his mind.
Drakonis and Kazimir locked eyes. He could feel the pressured stares of everyone in the room.
“There is no guarantee that barbarians like them would not use whatever leverage they had against us. There are many that covet our domain.” Drakonis fought a scoff. Kazimir was a skilled politician, but he was ignorant in the ways of war and foreign policy.
He had to be careful. Gargoyles were a sensitive topic, and sympathizers were not well liked. To staunchly defend Ragnar would add a nail to his coffin. Drakonis had the backing of the commoner dragons and the army, but Kazimir had a stronger hold on the nobles. Neither the nobles, nor his father, would be pleased with false promises.
“We have leverage. We have King Nordskov’s sister-in-law,” his dragon hissed in his mind. There was a stillness in the air. If he was to protect the woman, he might as well use her. “Everyone knows that King Nordskov is blissfully devoted to his new wife. Lady Katsaros is the younger sister to his new queen. He will make no move while we have her in our lands. While she is completing her mission, we will get what we need out of her to maintain our advantage.”
“Who would have thought that a woman would collar the Great King Nordskov,” Viscount Bringas said.
“She is rumored to be a fierce one.” While Clara did not seem a warrior, her eyes told him she possessed at least bravery. She was a passable beauty with a devoted cause. What that cause was, he was driven to know. Why would such a woman come out of her safe space to a dangerous den of dragons? “She is linked with the Pythia, and she is also a princess of two nations. With time, we may find a good use for her connections.”
He glanced up. His mother’s lips were pursed, and nostrils flared. Gavril locked eyes, and there was a slight shake in his head.
Disappointed as they may be, Drakonis had to play on the same field as Kazimir. While he didn’t want to involve Clara, if she could help him get the Crown Prince status, then he would use her as much as he could.
“That girl has no part in our politics here,” Gavril said falling into step with Drakonis. He had not looked at him since the meeting.
“What did you wish me to do? Our ally brought her up, and I needed to do something.”
“Words can lead to radical action. You have brought attention to her, so you must be responsible for her.”
“I can assign Alastair to her,” Drakonis said.
“No.” Gavril stopped walking, standing next to a tapestry lined window. “Alastair may be a competent duke, but he is not you. We have sworn to protect Clara during her mission, and it has to be you. The prince.”
“You wish me to train our army, watch Kazimir, prove to father that I am the competent one for the crown, and protect a woman chasing a myth?”
“An emperor is always pulled in multiple directions. You will manage.” Gavril answered. “She is an honorable woman, and one that I trust will not approach you with ideas to draw you to her bed.” Drakonis smirked.
“You have become quite fond of her.”
“You are usually an excellent judge of character. If you would look past your biases, you would see that,” Gavril countered.
“I have no biases.” Drakonis scoffed. She was just intuitive. She picked up on some sign that others couldn’t see. That is how she knew of his dragon.
“Have you heard any mentioning of your sun?” Gavril questioned. “She has never brought it up to me.”
“I have not seen her since I left her in that library,” Drakonis yelped as Gavril smacked him in the back of the head. “What was that for?”
“For showing me that in some ways you are no more mature than Kazimir.” His dragon let a dark chuckle. “Since you are being so daft, let me tell you I have seen her since your concerns. Instead of bringing you up, she spoke of my future.”
This piqued his interest. Gavril was strong and the most honorable of all in the castle. It is why his mother loved him, and his father trusted him implicitly.
I have no problem with her knowing me.
His dragon was unusually eager. Usually droll, his enthusiasm was a curiosity.
“Fine, I will go see her.” If he had to make use of her, he supposed he needed to figure out her strengths and weaknesses. Gavril nodded. As he walked Drakonis followed. “I’ve never approached a woman where we did not speak of trinkets or love.”
Gavril snorted. “She is far from the noble women you know here. I think she may intrigue even the Empress.”
Drakonis arched his brow. “Mother would not need to meet someone like her unless it had a direct effect on her family.”
The two men approached the library. Gavril had led him here, and he had hardly noticed. The doormen bowed as they opened the double doors. Gavril stepped behind Drakonis.
“Be sure not to not make a fool of yourself.”
“What? Oomph !”
Drakonis looked back as the doors were closing. His eyes narrowed at Gavril but he merely smirked.
The sun that filtered through the windows cast an ethereal white light about the room. Candles floated midway up the room casting glows on the vaulted domed ceiling. Scrolls and bound texts were scattered about the tables.
He stepped close to the chaos, looking around for her. A tea cart sat off to the side with an empty cup and a cold kettle. The little teacup was like a babe’s hand in his. When he brought it up to his nose, he smelled the light freshness of the oolong tea. In separate bowls were unused matcha, sugar, and honey.
He had forgotten how peaceful it was in here. As he walked past the tables he glanced at the titles. A History of Dragons , The Great Father , Women in Society , and other books about food and anatomy. Blank parchment and a quill sat to the side. Scribbles and symbols that made little sense were written in all different directions. A map with scraps of notes was on another table. Books on astrology were open to specific pages, strategically placed on parts of the map.
“She’s really taking this seriously.” Drakonis mumbled.
Why would she not? She is on a mission in a foreign land, and there has yet been a dragon that is kind to her.
“I got the lecture from Gavril. I don’t need it from you,” Drakonis argued. “And I am here yes?” He pushed. His dragon made no further statement.
Slam!
In the middle of the forest of bookshelves, he heard a crash. He moved between the stacks and finally found Clara.
Her back was facing him while she was on a tall ladder.
“May Hermes bless me with wings upon my feet,” she grumbled aloud.
Her loose, black, waves were bound in a thick braid that was over her shoulder. White silk draped from shoulders to her lower back, revealing tanned skin. He nearly laughed aloud when he noticed her golden sandals on the floor, one on its side. The woman was barefoot!
One of her hands grasped a shelf while the other grazed the end of a book. She must have not realized that the ladders were made for dragons and not humans. Even the noblewomen would stand three feet taller than she.
She fit her finger on the edge, but the rest happened in a blur. Her foot slipped, and the ladder shook. The book came off the shelf but was falling like she was, back first. Drakonis rushed to her side, catching her in his arms.
Her body was arched, eyes tightly closed, and arms wrapped around her body, bracing for impact.
“I never would have expected a woman like you to be this clumsy,” Drakonis said.
Her round eyes popped. Drakonis smirked, her face, lacking in paint this time, turned bright red. “Your highness!”
She felt light as a feather, and through her clothes, he felt tantalizing curves. His fingers flinched from the familiar warmth. Did all merwomen have a natural aura about them?
I do not believe that any are so beautiful. his dragon hummed.
“You are showing a strange amount of interest in her,” Drakonis thought back to his dragon.
Can you blame me? She is more exotic than the others.
Drakonis had to agree. He was so put off by her before he did not notice that she was more than just passably pretty.
“Um... your highness. Would you mind letting me down?” Clara asked.
Drakonis clutched her tighter before leaning, releasing her from his arms. His hand hovered over her lower back until she was standing steady. He took a step back, despite his dragon roaring to get closer.
“Why do you not call for someone if you cannot reach what you need?” Drakonis asked.
“I believe it was you who told me not to trust anyone in the castle,” Clara answered.
Drakonis smiled. “I figured you would understand that I meant don’t go into a room without an escort. You are lucky it is I here and not my brother. He would have used that fall as an opportunity.”
Clara huffed and went towards the book that had fallen. He averted his eyes as she bent over but was surprised to see the books genre: a book about mates. Gavril had said she was different, but she was still a silly woman with dreams of romance?
“Thank you for stating to me what both my brothers have drilled into me since I left Herrlof.”
The mention of her brothers made him uncomfortable.
Gavril told you not to make a fool of yourself.
Drakonis huffed. “I can be a gentleman.”
While he could not see his dragon, he could sense the internal eye roll.
With wide steps, he approached Clara, taking her hand. She looked at their joined hands with a tilted head, peering up at him through her long lashes.
“Are you hurt?” he asked. She did not answer. Her fingers grasped his, and she moved his palm from side to side. “Lady Oracle, have I upset you?”
Her actions were strange, but he forced a smile to stay upon his face.
One of her fingers ran up his digit, caressing the large gem ring there. With his other hand, he took her chin and lifted it.
“Princess?” He pressed. Realization dawned on her then. Her irises shrunk, and she shook her head.
I told you I still had it. He mocked his dragon.
“My apologies, your highness.” She let his hand drop and past him on the way back towards the tables. His dragon’s laugh echoed in the deepest parts of his mind. Normally, a dragon woman would pull her fan out after a demure smile and find other ways to touch him.
She is clearly not a dragon. He wished his dragon was a physical being so he could fight him. Instead of wishing for such a foolish thing, maybe you try harder. If you wish to learn about her, you cannot do so standing here dumbfounded.
Drakonis followed her back and saw as she studied the new book on a podium. She seemed so absorbed.
“You seem to enjoy reading,” Drakonis said. He stepped behind her, looking down her shoulder as if he was reading too. The perfume of her skin was unique, like the wisteria near the dracora blossom trees. Her shoulders tensed.
“Yes. It seems to be fundamental in learning.” Then nothing. Drakonis pressed on, leaning closer into her.
“Is there something in particular you’re looking for? Perhaps I can help you find it?”
“I did not know that your kind had a special mating ceremony,” Clara said, not taking her eyes off the page. Drakonis fought the urge to cup her hip. The pictures in the book were block like, a form of storytelling from his ancestors.
“It is not the norm. It is very rare that a dragon male or female finds a mate.” First myths, and now love stories. What a strange woman. Drakonis brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek, his knuckles grazed the top of her spine and fire started in his fingertips.
She finally looked up at him. His hand twitched. Would she ask him to step back? “If it is so rare then why do you have a text on the subject?”
“Because even rare things need to be acknowledged.” Clara tilted her head, turning her body. Drakonis should have stepped back, but remained where he was. Her breast grazed his chest, lifting as she looked up. “Finding your mate can either be the biggest strength or greatest weakness.”
“Would you not think that finding your mate would reinvigorate you to find fulfillment? My sister Elly certainly came alive once she met hers.”
Clara seemed to validate his reports on her sister and Ragnar. And were those flecks of copper in her eyes? Those little bits of color beckoned him, mesmerized him. He wanted to step back but his feet were heavy. This was why he had tried to avoid her. She did things to him, even when he had met her in the throne room.
Gavril and his dragon egged him on. That was it. Clara said his name and he scrambled to find an answer to her question.
“If they are both available and of the same station, then it could be a good thing. But if one, or both, are married or promised, it could lead to legal issues.”
Separation of man and wife was available to other esseri , but to dragons, a marriage was sacred, a mating could not be proven so it took less priority.
“Has a dragon ever mated with someone not of their kind?” Clara questioned.
“No. A dragon’s line is to remain as pure as possible.” Clara nodded with no change in her expression.
“What happens if a dragon finds their mate after they are married?”
“It would depend.” Drakonis tried to remember all that he could. He could not remember the last time such an issue was brought up in court. “The matter would first have to be brought up to the royal family. Then it would need to be proven that the two were mates. Divorce is not an option for dragons. To avoid penalties there would need to be solid proof.”
“What kind of proof would you need?” Clara pushed. She was now closing the space between them.
“I can only tell you what I have seen in texts.” A vague answer, but he had never experienced it himself. He suspected that his mother and Gavril were truly mates but couldn’t describe how he knew. It was obviously not enough since his mother remained married to his father and did not pursue it further. “I’ll be happy to find those texts for you about it if you wish.”
“Thank you, but I am sure you are quite busy.” She stepped back. Drakonis’s fingers twitched, aching to grab her wrist and pull her back. “The topic was merely a personal curiosity, and in a few other scrolls I have seen it mentioned.”
He watched her. She became absorbed again as she read, like the world was empty around her. Had he not heard her breath he would have thought her a piece of art, or a statue.
“Is there anything you require?” Drakonis asked. He could not describe it, but he liked the sound of her voice. He yearned for her eyes to leave the scroll and focus on him. Odd indeed.
“Not at the moment.” He did not miss the furrow of her tiny brows.
“I will send food and drink to you. Please be sure to give yourself sustenance. I do not need Ragnar sending me threats of war.”
“I doubt he would do such a thing. Nothing matters to him but my sister.” She must not know of the letter. Maybe emotionally, he did not care for her, but she was an extension of his beloved.
A biting feeling touched his heart. He and Kazimir had never been close. Nor could he find such a fine woman that cared about more than his title. How foreign. It was unimaginable.
He rounded the podium, crossing his arms on top of the book. Even on a stool she barely made it to his neck.
“Are you and your sister close?” Drakonis asked.
Clara finally looked up at him from her book. “Is there something you are needing your highness? After our first meeting, I did not think you cared to be around me.”
His temple clicked. He kept a smile on his face as he spoke. The noblewomen would do anything for a chance at his interest. Meanwhile, this woman was trying to shoo him away. She hardly showed any reaction when he stood close to her. Was he really losing his touch as his dragon and Gavril had said?
“Since you will stay here for some time, I thought it would be important if I got to know you a little.”
“So you can have something on me if I tell your secret?” Clara qualified. When Drakonis didn’t answer she continued. “I’m sure you have other things you need to be doing. My thanks for stopping by. And rescuing me.”
His facade was gone. This woman dared dismiss him after he was being nothing but gentlemanly? Women loved to talk about themselves.
“Very well,” he said through gritted teeth. “Do make sure that you do not fall to your demise. Our castle was built with dragons in mind, not humans.”
Clara did not answer him. Irritation boiled in his heart as he went back through the doors. This woman was a puzzle. He could not get a grasp on her. Could not read her. She did not fawn over him, much less care if he was in the vicinity. She was indeed different from the other women he encountered, and he was unsure if that was something he liked or disliked.