19. Drakonis
19
DRAKONIS
F or the first time in days, Drakonis felt peace. Rustling leaves and gentle whistles of the wind kissed his face, making his mind silent. Goosebumps raised from the chill, and despite the many clouds that covered the sun, the brilliant blue sky told him it was going to be a good day.
“The festival was quite successful this year.” Across the round table, his mother drank from her delicate teacup, her eyes downcast.
“Yes.” Their people’s celebration was ending with a masquerade ball. That was the highlight for the nobles, but for him, it would be dim compared to his time in town. Clara’s bright smile lived in his mind. His heart warmed when he remembered how the dracora blossoms and stars complimenting her beautiful brown eyes. She was clearly mermaid or siren. And had she beckoned him into the ocean, he would have gladly followed.
“I noticed you were not in the castle yesterday.” Drakonis opened one eye. Instead of anger, a serene smile spread over her lips. “Alastair kept telling us you were preoccupied.”
He was going to punch his friend after this. Could he not come up with a better excuse?
“I was out,” Drakonis said.
“Were you investigating the riots in Zillah?” The quirked brow she had told him she knew he was not. While the farmer’s riots were getting more out of control, he hoped they would settle after his ordered investigation.
“The festival is a time for rest. I certainly took advantage of the time.”
He took a sip from his teacup. Earthy and clean, with an undertone of lilac. A simple pink petal floated on top.
“I see. And how did Lady Clara enjoy the festivities?” Yelena asked.
Drakonis looked up. His mother’s pointed chin sat on the top of her hand as she watched him. The jeweled shield earrings glittered in the light and bounced off the purple scales delicately inlaid to her cheeks and neck. His eyes darted watching the servants. Yelena noticed, waving them away. Once they were gone, Drakonis answered.
“I think she enjoyed her time very much.”
“I hope you were gentlemanly.”
“I brought her a cloak, bought her food, and took her everywhere she wished to go,” He replied. He leaned back, remembering the childlike way she watched. She truly did not care about rank, and she never let his arm go or stepped too far. When he had escorted her to her room, she almost looked bereft.
“You are smiling,” Yelena stated.
“Am I?” He moved his hands in his lap, intertwining his clawed fingers. He leaned back in the chair comfortably.
“She seems like a very sweet girl. I enjoyed our chat at the Hunt.”
“Yes. Alastair told me you were with her the entire time.”
“You and Gavril are fond of her. I figured I ought to get to know her.” A sadness tinged her eyes as she talked about Gavril. Aside from him, she was the only other that truly felt his loss. He had Clara to comfort him, but who had done so for her? “Has she found the Heir?”
“She has learned much. I took her to the emperor’s library, and she fainted. She was well, but…” Something about the artifacts had entranced her. He saw the outline of her third eye as she moved close to the pottery. Words he did not understand left her lips. “I thought bringing her to the town would give her mind a break.”
He thought she would change, but it brought them closer. He now welcomed the dreams after he closed his eyes. There he could be himself, not worrying about politics. Just as he had in the village.
Had she said the word, he would have joined her in her room when they returned. And if it was not for those damn fireworks, he would have coaxed a returning kiss from her. Or at least explored more of this emotion he felt.
“And your dragon? How does he see her?” Yelena asked.
Drakonis paused. Yelena was the one that made it taboo to talk about his dragon. In fact, when she found out about his inner dragon, she panicked and begged him to never reveal it to anyone. A danger he did not know would await him if she did.
“He obsesses over her,” Drakonis answered. “He pushes me to do things with and for her. Things I’ve never done for a woman.” Drakonis leaned his head forward, one hand cupping his forehead. “Mother, I don’t know what to feel. She scares me because she sees me. There is no hiding from her.” She saw him for as he was and had become an escape. He was not a prince when it was just the two of them. He didn’t have to be as he was for everyone else. “But I wonder sometimes. Is it truly my feelings or is just my…”
His hand ran down his face, cupping his squared jaw. Yelena’s eyes bore into him, but he dared not look at her.
He couldn’t allow himself to fall for Clara. She was here for the Heir. She told him she would have to leave once she found him. Drakonis had even told her she needed to leave because of the danger that lurks behind every corner. Kazimir had tried to corner her once. He would do it again.
“There was once a time our people chose their own path. We found danger but could work through it and become stronger.” Drakonis parted his dry lips.
“Mother, she is a human.”
“And our kind began as gargoyle. Then we became something greater.” She reached across the table, placing her small hand over his. “Ever since your trial at the ruins, I have immensely pressured you. Kaz is a dutiful son. I love him with all my heart, but he is not what our people need.” She bit her lip. A couple of sparkling tears fell from her eyes. “I should never have allowed that trial to begin with.”
Drakonis took her hand with both of his. His mother was a contradiction. Such a frail woman was a source of strength for him his whole life.
“I never blamed you, mother. You had no power. What father desires he gets.”
“I know that very well,” She said, looking down. His parents were always friendly towards one another, but he could sense that there was more of a desire from his father’s end than hers. It was unspoken. He never saw his mother come alive unless Gavril was present. “I feel grateful to that girl. I see the way you look at her. How you relax in her presence. It is the same for her.”
“Clara treats everyone the same.”
“No,” Yelena said. “When Kaz kissed her hand, she was polite as needed, but it was clear she did not desire him. When your name is mentioned, there is a light in her eye. An aura that only a woman with my experience could see. I would not mind having a daughter like her.”
Drakonis sputtered and sat back. He could feel his face becoming hot.
Your mother always speaks of the most delightful things. His dragon whispered, flashing an image of Clara. The way her lidded eyes fell as his shadow fell upon her. How she did not fight when he took her face in his hand.
“It’s not possible,” he said aloud. Yelena tilted her head. Drakonis wasn’t sure if he was saying it to her or convincing himself. “She has told me her desire to leave once she fulfills her mission. Stopping her would only anger the Oceanus kingdom and Herrlof.”
“Then make her want to stay,” Yelena answered. She sounded unlike other women in Ouroboros. Here, if a man desires a woman, she has no choice. Clara has a choice. “From what Gavril has told me, King Nordskov convinced her elder sister. She seems to have taken a fancy to you. If you truly want her heart, then only charm her. How could anyone resist my son?”
She looked proud, sitting straight with a smile. Could he do it? Could he undo all the threats he gave her and make her stay?
“What about father? Kazimir?” Drakonis asked.
“If it is what you truly desire, Drakonis, I will convince your father. The gods have sent her here for a reason. She believes it is to find the Heir, but it is possible that she has come here for you. Phaedrus has blessed you with a dragon. Why would he not bless you with a powerful mate as well?”
Drakonis paused. Not wife but mate. The word startled him like a gong. Was this undeniable pull one of the signs of a mate? Was the desire he was supposed to feel supposed to be obvious or was it a passion that started as a spark and grow as a flame?
“Besides, I doubt you will find another woman that your dragon equally adores,” Yelena added.
Drakonis shook his head. He would think on mates later. Mayhap, find that book Clara grabbed.
“Father has not taken another Chancellor. That has given Kazimir a lot of freedom.” Drakonis said, changing the subject.
“It would be quite dangerous to leave her here then while you deal with Zillah.”
Bringing a woman to such a dangerous place? It was unheard of, but the selfish part of him wanted to keep her close. “I found her aura calming at the Hunt, Drakonis. She may be of more use to you than you think. It is only the people in the capital that hold such prejudices for women.”
It was true. Farmers were primarily concerned with providing for their families.
“Thank you, mother.” Drakonis stood, chair legs screeching across the floor, and kissed his mother’s cheek. She caressed the side of his face with the biggest grin he had seen in a while.
“I wish to give you all the happiness in the world, my child. Believe in yourself and be strong.”
He nodded, squeezed her hand, and finally left. He needed to find Clara.
“M’lady, are ya sure you’re alright?” Drakonis stopped before turning the corner. Clara was not in her room or the library. The only other place she would be was in the flower garden. Just like he, she seemed to find solace in the crisp air. But she was not smiling. Alastair walked beside her with his cloak around her shoulders. Her eyes were red and swollen. Streaks of pink stained her cheeks. Her long black hair was over her shoulder, and she was fiddling with the tips of it.
“I am fine Duke Alastair,” Clara whispered.
“Alastair, m’lady. I think we are friends now.”
Drakonis growled, stepping into the shadows. Call him ridiculous, but he only wished for Clara to call him by name.
“I know I am not Drakonis, but you are welcome to share ya’ woes.” Alastair pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve handing it to her. She took it with a bow of her head.
We must find the one who made her cry .
And punish them. Drakonis added mentally. The overwhelming possession he felt in the dracora blossoms was back again.
“I would not want to burden the prince with my problems. Only…” Clara paused. “I had a vision, and I did not know how to interpret it.”
“Forgive me, m’lady, but I do not believe that a vision would be something to have you so out of sorts,” Alastair said.
Outwardly, Clara did not react. Her eyes still watched the cobblestone path. But Drakonis sense a break. An aura of woe surrounded her tiny frame. It drove him to wrap her in his arms. Damn Alastair.
“Duke Alastair… the emperor will choose a crown prince soon, won’t he?”
Alastair raised a brow. “I did not think ya paid attention to such things,” he started. “This will be the most crucial part of our current history. Drakonis is our people's choice and Kazimir is our nobles. Whoever the emperor selects will set a tone for the next few hundred years.”
Alastair’s black eyes seemed darker as he stared ahead. He was never one to sugarcoat anything.
“I think it has been more crucial since ya have arrive m’lady.”
“Me?” Clara finally looked up at Alastair’s profile.
“You are here to find the Heir of Phaedrus.” Alastair stopped. “Kazimir is a right bastard, but when he speaks of dragons, he does so with immense pride. He makes our kind proud of what they are. Drakonis is proud, but instead of words, he shows through action. To the people he is honorable, but to those that have never see battle, it is silent words that fall on deaf ears. Tha heir will change everything. It will either prove Kazimir right and push him to the throne or will be an opportunity for Drakonis.”
Clara fell into her thoughts again. She wanted to find the Heir to save her sister. Drakonis remembered. But now she had experienced a little of their isolationist society. Was she now second guessing?
If she was second guessing, could he convince her to forget it completely and move on? Possibly with him?
“I am conflicted,” Clara began again. “To be honest, I came to find the Heir for a very selfish reason. But I have heard things. Seen things. It has made me question…” she trailed off. “There will be those that lose a great deal if I find what I’m looking for and there will be also those that win. What am I to do when I worry about those that are important to me? Is it selfish of me to want to only benefit those that I want while my enemies suffer?”
Alastair stopped. Clara did as well. She craned her head to look up at him. Alastair looked the statesman. This was the Alastair that Drakonis took with him to court and to battle.
“My lady.” His tone became formal. “You know my alliances. I would rather see my country fall apart than see Kazimir on the throne. He will be the death of our culture and the world as our people know it. I think he will instigate wars that will drain our resources while widening the gap between our rich and poor. He cares only for those that are useful.
“If you were to tell me if Kazimir, or someone close to him, were the Heir, I would tell you to quit now. Hide what you can and return to your home. You are not my enemy. I will give you whatever passage necessary for escape. However, if you were to tell me Drakonis was the Heir, then I would use your powers in whatever capacity to make him as strong as possible.”
“I would become a tool.” Her eyes remained fixed and her lips straight.
“A well-taken care of tool, yes. I like ya, m’lady, but I must do what’s right for mine. You are not one of us. What happens here in Ouroboros does not affect you.”
“But it does! I…”
“You will not remain here forever.” Alastair cut her off. Drakonis grit his teeth. His friend was saying the truth, even echoing his earlier thoughts, but he hated the harsh tone he took with Clara. He now wanted her to stay but, like he had done, Alastair was drawing a line with her. Was he not just encouraging affection just yesterday? “Drakonis has told me of his plan to get you out when the situation becomes dire.”
“I am a nobleman, but I am the farthest thing from noble, m’lady. I can’t tell you what to decide, but I will tell you to follow your heart and instincts. This world is a cruel place. Protect those that you can and defeat your enemies.”
It looked as if Clara was looking past Alastair into an abyss. She neither agreed nor disagreed with him. She absorbed and was back in her thoughts. Drakonis could no longer hold himself back.
“There you two are.” Drakonis strode up to the pair as if he was not eavesdropping. Alastair’s smile was back full force as he placed his hand on his hips.
“And there ya are, my liege.” He made an exaggerated bow. Clara jumped, bowing her head and dropping into a curtsey. Drakonis bent down, a finger on her chin lifting her eyes to his.
“You have been crying,” Drakonis said.
Now that he was close, Drakonis noticed a wet spot on Alastair’s tunic. She had been crying with him? Did she seek comfort in him? He growled, his eyes narrowing.
“Woah.” Alastair threw his hands up. “I did nothing to tha lady.”
“The duke was merely helping me collect my thoughts,” Clara said. Drakonis balled his fist at his side when she defended him.
“I see.” Drakonis took her hand and brought it to his lips. “If something troubles you, I would be happy to listen.”
Clara’s eyes widened, and a blush dyed her cheeks. His dragon hummed. Yesterday was not a dream, and he would take his mother’s advice.
“Alastair, it seems the situation in Zillah has gotten too out of hand. We will depart at sunrise to put down the rebellion,” Drakonis said.
“How many men?” Alastair asked.
“A few farmers cannot take us,” Drakonis said confidently. He stepped closer to Clara and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “I’d like to use the least amount of force possible.”
“It would give us a chance to investigate the corruption there, too,” Alastair agreed.
“Would you like to get out of the palace for a while?” Clara’s eyes widened as she realized Drakonis was speaking to her.
“M-me?”
“Yes. I cannot very well leave you here, where Kazimir can easily snatch you up. Besides, it will give you an opportunity to see the dragons outside.”
“Your highness I will only get in the way,” Clara said.
So, he was back to being ‘your highness’ instead of Drakonis.
“I think you will be a sight for sore eyes. Now, will you please agree?” He was taking her whether or not she agreed, but it would be easier if she believed she had the choice. “If it pleases you, I will even let you ride on my back as we go through the skies?”
“Y-you mean in your dragon form.”
“How else?”
He could see the sparkle of curiosity and desire. He had let no one on his back while he was transformed, but he would make an exception for her.
“If it pleases your highness, then I will go,” she said.
Drakonis plastered a smile on his face. “Alastair, gather the materials we need. Arrange as much as possible in the surrounding areas. The less we pack, the better.”
Return that blasted cloak! His dragon roared.
Drakonis took the cloak from Clara’s shoulders and handed it to Alastair. He smirked as he took it back.
“I will escort Clara back to her room.”
Alastair bowed and left. Drakonis’s hand was light on her lower back as he guided her.
“You sure I will not be in the way?” she whispered.
“Not at all,” Drakonis answered. “In fact, it will bring me the greatest joy to have you by my side.”