Princess of Beasts - Chapter Ten (Patreon)

*****

Chapter Ten

*****

Late in the evening, Princess Nira stood upon the Cataclysm’s largest external flight deck. The Cataclysm had several external areas, from observation platforms, to access points to weapons bays and engine maintenance areas, and so on. The flight deck was wide, and flat, located towards the rear of the ship, above the cargo holds and docking bays. A great, tarnished brass railing ran around the outside of it, ostensibly for safety. Immense, mirrored flood lamps illuminated the area with faintly yellow-hued light. 

During the ship’s construction, it was intended to house a veritable army of its own, ready to be deployed to wars afield, or in final defense of the Imperial Family. Like the rest of the Empire’s army, it would have been composed in large part of non-humans, the so-called beasts Nira had only ever called friend. That army was also intended to house at least one full flight of gryphons, and perhaps even multiple dragons. The flight deck where Nira now stood was meant to be both landing pad, and staging area for their winged warriors and their potential riders. When the ship was new, all sorts of bright red markings were painted upon the flight deck’s surface, indicating landing areas and staging zones. Most of them were long gone now, scratched away over years of use, or faded from exposure to the elements. 

Not that it mattered, Nira supposed. The ship only had one dragon, and he’d have ignored any such directives, anyway. 

That dragon was the reason Nira was standing in the cold winds, long after dark. Though she had intended to spend the evening hours drinking with her companions, a distinctive, brassy-toned alarm chime put an end to her plans before they’d even began. Unlike those warning bells earlier in the day, these signified Malaresh’s impending return, along with Jirril, their third gryphon. So, she’d wrapped herself in a warm, body length black coat, and went to the flight deck to await the boys’ return.

Just as the two female gryphons were often referred as the girls, the male gryphon and dragon were collectively referred to as the boys. If her recollection held true, it was Amelia who started the nicknames. Given that she was the only one on board who regularly rode their winged companions, perhaps it was just easier for her to say she was taking the girls out, or going on patrol with the boys. Whatever the case, the terms stuck. So had their usual assignments, with the boys often being sent on supply runs, and the girls flying recon around the ship. Nira just hoped the boys wouldn’t be too irritable about having to fly another mission to The Embankment so soon after their return.

Nira walked to the safety railing, leaning against it. Beyond the range of the ship’s lights, darkness shrouded it like a smothering blanket. On the furthest horizon, a faint purple bruise lingered, but soon that too would fade. Nira glanced down past the ship’s lowest deck, towards the ground somewhere far below. With darkness settled in, there was no evidence left that the world even existed beneath them. Nira always loved gazing out into the darkness, as if they were drifting not just through the sky, but through night itself. A few pinpoints of light, and she might well have believed they’d made it all the way to the stars. What an adventure that would be, she thought with a smile. 

Still, she had plenty of adventures here on the ship. Considering all the calamities that befell her people, her family, things had turned out a hell of a lot better for than she’d expected. The early years of her flight from home were treacherous, with Golden Union ships and spies always searching for her. Before the uneasy truce, Nira and her crew had to battle their way to freedom, to safety, more than once. Even after that, things certainly weren’t easy, but there as absolutely something to be said for living a life in the skies. 

In her youth, she’d sometimes dreamt and imagined what life might be like as a pirate, whether on the seas or in the skies, to be free to do as you pleased, go where you wished, and take what you wanted. It seemed funny now to think she’d once fantasized about living this way. Of course, in the way of youthful fantasies, a younger Nira had conveniently left out things like, struggling to keep a crew fed, or running from Union warships and law keeper vessels cause you were two low on ammo to make a stand. Let alone even how keep a ship afloat and airworthy without being able to frequently dock it. Then again, she supposed if she’d taken time to consider the difficulties of such a life, it wouldn’t have made a very good fantasy. 

Nira turned around to lean back against the rail, and gaze across the ship’s exterior. From her current position, she could only see a portion of the great vessel. Though she’d spent at least a decade aboard it now, sometimes the sight of it still took her aback. Rows of portholes and other windows glowed with flickering lamplight, like twinkling stars stretching into the distance. Lines of reinforced armor plating spanned the hull in many places, interspersed occasionally with tangles of copper piping. Stout smokestacks and other openings vented smoke and steam, drifting away from the ship in dingy clouds. She spied a few propulsion propellers, often housed in protection cowling, some canted at odd angles. 

Despite all that, most of the ship’s workings were kept deeper inside, and hidden behind more armor than the average warship. The pipes, dispersal vents, and smaller vents helped to keep things from overheating. Nira also caught a glimpse of the crystalline dome that house their greenhouse and garden, on an upper deck. Higher still was a bulging, reinforced shell contained the ship’s massive gas bags, filled with an especially rare and difficult to refine lifting gas, lighter than any other yet discovered. 

Movement, vague and distant, drew Nira’s attention. She shielded her eyes from the glare of the floodlights, and gazed into the darkness. Shadows danced at the furthest reaches of the ship’s lights. They rose and fell in steady rhythm, gradually revealing themselves as massive, ebony wings. In the nighttime distance, the beast they were attached to looked formless, as if built of shadows still composing themselves. The sight left ice trickling through Nira’s veins. She took a step back from the rail, shivering. She knew who it was, and yet that made it no less intimidating to see a great dragon emerge from out of the gloom, hurtling towards her. 

As the dragon neared the ship, the floodlamps further defined him. Thick ebony scales covered most of the creature’s body, with sturdier, scute-like plates across the front of his limbs, and protecting his chest. His four powerful limbs were tucked up against his belly as he flew, while his vast wings beat against the night sky. The dragon’s head was shaped vaguely like a broad wedge, with a tapered muzzle filled with innumerable teeth. Ridged horns and spiny frills crowned the back of his skull. When his eyes caught the light, they shone as glittering emeralds. The dragon’s long tail streamed out behind him, tipped with thick, curved spikes, and lined on either side of its base with spiny webbing that Nira imagined served him as a rudder, of sorts. The green color of the dragon’s eyes also marked him in vaguely diamond shaped patterns down his back. A rich golden hue edged each marking. The same vibrant color also lined his wings, and tipped the spines upon his head and tail. 

Currently, the dragon was covered in an immense cargo harness, leather straps and oversized brass buckles locked into place around his body and his limbs. Packs and pouches bulging with supplies hung all around him. Another larger satchel rested against his back, between his wings, with more strapped against chest and the upper part of his belly. At least it looked as if their mission had been successful, she thought, though she already dreaded having to ask him to undertake another one so soon after his return. 

While Nira was pleased to see the dragon’s efforts had been fruitful, she saw no sign of Jirril, the male gryphon who should have been with him. They were close companions, to say they least. Usually they left for, and returned from, missions together. Still, it wouldn’t be near the first time Jirril got districted by something else with pretty feathers. Or something shiny. With any luck he’d just fallen behind the dragon. 

As the dragon neared the ship, Nira moved up against the flight deck doors. Though she was the only person out there, she wanted to give the beast as much room to land as possible. Not because dragons were clumsy, far from it. Rather, they simply expected smaller creatures to get out of their way. To a dragon, it wasn’t their fault if they trod on someone smaller, or say, accidentally knocked them overboard. Instead, it was the smaller creature’s fault for not moving aside. Hell, a dragon expected even princesses to make way. Considering that Malaresh was the largest and most powerful creature on the ship by far, Nira found that a reasonable demand. 

Malaresh was the so-called simple form of his name. The dragon himself claimed there was a complex version humans simply couldn’t pronounce. Then again, the dragon also claimed to have been given many official titles, in the years before the war. Malaresh the Monarch. Malaresh the Majestic. Malaresh the Magnificent. Maleresh the Maurader. Apparently, Nira thought, he liked alliteration. 

The dragon extended his hind legs as he reached the flight deck, touching down on his back paws. He hopped a step and beat his wings to catch his balance, cargo pouches jostling around him. Then he dropped his front paws down, trotting across the deck to bleed off the rest of his speed and momentum. 

Muscles rippled under the black and emerald hide. He stretched his vast, gold-edged wings, then neatly folded them against his back. The spiny frills around his head all flared to their full extension, golden tips on display. The dragon padded towards her, his every movement sinuous and graceful despite his great size. As Malaresh reached her, he arched his long neck, prideful but elegant. Nira could not help but smile up at him. Even she had to admit, that up close and personal, a dragon truly was a majestic creature, just like something out of a fairy tale from her youth. 

And then the dragon spoke. 

“What the hell are you smiling about, human?” Malaresh snorted at her, blowing her hair back. He lifted a hind leg and shook it a few times. “Cease your daydreaming and get this fucking harness of me! It’s pinching my damn balls.” 

Nira sighed. The regal illusion only ever lasted until they opened their mouths. When Malaresh lifted his head, she went to his chest to start opening the stiff, oversized buckles. “And who’s fault is that?” 

“Well, it certainly isn’t mine!” The dragon tossed his head, hissing. Then he curled his neck to gaze down at her, his head tilted. “Unless you’re suggesting it’s because I possess an especially impressive set of testicles.” He licked his nose, smug. “Which I do.” 

The princess chuckled to herself as she worked a buckle open. His ego was as outsized, and outlandishly amusing, as ever. “I’m suggesting your gear was designed so that you could put it on by yourself.” The latch popped open, and she pulled on the strap, loosing it, then went to the next one. The dragons harness was pieced together of interlocking straps, latches, belts, rings, and so on. It was designed so that it could be assembled in a number of different ways, both for his comfort, and to support a wide variety of different loads and types of cargo, or even a saddle. It was also intended to be something he could buckle shut or remove himself, so it’s sizable buckles took a good deal of effort for a human. “So if you put it on incorrectly, that would make it your fault.” Nira paused, glancing up at him again. “Come to think of it, why the hell am I doing this?”

“Because you’re the human, and I’m the dragon.” Malaresh stomped a forepaw like an impatient child. “And servicing dragons is what humans are for.” 

Nira giggled under her breath, resuming her efforts. “I’m not sure that means what you think it means.” 

“Or perhaps,” the dragon said, a throaty, playful purr creeping into his voice. “That was exactly how I intended it. There was, after all, a time when dragons were known for hosting princesses such as yourself, was there not? What do you think they were there to do for us?”

Nira gently eased a heavy cargo satchel away from the dragon’s chest. Light as it was for him, it was all she could do to heft it, and lower it to the deck. “I think the word you’re looking for is kidnapping princesses. Also…” She moved to another strap, working it free. “Those are only fairy tales, anyway. And they would have been long before your time, and-”

“The point is, humans should serve dragons!” Malaresh waved his forepaw, his tail lashing. “Which is why I made those simpering idiots attach my harness and cargo for me. I shouldn’t have to do such menial tasks myself. But they’ve clearly done something wrong, because the entirely flight, the straps around my hind legs kept inching up until they were-”

“Pinching your damn balls,” Nira said. “Yes, I heard you the first time.” 

“Actually, I was going to say, invading my royal sack’s sovereign territory.” 

Nira blinked, then burst out laughing. “Okay, that’s a new one to me.” She patted his scaly hide. Despite the strength of his scales, they were smoother to the touch than they appeared, and quite warm. “Dunno where you got the royal part, though.” 

The dragon put a paw to his chest. “Dragons are naturally royal. We are all monarchs in our own right, which is why my barony once called me, Malaresh the Monarch.” 

“Then they should have called you Baron, not Monarch.” Nira paused to rub her fingers. The stiff brass buckles left her knuckles and fingertips aching. “Besides, you never had a barony.” 

Malaresh turned his glittering emerald eyes upon her, his frills flattened back. “Did so.” 

“Did not.” Nira poked his foreleg. “Even for a dragon, you’re far too young to have held a barony. Those were long before your time.” 

“I’m a thousand years old!” Malaresh hissed at her, thumping his spined tail against the deck. 

“And the last barony ended over twelve hundred years ago.” She flashed him a grin, just before working on the next strap. “Besides, you’re three hundred, at best.” 

Malaresh rumbled, shaking himself. His scales clicked, his wings rustled, and all his pouches jostled about against his body. Finally, he looked away, muttering half under his breath. “I called it a barony, anyway.” 

“Whatever you say, Mister Magnificent.” Nira stroked the scales of his chest, as if just to soothe his ego. “Where’s Jirril?” 

“Stopped for a piss, I think. He was drunk, when we left.” The dragon snorted, flexing his wings. “Not so drunk as he couldn’t fly, but drunk enough to ramble incessantly at me the entire way home. At least, till he went to piss.” 

Nira eased another hefty, leather bag to the ground. “What do you mean, stopped for a piss? Where the hell would he go?” 

Malaresh scratched at his neck with the talon tipping an immense wing. “How the hell should I know where gryphons go to urinate? I assumed he’d just…go!” 

“What, in the sky?” Nira gaped at the dragon a moment. “What if there’s village or something down there?” 

“Oh!” The dragon sucked in a breath. “And he pissed all over it? Yes, you’re right, human, that would be hilarious!” Malaresh rumbled deep, brassy laughter. “I’m going to try that next time!” 

“No!” Nira shook a finger at him, though she doubted the dragon was even paying her any heed. “You can’t do that!” 

“Sure you can, it’s easy. It’s the same as pissing on the ground, after all.” He lifted a forepaw, waggling his clawed digits. “You just have to make sure the wind is right, or it gets all over you.” He set his paw back down, making a point to stare out into the darkness. “Not that such a thing has ever befallen me. Or any dragon!”

Nira bit her lip, struggling to hold back laughter. “No, no, of course not.” She moved down his underbelly towards another set of belts and latches. “So, what’s in your biggest pouch?” 

The dragon flicked his tail. “My testicles.” 

“Shit,” Nira said, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Walked right into that one, didn’t I.” 

“You certainly did, human.” Malaresh patted the largest cargo pouch under his belly with a front paw. “This is filled with all the various spare parts, tools, implements, and so on that the little fuzzy one put on his list for me. The other large satchel along my back contains vats of oils, greases, and other unpleasant things, also for the fuzzy one.” 

“Don’t suppose you brought my wine?” 

The dragon snorted, tossing his horned head again. “Oh, I’m sorry, have I allotted too much cargo space to the things required to keep this rattling death trap afloat? How selfish of me, I clearly should have contributed to your excessive alcohol indulges, instead.” 

“Point taken, dragon, point taken.” Nira took a step back, sizing up the rest of the harness and its many remaining pouches. She roughly estimated the dragon at nearly twenty feet from nose to tail tip, and nearly all of him was covered in cargo. “I may need some help getting those last ones off you safely, as I suspect some of what Vekk asked for is quite fragile, and those larger bags are going to be far too heavy for me to lower to the deck myself. How far behind do you think Jirril is?” 

Malaresh turned halfway around, forcing Nira to backpedal out of his way. “That’s a good question. Let’s find out.” 

As the dragon took a deep breath, his scaly chest expanding, Nira clapped her hands over her ears. She was just in time to save most of her hearing as the dragon unleashed an eardrum shattering roar, loud enough to drown out the many noises of the ship, and the winds swirling around it. A dragon’s roar was a terrifying mixture of primal fury and threatening cry, a signal that everything that could hear it should rightly fear its caller. Though, in the right situations, a dragon’s roar also served as long distance communication. Nira imagined that Malaresh’s people used all sorts of different tones and timbres to their roars that human ears simply could not discern. To her, they all just sounded horrifying.

Just as Nira eased her hands away from her ears, an answering cry returned to them from the darkness. This sound was distant, and much higher in pitch, like an eagle’s keening wail. Nira recognized the sound easily enough, as it was the sort of noise only a gryphon could make. 

Malaresh snorted. “About that far. At least he didn’t fly all the way back to The Emplacement.” 

Nira scowled. He’d just come from The Emplacement? She hadn’t realized he’d end up there. Somehow, Nira doubted the dragon was going to appreciate being asked to go right back. “You were at The Emplacement?”

“That was our final destination, yes.” The dragon gave a low, guttural growl. “They do not like me there, but I was able to secure as many of the parts from the fuzzy one’s list as possible, with a maximum of threats, and a minimum of incineration.” He flicked his tail, chuckling. “I suppose they like me even less there, now.” 

“Shit.” Nira rubbed her face, gritting her teeth. “Please tell me you two didn’t steal the parts you got there.” 

Malaresh licked his nose. “Not all of them. They didn’t even shoot at us.” He tilted his head. “Well, not more than a few times, anyway.”

“Shit.” 

“You keep saying that.” Malaresh tilted his head. “If you’re that desperate, I suggest you head for the nearest latrine.” 

Nira stomped her foot. “Not literally, you scaly sack of-”

“Careful, Girl.” Malaresh glared down at her, his green eyes narrowed, a dangerous edge in his voice. 

Nira took a slow, deep breath. She didn’t actually think the dragon would ever harm her but there was no sense pushing her luck, either. Of all the people and creatures on her ship, only Malaresh ever gave her pause, ever made her nervous. For of all her vast and varied crew, the dragon was the only one who’s loyalty she never quite felt was truly unshakable. 

In the olden days, her Empire secured the loyalty of dragons with positions of great power, with grand alliances, and with vast wealth. Nira had none of those things to offer Malaresh. He did, however, owe her and her crew his life. That was why he had joined her, at first, and at his own insistence, at that. But the dragon’s debt to Nira was long since repaid, and why he remained now was a mystery. Nira liked to tell herself it was because he had earned not just a home here on her ship, but her crew’s trust, and friendship. She also liked to tell herself they’d earned his friendship, in term. But every once in a while, Nira wasn’t so sure a dragon even truly had friendship to give. In those occasional moments, Nira felt a bit like she’d made a deal with the devil, and only the devil knew the terms. 

“Sorry, Malaresh.” Nira held up her hands. “I have some news you’re not going to like. And…” She slowly lowered her hands, grimacing. “A favor to ask that you’re going to like even less.” 

“Do you.” The dragon’s voice was flat. He slowly eased himself back onto his haunches, and began to unbuckle the remaining harness straps. That wasn’t a good sign, Nira thought. Doing work he could have made a human do for him rarely boded well for his mode, or his cooperation. “So, flying missions for weeks on end, acquiring important things, and being shot at by angry humans is not favor enough?” The dragon tossed down a few smaller cargo pouches, then began to unbuckle the larger one from under his belly. “Is that why you haven’t brought your usual army of servants to help unharness me? Afraid I’d get angry and knock someone over the railing?” 

“The thought crossed my-”

“The favor, first.” When the largest storage pack came loose, the dragon eased it down onto the deck. Once it was settled, he pushed it aside, and worked to undo the last harness straps from around his underbelly. “What is it?” 

Nira took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was likely to be a very forceful ‘no’. “I know you just came from The Emplacement, but-”

“No!” The dragon slapped his forepaw against the deck, snarled, then went back to freeing himself from the harness. Soon, he wriggled free of the long, narrow bag situated along his spine, letting it slide down over his tail, and out behind him. “Anything else?” 

Nira pressed on, undaunted. “I need you to fly me back to The Emplacement, along with Rog and a few others. I’ll need Jirril, too, and maybe Amelia and the girls. We may have a problem that needs dealing with. And we may need you to-”

Malaresh held up both forepaws, his mottled pink and gray pads exposed. “Let me stop you right there, for I have a counteroffer to propose.” 

The princess set her jaw. She already knew what was coming. “Is it going to be to su-”

“How about instead of flying you back to the very place I just left, where they’re likely to open fire on sight…” The dragon flourished a single front paw. “I stay here instead, relax, drink a little, and then you suck my majestic cock?” 

Nira sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Malaresh, why are you like this?” 

“Because I’m a fucking dragon!” He unbuckled the last of the straps from around his lower body, and hind legs, then ripped them away and tossed them aside. “I am not your servant, your errand boy, or your mount! I am not here to do your bidding, and I will not bow down and kiss your royal human ass!” Malaresh tilted his head back, and spat a gout of roiling, red-orange flame into the sky. Searing heat washed over Nira, but she ground her teeth, and kept from flinching. “I ruled a barony, you know!” 

“And I ruled the empire that ruled your barony!” Nira forced herself to meet the dragon’s eyes, glaring up at him, unblinking. Nira was always willing to offer the dragon his due respect, but she was not about to back down. 

“You ruled nothing!” The dragon hissed, all his gold-edged frills on full, spiny display around his horned head. “You’re a princess, not a queen, or an empress.” 

Nira wasn’t going to argue that point with him, she knew it would be a fruitless effort. Instead, she had a better point to make. “But I did have an empire, of which, you and all the lands you ruled were part. You, however, never had a barony, because they haven’t existed since before you were hatched.” 

“I should rule this whole vessel!” The dragon waved his forepaw at the Cataclysm, then swatted a bag of cargo aside in frustration. It tumbled across the deck, hit the metal railing, and flipped over it, tumbling away into darkness. Malaresh watched it until it vanished, then snorted. “I…” His spines slowly flattened back down. “Meant to do that.” 

Nira just sighed, shaking her head. “Hope there wasn’t anything important, in there.” 

“Think it was your wine, actually.” Malaresh scratched his neck with a wing tip talon.

“So you really did bring me wine?” Nira grimaced. Just her luck. 

“I did, but…” Malaresh shifted his weight, curling his tail around his paws. “Perhaps I slightly overreacted.” 

As soon as Nira thought she saw an opening, she seized it. She stepped forward, and set her hand upon the dragon’s chest. She’d learned, over the years, that Malaresh did not mind gentle contact, and shows of affection. If anything, he seemed to find it a show of respect, or even reverence. Or, Nira thought, maybe the dragon just didn’t like to admit he enjoyed being petted. Nira stroked him just were the thicker plates protecting his heart and lungs melted into smaller scales. 

“I know I’m asking a lot of you. And yes, you deserve a chance to rest, and relax.” When Malaresh rumbled in his chest, she added her other hand, seeking to soothe both his likely-sore body and his bruised ego. “You’ve done a very good job for us, and we probably wouldn’t even still be flying these days, if not for you.” 

“No.” The dragon snorted, gazing down at her, his expression more impassive than angry, now. “You would not. Now continue your petting.” 

Chuckling, Nira did just that. She rubbed him up to the base of his neck, then back down, scratching at the finer scales where he was more sensitive. “But we need your help again. We have a situation, and I need to go to The Emplacement. It may well be a dangerous trip, and I want my biggest, strongest, most dangerous ally there.” 

Malaresh slowly cocked his head. “You are ordering me to serve as your guardian?” 

Nira offered him her biggest, most shining smile. She knew the dragon would see right through it, but that wasn’t the point. Malaresh had a longing for the way things were in the olden days, long before the advent of airships. Back when a single dragon was considered force enough to change the course of a war, or even a nation. When they were afforded the respect due to such a powerful creature. 

“Ordering? Of course not. You’re a dragon, and I, a mere human.” She ran her hands up the base of his neck again, and when Malaresh lowered his head for her, she gently took his muzzle between her hands, stroking his jawline. “I would never presume to order such a powerful being. I would, however, humbly request such protection from you, in keeping with the alliance your barony shares with my empire. I am in danger, and in need of a powerful dragon to keep my safe.” 

Malaresh pushed his muzzle into her hands, his throaty purr rising, sounding like stones tumbling around in a barrel. “You’re laying it on a little too thick now, Human, but your efforts at flattery are appreciated, nonetheless.” 

“Tell you what,” Nira said, moving one hand to rub the soft spot between the dragon’s nostrils. “You do this for me, and if there’s trouble, I’ll let you burn something. Something big.” 

“How big?” The dragon cocked his head, his eyes fixed upon her. 

“Oh, at least a large table.” 

Malaresh snorted. “Not big enough. I can burn something that small any time I wish.”

“Alright, alright.” Nira held her hands up. “How about…a small outbuilding?” 

The dragon tilted his head in the other direction. “Medium sized outbuilding, at the least.” 

“That sounds fair.” Nira patted his muzzle, her smile twisting into a scowl. “Hell, depending on how things go, you may get to burn down an entire tavern.” 

Malaresh rumbled his approval. “Now you are sweetening the deal. Very well, I shall consider it, and have an offer for you by the morning. So tell me, then.” The dragon pulled his head back from her hands, curling his neck into an S shape. “Why do you wish to venture to this place, and why do you believe you will be in danger there?”

Nira folded her arms, offering him an easy smile. “Because some cranky dragon and his feathered concubine just stole a bunch of their merchandise.” 

“What hilarious wit you possess.” Malaresh gestured with the tip of his spiky tail, swirling it in the air. “Why, you could make a fine living, telling your jests and japes and sarcastic observations in taverns in exchange for cheers, and alms!” 

Nira blinked, unfolding her arms to rub the back of her neck. “Jests and Japes? Alms? Gods, maybe you are old enough to have held a barony.”

The dragon only grunted, flicking his tail against the deck. “Anyway, Jirril is not my concubine.”

“Oh no?” Nira quirked a brow, grinning. “I think the whole ship knows you and him-”

“Concubine implies servitude,” Malaresh said, licking his muzzle. “Jirril is my companion, not my servant. Nonetheless, you have evaded the question.” He sharpened his tongue, adding a low, menacing snarl. “Who is endangering you? I will rend their limbs from their bodies, and incinerate what remains.” 

“It’s not that simple, unfortunately.” Nira rubbed her forehead, wishing there was an easy way to explain all she’d learned. “It seems that the Union may be changing tactics. They may be looking to try and capture me, or even undertake an attempt on my life. Kasis thinks we should ask our contacts at The Emplacement what they know. It’s also possible there may be even be Golden Union agents there, and-”

“There are.” Malaresh snapped his jaws. “Who do you think we stole those airship parts from?” 

“Wait, what?” Nira slowly turned towards the largest of the cargo bags now littering the deck. “I thought you said you stole those from The Emplacement?”

“I did.” The dragon growled guttural laughter. “There were several small Golden Union vessels docked there for repairs and resupply. I made the workers take the parts the little horned rat wanted out of the Union ships.” He flexed his wings in a shrug. “Really, who did you think was shooting at me?” 

Nira started to laugh, she should have expected something like that from Malaresh by now. The dragon did so enjoy his little games and manipulations. But her laughter died as quickly as it began, when she realized the true meaning of something else he’d said, too. “You said someone would open fire on sight if you returned…You mean the Union, didn’t you. They’re still there, aren’t they?” 

“I would assume so, yes.” Malaresh sat up a little straighter, a fang-filled smile parting his tapered muzzle. “Probably waiting on back up to arrive, considering that Jirril and I inflicted quite a bit of damage on their airships.” He hissed through his sharp teeth. “They’re lucky they were docked at a neutral location. Otherwise I’d have burned them all down, and the docking structures with them. I can only assume they must have paid Prav’s people a hefty sum to use his facilities and his mechanics. Probably charging them triple for work and supplies, as well. Otherwise I doubt he’d be willing to service the Union.”

Nira scowled, pacing back and forth before the dragon. “Maybe. It sounds like the Union is working on expansion, making treaties with our old neighbors, and so on. If they’re looking to expand into the Sundered Lands, Prav might be trying to make nice. I know they’ve got spies and scouts in the area, I’m sure they’ve got at least a small fleet of ships, as well. What kind of vessels where they?”

“Scouting vessels, mostly, recon. Armed, but not heavily so. Think they were Sparrow-Swifts.” The dragon lifted a forepaw, half-unsheathing his retractable claws. “But I did not bother to read their markings.” Malaresh inspected his claws. “You said you had news I would not like, yet you have not yet broken it to me. Dare I ask how you know they’re attempting expansion through treaties? You said you know they have spies in the area…might I venture to guess you’ve caught one?” 

Nira watched the dragon closely, wondering just how much he knew. If there were Union agents at the Emplacement while he was there with Jirril, they could have overheard them discussing their operations. Or, they might have had another snow gryphon there with them. Perhaps the dragon had just taken an educated guess…or maybe she was reading too much into things. 

“We did, yes.” 

“Was it by chance a white gryphon?” 

The princess tensed up. Lissir had filled her in on the history between the Golden Union’s snow gryphons and the empire’s dragons, and she wasn’t sure how Malaresh was going to take this. “It is, yes.” 

Malaresh slowly, deliberately, set his paw back down. His claws remained unsheathed. Nira knew well enough that among dragons, that was not a friendly gesture. “And have you killed him, yet?” 

“Of course not, Malaresh.” She held her hands up. “Listen, you need to understand-”

“Good!” The dragon pushed himself up to all fours, shaking out his great body, scales clicking. “That means I still get to beat the shit out of him. And when I’m done, I’m going to break his wings and toss him overboard.”