Pledged in Blood - Chapter Thirty Nine (Patreon)

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Chapter Thirty Nine

Ayrah

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I paid no heed to anyone but Ayrah while we cried together. The whole damn army could have opened fire, and I doubt I’d have done anything but let them end me. Sorrow was my essence, and memories my only vision. A thousand moments in my life with Melakar rolled through my mind. Sometimes they came one after another, other times they were all jumbled up. I saw us playing as hatchlings, chasing each other through the sky as growing youths, mating for the first time, fighting for the first time. I saw our declarations of love, the hatching of our son, and all the best moments of his life. I witnessed anew the horrible fights we had when Vevorek was gone. I glimpsed memories of Aryah comforting him, and I understood anew, that perhaps she had loved him as I had. 

Her grief certainly said she did. 

I cried with her until I had emptied myself of tears. I only wished my pain could be so easily expended. Even then, I kept Ayrah cradled in my forelegs, and shrouded in my wings. She was welcome to my comfort and my shelter as long as she wished it. I lifted my head away from my wings, struggling to blink the bleariness from my eyes. 

Nesh and the gryphons had moved a respectful distance away, and the soldiers nearest them had retreated to their comrades in arms. Blue Jay and Sparrow sat a wing-length apart from one another. They were now also free of all their gear. Their wings were stretched and brushing each other, a curtain of feathers to offer Ayrah and I some semblance of privacy during our grieving. Given my size, such privacy was likely an illusion, but I appreciated their gesture just the same. 

The soldiers had abandoned their defensiveness. Rifles were lowered now, or slung over shoulders, pistols were sheathed at their hips, and the cannoneers had abandoned their artillery, turning it away. Even the commander looked a little chastised. He stood with his arms folded, and refused to meet my gaze when I looked his way. Some of the men murmured, gesturing at us, others stood still and tried not to stare. 

I sniffled, working to even out my breathing again. Only when I felt Ayrah stir did I ease my forelegs back and glance down at her. She lifted her tear-streaked face towards me, and offered me a thankful smile. I returned it, best I could, but kept her cradled in my wings. She remained there until her tears had stopped and her breathing had eased. At last she patted my chest. I pulled my wings back to let her rise. 

Ayrah slowly pushed herself to her feet. She wiped her eyes with her hands, and her face with her sleeves, then smoothed out her coat. Ayrah took a few deep breaths to finish steadying herself. When she was fully collected and prepared, she took one final breath, then whirled around on her men. 

This time, her words were venom, sharp and deadly serious. “I will say this once, and once only! This dragon is a guest! She is here at my invitation! She, and her companions, are to be treated like gods-damned royalty! Anyone who so much points a weapon in their general direction, without proper provocation, will find themselves in a jail cell! Is that perfectly clear?” 

“Yes, Ma’am!” The soldiers spoke in one, nearly unified voice, scrambling back into formation. 

Ayrah beckoned for the local commander to step forward. He did so in quick, evenly paced steps, then stopped and saluted her. Ayrah waved a hand at him. “Ella, this is Nemos. I hope you’ll forgive his poor social skills, and his terrible welcome. But he’s in charge of the city’s defense, and I cannot fault him for taking his duties seriously.” 

“I understand.” I bowed my head to him, a sign of forgiveness, whether or not he realized it. “That was about what I expected to happen.” 

“Wasn’t what I expected.” Sparrow snapped her beak, glaring. “We were informed otherwise.” 

Ayrah gave Sparrow a nod, then waved at me the same way. “Nemos, this is Ella. As you likely gathered, I know this dragon quite well. She was the mate of…” Ayrah swallowed hard, her voice shaking again. “The dragon who…used to visit.” 

Nemos’ steely exterior softened, and he sighed, gazing up at me. “I gathered that much, too. I…” He glanced around at everyone. “Apologize for the way you were received, however…” 

“We were told they were attacked by a dragon.” Ayrah folded her hands before her, gazing down at the ground. “The frontier encampments, beyond your valley. They sent word that a dragon attacked them, killed a lot of people, and was shot down. They didn’t give just he details, or a description, just orders from on high to set everyone on high alert for another dragon attack.” She took a slow breath. “I…I think I knew it was one of you two, but…well, we can talk about that in private.” 

Nemos picked up for her. “We were already worried about an attack, and when you deviated from the assigned course-”

“Because you were aiming all your cannons at us.” Blue Jay clacked his beak.

“Yes, that’s what high alert usually means, gryphon.” Nemos clenched his jaw. “We’d already been told a dragon may well attack.” 

“A dragon escorted by your own damn army’s gryphons?” Blue Jay gave a little snarl. “That should have been your first clue that we weren’t attacking.” 

“How were we to know she was being genuine?” Nemos tilted his head towards Sparrow. “One solitary gryphon shows up, in a battered, cobbled together Legion harness, and asks to bring a dragon to visit, not long after we’d been warned about more dragon attacks? I believe you now, yes, but her harness looked like something she’d taken from a dead legionnaire. For all we knew, she could be some raider who helped a dragon kill Legion gryphons! Or worse, she might work for Shevar, or-”

“That’s enough, Nemos.” Ayrah set her hand upon his arm, quieting him.

Sparrow brushed a wing over Blue Jay’s back to the same effect. Her voice was coldly even. “I understand. Please also understand that from our vantage, we were worried your artillery battalions may well have soldiers who lost friends or family to a dragon. We feared any such person may decide to try and take revenge, authorized or not. So I made the decision to deviate course.” She bowed her head, splaying her front legs. “I apologize for the difficulties and misunderstandings that caused.” Then she pushed herself back up, sharpening her tone. “But I will not apologize for protecting my companions, anymore than I expect you to apologize for protecting your city. Let us agree to move on under peaceful terms.” 

Nemos stared at her for a long moment, then lifted his hand and held it out to her. “Agreed.” 

Sparrow delicately clasped his hand in her paw and shook it in an odd human ritual. 

Ayrah arched an eye ridge, glancing up at me. “Melakar would have liked her.” 

“He’d have liked her just now, anyway.” I smiled down at Sparrow, who ignored me. “But when we first met, she was calling me a demoness.” 

“Oh?” Aryah folded her arms. “So he’d have really liked her. Now, I believe we were attempting introductions.” She gazed around at Nesh and the gryphons. “You two are clearly legion officers, and you’ve got a medic’s coat, so…Ella, why don’t you introduce them? Keep it unofficial, for the moment?” A smirk graced her lips. “Makes it harder to testify against you all in any potential court martial, should this visit go south.” 

“Very well.” I unfurled a wing, and used it to indicate my traveling companions. “This is Sparrow.” She flattened her eyes in distaste at the nickname, but dipped her head in acknowledgement nonetheless. I flicked my wing to the other gryphon. “This is Blue Jay.” He offered Ayrah an open beak smile, and a more formal bow, his forelegs spread. I folded my wing and curled a foreleg around Nesh. “And this is my latest vassal, Nesh. All three are as you say, members of your military. Nesh, however, has switched his allegiance to my empire.” 

“Not sure that’s entirely true.” Nesh chuckled as he leaned over my forelimb to present his hand to Ayrah. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, nonetheless.” 

Ayrah accepted his paw-shaking ritual. “And you as well.” She turned her attention back to me. The sorrow had not completely faded from her face, from her eyes, but a hint of her usual mischief was starting to return. “So, what was it you called yourself now? A queen?” 

“That is correct.” I released Nesh from my grasp to strike a more regal pose, arching my neck and flaring my wings. “Queen Ellamyriss, of the Valley of Gods’ Blood and Earth Flame.” 

Ayrah smiled, a wistful sort of smile. “So he actually talked you into accepting the role. I wasn’t sure he’d ever pull that off.” 

I gazed down at her in silent thought, slowly retracting my wings. Just how much did she know of Melakar’s plans? And how much was safe to discuss in front of others? Though I trusted Ayrah with any secrets Melakar did, I could not say the same for Nemos or any other soldier who may overhear us. 

“Not exactly, but I have taken up the mantle just the same.” I curled my tail around a hind paw, anxiety returning anew. “I believe you and I have much to discuss, but…perhaps not in public view.” 

Ayrah held her hands up. “No, definitely not in public. But, I have a place you can stay while you’re here, it’s spacious enough for a dragon or two, it’s comfortable, and it’s private.” 

I set my jaw, grinding my teeth. The idea of staying in the town, of sleeping where I’d be vulnerable to so many humans left my frills tingling and my spines flared. “I thought…perhaps I would sleep somewhere safer, at night. You…you could go there to speak with me, and-”

“Oh, quit bristling up all your head-spikes.” Ayrah swatted my shoulder, rolling her eyes. “You’ll be perfectly safe here, I’ll make sure of it. Besides, I had the place built for…” She trailed off, sighing. “For Melakar, and…I think we both know he’d want you to stay there, and experience the city, too.” 

I hung my head with an irritable grunt of agreement. Melakar would have wanted that. Rather than argue that point, I snorted at her. “They aren’t head-spikes. And don’t swat me, I’m not your hatchling.” 

“I shall swat you whenever, and wherever, I wish, and we both know it.” Ayrah lifted her hand, scratching me just under my chin. “And they’re spikes. On your head. Head-spikes.” 

Her touch left me leaning into her affection before I could stop myself. “They are called frills, and frill spines, and you will address them as such.” 

“I’ll call your sticky-outy skull ornaments whatever I like.” Ayrah lifted her other hand to scratch both sides of my jaw at once. “And you’ll be purring like a kitten for me, either way.” 

The way her fingers danced along my jawline had me fighting back just such a purr. I’d nearly forgotten that Ayrah had long since learned all the best and most delightful ways to pet and scratch a dragon. I’d have snapped at her and snarled something offensive about her attitude towards me, if it didn’t feel so damn relaxing. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Blue Jay nudge Nesh with a forepaw. “I hope you’re taking notes, Concubine.” 

Nesh ignored the jibe, instead staring at Ayrah. “I’m just baffled she got away with threatening to swat her, erm…anywhere.” 

Ayrah spared Nesh a glance and a grin. “I’ve known Ella almost as long as you’ve been alive, Medic. I spent more years living with dragons than you spent learning in medical school. They’re really just overgrown cats with dirty minds.” 

Nesh jerked his thumb towards Blue Jay. “So are gryphons.” He folded his arms. “Though I did like that bit about skull ornaments. Might have to start using that, even if I suspect it would be more correct to call her horns, that.” 

Ayrah finally released my muzzle from her pleasant ministrations, and turned towards the others. “What was that bit about a concubine?” 

“Ugh.” Nesh dragged a hand down his face. “It’s an inside joke between Ella and I that seems to grow considerably less inside by the day.” 

“Ah, that’s a shame.” Ayrah shrugged, then adjusted the sleeves of her coat. “There’s good money in being a dragon’s concubine, after all.” She spared Blue Jay a gryphon. “Probably less so in being a gryphon’s concubine, considering the gryphon legion’s wages.” 

“Well then, he’s in luck!” Blue Jay spread his wings. “Sparrow and I are probably going to have to borrow coin from Ella to bribe our way out of a court martial, anyway. We may as well borrow a little more to pay for Nesh’s services.” 

Nesh slowly and deliberately turned towards Blue Jay. He made a grand show of looking the gryphon over, clucking his tongue a few times. Then he shook his head, and turned away again. “You couldn’t afford me.” 

“That’s the spirit!” Ayrah punched Nesh on the shoulder hard enough to leave him stumbling. “Know your worth!” 

Nesh grimaced and rubbed his arm, glancing up at me. “I can see why you dragons get along so well with her.” 

“If you ask Nemos,” Ayrah said, flourishing her hand towards him. “He’d tell you he thinks I got along better with dragons and other such wilder peoples than I do with humans.” 

“I think the phrase I used, Ma’am, was fit in better.” Nemos clasped his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth upturned. If I had learned human expressions well enough, he was fighting back a smile. “Then again, I’ve seen you in the pubs, and you fit in just fine with that crowd.” 

“Oh, a pub crawler, are you?” Blue Jay stepped closer, fluffing up his white-tipped crown feathers in excitement. “Perhaps you can show us some of your favorite establishments.” 

Sparrow shot him a devious look, her ears splayed. “I’d warn you not to get yourself another demotion, but at this point I’m starting to doubt it’s going to matter.”

“Got caught drinking on duty, did you?” Ayrah laughed and patted the indigo gryphon’s head. “That’s a good bird!” 

Blue Jay blinked at her sudden touch, and then warbled. “Yes, but that’s not what get me in trouble. More what the drinking led to between that lovely, curious bar wench and me.” He shook himself, laughing. “As it turns out, backrooms are not as private as they sound.” 

Sparrow snapped her beak. “Especially not when the damn tavern’s still open, and you’ve got a fellow officer wondering where you’ve gone!” 

Nemos cleared his throat. Just as I wondered if we were making him uncomfortable, he pivoted towards Ayrah. “That sounds more like you than I suspect you’d care to admit, Ma’am.” 

Ayrah only smiled. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Nemos.”

The smile Nemos struggled to hold back made a quick return. “Is that only because you were too drunk to remember?” 

Ayrah clasped him on the shoulder. “Exactly so.” She took a deep breath, and turned back towards me. “Now, then. Ella. To business, before I take you into my city. What brings you to Tivos?” She held her hands up as if to quell any immediate reply. “We’ll…talk plenty about Melakar, later. But I rather doubt you came here just to break the news. So first I need to know a few things for official purposes, so I can set some things in motion. I was told trade agreements and things were mentioned, is that true? If it’s only a ruse to get you in, I understand. I just need to know.” 

I took a slow, deep breath. “You…you know what Melakar was trying to achieve, don’t you?” 

Ayrah folded her arms, nodding once. “I do.” 

“I am taking up that mantle.” I lifted my head, gazing out across the plaza. An ocean of human soldiers still lingered, watching us from a distance. Beyond them lay more humans than I could count, more than I’d never ever seen in one place. “I need allies, Ayrah, people I can trust, people who believe in what Melakar…” I paused and amended myself. “What I want to achieve. I understand that you are only one person, and you cannot represent your entire nation. But…you’ve clearly earned yourself a position of power and influence. If you and I are able to create some sort of trade agreement, even just between your city and my valley, that would…” 

When I trailed off, Nesh picked up for me. “It would show the Empress that dragons can be trusted. If one of her important trade cities, began openly trading with a friendly dragon? That could be big, for everyone. We all know the empress wants what’s in that valley. We just…we need to show her that there are other ways to get it.”

“While it may not be my place to interject,” Nemos said, shifting his weight. “And without knowing the specifics, an agreement even with a single dragon to allow us access to their lands for mining purposes, etc, while also agreeing to deny Shevar those same rights, could be beneficial to the city. And…I’d like to think the empress would approve.” 

Ayrah pursed her lips. “That’s a lot of words to say, you think it’s a good idea.” 

Nemos held his hands up. “I think it’s a good theory.” He cast me a pointed glance. “I haven’t heard any actual ideas or proposals yet.” 

“Nor are we likely to have the time to truly negotiate on such a thing.” Nesh set a hand upon my shoulder. “If I may, Your Majesty?” 

I bowed my head to him. “Certainly.” 

Nesh approached Ayrah, switching into his diplomatic mode. “Her Majesty wishes to conduct expansive trade negotiations with your city in the future. However, for now, her time is short. She is currently hosting several more injured gryphons, and has in fact ventured here to purchase as many medical supplies as possible. Her intent is to treat not only the gryphons, but also to visit each of the many villages that litter her lands, so that I may provide them the extensive medical services which they currently lack. That being said…” Nesh gestured with his hands as he spoke, turning back and forth so as to address both Ayrah, and Nemos. “In the long term, Her Majesty does wish to create an alliance with Diandrios, not unlike that which the gryphons had forged. She wishes to maintain autonomy and control over the valley, but is willing to open it up to all manner of expeditionary excursions, and to sell rights to its resources exclusively to Diandrios, in return for alliances of both trade, and mutual defense. To that end, Her Majesty is also in the process of assembling a great army of her kind, and all those who would call her friend. In fact, her predecessor has already forged a binding alliance with a gryphon clan. By rights, this alliance now passes to Queen Ellamyriss. If, when she leaves this city to return home, she is able to call it a friend, and has conducted friendly trade, she will consider that an important step in the right direction. Further more, she will look forward to returning often and conducting much more trade, utilizing the vast, vast wealth at her disposal.” 

When Nesh stepped back to me, I forced myself not to gaze down at him in awe. He rarely flexed his diplomatic muscles, but every time he did so, I found myself impressed. “Essentially that, yes. My primary goal is to purchase all the medical supplies the four of us can carry. My secondary goal is to establish what I hope to be friendly relations with your city.” 

I had other goals, too. To let word spread throughout their land, and to their Empress, that a dragon wished to call them ally, that a dragon visited this place not as conqueror, but as friend. I also needed to talk to Ayrah privately, to see what else she knew about Melakar’s work. Those things, however, I saw no need to speak aloud. 

Ayrah only smiled and gave me a long, slow bow. “Then may I offer Her Majesty the warmest of greetings, on behalf of the trade city of Tivos.” 

“Thank you.” I lowered my head, brushing my muzzle against the cobbled stones beneath our feet. I stretched my wings out and laid them across the ground, offering her the most gracious gesture a dragon could manage. “I appreciate your welcome, and your generosity.” 

As I pushed myself back up, I glanced at Nemos. I was still displeased with being aimed at by every conceivable weapon in the city. The warrior in me wanted to haul him off his feet and shaking him in my paws till his bones threatened to snap and he was begging just to apologize. But I knew a Queen had to let go of such petty things as wounded pride. Besides, Sparrow had already addressed the issue with him. Melakar would have made do with the explanations and apologies already exchanged. It was best that I did the same.

“And with that out of the way…” Ayrah stepped back, and turned away, waving her hand in a sweeping motion towards the outskirts of the plaza. She’d always been a fan of grand gesture. “Would you like a tour of my city?” 

“No.” There was little I wanted less than to wander narrow, cramped lanes surrounded by gawking humans who might well harbor both grudges and hidden weaponry. Ayrah spun back towards me, and I could see the retort already forming, so I cut her off. “But refusal would be counterproductive.” I curled a foreleg around Nesh to hug him against my chest. “And Nesh would never let me live it down if I came all this way and spent the entire visit in isolated hermitage.” 

Blue Jay strode up alongside me. “I’d never let you live it down, either.” 

I snorted and tossed my head. “Who cares what you think, though?” 

The gryphon gave a wounded coo, hanging his head. 

“Oh, don’t sulk, bird.” I flicked my tail against his, ruffling its feathers. 

Nesh patted my paw. “Honestly, Ella, I think Melakar would have wanted you to see the city sights. Besides, you were quite taken by that locomotive, aren’t you curious to see what else humans have created?”

I ground my teeth, my frills pinned to my skull. I hated that Nesh was right both about Melakar, and the locomotive. “Very well. I shall allow you to show me your city, but only to honor Melakar’s memory.” 

That made Ayrah’s face light up. “Yes! That’s a wonderful idea.” She came forward to hug my muzzle. “We’ll tour the city, and then we’ll have a feast, in his honor. And you and I can…can tell stories, about him.” She sniffled, easing back. “But we’ll wait till we have privacy to talk too much more about him. I fear I’ve cried enough in front of my men.” Ayrah stepped away, then flashed me a playful smile. “Of course, if we were really touring just to honor his memory, the only place we’d go is the library.” 

“Oh, yes please!” Nesh tilted his head to look up at me, grinning. “Could we make that our first destination?” 

“Ugh.” I released Nesh to rub my head with a forepaw, just between my horns. “Must we? I can only take so many books before I get a headache.” 

“I’m afraid the library isn’t really designed to fit a dragon.” Ayrah laughed and waved for Nemos to proceed her. As he walked towards the line of soldiers, she followed him. “Drove poor Melakar mad. Drove me mad, cause I had to go in there to look for things on his behalf. At least until I started asking Lir. She got stuck with all Melakar’s book requests, the last few times he visited.” 

“Did he…” I padded after Ayrah, trying to wrap my mind around the idea she was presenting. That he hadn’t just been here once, or even a few times. “He came here…often? You said you’d…built a place for him to stay, earlier.” 

“Yearly, at least. Sometimes more often.” Ayrah sighed. Her shoulders slumped for a few moments. “When his travels took him in this direction. Had to have some special authorizations and things made, had to have him escorted by soldiers, but the city got somewhat used to him. At least enough not to cause a panic every time he flew in.”

I stared down at my own forepaws, a sudden, cold sort of guilt digging a pit deep in my stomach. “I fear then that you knew him better in his last years than I.” 

Ayrah slowly turned back towards me, her eyes wet, and a wistful smile upon her lips. “He missed you, you know. Every day.” 

I took a shaking breath, managing a nod. Nesh stroked my neck, and I arched it into his gentle touch. “I know.” 

“Let’s talk about something else, before we both end up crying again. They’ll be plenty of time to talk about him later.” Ayrah blinked away unshed tears, fiddling with the buttons of her coat. “How long will you be staying?” 

“Several days, I think.” I glanced towards the gryphons for confirmation. They both nodded. “I’ve left two more injured gryphons back in Melakar’s old lair, along with humans I do not exactly trust. So the sooner we return, the better. We planned to stay only long enough to rest from our trip, to collect all the supplies we need and to…” I waggled a wing. “Negotiate with…well, you I suppose.” I rumbled, lifting my frills. “You know, when we saw a picture of you in some of Melakar’s notes about this city, we hoped you might be living here. I certainly did not expect you to be running the place.” 

“I am full of surprises, aren’t I?” Ayrah laughed, a gentle, tension breaking sort of laughter. She waved her hands at the lines of soldiers standing nearby. “Oh, move aside already. Make room for our guests!” Then she snatched Nemos’ sleeve to get his attention. “Set up a detachment to provide escort for us throughout the city. Send the rest back to their usual posts, and get word sent throughout the city that the dragon is our guest. Make sure there’s soldiers ready to help clear the streets ahead of us, if needed. I’m going to find Lir, and introduce her.” 

“Yes, Ma’am!” Nemos snapped his heels together, and saluted her. “I’ll met you with the escort shortly.” 

As Nemos hurried off, Ayrah gazed around at all our shed gear. “Tell you what. I’ll go and make sure all of your belongings are taken to where you’ll stay. After that, I need to find my friend. I left her waiting in the terminal building after Nemos tried to stick me there before I decided to come handle things myself.” She glanced towards the place in question. “Her name is Lir. She’s a close friend, and also an invaluable assistant. She’ll be coming with us on the tour, and then I’ll put her at your disposal while you’re here.” Ayrah came forward and reached out to rub my nose. “It’s good to see you again, Ella.” She sniffed, and bowed her head, bumping her forehead to my muzzle. “I wish it was under better circumstances, but I really am glad to see you again. It’s too damn long.” 

“Yes,” I said, returning her affection with a gentle. “It has.” Then I gently nudged her away. “Now go find your friend while I still have the nerve to walk through your city.”