Pledged in Blood - Chapter Forty One (Patreon)

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Chapter Forty One

Speech

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“Ella!” Nesh hurried around to stand in front of me. “This is an awfully big step.” He held his hands up, and when I lowered my head, he gently took my muzzle in his hands. “I agree with you that it’s the right thing to do, but are you sure you’re ready to handle this?” Nesh gently stroked my jawline. “It might easier for you to walk amongst so many people once you’ve been here a few days, once you’ve adjusted to being in a human city.” 

I grit my jaws, flattening back my frills. I knew Nesh was right, but this was about more than me adjusting my comfortable levels. “A queen…A queen should not hide, Nesh. If Melakar could do this, I can do this. I…” I pawed at the strangely smooth, flattened stones beneath my feet. “I need to prove something to myself, Nesh. That I’m…that I’m more than just bloodthirsty warrior. That…That I am not too afraid of wandering through your crowded populace, whether they be friend or foe. Melakar went to his death, knowing he risked his life, and still he walked proudly amongst your soldiers. If I cannot do the same, then I am not worthy to wear the Mantle.” 

“Wise words, Ella.” Nesh smiled and rubbed my nose before moving aside for me. “I think he’d have been proud to hear you speak them.” 

“Agreed.” Ayrah moved out in front of me. “Let me take the lead, though. We’ll make sure everyone knows you’re being escorted by me, and by the military. You’re here on an official visit, which should do enough to calm people’s nerves.” She waved towards the barricades. “Nemos, run ahead and make sure a path is cleared. Don’t close the streets, anymore, but make sure people stay out of the way. Send word to secure the roads from here to the market, and open up the road we just passed through. The crowds can stay but have your men keep order. And tell them to be extra vigilant, just in case.” 

“Yes, Ma’am.” Nemos gave a quick salute, and then hurried ahead of the rest of us to converse with the horseback soldiers beyond the barricade. They sprang into action, herding people out of the way, and moving the barricades aside. 

Ayrah turned back to the rest of us. “Give them a moment to make room for you, if you please.” She glanced at the gryphons. “If you two wouldn’t mind taking up protective escort positions, I’d appreciate it.” 

“Gryphon bodyguards,” Nesh said, grinning at me. “Who could ask for more than that?” 

“And Lir?” Ayrah tilted her head towards me. “If you would?” 

“Sure thing.” Lir patted Blue Jay’s neck, then hopped off of him. “Thanks for the ride, beautiful!” She scurried over to me, tilting her head back. “Hey, do you mind if I ride on your back a while? Gives me a better vantage of everyone around you.” 

I cocked my head at her odd request, but nodded. “Go ahead. Shall I lay down for you, or-”

“No thanks, I got it.” Lir scrambled up my foreleg with practiced ease, bracing her boots against my scales. In no time at all she’d made it over my shoulder, and settled herself against my back. Small as she was, she could practically sit cross-legged atop me, if she wished it. “Okay, all set.” 

I glanced back to check on her just in time to see her unbuttoning her coat. She reached inside, and withdrew an elegant looking firearm. It was silver and black, embossed with gold, and of a make I’d never seen before. It was smaller than a human’s pistol, made to fit her hands, and with a rounded section between the barrel and the handle. She crossed her arms and rested the gun over her forearm. 

“Is that a revolver?” Nesh scrambled closer to me, staring up the urd’thin’s gun. 

“Sure is.” She held it up, showing it off. “Uses cartridges, too. Brand new Shevarrian design. I like it cause it looks ornamental…” She spun the circular section in the middle of the gun, and it clicked around a few times. Then she flashed Nesh a toothy-grin. “But it isn’t. Shoots real good.”

“Damn.” Nesh folded his arms, grimacing. “They don’t even issue us revolvers yet. Maybe the high ranking officers. I sure as hell didn’t get one.” 

“Nesh,” I said, my voice soft. “What does all that mean?” 

Nesh glanced my way, chuckling. “It’s a fancy gun that shoots quickly, multiple times before you have to reload it, basically. And the powder’s kept in little metal shells, rather than-”

I held up a paw towards him. “Fancy gun that shoots fast would have sufficed.” 

“You keep a weapon like that in your coat?” Blue Jay padded closer to us, glaring up at Lir with narrowed eyes and flattened ears. “I thought you said you were Ayrah’s assistant?” 

“I am.” Lir retook her position, bracing her weapon against her arm. “I assist her in doing whatever she needs done.” 

Blue Jay clacked his beak. “I see. I’m starting to think you assist her, the way I assist the Legion.” 

“Lir has her moments.” Ayrah approached me and patted my shoulder. “I’ve known her nearly as long as you, and trust her just as much.” She flashed me a wry grin. “Maybe more so. Now, whenever you’re ready, Ella.” She swept her hand towards the crowded street before us, then gave me some room to prepare myself mentally.

Ready? I wasn’t even close to prepared to walk amongst a crowd of humans. Let alone a crowd that might be hiding those with hostile intent. I stared down the street, my paws going cold as if I gazed upon my own impending doom. Hundreds of humans lined the cobbled path ahead, maybe even more than that. Armed soldiers patrolled their lines, but were there enough of them to prevent the crowd from attacking, if they so wished? What if they swarmed me? In times before the advent of their cannons and other advanced weaponry, that was sometimes how dragons died. A well-placed poison-slathered arrow to a wing joint to force the dragon to land, or a ballista to shoot it out of the sky. And then a flood of humans armed with spears, and swords, to piece and slice, as deeply and in as many places as they could. Sometimes they hit something vital. Other times the dragon just bled out. 

The thought left my heart thrashing against my sternum. Dying such a slow, agonizing death was an old fear for all dragons. Though there was glory in dying in battle, no one wanted to live long enough to be bled out while humans still clambered across them. Or worse, struggling as they were cut apart like slaughtered cattle. Many of my ancestors had lost their lives that way, in battle with human armies. No matter how many humans they took with them, there were always more, a swarm of them like ravenous ants tearing apart a spider. At least in the end, Melakar was able to spend his last breaths in the arms of someone he loved.

I took a deep breath, trying to force an end to the spiral of thoughts. My blood was like ice now, and the chill that started in my paws had spread to my wings. My belly knotted itself around my spine. The only thing warm left in me now was my fire glands, which tingled and burned to be utilized. They begged me to blast flame at the crowds, to drive them back before they got too close. 

Only when my lungs ached did I let my breath back out. I inhaled till my chest plates expanded, and held my breath again. I was being foolish, and I knew it. I made myself imagine Melakar at my side, smiling at me. You’re right, Ella, you are being foolish. I exhaled slowly through my nostrils, and took another breath. In my mind, Melakar draped his wing across my back, comforting me while I collected myself. 

As I repeated the breathing ritual a few times, I reminded myself that if Melakar could do this, I could do this. These were not the people that had murdered him. If he could be friend to them, then damn it, so could I. Breath by breath, my racing heart calmed its frantic pace, and warmth returned to my blood, and my extremities. In my head, I Melakar withdrawing his wing from my back. He smiled at me, as if proud I no longer needed its shelter. Lir shifted on my back, and I could not help but imagine Melakar’s wing inadvertently toppling her over in flailing pile of white fur and oversized ears. 

The mental image made me laugh, and everyone around turned to stare at me. Nesh put a hand upon my scales. “Everything alright, Ella?” 

“Fine, thank you. Just preparing myself.” I licked my muzzle, and took another slow breath. 

Nesh patted me, grinning. “Melakar say something funny in your head to ease the tension again?” 

I dropped my head to bump my nose against Nesh’s cheek. He had come to know me so well, so quickly. “Close enough. Alright, Ayrah.” I glanced at her. “Let’s proceed.”

“As you wish.” Ayrah gave me a formal bow, as much for the benefit of her people as anything else. She lowered her voice to be heard only within our little group. “I’m going to need to give you an introduction. Anything you want me to tell them? Or not tell them?” 

I flexed my wings, uncertain. “I shall leave that to your discretion.” 

Nesh gestured between us. “I think it’s important we emphasize she’s royalty, among dragons. Hearing word of such may help get the Empress’ attention, and if there is anyone out there looking to harm a dragon, it may give them pause if they’re afraid they’ll bring down the wrath of an entire army of them. Perhaps we should leave out her relationship to Melakar, though. If there are…” Nesh dropped his voice lower still, into a scarcely heard whisper. “Traitors out there, we might not want them to know Melakar left behind a widow. Or they might look to strike her, next.” 

“No,” I said, my voice suddenly a furious snarl. It was all I could do to keep from spitting fire into the air over the humans’ heads. I would not hide from Melakar’s killers. “Tell them who I really am. Let word spread. Let them seek me out, and save me the trouble of finding them. Send their assassins, send their slayers, for I will welcome one and all with flame and fang. Let their masters know Melakar will be avenged. I will bury them and build my empire atop their charred bones.” 

Nesh tugged on the sleeves of his coat, glancing at Ayrah. “Maybe leave out that last bit.” 

Blue Jay warbled, a playful, amused sound. “Oh, I don’t know, charred bones seem like a solid foundation for both empires and friendships, to me.” 

“Shut your beak, bird.” I nipped at his wing feathers, then nudged Ayrah’s back with my muzzle. “Just say what you think is best. Your judgement in these matters is better than mine. I just do not wish to hide anything.” 

Ayrah strode towards her citizens, spreading her arms wide. She lifted her voice, calling out in grand, booming tones. “Good people of Tivos! Firstly, allow me to apologize for the day’s difficult conditions. I promise you, streets are being reopened as we speak, and our security protocols will be revisited as required. But your safety is my utmost priority, followed by the safety of our dear visitors. I thank you all for your patience in these matters. But as you can plainly see, we have an extraordinary visitor in our midst! And I’m afraid extraordinary visitors require extraordinary measures and precautions.” 

As she spoke, Ayrah continued walking forward, soon reaching the area where the barricades once blocked off the street. Lir patted my neck, which I took as a signal to follow Ayrah. I did so, walking with slow, even steps, careful to stay behind her. Nesh walked alongside my forelegs. Blue Jay and Sparrow matched my pace as they escorted me, a gryphon on either side of the street. 

Ayrah kept up her speech. “But my dear friends, let us not overreact, or give in to fear! After all, this is not our first dragon visitor. The good people of Tivos have proven warm hosts to such a guest before, have they not? Surely you all remember Melakar’s visits to our lovely city.” 

The mention of his name was a tiny claw, digging into my heart. From the way Ayrah’s shoulders temporarily sagged, she knew the same pain. But she forced her way through it, and went on. “Those of you who recall his first visit to our city surely remember the chaos and fear that took hold! But I ask you, how long did that last? Never once did he harm us, never once did he threaten us! In no time at all, he became as a regular visitor, a friend to the city! Many of you fine folk surely even had a chance to speak with him, to welcome him personally. I would ask no less of you now, when you welcome this dragon in turn to our beloved Tivos.” 

Ayrah paused, stepping closer to a few people lined up along the road, as if speaking to them individually. “But friends!” She turned to another group, smiling. “Friends! You should know that our visitor is no ordinary dragon, if indeed such a term can be applied to a creature so grand. For this dragon is two things! Firstly?” Ayrah held up a finger, turning a slow circle on her heel. All the gathered masses stared at her, silent save for a few murmurings. “This dragon is in fact, Melakar’s former mate, and the mother of his son!” 

When that drew murmurs of surprise from the crowd, I again found myself wondering just how long Melakar had been coming here. If he had truly made himself a local fixture, it would have provided him a better jumping off point to visit other parts of Diandrios and Shevar alike, not to mention any number of other places. It also might well have made him a target to those looking to prevent him from forging alliances. Shooting him down and falsely claiming betrayal was certainly one way to sour the prospect of friendship between dragon and human.

I did not want to lose myself in such speculation now, however. I forced myself to stay focused on Ayrah, to keep my thoughts bound to the moment. Ayrah’s mannerisms and the ease with which she commanded their attention reminded me of some of her old thieving stories. I’d always wondered at the truth of her tales. In some of them, her tongue and quicker wit earned her some great treasure from easily swayed nobles. In others, it had saved her from a jail cell, or worse. Now, seeing her spin her verbal gifts and weave her townspeople in her web, I saw those stories in a new light. 

“That’s right, good folk!” Ayrah pivoted back towards the center of the road, Nemos trailing her at a respectful distance. “Today’s visitor is family to our bronze-scaled friend! But she’s much more than that. Understand, my dear friends, that this dragon?” Ayrah spun towards me, flourishing her hand again. “Is royalty! May I present to you, fine people of Tivos…” She spread her arms wide, lifting her hands as if hefting a great, unseen tribute in offering to me. “Queen Ellamyriss, ruler of all the dragons of the Valley of God’s Blood and Earth Flame!” 

“Well,” Nesh said, offering me a smile. “She’s technically correct.”

Ayrah dropped to a single knee, bowing her head to me. ““Welcome, Your Royal Highness, to the city of Tivos! On behalf of all my people, I offer you our warmest of greetings, and kindest of welcomes!” 

With a flick of her fingers, Ayrah signaled Nemos to do the same. He lowered himself into a bow, and his soldiers soon were all easing to a knee and bowing their heads the same way. Nesh took a few steps away from me, then matched their bows with exaggerated grandeur of his own. Blue Jay and Sparrow made a show of their own bows, with wings outstretched and draped across the street, and beaks pressed to the cobblestone. Soon, the gesture spread through the crowds, as well. All around us, humans awkwardly bowed, nudging neighbors to do the same. Some of them simply gaped at me, but a good portion bent their knees and lowered their heads. I will admit a little thrill in that moment, some wicked tingle that left me shivering in delight. But basking in feigned adulation did not a queen make. 

“Nesh.” I spoke his name as quietly as I could. “How am I best to react?”

“The Empress would…” Nesh trailed off, then shook his head. “No, no. Don’t do what we do. Do whatever a dragon queen does.” 

Our clan had not known a true queen in a very long time. I had never witnessed a true royal display, not the way my ancestors had. But I knew what they tales spoke, and I knew how dragons received and returned respect. So in that moment, I made up my own ritual. A queen would greet an entire clan’s submissive respect display with a show of force, of flame, to project her own strength. 

I started there. I took a deep breath, throwing my wings out to their full extent. The motion was so fast, so sharp that it startled some of the guards into grabbing for their firearms, and left townsfolks stumbling over each other. I ignored them, and tilted my head back. I began with a roar, calling out to the skies in an immense, furious cry. My voice rattled windows all around me, left humans clapping hands over ears, and horses rearing, threatening to bolt. When my breath was halfway gone, I left fire steal my voice. I squeezed my fire glands and sent a roiling blast of red-orange flame into the air over the gathered human’s head. All the glass around us in windows and lamps glowed like molten gold in the firelight. Heat washed across the street, left more humans scrambling away. 

When I’d spent the last of the air in my lungs, I cut my flame off, and lowered myself into a bow of my own. I could not imagine a dragon Queen bowing to her subjects in the old days. They would bow to her. But the old ways alone would not sustain my empire, and these were not my subjects. If anything, they were my allies-to-be. If they respected me enough to bow, then I surely owed them the same. I eased my chest to the ground, draping my wings over the cobblestone the same way the gryphons did. I pressed my chin to the stone, eyes fixed on Ayrah. 

Her smile was all the reassurance I needed that I had done well. Ayrah rose back to her feet in a slow, fluid motion. With another flick of her fingers, she guided me to do the same. Only when I was back on all fours, with my wings folded once more, did everyone else rise as well. Nemos and Nesh stood first, followed by the gryphons, then the rest of the soldiers. Gradually the crowds lining the street did the same, and those who’d fled from my display jostled with their companions, trying to retake their positions. 

Ayrah approached me, arching her brows. “Your Majesty, perhaps you’d like to say something to my people?” She lowered her voice. “Just say hello, try and pretend you’re not an anti-social, irritable old grumpy lizard.” 

I snorted at her, but her playful insult helped ease a little more of the lingering tension. I licked my muzzle as I searched for words, then lifted my head to gaze out across the crowds around us. I contemplated what to say, and how to begin. I had never addressed a crowd of humans, before. Hell, I’d never addressed a crowd of dragons. I had visited little villages and spoken to tribes, but that was a different sort conversation entirely. When I first introduced formally myself to the gryphons, I had done so because I knew it was what Melakar would have done. I supposed now that Melakar was as good a place to start as any.

“Greetings, humans of Tivos!” I hoped that did not sound foolish. As I called out, I stepped towards them, fighting back my instinctual fears of human crowds. The lined both sides of the street just ahead of me. As I walked, Ayrah did the same, striding out in front of me, leading me amidst her people. “As your ruler has spoken, I am called Ellamyriss!” 

Though they’d already been given my name, something still felt wrong about offering it to so many humans, let alone those who had not personally earned my respect. I was violating age old dragon customs by presenting my true name to them like an unearned gift. I told myself, this city had allowed Melakar to come here as visitor, as friend, and that alone was worthy of respect. It allayed some of my discomfort, if not all of it. 

“It heartens me to hear of the warm regards and kind welcome your people offered my beloved mate, Melakar.” I paused to put a paw to my chest. “That a dragon might find themselves welcome amongst humans is…” I set my paw back down, licking my nose. “Still a foreign concept, to me. My ancestors could not have imagined it any more than they could have imagined the strange machines you’ve built. But it warms me, deep inside, to know that Melakar found friendship, here.” 

I followed Ayrah further down the street, contemplating what else to say. Lir shifted against my back, silent and watchful. Small as she was, her weight was nearly forgettable. As I considered my words, I gazed around. Humans milled about all around me, now, dressed in all sorts of strange clothes and garments. Some wore only shades of brown, gray, and black. Others bore more colorful clothing in shades of green, gold, or crimson. Many wore long, body-length coat, bundled up against the chilly wind. Some of the females wore elaborate skirts, or were wrapped in thick cloaks or shawls. Many of the males wore hats, some of which were oddly tall and cylindrical. Some looked to wear even more layers than Nesh did. 

“Melakar must have loved just observing you all,” I said, as much to myself as to the humans. “He was always so curious about the world, about all its many peoples, and all the many ways they lived. Being able to walk freely among you, to watch you, to speak with you, it must have been a damn dream come to true for him. I can just imagine him, bounding along your streets, knocking things over in his exuberance, giddy as a damn hatchling.” 

Scattered laughter among the crowd told me I was not far from the truth. It reminded me once again that for at least some of these people, Melakar was not a monster, not a demon, but a friend. They had known him, and they deserved to know why he would never visit them again. I came to a sudden stop when the realization hit me. That was what I had to tell them, and that was how best to shape my speech. I took a slow breath, trying to steel myself against speaking such painful truth. Ayrah turned towards me, and bowed her head. The flatness of my frills, and the drooping of my ears must have told her what I was about to say. 

“But Melakar…” When I trailed off, Nesh put a hand upon my foreleg, stroking it. His gentle comfort helped me put strength into my voice. “Melakar is gone, now. Shot from the skies, and left to die in my arms.” It was all I could do to get the words out through my suddenly tight throat. I let that sink in, and waves of murmuring voices rolled through the crowd. I did not know what rumors they might have heard, and I would not elaborate too deeply on the details of his murder. These people had nothing to do with it, and I did not wish to sound as if I blamed them. “Melakar was…the sky that sheltered me, and the winds that carried me. And he was taken from me. Taken from our son.” 

With every word, my burning throat constricted further. I blinked back tears, but struggled to stem their sorrowful tide. “Melakar was slain by those who did not understand his true intentions. His killers did not realize that in the end, all he ever wanted was to make peace between your people, and ours. They saw only a threat, a monster in the skies, and they opened fire.” While that was not entire true, what good would it do me to try and convince a crowd of townsfolk that Melakar was betrayed by their own military? For now, the idea of some tragic mistake would suffice. 

“You have…perhaps heard rumors of an attack. Of soldiers slain.” I took a steadying breath, following Ayrah further down the street. The city’s earlier reactions made it clear such rumors had already spread, and I thought it best to address them directly. “To that, I only ask who among you would not fight for your lives, were you attacked?” I paused to gaze across the crowd, trying to meet the eyes of any humans who seemed especially upset by the news. “Many of you knew Melakar. You knew he desired only friendship. He would never willingly turn to violence, but like anyone else, he would defend his life, when forced. I…I only wish it had been enough.”

I took a slow, deep breath, holding it for as long as I could. A few tears slipped down the scales of my cheeks. I wiped them, exhaling. My voice trembled when I spoke again. “I’d like to think that wherever Melakar is now, he is happy. That while he savors eternal flight, he rejoices in the knowledge that at least in this one place…” I stretched my wings, and swept them in a grand gesture at the city all around me. “He succeeded. That here, with all of you, he made peace. He found friendship. It was an ideal he believed in so completely, that he died for it. It comforts me to see his success, here before me.” I waved my paw at the crowd. “That when he breathed his last, it was with the knowledge that he had done the impossible. That he had made friends, of our enemies.” 

Again, that wasn’t entire true. While I had no way of knowing Melakar’s final thoughts, I knew his last words, and they were not about this city, or peace, or friendship. Instead, he had warned me to leave, to flee. It pained me to think what that might have meant. And at the very end, when the light left his eyes, he’d been wrapped in some old memory, some pleasant thought of our shared youth. But that moment was not for anyone else to know. 

But this moment, this was about something greater than us.  

“And that is why I am here!” Somehow, I found the strength to harden my voice. My emotions burned hotter and hotter, a white-hot flame burning in my heart that forged my words into something strong, and powerful. Something I hoped even the humans could believe in. “To continue what Melakar started! This peace, this friendship, that he forged here?” As I spoke, I left my wings outstretched. My gaze swept from one side of the crowded street to the other. “I will not let it die! I will not let the murderous cruelty of a callous few undermine what Melakar achieved!” 

I paused, considering my words carefully. No, I had even better than that. “What you achieved! For it was not Melakar’s doing alone. Peace, and friendship, by their very nature, cannot be one-sided! Your people, your city, you too have done the impossible! You allowed a creature you once hated, you once feared, to walk your streets amongst you! You took an enemy, into your home, and you welcomed him as your friend.” 

I shook my head, a great showy gesture as if waving my horns about. “That is not easy to do. I know well the fear that comes from inviting your enemies, into your home.” I turned my head, gazing first at Sparrow, then Blue Jay, and finally Nesh. “I too have done this, and I too have struggle with the fear it brings, with the doubt, the uncertainty. But it makes us better. To see our enemies as the friends they could be, to see the ‘monsters’ as the people they are…it makes all of us better. You did that for Melakar, and for that…” I lowered my head till my muzzle brushed the cobblestone. “For that, I thank you.” 

Silence settled over the crowd. I stared at the street, watching a few more of my own tears dribbling down my muzzle and onto the paving stones. Then, at my side, Nesh clapped his hands, loudly and forcefully. A moment passed, and then Ayrah too clapped her hands together. Her soldiers followed suit, and soon, half the gathered crowd was applauding me. It was a strange sound, a rolling, concussive hiss, interspersed with random cheers and whistles. I had never heard applause before, though I knew the concept from Ayrah’s old tales. 

When I lifted my head, the sounds gradually died down. I licked my muzzle, staring out at all the people lining both sides of the street. “I’m afraid I do not know how to reply to that.” For some reason, that made the people around us laugh. Even Lir giggled, upon my back. I wasn’t sure what they found that so humorous, but I let the laughter fade before I pressed on. 

“I fear I have little left to say, but…allow me to apologize for any fear and disruption my unexpected arrival may have caused. For what it’s worth…this is the first time I have ever been to a human city. Melakar was always more curious about the world than I, and in his way, more courageous. I have been…” I sneered, flattening my frills, embarrassed by own weakness. “Afraid to set foot in such a place. Even flying here, not knowing what to expect, having your city’s cannons trailed upon me…it was terrifying in a way I am very unused to experiencing. But I forced myself to make this journey, because I knew how important it was. Learning how your city came to embrace Melakar’s visits has made it a little easier on me. Nonetheless, I understand why your city must take precautions…” I waved a paw towards the soldiers. “Just as I hope you will understand why I must do the same.” I glanced at the gryphons again, then curled my head around to offer Lir a grateful smile. She spun her revolver her fingers, then flashed my a smile and nodded. 

Returning my attention to all the gathered humans, I went on. “Despite my fears, I have come here to offer you my friendship.” Again, that wasn’t entirely true. But I had an opening here, and I was certainly going to seize. If word reached the Empress that some dragon claiming to be queen was making friends with her cities, all the better. “What you began with Melakar, I hope you will continue with me! I would call your city and all its inhabitants friend, if you would but do the same for me, and my kind. The world is changing faster than I can fathom, and we…” I took a shaking breath, gazing down at my own paws. “Dragons, humans, gryphons…we’ve all shed each other’s blood for far too many years. Would it not be better for all of us, if we called our neighbors ally, and our old enemies, friend?” I lifted my eyes again, sighing. “Melakar thought as much, and I have come to believe the same. I can only hope that your people come to feel the same way. For now…” I lowered myself till my chest bumped the ground, my wings draped low at my sides. “Thank you for allowing me to walk among you. May we all share friendship, in the end.” 

“Hear, hear!” Ayrah called out, throwing her fists into the air. Her people followed suit with similar words and gestures. 

Nesh approached me again, stroking my neck while my head was still low. “That was wonderful, Ella. Very queenly of you.” 

I arched into his touch, not yet rising from my bow. “You really think so? I made most of it up as I went along.” 

“I suspect most rulers do.” Nesh chuckled, moving to my head. I lifted it for him, easing to my haunches. He scratched my jawline the same way he’d seen Ayrah doing. His touch coaxed a soft, rumbling purr from me. “And yes, I really think so. Somewhere out there, Melakar’s very proud of you right now.” 

“I can only hope.” 

And I did hope, so very much. That somehow, somewhere, he was watching over me. That he saw me in some strange human city, in a crowd of strangers, fighting back my fears, and doing my very best to make some small difference in the world. When I thought of it that way, I knew Nesh was right. 

Melakar would be proud.