Pledged in Blood: Chapter Forty-Seven (Patreon)

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Chapter Forty-Seven

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The lingering unease brought about by the vision, and ensuing conversation sapped what little strength I had left. Exhaustion settled deep into my bones not long after Nesh made his proclamation. It had been a long week of constant travel, and all at once, I felt it in every muscle. My body ached, and I struggled just to rise to my paws again. The gryphons sagging wings and bleary eyes told me they fared no better. We had all pushed ourselves quite hard already, and the journey was only half over. This day alone was an absolute whirlwind of emotions, of adrenaline and anger, of tears and elations. Somewhere outside the house’s walls, the sun was setting. I doubted I would stay awake for long after dark.

I had hoped we might spend the evening talking about Melakar. Ayrah could provide a far more thorough accounting of everything Melakar had done in the last years of his life. Though we had already learned much, there were many gaps left to fill. I also half-planned to while away the evening hours catching up with Ayrah, learning how her life had reached this point. I thought we might reminiscence about him Melakar at the end of the night, in his home away from home, sharing drink and memories.

But all of those things were going to have to wait until a little longer. I was simply too worn out to hold such conversations now. Even if I wasn’t, the conversations dour turns spoiled the mood. I doubted any of us were really in the mood for silly stories of snowball fights and endless lectures. I promised Ayrah instead that we would do so the following night.

Ayrah had a light meal brought for everyone. After the immense, late afternoon lunch, none of us were exactly starving. Her people carried in great platters covered with slices and tidbits of more foods than I could count. There were sliced meats of all kinds, pickled vegetables, breads both crusty and soft, candied fruits, preserved fish, and spicy spreads. Normally, I would ask Nesh to describe everything I was eating. But this time I did not bother. We ate together, offering only casual conversation.

While we fed, Nesh’s words rolled around my head, volleyed between disbelief and nervous acceptance. There was no way to prove what beliefs true, nor any way to disprove them. Before I’d ever met Nesh, I would have discounted the idea of gods somehow vying for me attention as complete nonsense. Hell, until very recently I considered the gods themselves to be bollocks. But now that one had proved to me his existence, why wouldn’t others do the same? But accepting that possibility meant asking a far more frightening question.

If one god wished for me to complete my empire, what did his enemy wish for me to accomplish?

Perhaps enemy was too strong a term. Did the forces of life and death consider one another enemies? Or did they work in concert, fully aware that each was part of the same important cycle? Even good and evil, if such forces were personified, were they truly enemies? Or did they simple balance one another? Not that the gods seemingly vying for my attention represented either such thing. If anything, order and chaos seemed an even more abstract term. Somehow, I doubted the motivations and reasoning of cosmic entities could be so easily distilled. More likely, the concepts were given to them by mortals struggling to define powers beyond their comprehension.

Lucky me, then, that such powers had taken an interest in my life.

As I chewed a savory piece of cured meat, I contemplated the possibilities. Long before I believed in the gods, I considered myself a rational thinker. I did not believe in the gods, because I saw no evidence that they were real. Now, I did believe in the gods, because the evidence I had witnessed now indicated to me they did exist. My heart sought something to believe in, and my mind was satisfied by the ever-growing mountain of proof. Admittedly, it was circumstantial for the most part, but some of it had no other rational explanation. I had never heard the song from Melakar, until he sang it to me in my dreams. Ayrah knew the song, from Melakar. Therefor, it stood to reason that Melakar himself now sang to me in my slumber.

I tried to consider the night’s events in the same rational way. Why would this new god come to me? I could not imagine, at first. What good was one dragon, to a god? Let alone a dragon in a world that had already left their species behind. If it was true, and that was admittedly, a very big if, I could not help but imagine I was just one tiny node on an unfathomably complex web of plans and machinations.

Perhaps such things were simply beyond the ability of a mortal mind to understand. Even their believers reduced them to basic concepts. Order, chaos, life, death, creation, and so on. Maybe I too needed to distill them down. I tried to work through things, idly popping tiny pickled delights into my maw. To begin with, Nesh and I assumed the Stars That Sing heard my plea, and sent their Creator Child to prove to me their existence, alongside Melakar’s spirit. Nesh believed that meant this god wished for me to complete my empire. If Nesh was correct, then surely Melakar’s involvement meant that the God Pup wanted me to build it Melakar’s way. That is, to achieve and empire through peace, and diplomacy. That would certainly be the more orderly way of things. If those assumptions held true, and The Smoke That Seeks was chaos, to the Stars’ order, then what did that mean?

Violence.

The realization left my blood chilled. My wings trembled. Could that be it? It seemed so simple an answer. Almost too simple. And yet, it seemed so fitting. If one god wished me to build an empire through slow, peaceful negotiations, perhaps the other wanted to see me seize it through war, and blood. The idea sat ill in my belly, and left my dinner feeling cold and hard. I did not want to go to war against the humans, not anymore.

But even that begged a fresh, disconcerting question of me. Did I wish to avoid bloodshed with humanity because I did not wish to harm them, any longer? Or was it only because I did not think I could win? If I had already built an army capable of facing them in battle, if I had the strength I needed to conquer the human lands, as they sought to conquer mine, would I do it?

Truthfully, I did not know anymore. But before I met Nesh, the answer would unequivocally been yes.If a god came to me, after Melakar’s death, and offered me the power to obliterate the humans who had slowly chipped away at our ancestral lands? I would have taken it without hesitation. I’d have pledged myself to that god, forevermore, and carved an everlasting homeland from dragons, with blood and with flame.

I swallowed my food, turning my eyes to Nesh. I stared at him, wondering if his friendship and his god had somehow shielded me from the eyes of something far more dangerous. Nesh glanced up at me, and smiled. But when I only stared at him, his smile slowly faded.

Nesh reached up and gently brushed his fingers across my muzzle. “What’s wrong, Ella?”

“I know what he wants.” I tilted my head, nuzzling his palm. “The Smoke That Seeks. I…I think I know what he wants.”

Nesh’s hand stilled. The others fell silent. Nesh furrowed his brow. “Dare I ask?”

“Blood, Nesh.” I sighed, pulling my muzzle back from his head. “He wants blood.”

Blue Jay ruffled up his feathers, his voice taut. “What do you mean, Ella?”

I held up a paw towards him. “It’s only a guess, I’ll admit. But if you’re right about these gods? Then Melakar came to me with The Stars That Sing for a reason. Because they both want me to achieve my empire through peaceful means. Orderly means. And if the Smoke wants chaos? Then that means building my empire another way. Through war, and bloodshed.”

The gryphons shared a glance, and low warbles. “That is a disconcerting thought.”

Nesh put a hand against my forepaw. “Extremely so. And yet, it makes an uncomfortable sort of sense. But…you wouldn’t, right Ella? I mean, you’d defend yourself if you had to, but…” He glanced around at the others. “We’re trying to do this Melakar’s way. Right?”

“Yes, Nesh.” I draped a wing across his back. “I pledged my blood, and my life, to the Stars That Sing. My honor will not allow me to break that word, even for a god. But…you’re right. I will defend myself, and my allies, from any threat.”

“You can only control, what you can control.” Nesh patted my paw, smiling. Then his face fell. “That sounded considerably more profound in my head.”

“I knew what you meant, Nesh.” I curled my wing tighter around him. “But what worries me is knowing if this Smoke came to me, before I met you? If he promised me my revenge for Melakar, and a way to keep our valley safe? I’d have shed as much blood as he asked of me, without question.”

Nesh took a slowly breath, rubbing my paw. “I know, Ella. But…maybe that’s exactly why the gods sent me to you, when they did. To prevent that.” He gazed around at the others. “And we’d all better be damn glad they did.”

Though Nesh’s confidence in my ferocity made me smile, I had little else to say on the subject. I doubted a cosmic god would appear onto a dragon just to try and inspire her to violence, when there were so many other susceptible minds to latch onto. Even if I was right, surely there was more to it than that. But at least for now, the idea that one god wished to help me forge an empire through peaceful means, while the other sought war, would help me make at least a little sense of all this. Surely there was more to it than that, but fixating on trying to understand intricate details that might well be beyond my comprehension anyway was not going to do me any good. Nor would it change my plans. At least now I had a foundation of understanding upon which to base my future decisions.

When the food was gone, Ayrah showed us to the back section of the home. Labyrinthes of copper pipping connected to copper basins and tubs. Ayrah explained the use of each. Some were sinks, for collecting water or washing things. The largest basin, set into the floor, was for bathing in. I was pleased by its size, and design. It was voluminous enough to easily fit myself and the gryphons at the same time. The bottom was sloped, so that one end was shallower than the other. Its shallow end had steps built in to make it easily accessible to smaller creatures, as well. Nesh could even join us if he wished, without fear of being accidentally crushed. Not that he would. The smaller basins nearby were used as latrines. Each had large, sturdy handles built for dragons, just like those on the front doors. Ayrah demonstrated how to turn them to start water flowing, how to shut them off, and how to drain the water afterwards. At one corner of the room was a large tank with its own stove, where water could be heated before a bath. Just like the stoves that heated the main chamber, it was simply safer not to use the gas-fired heating devices that other diplomatic housing possessed.

When our tour was completed, it was time for Ayrah and Lir to depart. We followed them back to the front door. Aryah wrapped my arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. I curled a foreleg around her, returning the affection. She stroked my scales for a long while, silent. When she finally pulled back, Ayrah offered me a smile, blinking back unshed tears.

“It’s good to see you again, Ella.” Ayrah pushed hair out of her eyes. “I wish it was under better circumstances, but I’m glad you’re here.”

I bowed my head. “As am I, Ayrah. Thank you for your kind welcome. We will see you in the morning, yes?”

Ayrah nodded. “You will. I’ll let you all sleep in, though. I’ve got things to take care of first.”

“Lotta things, boss.” Lir clicked her teeth. “You’re gonna have about a hundred documents to sign, from today alone.”

Ayrah rubbed her forehead, grimacing. “Let’s see if we can’t knock a few of those out tonight, before I head to bed myself.” Her gaze wandered towards the photos of Melakar along the far wall, and she sniffled. “And then…Then I’m gonna get real damn drunk.”

I glanced over my wings towards the silvergraphs. “Do you wish to take some of those with you?’

“Thank you, but no, Ella.” Ayrah managed a wistful smile. “I’ve plenty of my own.” Then she shook a finger at me. “And don’t think I’m going to let you leave town without getting a few photographs of you, too.”

“Oh, very well.” I grunted, then heard Nesh coming up behind me. I looked back and curled my tail around his middle. “I may as well get one with my concubine, as well.”

Nesh patted my tail. “You’d damn well better.”

“Perhaps I shall also pose for them alongside the birds.” I glanced back at them, my frills lifted. “In case in find myself in need of proving their true allegiance at any point.”

Sparrow glowered at me. “I’m not sure I like how close to blackmail that sounds.”

“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Blue Jay, padding past Nesh and I to approach Lir. “But I should like one with this beautiful furry spy here.” He dropped his head, playfully butting it against her middle.

Lir giggled, and despite the fact Blue Jay nearly bowled her over, hugged his head and ruffled his feathers. “Aww, I’d love to get a photo with a handsome bird like you!” She tried to peer over him at Sparrow, but simply was not tall enough. “That goes for your gorgeous captain back there, too!”

Sparrow gave a pleased warble. “Oh, Lir, anything for a fine appreciator of gryphons.”

“Wonderful.” Lir rubbed Blue Jay’s ears, then eventually stepped back. “Alright, I better get the boss home while she’s still got time to catch up on all today’s damages.”

“Damages?” I arched my neck, cocking my head. “I did not damage anything.” I glanced down at Nesh. “Did I? I don’t remember damaging anything.”

“It’s a saying, Ella.” Nesh wriggled free of my tail’s constraints when I relaxed it. “It’s not about actual damage. More about all the things Ayrah’s got to pay for, after today.”

“And all the work I missed out on, giving that tour.” Ayrah chuckled, tugging her fur-lined coat back on. “Well worth it, mind you. Ella, I’d like to see how quickly I can put together something formal for us to sign. A trade declaration of some sort, I think.” She did up the buttons of her coat as she spoke. “It’ll have to be mostly symbolic for now, but it’ll be official, at least. Then I’ll have the city’s trade and commerce ministers work on putting something more tangible together, for your next visit.”

I splayed my forelegs, bowing to her. “Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Ayrah. If I am successful someday, I assure you, your city will hold a special place in my Empire’s heart.”

Ayrah laughed, rubbing my nose. “It’d had damn well better.” She stepped back. “Tomorrow, we can talk about what Melakar was doing. Then we’ll have a night to ourselves to reminisce about him.” A smile returned to her, if only for a moment. “Only the happy memories, this time.”

“That sounds wonderful, Ayrah.” I perked my ears at the thought.

“Glad to hear it.” Ayrah gestured at the dragon-sized door. “You think you could get this for me?”

“Certainly.” I grasped the large handle, and pushed the door open. Cool air flowed across me. Outside, it was dark now. Wavering orange lights lined the streets atop elegant lamp fixtures. Warmer light glowed in the windows of several nearby buildings. Armed guards stood at intersections, and all around the house. “Will the guards remain all night?”

“Yes.” Ayrah walked outside. “They’ll make sure no one comes too close. If for any reason you need to go outside, tell the guards, and they’ll escort you.” Ayrah glanced up at the sky. “I know you like to fly to clear your head sometimes, but I’ve got to ask you to stay grounded, for now. I don’t want any incidents with nervous artillerymen spotting a dragon in the dark while they assume you’re asleep.”

I hissed, bristling my spines. “Nor do I. Being shot at once was enough. I will stay inside, tonight.” I glanced back at the gryphons. “I’ll send Blue Jay if I need anything.” He ignored me, and I returned my attention to Ayrah. “Thank you again for your hospitality. I will see you in the morning.”

Ayrah smiled, and hugged my head once more. “You’re welcome. See you then, Ella.” She released me, backing away. “Good night, everyone.”

Once everyone had offered their own farewells, I closed the door. It clicked back into place with a satisfying thunk. I backed away from it, and turned to face the group. “Well, today was certainly an experience.”

Sparrow shook herself. “Today was a damn beating. I’m about to pass out.”

“I suspect that goes for all of us.” Blue Jay padded back towards all the cushions. “Still, considering they shot at us when we first arrived, I’d say the rest of the day turned out quite well.”

I followed the gryphons, with Nesh at my side. “Considerably better than I expected it too, actually. With that said, I am for sleep. Make yourself comfortable, Blue Jay, I require my pillow.”

Blue Jay squawked. “Look around! There’s damn pillows everywhere!”

“Yes, but now I’m used to sleeping against you.” I smirked at him, and nipped at his tail’s fan of feathers. “Besides, you’re warmer and softer than the rest of them.”

The gryphon heaved a resigned sigh. “Oh, very well, Ella.”

I smiled. “That’s a good pillow.”

As Blue Jay and Sparrow gathered cushions and pillows, Nesh made his way to the collected human furniture nearby. Among the chairs, tables, and so on were a few beds. One of the was larger than the others, with an elaborate headboard replete with intricate carvings of dragons. Soft, golden blankets adorned it, along with pillows in lacy, silver cases. The other beds were simpler, little more than basic frames with thin mattresses and blankets.

Nesh sat on the extravagant bed. “I think this one will do. I suspect it’s one Ayrah had brought here for herself, during Melakar’s visits.” He scrunched his face. “It makes me feel a little awkward to use it, but…” He spared the other beds a dismissive glance. “It’s a far sight more comfortable than those look.” Nesh leaned down, unlacing his boots. “I think I’ll have a quick bath, before I turn in, if no one minds.”

“Ella?” Blue Jay stretched out across a newly formed pile of pillows, splaying his paws. “Going to join your concubine?”

“Not this time.” I padded over to the gryphon, and settled myself down alongside him. “As pleasant as a warm bath sounds, I’d fall asleep and only wake long after the water turned frigid.” I settled my head down against the gryphon’s warm blue feathers. “IfI even made it that far.”

“I know what you mean.” Blue Jay rested his own head against a pillow, his eyes drifting closed. “I’m about ten seconds away from dreaming.”

Sparrow laid down against me. She did not ask, but neither did I shoo her away. Social contact was in their nature, after all. After spending nearly a week sleeping against me, I wondered if Sparrow would have had trouble slumbering on her own. I stretched a wing and placed it across her, to keep her warm. She offered me a grateful, if sleepy, smile, then laid her head against my scales. Sparrow seemed asleep almost immediately.

I contemplated how far we’d come, in so short a time. Weeks ago, I was a demon in her eyes. Now here she was, willingly choosing to spend the night cuddled against me, a companion sharing warmth and comfort in an unfamiliar place. Such trust was surely a wonderful foundation upon which to build an empire, shared by all peoples. Part of me wanted to consider that a little longer, but I simply had no strength left.

I was asleep before Nesh even made it to his bath.

*****

Sometime in the night, I awoke. Everyone else was still asleep. I blinked bleary eyes against the moonlight spilling through copper-framed windows. The moon’s glow cast everything in an odd, spectral hue. Though no breeze stirred inside the house, impossibly familiar scents drifted around me. Something moved in the corner of my vision, towards the front doors.

I lifted my head away from Blue Jay, and found the front doors open. Scales and curved tail spines painted silver by beams of mercurial light vanished through the opening. The scent already told me whose tail it was. The impossibility of that told me I was surely dreaming. Or at least, I hoped I was only dreaming. I lifted my paw, gazing at it. It did not shake. Then again, I did not know I was shaking during the last vision, either.

Not wanting to wake the birds, I considered how to extricate myself from Blue Jay and Sparrow. Then again, if I was only dreaming, did it matter if I woke them? Or was I dreaming? I had seen him in my waking hours before, after all. I chose caution, just in case. I lifted my wing from Sparrow, and folded it against my back. Then in a slow, smooth motion, I rose up between the two gryphons. As I slipped out from beneath Sparrow, I tried to ease her to the ground. She stirred and murmured to herself, then seeking warmth, snuggled up closer to Blue Jay.

I padded away from the gryphons, stepping as quietly as a dragon could. Thankfully, the floor was sturdy, and did not creak or groan beneath my weight. Nesh slumbered peacefully in the bed, with only his head and tussled hair protruding from above the golden blankets. I turned my attention to the open door, and followed the family scent towards the outside world. His scent grew stronger with every step.

The entry was open just wide enough for a dragon to squeeze through. I paused, wondering why a spirit would need an open door. Then I snorted, and tossed my head. What good did it do me to contemplate the nature of dreams? I slipped through the opening, my folded wings brushing the doors as I made my way outside, into the night air.

Melakar sat on his haunches, in the middle of cobbled road, smiling up at the stars. Though I had fully expected to find him there, the sight of him still shocked me, even in a dream. He looked real, and alive. No wounds marred his hide, no blood stained the cobblestone beneath him. His bronze body rose and fell with his breathing, clouds of warm steam drifted from his muzzle into the cold air. Moonlight gleamed against the indigo markings all down his back.

For a moment, a beautiful, heart-wrenching moment, I almost believed he was real. I held my breath, and took a step down the path towards him. Nearby, guards shifted, calling out a greeting. I glanced at them, bowed my head in acknowledgement, and then returned my attention to Melakar. I almost expected him to be gone, to have vanished the instant my attention was elsewhere. But there he remained, still watching the sky. Yet none of the guards even seemed to have noticed him.

I strode down the path towards the road. The guards there looked at each other, uncertain as to whether or not they were meant to open the gate for me, or ask me to return to the house. I decided against giving allowing them either option. Instead, I trotted the last few paces, and leapt over the spike-tipped fence that surrounded the grounds. Several of the nearest guards cursed, while those across the street hurried towards me. I ignored them completely and made for Melakar.

As I neared him, Melakar crooked a wing open, and held it for me. The gesture was an achingly familiar one he had made countless times before. Though I knew he was not real, I would never refuse his offer of comfort. I settled in next to him, and Melakar folded his wing around me. His warmth was staggeringly real. Melakar’s scales pressed to mine, the soft, leathery membranes of his wing protected me from the world. I leaned against him, half expecting to topple over onto the street. But his weight, his presence, was as real as his warmth. Sighing, I snuggled against him, and he pulled his wing tighter around me. How many times, in our years together, had he done this for me? How many times had he sheltered me from the rain, from the snow, from the cold? From the world itself?

I pressed my face against his scales, squeezing my eyes shut as a sudden wave of a emotion crashed over me. “I miss you, Melakar.” My voice shook, my chest uncomfortably tight. “I miss you so much.”

“Why?” Playful mirth filled Melakar’s voice. “I’m right here, Ella.”

I snorted, nipping at his neck. “That’s not funny.”

“It wasn’t meant to be funny.” Melakar finally tore his gaze away from the stars. When I felt him shift, I looked up at him. “Wait, why would you miss me?” He lifted a forepaw, staring at it. Then he waved at one of the guards, watching me. The human did not even notice Melakar or his gesture. Melakar sighed, setting his paw back down. “Oh, shit. I’m still dead, aren’t I?”

Bittersweet laughter escaped me. “Of course you are, you silly old bastard.”

“Made you laugh, though.” Melakar curled his neck, lowering his head to lick my muzzle. Even his affection felt real, warm and loving. The frigid air was all the colder against the fine, pebbly scales of my snout where his tongue left them damp. “I always loved to hear you laugh.”

I sighed, a trembling sound. “Then you should have told more jokes, and fewer lectures.”

Now it was Melakar’s turn to laugh. “Perhaps I should have.” He licked my nose, then tilted his head. “But if I didn’t lecture you, whatever would you have found to complain to me about?”

I returned the affection, flicking my tongue across his chin. “Your messy habits, for starters.”

Melakar snorted, tossing his head. “I was perfectly organized.”

“I couldn’t even cross your damn lair without stubbing my paw on something!” I swatted his foreleg, grinning.

“Oh?” Melakar shrugged his wings, the gesture caressing me. “It’s not my fault you don’t watch where you’re going.”

I nipped him again. “Oh no, you don’t get to turn this around on me. It’s yourfault when you’ve left a pile of books on the pathway to the latrine area in the middle of the night!”

Melakar held up a paw, a single claw unsheathed. “One time that happened!”

I lifted my own front foot to match his gesture. “One time with the books…” I unsheathed a second claw. “Another time with these metal figurines…” I added the rest of my forepaw’s claws. “And countless times I stepped on scattered gemstones and other hard or pointy trinkets that weren’t there earlier in the night!” I swatted him with my paw before setting it back down. “And that’s only counting the middle of the night!”

Melakar only smiled at me, his frills perked. “If it makes you feel better, you also stepped on my paws more than a few times.”

I snorted, curling my tail across his. “That was on purpose.”

“Yes, I rather thought as much.” He waved his foreleg. “Nonetheless, I posit that I was always perfectly organized, because I always knew where everything was.”

“That makes one of us, then.” I sighed, some of my mirth fading again. “I can’t make heads or tails of your damn notes, you know. I don’t suppose you could just…” I pulled my head back, appraising him. “Tell me, could you? While you’re here, and seemingly lucid?”

“Tell you what?” His smile remained, but an odd sort of sorrow now shone in his eyes.

“Every damn thing you’ve been doing.” I swallowed, staring into his eyes. Stars drifted somewhere behind them. “Who you met with, where you’ve been…” I took a shuddering breath. “Who killed you? And what I should do next.”

Melakar sighed, leaning back against me. “I don’t think I have that much time.”

“Of course not.” I tilted my head back, hissing at the starry expanse above us. “If you really want me to follow you, if you really want Melakar to help me, you should give me a full damn night with him! Let him explain everything!”

“Why are you hissing at the sky, Ella?” Melakar lifted a forepaw, gently cupping my cheek. “Are you feeling alright? You haven’t a fever, have you?”

My ears drooped, even as I leaned into his touch. “You’re not…even really hereare you? Not…not completely, I mean. Any answer you gave me might nonsense, anyway. Because this…” I swallowed again. “This isn’t really a visit, is it? It’s just…a dream.”

“Can’t it be both?” Melakar tilted his head back, staring up at the stars once more. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

I looked up at them again as well, gritting my teeth. “They’re confounding.”

“Oh, Ella.” Melakar flattened his ears, his voice hardening. “You’ve noidea.”

I turned my gaze back to him. “Are you here?”

Melakar merely shrugged. “Are you?”

“Oh, good, metaphorical questions in my dreams.” I flicked my tail tip, trying to dismiss the idea. “How very helpful.”

Melakar withered, just a little. “I can’t help you, Ella. I can’t protect you against what’s coming, I can’t make your choices for you. I can try to guide you, try to help sing the right song, but in the end? Everything that will happen will be on you. And it will happen soon.”

I blinked, lifting my head. “You are here, aren’t you? What will happen, soon?”

“You’ll have to make a choice.” Melakar’s gaze remained fixed upon the stars. His ears swiveled towards the sky. The stars shimmered and shone, but if they sang to him, I could not hear it. “And I cannot tell you what to choose. But they’ve found you now, and all I can do is try to guide you through the coming storm.”

“What storm?” I grasped his foreleg. “Who’s found me? The Smoke?”

Melakar did not answer, only watched the shining of the stars.

I took a breath, and let it out slow. “If they truly wish me to help you, they ought to just let you speak freely.”

A hint of a smile crooked Melakar’s muzzle. “There are rules, apparently.”

“Maybe.” I shifted my weight, looking up again. “Or maybe none of this is real, and it’s all just…my dreaming mine looking for answers, and finding none.”

Melakar patted my paw. “You shall never truly know.”

I flattened back my ears. “You’re as frustrating in my dreams as you were in real life. What is it you’re guiding me too, then? To help build your empire?” I sagged a little, my wings drooping. “I promise you, Melakar, I willbuild it. I just…I just wish you were here, to see it. You should have been the one to forge an Empire for our people.”

“Maybe…” Something strange crept into Melakar’s voice, some quavering fear I had not yet heard from him. “Maybe in some other life, I already did. And maybe it grew into something terrible.”

I slowly pulled my gaze from the sky, staring at him. “What are you talking about?”

“Soon, Ella.” Melakar patted my paw. “Soon. When time comes, the song will guide you, but the choices will be yours.”

I ground unsheathed clawtips against the cobblestone. “You really need to tell the gods to let you speak in something other than cryptic riddles.”

Melakar laughed, a happy, brassy sound. “If only. But where would the fun be in that?”

“I would happy take clarity over fun, any day.” I snorted, looking around. Guards stared at me, watching me with confused expressions. I was either dreaming, or I was talking to myself amidst a waking vision. “If I’m not fast asleep between two gryphons right now, I’m going to have some serious explaining to do, once you’ve vanished back into the ether.”

“Twogryphons?” Melakar lifted his frills, bemusement in his voice. “You havebroadened your horizons.” He thumped his tail against the ground. “I dislike being dead. I miss out on all the fun.”

“That you do.” I leaned my head against him, whimpering softly. “I’m…thankful I got to see you again. To touch you. Talk with you. Even if you’re maddening. Even if you’re not real.”

Melakar squeezed me with his wing, his voice trembling ever so slightly. “I’m glad too, Ella.”

“I still love-”

“I know, Ella.”

I growled at him. “You know, you’re making it harder for me to find closure, if you don’t let me say it.”

Melakar curled his neck to rest his muzzle against mine. “I can’t give you closure, Ella. I’m only a dream.”

My growl rose. “You’re a dream who’s about to get punched in his-”

“I shall not appear to you again if you do that!” Melakar covered himself with a forepaw.

“Liar.” I smiled at him from beneath his muzzle. “But very well. If you won’t let me say it, at least you know it.” I put a paw against his chest, over his head. “In here.”

Melakar stroked my scutes. “I know it, Ella.”

“Then I also want you to know, that I’m sorry for-”

“No.” Melakar sharpened his tone. His eyes pierced me. “No more regrets, Ella. A Queen has no place in her heart for regret. So, no more regrets.”

“Very well, Melakar.” I swallowed down my pain. For now, I locked away all the many things I wished to apologize for him for. “What now, then? Surely, I shall wake soon.”

“Now?” Melakar curled his wing across me, tilting his head back once more. “Now we count the stars, like we did when we were young.”

I like that idea. I leaned against him, resting my head against his neck. Together, we watched the stars slowly fade, as the sun began to rise. And from the last of them, there was song. I savored the music, and with it, I savored Melakar’s presence for as long as the stars would allow it.