Strachana by Judy Colella (i like reading books .txt) 📕

would, yes.” He began to look uncomfortable. “But another thing that happened was that I shape-shifted.”

“Did you! You’ll have to show me after supper. But getting back to this other matter. A human was in our cave, J’nah. A male human. What was he doing here?”

So J’nah explained, starting with the moment he and Vorel had sensed their guest’s approach from a distance. “His name is Kavin, and he…he didn’t see anything.”

“Except you.”

“Except me.”

“And Vorel.”

“And Vorel. Right. But it’s really okay! He thought she was beautiful!”

Neri nodded and sat on a nearby stone. “Did he ask why you both look so different?”

“Of course. Kind of. No. Vorel, well, he walked right up to her and, and so she told him. I mean, he couldn’t help but see how different her eyes were, and I’m sure he saw her dragon teeth.”

“Where is he now? You didn’t eat him, did you?”

J’nah looked horrified. “Of course not! Father!”

“You let him go, then?”

The boy gave his father a suspicious look. “Are you saying we should have eaten him?”

“Maybe. He’s a threat, son. People – especially Gravnel – would love to find out where we live, and more important, learn that your mother not only survived, but that she and I have children. I’ve explained all of this to you before.”

“Yes, but he’s different! He’s a friend, Father! Kavin promised to tell no one about us, and I believe him.” He crossed his arms, his expression defiant.

Neri sighed. “Did he tell you where he was going?”

“Into the town to find work. That’s all I know.”

“Thank you, J’nah. Now go help your mother finish the meal. Your sister is…busy.”

J’nah snickered, casting a knowing glance at Vorel and I’gra-Nah who were by the pool; the dragon, still in human form, was sitting on one of the smooth stones on the near side, and she sat at his feet, looking up at him with the same silly expression Zela often gave the boy’s father. “She is that,” he muttered, and went off to do his father’s bidding.

Later that night, Neri flew into the field outside of town, shifted, and entered the market area at daybreak. By mid-day, he’d learned that a stranger had arrived a day or so earlier looking for work. Apparently, he’d been apprenticed almost immediately by Welan the Scribe, who – as everyone knew – worked in the castle for Lord Gravnel.

Disguised as a middle-aged man with bright blue eyes, sandy-colored hair, and a slight build, he made his way to the castle to see about meeting this apprentice. No one to whom he’d spoken had known the young man’s name, but one of them had noticed a slight accent. J’nah had mentioned that this Kavin person claimed to be from Marclor, so that part fit.

Getting into the castle was easy, and finding a page to seek out Welan was no problem. Within a few minutes of the boy trotting off to carry out the sandy-haired man’s request, Neri’s father-in-law came into view from an adjacent corridor. Behind him was a nice-looking young man, nothing in his demeanor indicating an unpleasant personality.

Welan was grinning – Neri had known the scribe would be familiar with what “opsola” meant. It was draconic for “father,” and when spoken through a human throat, sounded like a name and nothing more.

“Master Welan!” Neri straightened from the window seat where he’d been leaning. They were in a main hallway, a veritable thoroughfare for the castle’s occupants. Along both walls were low benches, a table here and there, branched candle-holders, a few actual chairs.

“How good to see you, Opsola! I understand you wished to speak with me and my apprentice, yes?”

“I did and I do. Is there someplace more private where we can talk openly?”

Welan put a finger to his lips, frowned in thought for a moment or two, and finally waved everyone to follow as he headed back the way he and Kavin had come. He brought them to a chamber not unlike the one in which Kavin and Fleck had been working. Once inside, he closed and latched the door. “So! What need have you of me and my apprentice, friend?”

Suppressing a smile, Neri said, “I’ve been told that this young man has traveled here from one of the northern countries. Now as you know, Welan, I have a particular, ah, interest in a certain species of creature…dragons, to be exact. I’ve always believed the rift between them and mankind was the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, and have made it my life’s work to find a dragon – just one – who would be willing to discuss this with me.” He began pacing, purposely not looking directly at Kavin. “From reports that have been circulating, I understand our town’s dragon might well have a lair somewhere in the mountains. That’s directly across from the borderlands of Marclor.”

“Do you have a point, Opsola?”

“Yes, Welan. My point is that this young man may well have seen this lair, or perhaps the dragon himself.” Now he did look at Kavin, coming to a sudden stop and facing him. “Did you?”

“A dragon, you say? No.”

“Or perhaps…those they call dragonkin? These would be the human hybrid offspring of a dragon.”

“Really!” Kavin nodded. “How interesting! But, no, I…can’t say that I did.”

How clever, thought Neri. His choice of words imply the opposite of the truth, yet he didn’t lie. “I see. Well, this is quite a disappointment.” He stared off, looking thoughtful, a moment later reaching under his cloak. “You know, it’s possible that you did see something but didn’t associate it with what I described. However, if you give it a little more consideration and decide you have more information for me, I’ll be more than happy to thank you – with this.” He held out a leather draw-string bag, its bulges and soft clinking speaking loudly of its contents. “You could afford to buy yourself a house with this, young man.”

Kavin gave the object an almost scornful look. “I’m sure I could. But like I said, I couldn’t possibly say that I saw anything like what you seek, so to take your money would be an act of great dishonesty. But I thank you for offering it.” He smiled. “And now, if I may, I’d like to return to my work. Apparently, I only have until the daylight fades to finish a rather large inventory list.”

“Certainly.” Neri executed a small bow. “Thank you for your time.”

“Sorry I couldn’t help you.” Kavin returned the bow, nodded once at Welan, and went out.

A minute later, Welan went to the door and peered out, making sure Kavin was really gone, then shut the door again and faced his son-in-law. “What on earth was that all about, Neri?”

The dragon grinned. “Looks like I’ve found not only an honest man, but a trustworthy one as well. J’nah was right to put his faith in him.” Then he explained Kavin’s visit to the cave, and how he’d promised to tell no one about the draconic family he’d met there.

“No wonder I liked him so quickly.” Welan grinned. “Well this is good, then. We – more specifically you – need all the human friends you and your family can get. I’ve told you this before, Neri. The world is changing, becoming more polarized. Tolerance is growing on the one side, while intolerance increases on the other. Now is the time to form strong alliances, to gather to one’s self those who will give aid when necessary, support when called upon to do so. Because for all of your size and strength, you still cannot be everywhere at once; your little family isn’t you, my friend.”

Neri nodded, unhappy but unable to contradict his father-in-law. “I know. J’nah is starting the shifting process, but I don’t know how powerful he’ll be. And Vorel…actually, she may not be living here much longer.”

“What?”

“Sorry. I was going to come see you and bring someone who may well become a member of our family in the near future. His name is I’gra-Nar, he’s a full-blooded silver dragon, and he appears as taken with Vorel as I was with Zela.”

“And does she feel the same?”

“It would seem so. She can’t take her eyes off him.” He shook his head, smiling. “Her innate dragon-sense has caused quite a, er, reaction, one I never thought to see.”

Welan frowned. “How do you mean?”

“She immediately displayed submission, and even though the male dragon in such unions is only considered the female’s consort, she clearly views him as her master.”

“Is that good?”

“If both are happy with the arrangement, it’s the best possible outcome.” He patted the scribe on the shoulder. “I’d best be off now. We’ll come to see you…wait. You have that apprentice now - ”

“Actually, I have two. I can, however, arrange for the other one to be elsewhere when you visit. Kavin, on the other hand, would probably be delighted to see your children again, if what you’ve discovered about him is accurate.”

“Hmm.” Neri thought about this for a moment. “You’re probably right. Very well.” He brightened. “I can explain everything – where I’gra-Nah is from, how we met him, all that – when we visit. Would two nights from now be convenient?”

“It would.” Welan smiled warmly, nodded his farewell, and went out.

A minute later, Neri made his way back outside of the castle, hitched a ride on a passing cart which he abandoned a few miles from the cave. When the farmer was out of view, he shifted into his dragon form and flew home. There were plans to make, and he needed to start preparing his family for the days ahead.

ACHTOCHA

 

Vorel felt like she was melting. What was it about this dragon that was making her so uncomfortable in her own skin, and yet ecstatic about it at the same time?

“Are you ready?” asked I’gra-Nar. He had one arm around her waist, his beautiful, sculpted lips brushing her right ear.

She nodded. Somehow, it had never occurred to her that so many amazing things could transpire at once. First, there was meeting this dragon and dealing with the inexplicable things his presence was doing to her insides, to her mind and heart. Then there was the happy news that her father had found Kavin and judged him worthy of their friendship. And now this – I’gra-Nar had insisted she was long overdue for the experience, and had seemed beside himself with pleasure about being the one to teach her how it was done.

“All right, sweet Vorel, close your eyes.”

She did.

“Now inhale…slowly…keeping your arms at your sides at first.”

She began.

He released her by slow degrees, watching her, and took several steps back before saying, “Now raise your arms as if they were wings.”

She did. That was when something incredible occurred. She felt her entire being expand, her blood rushing in an outward spiral around and through her veins, and then a kind of intensely pleasurable explosion in her shoulder-blades. In a wave of happy shock, her eyes flew open and she found herself looking…down. The floor of the cave was suddenly much further away than it should have been.

Turning her head to find I’gra-Nar, she heard the soft rustling she only associated with her father when he was in his natural shape, and realized