by M. K. Eidem
"Kirall," Autumn put a calming hand on his arm, causing him to look down at her. "They are just concerned about their son."
"Daiki should know better than anyone that I would never harm, Dacke," Kirall growled.
"Then why did you demand his entire Hoard as payment for what he had no control over," Daiki growled back.
"What?" Kirall's gaze shot back to his friend's father. He couldn't believe that's what Daiki thought and didn't try to keep the shock out of his voice. "That's not the reason Dacke wanted you to bring it."
"What other reason could there be?" Daiki demanded.
"Why don't you come in and find out." Autumn gestured for them to precede them into Kruba. After hesitating for only a moment, Dacke's family moved up the steps and entered Kruba.
"Just down the hall," Autumn told them. "First door on the left."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Dacke stood with his hands behind his back as he stared out through the open doors that led out to one of Kruba's many balconies. The past Keepers of this Lair had understood a Dragoon’s need for space and desire to be able to take flight at a moment’s notice. He hoped Krapis' Keepers had done the same. From here, with his new Supreme vision, he could just make out the tallest spire of Krapis off to the side of its mountain's peak.
During his first flight as a Supreme yesterday, they hadn't flown toward Krapis. Instead, Kirall and Autumn had shown him and Nixie the difference in speeds and heights they could reach as Supremes. It had been incredible, and something he couldn't wait to do again. But first, he needed to face his family and explain what had happened.
"Dacke?"
His mother's voice jerked Dacke from the thoughts he'd been so lost in. He hadn't heard her approach, something rare for him even before he became a Supreme. Taking a deep breath, he turned to face her.
"Da…Dacke?" Femke's gaze rapidly flew over her eldest taking in all the changes. "What happened to you?"
Dacke moved quickly to his mother, taking her fluttering hands in his. "Mama, I'm fine. My vow."
"But…"
"Your eldest has been blessed by Kur, Lady Femke. He is now a Supreme," Autumn announced moving into the room.
"What?!" Daiki demanded coming up behind his mate to take in his son. "That's not possible."
"Do you doubt your own eyes?" Autumn fired back.
"No, but… how is this possible?"
"Does that really matter, Dad?" Dacke asked, looking to his father.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether or not you were harmed in the process."
"I wasn't, and that's all I'm going to say about it." Dacke looked behind his parents to his brothers standing there holding a chest, shock clearly on their faces. "Good, you brought my Hoard."
"We did, but why?" Daker rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to reconcile what he saw with what he'd always known to be true. "It leaves your Lair unprotected, and you have to realize it has already been noticed."
"That no longer matters."
"How can it not?!" Feng demanded, dropping the chest to begin gesturing with his hands. "You've spent centuries carving out that Lair."
"Supremes do not live in the lower regions," Kirall answered for Dacke as he came to stand beside his mate. "Their power would overtake any lesser Lairs, forcing them out. It's why we live in the highest peaks."
"You're saying that my oldest will now live here? With you?" Femke asked.
"No!" Dacke, Kirall, and Autumn immediately said together.
"I will be establishing my own Lair, Mama," Dacke told her.
"You will?"
"Yes, and I asked you all here today because I was hoping you would all share it with me."
A deafening silence filled the room.
"Live with you?" Daiki was suddenly across the room bumping chests with his son, completely ignoring Dacke’s now much larger size and change in status. "You insult me! Parents do not live with their mature males."
"There was no insult," Dacke growled back, and while he didn't back down, he didn't use his superior strength to force his father to either. His brothers didn't seem to realize that, and their growls joined their father's.
"Enough!" While Autumn barely raised her voice, the power within it immediately silenced everyone. "Good. Now if everyone would take a seat, we will discuss this reasonably without all these male theatrics. Lady Femke?" Autumn gestured to one of the couches. "Would you like some wine? Or would you prefer Fire Water?"
"I believe this is going to require Fire Water," Femke replied, a small smile forming on her lips. She was beginning to like this little female. It took guts to stand up to a roomful of angry Dragoon males, and she should know having dealt with four most of her life.
Nodding, Autumn went to a sideboard and picked up the tray that had appeared with seven cups and a large decanter of Fire Water. Turning, she found Kirall there.
"I'll take that,” he told her.
"Thank you." She gave him a small smile before returning to the group. No one spoke, but their eyes traveled to one another as they each received a glass and took a sip. "Now isn't this better?"
“I meant no offense, Elder Autumn,” Daiki told her gruffly.
“I know you didn’t, Daiki. May I call you Daiki?”
“Of course.”
“Wonderful, and please call me Autumn. This Elder thing is new to me.” She ignored his shocked look and the way his gaze went to Kirall before nodding. “You also, Lady Femke. I'm hoping we will become friends, and there's no need for titles among friends.”
“I would very much like that, and please call me Femke.”
Autumn beamed at her. “I’d be honored. Now that that's settled, on to what caused all this uproar, besides Dacke becoming a Supreme." She looked directly at Dacke's parents. "I know it isn’t customary for a male dragoon’s parents to live inside his boundary or Lair, but then no Supreme has ever had parents that weren’t also Supremes… or brothers.” Her gaze shifted to Daker and Feng. “Unless it was through a mating, as it was with Kirall and his family members." She wasn't going to get into how one of Kirall's sisters was now a Supreme. Now wasn't the time. "Therefore, new customs must be created to make sure the families, of whom Kur has blessed, remain safe."
"I can protect myself and my mate!" Daiki began to growl again.
"Under normal circumstances, I have no doubt you could," Autumn told him and he ceased growling, "But these aren't normal circumstances. There's going to be some controversy when it becomes known that Dacke is now a Supreme."
"That's an understatement," Daker muttered and then receiving a quelling look from Autumn, snapped his mouth shut.
"Questions are going to be asked how it happened, especially of his family," Autumn continued.
"But we don't know," Femke told her.
"Do you really think someone like Lando is going to believe that? That he won't try to force it out of you, any of you, just as he did your son?" She watched Daiki pale as he looked to his mate.
"If he did, he would receive my wrath," Dacke's voice became lethal as he spoke.
"All of our wraths," Kirall supported his friend.
"Which is what we are trying to avoid," Autumn gave an exasperated look at the other two Supremes. "We need to build support among our fellow Dragoons, not cause conflict and division."
"You're right, my mate," Kirall agreed, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it.
Autumn just shook her head and pulled her hand away. "Stop trying to distract me." Her gaze then returned to the group. "The only way we can assure this doesn't happen is for all of you to move your Lairs within Dacke's territory where Lando can't reach you."
"He doesn't have a Lair now," Daiki reminded her quietly.
"He will once he has fully empowered the Lair of the last White Supreme."
Feng's brow furrowed. He'd been taught that there had once been a White Supreme, but he couldn't remember his name. "The last White Supreme?"
"Virgil. He was my ancestor's closest friend and was the last true Keeper of Krapis."
“Krapis…” Femke whispered.
“But Krapis has already been claimed. By Kruba,” Daiki argued. “It’s all the lower regions have been talking about.”
“Yes,” Autumn acknowledged, “but once Dacke has been able to sufficiently empower the jewels there, Kruba’s boundary will retreat and as its Keeper, Dacke will rule it as he wishes.” She could see her words had astonished Daiki, and the rest of his family, for this was never done. A Keeper might come to the aid of another if their Lair was under attack, but they never assisted one in creating their Lair.
“That's why Dacke wanted us to bring him his Hoard." Daiki looked to his son, beginning to understand. "So he could start empowering Krapis."
"Yes, and I would very much like for all of you to live there with me. Either in Krapis itself or in a Lair you create within its boundary. Your Hoards are yours to do with what you wish. I've been assured there are more than enough jewels in Krapis for me to empower. It will just take time."
"Not as much as you might think," Kirall told him. "You will find as a Supreme it's easier."
Without a word, Daiki rose from beside his mate and walked through the open doors that Dacke had been standing in front of when they'd arrived.
"He just needs a minute," Femke said quietly, her gaze following her mate. "It’s a lot to take in and to accept."
"For all of you," Autumn moved to Femke’s side and squeezed her hand.
"Yes," Femke agreed.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Kirall's gaze silently tracked his friend as he followed his father out onto the balcony. He couldn't imagine how hard this was, for both males. Hopefully, Femke was right, and they just needed time. All of them did, and he could give them that.
"Daker. Feng. Would you like a tour of Kruba?" he asked, rising from his chair. "I think your mother could use some time too."
"Mama?" Both males looked at her.
"Go. Kirall's right. I could use some time to think." When Autumn made to rise, Femke tightened her grip on her hand. "Please. Will you stay?"
"Of course." Autumn sat back down. "If that's what you want."
"I do."
Walking over, Kirall leaned down and gave his mate a swift kiss before heading for the door. Autumn refilled their barely touched glasses then sat back and took a sip as Daker and Feng followed Kirall out of the room.
Femke did the same, and for several minutes, they silently enjoyed the Fire Water. Finally, Femke turned and looked at her.
"There's more going on here than you're saying."
Autumn smiled slightly. Femke wasn't just beautiful. She was smart and astute. "There is. Dacke isn't the only one Kur has blessed."
Femke's eyes widened. "Another has become a Supreme?"
"Yes, Kirall's sister, Nixie, is now a Black Supreme." Autumn wasn't sure why she was telling Femke this. She and Kirall hadn't discussed it. But Autumn felt Femke had the right to know.
"A female?!" Femke took a large gulp of Fire Water, causing Autumn's eyes to widen.
"Yes, she has claimed Vrakar as her Lair." Autumn refilled Femke's glass.
"But a female has never been the Keeper of a Lair before."
"I'm the Keeper of Kruba," Autumn reminded her.
"That's different, you're mated," she argued back.
"Do you really think I wouldn't be the Keeper of this Lair if it weren't for Kirall?"
"I…" Femke frowned at that. If Autumn had arrived on Mondu, and she and Kirall hadn't been mated, Kruba would still have been hers. "I just never considered that before, but Kruba would have recognized you with or without Kirall."
"Yes, and it did as I arrived the first time without Kirall. But that's a story for another time. What I find it hard to believe is that you don't actually rule your and Daiki's Lair."
"My mate is the Keeper," Femke began.
"But you are the one that actually takes care of it. Makes sure everything is just the way he wants it."
"Well, yes."
"That makes you both Keepers, just as Kirall and I are."
"But Vrakar is a large Lair. How is it possible for a female to acquire enough jewels to empower it? Even a Black Supreme."
"While Nixie already has a small empowered Hoard, you're right. It wouldn't be enough for Vrakar." Autumn took a deep breath then revealed even more. "That's why Kirall turned over his entire Hoard to her with Vrakar."
"But… but…" This time when Femke tipped her glass, she didn't lower it until it was empty. "That's unheard of," she gasped.
"It is, but extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Kruba doesn't need Vrakar's Hoard, just as we don't need Krapis'." Femke waved Autumn off when she moved to refill her glass. "Therefore we're willing to give them to those that do. The only difference is that Vrakar's Hoard is already empowered."
"And you're willing to protect him, protect us, until that is done in Krapis?"
"Yes. Dacke is Kirall's closest friend, Femke, and the reason Kirall and I met. We owe him and his a great deal. So we will protect you until Dacke can, whether you live in Krapis or somewhere else within its territory. Then once this situation is resolved, it will be up to you and your mate to decide if you want to remain with your son or create another Lair."
"Is Elder Kiran going to be under his daughter's protection now that she is a Supreme?"
Autumn knew she had to choose her words carefully because it would affect not only Dacke's family but those of whoever else became a Supreme.
"No, because they are two entirely different situations. Kiran is a Black Prime, an Elder, and even if he weren't, there would be few powerful enough to challenge him or his family. You and yours are White Minors, and have an Elder that is more than willing to harm those he should be defending."
"My mate isn't going to see it that way."
Autumn reached out and gripped Femke's thigh. "Then convince him to, because it’s true. None of this is a reflection on your mate's ability. Dacke is going to need him, for the advice and support that only a father can give.”
"I will do what I can. I vow."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"The peak that the sun is setting behind is where Krapis is," Dacke said as he walked up to stand beside his father at the balcony railing.
A grunt was all he received.
"You taught us that if we ever had a problem, no matter what it was, we could come to you and discuss it."
"That's true."
"It goes both ways, Dad. Talk to me. I may not have all the answers, but between the two of us, I think we can figure it out." For several long moments, the whistle of the wind was the only sound heard.
Looking toward Krapis, Daiki finally spoke. "I have always known you were meant for great things, Dacke. It was in your aura from the moment you were born. But this…"
"I'm still me, Dad."
"You are." His father turned his head to look at him. "And you aren't."
"Dad…"
"No. If we are going to discuss this, then we are going to be brutally honest." Daiki finally fully faced his eldest, and Dacke did the same. "In here and here," Daiki touched between his son's eyes and then the center of his chest, "I know you are the male I had the honor of raising. But now you are more than even I believed you could be, which makes you more than me." He paused, then continued. "A father should always be proud of his son and his accomplishments, and while I am, I am also struggling with it, and that shames me."
"I understand."
"No, you don't because what I'm struggling with is that there is a threat against my family, and you are now better able to protect my mate than I ever could."
Dacke couldn't say anything about that because it was true.
"That doesn't lessen you, my mate." Daiki spun around to see his mate quietly walking up to him. "Did it make my father less than you because you were able to protect me better than he could?"
"Yo
u know that's different, Femke."
"Not really. I've been talking with Autumn, and if I understand it correctly, you and I can still have our own Lair. One empowered by you. Protected by you. It will just be within Dacke's boundary. Is that right, Dacke?"
"Yes, Mama."
"We will have a family territory, and if one day, after everything settles down, if we or Daker or Feng decide we wish to return to the lower region, then we can. Our being near Dacke is about protecting him from us being used against him."
Daiki frowned at that. He hadn't considered it that way. That he would be protecting his eldest, instead of his eldest protecting them.
"Is that true?" Daiki looked to his son.
"Yes, Dad, although I'll admit to you now that I would prefer if you stayed in Krapis with me. I'm going to need your guidance and wisdom." Dacke gave him a somewhat bashful look. "I've never been a leader before, Dad. Let alone an Elder."
"You will be a magnificent Elder, Dacke, and not only for the Whites, because you know what it’s like to not be powerful and to be at the mercy of the unscrupulous. But I will be honored to assist you any way I can."
"Does that mean you'll consider moving into Krapis with me?" Dacke couldn't keep the hopefulness out of his voice.
Daiki looked to his mate, who nodded. "Yes, and I'm sure Daker and Feng will too."
"That I'm not looking forward to," Dacke murmured.
Chapter Six
Seven Dragoons, three Supremes and four Minors, flew over the peak that separated Krapis from Kruba. Unlike Kruba, Krapis wasn't carved into the mountain peak with views from all sides. Instead, it was cut into nearly the entire mountain face, widening as the mountain did until it reached a massive set of turrets that had an engraved set of Dragon’s claws hanging between them. It would be an intimidating sight to anyone who approached from this side.
Kirall and Autumn continued to circle as first Dacke flew down to land, followed by his father, mother, and brothers. Once they had all shifted into their Other form, Kirall's Dragon trumpeted, requesting permission to land just as he would with any other Keeper. When Dacke signaled his permission, Kirall and Autumn glided down and shifted.