by Laurie McKay
If he wished to charm her, wished to use his gift of speech, he needed to consider what was important to her as a dragon. A question tickled Caden’s tongue. It felt strange, but it felt right. He spoke as respectfully as he could. “Why not display them somewhere like before?”
She huffed and puffed. “I’m not crass enough to go put them hither and yonder. They belong in my stolen office, the one with a window that lets in sunlight and moonlight.”
Caden understood. This school was no longer hers. She was in a strange place and forced to do others’ will. “They belong in your home,” he said.
Ms. Primrose arched a thin brow. “In my lair.”
“Of course.”
When she was angry and when she’d eaten Trevor, she’d seemed Blue Dragon. But other times she seemed like the Silver Elderdragon—less vicious, an educator, a collector of things small and shiny. Occasional silver scales still shimmered among the blue. Caden felt more and more certain she was both Blue and Silver Elderdragon, and he suspected the Silver part of her was the part that loved her treasures most.
“Your beads and baubles should be seen.” He shifted his gaze to the pearly button. “Your buttons, too.”
More scales flashed silver. “And my rocks.” She glanced down at the powder from the crushed stone and seemed regretful. Then she waved, and the powder fluttered away. “But they’re not. My office taken, my school overrun, and I’m stuck in this windowless closet.” She glowered at Caden. “I blame the city. I blame you.”
How could he respond without angering her? He couldn’t. But he realized that maybe her anger could be contained. What she needed was someone to be blunt. Blunt but polite and sincere. He raised his chin. “You should blame yourself, too,” he said.
“Pardon me?” She spoke in the same tone she’d used before she’d threatened to eat him limb by limb. But then Caden had been trying to anger her. Now he attempted to connect with her.
Ms. Primrose needed someone to share her burden. “That is to say, we all share fault. And we should work together to fix our problems.”
The room was so quiet for a moment, Caden heard a locker open and close in the hall. Brynne seemed to be holding her breath. Caden waited.
Ms. Primrose said nothing for far too long. Finally, she spoke. “What problem of mine can you two fix? My problems have only increased since I admitted you here.” Then something like curiosity flooded into her cold anger. “But I suppose it is in your nature to talk, and in mine to listen to you. So speak, but I suggest you speak well.”
Brynne’s idea was to bribe Ms. Primrose. What if Caden used his gift of speech to offer her something she wanted? To bribe her? Then the offer would only be more tempting. He needed to offer something she wanted, though.
Caden gestured to the boxed trinkets. “I offer you a space where you can display your treasures. A place where you can appreciate and polish them. That is the first problem we’ll fix.”
“I don’t impose on other’s lairs,” Ms. Primrose said. “That’s not within my nature.”
“Of course you don’t,” Caden said. “Your manners are impeccable.” A little flattery never hurt. But best he think of something fast. “It will be no imposition.”
Ms. Primrose cocked her head. “You’re offering me a shelf somewhere?” Truth be told, she didn’t sound impressed. “I don’t need a shelf.”
Maybe Caden had miscalculated.
Ms. Primrose set her hand on top of one stack of boxes. “A shelf is far too small, dear.”
Then Caden had an idea. He knew of a place he could offer. And if she accepted, it would help him in many ways. “Jasan’s town house,” Caden said. “The lighting is good. The evening sun shines in. The moonlight, too.”
And Ms. Primrose couldn’t devour Jasan. She was pactfully prevented. Not only that, if Caden needed to charm her, if Brynne needed to bribe her, if they needed to ask her for help, they’d be able to find her beyond school hours. They could try to gain her favor when she was surrounded by her treasures and not as close to Rath Dunn’s power as principal. Also, Jasan wouldn’t trust Caden to live with the dragon, and he’d let Caden stay with Rosa and his friends.
This might be one of Caden’s most brilliant ideas. He bowed to the Elderdragon. “On behalf of the Razzonian royal family, I offer you use of his house as your own. My brother’s home is your home. It’s a gift. It will belong to you as much as him. You and your treasures are invited.”
Ms. Primrose ran her hand across the boxes. “I do miss seeing them gleam,” she said, and raised a brow. “But that’s not how you invite a dragon to share your home.” The air became heavy. There was pressure against his temple. Brynne latched on to Caden as if she needed his support to stay standing.
Caden had felt this type of power before. Ms. Primrose was about to speak in a language of power, in a forgotten tongue. Agreements made in that could not be broken. It was such an agreement that kept Ms. Primrose from eating Caden and Jasan.
Her next words were lyrical and terrible. “Say it so I know you mean it.”
Brynne set her head on his shoulder, and he could feel the grimace on her face. She started to shake. The forgotten tongue affected most people like that. Not Caden, though. His gift of speech offered him some protection. The words hurt, but he could stand them. He could even speak them.
“Our home is your home,” he said, the words sharp like bee stings in his mouth. “I invite you to share the town house.”
“For how long?” Ms. Primrose said, and the words felt like a dagger to his eye.
“For as long as you desire,” Caden said.
After another agonizing moment, Ms. Primrose said, “I accept.” The words were powerful. The pressure in the room became almost unbearable as the agreement was completed. Then the air felt normal again.
Brynne remained hunched against Caden. He rubbed his temple and returned to English. “That seemed a bit extreme for an invitation,” he said.
The forgotten language always pleased Ms. Primrose. The room was less chilly. Her eyes seemed almost human again. The room less blue. “Did it?” Ms. Primrose said.
Caden suspected she simply liked talking in the head-splitting languages. “Somewhat.” Or was she testing his gift? It seemed to amuse her enough. There was something more he needed to say. He forced his most apologetic smile. “Also, please forgive me for my behavior in the hall,” he said. “I was out of sorts that day.” He took a deep breath. “So, in the spirit of our new pact, will you tell me how to stop Rath Dunn’s spell? Please.”
She walked behind her desk and sat down. “A four-part spell that requires four ingredients and four sacrifices. You stop it by stopping it.”
“I see,” Caden said.
“No more questions from you today,” she said.
And although he wanted to ask more, he kept his mouth closed.
It took Brynne a moment longer to recover from the effects of the forgotten tongue. Once she did, she lifted her head and blinked at Caden slowly. He could almost see her mind putting together what had happened.
Brynne glanced at Ms. Primrose. He guessed Brynne also noticed the change in her appearance. When Brynne took a deep breath, he was certain. He was also certain she was about to do something brazen.
Before Caden could stop Brynne, she said, “How does Rath Dunn’s spell connect to the Greater Realm?”
Caden expected Ms. Primrose to shush Brynne as well. Instead, Ms. Primrose cocked her head. “Is that what you really want to know?”
What did it matter how the spell connected to the Greater Realm? They just needed to know how to stop it. Brynne didn’t change her answer, however. “Yes, that’s what I want to know.”
Ms. Primrose peered at her. Whatever Silver attributes had appeared seemed to be fading again. “I’ll tell you what, dear. If you give me the button, I’ll answer one question. After all, you also came to bargain with me. I’ll either tell you how the spell is connected or I’ll tell you how to break dear C
aden’s curse. The choice is yours.”
What? Caden was taken aback. Ms. Primrose would tell them how to break his curse? Caden’s life might depend on that information. Rath Dunn knew about his curse. He and Ms. Jackson worked together to figure out the timing. This was the best thing that had happened in months, and offered in exchange for a trinket.
Brynne appeared equally shocked. She opened her mouth, but instead of immediately choosing “how to break Caden’s curse,” she closed it and seemed to hesitate. “Are they equivalent?” she said.
“No,” Ms. Primrose said.
So Ms. Primrose admitted one answer was worth more than the other. Although, Caden realized, she hadn’t said which she deemed more valuable. The more valuable information was how to break his curse, right? Knowing details about the spell didn’t matter, only stopping it. Suddenly, though, he wasn’t so sure. Maybe that was why Brynne had hesitated? She wondered the same thing.
Brynne shook her head like she didn’t know what she’d been thinking. “It doesn’t matter. Of course I want to know how to break—”
Although impolite, Caden interrupted. He turned to Ms. Primrose. “May Brynne and I confer first?”
Ms. Primrose’s not-horrible mood seemed to be fleeting and fading fast. She spoke to Brynne. “Brynne, you have ten seconds to decide or I retract the offer.”
Caden and Brynne huddled together.
“What are you doing?” Brynne snapped.
“Why did you hesitate?”
“Nine seconds,” Ms. Primrose said.
“It’s weird she’d ask me to choose between those. I’ve been asking her how to break your curse for months,” Brynne said. “Why would she make an offer like that?”
“I don’t know,” Caden said. “Because you asked about the spell?”
Brynne frowned. “Perhaps.”
“Six seconds,” Ms. Primrose said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Brynne said. “It’s my fault you’re cursed. You’re my ally. I’ll choose you, Caden. The villains are going to figure it out. And next Wednesday you’ll again be cursed.”
But Brynne was being tested. Ms. Primrose liked to do that to people. Brynne had sensed breaking Caden’s curse wasn’t the best choice, but she was going to choose it anyway.
“No,” Caden said. “You’re right. It is strange.”
“Three seconds,” Ms. Primrose said.
Brynne looked torn.
Caden’s curse would recur on Wednesday of next week. A mere five days away. That was his problem to suffer. It was Brynne’s problem to fix. Protecting the innocent, protecting the Greater Realm, that was their responsibility. If Ms. Primrose offered information on the spell and how it connected to their homeland, that was what Brynne had to choose.
Caden held Brynne’s gaze. “I know you will break my curse with or without help. Don’t let guilt guide you. It’s a test. Choose whichever you think you should to pass. You are good at passing tests.”
“I suppose I am,” Brynne said.
“One second,” Ms. Primrose said.
Brynne reached out and squeezed Caden’s hand. Then she turned to Ms. Primrose. “Tell me how the spell Ms. Jackson casts connects the realms.”
Ms. Primrose peered at her. “If that is your choice, so be it,” she said, but Caden couldn’t tell if she thought the choice a good one. Then her tone became more instructive, more like a teacher. “The ritual cast here must find the ritual cast there. Two spells to join to one. Two four-part spells for one goal.”
“Oh,” Brynne said after a moment. “Could you be more specific?”
The room was growing colder again. Ms. Primrose narrowed her eyes. “No.”
Brynne looked from Ms. Primrose to Caden. He could see Brynne itched with more questions. They needed details. How exactly did the spell in this realm connect to the one in the Greater Realm? Were sacrifices needed there as well? But they’d asked all they should for today. Truth be told, they’d likely asked one thing too many.
“We should return to class now,” he said.
“Bless your hearts,” Ms. Primrose said, “you’d better.”
They scurried from the small room into the empty hall. Brynne had been pale after the Forgotten Language of Power, but rosiness returned to her cheeks. She seemed pensive as they walked back to the gymnasium.
“You needn’t feel bad,” Caden said.
“What makes you think I feel bad?” Brynne said.
At the least, she felt conflicted. Caden felt conflicted. “It was the right decision. I’m certain.”
“I agree, prince,” she said. “But I don’t know how what she said will help.”
“We will figure it out.”
Brynne arched a brow. “You mean I will.”
“And if we keep pleasing her, she might help us more.”
Brynne smiled at him. “I think you’re right.”
“I often am,” Caden said.
“Sometimes,” Brynne said. “Now you must tell Prince Jasan you gave away his house.”
“I didn’t give away his house,” Caden said. “I offered that he share it. That’s different.”
They walked a length farther. Then Brynne turned to him, her face bright even in the blue light. “I don’t think Prince Jasan will want you at his town house if she is there. He might deem it unsafe, and you won’t have to go live with him.”
Caden had also considered that. “I am also clever,” he said.
Brynne rolled her eyes. “And ever so modest? I assume you think that as well.”
When they returned to the gymnasium, the students were assembled in three lines of seven and practiced hand-to-hand formation four. They worked far enough apart so they wouldn’t injure each other with untrained strikes and kicks. Tito was front middle. Derek was in the back. Jasan stalked through the ranks correcting form. His brow was furrowed, his mouth a tight line.
When Jasan noticed Caden and Brynne, some of the tension eased from his face. So, he’d been concerned. That seemed unlike his brother, and Caden felt strangely guilty about plotting to stay at Rosa’s house. Truly, this day was one of mixed emotions.
Jasan grunted at them to join the ranks. Brynne found a space near Tito. Caden, however, waited under the basketball hoop. He wanted to share what he and Brynne had learned. Also, it was best he let Jasan know his house was now not only his.
The students showed various levels of skill. Tyrone, Derek’s friend, spun and ducked. His side kick was slow, but his form was nice. Olivia, the girl with freckles and red hair, was bent over, exhausted. Brynne, of course, did great as soon as she joined. That was no real surprise. While she might not be a trained Elite Paladin, she was trained to fight. Tito also showed skill.
As for Derek, he completed a forward strike, but it was so slow and poorly formed, it looked like he was waving. As Caden was always polite, he waved back.
When Derek noticed, his cheeks glowed red like a firestone.
Jasan shot Caden a glower as he fixed Derek’s strike. He instructed Tito in a more advanced technique. Brynne, he ignored, which made her scrunch up her face. Then Jasan walked up to Caden. “Report,” he said in Royal Razzon, “then join the line with the others.”
Quickly, Caden explained about Ms. Primrose and the house. “Are you impressed?”
Jasan seemed as surly as ever. “You gave her my house?”
Caden wouldn’t give away his brother’s things. “No, I told her you’d share it with her.”
“Why?” Jasan said, and frowned.
“To regain her favor,” Caden said.
“And what favor of hers did you gain?”
Appeasing a fickle Elderdragon like Ms. Primrose was not an immediate process. “It takes patience to charm a dragon,” he said. “And it’s not like she didn’t tell us anything useful. We know now there is a similar spell being cast in the Greater Realm. We know each spell requires the other.”
“It would have been better if you asked how to contact home,” Jasan said.
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Jasan was never satisfied. Caden crossed his arms. “We were each allowed only one question. That will be my first question next time.”
With a huff, Jasan ran his fingers through his hair. “It doesn’t sound as if you were cautious.”
“You’re the one who needs to be cautious,” Caden said. “You now share a house with a dragon.”
Jasan didn’t seemed amused.
When Rosa picked them up from school, Jane was in Caden’s front passenger seat. Dark glasses covered her eyes. “Jane gets the front today,” Rosa said. “In the back, Caden.”
Jane shrugged as if she were sorry, but when Rosa wasn’t looking, she stuck her tongue out. Tito and Brynne were already seated and buckled in the back. Caden motioned for Tito to move over.
“Nah, bro,” Tito said. “Last one in gets the middle.”
“I don’t want the middle.”
Rosa turned back from the driver’s seat. “Caden.” His name sounded like a warning.
“Look, prince,” Brynne said, and waved to the middle. “Your throne awaits.”
Tito flattened himself back as if to make room for Caden to pass. “It’s a place of honor,” he said. “You can tell from the special little seat belt.”
Caden squashed Tito’s foot as he climbed over him, and Tito responded by pushing him toward the foot well. Fast as a Summerlands firefox, Caden grabbed Tito’s arms. If Caden was to be on the floor, so should Tito. They struggled, and Tito’s seat belt pulled taut.
“Boys!” Rosa scowled back at them. “Enough.”
Truly, Tito didn’t like to annoy Rosa. Immediately, he let go, and Caden fell, his back against the gritty floor mats.
Caden wasn’t as worried. Truth be told, he was a bit annoyed with Rosa. She’d given Jane his seat; she said she wanted Caden to live with her yet still planned to send him to Jasan’s. Although, since Caden had invited Ms. Primrose to use Jasan’s house as her lair, he doubted that change in living arrangements would happen.
Caden wondered if he could make Rosa angrier. It would be good practice for his gift of speech. There were times when it was useful to make someone mad, and Rosa was a good person to practice on because her anger came from a place of caring. Besides, it was her fault he was on the gritty floor mats. “If I were seated in the front,” he said, “there would be no struggle.”