Hearing Minerva’s panicked breaths behind her, Saff swept her hand over where the poor creature’s eyes had been.
“Can you say your name? Do you remember it?”
He only moaned. Longer, louder. He knew they were there, at least.
Saff placed a hand over his heart. One arm twitched in an aborted movement to reach out to her, but the bone snapped, and he shuddered and cried out.
“It is all right. Everything will be all right,” she told him in a low, smooth voice. Perhaps, Saff thought, she could lie after all. “Take deep breaths for me. In… out… Yes. There we go.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. If they’d gotten there sooner… It wasn’t even enough to know that this husk of a person had likely bought an egg himself, had likely mistreated it and perhaps killed it as the others had. His suffering was just for his crime.
Yet her anger could not rise to the moment. It could not accept his suffering as recompense for the death of her sisters and brothers. It was just more pain, and as she opened her eyes, she focused her energies on his heart, drawing out the last bit of heat, and making it stop.
It beat no more. He shuddered once and was then still forever.
16
Minerva
“He would have died soon,” Saff said.
Minerva remained chilled to her core. Saff sat in the backseat with the eggs around her as Minerva drove. She didn’t know where they were headed. She’d just taken Saff’s directions and put her foot on the petal. She didn’t know if she could handle this, and even Saff couldn’t give her answers.
“I’ve never killed anyone,” Minerva said. “I don’t mean… I-If you say you had to, then you had to, but…”
“He was in pain, Minerva. It was far beyond my power to save him, and he would not have made the trip to my home.”
“I know.” Minerva sighed and shook her head. “It’s funny that I sometimes think of myself as the hardcore badass just because I’ve run in circles with criminals since I was a teenager, and I steal stuff from people who can spare it. It’s not the same thing. I’m not a soldier like you. I only fight to survive.”
“I’m no soldier either,” Saff said. “I am sorry for what happened to him. I wish I were more powerful, but the power over life and death is something that even my people do not claim to have mastered.”
“I guess that would be irresponsible. What about Mary? You said she was infected?”
“Yes. But I don’t know how to cleanse her of the infection. She is not so bad off yet. We may still have time to save her.”
Minerva nodded, gripping the wheel tightly. What had their recon turned into? Not just eggs but the people around them. Her stomach churned.
“You think he died because of overexposure to the eggs,” Minerva said. “What would happen, if, say, someone strapped one of the eggs to their body to hide it?”
“That person would need to be cleansed as well.”
Acid burned the back of Minerva’s throat. She felt like she’d been running a marathon, but they had only been out of her apartment for a few hours.
“That would be you?” Saff asked gently. “You don’t smell sick, like the others, but I’m sure it takes time, or we might have seen problems before. Once we are home, my people will be able to help you.”
“It’s just, that guy…”
“He has likely had much more exposure than you did,” Saff assured her.
`Whether that was true or not, Minerva had to wonder. Yeah, she didn’t go rubbing up on the eggs anymore, but she was still around them, as she tried to save them.
“The eggs aren’t evil,” Minerva found herself objecting. “They’re just babies. Why would they cause something like that to happen?”
“It’s as I’ve said: Our magic is not for you. Humans twist it. Not intentionally, of course, but all the same…” Saff stroked a hand over each egg in turn.
“That makes more sense. The eggs aren’t bad. We’re bad.” Minerva let out a long breath.
“You aren’t all bad.”
“But we’re greedy and selfish, like you said.” Minerva looked into her mirror to catch a glimpse of Saff. “We corrupt things. So, don’t we deserve to die?”
“No one deserves such a death.” Saff leaned back and closed her eyes, worry creasing her brow.
Although it had only been roughly two weeks since Minerva had seen Saffyranae in her true form, watching her shift remained a shock. Saff had placed the eggs on the desert ground and then stepped back, scales emerging and rolling in waves all over her body. She slipped out of her clothing and began to grow, and grow, and grow. Her neck lengthened, and her arms curved and became immense and muscular. Her tail swished out, causing the desert air to grow cold in spite of the sun shining above.
The end result was magnificent. Saff was as beautiful as dragon as she had been a woman. Minerva held back the urge to run her hands over the large, pearly white scales. It was like she was covered in gems that caught the sunlight and reflected back sparkles.
In one motion, the clawed hand front leg (arm?) scooped up the eggs with all the gentleness of a pediatric nurse. Then, her muzzle turned toward Minerva, and she crouched down.
Climb onto my back. I’ll be careful with you.
Minerva paled. She touched her ears and once again had the urge to leave this quest immediately. She couldn’t now, though. She could be dying. So much for backing out.
Minerva began to climb, until Saff’s other hand rose and helped guide her between two spines. Minerva held on tightly.
Are you ready?
“Have you always been psychic?”
Telepathic would be the term, and it is significantly more difficult to speak mind to mind when I am focused on holding human form.
“Fair enough. I’m ready. Just don’t forget that I’m up here.”
Minerva bowed her head forward and pinched her eyes shut as Saffyranae launched herself from the ground in one burst of energy. Sand flew up around them, and they surged forward. The wind whipped through Minerva’s hair, and she bobbed her head with every flap of Saff’s wings.
It was a rough ride, to say the least, and Minerva didn’t open her eyes once. All of her sarcastic thoughts flew from her head and were left in the expanse below.
We are moving through the veil, Saff alerted her. You shouldn’t feel anything, but we will be on the ground, soon.
Though, of course, Minerva had no idea what that meant. A tingle washed over her body, and they began to descend.
“I’m cool. I’m just gonna puke for a week once we’re on the ground!”
Saff made a noise that was half laugh, half ferocious growl.
“God, have mercy,” Minerva said as Saff’s wingbeats slowed and she finally pried her eyes open. Below them was a large, sprawling island. From above, Minerva could see wisps of colored smokes and large structures built into the mountains. Dragons swept up and down and sideways, all on business, it seemed, and there were so many types and colors that Minerva couldn’t begin to start sorting them.
It made sense in a way. Lore surrounding dragons came from all over the world. If dragons had grown to have multicultural cities the way that humans had, and their propensity toward sharing and exchanging rather than selling and conquering suggested they ought to, this rainbow of a draconian metropolis ought to come as no surprise.
Another dragon, this one with shining, ruby-like scales, dropped down to fly beside them.
Yes, we have found seven. I have brought her with me because she was in contact with some of the eggs. Has there been any other progress?
Minerva realized that she could only hear Saffyranae’s side of the conversation, but listened keenly. Apparently, the others hadn’t had any luck finding eggs, or at least living ones. Minerva felt that raw ache in her chest at the thought of more little dragons, dead in their shells.
She is very sensitive, Saff said. And clever. She has helped tremendously.
“Can they not let me hear the
ir thoughts because they don’t know me, or is this a thing, talking about humans as though they aren’t there?” Minerva asked.
Saff glanced back with an expression akin to a smirk. She dropped them down further, giving a wave to her friend, and began gliding as she slowed. It was a bit like an airplane landing. Only Minerva wasn’t strapped in.
You’re not wrong that it is a bit rude to not let you hear their side of the conversation. It shows lack of consideration on their part. Unfortunately, that will be common here. Many of us can speak human tongue in our True Forms, but this is a bit easier.
“This would not be the first time I found myself snubbed by people who thought they were better than me. Trust.”
Minerva began to climb down them moment that Saff came to a halt. She wished Saff would return to her human form, but instead, she continued walking, on three legs as her four cradled the eggs, and headed for an enormous cathedral (or something like it) that climbed up the face of the mountain.
“Where are we going?”
I must return these eggs to the Shaman Council. They will be taken care of. Then, we can meet with my mentor Oyshin, who will most definitely be able to cleanse you of corrupted magics or any magic in conflict with your human energy. He is predominantly a healer.
Minerva bobbed her head, taking in the enormous dwellings that surrounded them. Each was meticulously constructed, but had its own design. Housing developers would have had a fit at the glorious, eclectic mismatch of the structures. Minerva had to admit that it was beautiful in its way. Who was to say that houses ought to look alike?
As they walked, Minerva could hear a lively flute playing. She tried to imagine a dragon holding a flute, but could not. And she smelled the roasting of meats, and her stomach growled. Since seeing the remains of that poor man, Minerva hadn’t been able to think about food. She wondered that dragons ate. She’d literally never seen Saff do so.
Around them, dragons chatted with Saff as they approached her. Few acknowledged Minerva’s presence, and instead talked exclusively with Saff. One or two found Minerva an interesting novelty, and continued on about it until Saff was rolling her eyes. One smaller dragon, who appeared to be younger and was colored in dark greens and purples, bounced up to them both:
“Harrro!” it peeped. And then, “Bonjuuuor! Buenoross Diasss!”
Minerva laughed aloud and then covered her mouth as the dragon seemed abashed. “No, that’s good! You’re just the first who has tried to talk to me verbally!”
“I love humansss,” the dragon said cheerfully. “Why are you heeerrre?”
“We’re returning some stolen eggs we found,” Minerva said.
The dragon bobbed its head, and its legs made a little skip. “That’ss good!”
Saff revealed the eggs in her hand, while still walking with the other three legs.
“Ohhh! Verrry good!” The dragon’s legs hopped again.
Minerva has helped me immensely, Saff said.
The little dragon, whose name turned out to be Oudyralae, chatted with them for several minutes before realizing that she (as it turned out she was a young girl) realized she was late for a training session and launched into the air to get to the other side of the island.
“God, that was adorable. How can you all be so scary and cute at the same time?”
Most of us feel the same way about humans, to be honest. It is truly a miracle you haven’t killed the planet yet with the things you’ve created.
“Fair enough.”
As they entered the cathedral, it was almost impossible not to feel intimidated. The top of the doorway reached far, far above Saff’s head, suggesting that some dragons who came here were even larger than she was. The vaulted ceilings inside likewise made Minerva nervous, and she looked away from them, feeling dizzy.
There were fewer dragons in here, and she realized, it was quieter. No music, no buzzing chatter between dragons in languages she didn’t understand. Just all-encompassing silence.
Therefore, when a large, silver dragon with drooping whiskers and a long body practically slithered forward, Minerva jumped back.
Relax. This is Oyshin. Saff went quiet, and the two of them spoke mind to mind for a moment. Then, Oyshin took the eggs from Saff with equal care, and slithered away again.
He’ll be back. Come with me.
Minerva followed Saff into a room that was smaller. It smelled of lavender and rubbing alcohol, and a large bed was carved out of one wall. Minerva went the edge and tried to pull herself onto it. It was too high.
“Will he want me to take off my clothes?”
If you wish, you may, but I doubt it will help. Saff lifted Minerva onto the ledge.
“I’m not stripping for a dragon doctor if I don’t have to.” Minerva scooted back onto the large slab. “Can you be normal for a minute? I mean, my normal?”
Saff tilted her head to the side. Her eyes blinked slowly, that same shocking blue, but the angle was different. Minerva wondered if Saff had additional eyelids. Or if she could regrow her tail like a lizard. Come to think of it, were dragons more like lizards or birds? She would have to ask someday, but not today.
Today, Minerva was just trying to hold on mentally.
After thinking it over for a moment, Saff began to shrink down and within moments, she was her old towering, gorgeous self. She had changed so that her form was also wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater, and Minerva idly thought that would be the best talent every for someone fashion forward but poor. Saff jumped up onto the edge of the bed to sit with Minerva.
“Are you all right?”
“Why don’t you speak when you’re in dragon form?” Minerva muttered.
“I find it hard to pronounce words properly. It is a bit embarrassing.”
“Because you have an accent? That’s not the worst thing that could happen.” Minerva crossed her arms over herself and took a shaky breath.
“Oyshin is the most skilled shaman I know,” Saff said firmly. “He can heal you. I am sure of it.”
“Okay. I guess there’s a benefit to hanging out with dragon commies. You guys have kick ass socialized healthcare, I bet.” Minerva looked up at the ceiling, feeling her stomach flipping.
Saff reached over and took Minerva’s hand in between hers. “You will be well,” she promised. “No harm will come to a human who helped us find some of our missing children.”
Minerva rolled her eyes. “Even if I tried to sell one of them?”
“I can’t think on that anymore. Seven children will live. We have names and connections for others who may be responsible. I wish we had saved that one, and I still feel sorrow for her, but I can only focus on our future now.”
Minerva nodded and sucked in her lower lip. “If I’d kept her closer, do you think she might have survived?”
“No. I don’t,” Saff said quietly. “And it would have most definitely killed you and likely infected others. It was beyond your power.”
Minerva didn’t really believe that was true. That she might have died, yes, that she would’ve spread it to others without knowing. Part of her, though, had felt that egg responding to her when she’d kept it close. It had gotten stronger, until she’d shut it in the safe.
She could’ve saved her. Maybe it was what she deserved for being so callous and selfish, being poisoned with that stolen child’s stray magic.
17
Saffyranae
Minerva had never looked so vulnerable. Even when she’d been nearly dead in Saff’s arms, Minerva had preserved her strength. She’d even made a joke at the time.
She lay back on the stone bed as Oyshin hovered above her. His race had no wings, yet his incredible psionic abilities allowed him to levitate whenever he desired. Before returning to the room, Oyshin had shifted into a tall, lithe man with dark hair peppered with gray and nearly black eyes. He’d donned a shimmering robe with a wide belt and walked into the room with a warm smile.
Keep her calm, he’d told Saff as he raised his ha
nds over Minerva’s body. His wide-set eyes fell half-lidded, and he muttered to himself in the tongue of the Ancients. His hands moved in circles, scooping downward and upward and downward again.
Minerva gasped. Her eyes opened, and she looked to Saff, who grabbed her hand.
“Just keep breathing,” she instructed.
“You are strong,” Oyshin promised. “I have it in my grasp.”
His right hand twisted in the air suddenly. A pulsing red mist began to rise from Minerva’s abdomen. Saff blinked slowly. It wasn’t black. The magic hadn’t corrupted yet. How much time did it take for the energy to sour inside a human?
Oyshin brought his hands together like a large bowl and the magic came together in a swirling ball. Furrowing his brow, Oyshin cradled the magic close to him and called forth a crystal orb with the other. It floated to him, and he brought the magic and the orb together.
“It is done.” Oyshin smiled down at Minerva. “You are very resilient, for a human.”
“I am? How?” Minerva pushed herself up on her elbows.
“You live,” Oyshin said. He nodded to Saff and lowered himself to the ground. “I will see that this is taken care of. I hope to see you both at the meeting later with the Council. We will discuss what has happened, and we shall decide how to move forward.”
18
Minerva
She was going to have to work harder to keep her eyes from falling out of her skull. Everywhere Minerva went was more extraordinary than the place before. She’d seen dozens of different dragons, scales shining vividly in the sun, as they engaged in an aerial ballet above her head. She’d been awed by the sheer size of the cathedral-like structure where Oyshin had healed her, but the Council’s room was something else. Deep inside a tunnel, the structure widened out to a vast cavern. In the middle was a table like something out of King Arthur, a mammoth round structure where dragons of every color and sort sat huddled around it.
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