by Miki
By and large, the room’s empty, giving us some privacy. The few remaining patrons seem to be hustling their way out. I sit so I can see the entrance of the lunchroom easier. It’s then that I notice the reason the room is vacant. Two larger Elite Warrior Guard members are at the door, ushering away any ravenous but apparently tardy visitors. I need to have a room where I can have meetings where they won’t interfere with the rest of the community. I’ll bring it up with Dana. I’m sure he’ll know how to take care of this. They do let Kino in; I wave him over to sit with us.
"Okay, guys, we need to talk about this dragon ancestry. Have either of you had time to look into it?"
Jared and Dana both shake their heads. “No.”
"No worries, I’ve got it covered. I found a short essay in all that stuff on my tablet. It tells the story pretty well. For the most part, this stuff comes from Fin and the reading material Dolo put on my tablet.
“Before the Trojan War, more than three thousand years ago, Helen of Sparta was born—an offspring of the god Zeus. When Helen hit puberty, she was kidnapped and raped by the King of Athens. This resulted in a pregnancy and a daughter. Helen’s family had to hide the fact she’d been violated, or she wouldn’t have been wed to any of the more powerful choice of husbands. That would have made her daughter Iphigeneia an outcast.
“Iphigeneia lived outside of the city, as an outcast. She chose to live in a cave on a mountain near Sparta, where her mother had married King Menelaus.
“Sparta used the strongest, most physically fit women to bear children. If a woman proved she could provide strong children, other men might request of her husband that she bear his children too. This led to the strongest women bearing children from multiple fathers. Spartans grew into a polyandrous society, where the women held wealth and power.
“Sparta had a policy of leaving the malformed and weak to die on Iphigeneia’s mountain. Sometimes, severely injured men would be left on her mountain to recover or die. Iphigeneia brought the outcasts to live with her, in her cave. She protected and strengthened them. In time, she learned her blood had magical qualities. It could heal the most severely injured, or even malformed limbs. At some point, her group outcasts grew to more than three hundred, large enough to become their own society. Their culture was different than others. Their guiding principal divined ways to help the living live to their fullest. They excelled at helping the disposed of—the injured and the sick. They even saved the same wealthy Spartans who tried at one time to have her burned out of her cave city when they had found out she was helping those they had left to die.
“Her people adored her and the Ceorfan made Iphigeneia their queen. Blessings followed the Ceorfan. After many years, Iphigeneia learned her blood made her immortal. This secret escaped the confines of the Ceorfan community into the larger world of the greedy. The magic within her blood made her a target for every would-be despot or upstart crackpot around. She was hunted. Without going into detail, she was eventually killed. She did have several children. One was a girl named Leta, who had long orange-red hair and skin like velvet. This girl was blessed with the same gifts as her mother.
“That’s all, but guys, over the last few days in Navan, I’m starting to ‘feel’ more things. For example, I can feel the gargoyle pulses as they enter and leave Navan. I couldn't do that before! Seeing auras is more pronounced too. Now, I would like to see if we can find any other things the dragon blood does for the three of us."
Jared chimes in, "Do you have anything you’d like to add, Kino?"
"Some. The Ceorfan dragons have always been matriarchal. We are also matriarchal as a guild. Jared and Dana, you will have gifts like other Ceorfan. Even though your gifts are magnified by your dragon blood, your blood is not magic. Blood magic only follows the females. That means only Kendra’s blood can heal or transform.
“Only a Dragon Queen can pulse as strong as you, Kendra. Those who are privileged enough to stay in your company will enjoy better health. For a gargoyle, your blood gifts strength. Anyone around you will consistently have their gifts operate on a higher level, and they usually have children—something we have not had in the guild for nearly eleven hundred years, when our last queen, Leta, died.
“Sickness, as a gargoyle, means weakness. It can also mean you lose your gift. Without a Dragon Queen, it is possible to lose all our gifts, talents, and even our ability to excel. In the last days, I have seen a remarkable improvement in my friends’ strength. Their gifts are increasing in power also.
“The truth is, the male dragons always had gifts which exceeded most other Ceorfan. For all dragons, residing in the city amplifies their gifts. Navan has its own magic, too. You must pay attention to coincidences in your lives, projects you are drawn to, or even feats you excel at completing.
“While you are here, test yourselves. Find your gift. Dragons were known to have strong gifts. Not gifts like mine—I can sing magic, or my singing magnifies magic. Nothing to brag about. Sleeping a babe is the essence of my gift. Dragons could make the ocean roar. One of the old dragons was known to shoot fire from his mouth, an admittedly uncommon gift. I do not know if your bodies will develop stronger gifts. It seems likely. Also, all dragons can fly."
The three of us sit and stare at Kino as he finishes his speech. Spar has a big grin on his face as he looks at us. “You three look like a coin slot on the old-fashioned penny banks!”
Jared and Dana close their mouth as fast as I did, then laugh.
"Thanks, Kino. That’s a lot to absorb,” Jared says. “At least we know what to look for to find our gifts. We’ll pay better attention while we’re here in Navan. Thank you for the info."
I’d better tell them when we leave. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Fin told me we’ll be traveling to Scotland at the end of the week. How busy are you? Do you want to go with me?” Before they worry about my safety, I add, “I’m sure I'll be okay surrounded by gargoyles."
"I would like to go with you, Sis," Jared says.
Dana follows with, "If it’s okay with you, Sis, I want to stay here. They have some bad back ready to cave in. I have a design to fix it and make the cave chambers more useful and nicer. If you want me to go, though, I will."
"Not a problem. Stay and help. It’s what we do. Right? What’s a bad back? Do we need to worry?"
"No, don't worry, Sis. We have restricted access in those areas. Back is what we call the ceiling underground. There is some needing strengthened."
"Okay, gotcha. Maybe you’ll figure out your gift while we’re gone. Could you please try to find a room I can use as an audience room/meeting room? I’d like it near my room, and I want a big round table that can seat fifteen to twenty people. It doesn’t have to be fancy. I just don’t want to keep using the lunchroom and having people get locked out.”
“No problem, Sis…I mean, your queenlyness!”
I give a quick elbow into Dana’s ribs as I stand. “I’m going to head to my room and get ready. If you guys need me, you know where I'll be."
Kino told me he’d walk with me to Mega, who was waiting to speak to me in my room. When I get there I realize I am going to be a poor host.
I say, "Mega, I don't have anything to drink in here or I’d offer you something. I’m not exactly sure where everything is yet either. How can I help you?"
"You have already helped in many ways, my queen. In the days to come, I am sure you will be able to see the difference your presence is making with the guild. I need to keep you informed regarding what your military is doing. You need to know your soldiers, our number, and what our capabilities are. When we arrive in Scotland, to meet with the humans, we need a strategy. You need information to devise this strategy."
While he pauses, I interject. "Please call me Kendra, Megahir. You are so right, I do need this information. Can we agree to meet every evening after breakfast for a short informal meeting, just to exchange information? Another thing—you spoke to me in my head the first time we met. You haven’t done it again.
Can I ask why?"
"Of course you may. I will call you Kendra in private, if you also call me Mega. I gather that to do so in public or with the humans would be disrespectful. It would take away respect for your position. Politically speaking, the power and prestige of your position is not just a token sentiment. If you are treated with dignity, others will follow the example automatically. We want your word to hold power from the start.
“To address the telepathy, I do not wish to intrude on your privacy. My gift is one that gives me access to emotions as well as thoughts. I am beginning to understand that with you and your brothers, I can access you when you are farther away than what I am able with others."
I have a little seating area in my chamber where we were relaxing when Amber walks in with a tray of tea and sandwiches. "Wow, thank you, Amber! How did you—oh yeah, Mega. Thank you both. Mega, we should stay as connected as you deem. It’ll be a safety issue and will save us time. I have nothing to hide from you. I trust you. I’m sure you’ll consider my privacy. We’ll figure it out as we go. The question is, if I reach out to you telepathically, will you hear me?”
“With most, that only works if I am in their minds when they respond. With you, I thought I could hear you earlier. Making a joke about something – coffee, maybe?"
"Ha, that’s right, shall we practice?" I think without speaking, “I need to practice steeling my facial reactions. So in a conference meeting, we can tell secrets, and no one will be the wiser."
Mega thinks back, “That would be a good practice. Let us also try to strengthen the bond so I may hear you farther and farther away. For emergencies, in case you are ever lost, or in case I am taken by the enemy, or vice versa, we can find each other.” Then audibly he says, "You have some very talented warriors at your disposal, Kendra. Did you know Amber is one of your best?"
"Well, that stands to reason! Nope, I didn't know it. What can I expect from you Amber do you also communicate telepathically?"
"No, my queen."
"Kendra while we’re in private, please," I ask her, whispering.
"Kendra, I’m extraordinarily good at infiltration. I can sit as an ornament to the unknowing, with few ever detecting me, then slip into a building under the radar. I gather data, files, or evidence and getting back out undetected. Mason and I both are gifted similarly. He likes to say he has a better sense of humor. I like to let him believe it.” She smiles at me.
The time gets away from us as we strategize and talk. Soon, Spar returns from his training. "I didn't know you would be in a meeting, Kendra. I’ll come back later."
Mega was stands up and tells him no; he had monopolized me most of the night. He tells Spar to clean up and take me to eat something. We had only eaten some small sandwiches for our lunch. Amber had left much earlier when our conversation had become too boring. Mega tells me, in tele-speak, that he would talk to me again in the evening, tomorrow after breakfast.
I’m hungry, but with my big boy all sweaty, I think food can wait for a little while. We have hours until sunrise. That’s amazing—I can tell what time the sun is going to come up just by feeling! I love it.
One more look at my big hunk of monster and I forget I even had a stray thought. I invite him into my bathing pond. We’re into water sports—well, something like that. I forget my name in the next few minutes.
Seventeen
Scotland
Kendra
This is the night, Fin had told me we are going to leave for Scotland. I didn’t pack because Amber made me leave that to her. I check the bathroom to see if she at least packed my comb and brush. Of course she did, but one never knows what a soldier might think is or isn’t important. The soldiers I know like to shave their heads and pack light—nothing that can't be left behind and all that. I seem to be surrounded with soldiers. Thank the Creator! At least they understand me!
When I was younger, I was a square peg in a round hole. A woman in a man's world needs to find a way to make it work, if that’s what she wants. It’s what I want. I love what I do. I just need to figure out how to make my new position fit into my old life as a Federal Park Ranger.
A Park Ranger might be right for me now, but I’m reminded of my first love… politics. I had achieved my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, emphasizing in both public law and political policy. I’d given it all up when a randy Senator accosted me sexually. I was too young to handle that kind of pressure. I decided to quit. At the time, I thought it was a good decision.
Yeah, running is sometimes a good decision, but not from your own fears. Better to confront them head on. I’m tougher now. I handle myself better. I’ve had enough of it happen that I tell others to map out a system. Option one, punch them in the chest and yell at them loudly enough that others can hear details of my disgust. If that doesn't work, go to option two: kick them in the balls if the perpetrator is a man, or punch them in the face if a woman, before screaming, “The children are hungry they haven't eaten in days! You should be ashamed.” Finally, option three, pull my weapon.
No, I rarely go through the first two options. I skip to straight to option three. I'm too old to put up with that shit!
I’m curious if any of my old contacts in the political realm are involved in TASS. Arden Kelly is an old friend I met during negotiations the US had in Ireland, when I was still a lowly intern for the dirtball Senator from Michigan. Arden would look at my role with the Ceorfan and take me seriously. Coming back from my thoughts, I hear a conversation I don’t like in my front chamber. It seems the Count has come to visit.
The lovely Count de Treon had just informed Spar he’ll have to stay behind to finish his testing. “No,” I say firmly. “Spar is going with me. I need his expertise with me in Scotland. Please make him welcome on the trip.” If the Count wasn’t so temperamental, he’d be okay. As it is, he irritates me so badly, I don’t want to hear what he has to say. It’s such a shame; he’s a stunning gargoyle. He has a perfectly demonish look, including the big pointed ears and pale green skin. He’s rather short compared to the Elite Warrior Guard, but he’d look perfect torpefied on an old French castle. Whatever! He’s one of my people now, so I’m going to have to do my best to build him up—maybe help change his superior attitude. I’ll protect him the same as any of the others.
Without a word or sideways glance, the good Count executes my request.
Yeah, it's a gift. I’ve always been able to get my way in those kinds of situations. Wait a minute! Hold the phone! Could it be possible I might be gifted in that area? I’m going to test my theory soon, and a lot.
I test my link with Mega to see if he can hear me. "I’m so bored waiting."
He responds immediately, "Yes, Kendra?"
"Where is everyone? I’m ready to leave. I'm also board."
"Do you remember where we had the party last week? The entire team picked for Scotland is meeting there in a few minutes. Can you remember the way? If you do not, I can send someone to get you."
"I can get there. See you in a minute."
All three of us, Spar, the count, and I make our way through the cave chambers, finding our small crowd of travelers sitting around talking. As soon as they see me, they stop talking and stand.
"At ease, at ease, you don't have to stand for me. We can be more formal in Scotland when everyone in our company isn't family, okay?"
"Mega,” I think to him. “There are some people I don’t know, who shall I ask to introduce us?”
Without a blink, he says, “All of you know the Pulse of the Ceorfan Heart. In public, you may call her Queen Kendra or Your Majesty.” He continues speaking and begins the introductions, “My lady, beside the Count de Treon is High Guild member Rayder, Marquess de Roat.”
"Please my lady, call me Tobert," I smile, and nod as Mega moves on. “Flint is part of the Elite Warriors. You already know Mica, Kino, Amber, Mason, and Spar.”
Then he moves toward the last gargoyle to be introduced. She is exceedingly beautiful as well. “Thi
s is Eltira, the Count's daughter. She is fluent in languages and will assist us in that capacity.” In my mind I hear him say, “She is also a spoiled brat. Her father could not say no to her when she demanded to accompany him on this trip.”
"Shall I make her stay here?" I ask him back.
"Let us indulge them this time. I think we want to start easing the High Guild into taking orders from you. Let us not make enemies in the beginning."
"I agree, but I’ll give a warning so they know I am the one in control."
"Agreed."
Jericho makes his way to us, stopping when he is standing beside me. I sense he is content. I view his aura. I hardly need to concentrate here in Navan—I can perceive them clearly. His is very yellow, with orange. That tells me he’s not only intelligent, he’s happy; the orange is the fact that he commands authority.
I’m satisfied, and turn to look at Eltira. She flares red, but the color round her is mostly blue. Is she a musician? The red flares are not a good sign in her. She has a temper, I bet. I should keep an eye on her. That’s enough; I blink to quit seeing the lights and they all disappear.
I search Jericho's face. I hope he can read body language. I want him to know I’m about to speak. He nods at me, a tiny fraction of a nod.
Standing straighter and using my formal voice, I say, "Thank you all for being part of this team. You are brave to stand for our guild in a human council, one which rules the world of men. I have a few instructions.
“Our primary goal is to make allies to help us defeat Baratium. If not allies, then friends. I need your best. If someone offends you, I’ll correct the situation. Please don’t take matters into your own hands. Do your best not to give offense in return. There will be some men who will undoubtedly look to cause trouble. Do not let them do it." I look at each of the gargoyles, emphasizing my point.
"If you receive information pertinent to the business of disposing of Baratium and his horde, give it to Mega or one of the Elites as quickly as possible. Please, do not sit on it, no matter how insignificant. Mega is point on any issue regarding Baratium.”