Fanning the Flames (Going Down in Flames)

by Chris Cannon

  “Something a Blue wanted forgotten, since only a Blue could access it?” Bryn asked.

  Mr. Stanton sighed. “We can conjecture all we want, but we have no proof. Maybe the different clans preserved items which were important to them. Blues always want to be prepared to defend the Institute, so it makes sense they would stockpile weapons. After some study, I’d be willing to bet we’ll discover the items in the Black dragon’s vault are of an artistic nature.”

  “I think we should allow Miss Enid and Mr. Stanton to work through the ledger,” her grandfather said. “I’ll post guards at every door and inside every room with express instructions not to touch anything.”

  “I would fail at that job,” Clint said to Bryn.

  “Me, too.”

  After leaving the library, Bryn, Clint, Ivy, and Valmont convened in her room.

  Bryn leaned back on the couch. “Today, we found the Blues’ weapon stash and a Black dragon’s art closet. Makes me wonder what the Green, Orange, and Red dragons have stashed away.”

  “The Greens probably have scientific equipment,” Clint said.

  Ivy nodded. “I bet the Oranges have mining records or files on some plant magic we no longer know about.”

  “What would the Reds have?” Valmont asked.

  All eyes turned to Bryn. And she drew a blank, which made her feel strangely disloyal to her father. “I’m not sure. They are the middle class. They run all the everyday businesses. Maybe records of who owns what and how they kept their businesses prosperous.”

  “That doesn’t sound worth hiding away,” Clint said. “But I see what you mean. What would a Red treasure besides everyday life?”

  “Maybe they kept photo albums and family trees,” Ivy said.

  “Since I’m a hybrid, I doubt I could open a Red clan door. We need to find a Red willing to take on a knight so we can figure it out,” Bryn said, “because now it’s going to bug me.”

  “You’d think your grandfather would ask one of the guards to take on a knight.” Valmont said.

  “They want to stick with students,” Bryn said. “Maybe we could ask Keegan.”

  Valmont made a throat-clearing type noise. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “He’s in elemental science with us, and I went on one date with him a long time ago. And we decided we were better off as friends.” That might be stretching the truth a bit, but Valmont didn’t need to know she’d kissed Keegan.

  “Am I better looking than him?” Valmont asked, shifting around so it looked like he was posing for a picture.

  “Of course you are.” Bryn laughed.

  “Then I guess I don’t mind.”

  The phone rang. “Okay. You’re both here, so who is calling me?”

  “Jaxon?” Clint said.

  “I hope not.” Bryn cautiously picked up the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Bryn.” She recognized her grandmother’s voice. “Your grandfather tells me you had an interesting day.”

  “I did. How was your day?”

  “My day was spent handing Kleenexes to Lillith.”

  Uh-oh. Jaxon’s pregnant mother was prone to tears. “Is everything okay?”

  “I think Ferrin has been in a mood.”

  “Imagine that.”

  Her grandmother’s silence sounded like disapproval. Time to backtrack. “Sorry, I’ve had my own run-ins with him lately.”

  “Yes, well he is the Speaker for the Directorate, and he does have a lot of responsibility.”

  Was this Blue party rhetoric or did her grandmother really believe what she was saying? “You’re right, but Lillith shouldn’t have to deal with it.”

  “I agree, which is why I wanted to invite you to have dinner with us tonight.”

  “That sounds great. I assume you realize Valmont will be coming with me,” Bryn said.

  “He’d be derelict in his duty if he didn’t,” her grandmother said. “I’ll come to your room in an hour. Wear something nice.”

  “So jeans and tennis shoes?” Bryn teased.

  “I believe you know the answer to that question.” Her grandmother laughed. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Bryn gave Valmont the good news. “We’re going to dinner with my grandmother and Lillith.”

  “Is Jaxon coming?” Valmont asked.

  Crap. “His name wasn’t mentioned.”

  “I don’t find that reassuring,” Valmont said.

  Bryn’s grandmother arrived exactly sixty minutes later, and Jaxon was nowhere in sight, thank goodness.

  “Are you ready?” her grandmother asked.

  Bryn glanced down at her black sheath dress and heels. Was her outfit not up to her grandmother’s standards? “Is that a trick question?”

  “You need jewelry.”

  Okay. “Give me a minute.” She went back to her bedroom and grabbed the sapphire earrings, which Lillith had given to her as a thank you for saving her and Jaxon’s life, and the bracelet her grandfather had given her for Christmas. She didn’t normally wear either because she wasn’t comfortable walking around in expensive jewelry. It wasn’t something she had done before coming to school, and not like it was a hardship, but she almost felt the need to apologize, like she was flaunting her wealth. Well, not her wealth but the Blue’s wealth, her grandparent’s wealth. Thinking about all that money made her want to redistribute some of it, like a modern day Robin Hood. Although, God help anyone who tried to steal from her grandfather.

  She shook her head, trying to clear such random thoughts. Back in the living room, she struck a fashion model pose for her grandmother. “Better?”

  “Much.”

  Valmont who’d been standing off to the side, said, “Wouldn’t your elemental sword bracelet be a better choice, from a protection standpoint?”

  She hadn’t thought about that. “Could I wear both?” she asked her grandmother.

  “Probably not.” Her grandmother checked the time on her watch. “And since Valmont will be escorting us, I don’t think you need another sword. We should go.”

  “Where are we meeting Lillith?” Bryn asked.

  “Didn’t I tell you? We’re having dinner at the Westgate estate.”

  She so did not like where this was going. “Wouldn’t Lillith rather get out of the house and socialize?”

  “I presented that option, but I think this is also an excuse to show off the new nursery.”

  “That makes sense.” And if this really was about baby stuff, Jaxon probably wouldn’t be involved.

  When the driver pulled up to Westgate Estates, Bryn had to bite her tongue to keep the snarky comments under control. The black wrought iron gate in front of the drive which lead to the house had three-foot-tall scrolling W’s worked into the metal. The front door had a giant W engraved into the wood.

  Bryn pointed at the front door. “That’s unusual.”

  Her grandmother cleared her throat. “That is one way to phrase it.”

  Maniacal egomaniac was another.

  “The theme carries on throughout the estate,” her grandmother said.

  “In case you forget whose home you’re in,” Valmont muttered.

  “Even the silverware is monogrammed,” said her grandmother. “And you’ll probably receive a replica of that set as a wedding present.”

  Whack! Every time she managed to forget about the nightmare of an arranged marriage to Jaxon something popped up and smacked her in the back of the head.

  Her grandmother hadn’t been kidding about the inside of the house. The marble floor of the foyer showcased a gold W in the center, as in shiny looked-like-it-was-made-of-real-gold type of gold.

  Valmont pointed at the ostentatious display of wealth and bad taste. “Do you think it’s fourteen carat?”

  “I’m hoping it’s paint,” Bryn said.

  The staff member who met them wore a crisp white shirt with W embroidered on the front pocket.

  “If you’ll follow me, Mrs. Westgate is waiting for you in the arbor-arium.�
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  What in the heck was an arbor-arium? Didn’t arbor mean tree? Bryn had visions of a forest encased in glass like a giant terrarium. It wasn’t far from that image.

  Rather than containing plants, like her grandmother’s indoor green house, this glassed-in area contained trees. Bryn stood, stunned for a moment at the impossibility of what lay before her. “This is amazing,”

  “It is an agricultural feat,” her grandmother said. “Ferrin hired Orange dragons to create an indoor park, and this is the result.”

  Lillith came toward them on a slate path between the trees with a rather large baby bump under her pale blue silk dress. There was a genuine smile on her face. She was practically beaming happiness. “Welcome to Westgate Estates. What do you think of our forest?”

  “It’s lovely,” Bryn said.

  “You have to come see the baby swing we installed for Asher,” Lillith said. “It’s this way.”

  Bryn, Valmont, and her grandmother followed Lillith down a side path to a huge oak tree. Hanging from the lowest branch, which was easily a foot thick, was a tiny basket swing.

  “It’s so cute,” Bryn said.

  “Isn’t it?” Lillith’s hand went to her stomach.

  How could anyone married to Ferrin be this happy? Then again, he wasn’t here at the moment, so that probably had a lot to do with it.

  “Would you think me rude if we visited the nursery before dinner?” Lillith asked.

  “Of course not,” said Bryn. “I’m excited to see how your snowflake theme turned out.”

  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate showing it to someone who actually wants to see it. Ferrin avoids talking about the nursery and Jaxon pretends to care, but men don’t seem to understand.” Lillith pointed back the way they came. “We’ll take the main stairs.”

  The main stairs led to another landing complete with the requisite W in the center of the floor. Although this W appeared to be made of silver.

  “How many W’s are in this house?” Bryn asked.

  Lillith sighed. “Ferrin is very proud of his lineage and rightfully so, but don’t worry, Bryn, after you’ve lived here awhile you won’t even notice them anymore.”

  Oh, hell no was the first response that came to Bryn’s mind, but what she said, was, “Here? Why would I live here?”

  Lillith tilted her head. “I assumed you and Jaxon would want to live here while your estate is under construction.” She sniffled like she was about to cry. “Unless you’ve made other arrangements with your grandparents.”

  “No,” Bryn jumped in to stem the tide of hormonal tears. “It’s not that. It’s just… Jaxon and I haven’t talked about it. At all. So, no need to cry.” And it’s not like her marriage contract had actually been approved, yet. She held out hope Ferrin would use his evil influence to squash the plan like a bug. As long as his plan didn’t involve squashing her, too.

  “The nursery?” Her grandmother prompted.

  “Right this way.” Lillith turned down a hallway and went up a half set of stairs and then down another hallway which lead to ornate, double cherry wood doors with the dreaded W carved into them. “Valmont, would you open the doors, please?”

  “Of course.” Valmont seemed to understand she wanted a theatric flourish, so he opened both doors at once and then stepped to the side so he wasn’t blocking their view.

  “It’s a winter wonderland.” Bryn didn’t know where to look first. The walls were painted the blue gray color of twilight. Artistic renderings of snowflakes in silver and white decorated the walls at random intervals. The bassinet was a dark wood with light blue bedding edged in snowflakes. A mural of a Blue dragon blasting frozen flames decorated the right hand wall. The dragon managed to look maternal and fierce at the same time.

  “Isn’t it lovely?” Lillith clasped her hands together like she was trying not to clap with excitement.

  “The dragon mural is a work of art,” Valmont said.

  “Thank you,” Bryn’s grandmother said.

  “You painted the mural?” Bryn knew her grandmother had decorating talent but hadn’t known she could paint.

  “I did, but no one outside of this room is aware of that fact, so let’s keep it quiet. Your grandfather would not approve.”

  “That’s ridiculous. You should be proud of your talents.”

  “Our world doesn’t work that way,” said her grandmother.

  “I’m happy you broke tradition and painted it for me,” Lillith said.

  “It was my pleasure.”

  “Come see the clothes I ordered for Asher.” Lillith practically skipped over to the dresser to show off the tiny articles of clothing. She held up a blue onesie covered in snowmen.

  “It’s so tiny.” Bryn touched the soft fabric.

  “And look at these socks.” Lillith pulled out socks edged in white lace snowflakes.

  “Do you have a picture of Jaxon in frilly socks?” Bryn asked. “Because I’d love to see it.”

  Lillith laughed. “I have photo albums somewhere with his baby pictures, but I’m not sure he’d appreciate me sharing.”

  “Which is precisely why you should share them with me,” Bryn said. “Just one picture? A small one?”

  “I don’t think that would be fair,” Lillith said. “But I may keep them on hand to encourage him to help with his baby brother.”

  “Have you chosen a nanny yet?” Bryn’s grandmother asked.

  “Not yet. I’d prefer to take care of Asher myself. I know I’ll need help, but the nanny Ferrin hired when Jaxon was born tried to take over everything. She practically kicked me out of the nursery a month after he was born.”

  “And what did you do?” Bryn hoped Lillith had stood her ground.

  “I told her Jaxon was my son and she was here to help me take care of him. And I may have threatened to blast her out the nursery window.” Lillith shrugged.

  Bryn laughed. “I should have known living with Ferrin would have prepared you to stand your ground.”

  “It’s taught me to choose my battles wisely.”

  Bryn’s stomach growled. “Sorry.”

  “That’s okay.” Lillith wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Asher agrees it’s time for dinner.”

  When they reached the small dining room, the table, which seated a dozen, only held three place settings. And Bryn had a terrible feeling she knew why. Valmont was being treated as an employee rather than a guest. And that was not going to work for her.

  “Are we short one place setting?” Bryn asked, like she hadn’t already figured the situation out.

  Lillith appeared confused, but then her gaze wandered to Valmont. “I didn’t think to include your knight on the guest list. I’ll ring the kitchen.”

  “That’s not necessary,” Valmont said.

  Like hell it wasn’t. “I’d feel better if you ate with us,” Bryn said.

  “It’s no trouble.” Lillith walked over to the buffet and picked up the phone. After a short conversation, she returned to the table. “It’s all taken care of.”

  One of the Westgate staff bustled into the room bearing a tray loaded with food. The savory scent of roast chicken made Bryn’s mouth water. The young man placed four plates on the table, adding silverware and a napkin for Valmont. Then he smiled at Lillith with adoration in his eyes.

  “Is there anything else you need, ma’am?”

  “No, Gerald. Thank you.”

  Gerald nodded and left the room. It was no surprise some of the staff would be enamored with Lillith. She was beautiful and kind, and her personality must be a ray of sunshine compared to Ferrin’s dictator mentality.

  Valmont joined them at the table, but he seemed content to blend into the background rather than add to the conversation. Was he trying to play the role of an employee or did he not have much of an opinion on all the baby-related topics?

  Bryn picked up her knife to cut through the thicker part of the chicken breast, and there was the W on the handle of the knife. She’d forg
otten what her grandmother had said about the silverware. She looked at her fork and found the W engraved on the handle. Was Ferrin trying to compensate for Bryn’s mom running out on him, or had he always been this proud of his family heritage?

  When the topic of conversation rolled around to politics, Valmont seemed to sit up and take interest.

  “Ferrin told me about the vaults you found beneath the library,” Lillith said. “It’s amazing to think generations of dragons concealed weapons and artifacts, but it makes me wonder who they were hiding the information from.”

  “Good question,” Bryn said. “Now we’re trying to find everything we can to keep it out of the hands of anyone who’d use it against us.”

  “You mean the Rebels?” Her grandmother’s tone held a note of warning.

  “Yes, of course that’s who I meant, but I wish we knew who we were fighting. I’ve seen Rebel dragons who appeared to be hybrids, but there’s no telling if they were using hair dye or wearing colored contacts to throw us off. I wish dragons who were discontented with the status quo would address the Directorate or lobby. There’s no need to start a war.”

  “I’m afraid you’re wrong,” her grandmother said. “Challenging the Directorate means trying to change the fabric of our lives. And that is unacceptable.”

  Any type of response she made would be controversial, so Bryn nodded and took a drink of her water. She wanted to say that blind obedience was never a good thing and people should be allowed to ask questions, but neither of those comments would end in a pleasant conversation, and this dinner was for Lillith and her baby.

  “Do you need to do any more shopping for Asher?” she asked, instead. “I’d be happy to meet you in Dragon’s Bluff one afternoon to look at more baby things.”

  Lillith lit up like Bryn had offered her the world. “I’d love that. Maybe we could meet for lunch one day this weekend.”

  “And, of course, that invitation was meant for you, too,” Bryn wanted her grandmother to know she was invited but didn’t want her to feel obligated since she already spent so much time with Lillith.