by Meagan Hurst
“My native form makes Z feel small,” Nivaradros drawled as he ignored the stiffening of the other three. “Greetings, Lypitris.”
“Greetings, Dragon. It has been some time. Though unlike my fellows, I have heard the rumors regarding you. It seems I owe you a neutral stance at the very least.”
“No need to do that on my account,” Nivaradros argued. “Z will enforce it, but it is nice to see you survived the attack on the Isle. I was unable to come to your aid and for that, I apologize.”
Lypitris blinked in surprise and gave Z a sidelong look. “She’s managed to change you greatly, Nivaradros. Not only in mortal form, but in manner. I do not know if I am ready for such a change.”
They knew each other, Z realized in surprise. And not in the way Nivaradros generally knew people. She was curious about their history but dismissed her interest as two swords were drawn. “He is mine!” she snapped at the other two Alantaions. “Kastliae, Tarialis—put down your swords.”
“Why have you brought the Dragon?” Lypitris demanded as his eyes locked onto Nivaradros’s, which were thankfully revealing he was still safe to be around.
“Because he has been summoned to the Isle. Dyslentio and I—possibly Shanii—plan to attend at his side.”
The immortals noticed the Kryhista rather late, and all four of them blinked with surprise. Dyslentio let out an exaggerated sigh. “Yes, I am supposed to be extinct. No, I am not. Yes, I am here to support Nivaradros—that Nivaradros. No, I am not concerned with his past. Yes, I have known him for years. No, I will not explain how. Nor will I answer any other questions.”
Everyone’s attention moved back to Z. “If you are finished, can we discuss whether or not there is room aboard Dyenrits Caris for passengers, and whether or not the captain would be willing to carry us to the Isle?”
“For you, Zimliya—for a price—I would carry even the darkest of his kind to the Isle,” a friendly and familiar voice rang out from behind them all. Z’s attention moved to the speaker, while the crew turned to face their captain.
“I’m honored, Nyriatri,” Z admitted as she nevertheless dug out a purse that was filled with coins. She tossed it at him and noticed he didn’t even check its weight after he caught it with his left hand. “I would be grateful if you would once again sail me to my destination.”
“With these companions?”
“With these companions. I can vouch for Nivaradros if you need me to.”
“No need,” Nyriatri assured her as he raised a hand to stop her words. “This particular Dragon and I have met. I find him dangerous, but trustworthy. I see no problems with having him onboard.”
Nivaradros was surprised, but he inclined his head to Nyriatri. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I prefer to keep a close eye on Zimliya. For all her talents, the one she still seems to excel at—immortality be damned—is getting injured, and I would like her to survive for a little while longer.”
Nyriatri’s lips twitched to hide a smile. “I have a feeling I am really going to like you,” he admitted almost mournfully. “You were previously tolerable, but Z has seems to have changed you. She has,” he added with a hint of amusement, “a way about her that seems to get to everyone eventually. Come, Zimliya, let’s get you onboard. By now our cargo should have been unloaded. There should be plenty of room, and in taking passengers, I will not need to find cargo before heading back out to sea. It will only be a few hours before we can leave.”
“But…but Captain—he’s…” Vyrike began to argue.
“I am well aware of who and what Nivaradros is, but he is here in mortal form at the behest of both his people and Zimliya. I trust her to know him well enough to guarantee our safety. She has never before brought an enemy to us on board, and I see little reason for her to do so now. If you have a problem with that, Vyrike, you are welcome to hire on with a new captain. I am certain someone here will need a new crew member.”
Lips pressed together with rage, Vyrike fell silent in words but grew louder in his anger. Nivaradros, however, inclined his head gracefully to Nyriatri once more and grabbed Z’s pack before she could. He ignored Vyrike, Kastliae, and Tarialis, but as they moved out—with Shanii trailing—he fell in step beside Lypitris, and Z could overhear them talking as if they had once been friends. She would never understand the Dragon.
Dyslentio kept to her right, as far from everyone as he could politely be, and he eyed the craft before them with suspicion. A ramp was lowered as they approached and Z preceded everyone onboard when it became clear that those who lived and breathed on the sea intended to wait for their passengers to board before them.
“Honestly, they are not going to kill us!” she hissed at her companions before heading up.
Shanii shoved his way into second place and clipped her left heel as he trotted up behind her. Nuzzling her shoulder, he eyed the rest of the crew on deck before snorting and telling her he would go find a place that would be out of the way of the crew, but within range of aid should an attack come. Shanii had never considered going below the way an average horse was transported. Z believed anyone who made the suggestion would end up dead if they suggested it to the stallion directly. Thankfully no one here was that foolish, but today, Shanii wasn’t what caught their attention, and neither was the member of a supposedly extinct race.
No, once again, Nivaradros was the target of the crew’s hatred. With the exception of Lypitris, who seemed to have decided that if he hadn’t been friends with Nivaradros before, he was going to be friends with him now. Since the Dragon was tolerating his presence—possibly even enjoying it—Z decided not to get involved. Heading below to store her belongings, she reemerged quickly because of a small concern that a war would start in her absence. To her relief, she found the crew getting ready to set sail once more, sooner than they had planned, and they were steadily ignoring Nivaradros.
“You should arrive at your destination in two weeks,” Nyriatri called to her from his position at the helm. He could have passed the duty off to someone else, but she knew he preferred to do this himself. “Is this acceptable to you?”
“As long as we are able to disembark on the Isle, I’ll be satisfied,” she assured him as she took up her normal position at the bow. Nivaradros joined her a minute later and raised a brow as he eyed the commotion around them.
“I hope these immortals are as solid as you seem to think,” the Dragon muttered. “I have no desire to see if I can swim in mortal form.”
Chapter 10
Thirteen days into their journey, Z came up on deck from below and smiled as she spied Nivaradros speaking with Nyriatri. Though the two had come head to head a few times, Z found a tentative working relationship growing between the two of them. The two had a strange interest in arguing about the changing sea levels, but as it seemed to bring them closer, she wasn’t about to mess with it.
In fact, most of the crew had accepted Nivaradros as he was. Only Vyrike still seemed determined to hold a grudge but, then again, Nivaradros had made no effort to bridge the rift he had caused between them. Instead Nyriatri kept Vyrike and the Dragon as separated as possible, allowing them close only at mealtimes when Z was present. Nivaradros, however, ignored the Alantaion so there wasn’t a true reason for her to keep an eye on him. He was trying to keep the peace on the ship and considering the way he mingled with everyone else, Z had to admit he was succeeding. Especially since he had to constantly deal with the crew; on a ship there wasn’t anywhere else to go.
Shanii was himself; everyone avoided him save she and the Dragon, but Dyslentio was clearly struggling to adjust to life at sea. He kept to himself and said little even to her when she tried to speak to him. Uncertain whether it was sea travel, herself, or the impending meeting with the Council, Z left him alone when she could. Hoping he still wasn’t blaming her for Nivaradros’s lack of a native form, she struggled with the desire to continually smooth things over with him. She had long ago learned she could never make anyone happy—she could, ho
wever, piss everyone off—but she disliked the thought of disappointing the Kryhista.
Unfortunately, he seemed to have noticed her unease. “May we speak?” he asked from her right as she blinked and came back to the present.
“Of course,” she agreed, following where he led her and absently wondering if he had to go through the transition of walking on land to walking on ground that moved. She was no longer affected by it as an immortal, but despite the fact Dyslentio was also an immortal, he didn’t have the grace with which some of the races were gifted.
When they had reached a secluded area of the ship, Dyslentio turned on his haunch to face her. “I am not blaming you for Nivaradros’s…current situation.”
She stared at him in surprise, slightly unused to such direct entries into a conversation unless she had started it. “It’s alright, Dyslentio. I still blame myself.”
“And you shouldn’t. Based on what I learned, you had nothing to do with it. Holding a grudge against you would be nothing but a waste of energy.”
A bitter smile escaped, but Z waited to see if Dyslentio would continue. When it became clear he would not, she rolled her eyes. “Anything else you’d like to get off your chest?”
“We are almost to the Isle; what are your plans?”
“To play nicely if they do.” Z let her eyes scan the horizon before grimacing. She could see the barest hint of the Isle, and in her mind it was too soon to arrive. Voices above them shouted as the Isle was spotted by others, and Z shook her head with disgust. What she would have given for rough seas. “If they don’t want to play well with others, I will protect Nivaradros and I will protect you.”
“That is reassuring to hear, but I worry for your safety.”
“I wouldn’t. While I am protecting you and Nivaradros, he is going to be keeping me safe. If anyone is foolish enough to make a move against me, and they should know better, I pity them. You have no idea who Nivaradros is, Dyslentio, and you’ve known him for millenniums longer than I have.”
“Nivaradros reveals little about himself; you carry similar traits. You’ve opened up, but I still do not know you. In fact, I am starting to wonder if you know much about yourself.” She didn’t answer and he didn’t press. “I asked you to come here to offer you something I believe you need.”
Stiffening, Z was certain her eyes went to ice. “Oh?” she asked in a voice that could kill if she added a sliver of magic to it.
“Touchy are we?” the Kryhista inquired with care, taking a step back. He held her eyes briefly before lowering his head—and more importantly his horn—until the tip of it was pointed at her heart. “I promise you this will not kill you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t do anything to me,” Z murmured as she backed up. “I’m not interested.”
“You have no idea what I am offering.”
“On the contrary, I am well aware of what you are offering, and at this point in time I am politely declining. I am fine, and you don’t need to possibly weaken yourself right before we land on an isle that is held, burned, and contested by the entire population of the Dragon race, save Nivaradros.”
Dyslentio raised his head to regard her with some interest. “Your knowledge shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. How did you come across your knowledge?”
“In a book—well, actually it was more of a scroll, but I found it in one of the older sections of the Ranger library. It listed your race’s talents and skills in-depth.”
“And your desire to read about an extinct race was…?”
“I’ve researched many things over the years, and I have looked into the past as often as I have looked into the present. I can travel through time if I desire, and it is always wise to be amply prepared to deal with whatever I am thrown.” She fingered the hilt of Kyi’rinn at her side as she spoke.
“Understandable,” Dyslentio admitted as he swished his tail and let out a sigh of irritation as Shanii began to approach. “I shall leave you alone; your steed seems to have taken offense at my presence.” Dipping his head to her, he left in a hurry as Shanii did indeed come to stand beside her.
“No, I am not ready to deal with the Dragons,” she informed Shanii with a sigh as she reached out a hand to stroke his neck. “But I am not about to let Nivaradros handle his people alone. They desire his death, after all.” Cocking her head to the right as he responded, Z winced. “Yes, I am well aware that Nivaradros’s position on the Isle is a lot like my position was with Tenia, but that is not why I am here. I am here because I don’t wish to lose him.”
The stallion snorted and turned his head to examine Nivaradros briefly before turning back. His eyes were darker than usual, but Z had a feeling it had to do with the light. Shanii’s race was one of four immortal races whose eyes did not change color or shade. Of course, due to how they communicated, they didn’t need to be any more transparent than their thoughts made them.
“If Midestol threatens the world and captures Nivaradros in the hope of causing me to yield, you know how I will respond. Nivaradros will do the same.” Sighing, she followed his gaze to the Dragon. She would sacrifice everything to keep the world; she and Nivaradros had never been under any illusions about that. He had promised to do the same when it came to her life.
The subject of their discussion turned and approached. Z smiled as he reached her side. “Are you looking forward to getting off Dyenrits Caris?” she wanted to know.
“Actually no,” Nivaradros admitted. “Once we leave, I cannot be certain of your safety.” His eyes were growing more dangerous as the Isle grew more visible, and as he was as stiff as a rock, Z knew the tension was getting to him. “If they harm you…” he growled.
“I’ll be fine,” she rushed to assure him. “I have been here before. Dragons may be masters of fire, but they have nothing on our talents and skills. I know how to put out fires, Nivaradros.” Her statement didn’t seem to reassure him, and she turned to meet his eyes. “What is it?” she demanded.
“Veilantras—before she decided to kidnap you on Midestol’s behalf—warned me of the fact that the Council is pretty much decided on how this meeting will go.” The edge in his voice was a bitter warning that despite his acceptance of the fact that Veilantras had set her up, he was still holding a grudge. His eyes brightened another shade as she watched and his jawline tightened. Dragons generally made an effort to ensure their emotions couldn’t be read from their features; Nivaradros didn’t give a damn. “As far as most of them are concerned, I am to be treated and handled as the Warlord. It appears I am taking you into a war zone, and I as I am bound to this form…”
“You have your magic,” Z reminded him. “I have Shanii, Kyi’rinn, and my magic. We will be fine.”
Nivaradros didn’t reply but knowing Dragon culture gave her insight into why he was so concerned—frightened even—about bringing her to the Isle. Dragons were possessive and kept what they desired or cared about hidden away from all eyes so they could protect it more efficiently. Nivaradros, however, couldn’t do that, and now he was taking her into the heart of his peoples’ kingdom. It was backwards to everything he knew, and he didn’t want to risk losing her in this fashion.
The silence continued until they were close enough to see the awaiting escort. Nivaradros hissed. “Twelve,” he said quietly. “That doesn’t bode well.” His eyes scanned the Dragons waiting for them on the dock. “And Veilantras is not one of them.”
She sensed Nivaradros readying himself for a fight as their ship grew closer to the shoreline. Keeping her nerves under wraps, Z eyed their greeting party, noting all of the Dragons were in their native forms. She knew all of them. They were adults, but young adults, and they all had issues with her—with humans in general—and she had no doubt they had problems with Nivaradros. Nivaradros’s fears were not unfounded. They could very well be walking into a battle.
“Let me go talk with Nyriatri,” she told him in a low tone. Nivaradros nodded slowly, but she could see it took a large effort on his part n
ot to follow her to the captain’s side.
Nyriatri glanced up as she approached him at the helm. “Doesn’t look like you have the best welcome awaiting you. I’ve met the young green Dragon; he makes your Nivaradros seem very reserved and polite. Granted, your Nivaradros is not the Dragon I expected him to be.” Nyriatri’s eyes moved to hers and held them. “The Nivaradros we have traveled with is the Dragon he becomes when he is not being hunted or harassed by his own people, isn’t he? Much like you are two different people when you have or have not been captured and tortured recently.”
She didn’t reply. Instead she eyed the Dragons on the shoreline and sighed. “If you feel it is safer for the Dyenrits Caris, you can drop anchor here and we can swim to shore,” she offered.
“You paid for full passage. I am not about to force you into the water because a couple of idiotic Dragons are waiting in the vain hope they can start a scuffle. Besides,” the captain added. “I owe you.”
Biting back the response of ‘you do not,’ Z turned her attention to the shoreline that was coming increasingly closer. “Should I alert your men to arm themselves?”
“Please. I would like to avoid being caught off guard if the Dragons decide to forget their manners. Advise my crew to ready both magic—even if they have to use preset spells—and weapons. I shall do the same.”
Bowing as she left his side, Z waited until she was in view of the crew before stretching and letting her fingers run in a subtle but particular pattern and felt touches of magic spring up around the deck. Smiling grimly as she also saw weapons being retrieved from hiding spots, she nodded as though lost in thought to avoid alerting the Dragons watching their arrival. Although considering the arrogance of the awaiting Dragons, they might have forgotten to watch for signs of trouble.
By the time Dyenrits Caris pulled up against the dock the crew was ready for trouble, and Dyslentio and Shanii had rejoined her and Nivaradros. The Dragon stood just behind her—hands on her shoulders—as his eyes met the very burning eyes of those waiting for them. Even when the ship was secured and the ramp lowered, they stayed aboard. All of them eyeing the gathered Dragon ‘escort’ with distrust. Silence fell swiftly among the crew and the majority of them left their posts to flank her small group almost protectively. Even Vyrike joined his fellow mates, standing close to Nivaradros and adopting a protective stance.