by Kell Amber
Cebrus made a face. “Couldn’t it at least be sleeping kitten?”
Silvan laughed. “Okay, kitten, you heard Meliv. Let’s get dressed. We’ve got a lot of road to cover if we’re going to get back in time for our wedding.”
“Is that supposed to encourage me to get up or make me drag my heels?”
Silvan gave into impulse and tickled Cebrus mercilessly.
“Oh. Stop. I’m sorry,” Cebrus screamed.
“I thought so!” Silvan kissed Cebrus on the nose and slid out of bed before his lover discovered all of Silvan’s ticklish spots. For a veteran knight, Silvan had amazingly sensitive skin.
Cebrus slid out of bed, giving Silvan dirty looks as he dressed. Silvan grinned. Poor wandmaker was used to getting things his way. Silvan didn’t see any reason to change that except for the slight addition of inserting himself into Cebrus’s life.
Silvan never wanted Cebrus to feel trapped by their relationship. This trip was sort of a honeymoon phase for them to feel each other out. Now that they were bonded, there wasn’t a way out of the relationship, but one could have a good bond or a miserable one, and Silvan was determined that theirs would be the best one ever.
“Are we still heading in the same direction?” Silvan asked Cebrus after he finished buckling his belt.
“For a bit, then we’re going to go east,” Cebrus said, not looking up from fastening his pants.
Silvan froze. “Cebrus, please tell me we’re not going to the Dragon Breath Islands.”
Cebrus stomped into his boots. “Okay, I won’t.”
“Cebrus!”
“What? If I told you earlier, you would’ve locked me in the dungeon and not let me out. You think I don’t know? The Mallif tree can only grow in volcanic soil, and besides, the rumors of a dragon living inside the mountain is just a story. No one alive has actually ever seen the beast,” Cebrus argued.
“Exactly! No one alive! That’s why I’m sure there’s a dragon there. We should turn back now before it’s too late.” Silvan’s voice shook with fury. He was willing to indulge his future husband, but not to the point where he got himself killed.
Cebrus’s expression turned mutinous, and Silvan’s hopes of his lover agreeing with him took a nosedive.
“I am not going to turn around. If you want to go and take your little friends with you, go ahead, but I’m heading to the island whether you want to come or not. I can meet you back at the castle later if you want,” Cebrus replied.
Silvan stared at his beloved for a minute. The man had completely lost his mind.
“You are not meeting me back at the castle,” Silvan replied through gritted teeth. “I am not leaving you to gallivant to any place with a possible dragon. If I can’t talk some sense into you, then I will come along, but if this gets either of us killed before our wedding day, I will never forgive you. Understand?”
Cebrus’s lips twitched, but he wisely didn’t say whatever had crossed his mind. “Yes, dear, I understand.”
“Good. Let’s get some food and leave on this fool’s errand.”
They gathered their things and headed downstairs. The knights were waiting for them. They sent Cebrus and Silvan more than one amused glance.
“Sit.” Silvan pointed toward an empty seat.
Cebrus sat with a glare at the prince.
“You don’t want food?” Silvan asked innocently.
“I want to not be treated like your dog,” Cebrus snarled.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m really nice to my dogs.” Silvan smiled.
Cebrus waited until Silvan turned his back to grab a pitcher of water before beaning him in the back of the head with a roll.
“Hey.” Silvan spun around.
“What? I’m just a disobedient puppy.” Cebrus fluttered his lashes at Silvan, and the knights burst into laughter.
“We’re heading to the Dragon Breath Islands,” Silvan announced.
The knights groaned.
“Isn’t there an actual dragon there?” Meliv asked.
Cebrus shrugged. “Rumor states that’s where the trees grow. It needs volcanic ash to thrive, and there isn’t a lot anywhere else.”
“We’ll need to charter a boat in order to get to the isles,” Silvan said.
“I get seasick,” Meliv complained.
“We’ll get you a bucket,” Silvan replied.
“Thanks.” If looks could’ve killed him, he would’ve toppled over dead.
It took them three days to reach the ocean. The only available ship was a questionable barge run by a surly captain.
“Dragon Breath Island? Why would you want to go there?” The man who called himself Captain Renwy had the weathered skin of someone who lived his life on the water.
“I’m looking for a tree,” Cebrus offered.
Renwy looked around at the surrounding forest and raised a bushy eyebrow. “And you can’t find one here?”
“A specific tree,” Cebrus qualified. “I think it only grows on the island.”
Renwy rubbed his chin. “I don’t know about any trees, but the dragon’ll kill you all the same.”
“Can we rent your boat or not?” Silvan asked, his temper all but crackling the air around them.
Renwy nodded. “I’ll charge you extra for your stupidity. Heading toward the islands with known dangers isn’t the mark of smart men.”
“Of course,” Cebrus said. “Or I could fix your wand. I see you have mostly weather and water magic, but your wand is at the end of its life.”
“You’re a wandmaker?” Renwy asked.
“Yep.” Cebrus nodded.
“And you can fix my wand?” Renwy confirmed.
“Well, I’ll actually have to replace it, but it’ll be like new,” Cebrus promised.
A few minutes later, they were sailing along with a happy captain waving a new black wand.
The island was nothing like Cebrus had imagined. Thinking of dragons and fire, he’d expected hard rock and barren sand. Instead, lush green covered the island, large winged insects flew lazily through the air, and the smell of flowers perfumed the breeze as they stepped off the boat.
“Beautiful,” Silvan whispered.
Cebrus nodded. He couldn’t speak as emotion tightened his throat. He’d dreamed of coming there for so long he didn’t know what to say.
“How do we recognize the tree?” Silvan asked after Cebrus didn’t speak for a long moment.
Cebrus opened his pack and took out the piece of parchment he’d carried with him for years. Yellowed with age, the paper had permanent creases where Cebrus had unfolded and refolded the page over and over, dreaming about this moment. Still, the tree painted on the surface remained as bright as the day Cebrus had found the picture.
“Who drew this?” Silvan asked.
Cebrus shrugged. “It was part of a book I found during my travels. It fell apart from age. This picture is one of the few remaining pieces. I always hoped to find the trees some day.”
He didn’t explain how much he’d doubted he’d be successful in his hunt. His fingers trembled as he handed over the picture, excitement churning through him.
Silvan’s warm hand slid down his arm. “Hey, it will be fine. We’ll find your tree, get a few pieces of wood, and be on our way.”
Cebrus nodded. He could do this. He could be the first wandmaker to actually wield magic on his own. The edict against his kind performing magic was hundreds of years old and the reason behind it lost in the cloudy past of history. However, the need to take control of the power pulsing through him, to use his abilities in more ways than to help others transfer magic of their own burned through him.
Cebrus bit his lip as he considered which way to search first.
“Let’s head deeper into center of the island. If there are trees here, they’re going to want fresh water,” Silvan theorized.
Cebrus shrugged. “All right.” After all, he didn’t have a better plan. The knights moved restlessly behind him. He turned to see all of t
hem were scanning the area, looking for threats.
Although the place looked peaceful, it was probably a good idea to keep an eye out. After all, the trees might be there, but so might a dragon. A low shriek filled the air. All the men instinctively ducked as a large shadow swooped over them.
“Dragon!” Meliv shouted.
Cebrus searched the sky, but whatever had passed overhead was long gone.
“Are you sure?” Silvan asked.
“I saw it,” Meliv swore loudly and fluently. “Nothing is worth this.”
The other knights began muttering among themselves.
Silvan glared at his people. “If any of you plan on leaving, don’t bother coming back to the kingdom. I won’t take you back if you turn on us now.”
“Silvan, give them a break. It is a dragon. I doubt they actually thought we’d find one,” Cebrus said. “I know I didn’t.”
“Always so understanding,” Silvan said, admiration adding a shine to his eyes. “You’ll make an excellent consort.”
“Um, thank you.”
“Despite that, there will be no ‘giving breaks’ to men who back down from protecting you. If they leave now, they might as well drown themselves on the way back.”
Cebrus met his gaze for a while before turning away. “Let’s search for my trees. We can worry about the dragon if it comes back.”
“As you wish, my sweet.” Silvan motioned for the others to move forward.
“He will make a good co-ruler,” Meliv said.
The knight lowered his voice, and Cebrus could only hear the rumble of his words with Silvan. Their deep pitch made it impossible to discern the words.
After two hours of trudging across the hilly island with a million roots trying to trip the unwary, Cebrus let out a shout.
“There. I think those are the ones,” Cebrus pointed to a stand of white barked trees. The trunks were the span of a wine barrel with branches that curved out in fantastical shapes. They matched the illustration in his book.
As the men approached, the utter silence of the area had more than one knight peeking around and clutching his weapon tighter.
“I don’t like this,” Meliv whispered.
Cebrus looked around. “Neither do I.” There were generally only a few reasons an entire forest would go silent. Since their passing hadn’t disturbed the wildlife before, it could only be because of a known threat.
A low chortle came from the middle of the dark grove.
“Hello!” Cebrus called out.
Silvan rushed forward, slapping a hand over his beloved’s mouth. “Shh, don’t call it,” he hissed.
Cebrus winced at his stupidity.
“Good afternoon, wandmaker, it’s been so long since I’ve had the pleasure of eating your kind.” A long reptilian head peeked out from the darkness and gave Cebrus a toothy smile. “Welcome to my home.”
Cebrus froze in place, unsure of the right approach. The prince didn’t suffer from the same dilemma.
“You won’t be eating this one today,” Silvan announced.
The dragon turned its jeweled eyes in Silvan’s direction, like a cat learning in surprise that the mouse could actually talk.
Behind him, Cebrus heard the knights moving uneasily. He hoped they didn’t make a run for it. First, it was an island and they wouldn’t escape before tomorrow anyway, and secondly, they’d be homeless because Silvan would kick them out of the castle.
“You think you can stop me, human? You and your tiny sword?” the dragon taunted. He grinned, revealing rows of teeth taller and sharper than Silvan’s weapon.
Silvan stepped in front of Cebrus as if he could protect him from a creature that could probably eat them both in one bite. Cebrus walked around his lover, ignoring Silvan’s start of surprise.
“What can you tell me about the Mallif trees?” Cebrus asked.
The dragon laughed a low, pleasant sound. The noise startled the rest of the braver birds into flight.
“You came all this way over the rumor of the Mallif trees?”
Cebrus's heart sunk to his feet as he nodded his agreement.
The dragon crept closer, his large jeweled eyes taking up Cebrus’s world. “You are either the bravest wandmaker I have ever known or the most foolhardy.”
“I want to be able to use my magic.” Until this trip, Cebrus didn’t know how badly he’d wanted that ability coursing through his veins.
“And what would you do with it, little human. If you could create instead of just helping others pass on their gifts.”
Cebrus thought about all the things he could do if he had the ability to use his craft. He’d spent years advising others about the best way to use their magic. He’d probably seen more spells cast than most old men see their entire lives.
“To be myself. I spend my entire life helping people learn who they are through their magic. I want the same chance.” Magic defined Cebrus, but he couldn’t access the power swirling inside him. It led to a frustrating existence.
“Hmmm. You are an interesting one, aren’t you? I can sense you truly mean what you say, not just what you think I want to hear.”
The dragon’s breath, hot and smelling of sulfur, washed across Cebrus’s face. He coughed.
“The Mallif trees are a myth, you know,” the dragon said, casually ripping out Cebrus’s heart and destroying his dreams. “This forest around you is made up of ordinary trees with non-magical wood.”
Cebrus gasped. “No!”
“Afraid so.” The dragon said it politely as if he truly hated to break the news to Cebrus. “There is no magic wood that can give you the ability you seek.”
Cebrus hung his head down. Tears threatened to fill his eyes, but he blinked them back. Had his aunt destroyed his uncle’s wand not to keep magical secrets but to hide the fact that his uncle had lied? Cebrus might never know the truth. “Thank you for your help, sir dragon.”
“Now, now, don’t take it so hard. I’m inclined to give you a break. I like your spirit. Dragons can see that, you know. There’s only one way you can achieve your goal.”
“What’s that?” Cebrus examined the dragon carefully. Even watching, he barely saw the conversion from dragon to human form.
Where a large dragon stood before, now stood a large man with rainbow eyes and dressed in an ancient knight’s garb. “Survive a dragon’s kiss.”
The smile he received might be less toothy than the animal dragon, but it had a lot more heat.
“Forget it,” Silvan said. “There’s no way he’s kissing you.”
Cebrus turned to face Silvan. “Why not?”
What harm could one kiss do? If it was between kissing a dragon and having magic and not kissing one and remaining the same, he’d pucker up to fulfill his dream.
“I don’t trust him.” Silvan scowled. He stepped closer, but froze in place when the dragon-human growled.
“That’s not friendly,” the dragon said mildly as if the snarling hadn’t come from his mouth.
“I’m not feeling friendly,” Silvan said.
“Silvan, this could be my only chance.” Cebrus couldn’t believe the prince’s behavior. They weren’t going to have sex or anything.
Silvan grabbed Cebrus’s wrist and pulled him away from the dragon. “I don’t want that creature touching you.”
“I’m right here, and I have feelings,” the dragon protested. A puff of smoke drifted from his lips.
“He could burn you.” Silvan wrapped his arms around Cebrus, holding him close. “Nothing is worth your death.”
“You are a dramatic one, aren’t you,” the dragon said. Apparently dragons had good hearing.
Silvan faced the man-beast. “Cebrus is mine.”
The dragon laughed, a low smoky sound adding the scent of brimstone to the air. “I don’t want to keep him,; I just want a little taste.”
Cebrus gave Silvan a pleading look, but didn’t dare speak.
Silvan clenched his jaw. “What will happen if the other wandm
akers find out you have this ability? Will they come and hunt down the dragon?”
Cebrus frowned. “I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
The dragon snorted. “Don’t make me the bad dragon here. I can take care of myself. You’re the one keeping the pretty one from his dreams. I can handle any wandmakers who think they’ll just wander onto my island and take my magic.”
The dragon’s rumbled growl vibrated the ground.
“Please, Silvan,” Cebrus pleaded.
“Yes, pretty please, Silvan,” the dragon drawled. “I swear on my scales not to rip the clothes off his delectable body and have my wicked way with him.”
The dragon’s tone didn’t indicate any commitment to his words, and his wide toothy smile didn’t reassure Silvan at all.
Cebrus’s body shook with amusement.
“It’s not funny,” Silvan growled.
“It is a little,” Cebrus argued.
Silvan plunged his fingers into Cebrus’s hair and pulled him close. He kissed Cebrus, branding him with his touch. If Cebrus had any questions over who he belonged to, Silvan would’ve settled them just then.
Delicious.
When they separated, Cebrus licked his lips, savoring Silvan’s taste.
“You’re mine,” Silvan growled.
“I know.” Cebrus cupped Silvan’s cheek with his hand. “If you don’t want me to do this, I won’t.”
Please don’t ask me not to do this.
“You can kiss him, but I have to be touching you when you do. I want to be able to snatch you away if things go wrong.”
Cebrus blinked. He hadn’t been expecting that answer.
“Are you certain?” Cebrus bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back saying the wrong thing and losing his dream. His heart sped up. For the first time, he realized he’d be willing to give up everything for the prince with only a little regret.
“I’m certain, love,” Silvan reassured. “If you are willing, I will help.”
Cebrus nodded. “I’d like to. If he can give me my magic, I can reach my full potential.”
“What potential is that? Do you know what you are meant to achieve?” Silvan asked.
A good question asked with a respectful air. Cebrus gave it the attention it deserved. “I need to truly understand the nature of magic. If I can learn to manipulate it by transferring it from person to person, I can come to learn it better. To study its flow and weave, then I will be able to counsel others on the best magic for them.”