“I suspected as much. She knows more than she should, but I doubt that she knows enough to be a problem.”
“They changed their minds.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. It seems that the girl believes that Cero has enslaved the little dragon. She also believes that young Cero is able to do this because he is a Dragon Lord.”
“What? No. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Bani just thinks that I am his mother. I would never do anything to try and hurt him.” Cero protested the injustice of the accusation.
“Interesting. Just to warn you, she is staying to try and free it, so keep an eye out.”
“Hmm. Thanks for the warning. I believe that she will be a handful, but it might take some time for her to get used to us. Torroth could be a real help if he were to put his mind to it.” Urake laughed as Bani finished his meal and began a high pitched purring warble that sounded like he was in pure bliss.
“Thanks for the tea and the meat for Bani. He enjoyed it immensely.” Cero gave Fenar one of his smiles.
“My pleasure. It was nice to meet little Bani. I must attend to some things, but let me know if you need anything else.” Fenar nodded to each and took her leave.
Chapter Eight: Confrontations
“What do we do now?” Cero inquired after they had spent a few days in Warton. Tusul had been working around the clock to finish a few pieces of armor and various weapons for Urake. Emeck’s new under armor fit perfectly and Cero was close enough to the same build that it didn’t take much to make another set for him. Arken’s armor was in the works right now. Niman, Torroth and Inadar had turned down offers for armor of their own. Niman’s concerns about it only slowing him down were echoed by both Torroth and Inadar.
“I am going to pick up a couple things from Tusul, but you should probably keep Bani out of sight.” Urake put his boots on and began lacing them up.
“I mean, where are we going next after Warton?” Cero dangled another piece of meat up for Bani to grab. The little emerald dragon gingerly tugged it from Cero’s fingers before chomping down with gusto.
“Shienhin, then the shipyards. We want to help Em’risi, but we need to find out more. There is still that problem of people seeing your little dragon.”
“Bani isn’t mine. I think he sees it as the other way around.”
“Just be careful. Dragons are things of terrible legend and untold power. There are many who would kill to get their hands on one.” Urake finished his last laces and went to the door. “Be careful.”
“Urake. Nice to see you again.” Arken was accompanied by a good natured Niman. Urake eyed them suspiciously before answering.
“You also. I'm just heading out for a little while. What about you?”
“Oh, that is all right. We just wanted to see Cero.” Urake thought about reconsidering his errand and staying behind to keep an eye on these two, but he was also sure that Cero should be fine.
“So I guess I will see you when I get back.” Both the men looked so relieved by the comment that Urake almost changed his mind. It was when he remembered his constant advice about learning to trust one another that he smiled and moved on down the hallway. Not that he intended to blindly trust them. Just that he needed to have a little trust. They hadn’t yet earned enough trust to be involved in anything critical yet but their actions had not indicated that a little time alone with Cero was dangerous. Torroth and Inadar were a different story.
“Did he see you?” Cero opened the door at the first knock to let Niman and Arken in.
“Ya. We talked with him briefly.”
“Surprised he let you come visit.” Niman flopped down in one of the chairs nonchalantly as Cero spoke.
“Why would that be?” Arken inquired looking at Cero with his head tipped ever so slightly.
“Well…” Cero looked over at the bed where Bani had settled down after his meal. There was an impression on the quilt where Bani lay and Cero could sense that he was there, but he couldn’t see anything. There was a flicker of movement and he was able to make out Bani’s outlines briefly before fading from sight again.
“What is it? You haven’t been out of this room in days.”
“Nothing. I just get uncomfortable when I'm in a town. Last time, there were a lot of people chasing me. Just stay off the bed. Urake made it before he left and doesn’t want it messed up.” Cero improvised. It appeared that Bani was able to disappear if he wanted to. A useful ability to say the least.
“I know the feeling about being chased out of town. Would you believe that after everything that I have stolen, they caught me for something that I didn’t do? I got framed by some sewer rat that owed me money.” Niman took on an injured expression.
“Oh so terribly sad. I almost shed a tear then I realized that you probably stole the money in the first place.” Arken jested at Niman who conjured an expression even more injured as he tried to find words to protest the grave insult.
“You should be ashamed for being so rude! Why if your…”
“Leave my mother out of this. I am glad that you don’t actually know her.”
“What if I were to fall for your sister. I would have to meet your mother then, wouldn’t I?” Niman recovered from the insult and quickly tried to change the topic.
“My sister could beat you to a pulp with both her hands tied behind her back. If I were you, I would go after someone more like Inadar. She seems like a nice girl.” Arken’s advice was met with a cringe from Niman.
“That girl is crazy. I bet she would castrate the first guy that beds her. Those knives of hers are wicked.” Niman frowned at the mental picture that he had invoked.
“In your case, that would solve more than one problem.” Arken’s comment earned him a scowl from Niman.
“So Cero, what did you want to see us for? Surely it wasn’t to hear Arken’s witty banter.”
“As humorous as you two are, I did have another reason for talking to you.” There had been two, but one of them was invisible in the middle of the bed.
“And? Don’t let us hang in suspense too long. I think I have some gray hairs starting to show.” Niman made a show of pushing his hair back up over his ears.
“Well, I think we need to practice our abilities. That way, if we get in a fight, then we might have a better chance.” At Cero’s announcement both the men looked at each other nervously.
“Isn’t that dangerous? I mean, what if someone catches us and finds out that we are Gifted?” Niman fidgeted and eyed the door.
“What if they find out anyways and attack us? Shouldn’t we be able to fight back?” Cero argued with an expression that betrayed his determination.
“I just don’t know. I do not want to hurt anyone.” Arken shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“You can beat people’s faces in with your bare hands, but you don’t want to hurt anyone?” Niman shook his head at Arken disdainfully.
“That is different. What I can do is not the same. It is unnatural. I could hurt you all.” Arken protested under Niman’s withering gaze.
“We can start small. Nothing dangerous.” Cero coaxed as Arken looked between the two of them.
“Cero, why don’t you go first?” Arken recovered a little as the focus was shifted off himself.
“All right.” Cero stepped to the table and picked up the candle. It was one of the slow burning tapers used to light the torches and lanterns or the brighter burning tallow candles. Holding his hand over the flame, he slowly lowered it until the flame was licking his palm and leaving black soot wherever it touched. After a few moments he removed his hand and showed it to Niman and Arken. There was a black patch, but that washed off exposing clean healthy skin underneath.
“That had to have hurt as bad as the deepest hell!” Niman whispered in awe.
“Your turn Arken.” Cero handed the taper to the man who apprehensively held his had several inches above the flame. He slowly lowered it until his fingers were touching the flame. A look of wonder cro
ssed his face before he pulled his fingers away.
“Let me try.” Niman grabbed the taper and began lowering his hand over the flame. He was still an inch above the flame when he jerked his hand away and dropped the taper on the floor where it promptly went out.
“Are you okay?” Cero pointed Niman to the wash basin. After submerging his hand in the water, Niman examined the burn. A couple blisters were already forming on the red skin where the flame had been.
“No, I am not. Look at what you made me do to myself!” Niman snapped angrily as he cradled his injured hand.
“I said we shouldn’t be doing this.” Arken wrung his hands anxiously as he watched from the side.
“Be quite Arken. You and wonder boy have nothing to complain about. I'm the one that isn’t fireproof.”
“That is actually a good point. I don’t know why fire doesn’t hurt me, but it makes sense for Arken.” Cero gave Niman a rag soaked in the cool water to hold on his burn.
“Why does it make sense for me?” Arken was at a loss.
“Because, stupid, you are a pyromancer. If you weren’t fire proof, then you would have burnt yourself to a cinder the first time you used your Gift.”
“Don’t call me stupid! I'm not the one that kept my hand in a candle until it burnt.” Arken clenched his fists angrily.
“Calm down Niman.” Cero stepped between the men.
“Why do I have to calm down? He is the one that is being unreasonable.” Niman snorted and crossed his arms before flinching and uncrossing them to holding his hand again.
“You are feeding it. Calm down and he will to. Until he learns to block you out, he can’t help it.”
“Hey!” Arken advanced menacingly on Cero now. Out of the corner of his eye Cero saw Bani suddenly moved at Arken. The little dragon didn’t waste time trying to glide, but scrambled off the bed and up Arken’s leg.
“What the…” Arken reacted to a strange sound at his shoulder and a sudden needling sensation. Looking over, he found himself looking into a pair of emerald eyes above a full set of needle sharp teeth mere inches from his nose. “Get it off!” Arken began thrashing his arm vigorously.
“Lisel vorda skel!” A chill swept through the room and everyone stopped moving. Bani groggily shook his head as Cero removed him from Arken’s outstretched arm. A moment later both Arken and Niman started moving again.
“It startled me.” Arken shook his head and sank into a chair.
“So, Niman, what I was saying is that your gift has something to do with healing. Why don’t you see if you can heal that burn on your hand?” Cero scratched Bani’s head as the little dragon hummed in contentment.
“I… uh… My hand actually feels a lot better… even though I feel a little cold. I somehow don’t think that my hand is the point any longer. That is a dragon isn’t it.” Niman flexed the fingers on his burnt hand. There was still a red spot, but it was half the size of a minute ago and the blisters were almost gone.
“His name is Bani. He is only a few days old.”
“He is actually kind of cute. Can I look at him closer?” Niman stepped close, but still maintained a safe distance from Bani.
“Cute? Speak for yourself! That thing nearly tore my face off.” Arken had recovered a little and was levering himself out of the chair.
“What did you guys do? Everyone down there is acting like they were smoking aisher root. Emeck hardly knows who he is.” Urake stormed in the door furiously.
“I… ah…” Niman for once was speechless.
“It was my fault. Bani startled Arken and I kind of over reacted.” Cero stepped forward.
“Over reacting is when you shove someone or start calling people names. I don’t know what this is.” Urake had his mouth open to continue when Inadar burst into the room and cut him off.
“What did you do to Torroth? He is all happy and just wants to sit and stare at the ceiling.” Inadar stalked towards Cero with her eyes flashing angrily.
“It was an accident.” Niman tried to restrain Inadar with a hand on her shoulder, but found himself shoved to the floor for his trouble.
“Enough!” Urake quickly stepped between the girl and Cero.
“I am sick and tired of you protecting him. I don’t care if Cero is your son. He can’t just do whatever he wants to without repercussions. Someone has to teach him a lesson.” Urake glared at Inadar, but despite her earlier fear, she didn’t seem to notice him now.
“Father, she has a point. I made a mistake. I will take it if she wants to teach me a lesson.” Cero gave Bani a reassuring pat on the head when he chirped nervously.
“Don’t you dare try agreeing with me!” Inadar snarled at Cero, her aggression unabated.
“Are you sure?” Urake eyed his son and Inadar apprehensively.
“Not here. We need to go someplace else where there aren’t any other people.” Cero stepped around Urake on the side opposite Inadar. They walked down the stairs and through the lobby where Emeck was snoozing comfortably in a chair like all of the other patrons. Fenar was flitting about making sure everyone was comfortable and looked up at Urake’s approach.
“They are all like this. Except for you five. Aleest is sleeping next to that great draft horse in the stables and as far as I can tell, even the mice have taken a nap.” Fenar smoothed some hair back under her hat out of habit.
“Cero overreacted a little and lost control. Inadar seems intent on beating the tar out of him and as far as I can tell, he is going to let her for some reason. By the way, why are you not taking a break like the rest of your employees?” Fenar paused for a second at Urake’s question before drawing herself up indignantly.
“It would be unseemly to be found in such a condition before my customers.” The stately woman would call an army to a halt so she could cross the street without soiling her skirts if she had a mind to. It wasn’t hard to believe that she could avoid any situation that she considered improper just by exercising her willpower. Shaking his head, Urake followed Cero out the door.
“Cero, put that thing under your shirt or something.” Urake turned to make sure that Bani wouldn’t be visible. Seeing that Cero looked normal and that no dragon was in sight, he continued. Fortunately, the drowsy effect appeared to have been centered on the Golden Thistle and was not noticeable once they had left the building.
It took a little while, but they found an abandoned barn on the outskirts of Warton that had been vacated sometime in the past century. Niman and Arken were placed on the lookout and Urake accompanied Cero and Inadar inside.
“I don’t necessarily agree with how you chose to settle your differences, but here are the rules. No weapons. No permanent injuries and avoid temporary ones if you can. If your opponent surrenders, then the fight is over. Understand?” Inadar nodded while removing the knives she kept hidden around her body. Cero tossed his simple hunting knife to the side along with Inadar’s where they would be out of the way. Cero made the motions of setting something on a heap of hay. Urake only raised an eyebrow when Bani materialized a moment later. There wasn’t much about dragons that wouldn’t surprise him by now.
“Are you sure that you do not want to reconsider?” Urake asked Cero one last time. He stepped back when the boy shook his head and faced Inadar. The girl lunged forward and landed a solid blow on Cero’s nose that sent him staggering backwards.
“You simpering fool. You think that everything belongs to you and you never think about when you hurt others.” Inadar landed another blow against the unresisting Cero.
“I don’t think that everything belongs to me and I'm sorry if I hurt you.” Cero wiped his nose with his sleeve even though there wasn’t any signs of blood.
“Fight back, or are you too spineless to stand up for yourself?” Inadar derided Cero as she lunged in again with a blow to Cero’s stomach. Urake heard a warble from Bani and saw the little dragon looking between the two combatants mournfully.
“It isn’t right to hit a girl.” Cero messaged his
stomach while Inadar recovered her power of speech.
“Don’t you dare call me a girl! I hit you first so you can try hitting back; that is, if you aren’t too much of a wimp.” Inadar spit on the ground and stalked forward. This time Cero didn’t stand still, but dodged and twisted around in time to avoid another punch. Inadar reacted and swung a fist at his head. Ducking, Cero retreated a couple paces while Inadar glowered. Urake was a little surprised. Cero’s display of agility was more than was to be expected.
“You sniveling coward, that wasn’t fighting!” Inadar was shaking in rage now.
“I will fight how I please.”
“I bet you have never been out of you father’s shadow and never had to stand up for yourself.” Inadar tried advancing on a retreating Cero.
“I spent the last few months by myself. I had to keep from being killed every day, you know nothing about me.” This time when Inadar charged, Cero side stepped and went into a backwards somersault coming out in a crouch. When Inadar came at him again, he lunged forward and rolled over his shoulder onto his feet. Inadar stood watching Cero until her trembling rage had settled into an eerie stillness. Her breath came in clouds of fog. When she charged this time, Cero looked worried. She was moving too fast for him to manage an evasion. Taking the attack full on, he tumbled backwards from the impact with Inadar on the top. A moment later she went flying through the air into a pile of musty hay several paces away. When she lifted herself to her feet, Urake felt a chill in the air.
“Hey, I think we have had enough.” Urake was about to step into the fray when Inadar came at Cero with a vengeance. He took a good hit on the shoulder and returned one just as good that nearly knocked Inadar off her feet. While Inadar was off balance, Cero came in with a jab aimed at further throwing Inadar off. This was foiled when she recovered and dodged at the last moment and gave him a shove as he came by. Cero managed to grab her jacket and pulled her down in his fall. Inadar tried to flail free, but only succeeded in getting a face full of dirt.
Chronicles of Den'dra: A land on Fire Page 12