The Dragon’s Mage

Ryall from earlier, when he had come with his mate to heal Milly.  He was guard here and stood lining the wall with a dozen others dressed in simple pants and tunics.  Those dragons were armed with swords and knives.

Why do dragons need weapons?

Some foes must be fought as men rather than dragon.  It is tradition to know all manner of battle.  What you see here are the elite.  Dragon Knights sworn into service to the Light.  They carry out the laws of the council now, but in times of war, it is General Solan who leads the dragon army.  Eben nodded to a man behind the council members.  All dragons were big imposing men but he was something all together different.

Like Eben, he favored black from head to toe.  If the council members were jewels come to life he was obsidian, all sharp edges and hard planes.  His black hair seemed to swallow the light that touched it so that it felt like you could get lost in the dark cloud.  He held it back from his face in a severe style that accented his sharp cheekbones and slightly slanted eyes.  Eyes that were quicksilver and saw everything.  Even for a dragon, he was scary.  The only part of him that seemed remotely soft was his lips, which looked surprisingly lush.  Like all the guards, he wore no amulet of his house.

He is of the warrior house now.  They give up their house when they take vows.  He was born into my house originally.

House of water then.  Morgan thought.  Vows?  Like priests?

Ladon snorted beside her.  But it was Eben who continued to answer her.

Nothing so severe as all that.  They are warriors of the Light.

That fuck everything that moves.  Ladon added blandly.  Then pulled Morgan into his side when he noticed she had started to draw a great deal of attention herself.  Try to worry less about General Solan’s lips and more on our business here.

I can do both.  She assured him, but turned to study the council members themselves.  There were four dragons sitting in throne like seats behind a slab of gold veined marble.  Each wore garments so covered in precious gems that they must clank when they walk.  They were dressed to emphasize their house so it was easy to tell which was represented and by who.

Lord Bochus is the great beast in red.  Ladons thoughts were filled with distaste.  But it was a good description as he was dripping in red gems and was as wide as he was tall.  Not fat exactly but stocky and with his gold hair and blue eyes he was still lovely, but there was an arrogant pinched look on his face that distracted from that beauty.  She didn’t like him, and she wasn’t sure if that was her own quick decision or the influence of Ladons emotions.  He really didn’t like him.  Then she caught something else.

You think he was the one who betrayed you?

The thought crossed my mind.  Everyone knows Bochus hates me and the fact that I will one day take his place on the council.

A preemptive strike? To keep his seat?

It’s one possibility.  Eben said noncommittal even in his thoughts.  There are others.

Yes. 

Lord Bochus sat at the end of the table.  Beside him was a dragon dressed in sapphire.  He sat tallest of them, though he lacked the girth of Bochus he made up for it in sheer perfection of feature.  He was almost too pretty actually.  Too perfect, like you couldn’t really touch him.  He had brown eyes the color of a good wet earth.  Though his house was water.

Fahlion.  A distant relation of mine.

He sleeps through most of the council meetings.  Ladon added drily.  I always wondered why you never took the seat. 

Because then I would have to come to the meetings.

Air was dressed in diamond, his hair white; his eyes were a silver fog.  He looked older that the rest, though not in years.  More serious somehow, as if he knew the answers and they weighed heavy on his mind.   

The man next to him was obviously earth with its abundance of gold.  Besides the others, he was almost nondescript, at least for a dragon.  Brown hair with veins of red running through it and green eyes.  He was beautiful and powerful and seemed to disappear among his flashier council cronies.

Is he trying to do that?

I have often wondered that myself, Ladon stated.  He is always looking so harmless.  It makes me wonder what he’s up to.

Very wise.  Eben said the surprise obvious in his thoughts.  I believe it is Lord Graedon that plays the deepest game.  He has fooled many into thinking him harmless but I see him as the most dangerous. 

Dangerous to whom? Morgan wondered.

Before either could form an answer, Lord Bochus spoke.

“Prince Ladon.  We had given you up for dead until Shehar gave us the happy news.”  He didn’t sound happy.  “Perhaps you could explain why you have caused all this fuss by running off to begin with and now this mate business.  You've always been quite the young prankster but this is taking things too far.'

Eben answered mildly.  'Since you've heard the news from Shehar, you must have also heard that we share this 'mate business'.  Are you suggesting that I am prone to pranks as well?'

Lord Bochus looked from Ladon to Eben and paled visibly.”  My Lord?  You do not usually grace us with your presence.'  He looked confused for a minute.  'Then, if it’s true, where is your mate?'

'Perhaps it would be best to have this discussion without a human present?'  Lord Graedon suggested mildly.

'Might I present our mate Morgan, mage and newest member of houses fire and water.'  He looked directly at Graedon.  'And she stays as this discussion involves her as well.”  Then he went on.  'Prince Ladon was abducted from his house after someone drugged him, he did not run off.  He was taken and bled then left to die among the humans.  If Morgan had not found Ladon and saved him, he would even now be dead.  This same someone gave dragon blood from the house of fire to the blood mages for use in their spells.  Blood mages that destroy the earth we have vowed to protect.  I have been past the gate and seen the destruction.  They kill the earth to fuel their greed for power and destroy potential mates with their drive to drink mage blood.  I have called you together because this cannot stand.'

The silence echoes after that little bomb was dropped.  Either the council had not shared with the warriors or no one had believed it because everyone was looking at Morgan with new eyes.  Not all of them were happy.

'Are you suggesting that you mated a human and intend to desecrate our house by breeding her?'  Lord Bochus' bellow was loud but not nearly as loud as the tension that followed.

That's what he heard in all that?

Eben and Ladon seethed beside Morgan, she expected any moment for the anger to burn.  But since he had addressed Ladon it was Ladon who answered, though she could feel Ebens desire to rip and shred right beside him.

'Speak of my mate like that again old man and you won't have to wait for the next new moon to face challenge.'

'Challenge?'  Bochus blustered.

'I have reached my adult molt Lord Bochus.  As prince of my house I have the right to take my place on the council.'

'Your father...'  He began, only to be interrupted by Ladon.

'My father chose not to claim his place, rather desiring seclusion with his mate.  He trusted you to uphold the family honor.  I am not my father, nor am I so trusting.  Not if that is your only concern after what Lord Eben just said.'

'Perhaps we can table the family business until this other matter is settled.'  Lord Graedon stated benignly.

'Quite right.'  Bochus rallied.  'A human mate has never been accepted into a dragon house.  With all due respect Lord Kinkaid but even for you I do not see that changing.'

Did he just say what I think he said?  Morgan was not the only one wondering