Head up and gaze forward, Ellie focused on the wall and ran. To her horror, she began to sink faster than expected, and by the time she reached the wall, she collided with the bricks, barely managing to grab the top of the wall with her fingers before she was too far down. Burning on the back of her neck blazed in tandem with the places where her face scraped the bricks.
That was an outstanding effort, Elspethe. Just needs more practice. Will you allow me to help?
Yes, Taeben, please, I don’t have the strength in my arms to pull myself up.
Everything went dark for a moment, and when Ellie was able to see again, she was standing inside the citadel’s walls, behind a raggedy collection of stacked crates and sitting on a pile of empty grain sacks. He had brought her even further inside, and as she peeked over the top of the containers, she could see the Nature Walker and the Rajah speaking to a dragonkind male that looked to be military, from the clothing he wore.
Is that the Rajah? What on earth does she see in—nevermind. Do not let them get away.
I will not—thank you, Taeben.
Ellie re-cast the invisibility spell just to be sure and crept out from behind the crates, moving as close to her targets as she could. She opened her mind to Taeben so that he could see and hear everything that she could, and felt his approval.
“You are welcome here, Nature Walker.” The dragonkind male looked down at Gin, and then at Sath, his forehead wrinkled in confusion. “I do not recognize your mate, but he is welcome along with you, of course.”
“My name is Sath, and…”
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Gin said as she elbowed Sath.
He doesn’t need to know you are the Rajah—he wouldn’t believe you anyway, not while you’re in that wood elf suit.
You like this wood elf suit.
Shut it, Cat.
They followed the male through the courtyard and into the inner part of the citadel. He again looked down at her and smiled. “You wish an audience with La’al Drygyr?”
Gin nodded. “We come on a mission of greatest importance to our deity and All-Mother, Sephine. I believe that Omerith will be very interested in what we have to say.” The male stopped and stared down at her for a moment.
“It is only your position as Nature Walker and therefore Guardian that affords you such an informal audience with La’al Drygyr, Lord Omerith, my lady. Please remember that he is the only remaining of the First Brood of the Mother and, as such, commands a great deal more respect than you may be accustomed to giving those in your part of the world. He is much the same as the Rajah of Qatu’anari, only more so.” He continued down the hallway, and Gin almost had to put a hand over Sath’s mouth to keep him from giving voice to the thoughts she heard through their bond. He promised silently to keep his thoughts to himself while outwardly sulking. They finally arrived at a broad set of ebony doors with the intertwined seals of Omerith and the Mother Dragon carved intricately into their faces. The male took hold of the massive handles—clearly made for dragons and not even dragonkind, as he struggled with their bulk—and pushed the doors open. Another sentry who clearly had human ancestry but with darker green scales and hair stepped quickly to intercept the guard that had brought them this far.
“His Highness wishes not to be disturbed this afternoon,” the sentry hissed. Gin guessed that he was speaking in the common tongue because he wanted to make sure they understood him.
“This is the Nature Walker— I am certain that His Highness would not turn her away.” The sentry’s eyes widened, and for a moment, Gin could see traces of his human ancestor in his expression. She looked away, back at Sath, who she realised was doing his best to adjust to this temporary role and then back to the two dragonkind, currently discussing something in very heated Eldyr.
“Who is it that comes to my door unannounced?” The voice was so loud that Gin almost covered her ears. Not since her experience in Bellesea Keep had she heard a dragon speak—drakes and smaller dragons, of course, but not an ancient adult such as Omerith. The sensation unnerved her to her core, and she had to remind herself that this was NOT Taanyth and that Taeben was dead. She rubbed her neck as she looked at Sath, not understanding the language which the red dragon spoke, and he translated it for her in the bond. They would have a talk later about how much more Eldyr he knew than he had ever admitted.
“This is the Nature Walker, Your Grace.” The guard that had brought them bowed low as the very floor beneath their feet shook at the approach of the massive creature. “And this is her mate, I believe.”
“He is my translator; tell Lord Omerith that this is my translator because I am still learning his language.” Gin ignored Sath’s protests ricocheting about her mind like angry bees and beamed the most genuine smile she could up at the imposing red dragon. He lowered his head until he was almost on her eye level—though his eye was very nearly the same size as she was.
“She says he is her translator, my Lord.”
“Yes, I know, I speak the common tongue. Leave us.” The guard and the sentry scampered away as Gin and Sath stood before Lord Omerith, eldest of the First Brood and pureblood offspring of the Mother and Father Dragon. Gin was certain that she should be genuflecting or perhaps prone on the floor, but she was determined to meet this creature as an equal under the
