by Simon Archer
“Here,” I said. “Whenever I think of my parents, it hurts right here or when I imagine something happening to Diana, Alona, Bailey-Sue, Rebekah or the Dyers family… even, even Maria. This place, by my heart, hurts.”
“Your loved ones are a weakness,” Johan concluded.
Suddenly, I grew angry. “No. I’m not going to let you convince me that I should cut off all ties and be some sort of heroic martyr. If that’s where this conversation is headed, then you can take me back to court right now.”
“You misunderstand, my lord,” Johan backtracked. “I believe weaknesses are important, essential even.”
“Really?” I asked, skeptical.
“Yes,” Johan said definitively. “They make you well-rounded. They mean you stand for something, that you have something to lose. Something to fight for. I would never suggest ridding yourself of your loved ones. I only wish you to recognize the weakness so you can better protect it.”
The dragon then sauntered forward. He walked towards the cave and beckoned me forward with his head. I did so, and we traveled into the bowels of the rock together.
We journeyed in silence and darkness for a bit. Even the occasional glint from Johan’s scales stopped after a while. I followed the sound of Johan’s giant footsteps as they echoed throughout the cave. Not for the first time, I seriously wished I had Bailey-Sue’s gift of seeing in the dark.
Suddenly, the dragon stopped, and I collided inelegantly into his body. My nose throbbed, and my hand flew up to assess the wound.
“I am sorry,” Johan said, his voice soft. “I sometimes forget that humans are not nocturnal.”
“It’s okay,” I said, my voice nasally as I pinched my nose and wiggled it. “No blood, and nothing’s broken. I think we’re good, but I would greatly appreciate some light if you’ve got it.”
“Aren’t you the one with the light?” Johan asked. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could hear the goading smirk in his tone.
I frowned. “I mean, yeah.”
“After you,” he invited.
I called to the light, asking it to surface. The foolish feeling of forgetting my own gift stalled the light for a little before it finally showed itself. To my credit, I never used the power as a literal light before. It was always for healing or training. It was understandable that I forgot that I had a built-in flashlight.
The tendrils of white light coiled up my arms. It stopped at my elbow and swirled like moving water. I bent my elbows, holding my forearms aloft, like a surgeon after washing their hands. I was about to say something snarky to Johan, but the sight around us forced the words back into my throat.
We walked into a geode. I spun in a circle to take in the full beauty of the cave. Layers of sea-green rock ripped along the walls. It grew like coral out of the structure and glistened against my light. It reminded me of rock candy, the way the structures shone and protruded in misshapen ways. While the natural rock was not as polished as Johan, the colors complimented his forest green scales. It was as though he had been born from this very cave.
“Whoa,” I breathed. It was the only expression appropriate for the wonder surrounding us. “This doesn’t feel real.”
“I assure you, it is.” The dragon settled against the rock and lay down. He rested upon his throne, a king in his element. “My clan was built from the mountain. We were mined and survived in stone. While we eventually emerged into the light of the world, we still seek the comfort of the cold, silent enclosure.”
“It suits you,” I complimented. “I see it now.”
“Then you see me,” Johan said. “Because this is when I am at my most content.”
“You honestly look like you just slipped into a hot bath,” I said with a chuckle.
The dragon closed his eyes, his face relaxed with an enviable bliss. “This is where I come to protect myself. To recharge and center.”
“It’s your safe place,” I supplemented.
“Yes,” Johan agreed. “I wanted to show you this place because revealing it to you is like revealing an inner part of myself. It is my invitation to bond with you.”
“I feel honored,” I said truthfully. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“While this structure is strong,” Johan continued, ignoring me for a moment, “it has its own weaknesses. With the right amount of force or chemical composition, this place would come crashing down. However, it is difficult to do. The rock protects itself well. My gift would allow you to do the same.”
Johan held out his face to me, lowering his head but keeping his eyes closed. By this time, I knew what to do. The gesture was automatic to me. I reached out my hand and placed a palm flat on the center of Johan’s head.
Around my still-glowing hand, a weird ripple waved up my fingers. It spread up my wrist and to my arm. My light-filled skin shifted into a distorted shape. The crackling slid up the rest of my limb and stretched to the remainder of my body. The sensation made me stiff and limited my mobility.
At first, I was rather terrified. I felt trapped and wanted to pull away but couldn’t. Johan and I, for the moment, were attached as his tough scales transferred themselves to my body. I could see then, when I looked at the dragon, what was happening.
His crystallized scales had disappeared, replaced now with smaller scales emulating snakes. The color remained, but his armor was stripped. Instead, the protection now lived on my skin. It hardened and thickened, making me impenetrable.
“You may let go now,” Johan commanded.
I listened and released my hand. The armor stayed with me, and Johan remained exposed. The most amazing thing was that the light still glowed beneath the new lining. It was like wearing a bulletproof vest, but throughout my entire body.
“This is incredible,” I said in awe. My eyes roamed all over my own body, examining every inch of the protection.
“When you call upon the armor, much like you call upon the light, you will become invulnerable to most any physical force,” Johan explained. “Blades will not pierce you, and fists will not break you… unless they strike here.”
The dragon’s tail curled up and around so that the tip tapped the place I described, right beneath my left pec. When Johan connected with my spot, the armor shrunk and faded. Johan’s skin was now replenished with his icy green scales.
“You may also transfer the armor to anyone else, protecting them from harm, as long as you make contact with them,” Johan continued.
“Wait a second,” I paused, thinking through the dragon’s words. “I can make other people invincible?”
“As long as you are touching them, yes,” Johan confirmed.
“But what about you?” I wondered, remembering the sight of the dragon without his outer layer. “When I call upon the armor, does that leave you vulnerable?”
“Yes,” Johan said with a noncommittal nod.
The weight of this gift pressed down on my shoulders. By using the armor, I put Johan in danger but was able to protect myself or others around me. It was a generous gift, one more sacrificial than any I had yet to receive. Some discomfort stirred in my stomach at the thought of having to possibly hurt Johan.
“I swear,” I said slowly, the promise coming to me as I spoke it. “I swear to use this gift sparingly. I recognize the level of surrender this involves for you, and I will not abuse it.”
“I would not have given it to you if I thought otherwise,” Johan said with a smile and a slight bow of his head. “I assure you, Martin, I would not put myself in danger for just anyone.”
“You didn’t do this just because I am your king or whatever, did you?” I checked.
“I did it because you are a true king.” Johan looked me in the eye, cluing me into the seriousness of his statement. “Just because someone bears the title of leader does not mean that they are deserving of it. You know that as well as I do.”
“I wish nobility were earned,” I confessed. “I am not used to a world where that kind of power is handed out at bi
rth.”
“It is a different kind of privilege, is it not?” Johan agreed.
“Something like that,” I said, my thoughts delving back to Em’s hurt and Maria’s betrayal. Then they jumped to Ffamran and our conversation from the day before. “I wonder if I am trying to do too much at once.”
“That may be,” Johan considered, “but that is why you have us, my lord. Do not forget it.”
28
The morning after Johan returned me to the chambers, I awoke to two pieces of paper slid under my door. Immediately, I thought it was a note from Diana. She had been in my dreams the previous night, when, really? I wanted her in my bed. I still didn’t know how she was faring or what had caused her to leave the tournament so abruptly. So, when I didn’t recognize the handwriting on the paper, my heart sank.
I resolved that I was going to find Diana tomorrow and demand to know what happened, heal her if necessary, and then kiss her senseless. It had been too long, and there was no need for us to remain distant despite our busy schedules. I knew my time had been clogged with bonding with dragons, chess lessons, and being introduced to court, so I would make time for the two of us.
Lord knew we both could probably use it.
The note, while not from Diana, still brought a small smile to my face. It was short and simple but got the message across well.
Martin,
Thank you for today. I will never forget your kindness and mercy.
Travis
I slapped the letter against my hand, an involuntary smile spreading across my face. While I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see Travis’s gaunt face when he delivered the message, I was grateful for his courage at even doing so. There was no way it could have been easy to write this. The grace it took to accept help was a lesson I was still learning, as well as the courage it undoubtedly required to go against the crowd.
There was no doubt that they were still talking about me. I saw it in their faces as I made my way to the royal dining room. As I walked there for breakfast, I opened the other note from Madame Lilysmyth, demanding my presence that afternoon for the second phase of our training.
It was time for the Dinner portion of the introduction, and my stomach wanted to launch my breakfast all over the courtyard at the thought of it. Something told me this was going to be a lesson in manners and etiquette which, while probably similar to high society stuff back on Earth, was still a language all of its own. I didn’t have any desire to learn how to speak it. It seemed like a waste of time.
Plus, if I were truthful with myself, I wasn’t ready to see Em or Maria today.
I didn’t anticipate sitting in the same room with either noblewoman, let alone both of them together, was going to be much fun for anyone. My suspicions were confirmed when I entered the dining hall, and the tension instantly choked me. It permeated the room like a dead rodent trapped in the vents. When I peeked my head in, I could see that it was only Em and Maria in the hall, awaiting the others.
I tried to sneak away, close the door as quietly as I could, but Maria saw me and called out.
“Martin!” she cried as if I were a knight coming to rescue her. In a way, I probably was. There was no way I was the only one feeling that tension right now.
I did find it odd that she called out to me when I was the one who beat her in the match. But she must feel like any alliance would be a good one after the events of what had happened. And we had shared an intimate moment together before everything had happened.
Upon entering the room fully, I could see that most of the negativity radiated off Em. She sat with her arms crossed in her chair directly across from Maria like she had planted herself there for the sole purpose of intimidating the other noble. Em was doing a decent job of it too. Her eyes were gaunt, as if she hadn’t gotten much sleep, and her brow was furrowed low enough to appear slightly demonic. Should she have the energy, I bet Em would demand a rematch right then and there.
“Good afternoon,” I said politely, but even my false cheeriness wasn’t enough to slice through the tension.
Maria bolted up from her chair and raced towards me. She reached out with both arms, intending to hug me, but I dodged out of the way. Hurt flashed across Maria’s face.
“Not you too,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry, Maria,” I said, “I want to hold you again, I want to be able to… but I need to know that you understand what you did at the tournament was not fair to Em.”
“I did what I had to do to win, and it was just a match, Martin,” Maria argued.
I held up a hand to stop her words. “But it wasn’t just a match for Em. I still care for and about you, Maria, but you should realize I need some time, right? I don’t hold this against you, I just need to process, and you do too.”
Maria lowered her arms and swung them loosely at her side. Her baby blue eyes were watery, but she nodded at me. Giving in to my impulses for a second, since the only other person in the room was Em, I leaned in and gave Maria a quick kiss, just enough to show that I wasn’t too upset with her actions.
However, afterward, I ventured to Em’s side of the table and proceeded to sit down next to her. If I had thought Em would be appreciative of my solidarity, I was wrong. She didn’t move a muscle as I sat next to her. She only continued to glare at Maria with the malice of a vengeful dog.
I leaned over and whispered to her, “Please remember that before all this, Maria was your friend, and she is still a sweet girl.”
If my words had any effect, it was that Em did lower her gaze from Maria, and Maria must have heard me despite my whispering because she offered me a small smile as thanks. However, there was no noise after that as we all sat there waiting.
Luckily, the three of us didn’t have to sit in this awkward silence for very long. Soon, Razia joined the group, closely followed by Eamon. Madame Lilysmyth entered by clapping her hands several times, snapping us to attention.
“Who invited any of you to sit down?” she exclaimed upon walking in as if she’d seen a dead body instead of a bunch of young adults seated at a table.
“Up. Up. Up,” she commanded.
We all scrambled to our feet and retreated from the table as if it were on fire. Emerald wheeled back and almost ran into the wall, but I stuck out my foot behind one of her wheels to stop her. The girl gazed up at me and mouthed a thank you.
I nodded, then turned my attention back to the all-knowing Madame Lilysmyth.
“We have entered an entirely different stage of the introductions,” she announced. “The Dinner. It is here you will dine with the members of the council as well as other esteemed members of the court, including the king himself.”
Alexie said that as if it were a huge honor to meet the king, and to these girls and guys, it probably was, but since I sat down with him almost every night, it wasn’t exactly as exciting as she made it seem for me though I could feel and appreciate the enthusiasm of the other.
“There is an etiquette to these dinners that most of you mimic in your own homes,” Madame Lilysmyth said with a glare in my direction.
I didn’t hide my surprise at her calling me out so blatantly. Yes, we all knew I wasn’t a noble. Could we stop drawing attention to it already? Apparently not, because the Madame continued.
“While this will be a refresher for most of you, I encourage some of you to pay very close attention over the next two weeks as not to mess up or further embarrass yourselves.”
Putting on a devil-may-care smile, I winked at Madame. “I won’t let you down, Alexie.”
“You will only speak when spoken to, Lord Anthony,” she snapped, switching to my so-called formal name. It felt eerily similar to my mom using my middle name on me when I was a kid and had done something wrong.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied sarcastically, “I thought you were talking to me. Or at least, you were talking about me, right?”
Madame Lilysmyth pushed her lips together into a flat line. “Why yes, Lord Anthony,
if you are asking me directly, then I was speaking of you, considering the rest of the inductees are well-practiced in the art of dining.”
“It can’t be that hard,” I said without thinking. Once the sentence left my mouth, I knew I had uttered a death wish.
Madame Lilysmyth’s clear skin flushed red with irritation. Her left eye twitched slightly, and her composure nearly flew out the window. Instead, she unclenched her shoulders and swept back a stray strand of hair.
“If you believe that to be the case,” Madame Lilysmyth said with a dangerous tone, “then this initial quiz should be no problem for you.” She clapped her hands twice more.
Like Pavlov’s dogs, all the nobles stepped forward and proceeded to take a seat at the long dining table. It was an odd sight because the four of them were so spread out that no one sat next to one another. I still stood awkwardly by the wall, mouth open.
Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for me to sit down. It felt like a life-or-death game of Minesweeper. I had to pick a random chair and hope that the bomb that was Madame Lilysmyth wasn’t going to explode on me. Before I had the chance to make my selection, the instructor spoke and interrupted me.
“Do you know where to sit, Lord Anthony?” She taunted, knowing I had no clue.
“If I did, I would have sat down already,” I said through gritted teeth.
“I will give you a hint,” Madame Lilysmyth sneered. “It is organized by house.”
For some reason, my instinct was Hogwarts houses, but I knew that was absolutely incorrect. She had to mean noble houses, which is why all other others were so far apart. Since none of them were in the same family, none of them were next to one another. Closest to the head of the table, Em sat. A little way down was Maria, then Razia and Eamon.
My brain studied the pieces and put them clumsily together. Emerald was cousin to the king, so it made sense that she would sit closest to the head where he would presumably be. Maria’s mom was on the council so she would come next, and while I didn’t know where Razia and Eamon fell on the rank of presumed importance, I knew exactly where I belonged in the eyes of these pompous nobles.
