by Eden Redd
The corridor opened up into the large cavern. Nate slowed his step as Norrah made her way to the immense stone structure built into the cavern walls. The entrance to it was very large. It made Norrah and Shego look small in comparison. An ancient door was half open. Norrah lifted a green scaled hand, took hold and opened it further. She turned her head and glanced at Nate in the middle of the cavern.
“I believe she will be fine. She just needs some rest. After I tend to her, I’ll call you and Izzi in,” Norrah said with a small, serpentine smile.
Nate nodded. Norrah turned back and stepped into the structure. She left the door open and Nate could see glowing crystals deep within.
Nate stayed where he was. The scenes played out in his head, seeing Shego fighting the monsters. He lifted his hand and looked at it, remembering the lightning as it engulfed it during the battle.
I connected to her Air Sphere. I was able to call on it and control it to a degree. It was powerful, more powerful than I knew magic could be. Is this what it means to be a Seer? Can I call on all of their mana spheres? Will they be able to call on mine?
The air in the cavern shifted. Nate turned around to see Izzi glide in and land. In one arm and claws, his clothes were bunched up and his pack hung from a talon. Izzi smiled as she looked down on the nude Nate.
“I like you this way. Maybe I should hold onto these a little longer,” Izzi smirked.
Nate stepped closer to the frost dragon and looked up into her blue eyes. “Only if we’re naked together.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Izzi said and lowered his clothes and pack to the floor.
Nate grabbed at his clothes and began to dress. Izzi settled down like a feline. She lowered her head to the floor and let out a long, deep sigh. When Nate was finished dressing, he sat down beside her and his pack.
“Those monsters on the beach knew how to attack Shego,” Nate said plainly.
Izzi let out another sigh. “Those monsters belong to Orrem. They know better than to attack closer to the homeland isles. Out here, it’s different.
“Norrah knew it was dangerous to come here and wait for you, but it would have been a greater risk if you travelled further south. The ocean is vast and full of monsters, I calculated a low chance of success you would have made it. Norrah listened to me and the three of us decided to wait for you on this island.”
Nate glanced down to the white dragon and smiled. “Was your innocence an act when I first met you?”
Izzi closed her eyes. “Not an act. I’m… forgetful sometimes. Shego tells me I become very aware during difficult times. I’d rather just float in a dream.”
Nate nodded. “I was able to connect to Shego’s Air Sphere.”
Izzi kept her eyes closed. “It doesn’t surprise me. That is part of us coming together. You connected to my Water Sphere when we were training by the lake, but it wasn’t life and death. The fight on the beach triggered your connection to Shego.”
“The longer we’re together, the greater the connection?” Nate asked.
Izzi lifted her head and gave a small nod. “It is well documented and known that Seers can use many abilities from those they bond with.”
The frost dragon opened her eyes and looked into Nate’s eyes. “The deeper the bond, the stronger we all become. You have a natural mana ability. It’s only a matter of time before it grows and we can all call on it.”
Nate nodded again before tilting his head forward. Shadows covered his eyes as he looked down at the ancient stone floor. Izzi eyed him, feeling the darkness touch his spirit.
“I already decided that no matter what happens, I will be there to help, but how bad will this get?”
Izzi looked away. “Our elders told us that the celestial war has already begun on many different worlds. We have seen the signs that it is beginning here. The last few dozen years have been a build up to fight the dark menace that resides across this world.”
Izzi hesitated before she continued, “The three of us were hesitant to be ready for the conflict. Norrah is a Life Giver. She has birthed several generations of dragons. She is the oldest between us and has no taste for war.
“Shego knows how to fight, but never liked the idea of actually going to war. She liked the fantasy of it. She often read stories of great warriors across all of Arith. When she wasn’t reading or fighting, she was collecting gems and treasure. If I didn’t drag her out of her lair, she would still be there, counting her gems and coins.”
Nate looked over to the frost dragon, “And you?”
Izzi lowered her head to the floor. “I would still be at the Great Library, my snout buried in books. I don’t like gems, coins, and treasure. My lair is filled with books. I have spent most of my life collecting them and it is quite extensive.”
Nate reached for his pack and opened it. Izzi turned one eye toward the man as he dug through his pack. Nate smiled and pulled something out from it. He turned and faced the dragon, a book in his hands.
Izzi lifted her head and turned her gaze and snout to him.
Nate lifted it up to her. “I remembered one of our dreams where you whispered poetry. I wanted to give this to you sooner, but the last few days have been a little crazy. Now that we have a moment, I present you a book of ancient poetry.”
Izzi’s oval eyes widened before she looked down on the book. She read the title and her hand lashed out and snatched it from Nate’s hands. The dragon turned her whole body until she sat on her scaled haunches. Her neck and head craned over the book and she opened it.
Nate watched as her slitted eyes moved from side to side, absorbing the words.
“How… how did you know I was searching for this exact tome?” Izzi said with wide eyes and continued to read.
Nate shook his head. “I didn’t. I wandered the city of Summerside a few days before my ship was set to sail. There were some book vendors there with stacks of books. The vendor told me this one was sought after by many, but I thought he was just trying to convince me to buy it. He didn’t have to try so hard. After I read the first page, I knew a certain white dragon would like it. It reminded me of some of the poetry you said in our dreams.”
Nate looked to the frost dragon with warm eyes. “After I bought it, I read it cover to cover. It reminded me of the legends before the Portal Wars, when Arith was peaceful.”
Izzi closed the book and hugged it to her scaled chest. “This is a truly wondrous gift. I don’t know what to say except thank you.”
Nate grinned until their conversation sank a little deeper into his mind. The grin slowly melted away and Nate looked up to Izzi with serious eyes.
“Norrah is a Life Giver. Shego is a treasure seeker and dreamer. You’re a librarian. Considering the three of you called me to be your Seer, I’m the only one with the most combat experience.”
Izzi’s own serpent smile waned. Her head dipped down and could barely make eye contact with Nate.
“Nate, this war will bring our world to the brink of madness, death, life, and change. Dragons were never meant to be soldiers, but we rise to the conflict to ensure our world continues to survive.
“Norrah, Shego, and myself were resistant to the coming war, and now we are late. Our enemies have grown. Deities have each taken sides. We know the war will start to the south, along the equator. It will affect my home and spread north and south. We don’t want to go to war, but we will if we have to.”
Nate’s gaze fell to the floor, Izzi’s words swirling along his mind.
Izzi glanced to the stone building before moving her head closer to Nate.
“Norrah will tell you the rest, but she won’t tell you that she has already fallen for you. I could tell whenever she spoke of the dreams. Her eyes would light up and her tone became more alive. She will never force you to stay with us. She will tell you the horrible truth of what is to come, but Shego and I know her heart aches for you,” Izzi whispered.
“Why are you telling me?”
Izzi gave Nate an impish smir
k. “Sending out the call is not just summoning someone to come to aid us. It’s a call to another piece of our soul. No soul is perfect. It is why we search for those we love and want to share our lives with. It is bringing the pieces together so we may become one.
“Norrah is experienced and powerful, but she knows that bringing us together is dangerous. If something happened to one, or all of us, it would shatter her heart. She is overprotective and it is one of the many things we love about her. Her soul on the other hand is very fragile.”
Nate looked down as memories touched his mind of the dreams with the green dragon. They were close, often in fields of tall grass. Sun filled those dreams and before he knew her name, he witnessed her infectious laugh in the light. It didn’t matter if she was a dragon or not, her soul glowed and many times, Nate felt like he could reach out and touch it.
Thoughts and memories weighed heavy on the man and dragon. Izzi looked at Nate with affection before turning her gaze away. Nate stared at nothing. The weight of the conversation pressed down on him.
This isn’t just about love. I’m being recruited for war.
Nate looked over at the frost dragon. A swirl of emotion touched his heart as he gazed on her beauty. Arith had known a long peace after the Portal Wars. Nate sighed as he now knew things were going to become darker and bloodier.
It wasn’t a mistake to come to them. It was meant to be. But for the first time on this journey, I feel real fear.
Izzi lifted her head. Nate raised his gaze and the pair watched as a figure walked toward them.
Norrah walked with even steps and a small smile. She was in her humanoid form as she crossed the cavern. Horns stabbed out and curled from the sides of her head, similar to a ram’s horns. Her long hair was wavy and a forest green. It spilled over and past her bare shoulders. She wore a silky dress, but it could hardly hide her figure. The dragon woman was full-figured, with a defined hourglass shape. Her large breasts pressed against the silky silver fabric. Her hips moved with power as she stepped closer to the man and dragon. Her emerald eyes shined, but they contained slivers of shadow along the edges. Her leathery green wings were folded behind her, the points stabbing up from behind her shoulders. Her forearms and the backs of her hands were covered in smooth scales. They gleamed in the cavern light.
Nate was caught in the gravity of her beauty. Everything about her spoke of maturity and sensual caring. He couldn’t help but make the connection of a kind queen from the many stories he read. She was beautiful and carried herself with power and empathy.
The dragon woman stepped to Izzi and Nate with a warm smile and cool eyes. “Shego will be fine. She simply needs rest. The wounds should heal in a few hours.”
Norrah turned her attention to Izzi, “Please stay by Shego’s side until she is well enough to leave her room.”
Izzi nodded. The frost dragon moved to all fours and began stepping away. She glanced over at Nate, giving him a knowing smile before turning and marching off.
Nate watched the frost dragon enter the large structure and disappear through the main door.
Norrah kept her gaze on the lone man. Her expression was kind, but her eyes continued to study Nate as he stood.
Nate turned his attention to Norrah and smiled.
“I know you’re worried about Shego. We all are, but she will be fine. Our natural regeneration works much faster and better when we rest,” Norrah explained.
Nate nodded. “I understand.”
“I’m sure you still have many questions. Come with me so we can talk.”
Nate watched as the beautiful dragon woman turned and began walking back to the dragon home. He followed, caught in Norrah’s mesmerizing spell. The pair entered the main entrance and stepped inside.
Nate looked around with wide eyes. Every wall was carved with dragons in various poses. Some were fighting, others laughing and some staring at the sky. The craftsmanship was impeccable. Glowing crystals filled the wide, large corridor. The light they emitted was a soft orange and yellow, similar to a torch or lantern. It immediately eased the senses and Nate found his shoulders beginning to relax.
Archways ran along both sides of the wide corridor. Some of them lead to open rooms with artwork and statues. Others were larger, filled with large, circular pools of water. Some archways had closed doors. Lastly, there were corridors that lead down into inky shadows where the light didn’t penetrate it.
Nate absorbed many details as he walked along. In mere moments, despite his tall size, he felt very small.
This is a home for dragons. I should feel small. I could wander this place for months and feel like I’ll learn something new every day.
Norrah slowed as they reached the end of the long corridor. Nate moved to her side and the pair looked up at a large door. It stood at about twenty feet tall. If Norrah was in her dragon form, she could easily reach the handle without much effort. In her humanoid form, she extended her arm, took hold of the handle and pulled.
The door gave easily to her touch and opened. Norrah stepped inside and Nate followed.
Nate drank in his new surroundings. A few glowing crystals were embedded into the walls. Their light illuminated the large, roundish chamber. An immense circular bed filled the center, enough to fit three dragons or maybe a dozen normal sized people. To the side was a wide table. On it were large metal plates, filled with cooked meats and various fruits. There were no chairs or seating of any kind throughout the chamber.
The young man continued to look around and noticed the subtle differences with the dragon home. There were now tapestries like one would find in regal, humanoid dwellings. The lack of seating was another sign of how different it was. No cutlery lay on the wide table. Nate did spy a wine rack not too far from the table, but the bottles were almost comically large.
“You must forgive the lack of certain things often used in humanoid society. This home is not meant to house anyone other than dragons,” Norrah said as she moved to the table and looked at the steaming meats.
“I knew you would be hungry by the time you arrived. You came quicker than I expected. When Izzi told me you ignored my request and continued through the night to reach here, I went hunting and caught some pigs and sheep. Izzi procured fruit across the island. The meat is cooked in dragon fire. I didn’t know how you liked it, so I cooked each one with various styles from nearly raw to well-cooked.”
“I hope I didn’t disappoint you by not following your request?” Nate asked.
Norrah turned and looked at Nate with warm eyes. “No, you didn’t disappoint me. I was actually relieved. A seer who thinks for himself is most welcomed.”
Nate stepped closer and eyed the meat on the table.
“Please, eat your fill,” Norrah smiled.
“Will you be joining me?” Nate asked.
The dragon woman nodded. “It would be rude if I didn’t.”
Nate moved to the side of the large table. Without any seats, he simply planted his butt on the edge of the table and took hold of a cooked lamb’s leg. Norrah mirrored him and sat on the edge of the table. She too took a large piece of meat and ripped it from the cooked animal.
Nate smiled as Norrah simply put the large piece to her mouth and began chomping down. He did the same. Flavor punched his tongue with divine taste. Nate couldn’t stop himself as he bit and tore pieces of meat. He didn’t realize how hungry he was until he first tasted the delicious lamb.
Man, and dragon continued to chomp down on the feast. Exotic fruit was added and the swirl of the delicious meal deepened. Nate could barely contain himself as he consumed meat and fruit. Norrah often looked at the hungry man, eyeing him with affection as he tore through his meal.
After a long moment of eating, the pair slowed down as their bellies were nearly filled.
Nate felt dizzy. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate so well. The tension of earlier had nearly disappeared. When he put down a large bone on a plate, he quickly noticed his hands were covered in greas
e and bits of meat. Nate looked at Norrah, and saw she was the same, grease touching her smooth cheeks.
“I fear I’m a mess,” Nate smiled.
Norrah grinned before whispering a few words. A light glow touched parts of Nate’s face and hands. The grease and bits of cooked flesh vaporized into a mist and faded away. The same glow touched the dragon woman. In barely two blinks, the pair was clean.
“It’s a simple cleaning spell,” Norrah said.
“Thank you,” Nate smiled.
Norrah slipped off the edge of the table and onto her clawed feet. “I think we could use some wine before we talk.”
Nate’s eyes widened a hair. He reached down and grabbed his pack from beside the table. He opened the flap and reached in.
Norrah watched as Nate pulled out a dark bottle with a cork in the top. He smiled as he presented it to Norrah and bowed his head.
“I remembered from our dreams how much you liked honey mead. I often remembered you drinking it while we laid in the grass, talking about the beautiful days.”
Norrah’s eyes shined as she looked down on the black bottle. Her hand twitched, as if she was resisting her natural urges. It was similar to how Shego looked when she saw the large sapphire. Norrah’s fingers curled and opened before she took control of herself and bowed.
“Thank you for the lovely gift. Honey mead is difficult to come by. Bees have an instinctual aversion to our kind,” Norrah said with her head bowed.
“Please, enjoy it,” Nate said and stepped closer.
Norrah gently took the bottle from his hands and stood up. She clutched the bottle to her bosom and smiled.
“I fear we do not have any glasses here. We will have to drink from the bottle.”
“Drinking from the bottle doesn’t bother me in the least. Please, have the first sip.” Nate smiled.
Norrah took hold of the cork and popped it off easily. She lifted it to her lips and drank deeply from it. Her eyes fluttered as if she was drinking distilled ambrosia. She pulled the bottle away and handed it back to Nate.
