Draconess

The next day at midday, I sit with Andoll in the marble tree within the city square. We watch from the branches as Zarcar trains a show of students from the Academy of Magik & Combat, in front of a crowd. His favourite thing to do was to show off with that sword, leading them, the local Warlord, inspiring the peasants and such.

I draped his black robe around him this morning, trying to get a word out of him beyond small talk.

“I don’t understand your questions this day, my Queen,” Andoll lies back against two branches comfortably, her naked legs swing back and forth while she wears a brown handmaiden’s dress. I myself, was dressed in minimal white ribbons, barely covering me… showing almost all my skin.

Zarcar hadn’t seen us yet. I knew being in the tree would annoy him. I knew showing this much skin would also garner his attention.

And after last night…

“Oh, Andoll, I told our handsome Warlord my childhood, but not just the pleasant parts,” I glance at her now and she wriggles her brows.

“Master Zar is against bad behaviour,” Andoll smirks and growls, but she seems annoyed and happy at the same time.

“I told him everything I did that was a crime, was it a mistake?” I hiss quietly, “I told him all the times I thieved food, how I scared travellers for fun, how I accumulated wealth by stealing it. How I practiced magic by sneaking into camps, and listening to wizards and such. I told him the whole time I grew up in the green of the forest, I was naked, I barely had clothes, I didn’t mind the cold or the warm, night or day… I liked the moon…” I lay my chin on my hand, “And ever since Zarcar has been so quiet.”

“Our Warlord is angry, then?” Andoll guesses, unsure.

“I don’t know,” I hiss back.

“I shall ask him,” Andoll almost launches off the branch, but I launch over first, to shove her back down.

“No, do not, please,” I beg her and only when I’m satisfied she has listened, do I back off to my own branch, “Just tell me your thoughts, no action, please. No. Drama.”

“Hmmmmmm,” Andoll shakes her head, smirking at me, “I don’t think he’d be happy.”

“It was in the past,” I whisper, “He didn’t seem upset.”

“Why are you in a tree now, almost naked, trying to make him upset?” Andoll asks, “Are you asking for something –”

“CHYRONEX!”

Oh, no.

I gulp and turn to see Zarcar standing in front of his soldiers in the same place, glaring over at me.

This time I really did wear minimal ribbons, to just test his anger in comparison to his usual anger. Stupid plan? Maybe. Probably. Definitely. I was desperate to know his thoughts and I had been too scared to ask directly this morning.

The look in Zarcar’s eye as he slipped on his boots and murmured at me to wait for his return… I was scared I was a real prisoner again… the kind of prisoner which he had no leniency for.

And here I was now, telling Andoll to wait as I scramble out of the tree, hopping down into the water, splashing out loudly, and then flouncing my way to Zarcar as he is slightly red in the face, but from practicing combat or frustration… it could be both…

“…my Warlord,” I do a little twirl before I reach Zar, stopping a fair few lunges away so he can not grab me, “Yes?” I have white ribbons swirling from my wrists, which I can dance with if I want. Zar’s Torquem Steel is still around my waist, the turquoise sheen is a beautiful addition to my attire.

“What in Hellfire are you doing?” Zarcar assesses my overthinking gaze and chooses to ask a question first, before he acts.

“Getting some sun –?”

“A Moon Witch,” Zarcar cuts me off, “What are you really doing out here?”

“I am not a witch,” I murmur, feeling myself grow cold as I take a step back, even though he does not take one forward.

Was he tired of me? Maybe he was sick of me.

I look at the ground as Zarcar says nothing.

Although he continues to glare at me.

“…will you ever learn…?” Zarcar finally lets one cat out of the bag, which is a murmured, quiet and irate question… almost a concession. As I glance up and purse my lips, he gives me a lingering threat in his gaze, something demonic – but without words. I don’t know what to make of it.

He spins back to his army and retries his lessons and orders and his commands.

“Queen!” Andoll squeaks in fright and I spin to see the issue.

My eyes widen as I see Lixar jumping up, grabbing her ankles and hauling her out of the marble tree.

I open my mouth to complain; where did he come from and was Torrent here too?

I nearly have my heart jump out of my throat when a dark tall figure bumps into my arm at that moment, and grabs my elbow, garnering my attention.

“With me,” Immortal King Rey, jerks me over to walk with him, “No King of Uldaya resides in Swendula, relax.”

“Lixar flew you back?” I guess, “Torrent’s Commander was allowed to leave Uldaya?”

“He wanted a vacation,” Rey grimaces, “Lixar is a spy, nothing more, be careful what you say around him, he will report everything to Torrent.”

Rey continues to walk, wearing expensive travel gear, basic brown breeches, a white tunic a little too pretty and open at the collar bone, showing off sweat on his pale, pale skin from the journey.

“You look very thirsty, my King,” I keep pace with his strides, “What do you need me for?”

“Certainly, not your blood, I will take a mortal’s purity, thank you,” Rey’s silver inked eyes stare ahead for his path.

“Then why are you hauling me along to your Red Castle -?”

“Because I wish it,” Rey sneers, quietly, as Lixar pops up on my other side, dropping a squirming Andoll on his left, so he may catch my other arm on my left.

All too quickly, I am restrained by two of my own Venatores. Typical.

“I can tell when Chyronex dearest, is a flight risk, always so self-inclined,” Lixar speaks with a dark humour, but genuinely still has that look of annoyance about him, as if he will never forgive me for how much I ignore him, “Who gave you this pretty steel?” Lixar reaches down and pulls at the length of it, as it’s hanging down my waist, between my legs, his knuckles brushing my exposed stomach and down a bit further with cheeky intent, while he slips the chain through his curious fingers, “Your whole ass is on display out back, you know that, Chyronex?”

Idiot. That was the point.

“Am I being escorted off to begin my only job, opening my holes to my men?” I keep in a scoff, “Have you even said hello to Zarcar?”

“Stop talking,” Rey advises me, his teeth grit together as he strides faster.

“Shhh, Chryonex, don’t you know women are here to be seen and not heard?” Lixar uses a brash tone, “Tut, tut…” I say nothing else, but Lixar continues, “So how is your wedding planning coming along? I suppose it’ll be good for you to be house bound between war times, aye?” He is trying to provoke anything out of me.

“It’s going great,” I whisper.

“…such a bad little liar…” Lixar leans down to whisper in my ear, “You know I can read all your thoughts, sweetheart. Zarcar and our Draconess are having problems, aww… what a shame.”

“Shut up, Lixar, she’s my Draconess, Zarcar is simply her Keeper,” Rey keeps growling, clearly uncomfortably in the sun and with Lix close by.

“And what am I?” Lixar asks.

“A horrid man,” Andoll has been silently walking with us this whole time, “With a big cock!”

Bless her sweet split soul, she gets a smile out of Rey and I, while Lixar tries to get her in another head lock, and she just bites his hand, then doesn’t let go.

“Did I ever say how strong her jaw was?” Lixar hisses between teeth, “Andoll.”

The more he scolds her, the tighter she crunches down.

“Sometimes I think Andoll is the only one with a clear mind,” Rey murmurs.

“She has a brilliant mind,” I answer him, “For a female, that is.”

“I do not doubt female minds,” Rey leans over to answer me, like a whip quick to discipline before I attempt to mock him, “I simply do not trust them.”

“Except, I?” I take my elbow from his hand and I slip it back through his arm’s nook, as is more appropriate than being dragged, “Isn’t that right, Rey?”

“Anyone would trust your wide innocent eyes, Chyronex,” Lixar murmurs from my other side, “Which, in my opinion, is everyone’s undoing.”

****

Rey sits on his throne, upon his dais. The place I was first appropriately choked by him in front of a crowd. Tested. Intimidated. Humiliated. Now I’m thinking of how Zarcar said I would be on his lap, if he was on this throne. While, with Rey, I am at his feet, pretending to enjoy hugging one leg, with my chin on his knee as multiple citizens approach to speak their wishes and ills.

They need more funding, most of all.

“Then learn how to trade,” Rey’s answer – to almost all of them.

I learn quickly that is how Swendula had started to boom, by trading heavily with surrounding towns and cities, when it used to be isolated from such connections. An isolated city, now expanding as a centre… I saw it as competition to Uldaya… but I didn’t have to voice it aloud.

Lixar was thankfully busy somewhere else, probably with Andoll, who seemed quite hungry for a Mystifyer’s… meat.

So, while they pillage each other for what they want, I am left with Rey.

The day is creeping on and Rey finally waves some guards to send away most of the lower class, as it’s been a busy reunion since his return.

“Blood,” Rey points at one maid in a group of castle maids, who I’m sure aren’t even on the list of blood slaves, but Rey has been impatient and without much of a care today.

“Me?” the one maid whom is chosen, squeaks and walks over with her cheeks pink with a distinct blush. As Rey nods, she seems rather pleased about being taken.

Without a word, as she approaches obediently, Rey simply grabs her out reaching hand, hauls her onto his lap, her butt near my face – I try not to bite it like Andoll would – while Rey pulls her up and arcs her neck, waiting to hear her whimper, while staring over her shoulder to check on my state.

I play his little game, slipping my hand in hers and squeezing it to comfort her before Rey takes his fill.

I just smile back, empty of emotion as he sinks his fangs into her neck while watching me. Her hand squeezes mine so tight, I know Rey gets off on me getting some kind of part way feedback of what it’s like to be his slave, sitting below another slave… while being a fucking Draconess…

I wait until he’s done and she collapses on his torso, exhausted.

The moment she has her breath back, Rey palms her off and I poke at a blood stain on his breeches.

“So, you are messy when you eat your afternoon tea?” I ask, still holding onto his leg.

“Ask whatever you want,” Rey guesses my attempt at starting a real conversation.

“Zarcar wants to marry me,” I whisper.

“I don’t care,” Rey is always quick, no desire to confuse me.

“Another question. If I wanted to be an Empress, and overthrow your rule… you wouldn’t hesitate, would you? Burning me to Hellfire, I mean,” I raise a brow.

“You want to be an Empress,” always picking out the appropriate line, ignoring the rest, typical King.

“Female minds, oh so fickle, it was but a thought… but I enjoyed your reaction, which was no reaction… very good,” I rest my cheek on his leg and turn to see the new comer, the shadows seem drawn to his black draping robe.

Oh, Zarcar… he is rather ice cold watching me clinging to Rey’s leg.

“About time,” Rey growls under his breath, “I note your disrespect in taking your time, Zarcar… watch your arrogance.”

Zarcar stops before the dais, and a silence overcomes… both Rey and Zar simply await the next words to be spilled.

Rey is so tense, and seems furious about something.

Zarcar? Reserved. Defeated. Almost.

“So, I assume by now, Lixar has informed you, then -?” Zarcar drawls the question, eyes hooded.

“That you wish to be in my throne?” when Rey snaps off the question, I freeze in shock as a burst of Hellfire springs to life, in a perfect circle… around Zarcar… but not touching him… yet.

“Rey,” I whisper, but the Immortal King won’t respond to me.

“Lixar wishes to disband us,” Zarcar hisses, “I would do nothing –”

“You wish to disband us,” Rey fires back, the fire draws in closer and Zarcar starts to sweat, but not from fear, simply from the heat. Of course, Zar maintains arrogance now, and I know it could very well be the death of him.

I wonder if it is because I am at Rey’s leg, that Zar refuses to show weakness.

I look up, catching Rey’s eyes as he glances down, assessing my reaction, probably wondering how it would break me if he killed the Warlord we all relied upon.

“Tor – it is Torrent, he gave Zarcar the idea, as eldest brothers do,” I lie, but as far as I know – that could have been the case, “It is Torrent’s wish to see this happen, he naturally used his influence as a brother... Tor is the one trying to disband us.”

Rey disbands the fire so swift, that I try my very best not to show the complete relief that floods me.

“This is why I trust your mind; good intuition,” Rey genuinely sounds affectionate as he threads a hand through my hair, and pets me closer, as I lay my cheek back on his leg and gulp, staring at Zarcar’s black pitless eyes, watching the interaction closely.

“Twenty-four hours in the dungeon for Dark Sorcerers, Warlord Zarcar… a chance to reflect, perhaps, about your position – and hers,” Rey nods to me, “She is not yours. She never was. She is mine. You are her Keeper. That is all.”

“I never lost sight of that –” Zarcar murmurs.

“And there will be no wedding,” Rey adds, cutting him off with finality, “Chyronex doesn’t wed, she is a Draconess. Have you gone daft, Zarcar?”

“It is a husbands duty to protect his wife,” Zarcar attempts to defend himself but Rey is all over it today.

“It is a King’s duty to protect his Queen,” Rey’s voice trills out, and he motions guards to escort Zarcar away.

Zarcar can’t look at me, because he is deep within himself. I can see his processing. As I am. As Rey is.

Our squabble wasn’t really the focus.

Torrent was making moves against us already. I had my fear and Rey believed my lie, which coincidentally became a truth I never wanted to see until I put a voice behind it.

However, it was clear now.

Tor was already coming for Swendula – the glue, the Venatores – and the Draconess residing within its walls.