Fantasy Of Fate and Fortitude

[CanaryCry]

Spoiler: Jaxitenos 'Jax'

Spoiler: Naydra

Sustaining the presence of many dragons was difficult even in the best of times, and the last year or two had been getting worse and worse, fields producing less and livestock giving birth less often, or less successfully. As a place that produced little to no profit of its own, the Eastern Dragonry often found itself seeking the charity of neighboring kingdoms. Given hard times, they had sent out many letters, requesting aid from whoever could give it, and to the nearest kingdom they sent a dragon shortly after, to negotiate as much as to be offered as tribute.

Someone had to go, Keller reasoned. It may as well be him.

The dragons that carried messages were small and fast, with wide wingspans meant for both speed and endurance on long flights, while he and Jax, in contrast, were more useful for size and strength. A dragon better suited for war, to be offered with a soldier who would follow orders. The letter itself said nothing about using them to deter any neighboring kingdoms from attempting to claim any of their land, only that they would come to speak with the King and offer their ‘services’ in exchange for his help, but Keller wasn’t convinced that the man would see Jax’s size and not immediately decide to assign them that way anyway. However the King decided to use them, the lure of having a large and powerful dragon on retainer, and a rider with offensive magics on top of it, would surely be enough to get the Dragonry some of the aid it needed. While they negotiated, they would be sure the King knew what dire straits had befallen neighboring land, and how the plague seemed to be spreading.

Rider and dragon arrived just a few days after the letter had, flying in with a flag of bright green and gold scales strung along the underbelly of Jax’s riding harness to identify them so as not to cause a panic. Once they had circled lazily around the castle grounds where they could be seen by the guards and stalled long enough for someone to scurry off and alert those in charge, they landed outside its walls as a courtesy. It was easy enough for Jax to look over the top if he felt so inclined, but they waited patiently until someone came to retrieve them.

Keller was still as the gate began to open, relaxed atop Jax’s shoulders where the dragon sat with wings folded in and tail curled around close to avoid hitting anyone that came near. Once attendants came out to greet them, he got to his feet and hopped down to Jax’s raised foreleg and from there made the jump to the ground with practiced ease, a maneuver they no longer needed words or cues to perform. The rider walked a short distance away to avoid the awkward shuffle many did at the idea of being so close to a dragon, and stood with a loose, easy stance, his hands in plain view.

“I’ve come to seek an audience with the King.” He announced loud enough to be sure he was heard, neither intimidated nor deterred by the fact that the guards were armed and he was not. “He should be expecting us.” It was only a partial untruth. An audience had not been officially requested or accepted, but King Eno had, at least, been warned.






The Eastern Dragonry was home to many different kinds of dragon - those that preferred treetops or caves, open skies or piles of ash. Over the years she had lived within its grounds, Malia had learned much about caring for and accommodating them all, and what she could not learn from books or the experience of others she had learned to intuit with her magic. So it was that she found herself tasked with a large majority of both illnesses and regular wellness checks for many of their dragons, but it wasn’t something she minded. Truly, spending time with the dragons themselves was less taxing than trying to make plans to deal with things like funding, supplies, negotiations, and slowly developing plans to begin moving dragons and people elsewhere for sanctuary.

It was a bit of a walk from the main living quarters of Dragonry staff to the seaside, but the weather was fair and Malia didn’t mind. She had her walk, quiet and solitary as it was, and had a rest sitting at the edge of a dock with her shoes beside her, stretching a hand down every now and again to shine a small light from her fingertips beneath the surface. It took a while of waiting, and she wasn’t sure at first if the dragon she quested for attention from would come with a ship also arriving at the same time, but as it came to port at a nearby dock she spotted the familiar ripples in the water that signaled the arrival of one of their few ocean-dwelling residents.

“It’s good to see you, friend,” she said softly as the large head came into view beneath her feet, peering down at it with a little smile. “Come to shore with me, hm? I’d like to greet you properly.”

The rumble she got in response was easy to hear even from underwater, and she picked up her shoes to carry with her as she got to her feet, padding quietly back up the dock to the beach. Once her feet were in the sand, Naydra began to emerge from the shallows, water pouring off of her pearlescent blue scales as she pulled herself free of the depths. Her ideal home was underwater, but she was suited well enough to land that being out for a while wouldn’t bother her.

“There you are,” Malia held her arms open in greeting and stepped forward to embrace Naydra around her neck as best she could, unafraid of a creature whose head was as large as her entire body. “Have you been eating well?” She asked as she started to slowly move from chin to tail tip, running her hands over scales and inspecting as she went along. “It’s been a while since you’ve come to see us. I see you’ve been keeping sharks away from the port, but you really shouldn’t drive them into fisherman’s nets, dear. They’re a bit too big for that.”

More than once in the last few weeks she had heard of fishermans’ boats that lost nets or simply gotten the scare of their lives when a shark was pulled aboard. No one had been hurt, thankfully, but it had made for amusing stories.

“Pristine as always,” she said as she came back around to Naydra’s muzzle, laughing softly at the small growls and chuffs she got in response to her idle chatter. “All right, open wide.”

She was unworried as she bent to look inside the dragon’s mouth, making sure her teeth were healthy, and equally so even when she reached her arm in up to the shoulder to check on one that seemed discolored. All was well, and she glanced towards the other dock as she moved on to check on the dragon’s large paws and talons, curious about the ship that had begun to offload. It wasn’t extremely often that they received passenger ships, but she didn’t recognize it as a fishing boat or a delivery of supplies from afar. She hoped, at least, that any newcomers on their way through wouldn’t be startled at seeing a large dragon so soon. Though, given the surrounding area housed many of them, she supposed it was best they get used to it quickly. They should be thankful Naydra hadn’t come to say hello to the boat as they arrived.

 

[Lucyfer]

War strategy was not Samale’s forte.

Even so, she sat at the table as King Eno, Vel, and the other councilors moved pieces over a map and discussed territorial advantages, locations, numbers, and things of that nature while they worried over the future threat of the southern tip of Acran’s territory, and the neighboring kingdom of Zatim which had decided to support the cause of “princess” Reba against King Eno, claiming she had more legitimacy.

Which, may very well be true.

In fact, Samale was certain of it, just as she was certain that was about all Reba had. That, and a pending marriage to Prince Aeron of Zatim, which would end up making Acran a part of Zatim by default. King Eno was a bastard, but he had been raised by the previous King, and indeed, left the Kingdom by his father rather than Princess Reba. She didn’t take that well.

A knock at the door disturbed the meeting.

Eno let out a huff of exasperation, and pushed brown locks back as Vel moved to the door and opened it, resting bitch face on duty as she stared down the guard who had come to disturb them. “Pardon me, Your Grace,” the guard said, “there appears to be a…a dragon rider here to see you?”

Eno arched a brow, “Really now?”

“Yes, shall I send them in?”

Eno sighed, and put his palm to his face. “Your Grace,” Samale spoke up, “continue the meeting without me. I will go and see this dragon rider and see that they are given room and board. They should not presume you are at their disposal when they come to beg scraps, and this meeting hardly concerns me,” she gestured out, “when you plan to start talking diplomacy with Zatim, then you can summon me.”

Eno gave a bit of a wry smile, both knew Samale wasn’t only for diplomacy, but some of her tasks couldn’t be discussed in front of everyone. “All right. You have my authority to deal with them, and speak of some matters on my behalf. You know my mind better than anyone.”

The little jokes. It made people wonder if there was something scandalous going on, with their little smiles. Samale only placed a hand over her chest as she inclined herself forward, before she would make her way out of the room, trusting she would be filled in later by Vel or Eno.

The message from the Dragonry had only arrived a few days ago, not nearly long enough for them to have answered even if they weren’t busy, and arrive back. Yet, a rider was already here, demanding to see a king!

The audacity could not be rewarded, and so it was not King Eno that stepped out, but Lady Samale Acario dressed in jade, gold enough on her wrists and neck to indicate she was no mere servant.

And of course, despite not intending to reward audacity, she oozed warmth in her gaze and her smile, her mind stretching out to gauge the rider’s thoughts, and capture them if she could; some people had barriers, some didn’t, she intended to find out how far she could push with this one without being noticed. “Dragon Rider, forgive our lack of preparation for you and your dragon; we were not warned you were coming.”

Something, she felt, was a troublesome fact to the nearby guards. Their thoughts were whispers as she kept her focus on the rider, but whispers said enough – he had lied and claimed to be expected. “I am Samale, King Eno’s advisor. He is preoccupied at the moment, but I am willing to see you are given room and board, and hear what you have to say, as well. If His Grace needs to be disturbed sooner from his business, I can make that decision.”

She offered her hand, “But come, you must be a bit tired and hungry from your flight. I will see to it that a meal is brought for your dragon, as well. Do they prefer anything?”

~***~

“Woooow!”

Such were the first words out of Aislin as she stood on her tiptoes to look over the railing of the ship alongside her father, and witnessed the blue dragon come out of the water. “Is that a dragon? I thought they were flying creatures!”

“Dragons come in many forms,” Onni answered, his attention not focused on the dragon, but the woman with the silvery-white hair who interacted with it in such a familiar way. That did not surprise him, given they were coming ashore at a dragonry; his attention remained because he had seen her in his visions enough to know his timing couldn’t have been more perfect. He wouldn’t have to try seeking her out.

As the boat docked, he stepped from the railing, and offered his hand down his daughter, “Come, Aislin. We’re going to meet the lady with the dragon.”

“Oh! Do you think I can touch the dragon?” She asked, taking his hand without question or irritation, walking at his side as his long, navy sleeve fell to cover her hand. Despite leaving Iona, the Ionese man didn’t exactly have clothing that wasn’t, well, of his home. The long sleeves and navy robe were far plainer than what the Oracle usually wore, more casual and home-wear, but he still felt they marked him.

Then again, he just felt out of place in general.

He had never traveled from Iona before, he was never meant to.

“People come to Oracles, Onni. Oracles do not go to people.”

Jordine had said it.

His father had said it.

It was just how things were. Oracles were sought, never seekers.

At least the robes had helped to keep him from getting sunburnt as they moved over the sea.

Onto the docks they went, and Onni kept a firm grip on Aislin’s hand as they moved through the crowds of those leaving the ship, those coming to meet their friends and family who had traveled, and the general hustle and bustle of moving supplies to and from the docks. None stopped him, thankfully, and he was able to make it close to the space that had been cleared for the woman and the dragon.

Aislin continued to watch in wide-eyed wonder, her gold eyes all but glittering with barely restrained fascination.

Which, of course, led her to be the first to speak: “Excuuuuse me! Hello! Hi! Sorry! Is the dragon friendly? Can I touch the dragon? What’s their name? What’s your name?” The questions came rapid fire, as they were ought to come. Despite being an oracle herself, Aislin was present. Too present, really.

Onni had never been as harsh with her as Levito had. He had stopped caring about such things as family legacies when it tore his family to pieces. He didn’t want to see that happen again, not when there were far more important things than petty politics on a small island.

The world was so much larger than that, as Onni was now, truly, learning.

“Oh! My dad wanted to talk to you!” Of course, she threw that in at the end, causing Onni to bear a gentle, but somewhat sheepish, smile of greeting.

 

[CanaryCry]

It wasn’t as if Keller expected to be taken directly to the King. Even unarmed and from a reputable institution, he could still be considered a threat. They didn’t know if he was a mage, after all, and couldn’t know what he would conjure up once in the presence of the King. So it was that the rider didn’t fight or argue when he was led inside to an empty room to wait, simply leaning against a piece of furniture nearby rather than sitting in it to settle down, arms loosely crossed as he let his eyes wander about the room. It wasn’t so long of a flight that he felt the need to rest immediately.

It wasn’t very long at all before the doors opened, and he wasn't quite surprised to see a woman coming to greet him. As far removed from royal disputes as the Dragonry could be, he was not so uninformed as to be unaware that King Eno employed a female oracle - whether this was her or not, he was known to keep her close in his dealings and as such it wasn’t a far leap to assume he employed other women in high places, as well. Keller himself didn't quite like the idea of always knowing what his future held, but he could understand how it might be useful to a King.

When she offered him her hand, he only looked at it, wondering without much concern what kind of game she was trying to play. Was he to be led along to supper like a child? Or was he supposed to be taken in by the presence of a beautiful woman and distracted from his purpose? He had more important things to worry about than his own comfort, like the life and health of riders and dragons alike.

"Keller Oneri, of the Eastern Dragonry." He gave her a small, respectful bow but did not take the offer of her hand, instead staying where he had been when she arrived, quite pointedly moving neither closer nor further away. "I am sure His Majesty's time is precious, and well occupied," he conceded, feeling no offense or surprise at having been made to wait. He’d expected longer, really. "But as mine is as well, you’ll have to forgive my dismissal of pleasantries and politics. Rather than rest, I would like to speak my peace."

He had her attention then, clearly, though it wasn't immediately clear if it was annoyance or actual interest that kept her from moving closer to the doors. In the interest of not wasting anyone's time any further, he took her short silence for permission and pressed on.

"I assume that our letter has been received and read by now," he said, "so I needn't expound upon the Dragonry's struggle with local harvests. I have instead come to deliver news of a spreading plague, and to ensure His Majesty doesn't believe he will face only losses for his assistance. In exchange for supplies, and assistance in facing this threat, the Dragonry is prepared to offer my dragon and I as retainers to him."

If the truth didn't sway them, nor the lure of having Jax at their disposal, then he had best move on. Either someone else would take his services instead, or some day soon he would be needed to assist in the uprooting of an entire Dragonry of beings.

*********************​

As used to the land around her as she was, and as used to dragons as most of the area was, Malia didn’t pay much attention to the offloading of the ship going on some ways behind her. She focused instead on what she had come to do, Inspecting Naydra for any injuries, illnesses or irregularities, making idle comments out loud every now and again with a warm tone that the dragon liked. Naydra had always been good at staying still for her check-ups, even though it occasionally took a long time to get her to come to shore for them.

Malia turned when the dragon's attention shifted inland, and caught sight of father and daughter just before the little one spoke. They were, quite obviously, not from anywhere near the Dragonry, and she had to assume they had gotten off the boat that had just arrived. What had brought them was a mystery, but for now it was truly none of her business.

"My name is Malia," she answered with laughter in her voice, resting a hand on the muzzle of the dragon at her side as much to indicate her as to keep her calm, "and she is Naydra. But I don’t think your father would like if you came much closer, dear." As gentle as she knew Naydra might be, she didn’t want to give the girl the false impression that all dragons would be.

It was a struggle, for a moment, not to either frown or laugh when she called attention to her father, who seemed truly not to want it. What business could he have with a woman he had never met? Malia's reputation was not so great as to have preceded her from across the sea.

"Have you just arrived?" Malia asked with a small smile for the girl, brushing her hair back with her free hand when the sea breeze sought fit to take it. "Have you business at the Dragonry?"

She wasn’t aware of anyone in particular that was meant to be coming to them, but with Naydra at her side she couldn’t imagine why else the man would want to speak with her. Perhaps they had come purely to see dragons.

 

[Lucyfer]

Keller’s mind was unguarded. Thoughts slipped like a knife through warmed butter, revealing his own thoughts of her when she offered the hand, and his steadfastness to his cause. ‘Well, at least he thinks I’m pretty.’ Not that she was at all upset he wouldn’t be so easily drawn in. That was always boring – too easy, really. There was no challenge, and Samale long missed challenges.

She took her hand back, showing no offense at all, and nodding for him to go on. She wasn’t there to deter him from speaking. That hadn’t been the plan anyways, she was there to hear what he had to say, and to make him wait at the King’s leisure a little without seeming rude about it by offering a few luxuries while he waited.

Samale heard the words.

She heard the thoughts.

There was little difference between them, which was…so very rare.

People were liars. That was Samale’s first lesson in life, before she became one of the best liars in the world. What was offered for resources was a dragon, and a dragon rider. Only one, but she could see flickers of what Keller offered on his own in the weapons that were scattered along with the thoughts of what his service provided.

Oh, he was far from unarmed.

Not that it unnerved Samale. He was peaceful. He wasn’t there to force his point. If denied, he would simply go elsewhere, and offer that same service…he could go to Zatim, and offer them a dragon, which they would in turn use against King Eno.

Hardly something Samale could allow.

“Your offer comes at a rather interesting time for His Grace, but I must ask a few questions before I seek him,” Samale noted, “How long will you be leased to us by the Dragonry, and in what capacity?” Obviously, dragons and a rider had one very obvious use, but there were others. He might not be willing to go along with a war.

Defensive services, sure, but war, at the head of an attack, or as an aggressor, may be against him.

~***~

Thankfully, the woman seemed kind, and not at all bothered by the numerous questions that came from Aislin. She answered gently, with laughter, and even some blame back at Onni. Not that he would deny it; he was aware that many dragons were still fairly wild and not domesticated. It would not be the greatest idea for his daughter to go around touching them when one might snap her arm off.

At least she had asked, though.

“We did just arrive! We come from Iona – this is my first time traveling!” Aislin said it as if this shouldn’t be an uncommon thing. Yet more lessons Onni had not taught her, that Oracles were not free to move as they pleased. “It’s been amazing! I can’t wait to see more – oh, but, yes, this…this is business. We’ve seen you!”

Onni blinked and glanced down at Aislin. She had not shared that, and he frowned a bit at it. Then again, she had been more interested in the dragons in her visions, and now in real life, so perhaps that wasn’t a surprise she wouldn’t point out a random human who appeared. There were always plenty of random background people.

Still, Onni shook it off, and looked back at Malia. “I am Onni Acario,” he no longer knew if his surname carried as far as some claimed. His first name was unlikely to be known so well, but Acario used to be synonymous with, well, portents. Terrible and great. “My daughter is correct, actually. I have had visions involving you, and I would like to speak with you, when you have the time, somewhere…less open. What I have to say is better kept to a small audience to begin.”

They could decide what to do from there, but he wasn’t a fan of causing needless panic. “I understand if now is not a good time, and I need to find temporary housing as it is,” and food. He didn’t eat much on the sea. His stomach disagreed at the outset of the journey and he had been wary of testing it too much. Bread and water had sustained him.

He hadn’t foreseen that.

 

[CanaryCry]

An interesting time. As busy as he could be at the Dragonry, or even as relaxed, he hadn’t devoted a great deal of effort to finding out what tensions may or may not be happening between the kingdoms around them. He should have done more research, he was sure, but the decision to send him, in particular, had happened rather quickly as time passed and assessments were made. Truly, what difference did it make? Whether he knew what he would be used for or not, there was nothing happening here that he could change without cost to those he was being sent to negotiate for.

"His Majesty may retain our services for as long as his aid is required." Keller answered readily enough, but the uncertainty of time was one of the things he found himself displeased with. Perhaps he would be at the beck and call of the King for a few months' time. Perhaps years. Perhaps forever. But he wasn’t here to complain, or to try and shy away from things that were difficult. He would perform his duty here rather than the Dragonry, and he would send off any wages he received just as he had while he was there. Life went on.

"We are useful for a variety of tasks," he continued, standing calm and still despite the unease, glad at least that she was willing to speak with him so directly. "Labor, travel, protection - we are available to him for whatever he sees fit."

He was aware of the fact that, given Jax's size, strength, and fiery breath, and her implication of 'interesting times', that they were very likely to be sent out to fight. He didn’t like the idea of using Jax to cause needless death, and neither had the Dragonry itself, but at it's simplest terms reality came down to this: if there were not lives lost here, there would be there. Until the people and dragon's this plague was crawling towards were safe, he would perform his duty as demanded.

********************​

"Iona..." Malia murmured it aloud, eyes drifting sideways as she did her best to remember. She had heard of Iona, though only in passing tales. It was a difficult place to get to, after all, and though she could stand it she wasn’t truly very fond of travel by boat. From what she had heard, the people of Iona didn't often leave it, so she supposed it wasn’t her fault that she didn’t recognize their clothing or their looks as coming from there.

"Saw me?" Her brow drew down in a confused, bordering on irritated furrow as the father explained. Acario. Even to her the name was somewhat familiar, old news of powerful families she had no time for in her current life. Still, it was enough to tell her that Onni - and apparently his child - saw the future with clarity, and certainty.

It was enough to put a thrill of nerves in her chest, though she had no spoken reason to be afraid, just yet. She had never met them before, and they had never traveled before, so what was it that had caused them to see her in their visions? Was she to show them to the Dragonry? Had their visions simply told them that they would meet her as they arrived?

". . . Now is as good a time as any, I suppose," Malia said finally, her hand idly running over Naydra's scales. "If you can spare a few more minutes, wait for me just off the beach. I’ll be done here shortly, and you’ll not find much better lodgings than the Dragonry itself can offer."

Their living quarters were far from full, after all. As slim as their resources could become in the coming months, it would be easy enough to house and feed just two more. The Dragonry was not known for turning away those in need.

 

[Lucyfer]

The situation was dire.

Keller was willing to be used in almost any way, his thoughts and his words aligned, but it was his mind that gave away the feeling he had about it. He didn’t enjoy it, but he felt it was that bad at the Dragonry, which did peak Samale’s interest, and some of her pity. If it wasn’t such a good opportunity, she might have even reconsidered using him, might have reconsidered quite a bit…but, the situation was what it was.

A princess had to die, a war had to stop before it got too far.

Still, she did empathize. She knew that feeling, that need to stay useful, that need to sacrifice for others. She’d shaken it off what felt like a lifetime ago, as much as it felt like it was yesterday. “Then let me lay it out plainly: we are on the cusp of a war because Princess Reba has declared herself Queen, and claimed King Eno has no rights to the crown. She is correct in insisting her rights trump his, and were she half as intelligent as Eno, I might have even chosen to help her myself. As it is, the only good thing that can be said for her, was she understood she could not amass an army on her own, and she’s sold Acran out to Zatim by engaging herself to their heir. You will be used in this conflict.”

There was little hope she could offer him otherwise.

“But I see that you will do just that despite your reservations, which leads me to believe this plague is far more severe than any such thing seen previously, and could leave you in King Eno’s service for years, if the harvests continue to fail for years on end.” She folded her arms over her chest, shifted her posture. This one would appreciate directness, so she may as well remain that way, “Using a prisoner has its uses, but never for a long time, and that is what you would be, so I suggest an alternative. Agree to work with us to the end of our war, whether that is a few weeks, or a few years – whether it goes beyond the plague issue, or whether that is resolved beforehand.” A gamble, in a way. He could be free quickly, or not at all, but he would have a clear purpose. “For this time, we will supply the Dragonry, and we will also send scholars and others to review the situation that is causing this plague, to better assist in ending it.”

~***~

Onni wasn’t surprised with the quick agreement. He could tell his name was recognized, which meant she understood he had words of the future, which could be terrible, or wonderful. He imagined he could guess which way that leant, based on what was already going on in the Dragonry. ‘Bad.’ No one liked to be the messenger with no good news. It was an unenviable position.

Although in this case, it sounded like they would be getting a free room out of it. “I appreciate your hospitality,” Onni inclined his head, “We will wait,” he agreed, and with Aislin, they walked away to give Malia the space that she needed. He let Aislin go so she could wonder a bit, not that there was too much to wander and see in this area, other than the boats and the people, and a few pop-up market stalls.

Which, of course, she wandered towards, peering at strange foods and iridescent jewelry from ‘afar’.

Which, of course, the merchant tried to pitch to Aislin, telling her to go ask her father to buy her the pretty trinkets. Onni could overhear it, but when Aislin came back to him, she asked for nothing, only, “He said the pearls come from mermaid tears!”

“They don’t.” Onni was also fairly certain mermaids weren’t real, but not even he was sure of that. He’d never seen one. He’d never heard one. “They come from clams.” A far more boring story, really.

“Oh,” she said, and he thought she’d be disappointed, before she said, “that’s good. It’s not nice to make people cry.”

And he could only chuckle at the simple logic, “He must be mean.”

“Mm,” Onni nodded, “though people do cry from happiness.”

“Oh! I didn’t know!” This was thrilling news, apparently. “That must be very, very, very, very, very happy!” Onni nodded agreement, “Have you ever been that happy?”

He wished he could say he cried the day she was born from happiness, but that would have been a lie. He wished he could say it at all, but he couldn’t, and had no wish to lie to her, “No,” he said, “Not yet.”

 

[CanaryCry]

A realist through and through, Keller had known how likely it would be that he and Jax would be used for combat. His magic was suited to it, after all, though the people here had no reason to believe that just yet, and Jax was big and powerful, and breathed deadly fire. He had already talked the matter over with the dragon himself, explained and explained and gotten only cautious agreements in response, even gone so far as to enlist the aid of others who could speak to the dragon more directly and make sure he was understood. Jax was not fond of the idea of destruction, either, but he would follow Keller wherever he went. His rider was more important than anyone else.

Still, despite his expectations and his preparation, he didn’t like it.

Given how he had grown, in a town on the outskirts of his birth kingdom of Jorell where law and order were not highly enforced, he was not wholly unused to combat. It would not be the first time he took another man's life in the interest of protecting others. But with Jax at his side the potential for destruction at his hands grew hundredfold. It was a dark reality, and one he'd known he would have to come to terms with. Having it confirmed was, frankly, unpleasant.

Keller was quiet as he listened, crossing his arms tight against his body as he did his best not to glower at her, as she was not truly the source of his displeasure. How he felt didn’t matter. He had to think past it, to weigh the costs and benefits. The Dragonry was depending heavily on aid, and though Acran was not the only kingdom being asked it was the closest, and the most likely to assist given its relative position to the plague threatening to crawl its way closer. He recognized the risk of a promise for an indeterminate amount of time, but that had always been the risk he faced, only now with new parameters: a time limit of war rather than plague. He also recognized the added promise of investigation into the plague itself, which had been his secondary objective in coming and equally as important.

Many lives were depending on him. He would do his duty.

"I would agree," He said after taking a moment to think over the proposition, "but with no disrespect to you I would first hear it from the King himself."

He didn't want to insult her, but as much as he believed, given the way she spoke, that she was either the King's oracle or otherwise simply a very intelligent woman under his employ, he had no way of knowing it for certain. He was not naive enough to accept her at her word with so much at stake.

"I would also have it understood," he continued, firm despite his lowly position, whether it be called prisoner or servant, "that I know my and my dragon's capabilities in fine detail, beyond any knowledge your generals or your King can hope to have. I would have my word on such matters listened to with respect, and my dragon's life not needlessly put in danger, or you will not find us to be very cooperative weapons."

Tools of war they may be, but he would not lay down Jax's life because someone who thought they had power over him told them to do something foolish in order to secure victory. He was not afraid of the potential backlash that could come from talking back to someone who thought they had control over him. No matter what happened, Jax was just as precious to him as he was to the dragon. He would rather lay down his own life than see his dearest companion come to harm.

********************​

Onni and his daughter had sought her out, and they were strangers to the land they now found themselves in, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when they chose to wait. Malia turned away as they left, took a few slow breaths to refocus and gently reassured Naydra that she was all right. As if suspicious of Onni's role in the newfound tension to Malia's movements and voice, the finned dragon locked her eyes on him and continued to stare even as her inspection continued. If he was a threat of some sort and decided to come closer, she would get up in defense of her human friend.

Malia did her best to focus, to reassure herself of Naydra's good health and set aside one worry for newer, bigger ones. Faced with oracles, she couldn’t help but worry about the future and what it held. If she was lucky, the news would only concern her and not the Dragonry as a whole. She was only one person, after all, and held only a finite amount of power whether one focused on her magic or her role in the Dragonry itself. What could possibly be in her future that was so bad it had drawn an oracle away from his home to come to her side, with his small child in tow, no less?

She did her best to convince herself that worrying now, without knowing anything at all, wouldn’t make anything better. And no matter what the future held, there was no point in scaring a small child with her own fear or struggles.

"Do not worry, my friend," Malia said gently when the inspection was through, briefly pressing her head to the large dragon's before pulling away to look her in the eyes. "I will take good care of myself, and you do the same. And leave the fisherman alone."

The last was said with amusement in her voice despite the anxiety looming over her head, and prompted an annoyed little chuff from the dragon in response, as she enjoyed playing with the boats that drifted to and fro. She gave Malia a gentle nuzzle into her chest, looked once more at Onni behind her, then turned and made her way back into the ocean.

Though their voices had been at the back of Malia's attention and she hadn't truly heard the words, the little girl's small voice inspired the soft affection in her chest that only children could. When she turned to walk back to them, she managed a friendly enough smile and gestured for them to rise and come with her.

"You must be tired from your travels," She said softly, "but the Dragonry is a bit of a walk from here. What is your name, little one? Why don’t you tell me some of your favorite things from your trip? A story always makes a walk feel shorter."

 

[Lucyfer]

Samale didn’t intend to be speaking for the King’s agreement – although he would. She couldn’t help the smirk that came to her lips as Keller asked to hear it from the King, or the chuckle as she agreed, “I am not making this as an offer, I am making it as a suggestion. If you say you will be here for an indeterminate amount of time with relation to how long your hold needs supplies, I assure you, he will take that over the war situation, and find ways to drag it out so you are here far longer than our war. You can certainly still offer him your original deal, if you prefer that, I will not interject when you speak to him.”

Not for His Grace, nor for the Dragon Rider. At that point, she would be audience only, and answering to King Eno on occasion, when he needed to know more than what Keller said. “You will also want to tell His Grace about what you wish understood with relation to you and your dragon. As you know,” there was now a tease, since it seemed he was trying to get an agreement out of her, “I cannot speak for him and his understanding.”

So what did it matter if she understood that Keller knew his dragon?

It would have been wise to tell him that the one he needed to speak with and convince was Vel, but, he wanted promises from Kings, blissfully unaware this King knew how to use his servants to the best of their abilities. He came to trust them. He would listen to Keller, of course…but where it came to a conflict between what Keller said, and what Vel said, he’d favor Vel. He knew her longer, and she’d proven herself.

“Is there anything else I should be made to understand, though?” there was still that terrible tease, too amused with how quickly he seemed to have forgotten he was speaking to someone without the authority he wanted, “Or shall I leave you until His Grace is ready?” He had rejected food and room, so she would not offer again.

She also didn’t think Eno would take long when he heard about a dragon at his disposal.

~***~

Onni was, indeed, tired, but he wouldn’t complain of the walk. Nor would Aislin, who was eager to chat as they walked, sparing him from needing to think of ways to make small talk, or suffer the potentially awkward silence.

“My name is Aislin,” she introduced, “And uh,” she frowned, seeming to think on what was her most favorite thing, “Well, there’s been a lot of things, but mostly we’ve been on boats,” she said, “one to the mainland,” as Onni called it, “and then one here, since no boat from Iona was coming this way,” nor would be for a while, according to Onni. It was rare there was any direct contact. It just wasn’t needed.

“But I saw lots of dolphins swimming along the boat, and I learned some new songs – sailors sing a lot,” and some were very inappropriate, but Onni couldn’t stop her from learning them, anyways. Like what people did with a drunken sailor! That was a fun song. “Oh, and I got to try a lot of fruit when we were on the mainland I never had before! I’m looking forward to the foods here, dad says food everywhere is different because of differences in land, and weather, and other things like that – I don’t really understand it all, but he says it’s important.”

“It is,” he agreed softly, because it was, and so much of that was why they were here.

Which, it seemed, she noticed, “Oh, I guess I shouldn’t eat too much here, since…it’s not good here.” She sounded a little disappointed.

Well, a lot disappointed.

But she forced herself to perk up, “But I’m sure that’ll just make it worth savoring all the more!”

 

[CanaryCry]

Keller, for all his steadfast bluster, at least had the decency to look sheepish when her words prodded at him. He was mildly surprised, at first, when her serious demeanor shifted into something that felt almost predatory, like he’d said something foolish and she'd made some rather interesting discoveries about his intelligence from it. Perhaps he had. Clearly he had been saying those things to the wrong person, after all.

"Ah - Forgive me," he managed, eyes sliding away at what had perhaps been teasing but felt much like being scolded. "I had thought you were sent to negotiate on his behalf. I mean no offense."

He had expected to flounder out of his depth, but perhaps not so very soon. It had been a long time since he'd left the Dragonry on any sort of serious business, after all, and given his tasks were mostly comprised of different kinds of physical labor he had never had to deal with people in such high places before. He shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so quickly, nor expected anything that involved nobility and royalty to come so easily or immediately. He had been warned that the negotiation process could take a while, and shouldn’t have assumed the first person sent to meet him would be the one to decide his fate - really, the Dragonry probably should have sent someone else to speak for him, but they hadn’t the time or the resources.

There was no use dwelling on his failures. He was just going to have to learn quickly.

"Thank you for your advisement." He said with a faint sigh and a shake of his head, resolving to attempt to be more patient, to listen longer before he jumped to any more conclusions. "How long shall I wait for him here? If he is otherwise occupied for the day, it may be better if I were to wait outside."

It would probably make their guards less anxious if he stayed at Jax's side until he was otherwise needed, but beyond that they could make him wait for as long as they wanted to. He had nowhere else to be.

********************​

For a little while, it was easy enough to be quiet, to give Aislin a friendly smile as she talked about their trip and let her speak about what she liked, but it became clear rather quickly that she was not your average child. Malia was sure she could have guessed as much, given a small child able to see into time itself. Still, it was jarring to hear Aislin speak in such a somber tone, and to think ahead on such matters as where her next meal would come from.

It could have been an innocent comment. Malia herself could be looking too deeply into the words of a child because of the mentions of futuresight, because of her own anxieties for the future. But whether Aislin was thinking she shouldn't use up their resources, or that the food grown in the area was unfit for consumption, she was clearly referring to the sickness slowly spreading through the land. They were months and months away from truly running out of supplies for the Dragonry as a whole and the surrounding areas still, but even such simple words twisted the anxiety already curled around Malia's heart. What if they never recovered? What if the Dragonry had to disband and disperse their residents to others around the world? She didn’t want to think about it.

"Don’t worry, Aislin," she said gently after an uncertain, almost stricken pause to gather her wits about her once more, "You will be well cared for while you are visiting us. Maybe you’ll even get to go flying while you’re here. Do you think you would like that?"

It was a cheap bid to distract Aislin from her worries, and perhaps not a suggestion her father appreciated, but he was doing nothing to alleviate either of their worries and so Malia didn't see fit to ask him first. She would take an irritated father's words rather than that of an oracle with only bad news to share.

 

[Lucyfer]

Samale shook her head, still smiling, “My role is not meant to be obvious, so do not take it to heart,” she consoled the poor, too-honest, dragon rider as he spoke of what he thought she had been. “King Eno knows I have not only his interests at heart, but the interests of the world. I can see beyond his scope, and so I see no problem advising his would-be allies in a way that may go against his own short sighted ends.”

Oracle? Well, that was ever the lie, and that was what Keller kept thinking she was, although she’d never said it to him, and already she was debating if she ever would. If he assumed it, that was his own fault, really.

“Most don’t make it past me to see His Grace,” she admitted, because that was true, when what they said, and what they thought, were too far at odds. “You won’t wait long, His Grace has been playing with his map and his figures to determine the next steps. Knowing he has you will change things entirely for him, so he’ll want to calculate that soon.”

She wouldn’t apologize for that. Keller sold himself into it for the betterment of his people, but she would say, “When it comes time to begin to plan your role, you will want to speak to Vel away from His Grace. She is the blonde woman and his bodyguard, but she is also a strong voice in the strategies. If she says no, it will be taken to heart, whereas your word without them knowing you…,” Samale lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

He'd get the point.

“But don’t tell her I mentioned it. She’ll figure it out – but I have a reputation with her, and I’d hate for her to start thinking I’m getting soft.”

Not that she ever would. Vel would just…know that meant she trusted him, and it was really too early for that, no matter how honest he seemed. “If you’ll excuse me,” she inclined her head, before turning and stepping away, to go interrupt the ever-important strategy meeting and let His Grace know what had landed on his doorstep.

It would not be long at all before Keller was advised he would be going to another room – the Throne Room.

~***~

Aislin looked up kindly at Malia as she spoke of how well she’d be treated here, which the young girl did not doubt, despite knowing what was ahead. That was the worst of it, of course – knowing how kind people would still try to be in the face of troubles. Knowing, indeed, that even the little sacrifice of not eating the good things wouldn’t do much at all, because food still spoiled.

So she smiled, and it grew with the promise of something not foreseen – flying! “Oh, really?” her excitement was palpable. “I’ve wondered how that would be, to soar above the waters and lands – it must be amazing!”

Onni could only sigh, and no, he wasn’t happy with it, but he also knew the gambit for what it was. Maybe he’d have to address it later, maybe not. It wasn’t as if he could protect Aislin from everything, nor should he. He saw what that led to, too.

If only he’d seen it sooner.

He was never certain he’d made the right decisions. That was how it worked; he couldn’t really see what all the possibilities were, and what actions led to each one. He could try, and he was working on trying to see if other actions were taken, but usually those weren’t visible until already set in motion.

“Do most dragons fly? Or are there a lot that just walk, or swim? I’ve only really heard of the flying ones,” but now she’d seen a water one, and she was curious about just how many types of dragons there were in the world. “Why do they all stay here? How come there aren’t dragons spread all over, like cats?”

 

[CanaryCry]

Her words were meant to be reassuring, Keller thought, but the smile made it feel as if he were still being mocked or scolded. Still, she did, for some reason, appear to be helping him. He wasn't sure exactly how he was an advantage for her, and knew that he must be or she would have no reason to be assisting him unless it was out of the kindness of her heart. Life at the Dragonry had taught him that such a thing was possible, but being on his own in a land he wasn’t extremely familiar with, and seeing his fate as a tool of war becoming more set in stone, he knew also that he shouldn't get used to the idea of finding helping hands, even if it wouldn’t stop him from extending his own.

"Thank you, Miss Samale," he said simply, inclining his head to her in a very small bow. "I won't forget."

Whatever her stakes were in this place, he would remember this instance of willingness to help him just as much as the words themselves. Keeping himself from expecting any others wouldn't stop him from being grateful if it came.

When Samale was gone, Keller took a moment to pace and get rid of some of the tension of screwing up so soon in preparation for his next meeting, but didn’t have time to truly settle in. That was all well and good to him; it was best to get it all over with at once, in his opinion. Once his future was truly set, he could at least rid himself of uncertainty.

The Throne Room, when he was led to it, contained an expectedly large and opulent seat for the King to judge from, and an expected amount of guards. The guards themselves didn’t worry him - he wasn’t doing anything to threaten anyone present, after all, and had no plans to - but the room itself wasn't something he had ever been near the likes of before. He'd grown up without wealth, living the simple life of hardly more than a peasant, and that hadn’t changed very drastically after coming to the Dragonry given that most of the wages he did earn performing different tasks with his dragon were sent back home rather than kept. What would his father and brother think, he wondered, if they knew he found himself in such a place? If only the circumstances weren’t so unpleasant.

When he was led before the King himself, unaware of what the truly proper customs were, he bowed deeply and respectfully but didn't go so far as to kneel. "Rider Keller Oneri, of the Eastern Dragonry," he introduced, feeling it was proper to do so though he was sure Samale would have passed on his name. "I thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Your Majesty."

No matter how much he had forced his presence onto the castle itself, the man could have turned him away, after all. Despite how he knew the King would be thinking of using him, he could at least show some gratitude and respect to begin.

********************​

It was easier to smile more honestly in the face of Aislin's genuine excitement. There was something about the careful way she approached some things that already had Malia feeling a particular kind of sickness in her gut, not only for the future in general but for such a young girl to have seen what clearly were not pleasant things. Children were not meant to live with such heavy burdens, and no matter what else was happening she would do anything at all to make it easier for Aislin to forget, even for a little while.

"It can’t be scary, at first," Malia said with a kind smile, ignoring the way Onni sighed since he hadn’t verbally objected. "But with the right dragon, and the right rider with you, to soar through the sky is a feeling unlike any other."

Aislin had so many questions, and Malia couldn’t help a soft laugh at her eagerness. It had been a good while since she’d met someone so unfamiliar with dragons, and so excited to learn about them. Most others she met already knew what they wanted to know, or were too nervous around such large creatures to show any interest.

"There are many different kinds of dragons," she answered easily, her attention free to remain on Aislin given how well she knew the route they walked, "with and without wings. Some prefer the ocean, others the ground or caves, others the mountains and skies. Dragons live a long time, don’t lay eggs often, and can have territorial disputes that are violent and dangerous. Long ago, their numbers dwindled so far they almost began to disappear from the world, so Dragonries began to form to help save them. The dragons here are free to come and go as they please, but they are well cared for here and do enjoy the company of humans, and it is easier to be cared for than to fight with us for space and resources. So long as they are content here, they have no need to cause trouble for anyone."

It was the best way she could explain it without delving too far into history, into the reverence that dragons were once treated with by some and how it had begun to fade with time as people forgot how important they were, and at the same time how dangerous. If the dragons weren’t well cared for and happy at the Dragonries of the world, they were much more likely to steal from human-raised livestock unchecked, to attack villages and towns for food or space, or to once again be hunted to near extinction by those who would try to deter them. People tended to forget those things, when all they could pay attention to were the resources needed for such an undertaking as caring for and housing dragons.

"Some dragons like to work with people to get their exercise." Malia added as a familiar motion caught her attention at the edge of her vision, and she turned a bit to point up into the sky where a small dragon with a large wingspan flew very quickly ahead of them towards the Dragonry. "Dragons like the one passing us now works with his rider to deliver messages to and from the Dragonry and other places. His looong wings make him fly very fast, and he can stay in the air for hours and hours without landing. In ideal weather, just a flap or two can keep him soaring for an hour at a time."

She paused for a moment, squinting up at the dragon even as it flew further away. "That one there is Infernus, with his rider, Lily." She turned back to give Aislin an amused little smile. "She calls him 'Fern'. I’ll let you decide if you think that’s a silly name for a dragon or not."

The longer she kept Aislin talking about dragons, the longer she could stall finding out what this visit was truly about. If she tried hard enough, perhaps Onni would be willing to let Aislin go spend time with one of their riders so the adults could talk privately.

 

[Lucyfer]

Samale was there, of course. She stood off to the left of King Eno’s throne, as Vel stood to the right, not that the Dragon Rider was likely to recognize the shapeshifter in the form of a yellow cat as she stared up at him with watchful, green eyes. Samale watched him as well, taking in his impressions of the luxury, which gave away that he had not grown up accustomed to wealth, nor had he learned how to crave it.

A tragedy, or a fortune? It was hard to tell.

He came forward and bowed to Eno, introducing himself, though of course, Eno did know his name. The brown-haired king bore a serious expression as the rider approached and introduced himself, “It’s rare that Samale interrupts me for a guest,” the king noted. “Rise, rise,” he sounded almost tired, and he was, a little. “I am King Eno Luvian, and I welcome you here, Rider Oneri. I have been informed that you wish to negotiate a trade that happens to involve the use of you and your dragon?”

Samale had not given the details.

She left that in the hands of Keller to negotiate now, with what bits of advice she had offered him earlier, to see if he’d go with those, or go otherwise. It was, after all, his choice. The future was ever so malleable.

~***~

Aislin was indeed easily engaged in the conversation about dragons, and learning that there were so many kinds in the world. Cave dragons! She hadn’t even thought of such a thing, but then, there were plenty of things she had yet to think of with regards to dragons, and she was awed to hear what Malia offered, and excited at the thought of flying when her attention was directed up to a passing dragon and rider.

Not that she could really see the rider, but she believed what Malia said without question, about there being one, and the identity of the dragon. ‘Fern’ caused her to spew giggles, because, well, who named a dragon after a plant when they breathed fire? Infernus made sense, but Fern made it…well, not human, but it made it easier to connect with, and think of them as truly good.

Even if they did fight for territory and resources, sometimes.

And spewed fire.

“I like it,” she said, “I’m sure Fern likes it, too,” she grinned widely. “Do you have your own dragon, Malia? Or do you just take care of a whole bunch of them?” this was not something that Aislin knew; she had seen Malia, of course, but she hadn’t seen a static dragon in any of these visions.

Not that she’d seen much of dragons in her visions, or maybe she would have known more about all the types.

Onni was willing enough to let Aislin talk and direct the conversation. While not of a similar mind to Malia, exactly, he knew the burden too well and appreciated any distraction his daughter could have for now, before she worried yet again about food and imposing on others they shouldn’t impose on.

The future was always too close for Aislin, even if it was distant in reality.

 

[CanaryCry]

The cat was an odd touch. Keller glanced at it, wondering idly why it was there and why it sat so calmly, but he had no time to dwell on it. He was here to face a King, and though he knew King Eno was just a man there was still something about being before him that made his heart beat fast in his chest. It wasn’t the man, really, but the idea of someone that could and would decide the path his immediate future took.

No one had forced him to come. He had placed his fate before the King with his own hands, and there was no going back. But he could, at least, have some control over the way he moved forward.

"The Dragonry is facing harder times than expected, Your Majesty." He said, calm despite his racing pulse, standing still and steady. "But our request for aid does not come unaware of the burden that could be placed upon your own resources. I was sent to offer my services as compensation for your assistance."

In the interest of respect, and because her silence made him think he shouldn’t acknowledge her presence too intensely, he had only glanced at Samale as he entered, and though he didn’t look at her again he remembered her words, and acknowledged her logic. He was, perhaps, less thoroughly educated than many of the people he would encounter, and some might even see fit to call him naive, but he was not stupid. Samale hadn't discussed with the King the suggestions she had given to him, and she had withheld that information for a reason. Keller just had to believe that she was truthful in saying she knew the King well, and honest in her offers of guidance.

No going back.

"There is conflict clamoring at your borders," he continued, "The kind that could be shortened or dissuaded by my dragon's size alone, and by his fire. I would not see him unnecessarily endangered, but I offer to you our services in fighting your war to its finish. In exchange, I ask for your aid in the Dragonry's struggle for supplies, and in the investigation of what appears to be an encroaching plague. It has weakened local harvests and thinned herds in worrisome numbers. . . If it is allowed to continue, and the Dragonry is forced to disperse, it may come for your lands next."

The sickness itself, by the reports of the few scouts they could spare to trace it, was spreading slowly but surely. Whether or not it would change direction was uncertain, but Keller was sure enough that if the King knew it was currently moving in the direction of his kingdom he would be forced to help them investigate it. On top of those seemingly selfish notions, Keller recognized also that it could influence the man's decision on just how much aid he could spare between plague and war, but he deserved the truth as all others did. As much as the people and dragons of the Dragonry itself needed supplies, they would not cost the lives of a neighboring kingdom's citizens in order to keep themselves going.

********************​

Malia smiled at Aislin's enthusiasm, amused with her decision about Infernus' nickname, and shook her head at the inevitable questions that followed. "No, no, I haven't met a dragon that tried very hard to bond itself to me yet. I am here to see that any dragons under our care grow to health and remain there. It is good enough for me to see them all healthy and happy."

Truly, she did mean those words, but she knew also that if she allowed any one dragon to get too close it could cause conflict amongst the others who at times sought out, or simply needed, her attention. The bond between human and dragon was something beautiful to see, but she was content to see to their needs and, if need be, see them on their way, never growing too attached.

"Would you like to meet Infernus?" She asked after a pause, thinking perhaps that if Onni was amenable to it she could let Lily watch the little one while they talked. "He is a bit clumsy on the ground, but much smaller than Naydra, and much more friendly. He and Lily have just come back from delivering letters, so I’m sure they would welcome an opportunity to speak to someone and stretch their legs."

Lily was a very young rider at just 19 but just as dedicated as others, and every bit as friendly as her scaley companion. Their bond was strong, and given that without his wings Infernus was about equal to the size of an average horse, it would be a much safer introduction to dragons than with one that was larger and not yet bonded.