My feet moved forward slowly, carefully. I wasn’t normally a fan of falling, but I was even less of a one now, considering my condition.
It had been about two days since Gael had declared he was going to have be added to his people once more, and I was running out of time to drink Dwyllverys’ medicine. But I couldn’t very well put it down the hatch when I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.
Whatever was growing inside of me was a rare, almost extinct species. Not only that, it was part of a friend that I cared very deeply about. Then again, it could be a mutant, doomed to a short and painful life, and not to mention that chances of me dying in childbirth were pretty high, considering the time period I was in.
My mind constantly chased itself around in these same circles, and I was not appeased as we approached the new Court of Champions.
It was not nearly as ornate or ancient as the previous one, and it was also clear that no one had used it in many a year, but it housed the men just fine.
It was good to see the Queen again, dressed in her normal finery and her white hair glistening like an angelic beacon.
“Welcome, my children.” She intoned, as regal as ever. Maybe, when I grew up, I could be like her. “We gather for the first time in our new stronghold under request of Prince Gael.”
He was dressed in full regalia, in brilliant colors of silver, purple and blue. He looked like something out of a priceless painting, and I barely remembered to stifle a dreamy sigh in time. “My brothers and sisters,” he began, voice a commanding boom that sent thrills through me. “I have come today to ask you a question that I have before. Many of you agreed with me previously, but many of you did not.
Much has changed in the time since, and I believe Lady Mercedes of the Shimmering Ilse has proven herself many times over and of being worthy of our name, and of our blood!
How many times has she saved all of us as a people? Between sacrificing for us to collapse the tunnel of our capital and buying us enough time to escape to freedom since we were too busy squabbling amongst ourselves, to withstanding the tortures of the twisted human royalty, she has risked life and limb for a people who have repaid her with nothing but distrust, and even outright sabotage. Even I am only standing here today because this amazing, gracious woman was willing to give up her freedom for me.
“And so, I ask once more that we adopt her into our fold with all the glory and recognition her name deserves.”
For once there was no immediate shouts of disapproval, no men jumping to their feet in disagreement. Instead, there were quiet murmurs, discussions, questions, and of course, all eyes on the Queen.
“I agree, my Prince,” The Queen said slowly. “I cannot thank the Seer of the Shimmering Ilse enough. My entire people are indebted to you. However-”
“However!” Gael interrupted, surprising me and most likely everyone else present. “How can there be any more ‘however’s?! What else can she possibly do-”
The Queen held up a slender, black taloned finger and this time my golden companion was wise enough to cut himself off. “However,” she continued patiently. “There is one thing I request of you.
“It is not a trial, or a test, or anything else that would be presumptuous enough to think it could deem you worthy. Instead, I ask that you commune with the spirit of this mountain, and the great dragon that lies within it.”
Another shocked murmur went through the court, and I looked carefully at the faces surrounding me. No one seemed upset, or appalled. Just… confused. Every visage I glanced at seemed utterly baffled.
“I do not understand.”
“Of course not, you are not from here. And yet, I think perhaps that might not matter.” She extended her hand, and I look it, her large fingers able to wrap around my palm three times over. “And you have every right to say no, but I have a feeling that you will not begrudge me this last favor.”
“Your feelings are usually right.” I answered in a small voice, still awed by how large and powerful her form was.
“Perhaps. But as I am sure one of my children has explained, we did not hollow out these mountains ourselves. It is the spirits of the land that allowed us our refuge in this strange continent.
It is said that once the great spirits of our ancestors also found a haven here, among the rocks and caves, but we have not been able to speak with them since long before even I was born. Call it a foolish dream, but I was hoping that perhaps, in the heart of our kingdom among the most sacred of stones, you might be able to commune with what was lost to us.”
Wow. That seemed like an awful lot of responsibility. “What makes you believe that a human would be able to do what your own people cannot?”
She smiled sweetly, her ageless eyes crinkling at the corners. “Because of all my children, in all my years, you are the most dragon-like that I have ever had the honor of meeting. If there is anyone who can commune with the old spirits, it is the Seer who walks on dreams and risks everything to save a people who dishonor her.”
I couldn’t help the color that went to my cheeks. Compliments from a Queen were something to be treasured, after all. But I still said nothing for several moments, churning over her request in my mind. I was going to say yes, there was no way I could ever refuse such a simple yet important favor, but I felt like the request carried far too much weight to agree to so flippantly.
Once I felt like the appropriate time had passed to appear reverent, I nodded dutifully. “Whatever you may wish, your Majesty, I will ensure that is it done.”
Another murmur of relief rippled through the court and the Queen sat back, looking quite content. “Thank you, my daughter. Tomorrow, the moon shall be at its fullest, and I will take you to our holiest of places within this city. The day after, when you have been bathed in the silver light of the night sky, and blessed by the spirits that guide us, we shall have the celebration of your day of birth.
For you, Lady Mercedes of the Shimmering Ilse, will be a dragon.” I heard cries of triumph from my few allies, and a polite clapping from those who were less aligned with the idea. “I shall come for you on the morrow. For now, rest well.
If none of my children have nothing else to ask of me, I shall continue our work on reparations to the humans we enslaved.” Her eyes had a spark to them as she said that, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I was pretty sure the Queen was being passive aggressive.
But I didn’t have much time to be amused by the tactic, as I was being swept up in Gael’s strong arms and whirled around. He was all laughter and jubilation, and I found myself laughing too. His joy was downright infectious!
By the time he set me down, and others began to line up to shake my hand, bow, or clap my back, most of the Court had gone. And when I was finally alone with just Gael, Dwyllverys and Jayne, I let out a huge sigh of relief.
“So, all this time, it was just that easy, ey?”
“It was just that easy,” the Prince answered. “You can see now why it enraged me that nay-sayers were giving so much trouble.”
“Yeah. Well I guess I really put their racism into perspective.”
“Their what?”
“Nothing.” I let out a whoop and just let myself enjoy the moment. “Alright, it’s my last night as a human! We should do something exciting.”
“Like what?” Jayne asked, grinning jovially.
“Well, first of all you should invite Carva.”
“Why would I do that?”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Because she’s one of my only human friends and otherwise the ratio is too skewed in your favor.”
He shrugged, as affable as ever. “I’ll pretend that makes sense.”
“Good. So, we’re going to need a room, a table, and a whole lot of food.”
*
I let my fingers dance down the gossamer ribbons binding my bodice closed. My night had passed quite merrily, and I had slept through most of the day. It was hard to believe that after so much fighting, and someone collapsing an entire temple on me, that I was about to be accepted as one of the great shapeshifters.
Gael had spared no efforts in making sure I was “ready” in his opinion. Somehow, he bullied the tailor to show up at the crack of glowstone-dawn, her helpers laden with two large chests. From there it was Dwyllverys who brushed my hair with approximately a million strokes while the seamstress and her helpers whirled around me in a textile frenzy.
The effort was certainly worthwhile, however. The creation I was in was a pale, iridescent coral with several shimmering layers that caught the light just enough to sparkle like the night sky. The sleeves were long, with little details stitched all along the accent pieces, and I was fitted with dainty golden slippers.
“Are you sure you are ready?” Gael asked, murmured, coming up from behind me to wrap his arms around my middle.
“Even if I’m not, the Queen is on her way here with, um…whoever it is she’s bringing. Does she have an entourage or something?”
“I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean.”
I waved my hand. “It’s not important.”
He slowly turned me around and held me gently to his frame. “Nothing about you is ever unimportant.”
“Careful, you’re going to inflate my ego.” I tapped my finger against his lips. “And this is a very serious night that I have to have a very serious face. Stop trying to butter me up.”
“Can you begrudge me wanting to see you smile as often as possible?”
“No, but I can begrudge how cheesy you’re being right now.”
“Young love, it as beautiful as it is ephemeral.”
We both jolted and turned to see the Queen approaching, her stride graceful as she walked alone.
“Your Majesty.” I yelped, completely breaking the magical moment. “You’re here. Alone. Um, should you be traveling alone?”
“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?” She laughed quietly.
“I dunno, like assassination or something?”
“There is less than a hundred of my people in existence. I do not think any of us would be willing to end the life of another, no matter how badly they wanted to rule. Also, I don’t think any of my children actually want to rule.” Her plush lips curled into a soft smile. “Are you ready, my daughter?”
“Sure. Nothing like a midnight seance with ancient spirits that no one has had contact with in a few millennia to get the blood pumping.”
“It is best to remain calm when contacting the spirits that once resided here.”
“Yes, of course. That makes sense.”
I was blushing as I tried to recover, but the Queen just seemed endlessly amused by my flustered demeanor. “Come,” she said, offering her hand to me once more. “We have an incredibly journey ahead of us.”
I took her extended limb, and this time I didn’t gawk like a child as her long, claw-tipped fingers completely encompassed the entirety of my hand. “Oh, is it a far walk?”
“Physically, no. But potentially in other ways.”
Great. It seemed I had entered that point of mysticism where the dialogue suddenly turned all cryptic. I hated that part.
“Worry not. I know the path well.”
“Well that’s a relief.” I somehow managed to keep about ninety percent of my sarcasm out of my voice and kept up alongside the elegant royal. She was so tall, with such long legs, that I almost had to jog to keep up with her.
If she noticed the extra effort I was putting into my stride, she said nothing, but continued her gentle explanation of how the dragons came to be and what the mountain once was like hundreds of years ago.
Apparently, the Queen was born in this smaller haven, only moving to the capital that I had become so familiar with when she was a mere fifty years old. She told me several stories about her childhood that seemed so impossible to imagine, considering the grand, elegant creature that she was now.
It was only in my peripheral vision that I noticed we were traveling not through the stone carved cityscape that I was used to, but instead a cavern that was growing more and more cave like in structure.
“Where are we?” I murmured, my voice echoing off the slick walls and dark spaces. “I don’t think we’ve been here before.”
“Because you haven’t. This is my palace.”
“Your palace?” I echoed. “Shouldn’t it be more, uh… building-y?”
“Perhaps, but I find myself more at home among the natural formation of our homes rather than the carefully sculpted architecture made for our two-legged forms. Unlike most of my children, I am more comfortable with my wings and scales, and I prefer a space that will allow me to accommodate that body.”
“Well, homes are supposed to be comfy, I suppose. Is there a reason why you prefer your dragon shape and younger shapeshifters don’t?”
“Perhaps it is the natural progression of our species. Perhaps we have lost some of what makes us, us. These are questions I often find myself pondering, but I have yet to find an answer.”
“Now you’re beginning to sound like me.”
“Or perhaps you have sounded like me all along.” Her slender fingers squeezed mine gently. “Sign of a good ruler.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. Once, quite long ago, my grandfather taught me of a woman who came to our lands. Her hair was as dark as a raven and her skin not unlike artfully tanned hide. She was not of this world, although she tried her hardest to appear to be.
“She said she was just seeing her handy work, making sure that things were following their own path to balance. She was quite upset when she learned of our recent losses and the increasing threat of the human royals. Something about this was not the journey we were supposed to be on.” Her lavender eyes slowly slid to me, and I saw curiosity settled there. “Was that you, Lady Mercedes?”
“Nope! Definitely not.” Her face seemed to become crestfallen and the next thing I knew, I was blurting something out before I could think about it. “But I think it might have been my grandmother.”
Her face brightened at that and she seemed intrigued. “Your grandmother, really? That is an interesting development. So, where do you come from then? I’m guessing not the Shimmering Isle.”
“No, not quite. It’s hard to explain but it’s someplace… different. Very different. There’s no magic there -- that we know of. Or mystical creatures. Just us humans and some animals.”
“That is difficult to comprehend.”
“I know what you mean. When I first was dropped here, I was sure that I was in some sort of drug-trip acid dream.”
“Perhaps you are.”
I jolted at that and gave the Queen and incredulous look. She simply just giggled, and I realized that she was messing with me. How strange. It weirded me out that she had a sense of humor. It was easier just to picture her as this mystical, ethereal ruler than someone more like… me.
“But dream or no, we are here.”
My attention returned to our surroundings, and I realized the dark, dripping walls of the cavern had suddenly disappeared, leaving a huge, open space full of all sorts of luminescent foliage.
My mouth dropped open as I took in the beautiful sight. A thick, luscious, grass like plant covered the uneven ground, spreading wall to wall in a gently glowing sprawl of light green. Trees, with dangling tendrils of gradient blue, dotted the opening, reflecting ethereally on the surface of the crystalline pool in the center of the arrangement.
“What is this place?” I murmured breathlessly, afraid my voice would somehow disrupt the clearly enchanted area and send it all crumbling into dust.
“Our holy place. This is where our ancestors once communed with the spirits that inhabited here.”
“It’s beautiful.”
The Queen smiled softly, the fungus and other organisms reflecting in her gaze. I had never seen her so relaxed, so unguarded. “It is, isn’t it? Most consider the Dragonfire temple to be the preferable place of worship. But to me, this has always been the place where I feel closest to what we once were.”
“I can understand why.” I took one last awe-struck look at the sprawling majesty before focusing. “So, what do we do now? Do I sacrifice a virgin? Offer my blood?”
“…what kind of world do you come from?”
I blushed. “It’s complicated.”
“I see.” She began to walk forward, and I followed after her. “Come to the pool with me.”
Like I had a choice, with my hand so solidly wrapped in hers. Granted, I knew she would let go and take me back home should I refuse whatever Hocus Pocus that was about to go down, but my curiosity and wonder were raging way too full-throttle for me not to see this through.
I felt a bit like a child being led to the water to go feed some ducks, but instead of cute, paddling birds waiting for us at the edge of the natural pool, there was just our own reflections.
“How do you feel about getting wet?”
“Is that what I have to do here?”
She nodded. “These are said to be tears of the mountain itself, not given in sorrow, but in joy of life. If there is anywhere you can commune with the great spirits, this would be it.”
“So, what do I do, just dive in or something?’
“No, not quite. Just wade in, see what your body tells you to do.”
That was decidedly vague, but I figured I would just float around for a bit. I doubted somewhat that anything was going to happen. As the Queen herself had said, there had been no contact with the entities that used to live here in centuries. Even Perin seemed to infer that the great spirits were no more, due to his machinations. I mean, I certainly wanted something to happen, because that meant there might be some power, some resource we could call upon that might wrest us further away from extinction, but the practical side of me was definitely advising to keep my hopes at a minimum.
And so, reverently, I slowly walked into the water.