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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Epilogue

The last few days had been harrowing to say the least for the dragon Storm. It reminded him all too much of the attack on Eastcliff all too long ago. The burning buildings, the smell of ash on the air, the terrified screams of his people sending shivers down his spine. He'd relished in his victory that night, putting an end to that lich that plagued his thoughts over the many years since their parting.

The once heralded blue dragon that devastated the undead swarm that plagued the land paced before the snow-covered courtyard of his home. He'd duck his head from the many branched oak tree in the dead center, grumbling to himself over how Hadariel hadn't said a word. It was as if the undead creature had his two lips stitched together. He didn't expect the thing to talk, but he'd expected to learn something more from him. Though each time he'd descended to have words with the onyx eyed monster he'd gotten no more than a narrowed stare. One where he struggled to maintain an aura of coolness. Old draconic urges would bubble up under his scales, make his teeth bare as he snarled and even thrash his tail. He'd almost killed him several times, but he always stopped himself. Knowing that if he did, the creature would just be freed to regrow by his phylactery.

The blue dragon thwacked his tail against the worn bark of the tree as another session with the lich came to mind. He eyed the many scratch marks and signs of rubbing wear from younger scales on the bark, already regretting his treatment of something that held his families memories. He stomped some snow instead while he grumbled on the wind. He had to stay calm. Not only for his own game but that of a wyrmling from long ago. How would he get justice for Infinity if he couldn't end this monster?

Play the scales right Storm. Fremra's sing song voice whispered about his mind, easily tugging away the more fiery thoughts_. He will crack like an egg in time. You just have to be there when he does._

He took a calming breath of the wintery air, catching the salty wafting of the sea tickling his nostrils. It made him shiver as he watched the guard's patrolling the wall around his home, listening to the far sounds of people beyond in the city markets. The two gave him a brief wave, smiles apparent on their faces. He fluffed up his wings, glad these were some he could trust. Not like the elven commander from the western fort.

He'd overseen the detective work of Soliana. The pointy haired commander that had let in the lich and his companions without a word to anyone else. Such backstabbing made his scales itch, his throat growl. How he'd wanted to make an example of her. Yet when the Sapphire Guardians had come for her, she had packed up. Disappearing into the night like a specter. Any sign of her cohorts in the guard had also fled, seemingly on that boat that was rumored to have left with the blue gryphon from Lumara. He'd spread the word to ports further north, warning them of such traitors to their people.

So, without options from the guard commander or the lich he was faced with a task that made his blood simmer. Talking to the child Afan that they had found during the night of the construct's attack. He'd been quick to confess his connection to the lich, sobbing amidst the smoking rubble from that night. Apologies running from his lips like water. Ghosts of the past had licked at his mind as he stared into those icy blues, of Infinity and the life that had been robbed from her. Yet here was another soul the lich had taken. A human wyrmling turned into his apprentice. At the time he'd growled, ordering the boy to be locked up in chains and tossed into the nearest dungeon closest to his master.

Blood which had been close to calming flared to life over the boy's tragic sobs. No doubt crocodile tears to catch him off guard. Yet another trick by his master to somehow weasel an advantage of his capture. Snapping his head to the man-made cave of his home he snorted. Eyes narrowing like sharpened swords as he prepared himself for the talk to come. That boy was going to tell him more about his master's plan, where his lair was, and where the fabled phylactery could be found. That way he could smash it and put an end to his terror once and for all. And if the boy didn't, he was going to threaten him until he did.

The blue stormed through the entrance, pinning his wings to his back as the nearby guards draped in chains and furred collars snapped off crisp salutes. He'd returned their gesture with a nod, passing into the lantern lit cavern with a resounding snort. He made his way through the winding stone structure large enough for his passing. A secret home for he and his family to stay away from prying eyes. His talons dragged across the darkened stone as if trying to slice through the long shadows cast by makeshift spears of hardened rock from the floor. He took one split, heading deeper down into the caverns. Away from his pleasing home and memory filled walls of his family. Here they'd constructed a special dungeon. One that had been originally made for those of the red hand. Demon and undead hunting humans, which had unfortunately added dragons onto their list of unholy creatures to be slain. Thankfully though after his engagement with them years ago they had not reared their collective heads, but it never hurt to be prepared.

Especially when this day has come. The day his most hated enemy lay trapped and bound within a magically damped cell. Ensuring the molted skinned wizard could never escape on his own. The clacks of his talons rebounded off the deeper caverns, the air shifting to smell more like dry stone and sharp metal. The air became warmer, finally casting away the chilly winter cold from above. He passed like a shadow along the lantern lit hallways, disregarding a few that broke off with numerous guards. They too nodded to him like a welcomed friend. One with great respect painted on all their faces.

It was they he was proud of. The sapphire guardians he'd selected. Protectors for not only Struport but those of his family. One reward he supposed for ridding the land of undead and taking a stand against those red hand brutes back in Eastcliff. The stones became more well kept the further down he went, signs of his talons having been worked away by the numerous druids and clerics that maintained the cleanliness of the caverns. He'd protested at first, complaining it made the whole place less intimidating, but those in charge had dismissed it as draconic stubbornness. In a way they were not wrong, but then again, he thought everything looked better with a fresh application of scratch and horn marks. Maybe some burn marks from a well-placed fire breath or lightning breath to really drive home that this was a place owned by a dragon. So when his paws finally touched onto the pristine like stone he grumbled a series of curses, shaking his horned head and carrying on and considering it just another measure he was forced to endure.

Thankfully when they'd shared with lord Threllfall just who they had captured the human hadn't made any demands or protests. Even if the man had the power to do so. For while Storm had the respect and gratitude of the numerous denizens of this fair city, he hardly had the power. Though he often mused and chuckled that if he ever wanted to, that most if not all would follow along with him out of loyalty and repayment for his past deeds. Friendships that stretched like mighty roots throughout Drenedar.

“Come to visit the apprentice?" An aburn furred wolven female asked. The dark mahogany leather clad guard regarded the taller blue with a harshness that he wasn't used to. She tapped a grand dark wooden door behind her, looking more like a gate than a human sized door. She held her explosive tipped spear in a near vice like grip, amber eyes as vibrant as a gold coin set to a summer's day.

“That I may be." He rumbled, swishing his tail over the stone. With a cock of his head he regarded the guard with a curious filled look, wondering why he detected trace amounts of dragoness on the air. It was if someone had gone to a good length to disguise a spell. “I would like to get some information out of him." He rose his head, realizing just who the guard really was. “if anyone knows more about him it's going to be that human. Perhaps he will be the final link to putting away that creature for good."

“Need an escort sir?" She tapped the door again with her spear.

“None that I'm aware of. Unless you think an unarmored and depowered wizard will be able to hurt me." He tapped his chest with an amused rumble. He cracked open the mighty door just as those wolven eyes filled with fire. If she was going to sneak in, she was going to have to better then that. “You can remain here….What was your name again?" He snuck his snout down, tilting his head to the side. “I don't believe we've met."

“Elbereth sir." The disguised wolven nodded.

“Ah very well." He wished her well, shutting the door behind him with a push of his armored tail. Though right before it slammed shut, he did get one last quip. “And for the record. Not one of the guards says sir."

“What?" She was cut off by the door's final thud. Making the blue dragon smile smugly to himself. He would certainly get a mawful later. Or maybe his mate would find it funny.

The next room smelled heavily of tacherren leaves. A common pipe smoke in Struport. Laughs of at least three different people warmed the air, calming the blue dragon's paws upon the smoother stone. The walls were adorned in numerous lanterns, bringing lift to the armoires, collars, and shackles that hung from metal rings across the stone. Discarded weapons gleamed in the light, an un-needed measure with their “guest" so bound.

“You think?" Came a female voice, one he'd grown familiar with over the years. One that belonged to Dariries Pegason, a warrior that had departed from the Valkyrie, elite pegasus riders that presided over Drenedar. “I'll tell ya what. Ole Storm's got us covered. When those bag o bones come knocken at our gate he's going ta light them up. Big bada boom, lighting storm. Can't wait to see those damn things light up faster than a forest during dry season. Mark my words, going to be quite the sight." He smirked as the woman's boots thumped on the table. “Read em and weep boys."

He rounded the corner, contemplating the good ole days when he casually did such things. When scores of mortals cheered his name as he heroically swooped overhead. The sound of his thunderbolts signaling the end of many shambling horrors. Old temptations brimmed at his scales, whispering that such days could return he just had to seize them. Yet with his next step, the phantom smell of burning parchment brought him back to reality. The massive dungeon cell made to even hold a dragon the size of he, and the smallish child huddled by a cot just large enough to hold him.

“Well look who it is!" His warrior women friend smiled, brushing back her braided ink like hair from her ebony face. White teeth on full display as she scooped up a pile of numerous silver and copper coins to her side of the rounded table that she and two others were seated around. “You just caught us at a good time!" She tapped the table, brushing off her thumb against her dark azure tunic stitched with grey. “Care for a round of cards? I'll hold the cards for ya!"

“Not time for it." He replied flatly, trying to convey his seriousness. She knew he never stuck around for such games, but it at least warmed him she always offered. Though by the look her defeated fellow guards it looked like they desperately wanted someone else to lose to the confident warrior woman. “I'm here to question…the apprentice."

“Oh, the boy?" She thumbed to Afan. The child having scooched up to the far stone wall, right next to his single cot with off-white sheets. His robes had been stripped from him, the teen clad in nothing more than tattered rags. “You'd think for an apprentice to such a damnable creature he'd be made of tougher stuff! All he's done is gone about mewing like a baby, apologizing for bringing the metal dragon here."

“Perhaps it is another trick." He padded to the cage, staring daggers to the boy. He relished how the color drained from his face the moment their eyes met.

Good. You and your master should be worried. He pulled his head back as a tiny red dragon peeked its head over the child's shoulder. The thing's head cocked, giving out a confused meep.

“What's he doing with the familiar?" Storm swung his head around, lowering it to the table bound guards. “I thought we put that thing in a box?"

“We did!" Dariries gestured to a small wooden box, one complete with dull iron bars. “Damned thing kept slipping out somehow. No matter how small we made the bars it always got out!"

“So, it evidently is more magic then we thought." He grumbled, eyeing the small scaled beast now circling the boy's bed. He snorted harshly as it settled down, mimicking him with a swish of its tail. When they'd found the thing, the dwarf named Merlia had tried to get it to come to her. Reaching out her hands, nearly crying at the sight of it. Yet when she got closer the little creature known as Ulga or Celes, Storm wasn't too sure, had reared up and hissed. Threatening the red haired female like she was an imposing threat.

“But it's me!" The ranger had cried, practically begging the small creature to come back to her. Yet despite her words or promises the dragon had remained with the boy. Even when they dragged him away to be locked in the dungeons. “But that's me ulga!" The dwarf had chastised their decision, but Storm had been firm. Telling the dwarf she could get the dragon back after they were done. Her eyes had brimmed with anger, but the larger dragon had held firm, letting her glare bounce off him.

“So, what has he been doing?"

“Nothin much actually." Dariries wandered over, crossing her arms against her chest. Her thick leather boots sounding more like a horse's hoofs. “Just staring off into nothin when he isn't crying. You think it's a trick?" Her head tilted, brow raising as she gave Storm a queer look. “Cause, your theory seems off friend. To me it sounds like he's just a scared child."

The great dragon shook his form with several clinks, setting his sights on the captured apprentice. Within the diminutive human's fingers was something black. He was mumbling something to himself so faint that the blue couldn't make it out. For a fraction of a moment he thought the child still had his spell book and that he was somehow preparing spells within the magic damped cell. “What's he got in there? Some sort of scrap of cloth?"

“Dragon scale he had on him. Figured it wasn't a problem to let him have it." She rolled her eyes when the dragon gave her a hardened look and swish of his tail. “And don't give me that look. We had a mage come down and check it for magic. Thing's cleaner than the stones of this place."

Interesting. Why would he have a scale on him? Remains of some other dragon that his master had injured? Like he was set to flame his blood began to warm. Or worse yet, was it from Infinity and the wizard kept it as some grisely memento. “Then open the cell." He snarled, enjoying how the child scurried to his bed like a frightened rodent. “It's about time I shared a few words with him."

“Come on boy." Dariries hissed, looking to the boy like a troublesome mold. “Stand tall. Storm wants to have a few words from ya."The door opened with a creek that seemed to silence everything else in the room.

“Indeed." He growled, surging into the cell and raising his head to glare down. The boy shuttered, clutching tight the scale in his hands. Did he think he was going to kill him? He watched as trembling eyes traveled all the way to his tail, taking in the full scope of the towering drake before him.

“What's the matter child? Not been face to face with a dragon your master has hurt before? Or has he only kept to hurting wrymlings since our last meeting?"

The boy didn't reply. His tongue seemingly glued tight to the roof of his mouth. When Storm dragged his talons against the stone the boy nearly leapt up from his cot with a terrified shriek. “No sir I haven't!" His palms flew outward, as if trying to shield himself from Storm's ire. “Its just you're so big!"

“Do you know who I am? Did you master sneer my name to you?" He took another step, his paw making the boy tremble ever further.

“S-storm…the dragon Storm." Afan looked away.

“Precisely." The dragon disregarded the next warry glance. Those eyes large and filled with such fear. It almost gave him pause. Disarming his stern tone. He told himself it was another trick, keeping the boy in his hardened gaze. When the child whimpered, he put that to an end with a snort. “I didn't come to listen to your pathetic cries. What I came to learn was more about you and your master." He settled onto his haunches, rising his serpentine neck to glare down at the cowering human. “So, what's your name boy."

“Afan." He replied meekishly, looking down at the blue's powerful paws.

“Wrong." He snarled like thunder, snaking his head down to snap loudly at the air. “Do you think me a fool child?" He twitched and Afan scampered to the corner like he was going to be hurt. Flinching at the mere tilt of his horned head. “I had the clerics question you beforehand. A mere spell determined that was a lie you crafted. Poorly." He glanced the boy up and down from head to boots, letting him soak in the imposing form before him. “If you don't want to spend the rest of your days in a cage, you're going to tell me what your real name is."

“What's the difference." He sighed, looking down with a defeated sob. “It doesn't matter. One is cell is as good as another."

“Are you thinking this is a game?" His snort of air ruffled the child's hair. “I mean what I said boy. Your master's days are numbered!"

“Are they really? He always wins."

“Not this time boy!" He nearly roared as warmed blood boiled. Several glances from the guards nearby gave the blue pause, forcing him to compose himself. Yet the worst of it was the gaping of a wolven maw, his daughter in disguise stomping in with her paws on her waist.

“Is that really necessary Storm? To talk to a child like that?"

“Lose the disguise daughter." He snapped to the wolven with a grumble. “You did a poor job of it. I would have thought the nights we spent practicing would have improved it."

“You never said the apprentice was a child!" With a poof of purple smoke, a teal dragoness sprouted from the thickened cloud. Her silver eyes were a mirror his own. Narrowed, and hardened like steel. Even though she was much smaller than he, he could feel their weight being laid upon him. Gone was the curious daughter, replaced with his own burning blood given new form.

“I don't need to discuss what we have down here to question. This is the lich's apprentice. I don't care if it was a cute bunny. I will get answers out of him." He gestured to the cowering boy, whimpering as the two dragons snarled at each other in draconic.

“And with answers like that you wonder why I'm so curious!" She stomped over, nearly pushing Dariries with her bulk. “The apprentice is a mere child." Her snout bumped against his own, not even scared of his silver fire. “I would have thought he was older, darker, a full-fledged wizard. What you have here is a human wyrmling!"

“One that calls our foe master daughter. Can you imagine what dark magics lurk within that head of his? It's another trick, I can bet my scales on it."

“Hmmph. Then you're going to be losing that bet." She tossed him another disregarding look, sliding around him to gesture to the scared boy with a wing. “You speak as if it was, he injured you. And you have him terrified. You think you're going to get answers from him like that? What happened to my father? The kind one from the stories?"

“Don't you start with me." He growled. “Not when dealing with him."

“Does his wounds cut so deep that you don't resemble the Storm from your own story?" She laughed mockingly. “Cause you're not going to anything with all that bluster.Remember the last time you encountered a scared child? One that was surrounded by death and the broken frames of his people?"

Really? She was going to speak to him of Jandar? The human he had practically raised and eventually through a complicated story got reborn as his own wyrmling? He was about to raise his voice further, chastise his daughter, shout some more about the lich, but he glanced at Afan. In one instance those eyes finally got to him, cracking his steel like resolve. With a tentative breath the blue drake suddenly chilled. The heat within his heart wavered, and he didn't see the face of the lich looking at him. He saw the child whimpering on the bed, surrounded by scattered wood and dead corpses of other humans.

Just like Jandar.

“You know what I see in there?"

“What?" He sighed, glancing away from her more confident stare.

“A lost and lonely boy. That has nothing left in this world. You speak of the horrible things that lich did to a wyrmling, but what to him?" She thrust a wing talon at the still silent boy. “Far as I know undead can't reproduce. So, he probably stole him from some village, hamlet. Forced to learn magic and then sat down and roared at!" Her paw poked at his chest like a heavily swung mace, ending her rant with a resounding snort that sounded all too much like his own. Could it be any more apparent that she was his daughter right now? Her eyes were like an unruly sea of silver, driving her point deeply into his scales. Those eyes that had convinced him to stay up late practicing spells or showing some magic that her mother might not have approved of. Now they worked against him, dragging down what stubbornness remained. “I'm right aren't I? She pulled her head back, smirking as he didn't reply.

He looked away with a snort, weighing the words in his mind. Perhaps taking a more softer approach would get him what he wanted.

“I am!" She laughed, frills fluttering in and out. “You're doing the snout look away thing!"

“No." He grumbled, pushing her aside and returning his attention to the boy. Whom was watching away at what must have been fairly confusing for him. The air filled with snarls and hisses, unsure of what his captors were sharing. “I am not."

“And now you're denying it. You could at least try something I've not seen hundreds of times."

“I'm an old dragon." He snapped back at her, only making her smirk ever bigger.

“No you're not! You're hardly in your five hundreds!"

“Well maybe you should forget the ones I do. Would make things more surprising for you." He pushed her playful snout away, ignoring how several of the guards exchanged coin. Clearly, they had been betting on something about the pair. “And for your information I am going to try a softer approach, but not because you gave me those big wyrmling eyes."

She warbled, nearly bouncing on her paws. “Sure." She laid down on her belly, fluffing up her wings as she continued to snicker. “Don't worry little one." She shifted to the common tongue. “I yelled at him. Grumpy dragon is going to be nice now. Or I'm going to bite him." She showed off her teeth, not comforting the boy in the slightest.

“Years of dragon intimidation falls out of balance." He cut her off with an extended wing. “But." He sighed, trying to maintain a level of care so that the boy would stop his shivering. He apologized for his gruff attitude. “That lich has injured me and my family most grievously over the years. I should not treat you with the same ire until you do the same." He lowered his head, giving the little boy a slight bow.

“Axton." The child's voice came as a whisper, his shield of arms falling to his side.

Now they were making progress! He glanced back to his daughter, cursing that grin she now bore.

“See father?" She even got closer, scooching ever closer so that she was a mere hand length away from the courage growing teen. “Nice to meet you Axton. You may call me Achaaz. And he didn't think this was going to work."

“Enough." He silenced her cackling with a whip of his tail. “Axton. What were you to him?"

“His apprentice. But what did he do to you?"

Well that surprised him. Straight to the point, eyes traveling over his snout and filled with concerned curiosity. “Huh?" He cocked his head out of habit, still mesmerized by the boy's caring nature.

So, Axton repeated himself, holding his head higher as he straightened his back. “He has a habit of inflicting pain to others with his schemes."

“The lich slew my friends." Storm's heart sunk as that night came to mind. Dark sky, flashes of magic, and the pained cry of his friends. All that remained of them was their offspring. One he'd done his hardest to protect. Even now he could remember the racing of his heart, the chill about his blood. The uncertainty if he was going to survive where the others had failed. “I tried my best, but the lich bested me then. Left me on the ground and ripped the wyrmling from my grasp."

The boy's face grew sour, like he wasn't all too surprised. He folded his hands in his lap, looking at his feet. “He has never been kind to dragons." His voice got quieter as he fished out a black scale, holding and staring at the dull leathery surface.

“Who did that scale belong to?" Storm replied just as softly, “Was that a treasure he gave you? Memento of what he did to her?"

“She was a dragon…A black one with star like wings. Scars all over her grey underscales and bright green eyes. She adopted me inside his tower, said that she was to be my mother. Helped make the rigorous training and scary days less so." He glanced up, strength rapidly draining from his form. “We tried to escape…"

When his lip quivered his daughter pushed her snout to his palms with a soft whine. She'd always been more caring like her mother. He let the child start to cry, best to get what pain he had out. He watched in reserved silence as Axton cried thick tears, grasping hands rubbing at teal scales. When her snout pushed further those arms wrapped around her head, burying his head into her forehead.

The blue stared intently at the scale, a crazy idea coming to mind that he dare not give voice to. He had always thought her killed, but this boy spoke of a dragoness. One that matched her description perfectly. Could it possibly be? Did the lich not kill her like he thought? His heart swelled, nearly throbbing within his chest. Pounding ever harder against his ribs. “Child." He spoke softly his voice almost begging to crack, nudging at him to cease his crying. “The scale….you're adoptive mother? What was her name?"

“Do you give dragons titles or names?"

“Do you have her name?"

The boy nodded.

“Then that. Please.." He could feel his own eyes wavering, hoping his concern was shining through. “Tell me."

“Infinity."

Time froze as euphoric sensations exploded across his scales. Like night had been cast away a bright blazing sun had suddenly filled the every dark corner. She was alive! With an ever-weakening heart the blue begged him to tell him more about her, his paws starting to tremble. When he spoke of learning magic, eating chocolate and rolling in the grass, and even flying. The blue dragon nearly trilled at the luck. Even the story about the Emerald Lady's involvement could not bring a shadow to this joyous news. They spent a great deal of time trading stories of their time with her. With each one he could sing to the heavens.

“Shes alive!" He nosed at his daughter, nearly bouncing on his paw. “By the gods she's alive!" Tears had started to fall down his cerulean scales, even bringing that teal snout down in amazement. “And Axton." He snapped to him. “Where is she now? You said you didn't escape, but what of her?"

The boy's good cheer suddenly died, like a candle put out by a strong breeze. “She died." He whispered. “The lich killed her during our escape. Right after he killed me, and I reformed in some sort of pool."

“Bull shite." He scoffed, dismissing the whole idea to the boy's surprise. “After all this time of keeping her? He just up and kills her?" Maybe it was the joyous news, but he was being rather optimistic. “I'd bet on ever scale on my tail she's alive. I think the bag of bones lied to keep you complacent."

“Father?" Achaaz's tone was more reserved. Perhaps she thought it best to reign in their hopes. But to hell with her. He was in too good of a mood.

“Each and every scale." He wiggled his tail for good measure, not caring when two of the guards snickered behind him.

“You….think?" Axton stuttered, fresh tears welling in his eyes. “I'd thought that…but.." His head hung. “He always wins. Whenever you think he's bested he always has a trick up his sleeve."

Storm nudged at the boy's face, pulling it up as he rumbled. “Not when I'm around. He lays bound and shackled within my dungeon within a magical dampened cell and restraining collar around his neck." He gave the boy a big grin, the white lines that separated his blue scales humming to life.

“Now you can tell he's really happy." Achaaz laughed away with a warm trill. “His lights are on!"

“And I have every reason to be!" He rose up, almost prancing around like a drake who'd just been allowed to court a female. “I have that bastard below shackled, and I just found out Infinity is alive!" But when the boy didn't look as happy, he snaked his head down, taking on the tone of a caring father. “You can't let him get into your head child. He's lost. You're free. He will never trouble you again." He moved his snout closer, trying best to imitate the words of his mate. She had always been the better one at dealing with the younger ones. “You have my word."

“You think?" Axton's voice cracked, “But-“ Achaaz silenced him with a nudge from her snout.

“No butts."

“Need I have the guards expel you daughter? I'm trying to be all wise and draconic like."

“While being that light blue?" The dragoness giggled, pointing to the varying shades over his snout. “I think you like listening to yourself talk." She nudged Axton with her nose, “He does do that."

And like every other time though he warned her of testing his patience she smiled, even wiggling her tail like she was a wyrmling. Something she knew he always found cuter than anything he'd ever seen. Then Axton began to cry again, this time the dragon was sure was of relief and happiness. Hope restored when none remained. Storm had checked in with the guards, discussing what was to happen to the boy in the meantime. There were several places he could visit, orphanages. When asked Axton admitted to coming from a far village in Lumara, with no one else in his family. Just as he was discussing about Stormbeard helping to care for the boy Achaaz interjected.

“Father? He should stay with us."

That hadn't occurred to him. He padded over, already trying to come up with the reasons why they couldn't. It was too soon, they'd have to discuss it. “You're mother-“

“Would love it." Her smile was filled with confidence that she knew where this was going to go. Like she was a ship's captain and he the wheel to simply turn. “Long ago you told me a story about my dear brother. One that was lost and had no one at the time. And what did that noble and heroic blue do in that story?"

He sighed with a slight grumble as she battered his resolve with more tales from that time. Where good cheer and happiness abounded. If it was from her words, her wiggling tail, or the good news from before he caved into her demands. He just hoped that Fremra would understand such a choice.

“Just for one night." He said sternly, cutting short his daughter's victorious rumbles. “Then we can discuss more permanent lodgings. A dragon's cave is no place to raise a growing human. Certainly, it isn't anyway." His snout wrinkled, listing off reasons he wasn't too sure about. Like of belongings, a bed, something about arranging schooling. But his daughter scoffed and countered each one.

“Why not learn from Storm? Thought he was supposed to be great."

“I said one night." He pushed past her snout, affixing Axton within his eyes. The boy was wiping tears from his eyes, cheeks all red. “If it's alight with you."

Hands sprung out like lightning, a surprised meep escaping his maw as the smaller arms tried to wrap around his snout. The boy could hardly do it, but it was nice to feel finger's squeeze at the edge of his jaw. Thanks, were whispered as the boy trembled, practically letting out all the stress and fear that had consumed him. As Achaaz listed off getting him better clothes and a well cooked meal, the blue's tail swished on it's own accord. His eyes closed softly as a contented purr began to work its way up his throat. Once more he was reminded of a little one's hands from long ago.

“It will be okay little one." He replied softly. “We will find her again. I promise." With another heartfelt thanks he wasn't so sure that he could keep his promise to a single night. His draconic chest swelled with such warmth and care it nearly burst. He'd gone into the cell to interrogate an apprentice, and it looked like he'd gained a permanent visitor to his home. He chuckled at the snickering and amused ramblings he was going to be subjected to from his daughter and mate. That he couldn't resist a small human's saddened tale. Though with each faded sniff of the boy the blue dragon found he didn't care.

* * * * * * * * * *

And so ends Darkened skies. I hope that you guys had a good time reading all the way through this tale, even if it had some rough parts to get through! I am planning on finishing up the bonus material for the second book that I've been working on.