Jewel of the Hoard

Three days passed and the blizzard finally stopped. The three went through ten of the twenty crystals available and used them carefully. Mostly, they were used for food and water. Aries continued to practice his spellwork along with Cadmus’ supervision while Giscela scouted around the cave system and used her skills in order to track any unexpected patrol movements.

When everyone was back at the cave, they would have a meal together. Aries would share stories of his time training, Giscela of being shown off at balls by the King, and Cadmus would speak of his time patrolling the halls of his grand palace. Both Giscela and Aries would stop whatever stories in order to put their full attention into Cadmus’ grand telling. He would speak of the most luxurious dances, the mages decorating the environment in colors that would stimulate the eyes and use pyrotechnics that would boggle philosophers. Riches and opulence fueled by magic. It would be incredible and so hard to describe that Cadmus had to stop himself in order to phrase just what he was trying to say.

Cinere sounded so wonderful. Like a paradise cut straight out of a fairy tail and Aries wanted nothing more than to visit. However, there was always a darkness to the stories. Cadmus would sometimes have to stop himself, the pain of the happy times cut with the fact that the once nobleman would not return unless it was with a sword in hand.

A month passed. Aries was wondering if anyone would even show up. Villagers were beginning to come up to the cave and drop off supplies. They no longer had to use crystals to eat and survive. Cadmus would sometimes have to leave the safety of the cave and would give an explanation of what he was doing. Usually it was something along the lines of defending farmland from actual beasts. Wolves, coyotes, and bears would much rather find animals that were not defended by a seven foot tall dragon.

When he returned, he usually had something in hand and shared it with either of them. Aries found it endearing. They truly were becoming a weird, dysfunctional family and Aries found himself spending time around where Cadmus was. Partial curiosity and enjoying his company but he always walked around the cave smiling after his conversations with Cadmus.

Aries sat in the living room, his legs crossed comfortably. His body was maintained, the muscle he developed still strong since he did exercises in the cave. Generally, he did them before a bath. Cadmus would watch with interest as Aries did push-ups, planks, and squats.

The dragon took extra attention in watching the muscles flex and move and how sweat collected on the skin. It humored him that Aries cared about his body well enough. Cadmus figured that he would work out when the need struck him. After all, he did live for thousands of years. He had plenty of time while time was a constant on Aries’ mind.

Sword in his belt and in leathers, Aries was ready for a fight. He had been ready ever since the blizzard started to clear. He only took off his sword and clothes when he needed to bathe but the rest of time, he wore them. Even when he fell asleep, his sword would be at his side. He had to be alert.

Cadmus was off running errands since it was midday leaving Aries alone at the cave and Giscela was scouting. Perhaps they thought the dragon was too big of a threat or not worth sending another knight in training to die? The thought was comforting. The idea of disappearing to give Aries time to collect himself would be nice. The cave was comfortable and Giscela, who appeared standoffish at first, was starting to grow on him. She would always switch the conversation to courting and made sure that Aries’ armor looked well put together. She would click in buckles and polish the metal. Aries shook his head. Cadmus was probably lonely and Aries was feeling stressed from previous events.

Aries adjusted the sword at his hip and looked towards the table. The cave was much more organized now. Both Aries and Giscela made it their mission to organize the cave how they saw fit. Vases were filled with water and flowers set around the table. The banners were well taken care of and not covered in dust and filth. The torches were replaced and the glass clean and maintained. It was the least they could do. After all, Cadmus did change their lives.

A small satchel was at Aries’ side which contained the crystal he had been using to practice his magic. There was still a small warmth that radiated off from it and the canvas of the satchel did little to stop it from getting to his thigh. It was like a comfortable friend; a reminder of why he was there. When Aries got worried about not feeling it, Cadmus would smile.

“Do not worry, we have nine more.”

Aries rolled his eyes at the thought. The last nine crystals going towards his little bird would be pathetic. If another blizzard came in, he would be more than happy to sacrifice his own practice so they could live. When Aries retorted back with the sound logic, Cadmus’ smile would get irritatingly bigger.

“Yes, but it makes my heart lighter to see you happy.”

Aries couldn’t argue against that.

Cadmus suggested breathing techniques and ways of meditation to make it easier to get to the astral space needed in order to see strings. With all the practice that Aries had been doing, there were times that strings would randomly appear in his visions like spider thread. When he blinked, they would disappear as if they were a trick of the mind. Cadmus reassured him that it was normal to start to see connections beginning to appear.

Speaking of, a string started to appear at the mouth of the cave. One that was pronounced; it was Giscela. She was moving in at a fast pace, her boots were echoing off the stone.

“Aries, Edward is coming. Four are with him. You should come out….Cadmus is going to be here any minute!”

Aries gathered himself. His heart was racing as he launched himself off of the chair and ran past Giscela. She followed him in toe, moving so fast that the tail of her cloak ran against the rock. She had a quiver on her back, a gift from Cadmus and made from the wood of a teek tree. The bow was made of the same wood and had draconic runes carved into the beautiful woodwork.

Aries could feel the bite of the cold winter air on him already. The sky was grey with clouds and snow still building up on the entrance of the cave. It reminded Aries of the time he first came to the cave but somehow calmer now.

The two ran out of the cave to be greeted by four men each seated on stallions. Giscela recoiled, grabbing an arrow out of her quiver and knocking it against the string. The four men were dressed in beautiful, ornate armor. They were from the King’s guard, their armor shining. The fabric itself was red and white checkerboard and a sigil of a gryphon wings extended and claws up was patched into the top right of it. Two of the King’s guards had bows while two others were unarmed. The one in the middle held a banner which he stuck through the snow and into the ground. His armor was distinct from the rest, a forest green with black checkers and a deer instead of a gryphon.

Pulling off his helmet, the man was lean but muscled. His eyes looked over the cave and he clutched his helmet in his right arm like he was about to accept a trophy. Sword gleaming on his belt, he walked forward to two obliviously.

“It is I, Edward of Barthon from the province of Lanish. Son of James and kin to Brantly. I have come to take my Princess home and rid this land of a foul be-”

He finally glanced at the two. He blinked.

“Princess? Is that….is that you?”

Giscela rolled her eyes. “Yes, you nitwit.”

He smiled wide. “Ahh! What a jest! No dress to be seen and you look touched by the elements!”

His eyes moved to Aries and glared. “And who is this…pray tell?”

Before the knight spoke, Giscela interrupted him. “You will leave and never return. Go to Termund and tell him that we wish to speak with the king.”

His mouth went agape and he stuttered. “K-King?! Are you cursed with magic?! How dare you raise your voice and give ME commands!” Edward wheeled around.

“What have you done to her, wretch?” Edmund said as he pulled out his sword and pointed it at Aries. “I demand an explanation or I will cut off your head myself!”

Aries grit his teeth. “Lord Edward, I am the knight dispatched to deal with the dragon…”

The king’s guard behind Edward looked at one another confused, not drawing their weapons but hands on the hilts of their blades.

Edward relaxed for a moment. His eyes flicked from Aries to Giscela.

“My dear, does he tell the truth?”

Giscela pointed her arrow at Edward. The guard drew their swords.

“He does. Now tell your men to go.”

Edward was flabbergasted.

“Giscela, what has changed? What did these charlatans do to you?”

“Go….now. I won’t ask again.”

Edward started to visibly shake, tears coming to his eyes. He was betrothed. He was supposed to marry Giscela and unite their Kingdoms. Now, it was crumbling before him. He would be the laughing stock of the nobility and cuckolded by an insignificant knight. He looked back at Aries and he had a scowl on his face. “You did something to her! You have violated her with cruel tricks and magic! I will not let you leave! I demand an explanation, knight or I will beat one out of you!”

Aries stepped back as Edward moved forward. This was not how it was supposed to go. There were supposed to be other knights. Where was his mentor? Did he even care about him anymore? Did Sargent Grant forget about him? He trained him and mentored him…how could he not be here when they thought he was dead?

Edward reached out and punched across Aries’ jaw. The blow was just audible over Giscela ‘s gasp and Aries crumbled to the floor. The knight’s ears rang, the nasty hit forcing Aries to stumble off to the side. Edward had a snarl on his face, one that would be more akin to a predator than anything else. Aries rolled, blood coming from his mouth since he bit his tongue on the way down.

“Edward, please…listen to reason,” Aries said and held up his hands. “You must not let ang-”

Another punch but Aries ducked out of the way. Giscela yelled, the sound of metal being pulled from a scabbard as she lunged towards her lover. She pulled Edward off of Aries which gave the knight enough time to get up and move away. Edward swore, raising his hand towards Giscela and punched her across the cheek.

Aries reached down towards his belt and pulled out his blade. Anger, frustration, and rage fueled his body and fed his muscles. No one needed to get hurt. No one needed to die. He needed to defend himself. If blood had to be spilled, it was not going to be anyone that was under his watch.

Cadmus needed him. He was in his army, after all.

As Aries took out his sword, the human prayed to whatever was out there that Cadmus was close. He lunged forward and gave a yell as Edward was raising his hand for another strike to Giscela. The Princess was reaching for her knife in her belt. If he did not do something, more people were going to get hurt.

Aries started to go faster, his heart pumping blood with a rate that he had never felt before. Before he could reach the two, there was a loud thunk and Aries stumbled and fell against the stones. One of the King’s guards had his bow out.

Aries’ vision started to blur, heartbeat beginning to slow and it was like cotton was stuffed in his ears. He slumped against the rocks like he was just a bag of flour thrown off to the side.. Aries gasped, the air far too hard to bring into his lungs than it was just seconds before. Aries looked down, his leathers turning red and the shaft of an arrow buried deep into the center of his chest. Aries grimaced, coughed and blood ran down his chin and onto his chest.

Aries clutched at the arrow, feeling it with his fingers. This could not have been real. It was not supposed to end this way. He was supposed to tell the knights and be a hero. He still needed to find out why his dad was executed. He wanted to feel the water of the cave one last time.

Giscela screamed. The yell was so loud that Edward jumped and moved off of her but was too late to dodge the vicious punch that landed across his face. It was hard enough that Aries even grimaced.

“I am the Princess of King Terdun and I will have EACH of you beheaded and your bodies strung up for all to see if you do not go right now!”

“You have no authority here, wench!” Edward sneered. Aries, although slowly starting to feel his eyes growing heavy, chuckled to himself. They do have authority. Cadmus gave it to them. Aries closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Time started to creep down to almost a halt. The knight started to search his mind, the strings of each person here sticking out and ready to be pulled. He took a deep breath and coughed, blood filling his mouth and rolling down his chin.

This was not how he wanted to die. Tears started to roll down his cheeks and he opened his mouth. He cursed the Gods and he cursed the Fates. He tried to call for help, for something to come down and explain that all of this was a terrible misunderstanding.

It came out as a sad gurgle, the blood that was filling his lungs being forced out of his broken body like a clock unwound and Aries’ eyes grew even heavier as if there were weights tied to his eyelids. He held the arrow in his chest, feeling across it and could not believe it was still there. He needed to do something but he knew he was drowning. Rapidly losing energy, there was a voice in his head that told him he was not going to make it and Aries could only bend in the direction of his sword.

At that moment when all hope was lost, a string so bright and recognizable crossed through his plane of vision. Aries smiled, precious blood coming up and out from him. Edward looked at Aries like he was ludicrous, his eyes darting back to Giscela who had a snarl on her face.

The look alone was enough for Edward to dart back towards the army behind him. He did not know what was coming for him but it could not have been good. The sky started to turn black and the wind began to pick up as if a tempest was coming in. Aries’ muscles pushed blood out which ran down his chin. Even if he were to die here, he was not forgotten. Someone was looking after him.

“LEAVE MY ARMY ALONE!”

A thunderclap roared through the valley. Trees buckled and snapped, the horses whinied with fear, and rocks were knocked off of the foundation of the cave. Aries looked up to the sky to see a bolt of lightning shoot down to the ground and land right by Edward’s feet. Dirt splattered everywhere and the King’s soldiers steadied themselves.

Giscela and Aries were awkstruck. It was as if the Gods themselves were going to bring their wrath down from the skys. Branches were picked up and thrown, the size of people and several rocks pelted the King’s soldiers. Edward searched the sky.

“What is the meaning of this?! Show yourself!”

“As you wish.”

Cadmus bolted down in a flash in front of Edward, his claws extended and he gripped the throat of the fiance to be. Blood started to pour down from the wound and Edward squeals turned into a gasp for air as the grip around his throat tightened. The King’s guards aimed and fired. The arrows were picked up and swung around Cadmus’ back. The guards stopped firing the arrows when they came back around to pierce the trees behind them.

Although the wind was raging in front of Giscela and Aries, it was completely calm where the King’s Guard were. No movement and no wind. It was all funneled in front.

Cadmus was full of rage, his paw squeezing harder and Edward started to beat against Cadmus’ wrist in weak and untargeted hits. Eventually, the punches stopped and Edward held the wrist in both of his hands. He tried to push the dragon’s arm down but it was to no avail.

“Merrrrrcy!” Edward squeezed out of his closing throat. “Please, merrrrcy.”

“Mercy? You deserve NO MERCY!”

He was begging and sobbing out as he struggled yet Cadmus continued to squeeze as the guards watched. Aries’ joy turned to despair. The kind hearted Cadmus was replaced by rage filled and intense. Giscela knew herself, looking away and towards the entrance of his cave.

“Please, monster. Please stop!” One of the guards shouted and threw down his bow. The other one followed suit. Each of them had their eyes glued to the scene unfolding and each of them had their mouth open in horror.

Monster.

They thought he was a monster and Aries knew deep down that Cadmus was proving it. Even though he wanted to see Edward receive what he had coming to him, Aries knew that this would only get them more into trouble. They would forever be on the run. Aries blinked away the tears and looked over to see Giscela had a blank and shell-shocked look on her face. He wondered what was going through Aries croaked out, his mouth opening as he tried to tell Cadmus to stop. Giscela moved closer to Aries, crouching down and covering herself and him. The one thing she did not want Aries to see while he was dying was Cadmus in such a rage.

Aries’ fingers twitched. He had to do something. He was a knight, a protector. Even when there was evil, he had to step in. Reaching his hand up and out towards Cadmus, Aries pulled on the jewel in his satchel. He used whatever energy that still laid within the crystal, draining it until the light inside grew faint and then disappeared.

Aries started to knead the energy into something familiar before he let it go out of him and into the cold air.

A small sparrow, one that could be held so gently in the palm of Cadmus’ hand flew in front of him. His sapphire eyes reflected the golden light in his irises and his grip around Edward’s throat lightened. Giscela looked up to Aries, her eyes reflecting the golden light coming from his fingers and reflecting in her emerald irises.

Edward fell to the ground, gasping and clutching his throat and backing away. The bird continued to fly, circling around and Aries did not have the energy to smile. Cadmus’ string started to come into view and even though he could not see him, he could feel his friend and ally by his side standing by him. The bird landed on Cadmus’ shoulder and Aries gasped weakly, his hand still out with a fading string still attached to the bird.

Cadmus, wordlessly brought his large paw forward and wrapped it around Aries hand. It was no longer warm. Cadmus had to do something; he had to save him. He had to save his little sparrow. Giscela got up from her position, facing the guards and clenching her fists.

“If you want to kill these two, you’ll have to kill me…”

Giscela threw her bow off to the side and brandished her sword and the guards were unsure what to do.

Edward raised up his hand, covered in blood from the cuts on his neck. “Enough. I do not know what has happened here but…you three will face the King’s judgement. Consider our marriage null and void, Princess.”

Giscela was quiet and poised. Edward spat at the ground, his hand wrapped around his neck and holding them over his wound. His hand was already soaked red.

“Guards, we shall leave these two to the Gods and their precious lizard freak. They are sick…”

Edward then made eye contact with Giscela. “….and confused.”

Taking one last look at Aries, there was a moment of hesitation. The knight, wounded and on the verge of death, had his hand pointed towards his sword. Even in his state, he still was looking to fight. There was a moment where Edward stopped, his side turned towards the trio.

Edward mounted his horse, taking one last look at the darkened sky and adjusted his dark black, flowing hair before there was a snap of the reins and he was away along with the rest of the guards. They rode off into the distance until they disappeared over the horizon.

Aries’ consciousness was starting to fade and his body began to go limp. He fought his own mind from passing out but he knew he was losing a lot of blood. He opened his eyes, too weak to speak but wanting to tell Cadmus that he was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay. If he couldn’t find what he needed to on a mortal plane, perhaps he could find his father in the next one. The blood from his wound was starting to enter his nose and begin to trickle down. Breathing was starting to get more difficult and the world was starting to spin. If he passed out, he didn’t know if he would wake up.

“He isn’t going to die….he can’t,” Cadmus choked out as the little sparrow on his shoulder disappeared and was scattered among the cold wind. The sky began to lighten up, the wind slowing down to a stop and Giscela kneeled by Cadmus. She placed a hand gently on Cadmus’ shoulder.

“Cadmus…there’s nothing we can do. The arrow pierced a lung…”

“I don’t care what it went through!” Cadmus yelled out. “There must be…I can do something! Anything! He said we all have choices. I can’t let him suffer for so long. I can fix this. Everything is going to be okay! It must be okay!”

Cadmus must see his little sparrow fly again. He has to.

Cadmus desperately ran into his cave, desperate to find something, anything that could aid Aries. As Cadmus ran into the cave, Giscela took Aries hand in hers.

“Aries…please hold on,” Giscela said. She stroked the knight’s cheek, the blood from his mouth and nose coating her fingers.

The dragon could bear the thought of his knight laying defeated. He felt guilt eating away at him. His army was crumbling around him before he even built it. It was his fault that his ally…that someone he loved was put in such a situation. He wasn’t even around to protect him! Images of his family being slaughtered came to his mind, swords rose up and ready to strike and the only thing he could do was scream and run. He could not do anything. He was worthless. Cadmus sobbed as he gathered crystals and threw them into a lip he created with his cloak. He had to try. He had to prove to the Gods that they cannot take anything else from him. The precious gems were not discriminated for their use; each one looked like the crystal that would save his knight’s life. It was a mad dash and a last hope in order to save his army that never stood a chance.

When Cadmus returned, he held all the jewels he could find still filled with any amount of energy. The remaining ones that were full along with as many others as he could gather. He placed them around Aries and the dragon concentrated.

Giscela was quiet, watching tears roll down Cadmus’ cheeks as the dragon said a soft prayer before placing his hands on Aries’ wound. He pulled as much energy as he could, pulling at whatever he could find. He pulled at living creatures, coaxing the small and practically insignificant energy that they gathered on themselves. His mind reached into the cave and searched each crystal and drained it of energy and kneaded it together before pushing it straight into Aries. He searched each and every crystal that he could not carry and drained each one for energy. He prayed that it would work, yelling out to the heavens for him to see his plight.

The human gasped, the blood starting to trap his throat rising out of him and out of his nose. The liquid was suspended in air and when Cadmus gathered more energy, it fell onto the ground.

“I’m sorry, Aries…” Cadmus said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Giscela shook her head. “Stop. Don’t tell yourself that…”

She grabbed Cadmus’ paw and wrapped it around the shaft of the arrow and then brought her own hand around his. “We have to try. We must do what we can…but I can’t guarantee that…”

“I know.”

The word was laced with a sad understanding and firm willpower and Giscela felt as though the air rippled around Cadmus. If they ripped the arrow out and Cadmus was not fast enough in patching the hole, Aries’ lung would collapse and he would die. Giscela nodded in affirmation and steadied herself. It was going to be messy but she was part of the family now.

Cadmus and Giscela broke the shaft of the arrow in two and ripped it out. Aries was unconscious, his body falling forward limply. More blood. More sorrow. Healing always required confronting what was cruel and vile head on. Aries was too far gone to even make a sound as the arrow came free of his body. Giscela cast it off to the side like garbage.

Cadmus put his hands on the wound and pushed another rush of energy into his friend. Tissue started to close, blood began to fill capillaries. The lung that was about to collapse swelled upward and the hole began to close. The crystals that were being drained of energy and lost their light like a well running dry.

Aries gasped, his eyes shooting open and Cadmus’ hands started to shake. The air made a whistling sound at the chest where the hole was, air rushing where it wasn’t supposed to go for a split second until the hole closed shut. Tissue began to weave itself together like an invisible needle was threading it back together again. Giscela watched, not believing what she was seeing, her mouth agape as Cadmus kept pushing. He pushed the energy around until blood that was in the lung started to go back into arteries. Cadmus went in for another grab for energy but hit a block; the crystals were now dried up and the dragon paused.

Cadmus wondered if it worked at all. The air itself stopped around them like just before a storm. Cadmus’ mouth was dry, the tears that rolled down his cheek dehydrating him. Did he utilize enough energy? Was it all for nothing in the end? Cadmus felt dread sneak itself into his brain. His army would crumble only a month after they made their oaths.

When all felt lost, Aries’ fingers twitched.

“Aries?”

Cadmus’ voice was as light as the clouds above. Both Cadmus and Giscela removed their paws and hands respectively from the wound. Aries coughed and spluttered, yet only mucus came up. He opened his eyes and winced.

A dragon and a very happy Princess beamed down at him.

“I’ve never been so happy to see you two,” Aries said with a chuckle and shifted his weight to get back up against the wall. He grunted as he lifted his hurt body up so he was sitting straight up and Cadmus and Giscela helped him, a hand on each shoulder.

“Slow down, Aries…you might reopen the wound. There might not have been enough to fully heal you,” Cadmus said and wrapped his arms around Aries. Bringing his hand around so it rested on the dragon’s shoulder blade, Aries placed his head on Cadmus’ shoulder.

“Well, be careful with the hug, Cadmus,” Giscela said and got up off the ground to stand. She took in the surroundings, her heartbeat starting to slow as everything began to come into view of the turmoil. The crystals, the last ones on the continent, were lifeless. Each one the last known hallmark of magic now used and empty. The cave wall was splattered with blood, most like Aries’ own, and five trees were uprooted near the entrance of the cave.

“Well, we managed to hold our own here,” Giscela said with a sigh. “I’m sure my father will be thrilled.”

“Damn your father and damn Edward,” Cadmus replied as sharp as a knife and wheeled around on his heels.

“I completely agree, but do you want to stay?”

Cadmus frowned, reaching up to cup Aries’ cheek. Aries hand came up to place it on the back of his hand. The hand felt warm thanks to the oxygenated blood rushing through and Cadmus’ sour attitude turned as warm as the blood rushing through Aries’ body. He got up and turned around, looking over the dead crystals.

All the potential that they had was now gone and dispersed. It was not a waste; far from it to Cadmus. They saved Aries’ life and for that he was thankful but it did mean that if the King sent anymore troops, they would be hopelessly outmatched.

“I…I don’t want to move anymore…” Cadmus admitted. “I say we stay and make this place our home.”

Giscela nodded. “Very well. I think this will work perfectly. Winter is starting to lighten up and soon spring will be here…”

Cadmus blinked, surprised. She was already talking about a change in season. “You expect us to last that long?”

The Princess chuckled. “Maybe. It will be a while until we have troops deployed. With Randalians just getting out of war, I suspect there will be a few odds and ends. I can guarantee that Edward will go back to his family in Lanish.”

“So you are saying we have a chance?” Cadmus said with a wistful smile.

Giscela held up her hand. “Maybe but a reminder that our little stunt here almost got Aries killed.”

Cadmus shrunk into himself and his ears folded downward. “Yes…yes it did.” Cadmus looked back at Aries to see his eyes were closed but he was breathing well. To heal so quickly would take a toll on anyone and who knows what small cuts did not end up getting fixed. The arrow laid in two pieces beside the human, the metal tip covered with blood. It was a reminder of everything that he wasn’t there for and a pang of guilt went through him.

“I’m sorry.”

Giscela lightened up. “None of that. We can’t change the past. We need you, Cadmus.” Giscela grabbed the dragon’s paw. “He needs you.” Giscela straightened up, her pose suggesting her noble past and she looked much older than before.

She nodded in Aries’ direction, the knight fast asleep against the rock now. A light snoring came from him, slow and calm. Cadmus curtsied and bowed his head. “You will make an excellent queen some day, Giscela.”

Giscela smiled and had to cover her giggle with her hand. “Together, we will protect humanity and usher in a new age for both of our species. For now, we should rest. I’ll stay out and scout. I’ll be back within the hour.”

Cadmus took that as his cue to go and made his way back to Aries. He scooped the human up into the same fireman’s carry he brought him into the cave a month ago and pulled him close. It felt like they had been through hell together but this was just the beginning. Giscela was right; he had to keep Aries safe. The knight had been through so much and he barely survived. Cadmus took him back into the cave, his mind lost in thought and racing through the events. He wished he could have been there earlier. He wished he could have prevented the arrow from shooting into Aries.

But Giscela was right. He had to move on. He would do better.

He placed Aries gently onto the bed, the human now sleeping sound. Cadmus smiled and sat on the bed next to him. Although Aries was human, he understood him. He would listen and his laugh would ring through his ears and…

Cadmus reached forward and gripped Aries’ hand. He had to memorize when he felt it warm and full. He never wanted to imagine Aries growing limp and cold. Cadmus squeezed Aries hand and felt his pulse for just a moment.

He leaned forward, contemplating something. His breath kissed the human’s cheek and he held his muzzle there. Aries was so brave and so clever. If he were a dragon, he would have songs about him. Cadmus smiled, a rush of calm running over him.

He made his way back to his private room and the baths. Stripping off his clothes and throwing them off to the side, Cadmus slid himself into the pool. Blood rose throughout the beautiful water, siphoning through the rock and getting filtered out. Cadmus watched it disperse throughout the beautiful water, mucking it and the dragon looked away. He did not want any more reminders.

An hour passed of Cadmus lounging in the water and his thoughts started to idly linger on one event after another. He hoped that Giscela brought good tidings with her. At least some good news would lift his spirits. Although Aries was alive, he did not have any crystals left. He was now cut off from the magic that he had been around since he was little. He secretly hoped that his healing was not in vain. If Aries made the wrong move, the wound could reopen and they would have to attempt to stabilize a lung without the help of the arcane.

Cadmus leaned back into the rock, letting go a long breath. The adrenaline that shot through his body like a wildfire began to quiet its screech. The dragon was in a lull, lost in his own recollection of the events. He could still see Aries slumped against the wall, his mouth open and red from all the blood. He threw the thought away but each time it would come back. He was so brave. The thought of the little golden bird floated into his head and there was a shot of warmth that flowed through him. If he could remember one thing from the horrible events, he hoped the sparrow would come to the forefront of his mind and wipe away all the evil that transpired.

There were footsteps behind Cadmus and the dragon turned around quickly. How undignified to be caught in a bath. If it was the soldiers coming back in for the kill, he would be defenseless…and naked. Luckily, it was just Giscela who came up to the pool with a tired sigh. Cadmus noticed that the area around her eyes appeared to darken. He was thankful that dragons did not show fatigue. She slipped her feet into the water and Cadmus eyes fell upon them. Giscela ‘s feet were blistered from running fast and without stop.

“There is no one around. Everyone left. I scouted a mile up towards Rendelen.”

Cadmus nodded. Giscela still stayed, Clearly, she had more to say since she was hanging around. The dragon pondered even saying anything at all. Luckily, he did not have much time to wait.

“You fancy him, don’t you?”

Cadmus blushed, a coy smile showing itself. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, it doesn’t take a Spymaster to figure it out.”

Cadmus chuckled. “He understands me. He knows how to talk to me and he is so…personable. In all the years I have been alive, these weeks have been the happiest. Even with him almost dying.”

He paused and gave Giscela a side eye. She was still smiling and watching him close. She was giving him room to continue.

“It feels so easy. We have both been through so much. I don’t have to hide from him. I can tell him everything and he does not want anything in return and I don’t know if he feels the same.”

Giscela laughed. “He feels the same. I have seen the way he sneaks peeks at you in the baths and how his eyes just light up when you start talking about the arcane. Since that first week, he has been by your side. He almost died trying to protect you, not just the cave….”

Giscela brought her hand down and rubbed Cadmus’ shoulder. “He took an arrow for you. He sees something in you that only he can describe.”

Cadmus shifted, his body moving and displacing the water. He searched through his feelings, really digging through them. Giscela was right. Aries was by his side, learning magic, truly learning and listening. He was one of a kind.

“Can I tell you a story, Cadmus?”

“Of course, Princess.”

He waited and Giscela cleared her throat and adjusted her posture. “When I was a little girl, I was so in love with royalty that I wanted to go to the fanciest balls and to get the best dresses. It was wonderful and it felt like there was a new thing every day. I had servants that were at my beck and call and if I wished for something, I would get it. But, I started to grow up and began to realize how little control I had. My father had my life planned out since I was born and both the King’s sons died tragically from disease. The Senate saw me as a gambling chip. Since they are the true ruling class that put the monarchy in power, they wanted me to gather information on Lanish. This meant that all eyes were on me to marry well.”

She paused, clearing her throat again.

“Everything from my meals to where I would go during free time was organized down to the tiniest detail. When I got much older, My Father then used his influence to get me deeper into social circles and become a regular socialite. Particularly, to get involved with Lanish and their cities. Barthon was the first city I was assigned to and my father saw that as an opportunity. The Senate agreed.”

Giscela toyed with the ring on her finger before pulling it off and throwing it into the water. The gold shimmered as it sank to the bottom and Cadmus watched it finally make it to the bottom of the pool.

“Life has a way of not working in your favor, but that does not mean you should just let it do what it wants with you. You have to fight sometimes. Not only for yourself, but for the people you love.” Giscela finished with a sniff. “I forgot, but the two of you reminded me of it.”

She got up out of the pool, her bare feet splashing against the cool rock. “Please, don’t let Aries slip through your fingers if he is what you want.”

Before Giscela could walk away, Cadmus said, “Thank you, Princess.”

Giscela stopped, looking over her shoulder. “No problem, my friend.”

She walked out of Cadmus’ room and into the narrow hallway, leaving the dragon alone. Cadmus slumped against the wall. He had no gems, he was defenseless against a potential assault, and he had needed to pull Aries from the brink of death. Could he really keep up such a pace for the rest of his life? The pain in his body told him otherwise. Yet, he was filled with purpose. Cadmus thought about his next goal carefully. He would have to gather more people and meet with the King personally at some point. Maybe there could be a way to refill the gems or find another dragon who already has some in possession. At least the dragon that the three would find might be more persuaded to listen since it was running from Cinere as well.

Cadmus sighed and slumped further into the pool until it was up to his neck. “Gods, so much to do.” He closed his eyes, sleep taking him almost immediately for the first time in 300 years. He was exhausted, his dreams spiraling him down and down into the deepest parts of his subconscious. He dreamt he was sitting upon the throne, a sword of judgement in one hand and a goblet in the other overflowing with wine. He could hear voices, other dragons speaking but also humans mingling with the others. They were all together, in harmony. There was a familiar voice beside him, speaking in a language that sounded familiar but foreign.

Cadmus turned his neck to the right, his head heavy as if filled with the same fog that filled the crystals from before. Seated on the small throne and to the direct right of Cadmus, was Aries in fashionable attire and looking comfortable. Cadmus smiled, his eyes filling with tears but this time out of happiness and joy. Giscela ‘s words echoed throughout the chamber:

“….don’t let Aries slip through your fingers.”

Cadmus swore that he wouldn’t. He tried to open his mouth but it was like the joints were glued with syrup. He looked at Aries and memorized as much as he could; the smile, the clothes, and the way he looked so dignified at Cadmus’ side. He would be a true ally of dragons and Cadmus would be a true ally of humans. Finally, the bridge between their species would be built on trust and dignity. The dream was so pleasing to Cadmus that he wished he could sleep for as long as this vision held him but he knew that’s all that it was; a vision.

In a moment, everything disappeared. Distant screams, ones of his family, and the sound of a hammer coming down on swords. In a flash, he saw a dragon, blue like himself, hunched over a balcony with a dagger stabbed into his back. Still alive and gasping for air. In a blink, the image was gone and he was back in the throne room and sitting propped up in the chair.

Arguing reached his ears and yet he felt frozen on the throne. Humans and dragons faded into dust, the throne room looking almost barren now. There was the sound of an explosion, so raw and powerful that it blew Cadmus’ head back into the throne and he crumpled to the floor. Another explosion and ash started to rain down upon the windows. The sky itself was black and filled with smoke. Cadmus crawled to a window and pulled himself up the windowsill to peek out. Across the island, the dense forests and homes looked small compared to The Spire which had lava pouring down its sides and plumes of smoke pouring out the top.