Chapter 22
Auren
I dreamed of queen dragons, which often happened when I stayed at Wyrmpeak. The stones themselves of the mountain were soaked with memories of my kind and humans, many of which I’d absorbed in the shell when I was born in the hatching sands below.
But I’d never seenherbefore.
Impossible to forget, because this queen was massive. My eyes fought to try to take her in and failed. Queen dragons were large by design, needing to be able to out fly and fight off unworthy males, but her… If I possessed her size, I’d never need listen to another stupid male again. They’d scatter as I passed by, lest I eat them.
Which had the queen turning to stare at me.
My wings burned with the effort of trying to keep up with her, yet hers shifted in lazy swoops. That wasn’t the only thing that separated us. In the dark of night, I thought her gold scales were bleached pale by the moon’s glow, but as she drew closer, I saw she glittered silver white, not gold.
A silver queen?I thought. The dream begin to fray as myconscious mind rose from the depths of sleep, curious about what I was seeing. Her eye bore into mine, feeling like she stared down into my soul.Who are you, ancient queen?
Sometimes the memory of a dragon was so complete, you could conduct simple conversations with them, learning more of the past, but whatever trace this queen had left on Wyrmpeak, it was not capable of that. She just flew on, her body moving like a machine caught in perpetual motion. I was ready to wake up, to free myself from this pointless dream, when she finally replied.
Silver mates with gold.That was enough to force me awake, because I’d heard those words before.Silver mates with gold and creates?—
With a blink, my den came into focus. The mid-morning sun as it started to seep through the doorway, the way my scales gleamed in the light, that had me moving. That and the whirling shapes of dragons flying to the drafts of hot air had my claws raking along the stone as I got to my feet. One step, two and I launched myself out of the den and into the air, climbing swiftly with every sweep.
Just not as fast as the silver queen of my dreams.
It felt like she dogged my path, which had me rising higher and higher until the muscles in my wings burned in reality. Above the clouds, I was free of the world of dreams, left to stare down at the now tiny settlement of Wyrmpeak. The mountain, the buildings looked like something a human child might play with. I let out a long breath, allowing myself to hover for a moment, enjoying the peace.
But not for long.
Out for your morning fly, my queen.
Some creature’s voices felt like they dripped on my scales, leaving a burning residue in their wake like a green dragon’s acid, but it was an orange beast that swam into view. One of the older males from Dragon Home, I recognised him immediately.
And the danger he posed.
Such a beautiful morning for it, another said and that had mewhirling around to see a red dragon had slunk up behind me, rising through the clouds.
You idiot, Auren, I thought.Have you remembered nothing your father taught you?
Though the sun pales in comparison to your beauty, young Auren.
The fact this male knew my name, mentioned my youth, set my fangs grinding against each other, but I forced myself to reply. Remain polite, that’s what Father always impressed upon us. Allow them hope, because it’s only when that dies does a male get truly dangerous.
But I didn’t want them to eye my body, tracing the line of it as if they had some sort of right to it. In my mind’s eye, I saw that massive silver queen and knew she didn’t trouble herself with any other beast’s hope or lack of it.
Indeed.That word was dragged out of the depths of me.Now, if you excuse me…
A sharp cry, much like the scream of an eagle had us all whirling around to seesomething emerge from the clouds. For a second I thought it was the silver queen, because the bright glitter of their scales was somewhat similar. Darker, more like gunmetal, I noticed that, right as the three silver dragons swooped up, claws outstretched.
I shouldn’t be glad to see the older males scatter in a series of lumbering movements. I definitely shouldn’t be pleased by the way they spluttered, citing some accord, some rule, perhaps even the deep magics themselves, as to why the silver dragons should not be driving them away from me with a flick of their tails. Drive them off they did though
These males, they irritate you, the largest said, coming to hover beside me.
All males irritate me!
My snapped reply, it was not one I ever gave voice to. Father had made clear the danger of doing so, but this silver dragon, Slate, he had told me his name was, he just snorted and then took off, driving the older males back as the others that hovered in the air below.
You can fly free now, my queen.This silver dragon’s name was Brightfang, call me ‘Fang, he’d said.They will not bother you anymore.
And who will stop you and your brothers from annoying me?
