Roxane

Chapter Two

Thanatos was standing at her window, gazing out at the city below her. She turned to face Roxane as she entered. Roxane's plate of food was smashed on the floor, Dawn drawn before she realised what she was doing. When she saw that it was Thanatos, she groaned and frowned at her wasted food. She set her sword against the wall and dropped onto her bed.

"Why on earth are you in my room?" She asked Thanatos.

"I don't see why I shouldn't be," was all Thanatos said.

"I mean, what brought you here?"

"The fact that I am fighting tonight in the pits, and I want you to be there."

"You already told me, and I've worked it into my schedule."

"But I want you to go with someone."

"And you couldn't have just met me in the courtyard?"

"You were so deep in a killing calm that you wouldn't have noticed me. You didn't notice when you sliced an acolyte's arm open at least."

"I sliced an acolyte's arm open?!" Roxane was horrified. Had she noticed, she would have brought the young girl to the healers, or she would have bandaged her arm herself.

"You did. I watched it happen, and then brought the girl into your room to heal her. You should thank me, and apologise to her," Thanatos turned back to the window. "Anyways, I am here to bring you to the girl who's bringing you to the stadium, and you are going to stay there until my last fight ends."

Roxane groaned, but didn't argue. Thanatos nodded, and then walked from the room, waving her hand at Roxane to follow her. And so Roxane did.

Thanatos floated down the stairs with her unnatural predator's grace, and Roxane had to run to keep up with her. Then Thanatos came to a stop. She wasn't at the dragon's keep, she wasn't at either of their bedrooms... Roxane had been in very few of the hundreds of rooms in the Aerie. None of them mattered much to her. Thanatos poked her head into the room, and spoke softly to someone inside.

"Is it ready, Eirene?"

"It is, Thanatos of Death," A voice that was low and quiet, and almost mysterious, responded. Roxane started a bit at that name - Thanatos of Death. Only people of the court called anyone by their names given at birth. Roxane had never personally met anyone of the court.

Thanatos bowed her head, and then closed the door. She turned and faced Roxane.

"The Aerie has spies located everywhere on this earth. Everyday, they come back to their masters and report things they see or hear. Today, a spy came to me personally and gave me some interesting news. According to her, you have been training Iphigenia every morning, and today you taught her how to flip. Is this correct?"

Roxane nodded, nervous as to what Thanatos would say. Thanatos just smiled.

"I'm proud of you, Roxane. But you aren't allowed to flip until you are of age. You know that."

Roxane did. She lowered her head in apology, but Thanatos put her fingers under Roxane's chin and tilted it up again.

"You aren't allowed to do it until you are of age because that is when you get a saddle. And you don't have a saddle yet. Therefore I can't allow you to flip with your dragon. But, if you demand of me to get you a saddle, you might be able to persuade me."

Roxane hesitated. She knew Thanatos didn't like people begging or pleading, so why was she asking Roxane to do just that? But she had been asked, so Roxane tried.

"Thanatos - you know I love flying. You know that I'm a good flyer. You know that I love fighting, and I'm good at it. I'm bored with practicing SSP's, so I wanted to try something new. And I didn't die, so I don't see why I am being lectured about my age. I'm not your typical fifteen year old girl. I am stronger and more competent than any of the girls in this Aerie. So please allow me to get a saddle, if only to practice SSP's in it, so I know how to use it when we move on to harder moves. Please, Thanatos."