green lies, black hearts

XXV

a/n - enjoy and thank you for reading :)

- mint

~+~

Shaera

"And where are you going?"

Shaera slowly turned, holding a basket of salves tightly to her chest. A covered basket. A covered basket she did not want anyone to see into. She plastered an easy smile onto her lips as she faced her brother.

"Jacaerys!" she greeted. "How are you this morn?"

He pursed his lips and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Luke was right. You are acting odd."

"Is that all he told you?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Ah, good." Shaera smoothed down her skirts and tightened her grip on the basket. It was rather heavy, she noted with a frown. Getting to the dragon would be difficult. Not to mention the time she stuffed in there as well. "Well, did Luke also tell you he snuck out to fly with Arrax?"

That made Jace straighten up. "No? When did he do that?"

"Last evening."

I am so incredibly sorry, my sweetest valonqar, she sent in a silent prayer to Luke. She would be forever indebted to him.

"And how do you know that?"

Shaera pursed her lips. He wasn't supposed to ask that.

She shrugged. "I caught him."

"And you didn't tell muña or Daemon?"

"Why should I?"

"Because he could have gotten hurt? Daemon said Caraxes has been acting nervous as of late. He thinks the Cannibal is hunting because winter is creeping in."

The Cannibal. Shaera reached up and rubbed her shoulder, kneading her fingers into the phantom scar. Had the dragon been attacked by the Cannibal? Had the Cannibal attempted to kill it and consume it? Shaera remembered Daemon once told her that the large and old dragon was known for sneaking into nests and eating the egg clutches and young.

"Would any of the other wild dragons be hunting?"

"Maybe?" Jace scratched the side of his face. "There's been reports that Sheepstealer has been terrorizing a farm to the south. And of course, Grey Ghost is elusive as always. But I heard some of the fishermen complaining that they lost a massive haul a few days past."

Grey Ghost. That was right. Shaera wanted to huff and slap a hand over her face. She knew it was ghost related! Though, she would argue Grey Ghost wasn't really all that grey. He was more...misty and pearlescent. Like Arrax!

Arrax...

"Don't bother Luke about it, Jace," she told her brother. The guilt was too great for her to put all the blame on Luke just to get out of the conversation. "He offered to take me to see Arrax after I had a nightmare. He" -she offered a small smile- "thought it would help make me feel better, and it did! It truly did. So please...don't be a" -she waved a hand- "lēkia about it with him, alright?"

Jace looked so much like Rhaenyra in that moment. He twisted his lips, flared his nostrils, and looked to a window. Shaera watched as he worked his jaw. His nose was strong and harsh like their mother's, and though his eyes were the same shade as Harwin's, they carried a certain depth seen in Rhaenyra's-as if there was a hint of violet hiding underneath. Shaera thought her younger brother looked regal. He looked like their mother's heir.