Dragon Blossom

The sudden dawn

As night fell, the relentless sun of Pellegrin would soon be replaced by a starry, pearlescent sky that would bring with it an equally fierce cold. Training had ended with the day, and all the new soldiers were dispersing from the temple of sand and sun. One of the many large plazas of the city that now made sense in Oregdor's head.

Despite his thick beard and rugged appearance, Oregdor was a young man, barely older than Bestenar; they were both developing a kind of formal camaraderie. Perhaps it could be a friendship if Prince Frey's pupil were a bit less arrogant. But they had something in common. Both had changed somewhat after Queen Clessa's revelation as the dragon prince Caramin. It was no wonder they sought each other out.

"Oregdor," the boy with pink hair, was the first to speak. "Want to grab a drink?"

"Frankly," he replied, scratching the back of his neck, "I'm not much of a drinker, Your Highness, but I can accompany you if you like."

"Drop the Your Highness, Oregdor," Bestenar said. "You didn't respect me that much back in Artemia when you arrived with your father."

"That was..."

"Bah, I don't care, I know. I don't make a very good first impression, anyway. In any case, I don't like to drink that much either, but I wanted to ask you something, and we need shelter from this damn cold. Your land is too hostile, I don't know how you stand living like that."

"You get used to it, Your... Bestenar, but it's true, we can go to that place a couple of streets away, they'll have something you like."

The establishment was a low, stone-built building, not too large, but with a few tables and a western-style bar. As he understood it, they served a reserve of Meyrin wines sweetened with the honey that made the region famous. It was a place for foreigners, no doubt the prince would have fewer complaints there. They arrived when the sun had already set and sat near the fire that was burning in a fireplace.

"Well," said Oregdor, pushing back the wicker chair and sitting at the table, "what did you want to ask me?"

The prince rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. He gave Oregdor a look that would have been menacing if it weren't for all the lace and silk he was wearing.

"The queen," he said at last, his voice a mere whisper, "can we trust her? Can we trust the dragon who rules this kingdom?"

It was the question Oregdor had been dreading.

"I don't know," he replied. "I would give my life for Queen Clessa. I've always seen her as the most impressive person in the world. Beautiful, strong, intelligent, and believe it or not, pious and kind to her people. I know nothing about Caramin. I feel like I've been deceived, but... the worst part is that nothing has changed. It doesn't seem like she's been unmasked or pretending to be someone else... it drives me crazy. If we were talking about Clessa, I'd tell you that the very question is an offense..."

"I suppose it must be difficult to discover you were in love with a dragon," Bestenar dropped the line as casually as if he'd said water is wet. Oregdor merely looked away.

"So," Bestenar continued, gesturing for their drinks, "you're not denying it?"

"Maybe... Maybe it's true. Maybe that's why she can control me..."

"Or maybe it's the other way around. Maybe what you think and feel is her power affecting you."

That was simply too much. Oregdor didn't want to answer. Instead, he returned the question.

"Do you even know what it's like to be in love?"

Prince Bestenar blushed and avoided his gaze. All his menacing demeanor was forgotten at that moment.