Predator [ON HOLD INDEFINIETLY]

5: The Package

Koi is gone by the time I awake to Demlyn pounding on my door the next morning.

I peel back my weary eyelids, exhausted from last night's activities. I hardly got any sleep. Though I had been innocent yesterday, Koi clearly wasn't. I wince slightly as I swing my legs around, getting up, my feet touching the ice cold floor. The draft in the room hits my naked body full-force and I shudder.

Since it's my day off, I take my time today to bathe, surely missing the majority of breakfast. All the grime swirls down the drain, brown, and I stand under the lukewarm current of water until the water running off my body is clear. I use whatever is left of the sliver of soap on my hair, losing the last of it in my sudsy nest of blonde knots. I walk out of my tiny bathroom in firm leather riding breeches, a dark grey wool long-sleeved sweater, my heavy cloak-coat, and my black riding boots.

I plop myself down in front of my vanity table and rummage through my drawers until I find scissors. I study my reflection, trying to decide on a length. I finally grab a piece of my hair by my chin and start on hacking my locks off.

It takes a long-lasting half hour, but when I'm done I lay down the shears, pleased with the result. My hair still falls in gentle waves, a pretty feature that I don't appreciate, but it is chin-length, my front fringe sweeping across my forehead. I'm not confident enough to cut that off without totally botching everything so I keep it, pinning it back so that I don't have to think about it.

I'm met by Tallon at the foot of the loft stairs as I'm tugging my gloves on.

"Good day, madam," he greets me.

"Good day to you, Tallon. Is there something you need?"

"Yes." He holds out a letter to me. I open it and my eyes brighten. Smiling faintly, I nod to the stable hand. "I'm much obliged, Tallon. Thank you." My tone suggests a dismissal. I read the note again. From my peripheral I can see that Tallon has not moved an inch. I look back up, questioning.

It is obvious that he is uncomfortable with something. He shifts his weight a few times, even opening his mouth and closing it twice before blurting out, "I saw Mr. Dall leaving your room this morning."

I wait. A pang of pity runs through me.

Slowly, he asks, "Is . . . everything okay? Did he have a reason to be up there?"

I look him in the eye and answer, "Yes. Everything is fine, Tallon. Koi just spent the night with me."

Tallon looks as if I just sucker-punched his mother. "Spent the night?"

"Yes."

"I-I see. I'm terribly sorry for the invasion, then. Good day." Then he turns on his heel and is gone, all but running out of the stables.

* * *

"The best dragon tamer in the world."

"I've seen it for myself . . ."

"They say that she can seduce the blackest dragon, laddie."

"That's her right there, I tell yah . . ."

I'm used to hearing these things wherever I go. It got annoying after the first few months. However, after twelve years, I've become immune to the praises and impressed stares of strangers.

I'm shoving through the droves of townspeople in the streets, elbowing my way to Mendel's booth, almost tripping on the hem of my coat.

"Mendel!"

When he turns around he's grinning, shaking his head at me. "Well, tamer Jale, you can finally ask me that question and I'll have a different answer. What in blazing hell did you do to your hair?"

"Is my order in, Mendel?"

He draws out a box from beneath his counter, plunking it down in front of me. "Yes, lassie, yes, yer precious order is in." He shakes his head as I snatch the package and rip off the paper and twine binding. I tear the flaps open and come to a full stop. Everything is here, everything I've lost. I thrust myself over the counter to give Mendel's rubbery cheek a well-deserve kiss.

His jolly laughter follows me as I race back to the yard with my spoils clutched tightly to my chest.

* * *

I carefully separate the chains of the two necklaces, laying them side by side on my now crisp clean sheets. One is a pendant of a breath-taking bird, oh so small, as big as the first segment of my thumb, and as clear and pure as spring water. The crystal was perfectly preserved, no chips visible, not even a shallow scratch. The other necklace holds a locket, slightly bigger than the crystal necklace: a locket made entirely of diamond. It's a perfect circle, the faceted sides reflecting the midday sun just as sharply as the crystal.

My fingers dance lightly over my mother's dear necklaces and move on to the leather-bound cover of my father's journal. I gently twist the clasp open. My father's scent billows up from the pages: ink, faint cologne, and autumn. His familiar scrawl makes my eyes water and I read his words of love that he had for me and my mother. I read through his depression that occurred after Mom's death and how I was the only happiness left in his life. He passed away two years after my mother.

I was only six when I became an orphan. I was too young to remember much, but I do recall a frigid winter and a small white dragon about my size. I remember laying my despair and anger on the dragon. It was terrified of me. It cowered in the corner, obeying me when I told it not to look me in the eyes. I remember big hands and large arms carrying me, a warm fire, being surrounded by dragon smells and sounds. . . .

I only started to truly carry memories when I was around eight years of age. I had 'tamed' about three dragons by then, small ones. To this day I do not know who brought me to Dragon Yard Pahcove or why, nor have I asked. I suspect it was Mr. Briner, but all that matters is that I am here and now I have regained my parent's most valuable possessions.

I trade the journal for my mother's handkerchief, her scent still embedded in the threads. And lastly: a small painting of what must have been our house. 

I let myself play around with these treasures for a few minutes more before affectionately covering them back up and stowing them under a loose floorboard beneath my bed. I am not about to risk anything getting lost, found, or stolen, not after I have waited so long for this dear package to find me.