Dragon Blossom

Without saying goodbye

"Why, if the queen is a dragon, won't her baby be a dragon too?" Eri had her hand on the monarch's belly as she asked her mother. Previously, she had been told that humans had human babies and dragons had dragon babies. She had harbored the hope that the new offspring would be like her. Runaesthera didn't know how to respond; it was very complicated for a girl of almost seven years. She was very smart, but that only complicated things further. She arrived at conclusions that, in a way, made sense, making it difficult to explain that reality didn't quite align, much like explaining magic itself. "So the queen won't lay an egg? How strange, Mrs. Mera says that babies come from eggs," she said, scratching her head, adopting that habit from the young stable boy.

"Only dragon babies, Eri," Mera could be an excellent teacher, but she had the disadvantage of not being entirely human. "That's not true, chickens too. I've seen them," she said indignantly, as if suspecting she was being lied to. "Then how are babies made? Didn't Peony come from an egg either?"

"Eri, sweetheart," the queen said in a tender but evidently urgent voice, "I promise to tell you everything you want to know, but now, please, darling, can you tell me if you can see its soul?" The queen feared that despite her optimism, due to her weak body or some unknown restriction, her baby might not survive.

The healers of Pellegrin and even Master Genwill assured her that everything was fine, but this test needed to calm her finally. Runa wondered if, had it been her, she would experience the same anxiety. Oregdor held his queen's hand, sweating, despite the desert sun having nothing to do with it.

Eri used the power she had taken from the green prince; a purple flame enveloped her as she exhaled with her eyes closed. When she opened them, her pupils had the same violet glow as the flames. "Everyone has a little light in their chest. Is that it?" The queen nodded at Eri's question, biting her lower lip.

"There’s a very tiny one in your belly. But there’s none in your chest, nor in Mrs. Mera's, but I can see their dragon bodies and fire as if reflected in the window."

That was exactly what they had hoped to hear. Clessa finally breathed, returning to her usual self. Runa found it hard to recognize her when she didn't smile. "Oh, blessed sun," Runa reflected for a moment... Did dragons believe in gods? "Well, that settles everything, Ori. You can return to your duties now.

We’ll see you soon, I promise." The kiss she gave her now-fiancé was highly inappropriate in front of a child. It was a good thing that Eri was distracted.

When she used that power, she saw very strange things. Oregdor excused himself from those present and returned to the palace's interior, followed by some dragon guards and Bestenar, who was instructing him in the one thing he was an expert at besides flowers—being a prince. Runa still doubted whether that was a good idea. No matter how much he had changed, she found it hard to trust the brat.

They were at the palace’s main door, which was under the bridge, as above, there were only columns except for the throne room. After bidding farewell to her future consort, she led them to the river docks. She wanted to show them that mysterious project. Frey was very quiet; since the news about Jimmer, he spoke little and gave smiles so forced they appeared sad. Runa knew how he felt; she had lived through it too many times. At night, when they were alone, she hugged him and gave him comfort; he only allowed himself to cry during those moments. Floating on the river was the barge that had brought them from Axandor, captained by a Valderant who looked less satisfied than ever. The boat had wooden beams extending horizontally from the hull on both port and starboard, to which what looked like leather harnesses and chains had been attached. Several royal engineers were still moving scales and counterweights around the deck.

"Why did it have to be one of my ships?" said Val, always reluctant about anything to do with dragons or with her. "I have already agreed to train your silly order of dragon riders. Why do I have to do this now?"