I Dream of Dragons

8. Identity

The threat made Ashermoran tense visibly. The dragon-woman narrowed her eyes, and a dangerous light danced in them. Without saying a word, she raised her hand, and ice swirled at her fingertips. The room immediately felt at least twenty degrees colder, and Ailysia braced herself, ready to respond in kind.

But then the red-robed woman reached out, staying Ashermoran's hand with her own. It was a gentle touch, calmness meeting fury. Ashermoran turned to look at her, and gradually, the dragon-woman's eyes softened.

"Gisa," said Ashermoran, mollified. "I can't just leave you here."

"You need to go retrieve the bell, and it is best to go now. I will take care of the eggs here." Gisa leaned in, paused, her face mere inches from Ashermoran's. And then, she tipped her head further, so that the jagged spikes on her forehead touched the dragon's twisted horns.

The gesture carried surprising intimacy, almost like a kiss, and made Ailysia examine the red-robed woman anew. She had thought the alien was an assistant, or another guard. But Gisa seemed to be more than that to Ashermoran.

Ailysia realized something else. Gisa's appearance was unambiguously alien. Her face protruded into a snout, and instead of noses, she had a ring of gill stalks around her neck, almost like a frilled collar. But there was something about her that felt familiar. Puzzled, Ailysia tried to think what Gisa reminded her of. A salamander? But that couldn't be it. The familiarity was personal, almost as though Ailysia had met her before.

Before she could ponder further, Ashermoran spoke. "Are you sure? The dispersal sequence still needs to be keyed in. I would rather finish it before I go."

"You may not get a chance later," said Gisa. "The stranger is right: the enemies will be upon us soon." When Ashermoran still didn't look convinced, Gisa's eyes darkened a little, and her voice took on a sharper tone. "Or do you still not trust me, even now?"

"It's not about that!" Ashermoran protested. She said nothing further and only scowled at the eggs, her posture stiff and her lips thinned to a line. A look of intense conflict played out in her eyes.

Then Gisa made her move, wrapping her fingers around Ashermoran's hand. Another hand went up, tracing the dragon's crystal armor, over her bare neck, and touched her stiff jaw. "Don't worry. The eggs are in good hands. I will die before I let anything happen to them." She promised.

Ashermoran heaved a sigh, shoulders slacking, and finally pulled her attention away from the eggs to look at Gisa. "I know. I trust you," she said. Abruptly, she pulled Gisa into a tight embrace, ran a hand through her fiery red hair, and whispered something in her ear.

Whatever was said put a bright smile on Gisa's face. She nestled her head on Ashermoran's shoulder, and repeated her urging. "You should go. I will finish the dispersal sequence and load the capsule."

A strange feeling overtook Ailysia as she watched the scene. She had seen public displays of affection often, and never thought much of it. After all, it was someone else's affair. But this felt different. Try as she might, she couldn't shake the sense of familiarity. She had met Gisa before, she was certain. And as Ashermoran lifted a hand to cup Gisa's chin, the sensory recall came in a flurry.

Her skin, Ailysia remembered, was rough and scaly, and a little slimy to the touch. It also carried a muddy fragrance, like fresh cut grass.

Just then, Ashermoran began to say something, and Ailysia completed the sentence in her mind before she even heard the first syllable. "I will be back as soon as possible. But if I don't return in two hours, send the capsule through the transporter."

"I will be back as soon as possible. But if I don't return in two hours, send the capsule through the transporter," said Ashermoran. She pulled away from Gisa gently, and came toward Ailysia, who stood there frozen in shock. Suddenly, the dragon-woman's tone was much less kind. "Well? You asked me to come, so let's get moving!"