Traitor to the Crown

Chapter 8

Dear Vaskin and Manx,

I am so elated to receive your correspondence! Honestly, I really miss you around here but Lyrica must be found. Thank you for doing this for me, even though it's out of your comfort zones. How is Manx holding up with her injury? On my end things are piling up and now Ravenna and Ivy are convinced I'll be mating with this one male dragon who came along. Honestly I haven't a clue about er.. Males, and I only just met him. He's a bit forward and it kinda gets on my nerves. Plus I have an empire to run. And I have no idea how to flirt. I've never really been in a relationship, and I am still baffled as to how you do it. He asked me to a flyby, and I hardly even know how to adorn myself for the occasion. I'll read a few books on the subject. Should I get my scales polished, or...never mind. You might have gotten a lead by then, and then I'd be unavailable. I can't pass up this opportunity to get rid of her after everything she did. And I much prefer friendships to courtship. It's all so confusing. Have you seen Khashmyr around lately? She hasn't shown a hair in days and I wonder if she's with you or somewhere else. I've sent a few dozen letters to Xolt, but the pigeons all come back charbroiled and smoking. He must really be mad for his aim to be that bad. Anyways, I hope you are doing well and that by the time this gets to you that maybe you'll have found a lead.  I hope the pigeons in the next region you write from are more civilized.  Until we meet again,

-Leif, Her Majesty and Dragon Empress over all the Valdt

P.S.-The wyverns get a bit squawky if I don't use my formal title. Personally I have found them rather annoying lately. I know they mean well, but ugh! Why can't they get a hobby that doesn't involve them trying to interfere with everything.

Vaskin looked at the letter that had just been dropped into his hands, watching as the bird that had carried it flew off.  He sat down in the grass, gazing up at the mountain range looming up ahead. The sky was clear and vast, with only a few clouds. He set the letter on the grass beside him and sighed. He had figured that this was the perfect place to stop and rest, in between the forest and the mountains. He listened to the chirping of the birds and the rustling of the grass and the rushing of the nearby stream. All of his and Manx's provisions and supplies were strewn about the grass, finally getting dry. Manx had decided to wash up in the stream a little ways back in the forest where he couldn't see her do it, and so he had decided to just relax while he waited for her. He knew she was within ear shot, and so he called out, "Hey Manx!"

"What?" She called back.

"Mind if I join you in a bit?" Vaskin asked.

"Sure. I decided to wash off in my clothes because this duck was staring at me." She replied.

"It's not like you'll get abducted!" Vaskin replied, snapping his fingers.

"Really?" She shot back in annoyance.  He was pretty sure she was rolling her eyes.

"Hey, someone has to make the puns around here." Vaskin replied, getting up and walking into the trees. She gave him a reproachful glare.

"How's the water?" Vaskin asked, changing the subject.

Manx bit her lip and said, "Not bad." She then stared at him in disbelief as he took his shirt off and rolled up his pants. There was a quack of protest as Vaskin's shirt hit the duck that was sitting on a nearby rock,and Manx stifled a giggle. Vaskin then jumped into the waist deep stream, making a bit of a splash.

"Hey!" Manx protested, slapping the water and splashing him back. Vaskin laughed and sat down in the stream so that he was submerged up to his neck. He ducked his head under and then stood up, the water cascading over his well toned abs.

"What?" He asked as Manx's pupils dilated slightly as she looked at him. He noticed how the water had caused her clothes to cling to her thin frame, and her soaked fur hanging tightly over her skinny yet muscular arms. She pulled her wet bangs out of her eyes and gave him an awkward smile.