Revelation(s)

Part One

Pronunciations:

Montcroix: "Mont-Croix" (It's fun to say it in a French accent)

Dannamore: "Dann-a-more"

Nesbith: "Ness-bith"

Shajurn: "Sha-yurn"

Lyier: "Lie-ier"

Gaterlands: "Gator-lunds"

Lysander drew in a quick breath as the Dannamorian navy filed into the port of Montcroix. The ships were larger than any he'd ever seen, but these were paid for by a duke and not of a lower station like his own family. Their standing was still phenomenal compared to many in their country, but he tried to ignore his title unless someone of importance was around. The Duke of Dannamore, Philip Loch, and his daughter, Avalon, would be visiting for the summer. His father had gone on and on about how the duke wanted better trade relations with their island, so apparently a summer holiday was needed to figure out those trade relations. It also helped that his father was a pompous ass and to show his own wealth he decided to buy a dragon from the only dragon seller this side of the ... well, anywhere.

"Remember to be kind to Lady Avalon. I've heard she can be--what's the word? Demure?" The aging Earl glanced down at his only son as the final ship docked and they headed to greet the Duke and young lady.

"Yes, Father." Lysander kept his strides matched with his father's as he reflected on his knowledge of the future duchess. She trained dragons, he knew that much, and he hadn't seen her at court since she was thirteen. She was almost a legend at this point as almost nobody from court crossed the sea to visit Dannamore. Almost any information learned was spun through the rumor mill so it was hard to say what was true and what was false.

"Your Grace, it is so great to see you! How long has it been?"

Lysander watched as his father embraced a tall man with dark hair and even more haunting eyes. He glanced around, noticing that his daughter wasn't with him. She had traveled with her father, right? It seemed odd for such a young woman to travel separate. As Lysander opened his mouth to ask, two large creatures landed on the wooden docks, creaking and groaning under their weight.

"Oh, there she is." The Duke smiled as if this was an everyday event and walked to where one of the creatures stood, rubbing its nose as if it were a dog.

Lysander stood frozen, his face white as a sheet as he tried to keep the bile contained in the back of his throat. Glancing between the two beasts, he raced to the edge of the dock, dropping to his knees in time to empty his stomach into the churning bay.

"So you must be Lord Lysander..."

He glanced up to see a hand offered to him, but everything else was blinded by the sun. Taking the hand, he pulled himself to his feet as his eyes adjusted to the woman standing in front of him. She couldn't have been more the seventeen, but her eyes told him something else. Her hair was tousled, and she didn't appear like a lady at all. He averted his gaze as he realized the rumors of how Dannamorians dress were true.

"Yeah, and you're Lady Avalon, I presume." Lysander stared at his toes, pushing his right foot into the wood.

"Ava," she quickly corrected him. "We don't use titles."

"Strange," he blurted out before he could think.

"You threw up at the sight of a dragon, and you're calling me strange?" Her eyes squinted together as if she were trying to figure him out before she turned on her heel and went back to where both of their fathers were standing.