Eternal Ebony

Chapter 6

Oblivion, sitting on a cliff, observed the kingdom below in the orange dusk. The light glanced off the rooftops. It sparked and flared off the scales of its inhabitants, flying in the chill air. Oblivion scrutinized it all through partially lidded eyes. He was almost drifting off. He snapped his eyes open again and lay down on the cool stone, spreading his wings fully. They caught the breeze, billowing instantaneously. Oblivion heard the thoughts jostling for space in his head.

What should I eat for dinner?

If that dragon smirks at me ONE MORE TIME..

Who am I talking to? Myself? That's crazy.

That dragonet is SO RUDE!

I swear if my brother asks me for another fish I'm going to cry.

They all swept through Oblivion's mind like a stream. He pricked his ears, listening for anything else. He listened intently. Nothing, he thought. You would think that, with how loud a city can be, I would at least be able to hear something...He tipped his head forward. Listening.

What was that?

He could have sworn he heard a nearby thought. Nearby as in right behind him. He swiveled his head to face the scraggly screen of bushes behind him, concentrating. Immediately, a dragonet stumbled into view. His head hung low, and he looked sick. He must have felt Oblivion's eyes on him, because he looked up and yelped, jumping backwards. But the foliage held him tight. Oblivion focused on his expression for a moment, and managed to look sympathetic and curious.

"Where did you come from?" he asked, genuinely curious. The dragonet's mind was racing. Oblivion shook his head and turned a little. "Yes, I am aware you came from behind that bush. What's your name?" The dragonet, a young male, stuttered. "U-um," he started. "It's A-A-Arrow." Arrow shook violently and tried to stand regally. "Where did you come from?" His wings were folded, but Oblivion could see him shaking.

"I," he said, standing to face him and spreading his wings. "Am Oblivion. Now, how old are you? Two, huh? Where are your parents?" Arrow looked startled. As if he didn't already, Oblivion thought impatiently. But he deflated as he heard the answer in his head. My parents abandoned me a long time ago.

Oblivion hung his head a little lower. He had some new-found respect for the tiny dragonet, so little and delicate compared to his giant talons. "I can empathize with you," he said to Arrow, lowering his voice. "Come with me to the palace. I have someone you would like to meet." Arrow looked reluctant. Should I even go? he was thinking. Will the queen have me executed?

Oblivion couldn't quite understand his worry. But he was concerned for the tiny dragonet. And tired. He had been writing and delivering missives all day. Out of impatience, he used his magic to lift the dragonet and bind him tight to his back, the silence and whistling wind punctuated by yelps and insults. Oblivion spread his wings and lifted slowly.

"Woah," Arrow said, scanning the ground below. Oblivion, smiling at his awe, glided peacefully toward the palace, watching his shadow fall upon the broad, shining roofs and narrow roads and alleys of the kingdom. He felt a shudder on his back, but when he turned, Arrow's eyes were on the various dragons browsing the markets of the square below. As they approached the castle entrance, Oblivion felt a little joy surge through the confusion and terror in Arrow's mind. Oblivion landed in the entrance and saw Ebon talking to a few of her governing commanders. When they spotted Oblivion, they smiled at him, and cut their conversing short. As they hustled away, Ebon approached him, her wings spread.

"Oblivion, darling! You're back from your break! How was it? What did you do?" she implored, curious. She curved her neck to see across Oblivion's back. "And what kind of strange garment did you acquire?"