Home is a Treasure Beyond Price

Chapter 23

Two dragons in a cave made for cramped quarters, so it was a relief when Cadence and Sombra left the cave. Even so, Nick couldn't help feeling abandoned when he watched them fly off into the distance.
Marissa was still asleep at the table when she went inside, head down on folded arms, so Nick went to get his herb pouch. It was time to check which herbs needed replenishing after his last bout with sickness. About halfway through laying everything out, Marissa woke with a snort.
"Hey." Marissa stretched and yawned and looked around. "Where're the dragons?"
"Went off to hunt."
"That was subtle," Marissa murmured. She looked at the herbs spread out on the table. "Are you a physician?"
"Hardly," he said. "My mother was the city wise-woman. I learned some of the information from her. I tend to need physicking quite often, so I always keep some herbs around."
"So I hear Cadenza asked you to be her Companion?"
"Yes," Nick said, and that was all he would say, he decided. He'd already made up his mind not to accept, so he should just keep his mouth shut and not ask Marissa anything. "Can I ask you about it?" he heard himself say. "Being a Companion?" So much for keeping his mouth shut.
"Of course," Marissa said. "That's why we're here, Nick."
"What exactly is the relationship between a dragon and a Companion?"
"Did Cadenza tell you," Marissa said, "that a dragon will only ever choose one Companion in their whole life?"
"She left that part out, actually. But then again, how many times would a dragon want to give up half their life force?" Nick put down the feverfew in his hands when he realized he was reducing it to shreds. "So does that make you Sombra's wife?"
Marissa laughed. "Oh no, nothing so simple. I'm his Companion, as he is mine." She shrugged. "It's difficult to explain. He would die for me, kill for me; he would protect me with his dying breath. And I would do the same for him." She said simply, "I love him."
The stark conviction in Marissa's words struck a deep chord in Nick. "Are you saying Cadence offered me the bond because she loves me?"
Marissa's face scrunched up in thought. "Dragons don't use terms like 'love'. They don't understand it as we do. What they understand is treasure. Every dragon alive has a hoard hidden away somewhere." Marissa pointed at him with the knife in his hand. "If Cadenza asked you to be her Companion, then it means you are the thing she treasures most in this world. She'd be miserable without you. And dragons have long lifespans and long memories. That's a long time to be miserable."
He chewed his lip and considered Marissa's words. When it was put like that, what right did he have to decide what Cadence could do with her own life force?
Marissa studied him for a moment, then nodded. "But you need to remember, dragons hold on to their treasures," she said gravely. "If you become her Companion, it has to be because you want the exact same thing. You have to be very sure, because she will never let you go."
Well... it wasn't as though he was all that keen on letting Cadence go, either. "What's it like being a Companion?"
"It's not always easy." Marissa looked down at her hands. "You'll see friends and family die of old age while you remain outside the flow of human time." Nick nodded. He'd always believed his friends would outlive him, so he wasn't prepared for how much the thought of watching them age and die hurt.
"After a while, you'll give up trying to befriend regular people. Most of us have learned to find our friendships with other Companions. It's easier," Marissa said. "Easier if people don't know about us. We don't stay anywhere too long, don't let people see that we don't age. Don't get involved." Marissa shrugged when she said this.
Marissa was silent for moment. "But there's nothing like it in the world. The things we've seen together..." her eyes took on a faraway look. "I wouldn't give up Sombra for anything," she said, lips curved into a private smile. It was quiet while Marissa remained lost in thought. Then she blinked and focused on Nick.
"Apart from the extended lifespan," Marissa continued, "there are a few other little benefits of being a dragon's Companion."
"Cadence did mention I won't get sick anymore," Nick said.
"That's one. Another is that you can speak to Cadenza, you know, the way dragons do. Without making a sound. And over quite a long distance. Very useful, I can tell you. Especially when, ah... when trouble likes to find you."
Nick got the distinct feeling Marissa was speaking from experience. He pictured Sombra descending from the sky like the wrath of all the gods to rescue Marissa from whatever trouble had found her. Or, also entirely likely, whatever trouble she'd found.
Marissa looked out the cave mouth. "They're back. Come on," she said with a smile. "They'll put on a show if they know we're watching."