Tag: dragons

Boundaries

Danna

She clung tightly to Prior and pressed her face against his chest.

“Sweetheart,” he whispered. “What is it?” She hiccuped, realizing she was crying again. “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you? I will always find you. You can send me away when I do, but even Seshi couldn’t fly you far enough away that I wouldn’t.”

“I,” she swallowed, “I killed Cole. Well, Seshi did, but only because I said so.”

“Ah,” Sir Tristan said, leaning against a rock. “Well, that’s a great loss.” She stared at him wide eyed.

“Ignore him,” Prior whispered. “Tristan made his first kill at six years old or something, he’s a terrible example of how to cope with this sort of thing.”

“I was ten, actually,” Tristan said. She blinked.

“Really?” She said. He nodded.

“We were on our way to the resistance camp after our parents had been killed,” Tristan said. “There were a group of bandits that jumped us. Athena and I both got our first kills that day.” He frowned. “You get used to it, but it doesn’t get easier. But you can take solace in knowing that he wanted to hurt you, and now he can’t.” Danna looked at the Colonel of The Queen’s Guard and nodded. It was like he’d known precisely what to say.

“Thank you,” she whispered and Prior kissed her gently.

“She is overwrought,” Seshi said. “I did not make you watch, Little Rider, I knew you could have born that.” She exhaled. “Is your queen angry? We had agreed not to start a panic?”

“We didn’t stay long enough to find out,” Prior admitted. “But probably not.”

“It takes a lot to anger Lisette,” Tristan said. “And she’s quick to forgive.” Seshi nodded. “But, we can arrange a more dignified introduction, I’m sure.” The dragon laughed and Danna smiled at that. She looked up at Prior.

“Do we have to go back right away?” She whispered.

“Of course not,” he said. He nodded to Sir Tristan who nodded back and rode off in the other direction. “Tristan will tell them we’re safe, and we can stay out here as long as you like.” They walked back into the cave. “What do you need?”

“Just you,” she whispered. And it was true, she felt as if she’d been torn apart and Prior’s inherent peace and stability was helping to stitch her back together. He kissed her and she ran her hands under his coat to take it off.

“Danna,” he said, “what just happened, you’ll have a lot of adrenaline,” he drifted off as she kissed his neck.

“Hmm,” she muttered and pressed him to his back and straddled him. “If only there was some way to burn off that adrenaline.” He exhaled, he was clearly trying to hold himself together. He cupped her face.

“Love,” he whispered, “no.” She swallowed.

“No?” She said and leaned back. He shook his head.

“I won’t let you hide in me,” he exhaled, “that’s the line for me.” She blinked. “You can feel whatever you want, do what you need to do, but not with me.” She blinked at him and rolled back.

“You confuse me,” she said. He sighed.

“You have your scars and I have mine,” he said gently. She looked at him, he’d talked about his family, but never about the other parts of his life this way.

“She used you,” she whispered. He shrugged. “Oh, Prior, I’m sorry, I didn’t even think of that,” she rested her head on his shoulder.

“I understand wanting to escape those feelings, Danna, I do,” he swallowed, “I just can’t be that escape for you, not with sex, don’t ask it of me.” She let him stroke her hair.

“Alright,” she said. “So what is the appropriate amount of time after I feed my former lover to my dragon before you will have sex with me?” He laughed. “One day? Two?”

“Will this be happening again?” He teased. “Do you have many former lovers who deserve to be a meal for Seshi?” She smiled wickedly.

“A few,” she said, “I imagine it being a line I’m willing to cross will make you consider a few things.” He laughed harder and kissed her. “I didn’t think that I’d be using you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” he said, “I know you didn’t mean it that way, it’s just something I know I’ll never want again.” She kissed him. “Are you sorry?”

“No,” she said, realizing that he meant for Cole’s death, “not really. I’m sorry for the person he could have been. He was intelligent and driven and brazen, and if he hadn’t been so rotten and empty he could have done wonderful things.” She leaned against him again. “I never understood what he wanted with me, except that I told him no.”

“I don’t know about that,” Prior whispered. “I wanted you as soon as I saw you. You’re extremely wantable.”

“Just not in this moment,” she teased and kissed him again.

“Not quite in this exact moment, that’s true.” Danna rested against him.

“My father wanted this so much,” she said, “I thought he had lost his mind by the end, but he wanted to me to be a rider and a warrior, like our ancestors. That being real, that’s the thing I’ve never really been able to accept.”

“I wish I could have known your father,” Prior said. She smiled.

“He’d have liked you,” Danna whispered, “words like, ‘sturdy,’ and ‘thoughtful,’ probably would have come up.” Prior laughed. “Will the merchants come for me?”

“No,” Prior shook his head, “you’ll be under Tristan and Athena’s protection, you’ll be fine.” She nodded and kissed him softly again. “Did you really doubt that I would come for you?”

“Not really,” she smiled, “I did panic a bit,” he kissed her softly and gently.

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Execution

Danna

She stared at Cole and mounted Seshi. Her dragon took the man in his arms, and charged out of the Castle and flew up into the mountains. Cole screamed the whole way. Good. He should scream.

Seshi landed on a promontory in the mountains, after a flight that felt about an hour long. He spit Cole out. Danna looked down at him and dismounted.

“Danna?” Cole said softly. “Honey,” he whispered it. She knew that whisper, she’d heard it in the dark so many times. The nights when Cole decided he wanted to be sweet. “I came because I’m sorry.”

“You came because you hate to lose,” she said. He looked at her and swallowed. “Tell me the truth, were you planning to marry me, before?”

Seshi huffed and growled, smoke leaving his nostrils. She exhaled and looked at him.

“It doesn’t matter now because you didn’t listen,” she said. “You made yourself a fool, and you did it at my expense, and you put our village in danger to do it.” He swallowed. “I spared you, and I won’t make that mistake again.” She looked at Seshi. “He’s yours.” She walked away. She didn’t want to watch. Instead she found a cave, gathered some wood and lit a fire, and hugged her knees to her chest and cried.

Eventually Seshi joined her and nestled her softly against his belly.

“I am sorry little one,” he whispered. “You should never have been vulnerable to him.” She wept into his side. “You were very brave, and strong. You are good, and true. I would not ever doubt that.” She wiped her eyes.

“We should go back,” I said.

“There is no rush,” he said. “Your ranger will probably find us soon. He is good at that.” She exhaled and fell asleep.

Prior

He headed to the stables to find his horse and Tristan followed after him.

“Prior,” his friend said grabbing his shoulder.

“I can’t just let her run off, I’ll follow them,” he said. Tristan looked at him.

“Obviously, I just wanted to know if you needed help.” He was smiling. Prior laughed.

“You’re thinking of the old days,” Prior said. Tristan shrugged.

“I’m a little rusty, but I think we’ll manage,” he said. They both went and got onto their horses and rode out following Seshi’s trail, they’d lost sight of him but managed to see the signs. Tristan stopped alongside him.

“You know you’d think those blowhards would learn not to insult Caro,” Prior said. Tristan rolled his eyes.

“She’ll lecture me about losing my temper,” he said. “I’m not supposed to threaten merchants anymore.” Prior snorted. “It annoys The Old Man and endangers Chase’s prospects. Men don’t want to marry their daughters to the son of someone who held a sword to their throat. Or do business with him apparently.” Prior laughed.

“Were you doing it a lot?” Prior said. Tristan shrugged. He knew Carolina’s reputation in Dorin was complicated to say the least. Between her controversial marriage to Tristan, and sister’s position in the Dumanis clan, she was both too scandalous to live normally among her people, and too important to be ignored. “He’s gotten big, I feel like I’m missing it.” Tristan smiled sadly.

“There’s always something to miss,” he said. “They grow too fast. You’ll see.” Prior frowned. He and Danna hadn’t spoken about children, or any kind of future, beyond knowing they wanted one. There hadn’t been time. “You should stay here.” Prior exhaled. “With Danna you don’t have an excuse anymore.”

“I’m not you,” Prior said glancing at the sky, looking for a sign of Seshi. Tristan looked at him.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Tristan said.

“It means,” Prior stretched and dismounted, “that I know I’ve moved on with my life, I don’t have to endure proximity to her to prove it to myself.” Tristan dismounted.

“It’s not like that,” Tristan said.

“Not with Annalise, no,” Prior said. Tristan exhaled. “They know you two can’t help it, but that doesn’t make it easier for them.”

“Are you comparing your obsession with Annalise to the fact that the gods shaped Marina and my souls for each other?” Tristan grinned. Prior shrugged. “It’s not the same thing at all. And Danna seemed to fit right in with everyone. And if it does bother her, or you, don’t live in the palace, but stay in the city.” Prior exhaled.

“Like you stayed in Pantona?” Prior asked.

“That was a long time ago,” Tristan said. “You found the dragons, find something else. The Rangers aren’t needed, or pass them off to someone else. Riley maybe, she’s been loyal, the tribes like her, she’s a good fighter.” Prior sighed.

“It’s impossible to talk about this with you,” he muttered. “You’re worse than Evan.” Tristan smirked at him. “Find another woman, get married, give Raymond and me and heir.”

“He is obsessed,” Tristan shook his head. “They really don’t want to leave Allred to one of Elana’s daughters, which is how it stands now.”

“That way,” Prior said and they headed down a trail deeper into the valley. Tracking with Tristan was second nature, they’d done it for so long. Eventually they reached a small clearing and a cave and Danna was standing at the mouth of it, Seshi behind her, looking terrifying and stunning. He ran to her and took her in his arms.

“You found me,” Danna whispered.

“Always,” he whispered.

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A New Start

Prior

Prior walked into the tavern with slight hesitation. He didn’t like that he was traveling alone, but he understood why. Coming into a place like this with even a pair of rangers would draw too much attention. At least on his own he appeared to be simply passing through, needing to rest his horse for a few days.

He’d been out for nearly two months now chasing a wing and this was the first time anything new had come up. He’d seen several nests as he came up on this village and then they’d stopped. Nika had mentioned this place had magic in it, though he hadn’t felt it.

It wasn’t as though Prior was particularly magically sensitive. But even he knew what strong magical places felt like, he’d been in Dovetail, the capital of Cammadan enough times to know that feeling and this place was humming with magic.

“What can I get for you?” The man behind the bar said. Prior looked at him and smiled with a shrug. He had long dark hair tied back, and tawny brown skin.

“Whatever’s brown,” he shrugged. He learned long ago not to trust clear liquors in places like this. The browns were usually safe. The man nodded and filled a glass. He glanced around the room.

“You’ve got business here, Outlander?” Another man said, his voice was even but not friendly. Prior held up his hands.

“Only passing through, Her Majesty likes to have her eyes where she can,” he said. The man grunted and stepped aside. Beside him, now visible was a girl, woman, really, in a threadbare white dress, with red hair brushing her shoulders. She was a really red head, too, not auburn like most of the women of Cammadan. Really, fiery red, pale skin, and green eyes. She looked incredibly beautiful, and then she smiled at him.

Oh no.

“You alright Danna?” The barman asked. She nodded. “Then I can say you’re late” She scoffed and rolled her eyes and walked around behind the bar.

“Really, Tanner, you seemed to be managing” she said. She looked at Prior again. “Who’s this then?”

“Nice to meet you,” he smiled and leaned across the bar. “Commander Prior Chastain,” he offerred his hand. She smiled and took it.

“Danna Finn,” she said. She glanced at his uniform. “You came from the Border?” He grinned.

“Dovetail,” he said. Her eyes widened. 

“Long way,” she said. He nodded.

“It is,” he said softly, “Can I buy your drink?” She smiled at him again, what a smile, it lit up her green eyes, this one was more wry, though. 

“Best not,” she said. He frowned. She was probably married, a girl that pretty out here, no chance she was free. “How long are you here for?”

“Not sure,” he said, “I was planning only a few nights, rest a bit before moving on,” she nodded. “But I could be persuaded to stay longer.” She bit her bottom lip.

“I bet you could,” she threw her hair back and laughed. The line of her throat was even entrancing. Prior could not fall in love right now, or even get himself infatuated. Certainly not with some girl in a backwater on the wrong side of tribal lands who was likely spoken for. 

Unfortunately for Prior his heart and his stomach never listened to reason. The place quieted down as the doors swung open and four men walked in. One was clearly the leader, he was white, with dark blonde hair, trimmed fashionably, a little too fashionably for being so far out, and he was wearing a clean brown coat over a blue silk vest. What the hell was a Dumanis apprentice doing out here?

“Danna,” the leader shouted, as they took a table. She looked at the man behind the bar who shrugged and she grabbed four bottles and walked over. He grabbed her by the waist and she pulled back, then he grabbed her wrist. Prior stood up.

“I wouldn’t get in the middle of that, if I were you,” Tanner shook his head. Prior frowned.

“He’s merchant?” Prior asked. Tanner shrugged. “What clan?”

“Dumanis, so he claims,” Tanner said. “Cole talks a big game, has plenty of money and is working a mine a few miles out. He’s been here about six years, maybe?” Prior nodded, he’d have to write to his friend Tristan Dugarry to verify, if someone was working a mine for the Dumanis, Tristan’s family, he’d know. “You really just passing through?” He asked. Prior sighed. The man was sharp, he’d give him that.

“What do you think?” He asked.

“I think the tribe chiefs have been getting sick of finding their young men dead,” he said, “and I think Harran’s got The Queen’s ear, which is bad news for men like Cole.” Prior grinned. “And I know that you lot have been chasing stories for two years.”

“Not stories,” Prior took a long sip, “dragons. I’ve seen them, from a distance, but they’re real.” Tanner shook his head. “And yes, Harran asked me to look into the killings. What tribe are you from?”

“My mother’s Wyan,” Tanner said, “my da is settler though.” Prior nodded, when he was a child, his homeland had been ruled over by dangerous wizard Tyrant, Brayton Dovetail, Brayton had then been overthrown by his cousin, and the rightful queen, Annalise. During Brayton’s reign many people had fled into the desert. Settlers and their children were hard people, they’d had to be. “How is the Chieftain?”

“Very well,” Prior smiled, “Lady Brea too, they’re both glowing in the light of their son.”

“Gods bless the Prince Rory,” Tanner smiled and they clinked drinks. “Do you need a room?”

“Do you have any?” Prior asked. He didn’t mind sleeping under the stars but it had been weeks since he’d had a bed.

“Can probably scrounge up a bath too,” Tanner winked. ” And you can ask Danna about dragons,” he said as she walked back over. She looked alarmed.

“Why would he ask me?” Danna said quickly. Prior raised an eyebrow. That was an odd response.

“Because your da yammered about the damn things every day for as long as either of us can remember?” Tanner said.

“Oh right,” she shook her head. “I have plenty of old stories, don’t know why they’d interest you Commander,” he smiled at her again.

“I’ll hear any story you want to tell,” he said. He glanced back at the merchant, who was glaring at him. “He’s yours then?” She straightened her shoulders.

“What’s it to you?” She crossed her arms. He smiled and held his hands up.

“I don’t want to step on any toes,” he said. She narrowed her eyes at him. “But any information would be appreciated, by our queen.”

“You’re so sure I’m Cammadie?” She tossed her hair. He smiled. “Maybe my allegiance isn’t to Queen Annalise.”

“If you’re Failon or Rastani, forgive me,” he teased back. “Consider it diplomacy,” she laughed. The merchant marched over then.

“Danna,” he said. “We’re going.” She looked at Tanner, who shrugged. “Tanner.” He nodded coolly.

“Cole,” Tanner’s voice was sharp like a knife. “It’s not busy, Danna, it’s fine.” She nodded. Cole looked at Prior who stood up and met his eyes.

“Just arrived?” Cole said. Prior nodded. “How are things back home?”

“All was well when I left,” Prior said, keeping his voice even, waiting for a challenge. Cole nodded.

“Come by,” Cole said, “Tanner knows the place. I’d never want Her Majesty to think those of us out here have forgotten our manners. The Clans remain her loyal subjects.” Prior nodded. “Danna, now.”

“What’s your rush?” She teased as she walked over to him. “Nice speaking to you Commander.” Cole pulled her close and kissed her. Then they walked out. Prior watched them with a bit of a pang.

“She’s his?” Prior asked. Tanner exhaled.

“Unfortunately,” Tanner mumbled. “She deserves better, but it’s not as though better’s to be had in these parts.” Prior didn’t notice jealousy in his tone. “I’m assuming you have a horse?”

“Yes,” Prior said. “If I need to stable him elsewhere,” he drifted, Tanner waved a hand.

“Take him around back, I’ll get the room set,” he said. Prior smiled and nodded. Twenty minutes later he was leaned back in a warm tub with his eyes closed. Nika had been right. Something was happening in this little village, and he was going to figure out what it was.

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