Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Sorry it took me soooo long to update. :-) Here is the long awaited 2nd chapter.
I had only been to the Keep once before. Its sheer size still astounded me. Saetan met us at the door. He rolled his eyes when he saw Daemonar, it seemed to be a pretty customary greeting for my brother. Just as customary as Daemonar's arrogant disregard for our grandfather. I wanted to laugh, but knew it was the last thing that was needed at the moment. Saetan was barefoot. It took me a moment to reconcile the grandpapa I knew with what I had read. His black turtleneck sweater was wrinkly. He ran a hand through his graying hair and sighed.
"Hello, Daemonar."
Silence.
I jabbed my brother in the ribs. "Oh?" He startled. "Hello," he smiled malignantly. "Grandpappy."
Saetan puffed up a bit, but stayed silent. He was used to this. It had become routine. "Okay, puppy."
Daemonar barked. We all laughed. Actually, Saetan fizzed, but that was beside the point. By the time we were all leaning on each other to keep upright, Draca came in.
She shook her head. "Sso you have come. We have been waiting, little Ssisster." The sibilant voice startled us out of our hysterics. Daemonar straightened up immediately. "You brought the Eyrien. He iss hiss father'ss sson."
Geoffery stepped around the corner, and seemed surprised to see them. Catching Draca's last comment, he added: "Little hell hounds, both."
A ghost of a smile touched Draca's ageless face. "Sso it would sseem. Come, Lorn wisshess to ssee you."
I looked at Daemonar, slowly realizing that she was speaking to me. I followed her, glancing back at the three men, hoping for some assurance. The lower chambers of the Hall took a long time to reach. It gave me plenty of time to imagine what Lorn, Prince of Dragons, would look like. Father had told me he was huge. I knew that was as close as he would ever come to saying that the dragon had scared him shitless. Torches flared to life on either side of the giant chamber and I could hear the woosh of air as the giant doors on the other side were swung open. This is it. I had no idea what would come next.
"He wisshess to ssee you alone." Draca said once we reached the doors.
I stopped dead. "Alone?" She nodded. Biting my lip, I stepped through the doors. There was a large throne on the other end of the room — chamber — dungeon — whatever it was.
Anduvian.
I jumped. The deep reptilian voice continued to echo in my mind. Lorn shifted his massive bulk and fixed his huge eyes on me. My mouth went dry.
"Lorn." What does one say to a dragon? Hello, when was the last time you ate? Because if it was a long time ago, I'm leaving. No, that would never do. Those scales are fabulous, are they real? No. What's on the menu . . . . . I hope it's not fried Eyrien . . . . . Again, absolutely not. Are you the reason the landen population is so low? No — then he would eat me. What do you do in your spare time? Find a way to eliminate the cockroach population by breathing fire . . . . . talk about a long day. The restaurant's special for the day is baked Eryien dusted with cheese crumbles with a side of hot sauce . . . . . .
The dragon looked amused. I do not eat Eryiens, Anduvian, there is no need for you to worry. Though I have heard, from some, that they taste like rubber bands.
I wasn't sure whether I wanted to laugh or be sincerely concerned for the dragon's mental health. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Mother Night, I sound like an idiot.
Your court.
Lovely. Wonderful. I haven't given it much thought.
The dragon snorted, causing dust to swirl all around me. I figured as much.
"What is that supposed mean?" I felt childish being so defensive. Who was he to care if I did not plan to set up a court within the next few years? Ever, actually, but I wasn't going to tell him that.
He shook his head, his dark eyes sparkling. Dreamss may survive forever, but the flessh is alwayss temporary.
"You are telling me this because . . . . . ." I liked being Eyrien. It was a good excuse for being a smart ass.
Asskavi will need a Queen when the dreamss are gone.
I really didn't like where this conversation was headed. I had never really thought about Jaenelle not being from the long lived races. It seemed as though she would always be there. Always. I suppose that is just a daughter's hope. "What do you want from me?"
A Queen.