Private Tales Of Sand & Dragonfire

[Chaceledon]

Seteta was exhausted, and that much was clear. Chaceledon tried to carry himself with as much dignity as he could, head high and eyes forward. Dragons never ceased being dragons after all. He didn’t look at the innkeeper and kept his face expressionless as Seteta gathered the last of their food and they headed toward her family’s camp.

Despite his misgivings about her family standing, it was almost...charming? He walked through the fiery pathways, noting the layout of the camp, and stopped briefly as she pointed out her family’s emblem. A lizard holding the sands. He smiled at it. Even done by an amateur hand, it was pretty. Rustic, his colleagues would say. He touched the fabric reverently. Inizae. It sounded...draconian, in a way.

The tent was piteously short, and he had to duck to enter. Even so, he kept feeling his hair brush the top of the fabric. “Thank you for hosting us.” he said politely, following Seteta’s lead. Thankfully the reunion wasn’t as chatty. They were all tired, and the women led them to a small portion sectioned off from the main tent.

Chaceledon was grateful for the privacy. He folded himself behind her much as he’d done in the storytelling; crossing his ankles first and sinking down. He undid her hair first, taking down the simple pin and using it to comb her hair free of tangles. Thankfully, the oils he’d treated her hair with meant very little mess. He kissed her neck, laying the pin down neatly and drawing the top layer from her shoulders. His hands were cool, soothing after a rough day in the sun, and he made sure to fold her sunset robe with as much respect as possible.

Then the bottom layers, each with a respectful kiss to her shoulders, and a slow, gentle hand untying the sash about her waist. Every touch was purposeful, loving. “I love you. Thank you for doing that for me today.” he whispered fondly with a kiss to her ear. He laid her into the nest of blankets and pillows. His lips met hers with tender sweetness, hands arranging the pillows under her lower back. Ah, who knew bedroom talents could become of use in such strange ways? He knew how to cushion the body so she would feel slightly less of an ache.

He settled a light blanket over her, with the others in easy reach, and undressed himself down to the last layer of soft white. He laid on his side next to her, thinking. Of her. Of Nica. If Nica’s family was gone...how much of his was left? No. Nica’s family roamed wide and their estate was small; of course they’d be the ones taken. A small pang of regret. He hadn’t been betrothed to Nica, but he’d promised. Gods, he’d promised. Stringing the poor fool from a country estate along, and laughing at him behind closed doors. All because Nica had a waistline he lusted after.

The more he looked back on the dragon he’d been, the more he was unsure whether he should burn Oor alive or thank him.

He buried his face in Seteta’s lovely hair, and inhaled her smell. He had a vision of her then, in the chair of his dahn, the first non dragon to own such a seat. Clothed in agates and crystals beloved to her. It was all he wanted for her. Power, peace, and love. Neither her, nor her family, should want for anything.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Despite the pain ricocheting through her hands and up her forearms, Seteta nearly fell asleep as Chaceledon combed her hair, though she roused with a quiet, contented murmur when he kissed her neck and began to gently remove the layers of robes, laying kisses across her body as he did so.

She nearly cried at the sweetness of his actions, and wished that she had the energy to make love to him.

“I love you. Thank you for doing that for me today.” he whispered fondly with a kiss to her ear. He laid her into the nest of blankets and pillows. His lips met hers with tender sweetness, hands arranging the pillows under her lower back.

Her lips were soft as they moved against his, and loathed the end of their kiss, and directed him in placing a pillow behind her head as well at the most comfortable angle for her.

"Do you think it worked?" she asked quietly as she watched him prepare for bed in the dim lighting. "Will the word spread?"

He was almost disconcertingly quiet as he slid into bed next to her, but she smiled a few moments later when he nuzzled her hair, and she turned her head to catch his lips with hers again. Even if making love was out the question right now, deep, lazy kisses were something she could manage.

But a quiet clearing of a throat interrupted them, and Seteta broke the kiss with a little regret, and looked over to see Kahi with the tray of food. Anai was right behind her with a pitcher of water and two glasses.

"Come in," Seteta said with a tired smile, though she didn't try to rise. "We'll be good for a moment."

"You two are adorable," Anai giggled as she followed Kahi in, and Seteta rolled her eyes, though her smile was fond. Kahi retrieved a folding tray rack and set it up near the head of the bed where Chaceledon could easily reach it. She set the tray down, and Anai set the pitcher and cups down after that.

"Good night, cousins," Anai whispered and headed out of their 'room' though not without looking back a final time and giggling softly to herself once again. Seteta blushed a little as she heard Anai begin to chatter to Supti. Supti's voice was deep and soothing in comparison, but even she could hear the quiet fondness in his tone as they quietly conversed.

Kahi spoke, then. "Make sure she eats something before she sleeps, and make sure she drinks plenty. Otherwise the morning will be harder for her than it needs to be."

Seteta sighed, but didn't protest. She could make sure Chaceledon knew what she needed, but she knew that Kahi was ever-motherly, so she didn't complain.

"Good night, Kahi," she said though, her voice firm despite her weariness. "I'll be fine."

Kahi reached over and lightly flicked Seteta's forehead, but didn't linger in the room any longer after she gave Chaceledon a final look and said, "Make sure!"

Kahi did look back with a final fond glance at Seteta, though. "Good night, cousins," she echoed Anai's wish, and then the two were left alone again.

Seteta sighed quietly again, though her expression had turned wistful as she listened to Kahi's voice join the quiet chatter at the other end of the tent. She knew they would all sleep soon, for it was late and dawn would come early, but it was nice to hear the voices of her family once more.

She turned back to Chaceledon then, and lightly kissed him again. "I am hungry," she confessed. "Is there fruit on the tray?"

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon was content to lay there and kiss her. He could sink so easily into that almond skin, her lovely eyes. His hand reached up to brush her cheek, his thumb stroking over her cheekbone. He felt so lazy and quiet; she calmed the storms in his head. He smiled at her question. “They got to witness a dragon entrance, a geomancer storytelling, and a draconian mate spat all in one day. They’ll be talking about it to everyone who walks into that town.” he murmured.

Anai and Kahi interrupted, but it was with water and food. Chaceledon reached for the pitcher and poured Seteta a deep cup of water, making sure she had hold of it before pouring one for himself. He nodded tolerantly at Kahi. He was used to this sort of firmness. “You sure she isn’t a Volker with that frankness?” he teased, offering Seteta a bit of prickly pear and fig. He ate very little, and only when he was sure they weren’t being watched. It wouldn’t do for his new cousins to watch him stuffing himself like a boar.

He kissed Seteta’s forehead where Kahi had flicked it, and fed her pieces of fruit as though she were some desert queen and he her faithful pet. Each bite followed by an affectionate kiss.

Exhaustion paid its toll, however. He left the tray within easy reach of Seteta and curled up behind her, nuzzling his head into her hair and closing his eyes. She wouldn’t need much in the way of blankets; even as the desert chill descended, Chaceledon blazed in warmth like a rock left in their campfires. He would keep her warm.

The image of Rheinhard blowing hard through his mask on the sands. Scorching sun beating down on him, blood and sweat mingling down his back. Two dead opponents in front of him, and a third tired man hefting a falchion before him. The crowd around them cheered as the two men clashed again, and Rheinhard stumbled. A lucky strike across the knee by his opponent brought them close. Dangerously close. Rheinhard was unarmed, his knife roll held securely on a ribbon just out of reach above his head.

Rheinhard’s head whipped around and used the silver mask to strike his opponent. He smashed his metal-covered chin into the man’s skull until it cracked like a rotten tomato. Exhausted, Rheinhard staggered to his feet, and cut his weapons down with the dead man’s falchion.

The gate raised again...

Chaceledon sat up bolt upright, with quick, shallow breaths and his eyes darting around the room. Not Witherhold, not a hotel. Tent. Anai. Kahi. Supti. He shakily laid back down, running his fingers over his face. That was no dream. Oor was sending him memories.

He glanced outside. The pink bleed of dawn was just beginning through the tent.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Despite Chaceledon's affectionate feeding--and for tonight, at least, she didn't protest his own lack of eating. She was simply too weary--Seteta's sleep was fitful. She only slept in short bursts, waking several times through the night as the pain pulsed and grew. Over the years, she'd tried many remedies in an effort to alleviate the pain even a little, but none of them had ever touched it.

The magic demanded a price, and if she didn't pay it beforehand, she was at its mercy afterward.

The pain, at least, never lasted more than two days at most.

She had just drifted off into a light doze again, after feebly drinking a long draught of water and nibbling some cheese, when Chaceledon bolted awake. Seteta watched through sleep-hazed eyes as he laid back down and ran his hands over his face.

Dawn was near, anyway. It wasn't like there was much time remaining for sleep.

She shifted close to him, carefully slinging an arm over his waist, and resting her head on his chest.

"Are you all right, sehejib?" she whispered. She knew the look of one waking from a nightmare.

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon felt a bit guilty. Had he woken her? He lifted a hand and ran his fingers through her hair. “Oor is sending me memories. He’s pushing Rheinhard back into pit fights. This time with only the mask.” he mumbled. He had every faith Rheinhard would pull through, but that hit to the knee had looked bad. Common sense told him even Oor wouldn’t be so stupid as to let a wound fester. Doubt tugged at him. Rheinhard was being punished for insolence, but he could take a lot of punishment.

He hadn’t seen Persian in the stands, but neither had he looked so closely. It had been from Rheinhard’s perspective, and Rheinhard was focused on breathing.

Chaceledon sighed and began to fussily braid her hair so it wouldn’t be too messy on the road. “He just has to hold out a little longer. Surely he knows we’re coming for him.” he muttered, more to himself than to her. He fell silent. He sensed Supti would be getting them up soon.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Seteta's eyes closed as she sighed, nestling a little closer into his side as he stroked her hair. She was honestly not quite sure how to comfort Chaceledon. Rheinhard was in a tough spot, and freeing him from Oor was going to be far more difficult than it had been to free Chaceledon.

"He is strong, resourceful, and capable," she murmured quietly. "He'll be all right until we get there, though we shouldn't tarry any longer than necessary. So, promise to eat well and not to push too hard for the next few days so you can regain some of your strength, all right?"

After another few quiet moments in his arms, Seteta sat up and stretched, smiling when she felt Chaceledon start to braid her hair.

“He just has to hold out a little longer. Surely he knows we’re coming for him.” he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Seteta reached up and caught his hand with one of hers, though she flinched as it caused a new wave of pain.

"He knows," she said. "He loves you, and he knows that you love him. If he didn't believe you would come for him, he wouldn't have left the message that Oor had taken him."

A throat being cleared at the entrance to the room made Seteta drop Chaceledon's hand, and she tugged the blanket up to cover herself. "Yes?" she called.

Supti stepped inside, and his smile was one of relief. "I see you're awake. Good."

"Just barely," Seteta shrugged, but returned his smile, and leaning back against Chaceledon. "How long do we have before you take down the tent?"

"Kahi and Anai have already started packing up the rest of it," he answered. "Maybe half an hour? If Chaceledon can have your belongings packed up in the trunk sooner than tat, except for what you need immediately accessible, that would helpful. The caravan cook has breakfast ready outside."

"We'll be ready," Seteta answered, and Supti stepped back outside the room.

"Soon," she murmured, turning back to Chaceledon. "Soon, we'll be on our way to Annuakat."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon held her hand and kissed her fingers. She was right. Volker had never wavered in his faith of him. The least he could do was be worthy of that faith. He rubbed her hand a bit as Supti got her attention, trying to ease the pain she no doubt felt. He nodded to Supti and got up to get himself dressed. Gods, the same clothes in two days. He eyed the grey robe and packed it away, sifting through his belongings. He had the grey robe, the black robe, and...he glared at the pocket dimension.

Oor had left him an earthy brown robe no doubt left at the house, with a matching taupe and white. He pulled them out, glaring at the copper embroidery. “Wonderful, now he’s insulting me in draconian.” he sneered, and pulled on the under robes. “Brown means cheap.” He layered the taupe over it, and the brown over it. The copper and his few bronze hair pins would mesh well, and he had some kohl left for his eyes that would bring it together. He sighed and patted gold over his lids with a finger, and used a little of their water to mix the kohl.

When he was dressed, he helped Seteta into her clothing, and ensured their things were safely packed away. Annuakat. Soon. He would help her rise or carry her if she couldn’t. She needed breakfast. A little tea and rice for him if they had it. Well. He’d promised he’d eat more. Perhaps he’d mix in half an egg for good measure.

The dragon kissed her cheek, and scowled. “Ergh! I would trade a blade for a good pot of lip jelly.” he rubbed a finger over his lips subconsciously and scratched. Why did he itch? His eyes also had a faint pale cast to them, bleary. He paused. He was shedding. For the first time in...millennia. He was warm enough to shrug off his skin. “Wonderful. I’ll be blind and you’ll be incapacitated. I’m...well there’s no delicate way of saying it. Going through my cycle.”

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Seteta smiled and chuckled. "Around here, brown means you're just trying to blend in. No one will know otherwise," she stated, settling back on the pillows for a little bit as she watched him dress and do his makeup. He was so... deliberate about it, but it was clearly something he enjoyed, and she liked watching him.

She sipped at more water and nibbled at what remained of the fruit before he came to help her dress. It was with some relief that she donned the types of clothing she was used to--the knee-length linen abaya and the leggings underneath it. As he helped lace up her sandals, she bent over kissed him on the forehead. Her headscarf she directed him to drape over head once, and loop an end under her chin and over the opposite shoulder.

She rested more and quietly waited as he packed up the rest of their belongings--few that they were--and she suggested at one point that he start pulling the remaining things he wanted to keep from Oor's 'closet' to fill in the rest of the space. When he finished, she stood up, and she hummed contentedly when he kissed her cheek.

“Wonderful. I’ll be blind and you’ll be incapacitated. I’m...well there’s no delicate way of saying it. Going through my cycle.”

Carefully looping her arm through his, she looked at him curiously as she led him out of the tent and toward the breakfast area.

"You're what?" she asked with a quiet laugh as she directed him to retrieve a plate and start filling it.

There were scrambled eggs with of the dried hot chilies that he loved, fresh figs and dates, and a choice of either coffee or tea. She had him pile the plate high, saying that they could share it, and when it was filled she carefully took it. A plate of solid food she could handle with her hands right now... cups of liquid, not so much, especially since they were hot. She had him get tea for her, with a generous spoonful of honey and a splash of goat's milk, and when he'd chosen his drink, she guided him over to a quiet spot where they could sit and eat.

Most of the caravanners had already eaten, and were beginning to pack up their wares and tents. Not everyone nearby was with Supti's caravan, she knew. This was a communal spot they all used outside of Maraan.

"Have you ever ridden a camel?" she asked as they ate.

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon eyed her. “My...like a snake. We shed our skins too.” he said awkwardly. It was so strange to share that. He was finally warm enough for his body to begin behaving as a dragon's should. He hadn't been healthy enough to shed his skin in years. He ran a hand through his hair. “It doesn’t take long. Four days at most.” he muttered as they approached the breakfast table.

His definition of piling the plate was clearly different from hers. He filled it normally, and sectioned off a very small portion of eggs for himself, with half a fig. He couldn’t go too mad. Not in front of people. He got her tea, and filled his mug without adding honey and milk. Sugar and dairy were both fattening. He could remember only eating a little on his hatch day, and hadn’t had it since his capture.

He settled down and offered her the plate, taking his small bites delicately. He seemed to be trying to sweep small portions of food into his mouth when no one was looking, and when people were he held his arm in front of him like a privacy shield. He definitely did it for drinking.

“A camel? I should say not.” he said archly. Ew. Loud, disgusting, stinky, biting, drooling camels. He wouldn’t get anywhere near one. He’d have to burn his clothing.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

"Aaah," Seteta said as Chaceledon explained about shedding his skin. "Human females use that, ah, term for... something else. I didn't think you meant it the same way they did, but I had no idea what you might mean."

As they ate, Seteta noticed his movements and how he tried to shield himself from view. "I'm sorry there isn't a more private spot right now," she apologized, resting a hand against his thigh for a moment. "We Abtati... eating is often a communal thing for us. When there is enough food to feed an entire tribe, it is a thing of celebration. More often, there is scarcity."

When she asked about the camels, though, his response made her arch an eyebrow.

“A camel? I should say not.” he said archly. Ew. Loud, disgusting, stinky, biting, drooling camels. He wouldn’t get anywhere near one. He’d have to burn his clothing.

"Are you going to walk the whole way then?" she asked. "You can't fly right now."

Seteta gestured toward a string of camels that were being saddled and loaded. There were only a couple of carts in that group, already heavily laden with supplies. "That's Supti's caravan. The options are riding a camel, or walking."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Oh.

Oh gods.

He’d avoided animals this entire trip.

Of course there had been Mau and Rations, gods knew where they were now, but Volker had dealt with them. Chaceledon had barely had to touch them. He looked queasily at the camels. What was that noise they were making? Like someone belching into a lead pipe. But he couldn’t walk either. He’d ruin his feet! Did he want to have Rheinhard stripping callouses off the bottoms of his feet with a knife? He looked hopefully at the carts but they were absolutely full.

Chaceledon helped her give their dishes to the camp cook, and looked uneasily at the camels. “Can’t we wash one first?” He asked helplessly. He dug around and pulled out a small vial of his bath oils, pouring a bit on his Carmel’s saddle. On second thought...he upended it over the beast’s neck, earning an irritated bellow from the animal.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Oh... oh no. Seteta stared in horrified... something as she watched Chaceledon slightly panic over the thought of riding a camel. She wasn't sure if that something was sympathy for the poor camel, terror at how it might react to having a strange smelling substance dumped on it by a predator, or the very sudden and real concern that Chaceledon might have an actual breakdown.

Seteta winced as she reached out and latched her fingers onto the back of Chaceledon's robe and attempted to tug him away from the waiting animal. "Sehejib," she pleaded softly. "That isn't the camel we'll be riding, and all you've managed to do now is attract flies to the poor beast."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon winced and folded his arms across his chest, looking at Seteta. What did she expect? He was going to be riding a beast crawling with insects and parasites, that smelled a bit like a bar rag. He watched one flip its lips up and chew, and actually thought he may vomit. He stared at Seteta. He had attracted the flies?!

“I’m fairly sure they’re coated in the things already. It can’t tell the difference.” he muttered. He didn’t want to walk, the sight of the camels made his skin crawl. He rubbed a hand over his face. “Koiros, let’s get this over with. The sooner I get on one of these walking disease piles the sooner I can get off of it and burn the robes I’m wearing.”

Dragons didn’t keep any animals. His mother was considered odd for keeping a cat, and even then it was only tolerated because it cleaned itself constantly. The only mammals that were kept were the servants and pets, and only with the understanding that they keep their sweaty, stinking, hairy selves to themselves. Even wild reptiles were clean. Chaceledon didn’t have a strong natural odor.

He shut his eyes a moment, gathering himself. If he held Nica’s hair back while he vomited Pink Slipper he could do this.

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Seteta sighed, but smiled. Clearly, life with Chaceledon would take some patience. Hopefully she could eventually get him to think before he reacted... some of the time.

"I promise that Supti takes very good care of his camels, and they are cleaned and groomed on a daily basis," she spoke with quiet laughter in her voice as she led Chaceledon away from the... fragrant, angry camel, and further up the line. Kahi and Anai were already there, though she didn't see Supti. He was likely checking over the final packings and for any last minute additions to the caravan.

Seteta smiled and nodded to Supti's wives as they drew closer, then she gestured over at a couple of camels with more ornate fixtures on their backs. Covered carriages, of a sort.

"We're riding in those," she said. "They're called howdah. Not super roomy, but at least there's shade and cushions."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon followed Seteta, and a hand settled against his chest. He sighed in relief, smiling and closing his eyes a moment. Thank the gods. They looked like palanquins, and at least he wasn’t touching the animal. He felt much better about it...even if he was going to be rocking back and forth on top of a stinking beast. There was at least some degree of separation.

“Thank the gods. For a moment I actually thought you were just going to plunk me stop a sweaty mammal.” he said in relief, leaning over to kiss her cheek. When she indicated their camel, he was happy to awkwardly climb aboard and lounge inside. He arranged the cushions, and patted the seat next to him for Seteta. He smiled at her welcomingly. “And we can think of things to do to pass the time.”

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Seteta laughed softly now, mostly in amusement, at Chaceledon's obvious relief. She spoke quietly for a moment with Kahi and Anai as he climbed into the howdah, and then quirked a brow.

“And we can think of things to do to pass the time.”

She carefully climbed up over the camel's neck, wincing as she grabbed hold at different points to pull herself up beside him.

"I, for one, will be resting," she said. "And this is usually Anai's howdah. She and Kahi will share one while we're traveling with them, so that you and I can use this one. Supti rides his own camel at the head of the caravan."

One of Supti's hired hands came along them, and handed filled waterskins, and small baskets of dried fruit and jerky up to them. Seteta nodded her thanks as they took them and tucked them away inside. She saw Kahi and Anai climbing up into the other howdah.

"We'll head out soon," she murmured. "Supti we won't see again until supper, though the whole caravan will stop for a few hours at the hottest part of the day. But we won't make camp again until after nightfall."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon helped Seteta up and donated the majority of the cushions to her comfort, kissing her fondly. The water skin and snacks he accepted gracefully, but he wouldn’t be as reliant on water here. Strength was returning the more time he spent in the heat, and he curled up next to Seteta to braid her hair. “I’ll have to make Anai something.” he said softly. After all, she’d spared him the camel.

He laid on his back and fished out a few coins left from their shopping. With a little heat, his fingers drew out long lengths of gold and silver wire. He began wrapping them, applying heat here and there with little plumes of violet flames. He had some spare, cheap gemstones left. A little piece of smoked quartz barely the size of a thumb. He sighed and turned it over in his fingers, then began wrapping it in the wire.

It took him hours, but kept him occupied. They stopped when the heat became rather much for the non-reptiles in their caravan, and Chaceledon disembarked. He found Anai, and cleared his throat.

“I’m told you’re the one who offered us the...oh I forget the word. The tent on the camel.” he mentioned, and offered her the pendant. “Thank you for sparing my dignity.” He said in Abtati, and inclined his head to her. As close to a bow as she’d get from a dragon.

 

[Seteta]

Once they were on their way--Seteta had to warn Chaceledon to hang on to the sides of the howdan before the camel actually stood, though she'd wondered if it would be amusing to see him thrown off balance, literally, for a change--Seteta settled on the cushions and let the camel's rocking gait lull her into quiet rest, along with Chaceledon's hands in her hair.

Then pain in her hands and arms was, at least, not worsening anymore. It was mostly just a steady, aching throb, punctuated by flares of bright, vivid pain, and much except for that she was able to lightly sleep through.

Whenever the pain woke her, she'd make sure to take sips of water. Until she could doze off again, she'd prop a cushion under her arm and watch Chaceledon working, curious what he was crafting. From time to time, she'd nibble at the fruit and jerky as well, and make sure that he stopped his work to eat a few bites every now and then. She didn't make him drink as much as she was, but did remind him that he'd been dehydrated just a couple days beforehand, and he needed to not let that happen again.

By the time the caravan stopped for the afternoon, Seteta had gotten Chaceledon to help her roll up the curtains at each side of the howdah so there would be a cross-breeze through it. Traveling from Maraan to Ragash meant they were heading almost due west, and soon they would need to pull a heavier curtain down on the front of the howdah.

As the camel kneeled down to rest, and then Chaceledon soon exited the howdah, Seteta finally drifted off to quiet sleep.

---

Anai was exiting the howdah she was sharing with Kahi when Chaceledon found her. Kahi was quite a bit older than she, and would rest more in the heat of the day, but Anai was restless and wanted to stretch her legs. She'd been about to go find Supti and see what she could help with when Chaceledon approached, and she smiled.

“I’m told you’re the one who offered us the...oh I forget the word. The tent on the camel.” he mentioned, and offered her the pendant. “Thank you for sparing my dignity.” He said in Abtati, and inclined his head to her. As close to a bow as she’d get from a dragon.

She gave a delighted laugh as he called the howdah 'the tent on the camel.' He wasn't wrong, but to hear it said so plainly in the Common tongue was a novelty. When he held out a pendant, though, she plucked it from his hand with a gasp, barely noticing the incline of his head, though she heard his words, and her eyes softened.

"You're welcome," she stuttered in rough Common, then switched back over to Abtat. "Did you make this? It's lovely. I'll dig out a chain for it when we stop this evening."

She grinned as she tucked the pendant away, but just as she opened her mouth to say something else, Kahi called out from the howdah. "Is Seteta's sehejib out there? Send him in, I'd like to speak with him for a while."

Anai sighed and shrugged, her grin turning wry. "You heard her. Best get in."

Then the younger Abtati spun on her heel, humming a quiet tune, and began to seek out Supti.

When Chaceledon was inside and settled next to Kahi, she would ask, "How is Seteta? I know she doesn't like to show any weakness in front of people."

Then, a few moments later, Kahi would ask, "Tell me honestly, about last night. Who was it that interrupted Seteta's story? And how much, exactly, did she leave out of that story?"

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon was not expecting the lurching. He seized the sides of the howdah like a frightened housecat, clinging to it until they stabilized a bit. He wasn’t thrown entirely off balance, but he did panic a bit. Thankfully, in the privacy of the howdah no one could see his wide eyes and gasp of surprise.

He made his jewelry, and tended to Seteta. He made sure she had enough water, ate the fruit and a bit of the jerky, and slept as comfortably as one could on the animal equivalent of a rocking boat. He snacked absentmindedly while he worked, more focused on his hands than anything Seteta handed him.

The sudden pitch of the howdah downward as the camel went to its knees then sank its rear down, actually did catch him. He slid forward and yelped, flinging an arm over the side of the construction until the camel settled. He gave it a choice glare as he went to find Anai. What sort of evil little animal did that? Was it trying to throw him? He huffed.

Anai seemed quite grateful for the gift, and he nodded. “Just something to do while Seteta rested. I had a little quartz left.” he said. Then the older woman summoned. He had been expecting this conversation for a bit now. Dragons did much the same when they began courting; threats and veiled insults from older women if not outright sabotage were common. Old jealous women were the same in every race, it seemed. He entered the howdah with a neutral expression, settling in front of Kahi with his back arrow straight, his head up and forward, and hands purposefully on his knees.

“Seteta is tired. She expended herself a lot yesterday...she needed to mitigate it beforehand but I was in no position to help her.” he thought for a moment about her next questions. “The man who interrupted her is a dragon named Nica. He was my romantic partner before I was captured. My memory is fuzzy from that time, but I have no interest in him anymore. I love Seteta.”

He thought of the things she’d left out. He didn’t want to lie to Kahi...but there was no reason to tell her about Vel Anir. Rheinhard’s magic interruption was what had caused the release of the remnants. The only good thing in Rheinhard going back to Oor was that the wraith had repaired him, put most of the remnants back to sleep, and gotten the Well stable. As far as Gaal went....well, the Collector was known to travel this far south.

“We had a small run in with a wraith known as Gaal, the Collector. He razed a town to gain servants, but spared us.” he mentioned. Slip short, and not the entire truth, but he didn’t want to sabotage his sons chances with new in-laws before he’d even met them. It was easy to judge Volker too harshly. “And I know your family has had run ins with Persian...but I intend to seek his aid. Like it or not, Persian represents my best chances of contacting other dragons. I believe Nica was in Maraan looking for me...and probably had been for years. My introduction will have to be done properly, by someone with social standing. Not only that, but we both have revenge against a common enemy waiting for us in Pedeo. My former husband has an estate there.” he told her. “Trust me when I say I won’t let your family come to harm.”

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Kahi was lounged back across a pile of cushions, but she tucked her legs aside as Chaceledon climbed in to make room for his long limbs. He sat tall, formal, as if expecting to be put on trial. To some extent, she did want to judge the character of the man--or, apparently, the dragon--before her, but mostly she wanted to get to know him without Seteta interrupting.

She would leave the true grilling for Setata's mother. Or grandmother. Perhaps both, and at that thought, Kahi felt a pang of sympathy for Chaceledon.

“Seteta is tired. She expended herself a lot yesterday...she needed to mitigate it beforehand but I was in no position to help her.”

"Users of magic do not always get to practice under the ideal circumstances," Kahi said, offering a bit of comfort. "Seteta weighed the risks for herself and made her choice. Don't feel guilty for that."

“The man who interrupted her is a dragon named Nica. He was my romantic partner before I was captured. My memory is fuzzy from that time, but I have no interest in him anymore. I love Seteta.”

At those statements, Kahi's brow furrowed a little, and she sighed. She watched Chaceledon quietly for a moment. Even if this dragon was... as ancient as Seteta's story had claimed, he was still so very young and inexperienced, it seemed.

"It seems concerning to me that you would have no interest in someone you were once in a relationship with," Kahi pointed out. "Even if you love Seteta now, that love should not negate feelings you had in the past. If the relationship you had with this Nica did not end cleanly, whether by your own neglect or by reasons outside your control, he deserves some of your attention now, even if to allow his feelings to find closure. Seteta will say as much, if you give her the chance. Unresolved issues in past relationships will always find a way to haunt a new one."

“We had a small run in with a wraith known as Gaal, the Collector. He razed a town to gain servants, but spared us.” he mentioned.

Kahi waved her hand absently at that. "It is unlikely that a random wraith will stumble across us and make the connection between us and you and Seteta. And even if they do, there are those among us who are equipped to deal with such things."

She did not say that Supti had asked around in Maraan the day before, and begun to hire mercenaries to guard the caravan who had experience with the undead.

“And I know your family has had run ins with Persian...but I intend to seek his aid. Like it or not, Persian represents my best chances of contacting other dragons. I believe Nica was in Maraan looking for me...and probably had been for years. My introduction will have to be done properly, by someone with social standing. Not only that, but we both have revenge against a common enemy waiting for us in Pedeo. My former husband has an estate there.” he told her. “Trust me when I say I won’t let your family come to harm.”

Kahi listened carefully, trying to further parse out the things that Chaceledon didn't say even yet. Her gaze grew distant as when he mentioned Persian, however. She was not of the same tribe and family line as Supti and Seteta, and neither was Anai, but she knew some of the history. They'd both been told the most important parts when they married into the tribe.

"While there is little we can do about your introduction back into your family," Kahi spoke softly, thoughtfully, "I can confidently say that neither Supti nor Seteta, nor her immediate family, will expect you to be responsible for their safety."

She glanced away for a moment, thinking... wondering how much she should tell him right now. She knew Supti had some things he wanted to discuss directly with both Seteta and Chaceledon, and she didn't want to wander into those subjects unintentionally.

"Many, many generations ago, Persian almost destroyed the Inizae tribe," she said at last. "The Inizae, in response, took the children they had left to them, and fled deep into the desert, farther even than Persian dared to go. They isolated themselves, living in hiding for a very long time, with only limited contact with nearby tribes until they'd rebuilt their numbers.

"Be cautious in your contacts with him. There are things about Seteta that it would be best if he did not come to know."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon sighed, and shook his head. “Dragons are different. In our culture, I have made it clear that while we were once entangled there is no chance of it happening again. The matter is closed, and any feelings he has are his to sort out. It would be cruel to him to baby those feelings and rekindle their ghosts.” he said. Even he wasn’t so sure about that now. In the past if a dragon stopped talking to him he would simply drop the matter and refuse to speak with them until his feelings had healed. He wasn’t sure Nica would be able to do that. If he had hinged so many millennia on finding and loving him again, the wound was likely deep.

He hadn’t been involved in that culture for so long, but he didn’t know how to help Nica. “It doesn’t help that I barely remember him. The more snatches of memory that drift by, the more I think Oor tampered with me. I remember we were together. I remember little images of his home, parties we went to. Jokes at his expense because he came from a small dahn with little reputation. He hoped I would marry him. But it seems so far away, and is so patchy, I can truly say I feel nothing of what I do for Seteta for him.” he took a deep breath. “But none of that concerns you.”

It was strange how...comforting talk of wraiths were compared to talk of Nica. “Gaal will never bother you. He already has Abtati elves. He would consider the pursuit boring.” he said dismissively.

The dragon was concerned, though not surprised, to hear of Persian’s doings. He nodded. “Would it soothe you to know that Persian doesn’t mistreat them? He’s become more sophisticated, and prefers to breed slaves himself rather than capture...but I assure you no elf met a nasty end at his hands. I have been in Pedeo many times, and even owned a few Abtati pets. Persian is a friend of mine. As long as the relationship is mutually beneficial, I don’t see that changing.” Though even he wasn’t sure how Persian would treat him. The Lion House was now contested between himself and Oor, and fae divorces could be long, bloody, and anguishing. He shook his head. “He won’t know anything he doesn’t need to. From what she’s told me about her confrontation with Oor, she’s already met him once.”

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

As Chaceledon spoke of his culture, and that it should have been obvious to Nica that their relationship was over, Kahi nearly shook her head with a sigh, but refrained herself from showing any true dismay. Abtati were used to encountering other cultures--even among the sand elves, it could vary from tribe to tribe, and those who ran the caravans could meet others from many different nations--but in this case, it seemed the joining of two cultures might be inevitable.

"There is a difference between being shunned by a lover without explanation, or that lover disappearing as if he didn't exist. Consider that Nica experienced the latter. And just because something has always been done a certain way does not mean it is the right way," she spoke at last, and then the subject turned away from Nica completely.

She was concerned a little by how Chaceledon said he couldn't remember much of his life prior to Oor. "May I... ask how old you were, when the wraith took you? Even if dragons are long-lived, your memories may fade naturally over time. And..." Kahi hesitated for a moment, thinking of the Abtati friends she'd lost to slavery. Even when they were found again, they often had disjointed memories of their life prior service with their enslavers, but it had never been because of magical tampering. "Sometimes, the mind does funny things to protect itself. It is possible that the wraith affected that, but some of it might also simply be that your subconscious had to prioritize certain things, rather than continually dwelling on the past. I wouldn't be surprised if your memories of life before the wraith began to return now that you're back in the desert."

Kahi was not a healer, nor was she especially talented in any of the traditional ways that Abtati were with magic, but she was quite old enough among them to be considered one of the elder wise women, and even if they were warring with another Abtati tribe, her presence would demand a certain respect, and if she were injured or killed in a battle or raid, the one who struck her down would be cast out. She had seen many things, and as such she had a talent for perceiving what the heart of the matter might be, even when one did not want to say much.

But as Chaceledon spoke of Persian, her face grew grim.

“Would it soothe you to know that Persian doesn’t mistreat them? He’s become more sophisticated, and prefers to breed slaves himself rather than capture...but I assure you no elf met a nasty end at his hands. I have been in Pedeo many times, and even owned a few Abtati pets. Persian is a friend of mine. As long as the relationship is mutually beneficial, I don’t see that changing.”

"If this wraith who took you captive and forced you to wed him... if he had treated you kindly, would you have resented him less? Pined for your freedom less? If you and Seteta have children--children who are half-dragon and half-Abtati, with the potential to be very powerful geomancers--do you think Persian will be less likely to covet them simply because of your friendship?"

At Chaceledon's next words, though, she paled.

“He won’t know anything he doesn’t need to. From what she’s told me about her confrontation with Oor, she’s already met him once.”

"What do you mean she's already met him once?" Kahi's eyes were wide now, and she sat up straight, fists clenching at the cushions beneath her in the howdah. "How long ago was this? What did she say to him?"

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon smiled mirthlessly and shook his head. “I wasn’t very old. I can’t remember my exact birthdate, but I was the equivalent of an older teenager. Someone just about to start off on his own, but I was still beholden to my parents. Wraiths are very gifted in memory and dream magic. They can’t destroy memories outright but they can swath them in clouds and fog. They can make you question whether things happened at all. Maybe things will return, and maybe they won’t. It’s hard to know.” he explained. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe being here will help...I’ve felt magic returning to my bones ever since I stepped foot onto the sand.”

Chaceledon sighed, and shrugged. Her explanation of Persian didn’t make sense to him. “Would I have resented him if he kept me warm, well-fed, let me talk with my family, and not laid a hand on me? Perhaps, perhaps not. The man never had a kind bone in him. It’s impossible to know.” he said. “He would know better than to touch any child of mine. I wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anything and everything he loves. I wouldn’t need to touch him. I’d burn down every pet house from here to Alliria, then melt the doors of Pedeo shut and let him boil alive. He would not take any child of mine.”

He looked taken aback by her reaction. Oh gods, something told him he said exactly the wrong thing. She looked terrified. “Listen. All I know is that he was with Oor when Oor took her. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what they spoke of, or if they spoke at all. You’d have to ask Seteta...she wouldn’t harm you or your family. She’s too clever.”

Seteta

 

[Seteta]

Kahi sighed, forcing her clenched hands to release the cushions. Oh Abtatu... please let the child have had sense.

"I know there were some things Supti wanted to discuss with you and Seteta, about her tribe's past with Persian," she said. "He had planned to do so after she'd recovered from the performance. But I think, once he learns that she has already been face-to-face with Persian, he will want to have that discussion tonight."

Kahi untucked herself from where she was settled into the cushions, and scooted toward the howdah's opening. "You've been away from Seteta long enough, anyway. She'll probably be wondering where you are soon. Help this old woman down, and then go on back to her. Don't worry about telling her about our conversation. We'll be in the same tent tonight again, anyway, so Supti will approach you two when he's ready."

Chaceledon

 

[Chaceledon]

Chaceledon sighed. “I wouldn’t worry.” he said dismissively. He’d known that Persian captured Abtati, he had no idea that they were so frightened of him. Persian viewed pets like breaking horses; best done gently. Of course he didn’t shy away from punishment, but Chaceledon knew he preferred gentler methods. What would they do if they knew he had been a regular at Auction? That he’d watched pet trainings..? That he’d designed collars? He chewed his lip uncomfortably and helped Kahi down from the howdah.

Wisely, he made a beeline back to Seteta. He wasn’t sure if she was still sleeping, but he entered gingerly. He curled up next to her and watched her lazily, lifting a hand to flick a few stray hairs out of her face. Perhaps he had said the wrong thing to Kahi? What did she mean that Supti wanted to speak to them? “I think I made a mistake telling Kahi you spoke to Oor and Persian...” he muttered under his breath.

Seteta