FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Scales and Honor: Emerald Secrets

Chapter 7: Unexpected

"So what did you have in mind?" Lyndis asked, curiosity lingering in her mind as she crossed her arms and leaned up against the wooden railing of the village catwalk. Cordenth the green dragon stood opposite of her on all fours with his neck in the shape of an S as he seemed to be looking at his fine scaled forepaws. He would hold out each digit in turn as he pretended to inspect them, as if for any little imperfection.

"I figured we would go for a walk, get to know each other better is all." the dragon set his paw on the wooden beams without a sound as he shifted his bright yellow eyes straight towards her. Where once they had been filled with disgust or annoyance were now filled with honest interest. He had the same look on his snout that Veledar did when he was curious about something, which in this case was her.

"And why the sudden interest in me Cordenth?" Lyndis gave the dragon a sly grin, figuring it had something to do with his near fatal incident earlier that day in the temple.

"It would probably be best if I get to know my mother's guests better is all. It might as well be you that I start with." Cordenth rose his head slightly to look away, yet another thing Veledar did when he was faking disinterest.

"Uh-huh." she replied, with a voice dripping with skepticism. "So where shall we be walking to o mighty Cordenth, when you have your great wings to carry you there." She pointed to his lime green wings that he just settled onto his back.

"Follow me and you shall find out." Cordenth gestured with his serpentine neck, and made his way across the ever quiet walkways of the village.

Lyndis' eyes fell to several guards as they stood at attention for the dragon as they made their way passed them. She was amazed that they remained so vigilante despite the late hour, something that could not be said by many of guard to the towns or villages that she had prowled in the past. She smirked as each guard they came across would offer a crisp salute, bow, or offer a quick thanks to the gods for having the green dragon grace them with his presence.

"They must really love you here." She gestured to the latest guard that had bowed so low that his pointed elven nose had practically touched the boardwalk.

"I...yes...they do." Cordenth wrinkled his muzzle as he dragged a single onyx talon across the dark wood, taking a solid chunk out of it. "Although none of the praise they offer is my praise. None of it is earned." He rose his snout and bared his teeth, looking out to the treeline. "And I hate it."

"So you'd still want them to praise the ground you walk on? Kissing your little talons with their puffed up lips?" replied Lyndis as she rose an eyebrow, causing him to just snort in reply.

"What dragon doesn't want those things?"

"Your starting to sound like that other dragon that I spend my time with." Lyndis rolled her eyes. I guess he is just like the red dragon.

"He is a dragon after all Lyndis. What you could have as a princess...Most dragons would kill for that."

"Would you?" she quickened her pace so that she was walking in tandem with the dragon.

"Would I what?" he looked down to her, tilting his head to the side, as his frills fluttered slightly.

"Would you kill to have that attention...or the praise....as in literally."

"I know what you meant." he snorted, snapping his head away. Cordenth walked in silence as if he was mulling it over. After a few minutes of this slow, silent walking, Cordenth hung his head and let out a deep sigh.

"Honestly?"

"Yes." Lyndis nodded, "Honestly I want to know what kind of dragon I am dealing with right now."

"I don't think I could literally kill my way to achieve power. It seems so....wasteful of life."

Lyndis stopped for a moment in surprise. She would have never thought those words would have come from this dragon, who the other day had acted so differently around them. She offered him a sweet smile as she closed her eyes. "That is very good of you Cordenth." She chuckled. "So how did you get so good at dancing?"

Cordenth gave her an amused look as he swished his tail behind him. "I practiced obviously, how does one get better at anything?"

"So...you came down." Lyndis held out her palm, and walked two of her fingers across. "And practiced dancing with your mother's subjects?" When he offered no rebuttal she let a small chuckle escape her lips. "They must have been thrilled to have a prince among them. How bad were you your first time?"

The dragons swiftly looked away from her, smacking his tail gently on the wood. "You can imagine well enough. Although I certainly did better than that red dragon that you call a friend." He held his head in silence for a moment, before slowly turning his snout back. "Now since you have asked me some questions." Cordenth curled his neck towards her with a grin. "Would you answer some of mine? Some tit for tat as it were?"

"That certainly sounds fair." she crossed her arms as he continued to lead them further away from the banquet hall they had eaten, and danced at. She shivered in the cool air as she remembered forgetting her cloak of invisibility. Her teeth chattered as a cool breeze swept into her like a knife. "Where are we going?" she shivered, clutching her sides.

"Are you cold?"

"Does that count as your question?" She smiled with a chuckle.

"No...No it does not." he rolled his eyes.

"Y-yes I am bloody cold!" she stuttered as another breeze rolled over them.

"Mind if I?" Cordenth extended one of his wings, and gestured to it with his snout.

"You may." she replied, as the wing membrane wrapped around her. It's warmth quickly casting away the chill of the night air, as he resumed the walk.

"Better?"

"Much better thank you." She caressed the soft membrane with her hands. It seemed so delicate, so weak, it was hard to imagine dragon's had such weak spots as her fingers traced along the smooth surface." She looked back up to his black armored chest, and the green scales that surrounded it. It looked like the most sturdiest thing she had set eyes on, besides the scales of her crimson friend however.

"Now back to the questions." he chuckled. "You won't get away from me so easily by complaining about the cold. Your country..this..Drenedar." Cordenth swayed as his head slightly to the right as if he were looking for something. "How was it like for you, princess that ran away from home." He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Did you have subjects?" he lowered his head further so that his eyes were level with hers. "Did you have people that were thrilled to see every move you made? Praise the ground you walked upon like I do?"

"What do you think Cordy?" she shot back, remembering all the parades they had through the streets back home. "Of course my family had subjects, it comes with the territory!" She wrinkled her brow as she thought back to the crowded streets, people crying out to her. They would wave and smile to the great princess of their nation, heir to throne, thankful for even a moment of her time. "The people would salute, cheer, and praise me...just like they did you." She recalled every choice that she could have had was made for her. Her role, her responsibilities, what to learn, and who to befriend. She narrowed her eyes as it all had felt so given, like she had not earned any of it. She was simply going to be queen based on birth.

"I think you and I are more alike than you know Cordy." She turned her head to see that he had tilted his own to the side and raised a scaly eyebrow.

"How do you figure little half-elf?"

"Oh I am so glad you bloody asked!" she clapped her hands together. "You see, despite being in a field that relies on my stealth, invisibility, and ability to not be detected..." She let out a sigh. "I strive to make sure everyone knows it was me." She thrust her thumb into her chest. "That it was I, Lyndis Kuxion, who did this. Not my mother, not my father, but me."

She saw his eyes soften. "Like your trying to constantly escape the shadow of your parents."

"Exactly!" She poked his nose when it got a tad too close, causing him to look at her crosseyed for a moment. "Your just me several years ago, yearning for a taste of the outside world..Adventure!"

"Really now?" She heard him snort and shake his body, causing all his fine scales to clink together softly.

"Okay, then answer me this Cordenth." She thought back to earlier in the day when they had traveled within that stone temple, back to the granite statues that had assaulted them their stone weapons. "When were in that temple today, what were your feeling in your bones?"

"I....don't want to discuss it." he shot back with a low grumble. "I was not in a strong state of mind then."

"Come on Cordy." She snapped her head to him again, stopping the green dragon as he looked to her. His tail swished behind him once. "I saved your life today from that orb of dragon kind, at least open up for me." She crossed her arms as she gave the dragon a smile. "I want to get to know you too alright?"

"Fine." Cordenth rolled his eyes with a sigh. "I was feeling fear like I have never known....does this please you?" he held his head up, but kept one yellow eye on her as he did so.

"And what else?" she rolled her hands in the air. She was going to get this dragon to admit his feelings if it was the last thing she was going to do.

"Excitement." he sighed again, tracing a talon once again along the wood. "and how great it felt.."

"Precisely! I get the same feeling every day!" She chuckled in her throat, "Now was that so hard?"

"Hmpppf." the dragon strolled forward as she shot him a grin, and kept pace with him.

"Trust me, that excitement you felt today..You'd love it."

"You make it sound like it's my choice to remain here in this forest."

"I was going to ask that....why have you and your brother not left? Just say screw it and head out into the world?"

"Because..." The green dragon stopped suddenly as his voice lowered. "My mother keeps us here in this forest....She says it's for this purpose that she wont explain...She simply tells us that she cannot reveal the future sometimes...no matter how much it hurts to not do so."

"Why not go anyway?" she carefully placed a hand onto his green scales, finding them to be rather warm and smooth to the touch. They were not as warm as Veledar's, but they were still pleasing. She remembered feeling like Cordenth when she was younger, trapped within a cage of her parents expectations and plans. "I know you can do it...I did it once." she added softly, starting to rub his scales reassuringly.

"Yes but your parents were not my mother." he held up his head and gestured to all around them with a forepaw. "The mighty Emerald Lady, ruler of the forest of despair, and queen of dragons."

"Queen of dragons?" Lyndis raised her eyebrow at that. "Surely she does not think tha-"

Cordenth snapped his snout to her and gave her a look that seemed to convey that she did.

"Well.....do it anyway!" she stumbled at first but rose her voice and bunched her other hand into a fist. "It's not like she would harm you right? Her own son, she wouldn't kill you would she?"

Cordenth just sighed as he returned to walking with his head hung. "Sometimes I am not so sure of that Lyndis. Sometimes I feel as though there are two dragons inside my mother. A kind and protective dragon that loves us to no end." Then he bared his teeth as he growled. "Than the queen that rules over this place with iron claws, and keeps her children here to meet her own master plan."

"Master plan? You make her sound as though she is some sort of villain from the stories of old."

"She plots, meddles, and plans. How is she not like those villains?" Cordenth turned his head towards her once again and shot her a knowing look.

"Okay...you got me there." She let her arms fall to her side as they finally came to a stop that looked like a dead end. She gazed out passed the wooden catwalk to the darkened canopy, listening to the faint sounds of the forest as she twitched her ears. "Is this what you wanted to show me? A dead end?"

"No." he replied flatly, "But I need to ask your permission for the next part."

"Permission for what?"

"I...would like to carry you to the forest floor...and it's rude to suddenly pick up a lady without her permission."

Lyndis smiled as she felt blood run into her cheeks at his politeness. "Why thank you Cordy." She laughed, "You may carry me...but.." she held up a finger to hold it in front of his snout. "Be gentile...Or I will be getting revenge on your tail."

"Why would I be anything else?" he asked, confusion in his voice as he wrinkled his nose. "You are a princess, and you will be safe within my paws."

Lyndis looked down to the forest below, than back to the dragon that was waiting for her response ever so patiently. "Okay." she took a step towards him as he shifted his weight to his hinds, and carefully wrapped his forelimb around her waist. His grip was firm but gentle, and his chest warm when she was pulled tight against the black armor.

"Are you ready?" Cordenth tilted his head down to look her in the eyes.

She nodded once, patting his scaly limbs, running her hands along the fine scales. She held tightly to the dragon as she felt him spread his wings, and then leap from the balcony with her held firmly. She let out a little cheer as he carried them in a careful glide, beating his wings several times to slow their descent.

Cordenth landed softly with a bump, scattering any loose earth every which way as his weight once more settled onto his hinds. "Here we are." he let her go gently.

"Thanks." she ran a hand through her soft hair, feeling her heart beat a tad faster. Even though it had only been a quick drop she could still feel the after tingling sensation of flight. She sighed as she fondly remembered being carried by Veledar in the air, the wind whipping against her face, the excitement in her chest. "Truly." she patted the dragon on the chest, causing him to give a soft rumble from his throat.

"You looked rather flustered princess." he lowered his head towards her with a grin as he started to pad into the forest before them. With each of his steps the forest seemed to shift around him, and made enough room for the dragon. "You appear to be shifting to the same color as Veledar's scales."

Was I? She touched her cheek, it was indeed hot. "So what?" she shrugged, "I like to fly, even if it's just a short drop like you just did." she waved to him dismissively.

"Imagine if we went on a longer flight then. You might even be just as red as that whelp!" Cordenth chuckled, throwing his head back as it grew into laughter, causing his frills to flutter. "So....Lyndis...half-elven rogue that saved my life, I have another question for you." The dragon returned his attention to the path that was still shaping before him. He seemed unphased that trees were uprooting themselves just for them.

Lyndis watched them as a shiver went down her spine. She could not shake the feeling that they creeped her out. How their movements were so awkward and stiff, a cheap imitation of life. "What would that be?" She raised an eyebrow. "What is on your mind?"

"Your blood."

"Excuse me?"

"I...er..your parentage." he gestured to her ears with an onyx talon. "Who was the elf, and who was the human."

"I can assure your that I am a princess." she pointed to them as well.

"That's not why I'm asking..I was just..." Cordenth flicked his tail to the side. "Curious."

"Well..." Lyndis intertwined her hands and placed them on the back of her head. "My father was the elf, my mother the human as it were." she smiled, showing off her teeth. "And despite what rumors you hear about elves being emotionless wastelands, my dad was one of the most caring souls I have ever met." She thought to his strong rust colored brow as he had looked to her with pride when she had showed promise with spells. How it had made her fill with a warm glow.

"The thought never occurred to me. I can presume then that the power shifts from the males if your father is the longer lived one?"

"No." she chuckled. "Power in Drenedar is passed through the woman's bloodline, it's been that way for along time."

"So a matriarchy than.?" Cordenth turned to her with a grin as a larger tree uprooted itself and shambled away from them, causing several yellow pieces of fruit in the shape of stars to fall from it's branches and plop onto the forest floor without a sound. "Your people are much like dragons in that regard than."

"Really?" Lyndis raised an eyebrow. She had never considered dragon's having a system of government before. They were so scattered, and so limited in Sethera. "I figured, if your mother proclaimed herself the queen of dragons."

"No,no,no." Cordenth held up a forepaw and shook his head. "My mother proclaims that, but she has no real dragons to rule over. She is more a queen to her subjects if anything else. What I speak of is long ago when dragons ruled the earth we stand on. It was then that dragons had queens. They had entire nations."

"A whole world ruled by dragons?" sighed Lyndis, crossing her arms. She looked up to the star filled black sky above. The thought seemed ridiculous at first, but the proof was before her. Not just the temple they had explored, but the ruins that scattered the globe. She glanced at the vast amounts of stars, and for a moment believed Veleder when he said each was the soul of a dragon. That's a lot of dragons that died then. "So what happened then if dragons ruled the world? Why are you so scattered? Hiding in caves, forests, or anywhere you can get away?"

"Mother won't go into detail...It's just the way she is." Cordenth glanced to a dimly lit flower that was the size of Lyndis' head. It's pedals were a soft lavender that slightly glowed in the night air.

_ Beautiful._

Lyndis followed the dragon along this new path that was forming. It would occasionally contain yet more of those flowers. She took a deep breath to fill her nose with the appealing scent of pine, dragon, and something that reminded her of daises. She imagined it was the luminescent flowers that seemed to draw Cordenth's attention every time they passed one.

"What she does say is that dragon's messed it all up, almost destroyed the world. We died in such number that our grip on the world slipped, and our people faded from dominance, which allowed mortals to snatch the world from our claws."

"Are you resentful of that fact?" She asked, moments after Cordenth sighed.

"No." he turned back to her with large eyes. "That much destruction? If it got as bad as mother said it did, then we needed to be stopped. Something needed to change." The dragon stopped in his tracks, and looked to the dark, star filled sky. "We needed to change."

"I don't know if you did. All the dragons I know want to rule over us in some fashion, you included."

"Only because I'd also want to help the lot of you."

"Oh really? Because just the other day you were calling us minions, and claiming you were better than us." She pointed a finger to his chest, causing him to refold his wings against his back as he fidgeted in place. "

"Look at us though, Armored scales, wings to fly, magic, claws stronger than swords."

"Strong gifts you have Cordy, but that does not make you better. That simply makes you stronger." She crossed her arms, and gave him a frown. "and more easily convinced that you should rule over us lesser creatures."

"I don't think your beneath me." the dragon said softly, turning his head away. "I have known many mortals in my mother's village. They helped raise us, they taught us, they played with us when we were little. I am sorry if I gave off that impression.....I was only.."Cordenth wrinkled his snout.

"So you were trying to act like a dragon? For who, Veledar?"

Cordenth offered no reply as he snorted and resumed his walk.

"You don't have to impress that red scaled bastard." she laughed, punching him gently on his scales. "Just be yourself Cordenth. To hell what other dragons think of you."

"Were here." The green dragon stopped, ignoring her question and sweeping around to gesture to the large clearing he had brought her to.

Lyndis blinked her eyes in surprise. She felt her cheeks turn a soft pinkish as her attention had been too focused on the magnificent green dragon in front of her. Her gaze went to his claws than to what he truly wanted her to behold. It was a vast clearing dotted with more of those luminescent flowers that lit up the tree line and the faded green grass with their faint glow. She felt a small tingle of excitement build its way to her chest as she was swept away in a sense of awe. She had always loved flowers, and magic to boot. "Are....Are they magic?" she turned to him, her voice sounding a tad hopeful as he chuckled.

"Very faintly, mother likes to grind them up to make potions of all kinds." he suddenly deepened his voice with a cough. "They are like dragon's blood Cordenth, add a dash and it will make any potion stronger."

"Dragon's blood makes potions stronger? I've never heard that before, and I learned about damn potions from the focken best of them."

"Perhaps it's just something mother says then." he snorted, slowly padding his way to a group of the lavender flowers.

Lyndis twirled around, letting the flower's light turn into a blur for a moment as the smells from earlier bombarded her senses and wrapped themselves around her. She felt her heart flutter as she stopped and looked to the green dragon that was smiling at her. She felt her cheeks grow warm once again as he gestured to the flowers with a single onyx talon.

Was this from the flowers or the green dragon? She had to admit this was a strange place for a dragon to take her. With several steps it dawned on her. Cordenth was trying to show her a good time, testing the waters...as if this was a date.. Does he have a crush on me? She giggled internally as she came to a stop before the smirking dragon. I have to test it. "You know Cordy, this is a mighty strange place to bring me." She ran one of her fingers along the soft petals of the flower. "It might even be romantic...you know...from a book...on what mortals like."She turned back to him with a smile, and laughed internally when he looked away and snorted, quickly followed by a smack of his tail on the ground.

"I...like the flowers as well." he grumbled.

"And what about the other part?" she raised her voice, and nudged him. "The part about it being from a book?"

"What about it? You mentioned you adore flowers while we danced this evening."

Did I?...Drat...I forgot...and he remembered. She sighed, then shrugged her shoulders. That was actually pretty sweet.

"Another question for you then." Cordenth lowered his snout towards her. "How do you call upon your magic? I am curious."

"I..just do.." she laughed as the green dragon smiled at her. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just something that interests me is all." his frills twitched as he continued to gaze into her eyes. For a moment she was caught in his brilliant yellow spheres, like in a trance.

"I..er...well." She coughed. "I used to use a scroll and prepare the spells." She twiddled her fingers in the air. "I cast most of the spell during this preparation, and save the final trigger movement and phrase for combat.

"That's odd." he pulled his head back, "So you have all those spell stored within your head for the entire day..." Cordenth wrinkled his snout. "That must be painful."

"Not really." she laughed. "Just a thing in the back of mind is all.....So how do you cast your spells than O curious dragon? I noticed that Veledar does not prepare his spells."

"That is because we are magic." The dragon grinned, showing off rows of his pearly whites. "We just reach down inside of us and summon the magic."

"So like a sorcerer, warlock, or bard." Lyndis rattled off each one with a finger, causing the dragon to shift his weight and snort in reply.

"Yes...I suppose it's like those...But I have never seen them, only heard about them."

Lyndis sighed as she turned to the flowers, as she cupped her chin. "Now that would be interesting...to actually be connected to the magic. Instead of wielding it like another weapon, or tool to be used."

"Your part elf. You should have some magic lurking within your blood somewhere. Would you want to experience it?" Cordenth brought his head to rest near her own.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked softly, turning to look at his green snout.

"I could guide you, help you experience it."

Lyndis crossed her arms as the confident dragon smiled at her. The idea intrigued her, but she was still skeptical it could work. "You think so?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Lyndis replied with a soft sigh. "What do we need to do?"

"Hold out yours arms wide. Stretch them as if they were your wings. Than close your eyes."

Lyndis did as the dragon suggested, taking a deep breath as she did so. "Oh come on Cordy, I feel rather silly."

"Patience...trust me..."

"Cord-"

"Trust me, like I trusted you today."

She sighed again, and took another deep breath as she focused. She felt Cordenth move closer towards her as his scent grew stronger. It was not unpleasant, and reminder her of pine wood. She then felt his claws carefully caress her hands. "Cordenth." she mumbled softly.

"Shhhh. Now focus...Reach down in yourself, picture it." he replied in a near whisper, as he moved her hands together and than back out.

She was surprised by the amount of care he was taking. How gentile his claws were as they moved her limbs carefully. She continued to picture a hand reaching down into her chest to grab hold of the small tingle of magic that the dragon said was there. She could almost feel it nestled deep inside until she was interrupted by a snort from the dragon, and a puff of air rustling her hair. She involuntarily let out a giggle.

"Shhh..no giggling."

"Than focken don't blow my hair with your snorts." she snapped back, laughing internally as she heard him open and close his snout several times as if looking for the words, and failing.

"Fair enough." the dragon chuckled, while continuing to guide her hands in a triangular pattern. "Now take that feeling, and picture it swirling around you like a storm, twisting around each limb, up your torso, around your arms."

Lyndis nodded and once again did as the careful dragon instructed. She found a cold sensation that was doing exactly what Cordenth had said, like her thoughts were giving birth to it. It made her hair stand on edge as she shivered and let out a pleased sigh. "This feels...incredible." she gasped, as the sensation found her neck, and was slowly creeping it's way to her head.

"Now picture some flowers in front of you, like the ones you have seen." Cordenth guided her hands to be spread wide again, and she felt and heard him thump his tail on the grass.

With each movement the dragon was guiding her through she felt her blood quicken, and her breaths grow short. She imagined the flowers with her next breath. However instead of the soft lavender color that she knew they were giving off, she could not help picturing the color green. The same shade of the dragon that was holding her so carefully in his claws.

"Good job!" Cordenth exclaimed in excitement, causing her to open her eyes and gasp.

Standing before her were twelve of the flowers that had captured both her and Cordenth's attention. They stood proudly in the night air as if they belonged to be there, but something was off. Instead of the faint lavender color that they were glowing before, these ones seemed to be glowing the same color of the dragon beside her. "T-T-They just sprouted from the focken ground!" she smiled, nearly ear to ear as she turned to Cordenth. "I did it!"

"Yes. You did a very good job, although you chose green instead of purple it looks like." he snickered, gesturing to the flowers with a flick of his tail.

"Y-yes." she laughed, "It's my favorite color actually."

"Oh." Cordenth's eyes widened after he spoke the words. "Oooooh."

"So how about you show me something more dragon like? I mean this was nice and all, but it feels almost selfish."

"How so?" he tilted his snout to the side.

"Your showing me what mortals like, not what dragons like."

"I do like the flowers." he snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Okay well regardless." She ran a hand to his soft scales of his face. "Why not show me things you might show to interest a dragoness?"

"But your not.."

"Humor me Cordy."

"Well alright then." he chuckled in the back of his throat, "You really like the flower magic?"

"Loved it." she replied without a thought, smacking his cheek playfully.

"If I am to show you things that would interest you...I need to ask your permission to pick you up again."

"You have my permission." she laughed, holding her arms out wide. She sighed when he rose up to wrap his limbs around her again. She found them just as warm, soft, and gentile as they had been before.

"You know...most princesses might be a tad worried when a dragon wraps their forelimbs around them."

"I am not most princesses." she shot back, as Cordenth pulled her tighter against his scaled chest.

"No..your not." he gave a low pleased sound from his throat as he spread his wings wide and gave them a quick test flap. "Ready?"

"Come on lets go!" she shot back, the excitement already building in her chest at the thought of being in the air again.

"Do you like waterfalls?"

"Yes! Now onward to the sky!" she pointed out towards the stars.

"Very well!" Cordenth smiled, and with a great pounce and pounding of his wings they were in the canopy. With another flap they soon found themselves with the tops of the trees below them, stretching out for miles.

Lyndis found herself once again holding the dragon's limbs as he angled his wings and carried them through the night sky. "Done anything rebellious over the years?" She asked, looking out to the darkened green forest, bathed in the bright light of the moon above. It almost made the forest look peaceful, and she forgot the ruler of said forest.

"Well I did sneak out of the forest with Lyyreth to watch a play every now or then at a nearby village."

"oh really? How long ago was this?"

"When we were just hatchlings."

Lyndis chuckled at the thought of a little green dragon sitting on it's haunches, eyes wide with excitement as his tail swished behind him playfully. She almost let out a loud "aww." As she imagined his cute frills fluttering. "So you like plays then?"

"I do enjoy them from time to time, when my mother's servants put them on."

"How often is that then?"

"They do it about once a week."

She traced the scaly limb clutching her tight as the wind blew against her face. She pressed her head back to the black armored chest, and listened to the steady thumping of his heart. It was soothing, warm, and made her want to just close her eyes in content. "Your..not what I expected."

"You may have said that before, but if you did not, I will certainly take it as a compliment." Cordenth dipped his wing membranes and turned them towards a long river that wound it's way through the vast living forest.

Lyndis' eyes followed the darkened water, as it winded for miles away from them. She had never realized just how big the forest of despair was. It made her eyes widen, and her mouth fall slightly agape as she just continued to stare. "This forest...is massive." she gasped.

"Did you not get a good look when you first arrived? When mother plucked you from the sky with her vines?"

"Not really." she narrowed her eyes and thought back to those slithering green serpents as they shot up from the forest canopy. She shivered at the memory, and itched her arm. "Don't remind me, those things make my skin crawl. She could have found a better way of asking us to talk."

"Mother is not so good at dealing with mortals as you have seen."

"Yes I bloody have! Honestly it makes me question your statement of her being a caring mother at times. Especially after the way she snarled and fought with you today."

"Its...complicated...but trust me." Cordenth trailed off with his words for a moment as he got quiet. "When she is acting like a mother, she is one of the most caring souls I have ever seen." he said suddenly after a moment of silence. "Truly."

Lyndis raised an eyebrow as he looked down to her. She could hear the truthfullness in his words, and see into his eyes that he did not mean to deceive her. The dragon actually believed that his mother was caring, and thoughtful towards him. It almost made her think differently about the dragoness for a moment. Then she remembered the curse that she had placed on Arcturus and she narrowed her eyes, casting that thought from her mind. "Still doesn't excuse her for placing that curse on my friend." she snapped, hugging his limb tighter as Cordenth began to descend towards a large roaring waterfall, surrounded by multicolored plants and flowers.

"No it doesn't." Cordenth back-winged moments from the water's edge, throwing dirt every which way as he landed softly with a bump. He placed Lyndis carefully onto the ground as he gave a pleased trilling noise while he shook his body.

"Why did you make that cute noise?" she stretched, fighting back a laugh with her fist. She nearly burst out when Cordenth suddenly froze up and turned his snout towards her, his eyes widening into yellow slits.

"You...heard that?"

"I did!" she burst out laughing, "And it was adorable!"

"Oh." he turned his snout quickly away in embarrassment, as he flicked his tail against the sand. "Follow me then." he snorted, "You wanted to see things a dragoness might find interesting. And things I will certainly show you." Cordenth thrust a wing talon out towards the vast forest the waterfall over looked. "See that clearing in the distance? That has the best sun bathing spot in the entire forest, where you can sprawl out with your wings wide, and just bask in the warm rays of the sun." Cordenth turned to her with a smile and closed eyes. "You can even find that it is warm, even if the outside world is cold and uninviting. Sometimes I have even caught my mother taking advantage of that spot."

"Really?" Lyndis felt a smile tug at her face as she pictured the intimidating dragoness with her wings wide, wiggling in the sun like some sort of happy hatchling. "Good sleeping spot huh?"

"Yes!" Cordenth gestured to another part of the trees, that appeared to be a darker green than the rest of the vibrant forest. "Over there is the best hunting grounds, with the best wildlife one could want. Deer, moose, elk, and other various animals flock to that position. Which is fantastic when one does not wish for their meal to be brought to them by servants."

"So how often do you hunt then when given the other choice? I figure it must be so hard to break away from all the servants at your beck and call."

"More often then you think." he grumbled. "Just cause we have the servants doesn't mean I am reduced to a lazy dragon after all."

"Just one who likes to roll around in the grass and sleep the day away. Perhaps on a large rock in the middle of another clearing?" She offered him a coy smile as she playfully smacked his green shoulder.

"That was a great spot for sunbathing!" he protested, snapping his snout back to her. "You would have known that if you'd have joined me."

"You would have had us join you then for a sun bath?"

"Well...maybe now." the dragon shifted his weight from his left forelimb to his right. "After getting to know you better." She saw his tail flick behind him as he looked away for a moment.

"So anything else you would have shown a dragoness?"

"Oh yes!" he smiled again, "This waterfall for one is one of the best spots in the forest, I picked my cave to be here for that very reason."

"What makes it so special?" She looked around at the running water, to the flowers dotting the green plants. She tried to figure out the reason as her gaze shifted from that to the wide forest before her.

"Just look around you Lyndis." Cordenth gestured out to the forest with a wave of his forepaw. "From this vantage point I can see mostly everything within this forest. For a dragon that is a fantastic choice for their lair. It would allow them to keep an eye on all they possess."

"This is your cave?"She chuckled, where?"

"Would you want to see it? It is getting rather late."

"And stay the night?" she looked to him, almost thinking he was up to something mischievous.

"Only if you wanted to of course. It would just be for the night. Nothing strange about it." Cordenth stretched out his serpentine neck, as if he were trying to work out a kink.

"Hmmmm." she rubbed her chin as she eyed the dragon who was busy stretching out all of his limbs, and letting out a long yawn. It was getting rather late. "Do you have a bed that I could sleep in? You know a guest bed."

"Uh..no, just the nest I sleep in." the dragon sighed. "So we would most likely have to sleep on opposite sides. Or if you were comfortable with it, we could cuddle together."

"Your asking me to bed Cordy?" She placed her hands on her waist, raising one of her eyebrows. "That's a bit fast don't you think?"

"Nothing like that." the dragon's frills twitched as he did not look to her. "So what will it be? Should I fly you back to the inn or take you back to my cave?"

Lyndis sighed, there was the comfort of sleeping in her inn bed close to her friends. Although there was the chance to see a dragon's cave. She stared out to the twinkling stars, mulling the decision over. He was rather sweet today. The dancing, the opening up, the flowers, and this. She smiled at the beautiful view before her. "Sure Cordy, just nothing lewd." She turned to him in a flash, thrusting her finger towards him. "I am not some treasure to be conquered after all."

"I-I never thought that!" he held up one of his claws defensively to his chest.

"Good." she padded over. "Now where is your lair dragon? I don't see anything up here."

"Oh..just you wait." he grinned, strutting over to a section of rock. He gestured with his neck as he started to walk along a rough stone path that hugged the waterfalls edge, and passed right below the rushing water. When he finally stopped they had come to large cavern entrance about the size of three dragon wingspans. "Well...here is is.!" he gestured to the cave as he strolled inside. "Illuminate." he spoke clearly, causing the walls to erupt with torches, bathing the stone cavern in their soft orange light.

Lyndis' eyes went to the collection of treasures that were scattered along the stone floor, which was decorated with rather large rugs. They were all of different colors, all of them vibrant and matching. From the rugs seem to sprout mirrors, vases, books, and other treasures. She thought she even spied a few mounds of gold coins, and ivory combs. It was honestly more treasure then she thought the dragon would have had, considering his mother. "You have your own treasure?" she looked up to him, "I'd think you wouldn't have any."

"Why would I not? Mother understands any grown dragon needs their own." He slowly guided her with his wing towards a large section of the cavern dedicated to his sleeping area. It was a giant area made of all different rugs, sheets, and blankets. It all formed together to make one nest of cloth. "So she would reward us with treasure over the years of practice, tasks, or challenges that she had us do. He let go of her with a wing, and strolled into his nest. "There is a chest full of sleeping wear for woman if you want to change." He circled the blankets like a dog, before settling down onto his limbs with a soft rumble. "I won't look I promise."

"Why do you have a chest full of woman's clothing? Like to do a little cross dresssing?" She laughed, searching her way through the treasure to indeed find a deep crimson chest, open with stacks of night gowns.

"No..I've simply had female guests spend the night before..." He trailed off, shutting his eyes. "I have lived here for one hundred twenty five years after all."

"And you had females to share the time?" she picked up a deep green night gown, with slight gold trimming. It looked rather warm to her. She shrugged and quickly took off her clothes, making sure the dragon was not peaking first.

"Course I did."

"Did...you know..." She slipped herself into the nightgown in a moment. "Have any fun?"

"Oh you mean mate." the tired dragon wrinkled his snout and replied flatly. "Once or twice."

"Really now?" she chuckle as she strode over. "Remember, no funny business or you will find yourself with a dagger where the sun don't shine."

"I remember." He grumbled, opening his wings in an inviting fashion. "You can choose to sleep on the other side of course, but if you'd rather take advantage of my warmth you are welcome to."

She felt her face grow red again as she thought to his warmth, his beating heart, and being held tightly in his grasp. With a sigh she nestled in close to his chest, very much like Arcturus had done with Veledar. When the dragon curled his forelimb around her she understood why the paladin liked it so much. She felt so safe, so warm to be held within his grip. She closed her eyes and settled her cheek onto his black armored chest. "So warm..." She mumbled as she felt his wings cover them like a blanket.

"Consider yourself conquered." he mumbled with a grin.

"I said...no funny business." she replied sleepily, finding herself slowly drifting away into his embrace. She even found his little cute statement appealing for a moment. "Good night Cordenth."

"Good night Lyndis." the dragon replied softly with a content sigh, pulling her closer against his chest.