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Jade and Amethyst (Chapter 2)

By

3669AD and BlazeLucivar

A deep, rhythmic rumbling came from deep within the cave, like a loud snoring. Well, she had the right place; the rumbling seemed to prove it. Giada took a few steps into the cave. Yes, she had the right place, and yes, Alaric seemed to be there, but she had to wonder: was it wise to wake a sleeping dragon? The closer she got, the louder the rumbling became. Out of one the carved out rooms in the cave, a man came out and addressed the newcomer. "Who is it that would disturb the slumber of our master?" Master? Giada vaguely remembered hearing the old women in her village telling tales about dragons and speaking of those who served the great creatures. "Only someone who wishes to thank him for providing aid in a time of need," she said. "Then come with me," the man said as he led her to his master's chamber. He said nothing, waiting for Alaric to catch their scent and wake up on his own. A few minutes passed before Alaric awoke from their scent. When he saw that it was Giada, he assumed his human form and walked up to her. "Hello, Giada. How are you this day?" "I'm doing well," Giada replied. "I wanted to thank you properly for helping me the other day. According to the old women of my village, the best way to give thanks to someone is to bring them a gift." She unwrapped the parcel in her arms and held it out to him. Nestled in the cloth was a small figure of a dragon made of lavender coral and with two perfect pearls for its eyes. Alaric's amethyst eyes took in the coral dragon and he smiled. "The old women in your village are wise," he said as he took the miniature dragon and looked at it more closely. "Your craftsmanship is ample, I shall put this in my treasure room. Thank you for the gift." He looked at her once again. "Was this all you needed of me?" The dragon knew this would come off sounding rude, but he did not mean to make it rude. Giada met his gaze. Seeing that he didn't mean for his question to sound rude, she decided to throw him a bone, so to speak. "Yes, that's all I needed of you, but it's my way to offer payment in kind. Is there anything you might need of me?" Alaric arched his brow at her question. "Do you mean to become one of my servants?" "I only mean to repay you for helping me before. However, if there is nothing you need of me as of now, I can leave you to your business." "And so you have done. If there is nothing you need assistance with, you are free to stay or leave." "Well then," Giada said, nodding to him in acknowledgement. "I'll leave you to your business." She headed back out the way she'd come into the cave and went on her way. He went into his treasure room to put the coral dragon with some other trinkets that had been made for him. After he had made sure it was secure, he walked out into the world and became his true self. He flapped his wings a few times and made a loud roar before he took off into the air. He dove into the ocean and ate his breakfast. On the dirt road back to her village, Giada heard the dragon's roar and looked up, marveling at how a creature could have such an ungainly form and still be so graceful and majestic. After breakfast, Alaric flew to his cave to get some gold. He became human and gathered enough to buy enough gems to eat later that night. He donned some vestments given him by some nobles four hundred years ago. He transformed into his hybrid form and took flight to go into the city. On the outskirts of the city he landed and became human once more. On days when Giada wasn't diving for pearls and coral, she taught the children of her village. The young girls came to her to learn traditional and ceremonial dances, and the young boys did as well, but the boys also came to her to learn rudimentary swordplay and the basics of defending themselves. When the boys grew older, they would eventually go to the city and train with the soldiers there or they would stay in the village and train with the men who protected the village. Today was one such day where Giada would be teaching the young ones to dance. Alaric exchanged the usual pleasantries, but rarely spent much time other than to get what he was looking for. He went to the jeweler and purchased all the gems in his building and put them in his bag of holding. He walked out of the city and became his hybrid form once more, taking off for the nearest village, which by human standards was two hours away. About twenty minutes later, Alaric arrived in the village and once again assumed human form and headed for the jeweler. His well-made clothes marked him as someone of high status, and villagers quieted as Alaric approached, then took to whispering and gossiping as he passed, wondering why someone like him would visit their village. A few children who'd been playing in the street saw him go into the jeweler's and ran to the training field where Giada was teaching to tell her of the handsomely-dressed stranger who'd arrived. Alaric walked through the village until he arrived at the jeweler's shoppe. He walked into the door and was immediately recognized by Jett, the man who ran the shoppe. "Jett, once again, it is time to purchase all of your gems." He pulled out the necessary amount of gold and piled it onto the wooden counter the proprietor had while Jett gathered up all the gems he had. "See you in a few years, Jett." Alaric nodded to the man and left the shoppe. Giada allowed the children to drag her toward the jeweler's. "There! There! See?" one little girl piped up, pointing at Alaric as he left the shoppe. "I told you, Giada! Didn't I tell you?" The child was bouncing on the balls of her feet and tugging at Giada's hand. "Yes, yes, Nashita, you told me all right," Giada smiled at the girl. Alaric heard the child and smiled, seeing who the girl was speaking to. He walked over to the beautiful woman whom he had saved a few short days ago. "Why, hello, Giada. Fancy meeting you here, after so short a break." Giada smiled. "Hello, Alaric." The children gathered around her looked like they were in shock that the man knew their teacher. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, either. What brings you to our village?" The little girl, Nashita, tugged at Giada's hand again, and Giada shooed the children away. "Go practice, children. I'll be there to see how you're doing soon." Alaric waited until the children had left before speaking with Giada. "I come to this village every few years so that I might buy jewels. I go to every jeweler in the area, there are three." "Ah, so you're here to see Jett? Or rather, you've seen him already," she said. "It's strange, but I don't remember seeing you here before. I guess I must have been away the other times." "Rest assured, I have seen you before, here in this village. I rarely stay long enough to banter except with each jeweler, and even then, never more than a few minutes." "Oh." Giada glanced away for a moment, a bit embarrassed, but she couldn't think why that would be. "Erm, when I'm not diving for pearls and coral I teach the children here dance and swordplay. Would you...care to come watch for a little while?" she invited. The dragon thought this over for a few moments, then looked at the women once more. "Yes, I believe I will watch you. Pray, lead the way." "Of course," Giada smiled and led Alaric through the village to the training field. At one side of the field, a group of boys was going through sword strokes with wooden poles. On the other side, a group consisting mainly of girls but including a few boys was practicing part of a dance. After correcting a couple of the pole-wielding boys' stances, Giada went to the dancers and joined them, calling out encouragement as she went through the steps with them. He watched as she went about her duties. "Why are the rest of the boys not also dancing? Do they not understand that battle is much like a dance and that there is much to learn by dancing?" Giada chuckled. "Perhaps you would like to help me teach them that?" she asked. She held up a hand to the dancers, who stopped, and called the boys who were practicing their swordplay over to join them. She took two of the boys' poles and held one out to Alaric. "I think showing them would serve better than telling them, don't you?" she smiled. He took the extended pole and took up a fighting stance. "Gladly," he told her. The children moved back, clearing to one side to watch the sparring match. Giada took up a fighting stance as well, then leapt at Alaric, swinging her pole up over her head and around. He blocked her attack and stepped to her side, pushing outward with his left hand to strike lightly at her side. She grabbed his wrist and spun out, pulling his arm up and jabbing her pole at his armpit. Dropping his pole, he grabbed hers and pulled her in close for a moment, allowing her to see his opaque eyes up close, then let her go. He rolled backwards and picked his pole up mid-roll. He stood, ready for her to come at him again in a fighting stance. For the moment he pulled her in, Giada was entranced. But as soon as he let go, she planted her pole against the ground and used it like a vaulting pole, kicking out at his midsection. He grabbed her ankle and helped her down to the ground behind him, moving to where her pole was and picking it up. After she stood, he tossed it back to her. She caught it easily and slid into a fighting stance again. "Seems like I'm doing most of the work here," she grinned. "Perhaps," he said as he also got into a fighting stance. Giada laughed and leapt at Alaric again, setting her pole spinning in her hand as she brought it down. He watched her feet just before she leapt, which told him exactly where she was going to land, and watched her shoulders while she was in mid-air, which told him where she was going to strike. He stepped to her left and touched his pole to the back of her neck to let her know that point was his. Giada felt the tap and dove into a roll. She stood and faced Alaric, grinning. "You win. Thank you for helping me demonstrate," she said, then turned to the watching, awestruck children. "Keep what you've seen today in mind. Perhaps you boys who didn't join the dancers today will join us tomorrow. You're all dismissed. Go on home." The children scattered, laughing and chattering. The boys who had been practicing swordplay left their poles in a pile on the grass, which Giada picked up. "Perhaps you would like a bit of help?" "If you wish to help, I certainly wouldn't refuse," she replied. He leaned over and picked up what was left of the poles. "I meant with training. I could train you so you might train the younglings better." "I only teach them the basics. The boys train with someone else by the time they reach ten years of age." Giada headed back into the village, gesturing for Alaric to follow. Her house wasn't too far from the field, so it wasn't much of a walk. "But if you would take the time to train me, I'd be happy to take instruction from you, Alaric. Would you like to come in?" He followed her to her house and listened to her explanation. When she invited him in he nodded, not one to shirk politeness. "Regardless, if you have a better understanding of advanced fighting techniques, you are able to teach the basics in a far superior manner. Please, take the word of someone as ancient as myself." Giada set the bundle of training poles in the corner just inside the door and stepped aside to let Alaric enter. "Would it be rude of me to ask how old you are?" she asked. "In your current form, you look to be around the same age as me, and I'm only twenty. What does that translate to for a dragon?" Alaric entered her house and bundled the poles he was carrying with the poles she had set aside. "How old I look in my human form has little to do with how old I truly am. My age is six hundred and seventy-two." "Wow. I could never imagine living that long," Giada said. "Of course, that means little since no human could live as long as a dragon." Alaric smiled a little upon hearing what he considered a great compliment. "Those children are going to be babbling about you for days," Giada chuckled. "After all, it's a rare occurrence to have such a nicely dressed stranger visit the village and then spar with their teacher." "Allow them to talk. After all, children will be children." He watched her, wondering why she had not offered food or beverage as of yet, it was proper etiquette for a hostess. "Yes, that's true." She looked around as if something in the room might give her something to say, then she realized what she was missing. "Oh! I'm sorry. How rude of me. Would you like me to get you something to eat or drink?" Giada asked. "I would like some fish, if you have any." Giada chewed her lip and shook her head. "I don't keep food that spoils quickly in my house. I'm sorry. If you're willing to wait, I can go see if the butcher's gotten any in today." Alaric shook his head at the suggestion. "That is unnecessary. If you do not have what I like, I will go without until I get home." "Oh. All right, then." Giada was beginning to feel a bit awkward, standing there with no idea of what to say next and having already made a couple mistakes. After just a couple more minutes, Alaric stood from the table and pushed in his chair. "I must away, I have one more stop to make today." "Then I won't keep you any longer," Giada said. "Thank you again for joining me in teaching today's lesson." "Then I will see you again, whenever you decide to learn under my tutelage." He began walking to the door, shocked at how little etiquette the woman had been taught. Perhaps he would teach her some in addition to the battle training. Giada rushed to get the door for him, a blush of embarrassment starting on her cheeks. She so rarely had guests that it was no wonder she seemed to be forgetting her manners. After he walked out of her door, he turned around and bowed to her. "Good morrow, Giada. Until we meet again." Giada nodded in response to his bow. "Yes, good morrow, Alaric. I hope we will meet again soon." He walked to the outskirts of the village, then transformed into his hybrid form and flew to his next destination. The next jeweler commented on Alaric's tardiness, but Alaric quickly dismissed the comment with a brief explanation. He flew back to his cave after about twenty-five minutes of being in the city. The next day, just past noon, Giada could be found lying on the beach with her arms folded behind her head. She had gotten a good haul that morning alone, and it was a nice day, so she decided to just relax some and watch the birds wheeling about in the clear blue sky. Alaric had finished his late breakfast and had seen Giada while he was hunting. As he surfaced, the water bubbled out around his gigantic form, and exploded out as he broke out into the air. He saw her down on the beach near his home and flew near her, shifting from his true form to his hybrid form, and after he landed, became human because it was rude to speak with humans in his hybrid form. Giada sat up, hearing the soft sound of shifting sand that signaled someone approaching. Seeing that it was Alaric, she quickly got to her feet. "Good afternoon, Alaric. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here?" He cocked his brow but smiled. "I saw you while I was eating breakfast." "Ah. I haven't interrupted your meal, I hope." She noticed the lift to his brow and her own brow furrowed slightly. "Have I said something strange?" "I am surprised to find that you did not see me while you were diving," he said as he shook his head. "Ah. Well, I may have been absorbed in my work," Giada replied. "I often get caught up in the shapes and colors of the coral or the quality of the pearls I find, and I'll completely block out the rest of my surroundings. It's not a very safe situation, but it happens nonetheless." "If you would like to train, I will be at my home." He turned around and walked to his cave. Giada picked up the sack that held her morning's haul and took it to her home. She'd take it to the jeweler and craft makers later. Then she walked to Alaric's cave. Unlike the first time she'd been there, she only stepped a little ways inside the cave mouth. "Alaric?" He stopped and turned round to face her. "Yes?" She was a little confused by Alaric's response. He had said to come to his home if she wished to train with him, hadn't he. "I wish to train with you, if I may." "Of course, come in." He turned about face and went to his master chamber. Giada followed, both apprehensive and eager. While she was eager to learn from the dragon, she had no way of knowing what he was going to teach her or how he would go about doing so. The first thing she would notice is the gigantic slope that led to his chamber. The walls and ceiling of the cave had to be enormous to house his massive frame, and allow for his continual growth. She would also notice patches of phosphorescent moss dotting the walls of the cave and the walls and ceiling of his chamber. It was bright enough for a human to see, but the chamber itself was bare so he might sleep in it. She looked around in awe. She hadn't realized how much space there could be in one closed-in place. "How is your hand to hand combat?" he asked as he turned to face her. "Hand to hand? Pretty basic, but, um..." As Alaric turned to face her, Giada blushed and glanced away. He was just as bare as the chamber. Completely uncovered. How had she not noticed that before? "Will you be teaching me...unclothed?" "Is there a problem with that?" Giada glanced back at him, then looked away again, blushing redder. "Er, I'm afraid I would be quite distracted..." she said. "Then this would teach you to focus during battle," he said as he watched her face. "You do not always get your way when you fight." "I understand that, but--no, never mind. Shall we get to it?" Giada asked. Before she could finish her question, he stepped forward with his right leg and struck out with his left hand. "Yes," he said, "we shall begin." He intentionally left a tiny space between his fist and her face, allowing her to see that even at his age he was precise, then he pulled back and took a fighting stance. His stance was one that had not been seen on the earth for more than five hundred years.