Paths among Dreams

The Dragons Gift

King Mikel paced his rooms back and forth anxiously. He couldn’t stop thinking about all the things this strange woman had said. What did his people think or remember for that matter? Had he really become so distant that they no longer knew who and what he was? Did the people of Illora know the true nature of their people or why the gifts were fading? His mind spun with questions and anger filled him as he began to place the blame on not only himself but the kings before him. How was he supposed to fix it if he continued to be bound by the old king's laws? How could he change the future of his people if he was beholden to the past. Kings were not allowed to mate outside of the blood born, nor could they mate within their own line. With the laws being what they were, he would be the last blood born king and their history and connection to the dragons would die with him.

Over the years King Mikel had questioned the truth of that many times. After all, his own brothers and sisters shared bonds with each of their own dragons as did their children and grandchildren. Each bond formed at birth within these very palace walls. Though his brothers and sisters had few gifts, their dragons were still very powerful and the same went for their offspring. However, his brothers and sisters were free to mate outside of the Dragon Blood born and so with each generation, the bonds forged with their dragons became less and gifts were no longer shared between the bounded pair. Only the king himself was able to become with his dragon and the kings before him as well as he himself believed it was because of the purity of their line. Still the king pondered if that was fact or simply a means to control the dragon blood. Truth be told, he didn’t care anymore. Those laws were the very things that kept him shackled to the palace, alone for eternity without the ability to pass on the kingdom of Illora to his heir.

“Shamus, what do you say to this fiery woman's claims?” Though the king was looking in the mirror, it was not his face he saw. Staring back at him was a great black dragon with scales of volcanic glass, and eyes the color of blood. King Mikel's dragon huffed a large breath and turned away from him. The mirror reflected the dragon inside the King, though they were two separate souls, they shared one body, one soul. This was the gift given to the King of the Dragon Blood, to become one with his dragon. Once upon a time it was a common gift among the Dragon Blood born, but throughout time, it became a gift only bestowed on the king.

Fearing the king would not find any peace tonight, he threw open his balcony doors, stepped outside and gave himself over to his dragon. Jumping from the balcony as a man one moment and gliding across the grounds on wide, sheer black wings the next. Shamus took flight, pondering his people with the king and also thinking about this snow haired woman with her fiery attitude and brazen willingness to say whatever she is thinking. Both the man and the dragon found her interesting and frustrating. On the one hand she only asked the same questions he had asked himself a million times. On the other hand, who was she to question the king or the laws they were all bound to? But by the great dragon, she was beautiful. There was a strength about her and it was clearly evident how much she cared for the people of the kingdom. The king thought to himself that she was still out of line to speak the way she did, but the dragon within thought it was refreshing. Shamus thought that she had the heart of a dragon even if she wasn’t bonded to one and while the thoughts swam in their mind they found themselves flying close to the lady’s balcony to catch a glimpse of the woman inside. To their great surprise, the lady was on her balcony, stroking a labrador size emerald dragon. Moss. Of course it was Moss, even at his young age, Moss craved someone to bond with. Sixteen years ago he had lost his blood born to illness. It was the king's younger brother's youngest daughter who had perished, severing the bond and leaving Moss to walk the realm alone. While they could not hear the lady, they could see that she was speaking softly to the emerald dragon and in response the dragon rested his head in the lady's lap and cooed to her as though he understood her words.

King Mikel wished in that moment that he could hear the lady, wishing that it was his head in her lap soaking in her melodic voice.

Shamus took that time to dip low in the sky above the ground and announce his power and presence. When he caught the ladies attention, the king locked eyes with this fierce lady and felt a stirring in his heart he had never felt before.

“ I like her.” Shamus grumbled in their mind. “She has the strength of the great dragon in her heart, it would be a great honor to call her mate.” The dragon echoed the feelings the king began to feel the first time she brazenly yelled at him.

“ I wish it were possible, old friend, I wish it were possible.” the king answered. WIth sorrow in their heart, together they turned back to their own balcony in search of some sort of rest knowing they were unlikely to achieve it tonight.

Shifting back to his mortal form and walking into his rooms, the king was so lost in his thoughts he failed to notice Kira was draped across the couch opposite his bed glaring at him. It wasn’t until she began to growl lowly that he realised he was not alone. Clearly surprised, his eyes glowed gold and his fingers turned to claws as he turned to face the person in his rooms uninvited. After all, dragons were still fierce predators and highly territorial. If he hadn’t heard the growl before he might have thought he was facing an adolescent male in his bedroom.

“What were you thinking?” Kira ground out between clenched teeth. “Rina is my closest friend and my companion. Why would you just explode on her that way? And then invade the only privacy you granted to her in your demand that she stay here.”

“ Now wait just one minute, I did NOT send for you or her for that matter.” King Mikel replied. “Why are the pair of you even here Kira? You haven’t come in more than thirty years?”

“Oh Mikel, dreams and visions have been plaguing me nightly. I’ve seen this kingdom fall.” Kira cried leaning on her brother who had come to sit beside her.

“Calm yourself sister, please, I hate to see you so upset. Together we will get to the bottom of this. Put your mind at ease sweet sister, and rest. Tomorrow brings a new day.” King Mikel trying to reassure his sister. “And Kira, you may be my elder but announce yourself next time. There are still a few things I’d rather keep private.” He continued as he walked her to the door.

Looking down, Kira noticed her brother was still naked after his flight. She turned to him with a smirk and said, “If you hadn’t been spying, you wouldn’t be naked.” The king closed the door at her retreating back all the while the dragon within was mimicking his sister's words.