13. EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

C aden lunged past Valerius. Or rather he sort of barreled the Black Dragon King over. Valerius let out a startled cry as he was dashed to the ground. Caden stuck his head and part of his long neck into the throne room. He saw the fox-faced girl at the far corner of the room. Her mouth was opened, forming an “O” of surprise and alarm. Then she was moving again. Her feet amusingly flew out on either side of her as she scrambled to run deeper into the castle and away from him, where he could not go.

Freeze her! Iolaire suggested.

Now you want to be part of the action! Caden laughed.

Ice! Iolaire hooted in happiness.

You better take over then because I don’t want to hurt her! Caden said.

As the fox-faced girl headed towards the far doorway. Iolaire sent a wave of ice breath towards her. She yelped. The world went white. Caden’s heart was in his throat until it cleared. The fox-faced girl was stuck to the wall with a curved “bar” of ice that held her a foot off of the ground. She struggled wildly in her icy prison, but she was unharmed. Caden grinned.

Perfect! He told Iolaire.

Iolaire hooted again.

“Well, aren’t you a pretty young man,” Mei said as she slid underneath their chin and entered the room.

What? How does she know-- Caden’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he saw the mirrored wall that was opposite them.

In it, there should have been Iolaire’s massive dragon’s head and Mei’s slender form sheathed in fiery red. But there wasn’t. He saw himself in the mirror. His human body. Naked and blinking back at himself stupidly.

“You’d best pull back, young man,” Mei whispered conspiratorially. “Before the others see. I’ll keep your secret. This will let us meet alone in person, will it not? Then we can truly talk.”

She winked knowingly even as Caden reared back as if struck by lightning. His heart was thumping so hard that he thought it would beat out of his chest. Adrenaline coursed through his system.

Mei knows! She saw me! Caden cried as he cast about wildly as if to physically hide himself in some way.

The mirror! I should have warned you, Valerius thought grimly.

I didn’t give you a chance! Caden answered.

He hadn’t. He had just acted so the fox-faced girl didn’t get away. Valerius had just gotten upright now, having recovered from Caden’s lunge. The panic melted away at the realization that he had bowled Valerius over. Caden quickly nosed him.

Are you all right? Did I hurt you? Caden asked.

I am more than fine. Valerius gave him a smile and patted his cheeks. But who is our friend in there? The one you risked so much for?

She was the fox-faced girl I saw in the square who set the bomb, Caden quickly explained. But what about Mei? I…

Valerius grimaced. One thing at a time. What is done is done. We will deal with it. But this girl is more important.

Y-yeah, you’re right, of course. But Caden still felt exposed and fragile despite being in their dragon-form.

“What is the cause of all of this excitement?” Esme asked as she glanced through the open doors. She let out a gasp. “What--why… Serai! Why has Iolaire attacked her?”

“You know this girl, Esme?” Valerius turned towards the Blue Dragon Queen.

Caden’s heart was hammering again. Could Esme be behind the bombing? No, she couldn’t be! She was Valerius’ friend! Besides, she had a look of genuine shock on her face.

“This young woman.” Valerius pointed at the still struggling Serai. “Is the one who set the bomb in Dragon Strike Square.”

Esme blinked. “W-what?” She put a hand on her chest. “That’s impossible!”

Again, she seemed genuinely shocked. Caden got no sense of acting from her at all. But he didn’t know her well. And she was supposed to be one of the most cunning of the Dragon Shifters.

Valerius, could Esme… Caden’s thoughts dropped.

No, at least… Valerius looked grimmer. I do not believe that Esme would be so foolish as to bring the same girl to High Reach after she had her set a bomb knowing that you would be here. It would be too risky and Esme is not a risk-taker.

Unless Serai didn’t tell her that I had seen her, Caden suggested softly.

Even so, she wouldn’t risk it. She has backup plans for backup plans. She trusts in nothing and no one, Valerus answered. If she wished to go against me, she would not be sloppy like this.

I’m glad. I--I like her, Caden admitted.

She had petted him and been kind about his icy breath. He genuinely believed she wanted to show him how to be a Dragon Shifter. But he mostly didn’t want it to be true because she seemed the one friend Valerius had among the Shifters that he had met so far. Tez was one, too, but lesser because Valerius and his personalities clashed.

As do I. Going up against Esme would be far more dangerous than Mei or Illarion in any case so I have more selfish reasons for hoping it is not so, Valerius told him.

You mean because she’s smarter than them? Caden knew that Illarion was the physically strongest of the three, and likely second only to Valerius. Mei had magma to Esme’s water breath so they would be evenly matched in that.

Mei is clever. But Esme is careful. She did not get where she is by being foolish or acting without thinking things out eleven steps ahead of her, Valerius explained.

Speaking of Mei, she was over by Serai, pacing in front of the struggling girl, with one finger tapping her delicate chin and regarding her curiously. She, too, seemed to not know who the girl was. But, then again, Mei must have been a good actress as she was able to convince the mayor’s son that she loved him and wanted only the best for him until she stabbed him in the heart.

What about Mei? Could Serai be working for her? Though neither of them are acting like they know the other, Caden said.

He risked a quick head duck to see what was happening in there. After glimpsing his human face again, he determined not to do that again. Luckily, no one had been looking into the mirror at the time.

“Could Iolaire be mistaken?” Tez asked. “I hardly remember the circumstances of my joining.”

“You did not forget the faces or names of the people responsible for you and the others being in that mine, now did you?” Esme asked dryly. “So I highly doubt that Iolaire or its human counterpart has forgotten the face of the person who set the bomb that would have killed him or her otherwise.”

“No.” Tez frowned. “I suppose that face would be burned into my memory.”

“Your people have either betrayed you or you have betrayed Valerius, Esme. Either way, you are deep in it!” Illarion remarked with a snort.

Esme tossed him an icy glance. “That is likely what someone intends , but it shall not be so. For I have not betrayed Valerius, and I will find out from Serai who put her up to this!”

Esme stalked into the throne room. Tez reluctantly followed after her as if he were compelled to learn this young woman’s story. Illarion went over to the railing and leaned against it, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Iolaire with hooded eyes.

You should go in there, Valerius. I’m fine out here, Caden urged the Black Dragon King.

I do not wish to leave you alone with Illarion, Valerius answered simply.

The very fact that Valerius was hesitating in leaving him warmed Caden. But Valerius needed to discover if Serai’s betrayal extended beyond her to one or more of the other Dragon Shifters.

I’ll be fine. He tries anything and he doesn’t get to shift for another day. Caden gave Illarion a narrow-eyed look.

Indeed. Raziel would like to see you do that again, Valerius laughed.

I bet. Caden nosed the Black Dragon King’s stomach, loving the smell of him, and wanting to have that in his nose even as he thought it best that Valerius go inside while he remained outside.

Valerius frowned. You must not repeat this to Chione but…

What? Caden felt a little agog about whatever the Black Dragon King didn’t want his Councillor to know.

But I could use her guidance in this. Valerius sighed.

Caden chuckled.

Do not laugh! But soon Valerius was grinning himself, though he soon sobered.

I’m betting you know what she would say in this situation, Caden guessed.

Serai is Esme’s citizen, not mine , Valerius explained slowly . But Serai committed an act of terror against my people. So there is a line I must walk not to interfere in Esme’s business, but to protect my own as well .

Valerius scratched Caden between the ears as he spoke. His gaze was distant and Caden realized how hard this must be for Valerius. He knew there were enemies on all sides and yet he couldn’t just crush everyone to end the threat. Well, maybe Valerius could , but he was trying to find another solution.

You should still be in there, Caden told him. Chione would likely tell you to let Esme take the lead, and to only interject if you must.

Valerius’ eyebrows rose. You already know her so well despite just having met.

Caden shrugged and their wings rustled. I’ve just seen her do it a bunch of times in the sticky situations that have cropped up. I figure she would advise you to do the same!

You are right. Valerius nodded and smiled. You are completely right.

Where is Chione by the way? I can’t believe she wouldn’t be in the thick of things.

She is dealing with a matter with President Goodfellow. She will join everyone at dinner.

Dinner, Caden sighed. He would not be having any and the picnic basket of food he’d snarfed down before coming here seemed a long time ago.

I wish I could cook for you upstairs. I would make you beef--

Don’t talk about beef! I want that beef! But Caden shook himself. Go on. Get in there. Do your kingly duty and then come back out to me.

You just do not wish me to speak of beef.

Damned straight.

Valerius gave him another nose-kiss, which was just awesome. Somehow he could feel that kiss on his scales as much as he could feel it on his human skin. Caden then soon lost sight of Valerius as the Black Dragon King strode inside. Caden could not risk even lowering his head to look into the throne room again to follow Valerius’ beloved body, or he really risked someone seeing his human form in the mirror so he could only listen now to what happened. Their ears twitched.

“Serai,” Esme’s voice rose up. “A very serious charge has been laid against you. Namely, that you are the one who placed the bomb in Dragon Strike Square.”

“Mistress! What?” Serai’s voice was soft and breathy like an innocent girl’s.

But what innocent girl sets a bomb that would kill people? Caden asked himself as much as Iolaire. She looks the same age as Tilly though!

Iolaire agreed and dug their claws into the plaza’s stone and earth floor.

“Should we perhaps let her down from that ring of ice?” Tez asked, sounding as if he was incredibly uncomfortable seeing a child constrained in that way.

Caden was surprised it was Esme who answered sharply, “No. I will have my answers now.”

I don’t think Esme is the type to accept any reason for betrayal, Iolaire.

Another soft hoot from his Dragon Spirit confirmed they were in agreement on this as well.

Is her coldness to Serai more proof that Esme isn’t a part of this? Or just a desire for others not to be able to interrogate Serai without her?

Iolaire found this all disturbing. It did not understand why the girl would want to harm innocents in the square. Why had her Spirit not intervened and stopped her?

Lots of Spirits help their humans kill , Caden pointed out gently. Even Valerius and Raziel have killed in their day. And would have hurt us if we hadn’t gotten away from them before they knew us, remember?

Another soft hoot and Iolaire’s head lowering acknowledged that truth though he felt Iolaire’s desire to explain away Raziel’s reaction. Territory. Protection. Not malice.

Yeah, you’re right about that, Caden said.

There was certainly a difference between the cowardly act of someone setting a bomb that would hurt people who were not attacking versus believing one had been attacked viciously and defending oneself.

“Iolaire says you are the girl it saw that placed the backpack with the bomb,” Valerius’ voice was surprisingly gentle. “Was it you?”

“N-no! How could I? I was in England when the bomb went off!” Serai cried. “Mistress, you saw me that day! How could I be in two places at once?”

Could I be wrong, Iolaire? Caden asked. Maybe she just looks like the girl. You were not with me when--

I was there. I watched. It is her, Iolaire responded.

You were there? Did you know it was going to happen? Caden asked.

The White Dragon Spirit did not answer him exactly, only saying, Watching you.

You were watching me? For how long? And why? I--

Listen now, Iolaire interrupted gently.

Caden realized that Iolaire would not answer more, perhaps it wouldn’t have even if there hadn’t been important information that they needed to listen to. So he sighed and accepted this. But he would come back to it. Not to mention, he noted that Iolaire was expressing itself in more complex sentences. It was learning.

“You were with me in the morning , Serai. You could have gotten here by the time the bomb was to be set,” Esme answered her, and there was a chill in her tone.

“But you’ll see I was on no planes! I--”

“Even if I could check every single plane that flies between England and the United States for you, which would be a herculean task and most likely a fruitless one if you came by private jet, there are plenty of other ways to make your way here in time,” Esme responded tartly. “I would hope whoever is trying to harm Valerius--and evidently, myself, too--would have the wherewithal and the respect to not send you via coach and under your own name without a disguise.”

“Mistress! Why would you think I would do this?” Serai wailed.

Caden’s heart clenched. Iolaire hid their head in a wing. She sounded so young.

But she isn’t. Once a person bonds with their Spirit they are that age forever so she could be as old as Chione!

Caden suddenly desperately wished that Chione was here just like Valerius had.

“You did not want to come here, Serai,” Esme said quietly. “When I asked you, you tried to beg off, even though traveling into Valerius’ territory is a great honor.”

“I--I did not feel well! I--”

“You hid in our rooms immediately. You only came down here because I asked Molly to have you bring Iolaire its gift,” Esme said, her voice suddenly cutting. “Molly!”

“Yes, Mistress,” said another young woman.

“I see you have the gift. How did you come by it?” Esme demanded.

“Serai brought it to me,” the young woman paused and Caden knew there was more that she wasn’t saying.

“But?” Evidently, Esme heard the missing words, too.

“I don’t want to add… I don’t want to be responsible for you thinking this is anything--”

“Molly, just tell the truth. The facts are the facts,” Esme interrupted, and there was exasperation as much as anger in her tone.

“She didn’t want to come down,” Molly admitted, her voice getting small. “She asked me to come up to get the gift. But I couldn’t because you might need me and then she ran off.”

“Yes, thank you, Molly. I do understand your concerns,” Esme suddenly sounded so tired. “I do appreciate your honesty, and I want you to remember that simply by speaking the truth you have done nothing to hurt Serai.”

But everyone knew that these words simply added to Serai’s appearance of guilt.

Iolaire suddenly reared and swung their head around towards Illarion. The Green Dragon King was no longer leaning against the wall, observing them out of hooded eyes, but instead had padded silently to their side and had been about to touch them.

Rage flickered in Caden’s chest. He turned their massive body and pushed their head towards Illarion’s chest. White frosty air wreathed around their jaws. Illarion put up his hands and backed away. Caden though continued to come after him, jaws agape, until Illarion’s back hit the wall.

“I am sorry, Iolaire. I just…” Illarion let out a helpless laugh. “I have never touched a Dragon before. I am fascinated.”

Really? Nothing to do with the mates thing? Caden expressively raised one of their eyebrows.

“You are so pretty! Such a pretty Dragon!” Illarion then admitted.

Caden’s eyes narrowed and he let out another huff of frost that coated Illarion’s front. The Green Dragon Shifter grimaced and there was a spark of anger in his eyes, but he did not attack.

Just try it. Try shifting and we’ll stop you in your tracks, Caden thought.

Iolaire twittered something about it being wrong and odd that the other Dragon Shifters had never touched one another.

They aren’t a pack, Iolaire. They don’t see themselves as the same. But just as predators they have to be wary of, Caden explained.

He was understanding Valerius’ reasoning all the more now that he was seeing all of these people up close. Other than Esme and, potentially Tez, he didn’t like the Dragon Shifters at all. Maybe the others would be nicer. But he somehow doubted it.

“I apologize, Iolaire.” Illarion tipped his head. He couldn’t bow because Caden really had him pressed up to the wall and their jaws.

Are you? I wonder. Would a man who puts people in concentration camps care about our personal space, Iolaire? I doubt it.

Iolaire was regarding the Green Dragon Shifter with a bit of the cat “don’t touch me” expression. It was not angry like Caden was, but more perplexed by such rudeness. Touching another Dragon was right and natural in Iolaire’s view, but not without asking permission first!

Not to mention that Valerius and Raziel don’t like this guy, Caden reminded Iolaire.

Raziel wise! Iolaire hooted.

Yeah, Valerius is as well.

“I wish we could talk,” Illarion said, drawing their attention back to him. A small smile played across his lips. He was handsome in a severe way and the smile softened him a little, but it could not erase what they knew about him. “I have often thought that listening to others is boring, at best, but you… I would like to hear from you.”

Why? I swear, Iolaire, that I think he believes we are some kind of pretty princess in here. Imagine his surprise if he were to find out the truth!

Iolaire snorted frost.

“You do not believe me. But I do not blame you for having dark thoughts about me.” Illarion shrugged his fur covered shoulders. “Valerius and I are rivals in everything. I am certain that he has not painted me in good terms.”

And you’ve proven yourself to be even more of an asshole by your actions. But hey! You must think I am blind, deaf and dumb.

“Valerius is a bully. Surely, you have noticed this, yes? He tried to bully you, but despite your small size, you were fierce!” Illarion chuckled. He sobered though as he said, “One must push back against him. You are young. Not just in Shifter terms, but human ones. I sense this.”

Caden blinked. Did Illarion know who he was? Or was the Green Dragon Shifter just guessing? Maybe everyone already knew who he was, mirror or no mirror, and all this hiding was for nothing!

“And you have lived here in his territory all your life so you are bound to be a little…” Illarion waggled his fingers in the air. “In awe of Valerius, yes? And prejudiced against the other Dragon Shifters, I am sure! Of course, this is natural.” Illarion leaned in a little. “But you must fight against these things when you make your decision about who you will join with. Because, I assure you, that Valerius is the worst choice for you to make. He is set in his ways. He thinks he is first among equals. And he will never let an equal rule with him here.”

And Illarion would be a much better choice? Even if everything he said was true, Iolaire, it doesn’t sell him! Caden thought with disgust.

There was a cracking sound, which had both Illarion and them looking towards the throne room. The others were marching out with Valerius and Esme in the lead. Serai was between them. Their ice breath that had pinned Serai to the wall had evidently been transformed into water by Esme. That change from ice to water was the cause of the sound. But the water bound Serai just as firmly as the ice had. An almost living “tentacle” of water wrapped around her middle, pinning her slender arms to her sides. She was just a slip of a girl, but as she neared them, whatever doubts Caden had that she wasn’t the one he’d seen went away. It was her. Like Tez had said, her face was burned into his memory.

Why did she do it? Caden wondered.

He hadn’t realized that he’d shared that with Valerius until the Black Dragon King responded, She will not say. She still claims to be innocent. She is lying, of course. But Esme wanted to make sure.

I am sure. It is her, Caden said and felt like he was signing this girl’s death warrant.

“Iolaire confirms--”

“Yes, Valerius, I can tell what Iolaire’s answer is,” Esme said.

She stood there in her dark blue wrap. Her beautiful, lined face was shadowed now as the sun was setting. It seemed engraved with the burden of this betrayal in the dimming light. Caden lowered his head until he was almost eye to eye with the girl.

Why? Why would you do that evil thing? He asked, even though he knew she wouldn’t hear him.

She struggled to get away from him, misinterpreting his gaze as one of aggression. But Esme’s water “tentacle” held her in place. The frost from his breath caused the “tentacle’s” surface to ice over. She suddenly stopped struggling and hung there almost limp for a moment.

In a voice that was soft, but not girlish or frightened, Serai said, “What would you sacrifice to change the world?”

“Is that why you did it?” Esme frowned. “To change the world? By killing a bunch of tourists eating ice cream and buying souvenirs? Do you really think that would change the world in any good way?”

Serai’s head lifted. “Good is in the eye of the beholder.”

And then, before anyone could do anything, she bit down on her own teeth. There was a click and a hiss and then white foam was flowing out of her mouth, over her lips and down her chin. Her young body jerked and spasmed before going still.