6. FIGHT ALL THE WAY

FIGHT ALL THE WAY

S o how mad are you on a scale of one to ten? Caden’s voice came clearly over their bond. The worry in it almost made Valerius assure him that all was well. Almost.

Eleven, Valerius answered. Wait, no, fifteen.

Fifteen?! Why fifteen?! Caden cried as Iolaire’s eyes went as round as saucers. This is not a fifteen situation!

And how do you come to that exactly?

No, I asked first! You have to tell me why--why you’re so mad. Exactly, and then consider… uhm, consider not being mad, Caden said.

Another desire to soothe Caden nearly overcame him at those plaintive words. But Caden had to understand how this ill-thought-out desire to go to the park and play with the children was when there were Dragon Shifters other than them in the city.

Ah let us start then. Valerius’ left eyebrow rose. Humans First. Your sister trash-talking them. Then Tezcacoatl--

That was not my fault! Nor was the Tilly thing! She has a mind of her own! And really the Humans First pitchfork wielding mob was not my fault either! Caden sounded indignant as if these arguments were very valid. And Tezcacoatl? He seems pretty unstoppable unless you’re Raziel so… not my fault. None of it is my fault.

If you had gone home like I instructed and you agreed to NONE of this would have happened , Valerius reminded him, demolishing these ridiculous statements.

I… Well, it was just… Tilly wanted a ride and I thought… How much harm could it possibly do? Caden wailed. Things just got out of hand! But I have to be able to go places without you!

Valerius pinched the top of his nose. I know this, Caden, but your adventures need to be kept to a minimum while the other Dragon Shifters are here. Dealing with Humans First is one thing, but the Dragon Shifters… His eyes slid to Tezcacoatl who was looking between them with avid interest just as Esme had. They were silent for too long. Are too curious for their own good.

Actually, I sort of like Tezcacoatl. He seems nice, Caden said. Iolaire looked almost shyly at the Gold Dragon Shifter. Not sure of him, but not rejecting him.

You like him?! Valerius had not meant to sound so outraged. Or rather jealous.

Suddenly, a Dragon nose was pressed against Valerius’ naked chest. I like you best! You know that, right? I’m just saying the others aren’t all bad. Esme is cool. Tezcacoatl is funny. Illarion… Well, forget Illarion. But they’re nothing compared to you. I swear it, Valerius.

More nosing. Cold gushes of air against his skin, blowing his hair back, frosting him. And yet, Valerius was smiling . He couldn’t help himself. Anger flowed away like water. The warmth that bloomed in his chest so suddenly was a little frightening. He swallowed, and used his powerful will to hide it from Caden. This was too soon. Too much. The young man would flee from it and Valerius wouldn’t blame him. Instead, he scratched Iolaire under the chin and between the ears. Tezcacoatl made a delighted sound and came nearer, hand outstretched.

“So cute!” Tezcacoatl laughed. “Oh, Iolaire is--”

Valerius caught his wrist in a none too gentle grip before he could reach the white scales. Iolaire reared a little back, looking at Tezcacoatl out of narrowed eyes. Its back was arched with alarm.

“What? What? Can I not pet Iolaire too? I am a very good petter, I assure you,” Tezcacoatl stated with true earnestness.

That caused Iolaire to look at Tezcacoatl with more curiosity than alarm. Petting was evidently Iolaire’s kryptonite.

“You do not get to pet anyone,” Valerius growled.

“Ah, you are doing that thing again. It is so strange to see you act this way about a person and not territory --”

“Tez!” Valerius barked.

“What about if Iolaire gives me permission?” Tezcacoatl wheedled, raising and lowering his eyebrows.

“Iolaire hasn’t!” Tilly, who had been quiet, piped up. She looked down on them from up high.

Valerius repressed a smile. She looked like a queen on her white throne. Her White Dragon throne.

We should not be encouraging Dragon riding, Raziel growled.

And yet, you were just imagining carrying her yourself, so I am confused, Valerius said as he caught an image from Raziel’s mind showing just that.

His Spirit looked affronted and its wings shifted. But Valerius was not fooled by Raziel’s grumpiness. He wasn’t sure how he felt about someone riding on their back as if they were a beast of burden, but Tilly and the children looked to be having a marvelous time on Iolaire and he couldn’t help but be affected by that in a positive way.

Tezcacoatl looked up at Tilly and the other two, before giving them a sweeping bow. “Forgive me, my lady. You are quite right. Iolaire has said nothing to me. Yet.”

Valerius narrowed his eyes. And he never will.

“I’m not a lady,” Tilly said in a very lady-like, noble voice.

“Maybe I am,” the other girl giggled by her side.

“Maccauley!” Tilly rolled her eyes, but her voice was scandalized.

The boy rocked back and forth, laughing at them both. He wiped his eyes of laughing tears.

“And who might you be, noble sir?” Tezcacoatl asked.

“I’m Tobey! This is Tilly and that’s Maccauley, if you didn’t guess already,” Tobey answered eagerly, charmed by Tezcacoatl already.

Valerius tried not to sigh. That was the problem with Tezcacoatl. Everyone liked him. Even if he was slightly light in his thought processes.

Power to the people, indeed! Does he not know how stupid people are? Valerius growled.

“King Valerius knows who I am,” Tilly said archly.

Valerius stiffened. For a moment, he thought she would give away everything, but then he remembered the dinner! That had been on the news. If they pretended not to know one another entirely, that would seem strange.

“Oh, yeah, dinner.” Tobey though looked slightly disbelieving. “You talked about that all day. Are you going to tell King Valerius the same thing so he can confirm it?”

“It did occur, young man,” Valerius said with a smile at Tilly. “We had quite a good dinner and a wonderful talk.”

“Mom is a good cook. So is Dad. Next time you come, Dad will have to cook,” she said brightly.

“You think that he’s coming to dinner again? Oh, God!” Tobey let his head fall back and groaned.

“You are taking meals with your people, Valerius? That is a good sign!” Tezcacoatl punched his shoulder.

“It took a bomb threat to do it,” Tobey said helpfully.

“A--a bomb ?” Tezcacoatl frowned.

“It is a long story,” Valerius told him. “I look forward to a second dinner, Tilly. Without the bomb scare.”

“Yeah, me too!” She nodded eagerly.

“I can’t believe he really came to dinner. And he seems to… like you,” Tobey said weakly.

“Why did you think she was lying? It was on the news,” Maccauley pointed out.

“Yeah, but…” Tobey said and frowned. “Should we be bowing to him?”

“Not in the least.” Valerius waved an arm through the air. “You stay where you are. Iolaire will be taking you all home. Tilly, you must tell Iolaire where you and your friends live.” He said that with extra intensity. Caden, undoubtedly, knew where her friends lived, but he must not seem to.

“You are going to have Iolaire leave so soon?” Tezcacoatl cried. “But we have barely begun to know one another and--”

“Tezcacoatl--”

“Tez! We do not have to be so formal here now that the press and your enforcers are gone,” Tezcacoatl sniffed.

Enforcers? Does he mean the police chief and the Werewolves? Caden’s confusion was obvious.

He does. He has little love for authoritarian figures such as police, politicians or even the wealthy. He believes they are the root of all evil , Valerius said.

So he doesn’t rule? He’s not one of those authoritarian figures? Caden’s skepticism almost had Valerius laughing.

There’s a fair amount of self-blindness in Tezcacoatl--

Tez! Caden corrected with a laugh.

Valerius rolled his eyes. Yes, well, Tez is charming and quite vain. He believes he is the friend to the common man and woman.

And is he? I mean I hear in the papers about him helping workers and stuff,

Valerius shrugged. Each will have their own view on this. It is not how I rule my territory.

“You are talking! You are talking to one another somehow!” Tezcacoatl exclaimed as he looked between Valerius and Iolaire.

“Do you see lips moving?” Valerius was back to scratching Iolaire’s chin.

“No, which is even more intriguing,” Tezcacoatl said, which had Valerius internally groaning.

“Iolaire, you need to take the children home, and then you are to go home.” Valerius said the last bit looking into Iolaire’s eyes to make his point.

But not directly, Valerius cautioned. He was now thinking he had to be quite literal with Caden and Iolaire. He wouldn’t put it past them to go buzz sheep or something. Go back to the pool and use the vehicle to get home. Leave the vehicle near the corner of Lester and Donovan.

We’ll do that. I swear! Caden said even as Iolaire nodded.

Even as the two of them were talking internally, Tilly rattled off both Tobey and Maccauley’s addresses, which Caden already knew so he didn’t have to listen.

Seriously, how mad are you? Caden pressed.

Caden…

I didn’t mean for this to happen. Iolaire and I thought that--

I know. You meant no harm and you did no harm. In fact… Valerius grimaced. You handled Humans First well. You did not panic and did not hurt anyone accidentally.

Yeah, that guy was freaked, but all he did was pee himself, Caden chuckled.

Iolaire let out a chuff of amusement too.

But… Valerius touched Iolaire’s nose. No more excitement for today.

Iolaire’s head lowered.

We promise. No more. Though we’ll miss you , Caden told him.

You have no idea how much I will miss you, Valerius’ mind voice caught. He cleared his throat though that would do little.

Talk later? Call me? Tell me all the crazy stuff happening at the castle? Caden begged.

Yes, I promise. Believe me when I say that thoughts of you--and your amusement--will help me keep my temper, Valerius replied dryly. He would try to “enjoy” what happened with the other Dragon Shifters just to report it to Caden and Iolaire.

All right! He felt Caden’s joy.

Now take the children home, Valerius instructed.

I’ll talk to you later, Caden said quietly.

“Now, you should probably take Maccauley home first and then head to Tobey’s and--whoa!” Tilly cried in joy as Iolaire lifted off of the ground.

She and the other two children grabbed on as Iolaire rose up higher and higher. There were then whoops and cries of delights as Iolaire started flying towards neighborhoods in the Mid to drop off its charges. Valerius and Tezcacoatl watched them all go in silence.

Tezcacoatl put an arm around Valerius’ shoulders. “Do not be sad, Valerius. You’ll see Iolaire soon. I will insist upon it.”

Valerius rolled his eyes and shrugged off that arm. But gently. “Let us go to High Reach. You, too, have caused enough excitement this evening.”

Tezcacoatl made a mock salute. “Yes, my king!”

Valerius shook his head and took two huge steps before letting the Shift overcome him. Raziel let out a roar of delight and victory. They had sorted a disaster out without any loss of life or respect. He heard Tezcacoatl shift behind them and soon Eldoron was flying practically wingtip to wingtip beside Raziel. In the none too distant past, this would have annoyed them both, but they had gotten used to flying tandem with Iolaire recently.

Speaking of Iolaire…

Raziel turned its head to catch sight of the White Dragon flying over the west part of the Mid. Iolaire turned its head and let out a cry of greeting and then a gout of snow. Raziel returned the greeting by lighting the sky with fire. Eldoron, thankfully, did not spurt hot metal, but did make a laughing cry.

The two of them spiraled upwards until they reached the landing area right outside of his throne room. Raziel tilted its head down to indicate that Eldoron should land there first. Eldoron flapped its golden wings. The torches that framed the doors to the throne room caused those wings to look like they were on fire. Then Eldoron slowly lowered to twenty feet down before it Shifted and Tezcacoatl dropped to the ground. Raziel and Valerius followed after.

The doors to the throne room were open. As Valerius stood up, cool dew soaked grass under his feet, he saw Esme, still in her flowy blue dress, and Chione, now clothed in a bronze silk and leather dress that covered less than it revealed. Beyond them was Illarion, glowering. His green eyes glowed poisonously.

Clearly, someone is jealous.

Tezcacoatl raced to Esme, grabbing her in his arms, and spinning her around so that her blue dress floated around her.

“Oh, you bad, bad man, Tez,” Esme twittered as he set her down on her feet.

“I cannot help it! You are a vision, Esme! Everytime I see you, you are more beautiful,” Tezcacoatl said, completely unrepentant about being a bad, bad man. Then again, Esme didn’t seem to mean it either.

“Bad man? Bad man? You are scum , Tezcacoatl! You think to put some claim on Iolaire?” Illarion finished a drink and threw the cup on the ground. It clattered and bounced across the marble floor. One of his staff ran to follow it. Valerius’ jaw clenched.

Tezcacoatl though seemed completely unphased by Illarion’s sloppy anger. Instead, he spread his arms wide as one of his retainers strode up to him and put a gold and blue robe over him. Then he took a glass of wine off of the tray offered to him by one of Valerius’ servants.

“You have as much claim to Iolaire as I do to the sky,” Tezcacoatl laughed.

“Then what are you doing here?” Illarion snarled as he grabbed some wine himself and guzzled it down.

Chione came to Valerius to offer him a robe. He took it from her and clothed himself as the others bickered. Well, Tezcacoatl and Illarion bickered while Esme watched on.

“Is Iolaire all right?” Chione murmured.

“In fine fettle. Sorry, but I am certain that it would do it all over again.” Valerius smiled dryly at her.

“... you think to prance and preen into Iolaire’s heart.” Illarion’s face was inches from Tezcacoatl who smirked at him, only causing Illarion to grow angrier. “What do you really have to offer? Peasants and poverty?”

Illarion let out an ugly laugh. Tezcacoatl’s usually smiling face went dark, cheeks flaming, and eyes narrowing.

“You speak of poverty and peasants, but what of your territory, Illarion? You have only prisoners ,” Tezcacoatl snarled.

They were now nose to nose. Valerius took a cup of wine and sipped it as he watched them.

“You should step in,” Chione stated softly.

“Why?” Valerius asked. “A little blood spilled might be a good idea.”

Chione looked at him with dismay. “They’ll destroy the throne room!”

“It’s stone.” He shrugged.

“Valerius! You are the host! Having your guests brawl is not hospitable,” she protested.

He could hardly hide his smile. “On the contrary, Chione, this is only your second time with more than two of us in a room. Brawling is the least of what is expected.”

Chione sighed. “You just want to see their noses bloodied for flying above Reach.”

“You think that's unwarranted?” He lifted an eyebrow at her.

Chione’s arms were crossed over her chest. “No, no, of course not. But there has been so much violence in the past few days. More of it feels… wrong.”

Valerius sighed. He thought how this would look through Caden’s eyes. The young man would likely be unnerved, especially as they were ostensibly fighting over him . But the truth was that these were old arguments between the Green and Gold Dragons.

“Do you really think if I interfere between them that this will lower the aggression in that room?” He gestured with his wine cup towards the throne room.

Chione pursed her lips, but then she lowered her head. “You are correct. It won’t.”

“You are distressed.” He put an arm around her shoulders. “What is it?”

She shook herself. “I do not know. I just have feelings of foreboding.”

Whether it was one of her true visions of the future or just all the unrest was unclear to him. He did not like to see his normally feisty and lively Councillor look so dour and dire. That was his role.

“I will tell you what, you can… give them plushies,” Valerius said.

Chione immediately whirled towards him, eyes wide, and lips parted. “You mean… I can give each of them a plushie of their own color?”

“Yes.”

And maybe Caden can come with Wally to High Reach. I need to see him in person.

“You look like you’re sucking on a lemon!” she laughed. But then leaned in and kissed his cheek. “But you are so sweet for worrying about me.”

“We have to keep our spirits up, Chione. We are going to need every last ounce of patience,” he warned her.

She smiled at him even as she was pulling out her phone, undoubtedly to speak to Wally about the plushies. He sighed and moved off just as he heard her say, “Wally? It is Chione! I--oh, Marban? You’ve been having a day, have you? I see. Well, no, you mustn’t kill him. I realize--oh, he did that ? My, that would be distressing.”

Her voice trailed off as he strode over to Esme. She was tapping the edge of her cup against her lower lip as she regarded the two other Dragon Shifters. Her blue eyes sparkled speculatively. She welcomed him with a smile, but her eyes flickered back to Illarion and Tezcacoatl as they shouted in each other’s faces, circling the room, noses practically pressed together, looking as if they were about to grapple with one another and start rolling around on the floor.

“Did you ever see the old gladiator games?” Esme asked.

“I did. I would love to see a deathmatch between them,” Valerius said.

“You like Tez. He annoys you, but you like him. Illarion…” She let her voice drift off. Looking at the Green Dragon she let out a sigh. “He’s always been a bully and had more cunning than actual intelligence, but he seems more out of control than usual.”

Valerius looked at how Illarion’s face was practically purple with rage. His hands were clenched at his sides at Tezcacoatl’s taunting.

“They haven’t been in each other’s presence for thirty years,” he reminded her.

“Yes, yes, that’s true. But there’s more to it than that. I think Illarion is on edge,” Esme murmured.

He turned to look down at her face. “About what?”

“Mei has been pressing against his flank,” she said. “He doesn’t trust anyone else to fight with him while she is working with whatever she has.”

“Or they are allies as they have been in the past and this is a ruse… though for what reason I cannot think. And Illarion is hardly an actor,” Valerius pointed out.

“Things feel off-balance, Valerius,” she said and shook her head, clearly not pleased with her own words.

“Because of Iolaire?” She had seemed nothing but charmed with Iolaire, but she, unlike Illarion, was a consummate actor.

She smiled up at him. “No, no, I am very fond of your little White Dragon.”

“ My ?” His throat felt tight again

“Oh, yes, Valerius, yours .” She looked back at Tezcacoatl and Illarion. “But I think you’re going to have to do more than just gain Iolaire’s affections to keep him. You will have to fight everyone and everything.”

Valerius gritted his teeth. He had a sense that she was right.