Sixteen

Days passed and I went back and forth between exploring the castle and staying in the little attic room with Cam. I didn't see Zargis again, but Otreg occasionally visited me to see how I was doing, then left after I ignored his questions.

After some time, Cam introduced me to some of her friends who I spent time with in a sewing room listening to gossip and other rumors about other countries and kingdoms. I didn't talk much since there wasn't much I knew about, but I learned much, like how the carriages have a hidden compartment underneath the benches where extra luggage was sometimes stored. I also learned that Zargis left the castle about two weeks after my arrival. One of the girls said he had to clear something up and that someone wasn't paying their due. I waited for his return, but didn't know it until I again heard it from the ladies.

Later, I went with Cam to where some of the soldiers trained and was interested to find that they mostly used bows. Cam explained that these soldiers were not only archers, but also spies like her. Some were even assassins who snuck up on their victims as silent as a hunting cat. When we moved on, I saw men with swords, throwing knives, daggers, and more blades I couldn't describe. At one point, I watched a skirmish between two gentlemen and was astonished at how fast and skilled they were. I couldn't keep up with their movements and had to ask Cam what happened.

Cam introduced me to some of the maids in the castle, the chef, and some of Zargis's closest advisors. I was nice to everyone I met and they were nice to me. Cam offered to take me around the kingdom, but I declined the offer. I wasn't ready to go out just yet. I didn't feel comfortable meeting Zargis's people because I had no idea how they would react to me.

My armoire was restored with new clothes. I told Thiebaut to tell Zargis that I didn't want his money, but he rose a brow and said it was Otreg who did it. Shocked, I thanked Otreg the next time I saw him.

When I first tried on a pretty blue dress, Cam squealed with delight and had me twirling about the room, both of us in fits of giggles. Then, at night, we took my slave clothes and threw them into the hearth, watching the flames lick them up and turn them black. I knew I would probably go back to Citron again, but for now, I wanted to enjoy the freedom I had.

Two months later, I was sitting on my bed, finishing up a piece of sewing when I heard a knock. I got up and went to the door, finding Otreg holding a square box that read Pizza. I was surprised and looked at him. "What's this?"

"This," he says, coming inside and setting the box on the counter, "is what I like to call game night."

I rose a brow at him. I had slowly started to let him come and go as he pleased and even enjoyed myself at times, but I still didn't fully trust him and he knew that. "Is this a trick?"

He put a hand to his heart. "Thelia, you wound me!" I didn't move or say anything. He sighed. "No, it's not a trick. It's fun! Remember? Games? Laughter? Jokes?"

"I remember," I grit and sit on my couch. "What games?"

Otreg came over and sat beside me, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes. "I'd say Tag, but I know I'd win and you won't go outside, so how about a card game?"

I scoffed at his arrogance and rolled my eyes. "I doubt you'd win at Tag, but you're right. I won't go out so cards it is."

"Great!" he exclaimed and clapped his hands, then produced a pack of playing cards from his back pocket. "I hope you are as fast as you say because I always win!"

I shake my head, but smiled and followed him to sit on the floor and watched him set up a game between us.

Ten games later and a large cheese pizza devoured, I yawned and stretched. "I can't play another one, Otreg."

"Just one more!" he begged.

"That's what you said last time!"

He chuckled and cleaned up the cards. We got back on the couch and sat in silence until he said, "I have a question for you."

"Hmm?" I hummed and rested my head on a pillow.

"In a few weeks, there's going to be the Winter Solstice. It's a grand time when we eat and party through the night." He paused as if hesitating. "But you'd have to go outside."

I groaned. "Otreg, you know I won't go."

"Why?" he asked. I looked at him and he seemed desperate. "Just tell me why you won't get out of this place and get some air."

I stayed silent for a long time, but eventually answered him. I told him how I wasn't part of their kingdom and how I was unsure of how the people would react to me being an outsider. I told him I didn't know my way around and how I remembered his words when we arrived and that I thought it meant people would hurt me and I didn't know how to defend myself.

Otreg shook his head. "I didn't say that because of the people, Thelia. I said that because Korgenyegia isn't connected to another territory. We aren't as near to the ground you're used to."

"Where are we, then?"

"In the sky."

My eyes grew big and I stared at him. "The sky?" He nods. "How? How do you get trade? How are others able to come here?"

He chuckled. "The majority of us are dragons. We have wings. As for trade, we use the carriages like the one we came in. Other people who we let into the kingdom are brought on one of our backs or, again, by carriage."

I was amazed, then a thought struck me. "If you are Zargis are dragons, then why the carriage?"

He looked away and ran a hand in his hair. "Unda isn't a dragon, but doesn't like the wind in her hair. She wanted the carriage to ride in and for the unholy amount of luggage she brought for a few days."

I knew I was going to kick myself later, but I needed to know the answer to this one question. "Tell me the truth, Otreg. Who is Unda? Not just to Zargis, but to everyone."

Otreg hesitated, but turned towards me and looked me directly in the eyes. "To the kingdom, she is a rich woman who found a way into the castle and therefore, into Zargis's domain. To outsiders, she is a damsel in distress who needs lots of fussing over. To me," he paused and shook his head, "well, let's just say we never got along. To Zargis, I believe she is a pain in his dragon's arse." I sighed and he hurried on. "I'm not saying that to convince you, Thelia. You see, Zargis and his dragon are two separate beings living within the same body. They are of different minds, but are similar in nature. I say Zargis's dragon because when Unda wraps Zargis around her finger, I never see his beast."

I sit up and ask, "What do you mean? I never saw it. What's so different?"

"You saw the dragon's eyes, did you not?"

I shrug. "I thought that was normal."

Otreg shook his head. "There are few times a male's dragon fights for control. One is when his home and or people are being attacked. Two, when something especially precious to the dragon has been stolen. And three, when his mate is found and is being harmed."

I didn't even think of which of those options would explain why Zargis's eyes changed with me. Instead I asked, "What would be especially precious to a dragon?"

"Besides their female?" Otreg said. "It's offspring, perhaps. But before we have offspring and before we find our mates, the one thing that is precious to us is gold and jewels."

My eyes widen. "So, you're saying there's more gold here than…on earth?"

He shrugged. "Possibly. Some of us keep some of our treasure in banks or bury them in spots we believe will be safe. But there is a lot of gold up here."

"How did you all acquire so much?"

"We work for others. Zargis made alliances and has expanded trade. People are asking for weapons and jewelry we make here."

Another thought popped into my mind. "Did Citron do what you and Zargis wanted? Did he help form an alliance?"

Otreg sighed. "We aren't sure yet. We won't be sure until after the Solstice when they are supposed to start providing for us."

"What kind of stuff do you need?"

"Food mostly. Plants don't grow as well here as they do down there and Zargis has found that other kingdoms are having slow production lately. We need more."

"Why don't you live down there then?" I ask.

"People may know us as fierce creatures, Thelia. But imagine the damage a human can do if they caught one of us." He stood and stretched, then looked at me and said, "Imagine what would happen if they caught unsuspecting children-dragons playing." He paused and I felt my heart pound. Before he left, he said, "If that were to happen, there would be no mercy for us."