Three: Marythelia

I am carrying a toolbox in my good hand over to where the ladder is when I run into a wall. I grunt and nearly fall backwards when a pair of arms catch me. Gasping in pain, I look up to see the same man from last night and from inside. His eyes are glowing amber in the morning light and his face is a mask of calm. "I-I'm sorry," I stammer, righting myself and stepping back.

"Don't apologize," he said and puts some of my hair behind my ear. Using his thumb, he caresses my cheek softly, his eyes turning blue again. "Tell me the truth of what happened. I promise, it will not get you into more trouble."

I open my mouth to speak when his companion joins us. "I thought we were supposed to be convincing them to help us, not hate us!" he growled at the man before me.

"I need air."

I stay silent now and stare at my feet. The man's companion seems to recognize me because he says, "Was this that boy's fault? The one who shoved you?"

I shake my head and keep my eyes averted. "Otreg, go see if we have any salves in the saddle packs," the man in front of me says.

Otreg does as he's told.

"Tell me," the man says once more.

"How do I know you're telling the truth about me not getting into trouble?" I ask softly.

He lifts my chin so I'm looking him in the eyes. "I always keep my word, Marythelia. I never lie."

I swallow again, like I did inside when he ordered me not to lie. He terrifies me more than Citron does, but something about him draws me closer. But I can't say anything here. Not when Citron has eyes and ears about. So, I grab a pen and paper and write down directions for him. "I'm sorry, but it's against my Master's orders," I tell him verbally, handing him the note.

He reads it quickly and nods. "I understand. I'm sorry to hear that. My meeting with your Master will be done shortly. I will be out of the way by then."

Now, Otreg has returned and has a few small cans in his hands. "I brought what I thought would help."

The man looks at them and takes one. He opens it, scoops some onto his fingers, then looks at me. "Close your eyes. This might sting."

I do as I'm told and feel cool cream being rubbed into my cheek and over my black eyelid. It does sting a little, but then it's cool and calming to the point I sigh. "Hmm."

"I must go now. Do as you're told quickly," the man says, closing the can. Otreg is gawking at him for some reason I cannot guess. But I ignore him as the man leans in close and slips the can into my tool box. "Keep that safe. You'll need it later."

I nod, giving him a shy smile before he turns away. Otreg follows him inside Citron's house and the man glances at me once more. I see him watching me carefully, his eyes turning amber again before the door closes between us.

By the time I got finished with the roof, Otreg and the man had been gone for six hours, making it dusk by the time I finally went inside the house. Citron was in his arm chair, drinking ale and grumbling to himself. I let him know I was finished and he ordered me to leave.

I did as I was told, just not in the way he meant. I got onto a horse bareback and rode into the forest. I rode until I reached a beach on the western side of Sellan where I told the man to meet me. No one went there. It was likely no one knew about it. I've had it to myself ever since I became Citron's slave when I was ten.

The moon was already in the sky when I finally made it. He wasn't there yet, but I was okay with that. Getting off my horse, I sat down in the sand and watched the waves crash the shore. It was calming and I tasted salt in the air. This was my happy place.

"How do you know no one will come here?" I hear a voice behind me.

I turn, and see the man just inside the tree line, his arms crossed. "Because I have never been disturbed while coming here, and there are no celebrations here that I am aware of or have seen."

He walks forward and sits beside me. "How did you become a slave to that man?"

I shrug. "I was sold, just like any other slave."

I feel his stare on me and it makes me blush. "What happened to you?"

Now, I look at him, full in the face. "Due to the fact that I was late and didn't have his order in hand when I returned last night, he broke my arm, hit me, whipped me, and nearly broke my leg. Not to mention the woman who saw me last night called him and told him I was looking at your friend, being disrespectful."

"Why didn't you say that in the house?"

"Because, I would have been publicly abused if I had. He would have made it so I was the one who initiated the whole thing."

Once again, his eyes went amber.

I furrowed my brows and asked, "Why do they do that?"

He blinked and they returned to blue. "Do you not know who I am? Who Otreg is?" I shake my head. The man sighs and before my eyes, takes off his shirt. I gape at him, at his physique, then squeal at the set of wings on his back.

"What are those! What are you! What do you want?"

The man scowls, then puts a hand over my mouth, effectively shutting me up. "My name is Zargis. These are my dragon wings, though I don't always have them on display. All I want from you is to calm down."

I nod hesitantly. Zargis slowly releases me and watches me carefully. I take deep breaths and stare at the black wings…no, red. They were a crimson red. He spread them and they reached a good ten feet in length. My eyes went wide and before I could scream, Zargis had his hand over my mouth again.

"I won't hurt you," he said. "You don't need to be afraid of me. I will never hurt you."

I point at his massive wings with wide eyes. He removes his hands and I hiss, "Where in the world did you get those!"

"I was born with them," he says simply, shrugging.

Reaching out a hand, I touch one wing. It's smooth where the membrane is almost transparent, and scaly where the muscles are. "This isn't normal!"

He chuckles. "It is, actually. In my kingdom, men with wings are everywhere."

I gape at him, then remember what he said a minute ago. "Dragon wings?"

He nods.

"So, you're a dragon?"

"I am."

"And Otreg, too?"

"Yes." Zargis has a small smile on his face as if my finding this out is amusing. I scowl at him. He chuckles again and I cross my arms. "Don't worry, Marythelia. We didn't come here to hurt anyone. We only came here to perform an alliance."

"Does Citron know what you are?"

"Yes, he does."

My eyes feel like they're going to pop out.

Zargis sighs and stands up. "I need to go now. I have to be ready to leave early in the morning."

"Where are you going?" I ask, standing up as well.

"Home." My brows furrow. "To Kingdom of Korgenyegia."

"That's a bit far, isn't it?"

"Not when flying," he says and I begin to imagine being up in the air, free from Citron and slavery. Zargis is watching me and I blush. "I won't be returning for a while. I have given Citron a month to talk to Talesin and for them to discuss my offer."

My heart drops and I realize things could very well change in a month. Even though he seems to like me right now, he might not like me when he returns. "I see," I murmur, and hug myself.

Zargis hasn't moved, so I decide to be the first one to start leaving. Except, he stops me and turns me around to face him. "Maybe when I return, I will show you my dragon and we can fly to the moon and stars?"

For some reason, this makes me smile. "That sounds like fun."

He nods. "Stay on Citron's good side while I am away. I want you healed when I return if I am to take you anywhere."

"I will," I promise and feel him lean closer, pressing his lips to my head.

"Goodbye, Marythelia."

"Goodbye, Zargis."

Z