Bryson's Gift

"Kyera, I didn't know…" Bryson apologized almost the instant they raised into the air. Kyera smiled at him gently. He hadn't been around Akira long enough to know her games, she couldn't fault the man for wanting to be kind to his daughter. She was bewitching and no one knew that better than Kyera.

"She was banking on that. It's not your fault. What did you want to show me?" Kyera brushed his concerns away. Bryson couldn't help but smile. His grand daughter understood him fairly well so it seemed. 

"I see… I wanted to offer you something." He led her through the skies, Ivory following Iric without much trouble. She was honestly faster than the black dragon anyway, she just stayed behind him out of respect. The winds were calm and the furs kept both Kyera and Gale warm. 

The baby marveled at the feeling of flying with his mother. Flying with elder sister was sometimes uncomfortable, harsh winds and sharp turns or tilts made him scared to fall. However this was like gliding on air. Mother had complete control and tilted the dragon ever so slightly and it never felt jerky or dangerous. He marveled at her as she glanced down at him, her cheeks pink from the wind's brisk caress. He felt as though she and the beast below her were none in the same. 

They went into an air space Ivory had not flown before, the forest just off border with the Forest Gate by three or four days ride from the border itself. Yet It was only a 2 day horseback ride from the SnowDrop Palace.  Below, Kyera saw a garden leading to a small castle keep. It was pretty, made of wood and warm grey stones and white spackle that held the stones in place. There was one tower off to the side and the rest of the common areas seemed to be built off of it similar styled to a cathedral but rounded and fortified. Kyera noticed a dragon nest at the top of the tower, where there had once been an archery hold. It was beautiful, but the garden didn't appear to be well tended, as if years of neglect took their toll. Iric lowered and landed in the garden, and Ivory followed him down. 

Kyera couldn't help but smile in wonder as she moved to dismount and look around. She didn't enter, wondering whose home this was. "Who are we here to visit?" Kyera asked though she couldn't sense anyone nearby. It wasn't until Bryson didn't respond that she realized something was wrong. She turned back to see him still on Iric's back, his eyes trained on the homey looking little tower. "Grandfather?" Kyera asked coming to stand beside the dragon looking up at him. The forlorn and lost look on his face made Kyera take a second look at the tower. 

He seemed to snap out of it and slide down off the dragon. "Sorry, I was lost in memories for a moment." He replied turning to cough and run a hand over his face. She pretended not to notice the tears his fur gloves wiped from his eyes. It all but cemented what this place was in her mind. 

"I… was this Grandmother's Palace before she left him?" Kyera asked and he shook his head. 

"God No, I would never take you to the palace where he tortured her. This is where she moved when he married that woman. He called it her cold palace, but it was warmer than any home I had ever been in." He replied patting Iric before turning to Kyera. "I tended to it after she was gone, and brother gave it to me. I think as a taunt because he knew… but that doesn't matter. What matters is she loved this place and I want you to have it. She would have wanted you to make it your own I think. You are a homemaker like she was. Your fantastic and you love your family and want to take care of them and train your men. This place isn't large, but it has room for your family and his. The village at the base of the hill is great for your men. It's close to us so if you ever need anything…" Bryson's rambling was cut off when Kyera hugged him, mindful of the baby around her chest. He hugged her back holding her head and around her waist, nothing like the bear hugs he tended toward. He accepted his grand daughter's affection and held her close.