Page 5 of Sugar & Dragon Act I: Temptation

Even though they were almost two chariots away, he felt the temperature rising around her and tensed, bracing himself for a blast of flames in his face.

But it didn’t come.

“What do you want?” Hera asked.

Dago didn’t know whether he was more unnerved by the question itself or by the grim acceptance with which it was asked.

“What do you want for your help with breaking the curse?” Hera repeated when he continued to stare at her instead of replying. “Just don’t tell me you want my begging. I’m certain there’s something that would be more useful to you.”

Something finally clicked in his reptilian mind.

Bargaining time.

III Hera

Dago Midais. A magus from a remarkably wealthy family of businessmen with nightmarish tendencies. Cunning, greedy, debauched.

Cheeky.

No way, Hera thought, sitting in the office cluttered with scrolls and artifacts and listening to Master Homer, who was explaining why she should strengthen her relationship with Dago.Not him.

“Not counting the queen and I, the two of you are the most powerful magi in the kingdom. One of youmustbecome the Archmagus. Since you refuse, that leaves him—but that does not relieve you of your responsibility. Considering the strength of nightmarish tendencies common in his family, Dago is exceedingly sensible and composed… Yes, Hera, I can see your skepticism, but even you have to admit that besides not hiding the extent of his sexual appetite—which, I remind you, is also a common phenomenon among magi of good-dreamy origin—so far, Dago has done nothing beyond the acceptable level of nightmarishness.”

Hera badly wanted to disagree, but she knew that Homer was right. In his desire for sex, power, and gold, Dago didn’t violate any social, economic, or environmental laws. It annoyed her, but since that annoyance wasn’t sensible, she didn’t say it aloud.

Not hearing any objections, Homer continued, “His common sense is the main reason why I think it’s worth giving him a chance to serve as Archmagus, but since I hold the title myself, I have to take into account various scenarios. Despite my faith in him, I admit that the scenario in which Dago loses himself in his instincts is not unlikely. That’s why I have to ask for your help, Hera. You may not hold an official post, but that won’t change the fact that you are one of the few who have the power to stand against the nightmared Archmagus.”

“I understand your motivation, Master,” Hera said, trying not to show her impatience. “What I donotunderstand is your request. Why do I have tobefriendhim?”

Homer adjusted his large, round glasses, which had slipped down his hooked nose, and watched her with benignancy shining through the blackness of his eyes. “Because I believe this way, we will avoid the most nightmarish scenario. Dago won’t admit it aloud, but he respects you. Power and intelligence impress him, and you have them both. He reckons with your opinion, albeit reluctantly. I truly believe that if he spent more time around you, he would develop what he currently lacks and what you have in abundance—selflessness.”

Hera stared at the gray-haired man with barely contained disbelief. How could someone who had held the position of Archmagus for half a century be so naïve?

“We spent ten years studying together,” she remarked. “Don’t you think, Master, that if my presence had a beneficial effect on him, we would already know about it?”

Homer ran his fingers through his goatee. “I think that the classroom often intensifies rivalry to such an extent that even the brightest students forget about the real purpose of their studies.” Seeing her blush, he smiled gently. “But would the same students who were used to competing with each other at school still do so if they were united by a common goal outside of it?”

“So this is a didactic experiment?” Hera crossed her arms. “I remind you, Master, that Dago and I finished school a long time ago. We are thirty, and we’ve spent the last ten years avoiding each other. If you want to try out a new curriculum, shouldn’t you do it with yourcurrentstudents?”

The Archmagus shook his head. “You’re weaseling, Hera. It’s unlike you. Do you really not care that someone you shared a school desk with might one day turn into a chaos-sowing nightmare? Are you really unconcerned that the lives of your family, friends, and patients may become devoid of logic? Do you really intend to sit on your hands, knowing that you could help thousands of people?”

Hera swallowed. She knew she was falling victim to manipulation verging on emotional blackmail, but she couldn’t find any reasonable counterarguments. She didn’t want to get any closer to Dago than she already was, but she also didn’t want him to become the second Medea Mephistopheles—the woman who a thousand years ago had brought wandering mushrooms from the Dreamland and caused a nationwide orgy, changing the course of history forever. If there was something Hera could do to prevent the catastrophe, why would shenotdo it? That would benightmarishlyillogical.

“I’ll try,” she said weakly. “But I can’t guarantee results.”

Homer’s face brightened.

“No one expects that from you. Just do what you can.”

***

I can do it, Hera repeated to herself, taking a seat on the bench Dago gestured at.

For now, almost everything had gone according to the plan. True, it didn’t assume falling victim to a curse, and Hera was still irritated that some morpheus had managed to break the magical barriers on her house, but she had to admit that the gold-sugar transmutation wasn’t the worst prank a Dreamland dweller could have treated her with. It could even turn out to be useful. Thanks to it, Hera had gained an excuse to get closer to Dago—andthatshe had planned.

“Feeling comfortable, Galenos?” the fair-haired man asked with palpable amusement as she sat on the edge of the bench.

“Do you care?” The words were out of her mouth before she had time to think about them.

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