Page 9 of Winter's Dragons. Frozen Flames
Chapter Three
Bounties
Cheimon
It was perhaps a little rude to leave my dragons alone with their families. I realized that even as I turned away and exited the foyer of the palace.However, I still needed to make sure the wards around Chronikos were in good condition, and it could not wait until I welcomed my new guests in a manner that would've been more suitable for a gracious host.
The last time I'd used my meditation chamber had been during the episode with Jack, as I hadn't needed it since. I didn't actually need it now, as I'd already checked the wards before we'd returned to the palace, when we'd been closer to the breach Just the same, it was better to be safe than sorry, and no matter how confident I was in the shields my family and I had created, I had no intention of taking any chances with my people's well-being. The fact that it bought me a few moments away from my unwanted guests was certainly a bonus, but not the priority.
My migraine had reemerged with a vengeance during the trip back to The Frozen Peaks, the dragons' nattering voices grating on me like the sound of amarok claws raking ice. As soon as I entered the meditation chamber, the headache began to subside once again. As my mind cleared, I let out a sigh of relief and knelt in the center of the room.
Pressing my hands to the floor, I reached out to the magic that connected me to the center of Chronikos. A surge of power erupted over me, and within an instant, I managed to map and test the borders around the land my sisters and I ruled.
The results of my findings both satisfied me and not. The wards had recovered, as I had hoped, but their strength no longer felt as unfaltering as it once had. My dragons' parents had gotten through a little too easily. While I doubted any prospective attackers would have the benefit of such firepower, I could not simply discard the possible dangers.
I would have to write to my sisters and arrange a ritual that would allow us to strengthen the wards once again. It would be strenuous, but it was necessary.
For the moment, I tightened my magic around the breach the dragons had created, making sure the damage was completely fixed. Once I had done everything that was in my power, I withdrew, my mental presence returning to my body.
Perhaps I should have gone back to the foyer and met up with my soulmates as I had promised, but I didn't. Instead, I just sat there and allowed myself the luxury of taking a few seconds to think.
The arrival of my soulmates' families came at a bad time, yes, but it also brought to mind a lot of things we hadn't yet addressed, the same issues that had troubled me before, but I had chosen to ignore for the sake of my own convenience. No matter how much I claimed that I had only wanted to embrace my unconventional relationship with my dragons, the truth was that it had been easy to accept what they offered and not think about the implications of their vow. I had done my very best to integrate them in the running of my realm, but I had not taken into account the lives they'd left behind in Terra Dracones.
Granted, we had spoken about their background a few times, and they had not mentioned having any families or attachments. Nevertheless, I felt I should have made more of an effort to understand where they were coming from. We might have been soulmates, and I might have been their treasure, but that didn't mean I could just ignore their pasts.
And then there were those other questions my dragons' mothers had asked. One in particular still lingered on my mind. Did I want to have hatchlings?
I hadn't really thought about the possibility of having children. Being the avatar of winter wasn't exactly conducive to fertility, so my body didn't even produce the required material on a regular basis. I knew I could accomplish it, though, if not on my own, perhaps with some aid from Eranthe. But did I actually want it?
That wasn't a question I had an answer for.
I shook my head and pushed back my confusing thoughts. It was much too soon to think about children anyway. My dragons and I had to solve the problems in our relationship first. We'd figure out the whole hatchling thing later.
Fully intending to go back to the foyer, I got up and returned to my bedchambers. My plans instantly changed when I caught sight of a familiar, black-winged figure hovering next to my balcony.
It looked like I'd get to send a message to Pandora sooner than I had intended.
With a wave of my hand, I opened the balcony doors, granting my sister's envoy entry. The tengu flew inside, his massive wings brushing the doorjambs as he passed. When he knelt in front of me, his long nose almost brushed the floor. "Hail, Queen Cheimon, Lady of Winter, ruler of Tou Cheimóna, The Realm of Eternal Ice. I bring a message for you, from Her Majesty, Queen Phthinoporon, Lady of Autumn, ruler of Tou Fthinopórou, The Realm of Eternal Bounties."
He retrieved the reddish-brown envelope hidden somewhere under his feathers and offered it to me. I would never understand how he managed to fly with those things and still not lose the post he carried.
"Thank you, Karasu," I answered, a little more informally. Right now, I didn't have the time to go through the elaborate, tedious process of repeating every single title my sister and her envoy possessed. "Wait here. I will want to send a reply."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the tengu answered without moving from his kneeling position. I would've told him to get up, but I knew it was pointless. Karasu was even more intent on pursuing formal manners than all my lieutenants put together. I found this highly ironic, considering the general disregard Pandora showed toward things that bored her.
Also, I hoped the nisse had been thorough the last time they'd cleaned my quarters. I'd never been a messy person, but having three soulmates to sexually satisfy had changed that a little, and Karasu's long nose was still almost against my floor.
Temporarily setting aside my more trivial concerns, I opened the letter from Pandora.
"Dearest sister,
I hope this missive finds you in good health and does not interrupt any of the well-earned moments of rest you are spending with your new consorts. I must congratulate you once again on your choice. My recent research indicates that dragon men are very sexually potent, and can satisfy a woman in ways other beings cannot.
You will be gratified to note that following your efforts, the state of affairs in Tou Fthinopórou has normalized, and there have been no more signs of weather anomalies. I am receiving regular reports from my bridge guardians and garrisons, and everything seems to be in order.
That being said, I did have a small matter to discuss with you. As of late, I have been considering inviting Eranthe to my next Grand Bacchanal. What is your take on this? Tarasia insists that it is not yet time and that Eranthe is still too young, but I feel that if she is old enough to lead her own realm, she's definitely old enough to have sex.
Do let me know what you think.
