Page 47 of Drakhana's Treasure
Syrra shakes her head, stepping towards me. “We fear catastrophe, Kirralee. Any dragon clan can become too great to be contained by the forces of nature. If we take this new power, we could upset the delicate elemental balance we are sworn to protect.”
I shake my head, holding her eye firmly. “No. Imagine the difference you could make if you actually understood the fire! How can you talk of elemental balance when you don’t even know how to call the fire into yourself?”
She steps away, frowning. They whisper amongst themselves for a few minutes, shooting me hostile glances. These five have been in absolute power over the clan for over fifty years. They aren’t used to being challenged at all, especially like this.
It’s time to play my ace.
“Beloved elders.” I stand up straight, knowing that this admission is going to end the argument either way. “I must present you with the greatest evidence thus far that my ways are right. That my instincts are right.”
All of them look at me like I’m a child playing with a toy I don’t understand. They were never going to take me seriously, even if it meant losing their fire and their dragon.
“I’m pregnant.” I make my voice loud and firm, so it resonates. “Rastus and I are fertile, the first fertile couple in a hundred years.”
Melchior, Syrra and Nyla immediately come around the dais to kneel at my feet. Helana and Ryk come forward and they bear expressions of wonder, but it’s clear they aren’t about to worship me. That’s okay. I’m not trying to set myself up as a god. I just want what’s best for my people.
“You are blessed.” Melchior takes my hand, staying on his knees before me. “You are our heritage reborn. Stay Kirralee. Stay and teach us your secrets and be revered.”
The others murmur their agreement. I know they have been stunned by our powers and our news and once this feeling wears off there will be more questions, more suspicion. That’s okay, they have held their positions a long time and only want to do right by the clan.
But so do we. Rastus and I can herald in a new age. It’s up to the clan itself to accept it or not.
Thirty-Two
Rastus
The darkness of the underground chamber made me feel like it was already deep night by the time we left. I was exhausted from holding my dragon back. I had shifted on a wave of emotion and keeping it from exploding took every ounce of my strength.
I was shocked to see light still in the sky, meaning we had only been down there an hour or so. It had felt like years to me.
Kirralee has no such burdens. She holds my hand lightly, swinging our arms to the beat of her easy strides. She inspires such gentleness in me that every time I look at her, I have to contemplate if fairy tales might actually be real.
She goes into every situation expecting the best outcome. No matter how someone treats her, she always responds with kindness. I thought that she was inexperienced and naive, but maybe she teaching me something about living.
The nation erupts around us as we leave the cave. Syrra came up first, spreading the news of our pregnancy and the good fortune to the entire clan. Dragons flutter along the cliff walls, cheering and waving their wings. Lower down, people call out from their caves and from pathways, wishing us well and celebrating.
The entire nation has thrown us a party.
Two dark red shapes swoop in on to the platform and I recognize my parents immediately. They shift down and hurry over to us, putting on their robes as they go.
My father reaches me first, taking my hands and lowering his eyes.
“I’m sorry my son. We honestly didn’t believe it was possible she could be pregnant. Now that the elders have decreed—”
“Should it matter what the elders say?” My dragon rises again, ready to strike. “I came to you and told you I had found my mate. Wasn’t that enough for you?”
Mother stands behind him, wringing her hands. “The sacred bonds have not been asked for generations! We only believed that for your own good—”
“I know what’s good for me.” I can barely speak without growling.
Kirralee steps forward, her brightest smile on her face. She reaches out with both hands for mother.
“You’re—Rastus’ mother? I’m so pleased to meet you!” She opens her arms and smiles even wider. My mother hesitates but the overpowering force of Kirralee’s good nature is too much for her. The two women hug and immediately start talking about baby names.
I turn to father and I imagine his expression of bafflement is echoed on my own face. With a smile and a handshake, we put our issues aside.
Dragons are flying by, swooping in and calling out congratulations. Some of them I know and some I don’t. People start bringing out platters of food and I realize just how big this gathering is—there is three times as much food here than what they would usually prepare, even for a festival holiday.
Kirralee is stuck in a nook with my mother and hers, talking excitedly and everyone taking turns patting her belly. Other females come up and shyly ask to touch her. Through the crowd I meet my love’s eye and smile. She winks at me. I turn to the edge of the rock face and slowly fall over the side.
