Page 32 of Scaled Hearts

I open my eyes slowly and steel my heart.

I really hope Angurus can help us.

15

Angurus

Iwas taking a huge chance soaring off that mountain. I had no idea if the magical seal was still in place or if the ripple I felt had anything to do with it being disrupted. But if Kelly had brought a boat and a hoqin here and it had been decades since a shipwreck washed up on our shores, I had a feeling that the seal was no longer locked around us, destroying ships and keeping us in place.

I am so glad I was right.

With the island fading steadily into the background of our journey, I marvel at the landscape as we fly.

The sea stretches endlessly in front of me. Its dark waters come to rest at the edge of the truly blue sky above us. There are hardly any clouds in the sky other than the one I trail under while heading for Kaynvu.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen those lands—back when the fertile grounds were home to settlements that had yet to be colonized. I’ve seen my fair share over the centuries of tribes come and go, and of battles between uncivilized creatures that were ultimately settled by the iron fist of dark elves.

I’m curious to see how much of it has changed during my slumber and if the descriptions from Kelly are accurate about the encampment that she’s been forced into by the orcs and their domination over the resources that were plentiful there.

I’ve never liked dealing with those creatures, even before the Hearthkeeper had bestode her gift onto me. Orcs were, by and large, barbaric and simply minded. Their grasp on the world around them was short-sighted and they always valued personal gain rather than the collective benefit.

Though, my own kind isn’t much better. Dragons, by nature, are territorial over even the most superficial of things. Our nurturing aspect could be described as non-existent to an outsider with no prior knowledge on the subject with the accuracy of it being almost completely true.

There are very seldom instances where my kind could be viewed differently and that was only if off-spring or mates were involved.

Though, I do have to say, it is nice being off of that island now that I’m out here.

I’ve dedicated so much time secluding myself in my cave. Rarely ever venturing out far enough to see anything but the dense trees and brush that surrounded me, that now that I’m out gliding in the skies while Kelly leans back to let the wind flow through her hair, I’ve come to see that perhaps I’ve been missing out.

I fly us to Kaynvu on the more scenic route, letting Kelly marvel at the view from high up above the water.

I can tell through our bond that she’s thrilled. Her excitement is hard to contain, and the more that she grasps at my scales while she turns to look around, the more it softens my heart.

I knew that when our bond had been forged, feeling her soul so deeply ingrained within mine would be… strange. Her intoxicating energy is hard to ignore as it rattles around in my head.

Though, I don’t have the heart to scold her for it. I like that she enjoys flying with me.

When we land on Kaynvu’s shores, on the outskirts of the boating docks after making sure that no one saw me coming in even with the glamour I kept in place, I shift back into my dark elf form and survey the merchants that mill about. It’s strange seeing them so focused on their little lives, all of them having no idea what kind of fire-breathing terror is in their wake.

But, knowing orcs – and humans retrospectively – and their proclivity towards overreacting, it was safe to assume that traveling around with Kelly in my dragon form would draw way more attention than we needed.

“We need to find you something to wear.” Kelly says next to me.

I look over at her from where we’ve crowded ourselves behind one of the loading units—away from all of the busyness.

“What? Wear something? I’m not putting human clothes on to appease your delicate sensibilities.”

She grabs my arm, squeezing it.

“Please, Angurus? Even if people assume you are a dark elf, they would want to know why you’re here, especially if you’re not wearing clothes. We don’t have time to stop and have people constantly questioning us. Plus, the orcs might try and jail you. They hate dark elves.”

I roll my eyes. If any orcs had the gall to so much as lay a hand on me, I’d laugh in their face before spouting out a reign of fire. I would even smile while doing it.

“Please, Angurus.” Kelly speaks again. “I know it’s annoying, but it’s just for the walk back to camp.”

I sigh. I truly can’t say no to her… especially with her big brown eyes.

I grab one of the merchants that pass by our shadowed hiding spot. He barely puts up a fight while I strip him of his cloak and pants and quickly discard him into the salty waters behind us.

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