K. A. Webb (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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rainbowfic2015-06-19 11:56 am
k_a_webb) wrote in rainbowfic2015-06-19 11:56 am
Challenge Accepted: Dragon Scale Green
Name: K. A. Webb
Story: The Fae World Collection: Arkal: The Dragons Are Free
Colors: Dragon Scale Green: order as written - #1 "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings." ― JRR Tolkien; #5 "Always speak politely to an enraged dragon." ― Steven Brust; #9 "With money you are a dragon; with no money, a worm." ― Proverb; #8 "Noble dragons don't have friends. The nearest they can get to the idea is an enemy who is still alive." ― Terry Pratchett; #4 "Better to sit all night than to go to bed with a dragon." ― Proverb; #6 "But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them." ― Ursula K. Le Guin; #7 "Let me tell you: the only way to get rid of dragons is to have one of your own." ― Eugene Shvarts; #10 "Old dragons, like old thorns, can still prick. And I am a very old dragon." ― Jane Yolen; #2 "You haven't been bit till a dragon does it." ― Tamora Pierce; and #3 "I'm not so much a dragon slayer, more a dragon annoyer... I'm a dragon irritater." ― Craig Ferguson.
Supplies and Styles: Saturation
Word Count: 2446
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
For those who want to know a little more about the Dragons they're a race who were created by the fae, but it went in a way they didn't expect. This is a story set after the fae destroyed Kalinia, when the Dragons are one the world they claimed, and very late in the history, because this is after they've been enslaved and freed.
Story: The Fae World Collection: Arkal: The Dragons Are Free
Colors: Dragon Scale Green: order as written - #1 "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings." ― JRR Tolkien; #5 "Always speak politely to an enraged dragon." ― Steven Brust; #9 "With money you are a dragon; with no money, a worm." ― Proverb; #8 "Noble dragons don't have friends. The nearest they can get to the idea is an enemy who is still alive." ― Terry Pratchett; #4 "Better to sit all night than to go to bed with a dragon." ― Proverb; #6 "But it is one thing to read about dragons and another to meet them." ― Ursula K. Le Guin; #7 "Let me tell you: the only way to get rid of dragons is to have one of your own." ― Eugene Shvarts; #10 "Old dragons, like old thorns, can still prick. And I am a very old dragon." ― Jane Yolen; #2 "You haven't been bit till a dragon does it." ― Tamora Pierce; and #3 "I'm not so much a dragon slayer, more a dragon annoyer... I'm a dragon irritater." ― Craig Ferguson.
Supplies and Styles: Saturation
Word Count: 2446
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
For those who want to know a little more about the Dragons they're a race who were created by the fae, but it went in a way they didn't expect. This is a story set after the fae destroyed Kalinia, when the Dragons are one the world they claimed, and very late in the history, because this is after they've been enslaved and freed.
***
Draven sat at the desk that had once belonged to one of the men who’d enslaved him and stared into the distance. Everything had happened so fast he hadn’t had time to come to terms with everything. His father, along with what seemed to be most of the first generation of Dragons, had chosen to die rather than submit. That made him the King. Breathing deeply he did his best to accept it was real. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t been the one keeping Jaromir from losing it entirely, so Draven knew what he was doing, he’s always know it was possible, and yet it was still hard to believe he was truly in the position he’d found himself in. The death of Jaromir wasn’t something Draven hadn’t been expecting at some point - he just wished there was someone else there to take on the job of helping the Dragons to learn to live on Arkal once again.
“Are you okay?” Erin stood in the doorway. “Art said you’d been through a lot and I… honestly, I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to help you, but I want you to know I’m willing to try.”
“Why?” Draven studied her. “I wasn’t exactly nice to you after you freed me from that collar.”
“No, you weren’t, but I took some time to think how I’d react after spending centuries being controlled by someone else. It helped that Art collared me for a little while, so I could understand what it was like to wear one of them.”
“I wouldn’t have let you do that.”
“That’s why I didn’t ask you.” She stepped into the room. “You and I didn’t get off to the best start, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to be allies.”
***
“You’re sure you want to know this?” Sitting on the bed Draven had once slept in every night was strange. “Learning more might change things.”
“It’s not going to.” Erin sighed. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Art in the last couple of days, while you’ve taken the time you needed to try to work out how this is all going to work, and I like him. He’s trusted me from the beginning, even though he probably shouldn’t have done. That doesn’t mean he’s been willing to tell me everything. Some of what I want to know is something I had to learn from you, if you were willing to talk to me.” Their eyes met. “I never thought you would.”
“Like I said before we got off to a bad start. Art and I have worked together for a long time. If he trusts you there’s a reason. I may not know what that reason is, but I’m going to give you a chance to prove yourself based on his belief you are an ally. Sit with me, Erin, and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
She hesitated, which wasn’t a surprise, but then she crossed the room to sit next to him. “Why did you choose this room?”
“After spending so much time in here as a slave I wanted to spend some time here as a free Dragon.”
***
Erin stepped into her office and did her best to seem as normal as possible. The last thing she wanted was for Jack to think there was something wrong. “Where, exactly, have you been?”
“Keeping my head down for a few days. I was nearly caught, Jack, and I thought the best thing I could do was stay away from here until I was certain no one would follow me.”
“Did you get what you were sent for?”
“This me you’re talking to, Jack.” She shook her head as she put the files on the table. “Why was I sent back?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“When we started this you promised me there’d be no secrets. Having to keep away from a little while gave me a chance to think about what I wanted to do about that and I made the decision I was going to leave if you weren’t willing to tell me the truth.”
“I can’t tell you.”
Nodding, Erin turned. “Goodbye, Jack.” He had to tell her, because she needed to tell Draven why she’d been sent to find those files, and all she could do was hope she meant as much to Jack as she thought she did. “If you change your mind…”
“Our clients told me I shouldn’t tell you, but if you’re really to leave because of this… don’t go, Erin. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
***
***
***
Draven sat at the desk that had once belonged to one of the men who’d enslaved him and stared into the distance. Everything had happened so fast he hadn’t had time to come to terms with everything. His father, along with what seemed to be most of the first generation of Dragons, had chosen to die rather than submit. That made him the King. Breathing deeply he did his best to accept it was real. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t been the one keeping Jaromir from losing it entirely, so Draven knew what he was doing, he’s always know it was possible, and yet it was still hard to believe he was truly in the position he’d found himself in. The death of Jaromir wasn’t something Draven hadn’t been expecting at some point - he just wished there was someone else there to take on the job of helping the Dragons to learn to live on Arkal once again.
“Are you okay?” Erin stood in the doorway. “Art said you’d been through a lot and I… honestly, I don’t know if there’s anything I can do to help you, but I want you to know I’m willing to try.”
“Why?” Draven studied her. “I wasn’t exactly nice to you after you freed me from that collar.”
“No, you weren’t, but I took some time to think how I’d react after spending centuries being controlled by someone else. It helped that Art collared me for a little while, so I could understand what it was like to wear one of them.”
“I wouldn’t have let you do that.”
“That’s why I didn’t ask you.” She stepped into the room. “You and I didn’t get off to the best start, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to be allies.”
***
Being surrounded by his people was a new sensation. Draven looked around the room, at all the Dragons Art freed from their collars, and realised those who were still collared were the ones who’d made the transition more difficult. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I knew this was going to be hard enough to do as it was. We don’t need to be dealing with an internal battle at the same time.”
“We do need to talk about what you did to Erin.”
“She wanted to try the collar on and I didn’t think it would be too much of a problem.” Draven felt Art’s eyes on his face. “Why is it a problem, Dray?”
“At the moment we can’t trust her. She knows there are still some Dragons who are collared…”
“Unlike you I took the time to explain things to her. Even though she is just a human she understands why I made the choices I did. Dragons might just be a story now, a myth passed down from one generation to another, but she’s read enough to realise how badly this could go.”
“For now I’ll trust your judgement. If it turns out she does become our enemy…”
“I can be certain that isn’t going to happen.”
“You’re welcome. I knew this was going to be hard enough to do as it was. We don’t need to be dealing with an internal battle at the same time.”
“We do need to talk about what you did to Erin.”
“She wanted to try the collar on and I didn’t think it would be too much of a problem.” Draven felt Art’s eyes on his face. “Why is it a problem, Dray?”
“At the moment we can’t trust her. She knows there are still some Dragons who are collared…”
“Unlike you I took the time to explain things to her. Even though she is just a human she understands why I made the choices I did. Dragons might just be a story now, a myth passed down from one generation to another, but she’s read enough to realise how badly this could go.”
“For now I’ll trust your judgement. If it turns out she does become our enemy…”
“I can be certain that isn’t going to happen.”
***
“We have nothing.” Draven knew he was stating something everyone already knew. “We can claim this house as ours for now, as I believe that’s fair considering what we’ve been through, but everything we once had is lost. That means we need to work out how we’re going to change that.”
“You don’t have nothing.” Erin stepped into the room. “At least I don’t think you do. There’s a reason I was sent after you and I don’t think it’s because whoever I was working for wanted to have your collars removed. What we need to focus on is working out why they wanted you.”
“That might be clutching at straws.”
“Draven, we were paid a lot to find you. Far more than I thought you were worth. Far more than you probably are worth as collared slaves. I know there has to be something more to this - especially as I was sent back to get more information. That’s rare. I’ve been doing this job a long time…”
“How long is a long time?”
“Being young doesn’t mean I haven’t lived life. You have no idea what this world is like, so I suggest you stop looking at me like I’m a child.”
“To me you always will be a child.” He was being dismissive again, the way Jaromir would have been, and he told himself sternly to stop it. “I will, however, admit you know far more about this world than I do, so that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be a help to us.”
“Good.” She smiled. “I need to go back.”
“You don’t have nothing.” Erin stepped into the room. “At least I don’t think you do. There’s a reason I was sent after you and I don’t think it’s because whoever I was working for wanted to have your collars removed. What we need to focus on is working out why they wanted you.”
“That might be clutching at straws.”
“Draven, we were paid a lot to find you. Far more than I thought you were worth. Far more than you probably are worth as collared slaves. I know there has to be something more to this - especially as I was sent back to get more information. That’s rare. I’ve been doing this job a long time…”
“How long is a long time?”
“Being young doesn’t mean I haven’t lived life. You have no idea what this world is like, so I suggest you stop looking at me like I’m a child.”
“To me you always will be a child.” He was being dismissive again, the way Jaromir would have been, and he told himself sternly to stop it. “I will, however, admit you know far more about this world than I do, so that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to be a help to us.”
“Good.” She smiled. “I need to go back.”
***
Having the argument was going to be far easier when the two of them were alone. “No. I can’t let you leave.”
“I’m not an idiot. I won’t tell anyone what happened, but if I take a couple of those files, ones you’ve chosen, back to the people who’ve hired me might mean I can learn more about why you’re so important to that.”
“You haven’t proved yourself as trustworthy.”
“Of course I haven’t. I haven’t had a chance to, Draven, but if you give me this chance I will show you I am trustworthy.”
“Why should I accept you as an ally, Erin?”
“Think about it. You don’t have any other option. You either accept me as an ally, because I am the person who can find out what you need to know, or you can keep me here… until the Dragons start waking.”
“Sometimes Art says too much.”
“He told me what I needed to know and that’s never too much.”
“On that we’re going to have to agree to disagree.”
“Give me a chance, the same way Art has. I can understand why you’re worried. I would be, if I was in the position you were, but for now I’m your best chance of finding whatever it was my clients were after. There has to be more to this.”
“What if they were just after us?”
“You could be right, but I don’t think you are. You’re too dangerous to own. I don’t know why this happened in the first place.”
“I’m not an idiot. I won’t tell anyone what happened, but if I take a couple of those files, ones you’ve chosen, back to the people who’ve hired me might mean I can learn more about why you’re so important to that.”
“You haven’t proved yourself as trustworthy.”
“Of course I haven’t. I haven’t had a chance to, Draven, but if you give me this chance I will show you I am trustworthy.”
“Why should I accept you as an ally, Erin?”
“Think about it. You don’t have any other option. You either accept me as an ally, because I am the person who can find out what you need to know, or you can keep me here… until the Dragons start waking.”
“Sometimes Art says too much.”
“He told me what I needed to know and that’s never too much.”
“On that we’re going to have to agree to disagree.”
“Give me a chance, the same way Art has. I can understand why you’re worried. I would be, if I was in the position you were, but for now I’m your best chance of finding whatever it was my clients were after. There has to be more to this.”
“What if they were just after us?”
“You could be right, but I don’t think you are. You’re too dangerous to own. I don’t know why this happened in the first place.”
***
“You’re sure you want to know this?” Sitting on the bed Draven had once slept in every night was strange. “Learning more might change things.”
“It’s not going to.” Erin sighed. “I’ve spent a lot of time with Art in the last couple of days, while you’ve taken the time you needed to try to work out how this is all going to work, and I like him. He’s trusted me from the beginning, even though he probably shouldn’t have done. That doesn’t mean he’s been willing to tell me everything. Some of what I want to know is something I had to learn from you, if you were willing to talk to me.” Their eyes met. “I never thought you would.”
“Like I said before we got off to a bad start. Art and I have worked together for a long time. If he trusts you there’s a reason. I may not know what that reason is, but I’m going to give you a chance to prove yourself based on his belief you are an ally. Sit with me, Erin, and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
She hesitated, which wasn’t a surprise, but then she crossed the room to sit next to him. “Why did you choose this room?”
“After spending so much time in here as a slave I wanted to spend some time here as a free Dragon.”
***
Erin stepped into her office and did her best to seem as normal as possible. The last thing she wanted was for Jack to think there was something wrong. “Where, exactly, have you been?”
“Keeping my head down for a few days. I was nearly caught, Jack, and I thought the best thing I could do was stay away from here until I was certain no one would follow me.”
“Did you get what you were sent for?”
“This me you’re talking to, Jack.” She shook her head as she put the files on the table. “Why was I sent back?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“When we started this you promised me there’d be no secrets. Having to keep away from a little while gave me a chance to think about what I wanted to do about that and I made the decision I was going to leave if you weren’t willing to tell me the truth.”
“I can’t tell you.”
Nodding, Erin turned. “Goodbye, Jack.” He had to tell her, because she needed to tell Draven why she’d been sent to find those files, and all she could do was hope she meant as much to Jack as she thought she did. “If you change your mind…”
“Our clients told me I shouldn’t tell you, but if you’re really to leave because of this… don’t go, Erin. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
***
Draven was in the office he’d claimed and Erin studied him from the doorway. He seemed to be focusing on a map, which was interesting. “Jack told me everything.”
“What, exactly, is everything?”
“They’re looking for the lost Dragon city, Draven. When the war came to an end, with your surrender, the city disappeared. No one’s been able to find it since and they thought it would be full of treasure. They’re probably wrong about it being full of treasure, but it does mean you have something.”
“I’ve been through the entire house, Erin, and I’ve started to believe you might be right - I think the city disappeared before anyone could plunder it. If I’m right, if the city is untouched, we have everything.” Their eyes met. “I take it your clients thought they’d be able to find the city using the files you took.”
Erin nodded. “I took them back. Art has them. He said he’s going to make a start on going through everything, to see what he can find, and then we can go from there.”
“You’re working with us?”
“If you want me I’m working with you.”
“I want you, Erin.” He smiled. “You’ve done more for us in the last few days that anyone has in centuries, so I think you are our ally, as long as you aren’t hunting for the city for your own reasons.”
“What, exactly, is everything?”
“They’re looking for the lost Dragon city, Draven. When the war came to an end, with your surrender, the city disappeared. No one’s been able to find it since and they thought it would be full of treasure. They’re probably wrong about it being full of treasure, but it does mean you have something.”
“I’ve been through the entire house, Erin, and I’ve started to believe you might be right - I think the city disappeared before anyone could plunder it. If I’m right, if the city is untouched, we have everything.” Their eyes met. “I take it your clients thought they’d be able to find the city using the files you took.”
Erin nodded. “I took them back. Art has them. He said he’s going to make a start on going through everything, to see what he can find, and then we can go from there.”
“You’re working with us?”
“If you want me I’m working with you.”
“I want you, Erin.” He smiled. “You’ve done more for us in the last few days that anyone has in centuries, so I think you are our ally, as long as you aren’t hunting for the city for your own reasons.”
***
“This is a bad idea.”
“Probably, but I want to know what he knows, Erin.”
“You don’t believe he told me the whole truth.”
“Of course I don’t. There are very few people I trust and I’m not going to trust him.”
“If I’m being honest I don’t trust him either. That doesn’t mean he’s going to tell you anything more than he told me.”
“I don’t expect him to.”
“What are you going to do to him, Draven?”
“It’s better than you don’t know.”
Draven felt Erin’s eyes on the side of his face. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading.”
“Don’t go there. We don’t need to have this argument. I know Jack means a lot to you and I will do my best not to do any damage, but I need to know what he does. This is what I have to do, for my people, which…”
“You’re probably going to regret it if you finish that sentence, so I’m going to stop you there. I’m not saying I think it’s a bad idea. Just remember you’re very old and he, in comparison, is very young, so you need to be careful. Don’t push too hard.”
He was about to snap at her, but then he stopped himself. “You really are on our side.”
“How long is it going to take you to realise that? I’m taking you to someone I care about deeply so you can find out what you need to know about the Dragon city. It’s not something I’d normally do.”
“Probably, but I want to know what he knows, Erin.”
“You don’t believe he told me the whole truth.”
“Of course I don’t. There are very few people I trust and I’m not going to trust him.”
“If I’m being honest I don’t trust him either. That doesn’t mean he’s going to tell you anything more than he told me.”
“I don’t expect him to.”
“What are you going to do to him, Draven?”
“It’s better than you don’t know.”
Draven felt Erin’s eyes on the side of his face. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading.”
“Don’t go there. We don’t need to have this argument. I know Jack means a lot to you and I will do my best not to do any damage, but I need to know what he does. This is what I have to do, for my people, which…”
“You’re probably going to regret it if you finish that sentence, so I’m going to stop you there. I’m not saying I think it’s a bad idea. Just remember you’re very old and he, in comparison, is very young, so you need to be careful. Don’t push too hard.”
He was about to snap at her, but then he stopped himself. “You really are on our side.”
“How long is it going to take you to realise that? I’m taking you to someone I care about deeply so you can find out what you need to know about the Dragon city. It’s not something I’d normally do.”
***
Erin watched as Draven touched the side of Jack’s head. It wasn’t something she wanted to happen, but Draven was right. If they were going to find the lost Dragon city they were going to need to know everything Jack did. “You’re a Dragon. Why don’t you know where your city is?”
“This world has changed a lot in the time I’ve been a slave, Jack, so I have no idea where anything is right now.” Draven sighed. “Plus it was made of magic. It’s probably moved and I think your clients knew more about the city than they were letting on. I think you know more than you told Erin.”
Jack stared at her. “How can you have chosen the Dragons over me?”
“When a race of people, no matter how dangerous they might have been, were enslaved for as long as the Dragons were I think it’s right that someone makes up for the choices our race made. I’ve been collared. I know exactly what it was like. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“Everything I’ve read says the Dragons deserved what happened to them.”
Draven laughed. “Jack, the most important thing you need to learn is that the history of the world is written by those who win the war. You know nothing about what the Dragons were like then. You know nothing about what we’re like now.”
“This world has changed a lot in the time I’ve been a slave, Jack, so I have no idea where anything is right now.” Draven sighed. “Plus it was made of magic. It’s probably moved and I think your clients knew more about the city than they were letting on. I think you know more than you told Erin.”
Jack stared at her. “How can you have chosen the Dragons over me?”
“When a race of people, no matter how dangerous they might have been, were enslaved for as long as the Dragons were I think it’s right that someone makes up for the choices our race made. I’ve been collared. I know exactly what it was like. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
“Everything I’ve read says the Dragons deserved what happened to them.”
Draven laughed. “Jack, the most important thing you need to learn is that the history of the world is written by those who win the war. You know nothing about what the Dragons were like then. You know nothing about what we’re like now.”
***
Jack waited. He knew his clients would appear soon enough and then he was going to have to tell them how wrong everything had gone. Breathing deeply he stared out of the window, knowing how close he’d come to losing his mind, because that was what Dragons normally did to the people they read the way Draven had read him. Obviously the dragon had promised Erin he’d be careful. When someone walked into the office Jack looked over at them.
“What’s happen?”
“The Dragons.”
“Erin freed them.”
“Apparently she didn’t have any other option.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t.” Rebecca brushed a hand through her hair. “That changes things a lot, Jack, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to find the city first.”
“Draven knows everything you do.”
“Not a problem. I don’t want anything from the city - I just want to find it. Maybe I should join forces with the Dragons.”
“You’re not going to be able to prove yourself to their King after what happened. You have annoyed him.”
“Also not a surprise, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to change the way he views me. I think I might have a chat with him.”
“If you want to talk with him I suggest you go through Erin. She’s on their side.”
“She feels guilty. It’s normal.”
“What’s happen?”
“The Dragons.”
“Erin freed them.”
“Apparently she didn’t have any other option.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t.” Rebecca brushed a hand through her hair. “That changes things a lot, Jack, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to find the city first.”
“Draven knows everything you do.”
“Not a problem. I don’t want anything from the city - I just want to find it. Maybe I should join forces with the Dragons.”
“You’re not going to be able to prove yourself to their King after what happened. You have annoyed him.”
“Also not a surprise, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to change the way he views me. I think I might have a chat with him.”
“If you want to talk with him I suggest you go through Erin. She’s on their side.”
“She feels guilty. It’s normal.”
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Also, I really like this story! I want to know more about what surrounded it, but the saturation tells me enough that I really like Erin and Draven, and I think Rebecca maybe isn't telling everything she knows.
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Thank you. :) Arkal is one of the many worlds I want to be working on, so it's something dragon scale green was great for. Draven can be a little snappy at the moment, because he's dealing with a lot, but I like him too. Oh, and you're right about Rebecca, which isn't unusual for my characters.
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This is neat.
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Thank you.
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