Imp Empress: Falling in Love with Dragons by Nipaporn Baldwin
Imp Emprss © 2011 by Nipaporn Baldwin
Licensed CC-BY-NC-SA
TSODR Issue #29 (Smashwords edition) 2/3/12
Published by Geppetto Garten/Nipaporn Baldwin
The Almighty Table of Contents!
Image: Dragon Efteling by Jeroen Kransen from Flickr, retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
Cc-by-sa.
Editorial
Writing Aaron and Seraphina’s story has been an enjoyable feat. I’ll keep this editorial as short as possible! The setting is in the early days of the Antonin Empire, smetime during the Third Dynasty era. In this era, dragon technology was already pushing it’s way pu the corsets and capes of the aristocrat society. It would take a bit longer for the poor folks to get ahold of it. Yes, you read it right. Technology Mash, something rarely done in Sci Fi! A medieval setting is mashed with technology. I’ve done that once before with Drachenscolderung. This issue takes a more fantasy aproach than the usual video game Sci Fi of the earlier issues. I’ve also been dying to write Aaron and Seraphina’s story since it first played out in my mind. I’m proud of this story.
Anyway, if you’re interested in my Game of Thrones fan fic, you can find it here: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/harshrealityofwinter
Enjoy!
Imp Empress
The year is unknown
Linguistics.
It rings in your head and the first thought it brings is technology.
Supreme Chalice.
It makes you think of a grand Arthurian dinner in the castle of Camelot.
Both of these are true…however, only one of them is actual.
Sixteen-year-old Seraphina and her youngest brother, five-year-old Lwin, climbed the tallest hill in their village to see the wondrous Supreme Chalice, which was still in its construction stages. Lwin was always fascinated when he saw the Hoverlasers melding the steel onto the tall structure. Africa had great things coming to it. The Supreme Chalice is to be the home of Viceroy Channing, a Chinese Lindwell dragon and leader of the Stop Hunger Act. The Chalice would be a trading post for various visitors across the galaxy to donate food to Earth. It was a grand idea that got approved by the Dragon Council some few years ago.
Seraphina twiddled with one of her many long braids and took a deep breath of fresh air, “let’s go, Ma needs us.”
Lwin pouted, “awww, do we have to go?”
He took her hand with his itty-bitty child hands and did the puppy dog whimper, “Nyan-boy says he doesn’t want to go.”
Seraphina sighed, obviously not buying his ploy, “well, Nyan-boy better come on because I am leaving.”
“FINE! I’ll stay here!” he shouted angrily.
He sat on the hill and crossed his arms.
“Okay! It’s not my problem,” she shouted as the distance between them became greater, “You’ll wish you had listened to me when the lions come and eat your bones and turn you into shit!”
“What?!”
Lwin jumped up and ran screaming to his sister!
“I don’t want to be lion poo! Take me home!”
Seraphina smiled, works every time
~Aaron~
Antonin Palace: Rome, ITALIA
Aaron closed his journal and threw it into the travelling chest.
“Another day, another trip.”
For once he wanted to stay at home and rest. His father was always taking him out on some kind of quest or adventure. He was sick of it. He wanted relaxxxaaattiiiiooonnn, not ADVENTURE.
“You all ready, virgin boy?”
His personal maid, Rednell Junwe, burst into the room. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled, “you aren’t going to pay me half pence like you did last week, are you?”
Aaron rolled his eyes, “if you don’t get your breasts off my chest I won’t pay you at all.”
“Awww, virginboy needs to squeeze it!”
He abruptly pushed her away, “that’s it! Half pence pay, AGAIN!”
Rednell chuckled like a devious child, “I’m fine with that, virginboy.”
“Please, stop calling me that.”
Rednell playfully skipped around him in a circle, “Virginboy! Virginboy! Virginboy!”
Thalnolis peeked in and saw the commotion. Rednell froze like a frightened puppy as the Emperor held the door open and gave her an accusatory glare, “stop playing and get dressed. Both of you. You must look presentable for Mwembamba’s family.”
He closed the door without further word.
Rednell loved taunting Aaron and his “manly virginity,” as she called it. She had deep feelings for Aaron, she even had a few fantasies, but by Maiden’s Law she was forbidden to have a sexual relationship with him. The Emperor would have her beheaded if he caught her sexing up his son. If this were her own world, she would have her way with the dragonman. She patted him on the back and said, “you love me, right?”
“No.”
“I’m serious.”
“No, I don’t love you. I detest you so much, that if I were Emperor I would have you out on the streets holding a sign that reads “Kick me: I’m an annoyance.”
Rednell balked, “w-w-what? I’m serious! Do you love me?”
“And I’m serious when I say: No. hell no. My father dumped you on me to keep me sexually in check. You are always watching me and not once can I slip just one kiss from a girl.”
Rednell giggled at that. Last week she caught him in a passionate kiss with Duke Dearbourne’s daughter at the Xin’Wan pub.
She brushed it off. She knows he loves her.
“Did you brush your teeth?” she asked.
“Yes.” He replied insipidly.
“Wash your face?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have your monthly cramps and aches?”
“No.”
“Did you lay your eggs?”
“Yes, that’s the reason why we’re going on this damned trip.”
“Mr. Karrucci, watch your mouth!”
“How many more hours of this do I have to take?” he wondered to himself.
He headed for the showering room and Rednell prepared the bathwater. She knew he wanted it to be perfect: between piping hot and lukewarm.
“Want me to help undress you?” she shouted from the water room.
“No! Definitely No!”
“No, no, no, no, no.” She mimicked him with her hand.
He stepped into the warming waters of the pool. He felt the calmness of relaxation kick in.
“Don’t forget to wash between your ears! And clean your pipe really good, you might meet a nice lady!”
And he felt it leave.
* * *
Giada wrapped her arms around her husband and took a deep breath, “I hope this marriage goes well, Thal,” she looked at him in concern, “are we doing the right thing for Aaron?”
Thalnolis fixed his scarf and brushed the lint off his jacket. He thought about it, and answered, “yes, I believe so. Nothing could possibly go wrong with this,” he turned to her with a smile on his face, “and when I get back, we can have dabble in some very kinky dragon games.”
Giada giggled, “pray don’t tell the others.”
“Why?” he wondered.
“It won’t make us look good if word gets out about it.” She whispered.
Aaron packed the last of his things and rushed out the bedroom door. Rednell made sure he wore his special blue velvet suit and cashmere neck-scarf. En route to Africa he can change into clothing suitable for Africa’s climate.
“Did you clean out your nest?” she asked.
“Yes, yes. C’mon, let’s go.”
Rednell released her famous giggle as she grabbed her bags.
Thalnolis and Giada were waiting by the carriage. Giada would not be accompanying them, instead she would be seeing her husband off. She gave everyone a hug (including Rednell) and planted a sweet and warm kiss on Thalnolis’s lips, “addio mia carissima,” she whispered to him. He gleefully whispered back, “Addio mio piccolo seme di zucca.”
She watched as the carriage trailed off. A strong gust of wind swept past her and she could feel a storm rising.
*Addio mia carissima: goodbye my dearest
* Addio mio piccolo seme di zucca: goodbye my little pumpkin seed
~Seraphina~
Limbu Manor: Ghana
“Seraphinaaaaa. Wake up!”
She loudly yawned, unleashing midnight breath upon an unsuspecting mother.
“Yes?”
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“We’re trading one of our Specialized Optimal Disks in exchange for a Finnell dragon! We’re finally getting a Finnell!”
Seraphina hugged her pillow tightly, “Is that it, Mama? I know there’s something else, you’re still smiling.”
Mwembamba got nervous, “well…it’s the Emperor that’s coming and…and…”
“…and what?”
“…and he said to me personally that he wanted Vara to marry his son, Aaron, and he wants you to be Bridewerden for her.”
Seraphina’s eyes opened, “Bridewerden? For her wedding?”
Mwembamba happily nodded, “yes. I know that job pays enough, and it’ll help you get into the Supreme Chalice College.”
Seraphina jumped up and gave her mother a big hug, “thank you, mama!”
“Awww, your welcome honey. You should have seen how many mothers I had to fight for that position. Sisters don’t usually become Bridewerdens!”
“This is such great news! Can I tell…”
“No! No! No! No! No! You mustn’t tell anyone,” Mwembamba lowered her tone, “the marriage is a secret until it’s time to tell.”
“Awwwww.”
“Come and eat. You and Vara have a big day ahead.”
Seraphina’s mood quickly dampened, “More work in the field?”
“Yes except you’ll be working in the jungle.”
“Oh, poo! I hate working in the jungle.”
“Poo nothing. It helps pay for the dragons.”
When her mother was out of earshot, Seraphina muttered, “and it helps pay for King Arthur’s clothes.”
“What was that?” her mouther shouted from the hall, “Are you talking about Arthur?”
“Nothing!”
Her personal barn owl, Mitten, landed on the perch beside her bed. She gently stroked the moon-faced bird and spoke to it, “what is it like to raise owlets? Is it as easy as you make it look? Is it worthwhile?”
Mitten screeched loudly, summoning her male to her.
“Of course,” Seraphina stood, stretching her arms, “you’re no ordinary owl.”
* * *
After a handsome breakfast meal, Seraphina and Vara had to prepare for work in the field.
Seraphina always hated working in the jungle. Taming the jungle dragons was harder than taming Savanna dragons.
Vara looked around, “I wonder if he’s here?”
“Why do you keep going back to him?” asked Seraphina.
That was easy to answer, “Because I like him.”
“There’s more than that, Vara. Pray tell, I promise to keep secrets.”
“pppssttttt.”
A man, possibly in his twenties, came out of the bushes.
“Dharau! You come!”
He playfully tickled Vara and swept her off her feet.
“We’ll be right back.” He said happily.
Vara merrily waved back, “Try not to tame dragons without me!”
Seraphnia shook her head.
“I’ll never understand them.”
Then it suddenly occurred to her…
“uh oh, Mama wants Vara to marry the prince!” she started biting her lips in an act of nervousness, “should I tell her? Should I tell her about Joka Dharau?”
She started getting afraid as her mind zoned out and the alien sounds of the jungle filled her ears. She could hear the musical sounds of birds and the chattering of chimps and orangutans, but there was a low growl that caused great fear. It didn’t belong to any big cat, nor did it belong to any gorilla. It sounded alien and guttural…
* * *
Vara teased him and kept planting kisses on him.
She was accustomed to the sex, which had become a normal affair for her.
Dharau wasn’t the first man she’d taken.
He was probably the fourteenth, and the only man that’s sticking by her although she doesn’t stick by him. She took in a deep breath; the orgasms weren’t anything special either. He’d pump the mess out of her and that was it. That’s all there is and there isn’t anymore. She was used to it, though she frequently returned to other men that did better than he did.
“You’re starting to bore me.” She said with a yawn.
“Really?” he started to panic, “um…I’ll tantalize you with oral!”
She shook her head, “Too boring.”
“Um…backway-front?”
A look of disgust appeared on her face, “Ewww, no.”
“Um…um…damn I’m out of ideas.”
Vara sighed, “Maybe it’s time you read Dragonisma,” she placed his hand on her breast in a tease, “It might help.”
“AAHHHHHHH!”
The shrill scream scared Vara out of the moment, “That was Seraphina’s voice!”
Vara and Dharau rushed to her location and found her face-to-face with a Grinnel dragon. The Grinnel is the fierce cousin of the Finnel, and it’s a darkish tan color with haunting yellow eyes and sharp teeth that poked out of its maw. It was not a smooth dragon to touch, its body was covered in rigid plates and spikes that serve as protection from superheated environments. The dragon glared at Vara, and it flames slithered from its gaping maw. It took a step towards her, threatening to kill.
Vara desperately shouted to her sister, “Seraphina! Sing the song!”
She nodded and clasped her hands together like as if she were about to pray. She opened her mouth to let her calm song fill the dragon, “Na Ris P’yu ex Quasis Gadris, Nor o thio Na!*”
The dragon turned to face her, his mind knowing the words she spoke.
He replied to her without singing, “P wan sis.”
That signaled a bond between Dragon and Tamer, until she said, “P kif sis.”
The dragon was confused at first, but soon he understood. He nodded in acknowledgement and turned to depart back from whence he came.
*(please refer to the extras at the end of the book to know what she said)
“Why did you let him go?” Vara asked with a hint of anger.
“That would have been the third Grinnel this week!” said Seraphina, “we’re not out to tame every wild dragon. We just need some to help with the work around the house.”
“Well, I guess I’ll be heading back to my village,” said Dharau.
“Okay,” Vara threw on her cutesy smile, “I’ll see you around, unogwaja.”
Rabbit.
That’s what she loved to call him.
Rabbit.
* * *
Seraphina and Vara walked among the sandy beaches
It was the only threshold that separated them from the treacherous Xanu Isles
The Xanu were known for their savagery, and their Queen and her dragon certainly weren’t the ones to ire. She occasionally sent her men to the mainland to capture people to enslave.
“Rumors say that the Queen of Xanu is finally leaving the whorehouse.” Said Vara.
“Whorehouse?”
“She’s getting married, Sera!”
“To whom?”
“Some duke from the Barlands.”
Seraphina had stopped in her tracks.
“Sera? What on earth are you gazing at?”
It wasn’t too hard to spot.
Vara started to panic, “Oh, no! I’m in my work dress and they’re here already?”
The flag on the ship bore the dragon emblem of Antonin and the colors of Italia. There were a lot of crewmembers hauling crates off the ship and passing them around to one another. The girls had the option of leaving immediately, or they could stay and greet the Royals.
“Hello there!”
Vara looked up at the dragonling hovering above her.
“Hi…” she uneasily replied, “are you with the Empire?”
The dragonet nodded, “Yes I am. Are you Vara, daughter of Mweeeeeembamba?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
Vara whispered to Seraphina, “we look terrible in these dresses!”
“Oh, hush,” Seraphina smiled, “we can improvise.”
She ripped off the middle cloth of her dress, turning it into a top + skirt. Vara quickly mimicked her younger sister’s actions.
“Ah, the ladies of the Skyhouse decide to greet us on shore,” an African man named Reverand Mikas Sherman, one of the many men to accompany Thalnolis on the trip, walked up to the girls, “it is an honor to meet you.”
Seraphina curtsied, “the honor is mine. I have heard so much about the Dragon Empire, one can only gasp in awe at its greatness.”
Vara rolled her eyes when the two weren’t paying attention.
A timid and scrawny French boy with a lute resting in his arm walked up to them, extending his hand in a shake, “Hello, I am Johannes Ailedebard, Thalnolis’s personal bard and Senior Bard of the Young Bards Club, and you are?”
Seraphina exchanged his greeting with a handshake, “I am Seraphina and this is my sister Vara. We are the daughters of Mwembamba and Keepers of the SkyHouse Dragons.”
Johannes raised an eyebrow in curiosity, “Ah, feral dragon tamers, how lovely.”
The young bard was the least exciting of the group.
Vara shook both of their hands and said, “Welcome to Africa, the new Land of the Free.”
There was a slight silence in Johannes.
Referring to Africa as “Land of the Free” irked him. Ever since the downfall of the Tyto empire’s grip on half of America, the Antonin empire retook their respective states in Africa and have replicated the country into a second America.
“Ciao bella!”
The girls saw Thalnolis waving at them. They were nervous in his presence. He was the Emperor after all. They curtsied to him and gracefully welcomed him, “Welcome to Africa Mr. Karrucci.”
“Pleasure is all mine,” he said, “I’m sure you know my son, Aaron, whom is your future husband, and his handmaid, Rednell.”
A loud croaky whine leaped from the red-head girl’s mouth. She was as still as a snowman and as shocked as a chipmunk.
“Hu-hu-hu?” the incomplete words were forced from Rednell’s throat, “hu-hu-huh-huhsssband? To her?”
Vara felt her body go stiff. Her expression was priceless. Her eyes, slightly wide in surprise, and her words, stumbling after each other, made this moment laughable.
“What?”
Thalnolis killed the awkward silence, “Your mother did not notify you? Your family is to be bound to mine through this marriage.”
Vara and Rednell were still speechless, “what?”
Aaron was a handsome Prince, and looked very much like his father. His long hair and broad shoulders were enough to make most girls (and Rednell) squeal with delight, but he was not winning Vara over with just his looks.
Rednell’s perfect world had been shattered. All her fantasies, dreams, words of love, and other acts of romance were shattered by the word “marriage.” Marriage. It sounded like “mirage” but with less mystique. It made her tongue rot with anger.
“Marriage?” her mind still dwelled on the thought.
Seraphina leaned left and saw Thalnolis’s other sons. There seemed to be eight of them, all of them looking more different than the other.
“Are those lovely men behind you your sons?” she asked.
It seemed to hit Thalnolis like a bowling ball claiming pawnage over pins, “oh, yes, how could I be so stupid to forget?”
“We’re used to it,” said twenty-four-year old Rinaldo.
“Let’s introduce eachother!” Vara shouted, hoping to get everyone’s mind off an imminent fight.
“We can do that at dinner,” Seraphina took Thalnolis by the hand, “Let us go see my mother when your men are ready.”
Johannes nodded, “yes, I’m sure your family manor can accommodate our crew.”
Vara caught the timid French bard eyeing her with lust from his heart. When all eyes were not on them, she gave him the look of scorn. Do not mess with me. He quickly understood, even though his mind did not.
Still in a buckeyed daze, Rednell uttered like a hypnotized idiot, “Marriage?”
~The Family~
Limbu Manor
“A feast! To celebrate the marriage of our two precious gems.”
Plate Waiters walked from the kitchen in a neat row in two lines for two sides of the table. They unveiled the wondrous food, which was mostly Italian mixed with African delicacies.
“You’ve outdone yourself this time, Mwem. I am grateful for all of this.” Said Thalnolis.
Mwembamba’s smile was unforgettable, almost alien, “Anything for a friend of my family.”
There was much chatter, but Seraphina did not say much to Aaron. She and Vara sat beside him, and the only person trying to get them to speak to each other was Johanness. Vara didn’t want any of it.
“Wait…what?”
“You have to impress him, he is your key out of this country,” said Mwembamba, “and if one of you can get out of here, you can find your brothers.”
Vara shook her head, “he’s not my type! He’s Seraphina’s type!”
Her mother whispered to her, “he is a dragon god. Out of all of my children, you are the most eligible to marry him. He’s the future-emperor to the Dragon Empire. If you marry him, our name will go down in history and we won’t be struggling anymore with our dragons!”
Vara felt confuzzled.
It was happening so fast.
Vara was told to impress this man she did not know.
“I’ve never had a Meréchicken before,” said Thalnolis, “is it really a cross between a hybrid meerkat and a chicken?”
Mwembamba nodded, “yup, thanks to your company Perch Tech and the Supreme Chalice, we can experience all kinds of foods.”
The chatter was turning into an annoyance.
“What is it like to be a dragon tamer?”
Seraphina was taken out of her mindly peace by the unexpected question.
“What?”
Aaron asked again, “What is it like to be a dragon tamer?”
“Oh…heh…it’s great. You become spiritually connected to the dragon,” she faltered, sensing excitement, “almost like a soulmate.”
“How many dragons have you trained?”
The youngest brother, an albino eight-year-old, kept his cold gaze on Seraphina as he involuntarily picked a Meréchicken leg clean of its meat. When she failed to answer his question, he sternly asked her again, “how many dragons did you train? Answer me.”
Klien, the eldest brother, nudged his unyielding younger brother, “Amarillide, hush. You do not command our guest when they are serving us…”
“Twenty four.”
Everyone turned their attention to her, like an audience observing a ballerina’s dance*.
“I have trained twenty four dragons in my lifetime.”
“That’s the fastest anyone’s ever trained a dragon,” said Reverend Mikas with astonished interest, “even me, the acclaimed alien reverend, could not train twenty four dragons in a sixteen year period, and I have trained many.”
Seraphina felt proud for a moment, but it quickly faded away. She did not want them to see her smile at her accomplishment while they, the Higher Ones, gasped in awe at the fact that a non-royal can tame a wild dragon in such little time.
Amarillide seemed unchanged by this. He simply said, “Set them free.” And he ate the torn meat of the Meréchicken.
~After the Feast~
In the gallery room, Johanness blankly stared at the paintings of the various Skyhouse rulers. He could barley see the first painting beside the window. The woman’s face seemed to blend with the shabby blue color of the wall.
“There’s so many of them,” he said in amazement. There were only ten generations of Tir’wells in his family bloodline, and the Skyhouse lineage seemed infinite. The fresco on the ceiling told a detailed story of their rise to power beside the Antonin Empire but it, too, had been darkened by the night’s darkness. Thalnolis signaled to Johanness, whom was holding the crystal bottle full of wine.
“Hmmmm…I am not so sure about the eldest one,” said Thal.
Johannes poured the wine into Thalnolis’s golden chalice.
“The eldest one has more experience,” said Reverand Mikas, “experience outweighs inexperience.”
“I know, Mikas,” Thalnolis sighed and rubbed his forehead, hoping to relieve the stress with his bare hands, “I want him to be happy. The young one seems more…livelier than the other. Plus she speaks like a young Queen.”
Mikas lowered his cup of water, “speaking like a Queen does not make one a worthy wife or consort to the Emperor. She must have experience in making mistakes and learning from them,” he put extreme emphasis on the word “not.”
Johannes wanted to ask, but it was a crazy question.
If the Emperor’s son does not want her hand in marriage, may I claim her for myself?
A timid man like him would be easily turned down.
I will take her with me to Dion, where we will live peacefully. Maybe to the Rue Baher, or the Tirwell castle, or the countryside. I will keep her well.
He was getting a bit hard just thinking about her.
“Johannes? Johannes!”
That quick burst of fear had flinched him out of his unseen utopia, “yes, m’lord?”
“Sing a song for Mwembamba tomorrow. We must give her a big thank you for the dinner.”
He held up his chalice, and Johannes once more poured the drink of Kings into the chalice.
~Johannes~
Mwembamba sat on the SkyHouse throne with her two daughters sitting beside her on their own thrones. Johannes’s lute was held by the straps so he could play easily and focus on his voice.
“Un festin merveilleux pour les dieux,
Avec de la nourriture et le vin tissé d'amour,
Le Roi Dragon offre son appréciation avec un barde français,
Le roi dragon offre ses remerciements à la reine Meerkat.”
He sung in English, but a rather different translation of his lyrics:
“A wonderful feast worthy of the Gods,
With food and wine woven from love,
The dragonking bids thank you via his French bard,
The dragonking bids thank you to the Meerkat Queen.”
“He does not rhyme with his words.” Said Mwembamba.
“No, he does not,” Vara spoke defensively, “he rhymes with the melodies of his voice rather than let words bog him down.”
Seraphina delightfully whispered, “shush!”
“It’s a practice that non-English speakers master easily.”
“From the seas of Woe to the lands of Tirwell,
The dragon takeths the hand of the Maiden of the Meerkats,
And for every fortnight and undynight,
He will embrace her shadow,
And when she is Queen he will embrace her body,
And when they become old,
They will embrace their life.”
Johannes made sure the last note was unforgettable and subtly soft. He welcomed the praises and applause and took a bow. Secretly, he smiled at Vara.
“This song is for you,” he wanted to say it aloud.
“Ka dziesma bija par jums.”
That song was about you.
He spoke in Latvian, a language he knew she understood.
~The Bachelor Dragon~
Aaron felt an uncomfortable feeling creep up.
Vara glared at him like a lioness watching an unwanted lion.
The purpose of the candlelight dinner was “bonding,” not hatred.
Vara gave up trying to like Aaron.
She gave up the candlelight dinner, leaving him alone at the table.
When Seraphina came with the food, she thought she’d cheer him up (if he needed cheering up). She didn’t want to bond with him, but she felt sorry him.
She sat in the chair and plopped her portable radio on the table. A song from a distant future was playing from the radio.
“Want to go to the lake?” she asked.
“What’s over there?” he asked.
“Skinny dipping. I’ve never skinny dipped before.” She said.
He thought about it…
He didn’t care for Vara and her reluctant attitude
“It’s okay,” she said, leaning in, “nobody can see us.”
***
“I can’t believe I am doing this,” he whispered to himself.
“This is going to be so fun!” she giggled.
“Is the water clean?”
“Of course it’s clean! It’s infested with Freshwater Serpents!”
She took him by the hand as they ran to the edge of the boardwalk. He let go pf her hand, stopping in his tracks, “Freshwater serpents?”
She started smiling, showing her extreme fervor, “they don’t eat humans.”
She dropped her little radio onto the grass, the 1950s music still emitting from it’s speakers.
He observed the clear waters, watching the white serpents swim about. He could feel her hand around his, and faster than he could shout, she threw him into the cold waters. She hysterically laughed at her actions, unknown to the impending revenge. He grabbed her by the leg and dragged her to the waters.
“I hope you enjoyed the dip,” he said.
She swiped the water from her face, still smiling, “I told you this would be fun.”
They splashed eachother to their heart’s content. The serpents from below had surfaced to play along. Seraphina held her hand out to the youngest serpent. She was entranced with it’s bright yellow eyes and white scales.
“You want to play, don’t you?” she asked as she rubbed it’s snout.
Aaron tried to touch it, but it backed away, fearing the dragon hidden inside him.
An adult emerged, much bigger and wider than the serpent, and lowered it’s head to Seraphina.
“They really respect you,” said Aaron.
Seraphina shrugged, “They will love you, too. All you have to do is talk to it.”
Aaron concentrated on the youngster, trying to talk casually to it, “um, hello. I don’t know what to say to you, but I thought I’d introduce myself.”
The youngster didn’t do anything to acknowledge the initiation of the conversation.
“I don’t think he likes me,” said Aaron.
Seraphina was riding atop the adult serpent as it dove under water and resurfaced, “Try talking in your native tongue!”
“Um…io sono un drago…”
The youngster started shrilling with glee.
“Uh oh…did I offend you?” asked Aaron.
The serpent picked him up in his mouth and swam towards it’s mother. It dropped Aaron beside Seraphina and trilled before diving below.
“What happened?” he asked.
“What did you say to it?” she asked.
“I told him I was a dragon.”
“Maybe he’s your cousin.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Seraphina whispered to the adult, and it followed her command. Sera and Aaron were actually having fun with the Freshwater Serpent as it dived and swam like a living roller coaster. Twelve minutes later, the serpents dropped them off at the boardwalk. Seraphina kissed the adult and whispered to it.
“You are really in-tune with them,” said Aaron.
Seraphina patted the serpent goodbye and said, “I love anything related to dragons. Everyone says I know exactly what a dragon wants.”
Out of the cold blue, he kissed her. He knew he shouldn’t have, but he did anyway. The emotions that were building had pushed him to do it. She didn’t want to stop him, at the end of the kiss she asked him, “why did you do that? You aren’y engaged to me, you are engaged to my sister!”
“I did that because…” he paused, finding the right selection of words, “I wanted to.”
“You wanted to?” she started stressing over it, “Do you know how much trouble we could get in?I’m not going to love my sister’s husband!”
She picked up her tiny radio and walked away. She looked back, wondering many thoughts about him.
~Mwembamba, Vara & Seraphina~
The next day…
After last night’s episode, she thought of him as a nuisance. The more she tried to push him away, the more she liked him.
One night she ran into him in the hallway.
“Hello…Seraphina, right?”
She smiled, but she desperately wanted out of this conversation, “yes. I hear you’re the next dragon emperor.” She talked like as if nothing happened.
“Everyone knows that, but I’m trying to forget about it until the time comes.”
Curious, she asked, “Why?”
“I want peace. I want quietness. I don’t want a crowd of crazed spectators, cameramen and fans yelling my name. It may not happen often but when it does I hate it.”
“Wow, that was…nice and long.”
“try asking shorter questions.”
He continued down the hall, ending the conversation before it became one. Avoidance was not so easy. Her mother dragged her everywhere the Princes went. Morning light was the perfect time for a traditional hunt, especially for hungry dragons.
An army of royal horses trugged through the forest and stopped at the clearing. The hunt began the moment Thalnolis dismounted from his horse.
Klien spotted the perfect prey, a young and vulnerable doe, “Over there!”
Klien felt a sudden pang and he lurched forward, gripping the spot between his legs.