Chains of the Dragon (52775 words) by VickytheSnake, thesavagesabretooth
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October 4, 2028– 10:45 am
Trucy had been poring over the translated legal tomes for so many hours she felt like her eyes were about to cross. Even considering the judge– who was very nice– had come in to tutor her for a little while before. But he had gone to take care of legal matters even with the court closed for the day, and for now, Trucy was alone in the quiet little room with only her thoughts.
It wasn’t like she was a complete novice…she had cases upon cases under her belt by Apollo and her father’s side…she’d read his old law books when her tomes on magic and showmanship ran dry…
But this was a whole new country’s whole new legal structure.
It felt like she was trying to cram a whole year’s worth of school into her head at once.
Am I really going to be able to do this? She wondered, flipping to the next page. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to pep talk herself.
Apollo seemed about ready to flip his lid when we brought it up…he studied for years to pass the bar back home, right? She sighed and forced herself to read the dry text on the next page. But if he could do it…if Daddy could do it, why can’t I? It’s not like I’m going to be trying any murder cases.
Yeah. Yeah it’s basically just going to be paperwork. I’ll be fine. I’m a genius at magic, I can pick this up easy.
Easy… She sat back and took her hat off, rubbing her forehead. She could feel the tension gathering there. She was going to get a headache if she kept studying much longer.
Daddy was an art student, wasn’t he? And he’s famous now…She took a deep breath, and dropped her head into her hands to massage her temples I wish I could pull some aspirin out of my magic panties right about now, though.
As she worked at tense muscles around her eyes, she heard a soft gasp from near the door “oh!”
Trucy turned at the little noise, grateful for any distraction. “Hello?”
A girl, only a handful of years younger than her, stood in the door…one Trucy realized after a moment she recognized from the trial months ago.
Rayfa, the princess that did the dance of devotion. She looked like she’d been crying, dark circles set under her deep green eyes.
“Hello…I was no’t aware anyone was using this room at the moment.”
“Oh, well, don’t worry, I’m not really here at all!” Trucy put her finger to her lips. “So if you’re looking to pull a vanishing act you don’t have to worry. C’mon, close the door.”
The girl gave her a dubious look as she sidled in and shut the door with a quickness that spoke to just how well Trucy hit the nail on the head.
She was trying to vanish.
“You’re not really here, yet I see a number of legal texts opening themselves. How curious.” She sniffed softly and crossed her arms under her chest with the muffled ringing of the bells around her wrists.
“It’s a magic trick,” Trucy said with a wide smile. “I think if someone were in this room, they’d be a magician, you see. In addition to the princess who isn’t here either, right?”
Rayfa’s smile started small, before it grew into a wide grin as she nodded her head once.
“I think it’s rather like that indeed! A magic trick and a spirit.” She looked from side to side before she settled herself down at the table, staring at Trucy with wide and curious eyes. “You’re a magician? I’ve never seen one up close…”
“Look as close as you want. It won’t spoil the trick,” Trucy said proudly. It was nice to see the girl smile a little, when it was so clear she’d been crying.
Trucy pulled off her hat and reached into it, in the exaggerated way that seemed to make her whole arm disappear, before she pulled out– Rayfa’s little tiara! And presented it to her with a flourish.
Rayfa’s eyes widened further, and her hand snapped up to her hair, and then down to Trucy’s hands
“How?? You..I…” she scooped the Tiara up and turned it over in her hands. “I didn’t even feel you take it!”
She popped her hat back up on her head and put her hands up apologetically. “A magician never reveals her secrets, your highness! It spoils the fun a bit. But I promise I only use my powers for good.”
Rayfa , despite her clear surprise…actually looked really delighted as she re-settled the tiara on her head with a grin. She still looked curious, however, seeming to look Trucy over for any sort of sign to the trick
“Only for good, hm? Good! I wouldn’t tolerate any evil magicians in my court…oh! I haven’t introduced myself! You just seemed a little familiar and it slipped my mind!” She bowed her head “I am Rayfa Padma Khura’in, heir apparent to the Kingdom of Khura’in. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Trucy performed a flourishing magician’s bow in return. “The pleasure’s mine, Princess. I’m–”
Somehow she stumbled over her introduction. Trucy Gramarye, legendary magician? Trucy Wright, rookie lawyer?
She’d always been ‘Trucy Gramarye, Legendary Magician’. Even with her daddy’s last name, that’s what everyone knew. Trucy in Gramaryeland. Trucy, holder of Magnifi’s inheritance. ‘Legendary magician’ was who she was…right? But when she tried to get it out, her eyes flicked down to the legal texts below her and memories came flooding back to stop her. Her uncle…her father…her grandfather and her mother. The history of secrets, lies and inheritance that left too many bodies in its wake. The fact that she’d only ever been what she was raised to be, from holding bombastic shows to handing forged evidence to her own brother in court.
“Trucy Wright,” she said, after a heartbeat’s pause, and the age of the universe.
Rayfa said slowly as she curled her finger rather cutely under her chin, her head tilted to the side
“Trucy…” “w…w…w..” She pointed suddenly “WRIGHT!!! LIKE BARBED HEAD!!”
Trucy jumped, holding her hands up. “Barbed head? Oh! That’s my daddy!”
“Daddy!?” she squeaked “oh…oh my…”She looked down at the legal texts before her “…so you’re one of the dev—–defense attorneys too? Like he is?”
She sounded… excited, maybe. And Trucy Wright couldn’t resist.
“That’s right! I’m studying up on your laws to help with Polly– Apollo’s case load!” she declared it boldly. Naturally.
“Wow…” Rayfa’s fingers covered her lips, splayed so they still showed her smiling lips. “Horn head– Apollo, he really needs the help.”
She did sound excited; even more so when Trucy confirmed. Despite her near slip of calling them devils, she seemed to have quite the respect for her daddy, and even for the profession since Trucy had seen her last from afar “are you finding our laws difficult to acclimatize to? Perhaps I can help? Mother says I’m not…that…well.”
She puffed her cheeks “I can help.”
“If you’d like to help, I’d love some help,” she nodded. “There’s a lot of local terms I’m not too familiar with…”
Mother says she’s not… what? Trucy wondered.
Rayfa hopped up, and scampered rather unprincess-like over to her side of the table to plop herself down where she could look over Trucy’s shoulder.
“Well if it is local terms…I know most of them!” she declared proudly “..an…and I wish to help. You’re Barbed Head’s daughter…a lawyer and a good magician. It’s my royal duty to help.”
Even so, Trucy could see the nervous way she glanced at the door when she spoke.
“I won’t say no to royal duty,” Trucy said. She tried not to think about how exciting being seen as a lawyer was. It suddenly reminded her of all her old excitement at being a magician. “But maybe you could help me out as a friend, too?”
She gave the princess a timid but hopeful look.
Rayfa looked up at her with a surprised expression, her fingers over her o-shaped gasp.
“A friend, Miss Wright?” She ducked her head almost shyly “I do not have many of those. I’ll do my best.”
“I’ve got a good feeling about you, miss princess!” Trucy smiled. “Now let’s see…”
Rayfa, she seems like she could use a friend as much as I could… she turned the page of the text with a smile that felt more genuinely excited than she’d felt for ages.
Attorney Trucy Wright…learning the ways of Khura’inese law to save the lives of people trapped by an unjust system…she couldn’t deny the feeling welling up inside her. Joy.
But that…and all the complicated little feelings that came along with it…would need to be unpacked later.
October 4, 2028– 10:50 am
After a couple of hours of paperwork, touring the courtroom, and interviewing with Nahyuta over prosecutorial duties, Klavier brushed his hair out of his face and smiled a dazzling smile at him.
“So, do I have the job?” he asked teasingly, lounging against the frame of the high judge’s podium in the empty room.
Nahyuta looked down at the stack of finished paperwork in his hand with a subtle smile and an almost teasing amount of amusement.
“Let’s see…your qualifications are impressive, Klavier. Though you’re a little theatrical for the Khura’in courtroom.” He glanced up at his smile with an amused huff of breath “perhaps it’s the winning smile that tips the balance. You’re hired. Welcome to the court of Khura’in– your honorary prayer beads will be waiting for you in the prosecutorial office.”
“Perks of the job, ja?” he chuckled, “I won’t say no. Thank you for the opportunity, prosecutor Sadmadhi.”
“Perks of the job.” Nahyuta placed the papers down by the judge’s desk and looked Klavier over with a smile. “Of course…honestly, I should be thanking you. You came flying in when Apollo…and I…really were really in a bind.”
“Well, every now and then I’m a useful man to have around,” he offered with a smile. He liked it when it was the case, really. He wanted to make some kind of difference here– to make up for the time he’d let pass when he shouldn’t have.
Nahyuta paced forward, his arms folding delicately behind his back as he continued in a loose half circle to stand face to face, a little closer to the other man.
“I’ll be hoping to keep you around then, for at least a little while. I know Khura’in is quite different from LA…you must feel a little out of your element.”
“I have been all the way around the world on tour mein freund, and I know a thing or two about being a fish out of water. But I’ll admit, that I am a stranger in your strange land. I commit myself to your hands for guidance.” he smiled, leaning a little closer to Nahyuta. He knew a flirtation when he saw one.
The prosecutor prince smiled thinly. “Poor thing,” he mused playfully “I could treat you to a personal tour– as thanks for your kindness in prosecuting for the crown. I could buy you a magatah’man.”
“Oh? Those pretty things I’ve seen you all wearing?” Klavier slipped his fingers under Nahyuta’s necklace playfully in return.
Nahyuta chuckled “actually it’s a bun. A pastry…but I would be delighted to buy you a magatama as well.”
He leaned a little forward, the stone was smooth as it shifted against Klavier’s fingers.
“They’re good for centering the spirit, of course…but I also think it’d look quite nice on you, Klavier Gavin. I haven’t been able to convince Apollo to wear one yet, much to my chagrin.”
Klavier frowned, for a moment– trying to listen to the difference between words– and then he laughed.
“Ah, whoops. They sound so close I misunderstood,” he chuckled, pushing back his hair. He tried not to be embarrassed by the mistake. “I have a weakness for jewelry I’ll admit– but I have a more secret weakness for pastry as well.”
Nahyuta laughed musically.
“admittedly, my friend…the pastry is named after the magatama. They shape it to look like it, and named it after it in turn…easy mistake to make, really.” He offered his arm “allow me then. I’ll indulge your weakness for jewelry and pastry. Out of the kindness of my heart.”
Klavier slipped his arm in to link with Nahyuta’s and smiled.
“It seems like you have a kind heart as well as a beautiful face, mein prinz. A powerful and rare combination indeed.”
Nahyuta led him back out into the beautiful hall of justice within the great Temple, making his way past old murals of the Holy Mother and her sister in various tableaus of Khura’in’s distant past.
He seemed to flush, just a little as he ducked his head with a laugh. “You flatter me. Not too long ago, few would have believed my heart held any kindness at all.”
“Ema has said a little about your reputation,” Klavier said, walking closely with him. The murals were beautiful, and eye catching. but a little unsettling all the same. “But only a little. Were you really so cold?”
The faceless woman looming above the people, arms outstretched as dramas played out beneath her…her sister with the dagger in hand mid leap in another mural.
They framed Nahyuta as he passed them, glancing over at him with a small smile.
“People could read my determination to do whatever I needed to as a kind of coldness. I had to be cold…or the blood Ga’ran demanded spilled on my hands would have destroyed me.”
Once more, the image of Lana Skye was brought to mind. Ema’s stories of her sister sacrificing everything down to her emotions to do what ‘had to be done’.
“It seems you’ve had much weight put on your shoulders, for quite some time, mein prinz,” Klavier said. “It made you strong– but hard, too.”
Nahyuta’s arm tightened around his as he nodded.
“and so very few saw any measure of kindness in me. Ema did, though I know she had her reasons.” He glanced sidelong at Klavier “it made me into something I didn’t like. Strong, a bulwark for Rayfa…but cold as a sheet of ice. It’s my hope that perhaps now I can change it. Hearing someone dear to Apollo notice that I’m trying helps.”
“I hope for your sake it can change too,” Klavier nodded. “I can imagine what Ema sees in you, Nahyuta. Tell me, does she ever talk about her sister?”
Nahyuta lead him down the long hall, past a chamber where music drifted from the closed doors, and out into the bright sunlight and crisp, slightly thin air.
“Sometimes,” he mused “but not nearly as much as I’d hope. She’s murmured here and there about her, and her circumstances. I heard enough to know the woman was incarcerated for a crime that stemmed from a need to protect Ema.”
“Ja, that’s right.” he leaned closer to him, his fingers brushing Nahyuta’s as they walked arm in arm. “She made herself cold for her sister’s sake too. So I think Ema sees some of her affection for her sister in you, ja?”
Nahyuta’s fingers brushed his, slowly winding their way into a loose grip as he smiled up at the sky. His narrow shoulder brushed against Klavier’s as he stepped closer.
“I suppose she must,” he chuckled, “how funny. I suppose I must have gotten lucky! I’d ask if I reminded Apollo of anyone, but…well. We have history.”
He glanced at Klavier “maybe I’ll continue to get lucky, however. Should the Holy Mother will it.”
Klavier chuckled. “Ja, mein prinz, perhaps you will. Do you know the alternate meaning of that phrase in english, or do I have the opportunity to tease you?”
He batted his eyelashes coyly at the other man. In fact there was someone he suspected Apollo reminded him of. And he reminded Klavier of him too. But he put it out of his mind.
Nahyuta held his free hand towards him with a wry smirk. “Enlighten me, Klavier. I am ever interested in new knowledge. Tease away.”
Klavier smiled and put his finger to his lips. “Ah well you see ‘get lucky’ colloquially means to have sex with someone.”
Nahyuta’s dark cheeks turned a touch red as he cleared his throat. His pace quickened…maybe just to put a little more space between the raunchy Klavier and the holy Temple, center of faith for those who practiced Khura’inism.
Or maybe he was just really excited to buy Klavier that bun he’d promised.
“I can understand where it sprung from.” he said after a moment, a wry smile gracing his face. “Tell me. Were you hoping to be graced by luck…so to speak?”
“Mein prinz, I am a man who rarely turns down a stroke of good fortune.” Klavier walked quickly with him, happy enough to be out of the holy temple as well. He was no vampire… but just the same. “Besides, you come highly recommended– so to speak.”
“My, my.” Nahyuta mused as the breeze blew the strands of his hair against his cheek “is that so?”
His fingers brushed against the back of his hand, fingertips trailing his perfect nails against the skin just under his knuckles.
“I’d ask who’d be improper enough to gossip, but I know the answer well as you do.” he closed his eyes “the impropriety is part of the charm.”
Just ahead, a rather tasty, sweet smell was wafting through the air from a bustling market area.
“Oh I’m glad you see the appeal, mein prinz,” Klavier chuckled. “I’ve been told I’m very improper. Overly bold even.”
He wondered just how much he could get away with…
Nahyuta tugged him through the crowd of people, weaving between them until he oriented on a stall.
Even as he walked, he gave a sly glance back at Klavier. For a reserved monk…there was something almost playfully coy in his glance.
“Overly bold, hm? I’ll be sure to prepare myself in the case I have to slap your hand a few times.”
“A slap on the wrist hmm? Well, I’m a man who knows how to take my punishment. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time I always say.”
Klavier tested his luck, pulling Nahyuta sharply toward him– into the edge of an alleyway– so that their faces were close together.
He was reward by an overt flush on the man’s face and an absolutely delightful look of surprise as his chest bumped against Klavier’s “Oh!!”
“Do you have those slapping fingers ready, mein prinz? You may need them."
Boldly, he pinned Nahyuta against the wall below him, and leaned in to steal a kiss.
The prosecutor’s lips were soft, and tacky with what must have been a subtle touch of lipstick, and his breath came warm and surprised on his lips as he pressed back against the wall…and against him.
His hand reached out, touching Klavier’s stomach…but they didn’t slap just yet. Instead, his lips parted slightly for Klavier.
Klavier scooped his arms around Nahyuta’s shoulders, encouraged by the lack of a rejection. he pressed his luck, and his tongue into the other prosecutor’s mouth.
So this was the mouth that had been kissing Ema. Had been kissing Apollo. It was sweet, and soft, and tasted good on his mouth. He kissed him eagerly.
What a beautiful man– and softer than he’d give himself credit for.
He felt Nahyuta’s fingers curl around his necklace, pulling it taut against the back of his neck as he leaned in suddenly to deepen the kiss. His tongue brushed against his, tasting of the tea he’d had brewing through the paperwork session…sweet and fragrant…
He was downright eager under the buttoned up uniform.
Klavier wasn’t quite satisfied just to kiss him– he trailed his hands down over his chest and to his hips, searching the hems of his clothing in an obvious manner. He let his lips linger on Nahyuta’s as he slowly let him go.
Klavier gave him a teasing, coy look under his long eyelashes.
Nahyuta was flushed, his long lashed eyes heavily lidded and staring right into his as he caught his breath in heavy ,controlled breaths.
His fingers tightened around Klavier’s necklace as he gave it a tug.
“Clever opening move, Klavier,” he murmured. “..bold. Decisive.” His other hand trailed against his side “you seem to have designs beyond the sort of kiss a slap on the wrist could forgive.”
"I’m not unfamiliar with the occasional slap across the face either, mein engel,” he purred. It was true– every now and again. Not always for being too bold. Sometimes because he’d invited it.
Nahyuta’s slender hand raised from his side…and there was a sudden slap, teasing and light for the moment, against his cheek as Nahyuta’s wry and subtle smile grew.
“For shame. Working your hands under the shirt of a monk in broad daylight. Would a few slaps straighten you out? Or dare I suggest drastic measures?”
“Drastic measures?” Klavier grinned. “A good whipping, perhaps? A night in the dungeon, ja?”
Nahyuta’s lidded eyes watched him with a trace of amusement…and perhaps something else. “I have a number of ways to elicit penance. I’ll consider that an admission, then.”
“Ja, consider it my confession,” he teased. That was, unfortunately, when Klavier’s cell phone started to ring. He cursed the interruption to his flirtation as he fumbled to answer it. “Who– Ema?”
“Hmm?” Nahyuta leaned over to look with a raise of his eyebrow. “I wonder if she’s found a lead…”
Klavier answered the phone, putting it on speaker. “Ja, fraulein?”
“You’re not gonna believe this, Klavier! It’s a fucking shitshow!” Ema’s voice was tense, loud and marked with the telltale sharpness of barely restrained anger. In the back, shouts and screams played as accompaniment to her as she continued.
They could almost hear them in echo on their end.
“There’s a fight. A full on fistfight in the middle of the market…by the old entrance to the Defiant Dragons base, the …gah, okay, you know where the big goddamn bird was while we were walking? There. Multiple parties….Apollo’s gotten involved too. Just threw himself right into it when communication broke down.”
Klavier grimaced as panic shot through his system. “Ja, fraulein, we’ll be right there! Not to worry!”
Without a second thought– and without hanging up– he shoved the phone in his pocket and grabbed Nahyuta’s wrist.
Nahyuta’s eyes flashed with something dark as he began to run. Out of the alleyway they burst , and in only a moment Nahyuta was the one tugging him through the crowded street.
“Dammit, a fight in the market? It couldn’t be–Apollo, we have to help him.”
“On it, mein prinz!” Klavier agreed, heart beating in his chest as they pushed their way through the maket. The sounds of the crowd getting louder– and more urgent.
If Klavier had been paying attention– if he hadn’t have been screwing around– they might have been there when the fight started. Hell, they might have kept it from happening. Kept Apollo out of it.
Hopefully they wouldn’t be too late.
Nahyuta’s muscles were tensed…he could feel it even through his wrist, and the man’s eyes were narrowed dangerously as he waved between members of the crowd before they noticed and began to part with whispers of ‘the Lord Regent’ and ‘Prosecutor’
The scene opened before them, a flurry of bodies slamming together and punches thrown in the dust of the market street.
Klavier barely waited to catch a glimpse of Apollo before he waded into the brawl himself. It was chaos. At least 10 people were already involved not including bystanders, and the shouting had devolved to a point that Klavier had no idea what was going on.
Frankly, he didn’t care.
He threw himself in front of a blow meant for Apollo, who yelled out his name as he saw him.
“Dammit, Klavier!” Ema Skye called out as she lowered her phone. Nahyuta passed her, patting her on the shoulder with a serious frown.
“Let him get Apollo out…I’ll put a stop to this madness.”
For Klavier, the voice soon faded into the chaos of the brawl, as a man’s fist nearly collided with his face, and a set of nails swiped for his arm.
Klavier was by no means an experienced brawler– but he’d been in enough fights and mosh pits in his time. He grabbed for the man’s wrists and tried to grapple him, acting purely on instinct and rage on Apollo’s behalf.
He came face to face with a dark haired man with a sharp grimace of fury on his face, a distinctive smattering of sun-bourne freckles across his cheeks that Klavier soon got an up close and personal view of as he attempted to headbutt him at the same time
Klavier reeled at the sick crack and sharp pain in his own nose, but it elicited an angry snarl from him rather than a yell of pain. From somewhere inside of him there was a reserve of ferocity as he struggled with the man, slamming him backwards in return into a stall with a great heave.
He turned to see if Apollo was alright.
Apollo stood, eyes wide, and yelled, “Behind you!”
Klavier started to turn, but Apollo grabbed him and pulled him out of the way as an iron bar passed through the air where his head had been only a moment before.t
It was as the pipe swung that he heard Nahyuta’s voice again.
“Cease this, in the name of the Holy Mother and the Kingdom of Khura’in!” It boomed loud and commanding over the ensemble as he stepped into view at the edge of the crowd. “….You will all be allowed the chance to air your grievances in the appropriate forum. The guards have been called, and I ask you all again to stand down!”
Klavier didn’t know what pacified the crowd– the threat of the guard, the command in the regent’s voice, or something else. But he did know that the shouting, brawling mob came to a standstill for a moment.
And then some of them grabbed one another and started to run off.
Nahyuta ran in…but instead of giving chase he bent down to Klavier and Apollo with his hands outstretched “damn it all…”
He looked up “Miss Skye!”
Ema saluted before she took off running after the fleeing individuals, already writing something in her notepad…possibly identifying markings.
Klavier was panting– and he was suddenly aware of the sensation of wetness on his face. He let Ema give chase as he touched the spot over his mouth.
“Klavier– you’re bleeding.” Apollo stared at him, and at the same time, he saw that it was true. Blood came away staining his fingers.
“Oh. Oops.” He smiled dizzily. “Guess you won’t want to kiss me until I clean up, ja?”
Apollo grabbed his shoulders. “You idiot!”
He kissed Klavier anyway. It didn’t do anything to help how dizzy Klavier was feeling– but it was nice. Their first kiss in months, even.
October 4, 2028– 11:40 am
Ema came back to the spot where the brawl had happened, with a notebook full of details– as full as she could make it– on the fleeing suspects.It was still difficult to believe it had happened. They’d run into a few dragons at the market, and Apollo had asked if they knew anything about the graffiti.
Before they knew it one of them had tried to clock her in the damned face. It was only a few words exchanged, and the man’s growing anger in his voice as she leaned in to ask if he knew anything about who might have bought the paint at the shop they’d zeroed in on.
It was a simple question, and a simple answer… though one told in violence rather than words. It was only her surprise in darting back that saved her from being struck down, and Apollo’s sudden and furious interference when they made it clear they weren’t happy with either of them.
The knot of dragons had split into those defending them, and those clearly incensed. When Ema returned to the scene, she saw Nahyuta, Apollo, and a bloody faced Klavier talking to one of the Dragons who’d remained.
Ema leaned against a post holding up an awning, taking a number of deep and shaky breaths. When she noticed the blood on Klavier’s face, she was struck.
“Dammit!” She stomped forward , ripping her handkerchief out of her pocket and grabbing his shoulder. “Klavier…is it fucking broken?”
“No idea, fraulein,” he said with typical good humor. “I’ve never broken my nose before, ja?”
Apollo turned to Ema, rubbing his face. She could see bruises already forming. “I can’t tell if he broke it or if it’s just messed up. There’s not that much blood is there? Are YOU okay?”
Apollo had a little blood on his face too, but Ema could tell it wasn’t his.
Ema began wiping under Klavier’s nose with her handkerchief, cursing under her breath
“dammit… She looked at Apollo with a mix of deep, affectionate respect and quiet fury…but most assuredly not at him, as she watched the bruises form. “I’m fine…they never touched me thanks to you. I managed to get a pretty decent view of ‘em too.”
“That’s good at least. That you’re alright, for sure,” Apollo nodded. “I didn’t– I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to start a fight just by talking.”
Klavier let Ema have her way with his nose obediently standing there while she inspected him. “Herr forehead, what do you mean? I can’t imagine this was your fault.”
“I’m the one that started asking them about the graffiti.” Ema countered with a sharp sigh. “…Apollo, this isn’t your fault.”
She brushed the cloth under Klavier’s nose before she grabbed it lightly to feel for a break.
“Oogh…” Klavier winced as she touched his nose. It didn’t feel broken at least, but it was going to be sore for a while.
“Well– it’s not your fault either then, alright, Ema?” Apollo insisted. “I just… I wish I could say I can’t believe it happened, but I guess Datz already warned us.”
“He did…” Nahyuta frowned. “Now I suppose we have solid proof of the schism appearing before us. With Dhurke gone…there’s a contingent of the dragons who are tired of letting the monarchy continue its reign and are willing to use methods he’d never approve of.”
The dragon who’d been talking with Nahyuta gave a salute. He was a rough, young looking man with a dense beard and fierce eyes, under one of which was a pale scar. “It’s hard to believe it’s happening. But Hatir’s got half the dragons spewing this communist propaganda, your highness.”
“Communist propaganda, huh?” Ema murmured. “so that’s what it’s about…”
Her brow furrowed. It was a growing political struggle…one where some of the people wanted to rise against the monarchy and take power for themselves.
Part of her couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t like she was a monarchist, typically, and Ga’ran’s regime had utterly destroyed the country’s infrastructure, legal system…hope.
Why wouldn’t they be wary of it?
But part of her couldn’t forgive the growing violence– not against people she cared about. Part of her wanted desperately to miraculously convince Rayfa and Nahyuta to abdicate…to run, just like she’d talked about with Klavier.
“Communist,” Apollo frowned. “Well. Great. Well, can you tell us who’s involved?”
“Aside from those you saw?” Hatir shrugged and spread his arms. “I think I can give you some names. I hate to turn against my brothers, but it was they who cast the first stone.”
“Yeah…” Ema pinched the bridge of her nose “thanks. If nothing else we’re gonna have to interrogate them.”
“Hatir’s the one, then?” Nahyuta spoke up from over her shoulder.
The dragon nodded. “That’s him. I heard a rumor he’s been calling meetings in secret, but I was never invited to any of them.”
“And you are?” Klavier asked, around the handkerchief over his nose.
“Radik,” the fierce eyed nodded. “Radik Al Yenceh. The prince regent knows me– I believe our brave friend here may as well.”
He gestured to Apollo who smiled abashedly.
“Your dad was in the Dragons when I was here as a kid, I think?” he offered. “Ah… I’’m sorry, I don’t remember his name.”
“Fers. Fers Al Yenceh,” Radik said.
Apollo snapped his fingers. “That’s right. Fers. He was one of Dhurke’s oldest supporters. A famous defense attorney from before the DC act.”
“Ah yes…” Nahyuta nodded with a smile “I remember your father well, Radik…and you of course. Thank you very much, old friend. This information should prove helpful.”
Ema watched with her hand still on her face, leaning against Klavier with a pensive frown.
He put his arm around her and whispered into her ear. “We are really in the political shit, aren’t we, liebchen?”
Ema nodded against him with a shaky smile. “Yeah I’d say” she whispered back. “way deeper than I ever wanted to tread, I’ll be honest.”
“Any clever ideas, fraulein?”
Ema watched him as his gaze followed Apollo who was talking with Nahyuta and Radik.
“Aside from just pack up and drag them outta here while we ask someone with a little more experience in international goddamn politics to sort this shit out?” she watched Nahyuta herself, her brow creasing with worry.
She knew how badly the title of Regent weighed on him. It showed in the subtle slump of his shoulders and the forced tranquility.
“We might be in luck there,” he murmured back. “I think I may have softened herr prinz up a little.”
“You did, huh?” She turned against him, looping an arm around his waist as she whispered excitedly. “You’re kidding…how?”
“Just talking. Well, and then some making out. But that came later. I think he wants to be convinced. But we shouldn’t talk about it here.”
Ema flushed brightly, and coughed as he mentioned making out.
“I think so too. Let’s…let’s talk in private.” She glanced back as she saw Nahyuta give a warm smile and pat the dragons on the shoulder with another thanks.
