Page 31 of The Arrival of the Dragons

“It was that funny?”

She wiped her eyes. “Only because I know Marban, and I’ve never seen him so…real.”

“Real?”

“He was having a good time. Wally was able to call him on his shit and he didn’t get offended by it. Wally, evidently, has that right,” she explained. “He seemed… I don’t know. So different.”

“He’s complicated.”

“He is.”

They sat in companionable silence for long moments. Caden felt like he’d been scrapped clean of all the toxic anger. It was a relief. And Rose made him feel himself again. She was such a good friend.

And what about your other good friend? Landry? She’s in jail.

Caden felt his stomach tightening. He had to go see her if he could. He knew that people did stupid things. Hadn’t he just proved that tonight? He had to make sure she knew that he still loved her and would do whatever he could to help her.

“I think… I think Iolaire should go to the Below, and we should have the press find out about it,” Caden said suddenly. “And then we should have a plan to show people everywhere that those in the Below are just like them, and should be treated just like them.”

“That’s a pretty tall order.” But though her words were slightly negative, her tone wasn’t and her expression was thoughtful. She turned towards him. “What’s with the ‘we’ business? Are you going all royal we on me and will no longer speak in the singular?”

He snorted. “Truthfully, since it is me and Iolaire together, it iswe. But I was thinking ofweas in you and me figuring this out.”

“Ah,” she said simply and nothing more, but he could tell from her expression that she was both gratified and a little nervous.

He didn’t blame her for the latter. He was way nervous. He had no idea what he was doing. Or more like, he only had the slightest idea that was full of earnest hope.

“I should go home and apologize to my parents,” he finally said. “Come with me? Tilly’s grounded so she’d love to have you sleepover. We can walk together to Wally’s tomorrow for work.”

She blinked, still clearly stunned at being welcome in his home. “Uhm, yeah, sure, that sounds good to me.”

“Great.”

He got up and offered her a hand. She took it. They were both still sticky. He grabbed the pie and it wasn’t because he was fearful that she would eat it all on the way back. Well, mostly not because of that.

“Caden, when you apologize to your folks,” she paused and bit her lip.

“It’s okay. I want to hear your advice. Unfiltered Rose.”

She waved a hand through the air even as she smiled before becoming very serious, “Be certain about what you’re sorry about. Don’t apologize for what you really think. Apologize for the way you said it, but notwhatyou said. Not if you believe it. Because it’ll just bubble up and explode again. You and your folks can be honest with one another and still love one another.”

He nodded. “Told you. Unfiltered Rose is the best Rose.”

She tossed back her head and laughed. “Oh, I have far better things to show you. Just you wait!"

SHEEP'S CLOTHING

Valerius sat upon his throne and brooded. Chione, who stood beside him, one delicate hand on the back of his throne, would have been the only one in that room to know he was in a fouler mood than normal. Tez, Illarion and even Esme knew him as a dour king in general. They had not truly seen how different he was around Caden and Iolaire. But, then again, waiting on the Red Dragon Queen Mei was enough to annoy anyone, especially when she was making a procession through Reach with her droids.

A screen had been set up so all could watch as she paraded through Reach with herwondrouscreations. The streets were lined with his people. Close ups of the faces of the children showed only wonder for the droids similar to those they saw in movies likeIron Man, except there were no human beings riding within them. They were completely mechanical and all under Mei’s sole control. There were lines upon lines of them walking in lockstep all along the parade route while Mei smiled demurely, giggled behind one hand, and waved the other at the star-struck crowd.

She was a beautiful woman with long black hair and delicate features. She pretended in public to still be the school girl that she had been when she joined with her Spirit. She completely hid her masterful mind and her lightning quick temper. It was said that she had executed so many Councillors that none dare take the job any longer. Failure was not tolerated by Mei. Disagreeing with her was not tolerated. Disobedience of any form was not tolerated. She might not have camps like Illarion did, but her people were under as much of an iron hand as his were. But the public outside of her territory did not see this.

“Doesn’t Dragon Queen Mei look juststunningin that Chinese style dress?” one reporter gushed. “That lovely dark blue tunic with white piping at the sleeves and an aqua skirt was handmade by these little old ladies in a small village just for her. They were tribute! And she’s got the cutest shoes to match her top!”

“Not to say the dress isn’t beautiful and well-made but it is so nice to see one of the Dragon Shifters dress so… down to earth?” another reporter suggested.

The first bobbed her head rather like a marionette. “Indeed it is!”

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