Page 35 of The Arrival of the Dragons

“It will be interesting to meet her, I guess,” Caden said with a deep sigh and Valerius reached over to the empty part of the bed again as if he could touch Caden’s arm and link their hands together. “But I miss you. I can’t wait until they’re gone and it’s just the two of us again.”

Valerius smiled softly. “Neither can I.”

Simi’s voice drew him back to the present as he boomed, “Dragon King Valerius, do I have your permission to allow the Red Dragon Queen Mei to enter the throne room?”

Valerius let out another sigh before answering, “Let her in."

STORIES

Earlier...

Caden stood by the windows of Wally’s shop watching the crowds mill about the square after the Red Dragon Queen Mei’s procession had passed. He hadn’t been able to see her and had only glimpsed the mechanical soldiers. The Claw had arranged for there to be a clear area through the square’s center while the crowd had pressed all around it, including against the shop’s windows. Yet Caden hadfelther.

He’d been folding t-shirts with Valerius’ precious face upon them as there were no customers in the store during the parade–a calm before the storm in a way–and manfully resisting rubbing his cheek against the face when the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He dropped the t-shirt and turned towards the shop windows as if in a trance. All he could see were the butts and backs of the viewers. But he slowly stepped towards the glass until his nose was practically pressed against it.

“Caden?” Rose was suddenly beside him. “What are you doing? Don’t attract those people here. I’m just catching my breath.”

“It’s Mei,” Caden said softly.

Rose looked outside, clearly saw only the press of butts, and turned back to him with a frown. “How do you know?”

“The television will give you a better view!” Wally called.

Their boss was sitting in Landry’s usual stool. He had the television above the cash register on. It usually showed specials but now aired on one of the cable news networks. It showed the parade. It actually showed the outside of the shop. And right now, Mei was standing in the middle of the square.

A dozen of the Faithful were approaching her in their white robes. Each of them were carrying peonies. His mother was out there. His mother had explained that peonies in Chinese culture represented nobility, wealth, honor, feminine beauty, innocence and charm. On the television, the head of the Faith was bowing as he offered the armful of delicate flowers to Mei, who was all smiles and graciousness. She accepted the flowers and held them to her breast for a moment, drawing in their deep scent, before she handed them to one of her soldiers. The soldier tossed each of the blooms into the air so that when they came down, they were easily caught by children in the crowd. There were cries of joy and claps of amazement.

“She certainly knows how to work a crowd,” Wally admitted reluctantly.

Caden turned back towards the window. Iolaire’s ears were flickering. The Spirit wasn’t afraid of Mei, but Iolaire wasn’t as excited as it had been meeting Tez or Esme. Iolaire’s reaction to Illarion had been lessintense.

“What’s wrong, Caden?” Rose put her hand on his right forearm.

“Iolaire is reacting to Mei,” Caden admitted.

“How?” Rose frowned. “Freaked out?”

“No, just wary. Iolaire is sitting sort of back, tail curled around its feet and--” He saw Rose staring at him like he was insane. “What?”

“Youseeyour Spirit. That’s still soweirdto me,” Rose said with a shake of her head.

“That’s weird?” He was a little hurt.

She thumped his back. “Yes, but cool. I guess it’s just another Dragon Shifter thing.”

“Mei does not seem to be aware of you, Caden. Thankfully,” Wally said as he gestured to Mei’s procession moving on. Though, at the last moment, she turned her head and seemed to look directly into the camera and at him, but then she was smiling and continuing on.

“What do you know about Mei, Wally?” Caden asked as he turned away from the milling crowd. The people would be in the shop any second and then talking about anything–let alone Mei–would be off the table.

They were short-handed with Landry behind bars so it was sure to be a scrum. His parents hadn’t agreed to let Tilly come and work in the shop because of her punishment even when both he and his sister had pleaded. They couldn’t ask Marban to continue to work at the shop. He was a little more important than that. Plus with the Dragons coming to the city–not to mention Iolaire’s reveal–business was brisker than ever.

Despite all of these hardships, Caden rather thought that his pleas for Tilly to work had actually made his parentslessagreeable. Neither of his parents were really speaking to him at the moment. His father was shut up in his study, and his mother had answered him with one word responses as she made breakfast for everyoneexcepthim.

They can’t stay mad forever. He grimaced.But they are likely expecting an apology from me, which I can give as tohowI spoke to them, but not about what I said. So things are going to be a little frosty for a while.

“You think I know secrets about the great Red Dragon Queen Mei?” Wally chuckled, turning around on the stool, and pulling Caden from his gloomy thoughts.

“Something tells me from that chuckle that you do,” Rose pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

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