Page 17 of No Ordinary Drakeling
“Ellery, you need to really think about this. It’s going to take forever to grow it back,” Zane cautioned.
“I have never liked it. I do not plan on growing it again. Go ahead, Vylendri.”
She smiled as she brushed his hair. “I am going to put it into a ponytail, then cut it off. I can start styling it when there is less to deal with. How short did you want it? I was thinking of cutting it close to the scalp in the back but leaving it a little longer in the front. You could wear it forward or comb it away from your face. How does that sound?”
“Crazy. He’s anelf,” Zane growled.
Ignoring the snarling dragon, Ellery grinned. “I think it sounds fantastic, Vylendri.”
The bulk of Ellery’s mane hit the floor a minute later, and Zane closed his eyes while shaking his head. “I need a drink,” he muttered.
“We have a full selection of beverages,” Vylendri replied as she snipped her scissors around Ellery’s head. She’d turned him away from the mirror, so he could not see her work until it was complete.
“I doubt you have anything strong enough to help me but if you’ve got Sprite, I’d love one,” Zane responded.
Another elf in the salon hustled over to a fridge and handed Zane a can which he popped open and drank half of in a single gulp.
“I want dragon clothes too.”
“Of course you do. I don’t know why I thought this would be an easy day,” Zane retorted. “I’ll make some calls. I think you should get some elven stuff too.”
Ellery thought it over. He did not want to be an elf any longer, but he could not hide his pointy ears. “I guess so.”
“No one expects you to give up your elven identity,” Zane said.
“I am not Fen-Lynthi any longer, and I do not intend to pretend that I am. I have not been able to embrace the other side of me yet. I would like to. I want to be proud to be a dragon.”
“Okay, but you should know that Chrys has always had a thing for elves. I guess some part of him may have known Fate would pair him with one. He’s not going to be thrilled that you want short hair or that you aren’t going to be wearing elven attire.”
“I do not want to displease anyone, but I need to be true to myself. While it might take me awhile to figure out what it means to be a dragon, I do not want to ignore that half of me.”
Zane sipped his Sprite after a nod, and Ellery sat there forever before Vylendri led him over to a sink. Whatever was left on his head was washed and conditioned while he did his best to ignore her fingers on his scalp. He supposed one hundred years of only having his mother’s hugs or other affectionate gestures and being told not to allow others to touch him was not going to be easy to overcome. When she was done, Vylendri led him over to his chair. The only magic elves had was an ability to dry their bodies and hair almost instantaneously. It took no words to cast it, and the moisture disappeared.
“Let me style this, and I will let you see it,” Vylendri said.
“It’s so short,” Zane lamented.
Vylendri and Ellery ignored him; then she took a step away. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
She turned the chair, and Ellery grinned into the mirror. His hair was combed away from his face, and he raised a hand to run it over the back which was clipped so the tips felt almost rough against his fingertips.
“This is wonderful. Thank you so much, Vylendri. I love it.” At its longest point, Ellery guessed it was no more than two or three inches. It was ideal, and he couldn’t be happier with it.
“It is going to grow fast, so you will want to come and see me soon for a trim. Here’s my card,” Vylendri said and he gratefully took it from her.
Zane paid her as Ellery didn’t have a clue how to do it and had zero money to speak of even if he did. Ellery thanked her again; then they left and headed to the car.
“Okay, I got us an appointment with a shop that claims it can handle regular attire as well as elven,” Zane informed him once the vehicle came to another stop.
“Wonderful.”
“You’re going to need a lot of it, so don’t be shy about picking stuff. You don’t want me selecting it—I wear mostly black with white dress shirts. I have no taste.”
Ellery’s eyes widened in alarm. “You think I have any idea about clothing and colors? I did not even get to pick the color of what I am wearing. It was the only material I could get in a trade.”
They got out of the car and walked into the shop; then Zane replied, “So let’s keep it simple. Chrys is a black dragon. Pick stuff with that color, plenty of gold, and maybe some green for your eyes.”
