Page 31 of The Dragon Shifters' Enemy
“You like lamb,” Valerius said helpfully.
“Yes, when it's cooked over a fire and seasoned with salt, pepper, rosemary and lemon!Not when it’s still bleating.I felt so bad for the little sheep.They were so cute.And Iolaire and Raziel treated them like--like Dragon toys,” Caden said as he straightened up slowly, seeing if anything was going to come up, when it was not he breathed a sigh of relief.
“They do enjoy playing with their food,” Valerius agreed.
The Dragons had chased the poor creatures up and down the pasture until the sheep were incapable of running any longer.They had then eaten a few more before agreeing to leave.
“They’re a bit like cats, you know?Real predators, but easily amused by colorful moving objects.” Caden’s gaze went to the low sprawling home.“Speaking of pretty things to look at. It really does look like something out of the movie, but made of stone instead of wood and… well,better.”
The structure was mostly on one level, but there were a few towers that rose up at strategic spots.Most of it though was covered outside spaces.There were over a dozen fire pits situated around the estate with graceful, low chairs with plump cushions to sit upon.There were views of sunset and sunrise.Places to read by the waterfall.Balconies to contemplate the vastness of the mountains he and Raziel had raised from the bare earth.There was a double-decker library stuffed with first editions.In the main house, there was only a single massive bed as he was the only one that came here.Staff stayed in a rather palatial home all their own.A helicopter ferried people and supplies back and from Reach. It was the most private space he had.
Warmed by Caden’s compliment, Valerius admitted, “I did base it off Rivendell, specifically the Peter Jackson movies.”
“You did!I knew it!”Caden spun around, eyes full of affection and mirth.“Why didn’t you want to say that?”
Valerius considered this. He felt exposed.He felt like the hope from the early days was showing in this house.Hope he had set aside after only three decades. “Because it’s foolish.”
“Being able to create your own Homely House isnotfoolish!It’s amazing!”Caden beamed. He frowned though and put his hands on his bare hips and regarded the place critically.“But I’ve never heard of this place!The press should have been all over this.Architectural Digestwould love to do an expose or whatever it's called.Why doesn’t anyone know about it?Or did I somehow miss it?”
“No one knows, because I’ve kept it secret,” Valerius explained.“There are no roads in or out.You can only get here by helicopter or Dragon. And the press steers clear of the Gray Mountains.I’ve made it clear that this is a no-fly zone at all times.”
Caden looked doubtful.“The press isn’t known for listening to stuff like that.The more secret something is, the more laser focused they are on it.”
“Sometimes, yes.But, surely, you have heard of the Gray Mountains and the lore behind them?”Valerius lifted his eyebrows.
“Well, yeah, ghost stories, but they are not real!”Caden laughed, but then he narrowed his eyes.“They aren’t real, right?”
Valerius smiled.“Walk with me.I want to show you the grounds and then we can get into the hot springs by the waterfall.”
Caden’s eyes got huge.“There’s a hot spring by a waterfall?”
Valerius grinned.“Raising the earth has consequences, some of which are quite pleasant.”
“So we can go in the waterfall and get cold then jump into the hotsprings to relax and--”
“Yes, Caden.We can even have some food brought to us,” Valerius said.
Caden looked a little green.“I don’t know.I still tastewool…”
“It will wear off,” Valerius assured him.“Next time, you might even enjoy the taste of sheep tartar.”
Caden gave a dramatic shiver.“No thanks! Now tell me about why the press stays away from the Gray Mountains and take me to the hot springs!”
Valerius slid an arm around Caden’s shoulders.“Bossy.”
“I am King Caden, after all,” Caden replied archly.
“You are indeed.”Valerius kissed his temple.
Valerius led Caden over to the beginnings of the garden.All the flowers within it were pure white.He thought of Iolaire’s pearlescent, white scales and wondered if he hadn’t been subconsciously thinking of the White Dragon Spirit on some level before he’d ever met Caden and Iolaire.
“The Gray Mountains were the first mountain range I raised in my territory,” Valerius said.
“Yeah, they taught us that at school.You lifted up the earth and everybody screamed and then humanity knew it had to give up.”Caden shrugged.“I assumed that was propaganda.”
“It wasn’t,” Valerius said softly.“There used to be a military base where we’re standing.Well, not exactly here.It was much lower down.”
Caden’s eyebrows rose.“Really?A--”
