Page 22 of Exquisite Monster
“Why did they do it?”
Gleym sighed. “Is it really so important?”
“You were an Elder,” I said. “Which means you are powerful. And though they are cruel, the Elders did not seem like ones who would squander any power they could keep close.”
She took a long breath in and released one just as long. “I am the dragon who gave knowledge of scalefire to the humans. I believed they should have the means to protect themselves. You are such… delicate creatures. And though we were at peace, I sensed how unbalanced the relations were.
“Those I gifted the knowledge to were scholars and scientists. There were limitations placed. I trusted that they would not misuse it. I was clearly wrong, and I have paid for it many times over.”
I swore that my heart stilled in shock. That wasn’t what I had expected her to say. At all.
“And you well know how the Elders feel about that decision. Once the humans betrayed us and we were at war, they felt they could no longer trust me. It was an ambush. Though they could not command me, they could overpower me, and they did. Clipped my wings and cast me into Evrítha. I have been here ever since.”
It explained why she knew so much about the craft of potions. And weaponry. Surely more than she had already taught me. Because teaching had always been her purpose.
“You are teaching me,” I said. “In spite of that.”
She inclined her head. “Yes, I am. But I have not taught you the art of scalefire, or how to protect yourself against a dragon’s flames.” Then she smirked. “Though I suppose you don’t really need that bit.”
“No, but others might.” That must be the secret both Andaros and Craisos kept. Not some magic that clung to the royal family, just a long-guarded secret from before humans hated dragons.
It was an easy way to keep people loyal to you. If you were the only ones who could withstand dragonfire, then of course you should be the ones to rule and protect the people from that same dragonfire.
“Scalefire,” I said slowly. I knew of it, but I didn’t know how itworked. “How does it kill so quickly?”
Gleym didn’t look amused. “Do you really think I will make that mistake again?”
“I took a vow never to intentionally harm a dragon,” I reminded her.
“And as you well know, human vows mean very little when they are not binding. And in this case, I am glad. I don’t think you’ll make it out of this without harming a dragon. But I will not teach it again. There are other ways to fight my kind without burning them to ash in the space of ten breaths.”
I swallowed. That was… dire. Though I’d heard of it, I never saw it used. Now I was glad.
“Isn’t there a risk of the knowledge spreading, since those in Craisos already know it?”
Gleym smirked. “The single thing that allows human greed to work in our favor. And a little deception. There is but one human who knows, and when I taught them, I informed them that if it spread, the recipe would no longer work. It would turn on them. They were instructed to pass it on only when their death was imminent.”
“They never experimented anyway?”
She shrugged. “Perhaps. But you humans are so devastatingly fragile. And your desperation for life overcomes all other things, does it not? Or you would not be here. From what I know of the world, the secret has not spread.”
Good. The last thing we needed was every kingdom in Viria producing something that could wipe out the Eastern half of the continent in one go. “Teach me how to neutralize it.”
She looked up sharply. “What?”
“It is said that the royals of Craisos are immune to fire. Am I to believe it is not because you provided that protection as well?”
Golden eyes observed me through narrow slits. I was tempting her beast, and I was unsure how far I could push. But this needed to be said.
“It’s not my goal to kill dragons. Yes, I am angry. Yes, I want the Elders to pay for what they’ve done and to leave humans alone. But it is not my goal to exterminate your kind. If anything, I will be on the dragon side of this conflict.” She didn’t protest, so I surged forward. “You’re training me to survive, and I thank you for it. Why not train me to help save those who might need it?”
Silence hovered in the air, the only sound the faint roaring of water andVarí’stail as it whipped back and forth over the table’s surface.
“There is no way to neutralize it. A human protected fromdragonfire is one thing. Protecting a dragon from scalefire is different. It isn’t possible.”
“You already made me commit that healing potion to memory.”
She scoffed. “That’s hardly the only one.”
