Page 5

CENTRAL TERRITORY

I t was the youngest of the Matriarchs who was at his family’s door. The one that was closest to his sister’s age. Her hands were gripped behind her and she was swinging back and forth as if nervous and needing to burn off some of the excess energy that filled her. Her patterned red dress flared out with every movement. She was also scrunching her toes against the bottom of her sandals.

He wondered if she was a little cold in High Reach where despite the days being warm, the interior of the castle was always cool. Maybe that was why she moved rather than nervousness. After all, she was a Matriarch, no matter how young, and he was… well, him.

“Hello,” Caden said with a smile. “I heard you were looking for me.”

Her large dark eyes were fixed upon his face. That smile had her swaying pausing for a moment. “Hello. Yes, the Queen wishes to meet with you, King Caden.”

Again with the “King Caden”. The swaying started again but then jerked to a halt as she did a half curtsey to him, which had him feeling both touched and uncomfortable at the same time.

“You don’t need to do that,” he told her with a wave of his hand.

Her already large eyes widened and there was another half sway. “Why not?”

He wasn’t expecting such a direct question. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out at first. Why not? Good question. Because he wasn’t worthy of being curtseyed to by anyone? Well, that was arguable.

Iolaire was worthy to be sure. Maybe simply being one of nine beings who ruled the world was reason enough for curtseying? That could be. It was the honor of the post instead of the person. He could accept that. So maybe he should get used to it. Maybe he would. Tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the day after that. But not right now.

“Because it makes me feel uncomfortable,” he confessed to her with a one shouldered shrug. “I’d rather you just called me Caden.”

She considered this, not swaying, and then nodded. “Okay, Caden. I’m Dahab.”

“That’s a pretty name,” he said with another smile.

She nodded, reminding him of Tilly in that moment so strongly despite her being a Matriarch. “It means gold.”

His eyebrows rose. “Very cool.”

Another nod. “Will you come?”

“Yes, of course. Lead the way.” Caden closed the door behind him and followed after her down the hallway. “I have a sister about your age.”

“Yes!” Dahab’s big eyes twinkled with delight. “I have researched everything about you and your family.”

Caden blinked. “Everything? And ah… before or after you got here?”

How many people knew he was the White Dragon Shifter before he announced himself? Was there anyone who didn’t know? He was starting to wonder if his identity had ever been a secret. At all. To anyone but maybe the person on the street. But it did make sense that someone like Queen Jahara would know who he was. Like Rose had said there were countless cellphones and the cameras in the square that day. Some of those had undoubtedly caught him in the act, so to speak.

But Dahab did not confirm when she had found out about him, instead she proved that Queen Jahara could have known within minutes of him becoming the Ninth Dragon Shifter. She listed off the ages of his parents, their resumes, when they met, when they married, what they did in their free time, and more. Then, with incredible zeal, she spoke about Tilly. About where his sister went to school, her friends, hobbies, grades, favorite music and more. Caden blinked a lot.

“You know, Dahab, if you didn’t seem so nice, I might think you were a stalker,” he teased her, although he was a little unnerved by everything she knew!

She lowered her head. “I am sorry. The Queen has told me not to investigate people who I shouldn’t. And if I do investigate them... not to tell.”

Caden laughed. “I think Queen Jahara might be right. Though…” He looked down at her. She was hardly five feet tall. “I’m impressed by all you know. You must be quite something with the net.”

She smiled up at him winsomely. “When I found out you had a sister near my age I had to know everything! She has kind eyes.”

“Oh? A fan of Tilly’s, are you? That shows wisdom!” Caden then colored. “You are one of Queen Jahara’s advisors so I guess you must already be wise.”

That smile grew. “Queen Jahara believes that one must listen to many voices to find the best and truest way forward.”

Caden considered this. “So that’s why she has you who are young and then some of those great-grandmothers too as her Matriarchs?”

She nodded. “Though I am not a true Matriarch as I am not the head of my family and being a greater age than my own thirteen years is needed to bear that title. But Queen Jahara says that the voice of youth is often overlooked. Our passion and sometimes black and white thinking are seen as naive in many eyes. But while there is some truth in that, youth can sometimes see things far more clearly than those who are jaded by experience.”

“And maybe a little beaten down by failure,” Caden added with a flattening of his lips.

“Yes! You are that voice for the Dragons, you realize?” she asked.

“Uhm, I’m definitely the youngest by a long shot.” Caden nodded. He felt that trill of fear again even as Iolaire gazed at him lovingly. The weight of responsibility made him want to hide like he had been doing at Wally’s straightening werewolf hoodies and dusting Sphinx Shifter sculptures.

“The question is if you have something to say!” Dahab continued brightly, which had him dreading that responsibility even more.

“Oh, right,” he said faintly.

“We’re here!”

Dahab’s pronouncement was unnecessary as the doors were wide open to the suite where Jahara was staying. The central room had a large fire going and there were colorful pillows on the floor and more overflowing the sofas and chairs. The Matriarchs were seated everywhere, talking and laughing amongst each other. Jahara was not there however. When they caught sight of him and Dahab, there were universal gestures of welcome for them to come inside and join them.

Caden pasted a smile on his face as he felt a little overwhelmed with all those eyes upon him. While some were seemingly filled with bland disinterest, others mild intrigue and yet others with shrewd intent, he had a feeling that no matter what their outward level of interest indicated that they were all watching him carefully. Iolaire’s wings were twitching and it was making soft chirrups.

Yeah, I feel nervous, too, buddy.

A woman in middle age gestured for Caden to take a seat on a loveseat that was opposite where all of the women were sitting. He would be front and center. Caden thought about saying he’d rather stand or pretending to be Valerius and imperiously asking to speak to Jahara instantly. But he found himself sitting down with an embarrassing amount of alacrity while Dahab sat on the arm of a nearby chair. His quickness in obeying did not go unnoticed.

“He’s a polite boy,” A Matriarch with a gray stripe in her braided hair remarked. She was sewing together two bright pieces of cloth.

“And a pretty one!” Another Matriarch gave out a big belly laugh.

A Matriarch with half-moon glasses that gave off a blue-white light that accompanied phones and tablets--they must have been linked to the net--gave him a sharp look. “But has his beauty stopped him from developing his mind and his heart?”

“Aye, the pretty ones get by on those looks alone.” A Matriarch in her twenties with smooth and straight long locks tilted her head to the side. She was a beauty herself and used kohl to make her eyes appear catlike.

“I’m not that pretty!” Caden blurted out.

That had a waterfall of female laughter--though not unkind--filled the air.

“Don’t be mean!” Dahab defended him. “Caden is kind and brave! Not just pretty!”

There were murmurs of agreement, which had Caden feeling very grateful to Dahab.

One of the oldest Matriarchs in the room, her hair in short white curls, and her nutbrown face so creased with wrinkles that her eyes were nearly hidden by them said, “Kindness and bravery are always valuable, but can be crushed by experience and cruelty.”

There were more nods and murmurs of agreement. Caden, himself, knew that was true, but he wanted to hang onto both those things as long as possible. He thought they served him well and were different from what the other Dragons had to offer. Without intending to and without even realizing he was doing it, he said that outloud.

The oldest Matriarch smiled so broadly that her face became one huge wrinkle, but it was a kind face. “That is very true! And one may argue that balance above all things is necessary among the Dragons.”

Caden leaned forward, elbows on his knees, curious what these women thought about the dragons. “Do you think the Dragons need balance?”

There was more delighted laughter.

“They need many things!” The Matriarch in her twenties roared, but then she sobered, “Has not King Valerius been more active these few days you have joined with your Spirit than the last decade?”

“He doesn’t really like people,” Caden began. More trilling laughter that had Caden blushing and holding up a hand. “That came out wrong, though it is true.” Bright smiles flashed at him. “The fuller truth is that he really wants people to govern themselves like they used to.”

That had the Matriarchs falling quiet. Only the crackle and pop of the fire broke the silence.

Finally, the shrewd Matriarch with the electronic eyewear said, “But things are not as they used to be. They will never be how they used to be. Acting like they are will not make it so.”

Caden chewed his inner cheek. “I know that Queen Jahara has instituted many--and needed --changes to her territory, are you sure that every Dragon should do the same?”

“You think the other Dragons are not as wise as our great Queen? For if that is what you mean, I am well in agreement!” The Matriarch who had called him pretty remarked with another belly laugh.

He flashed a smile before becoming serious himself again. “I admire Queen Jahara hugely. I’ve read and watched so much about her. The things that she’s doing are amazing and show a mind that is looking far into the future. I can honestly say that I’m not like that. I have ideas. Some big. Some small. And I want to do things, to make things better for everyone, but what if I’m wrong? I’m no Queen Jahara.”

The sewing Matriarch gave him a smile and a nod. “Maybe we should add wise to kind and brave to describe King Caden.”

There were smiles all around and not in mirth.

“Was this a test?” He asked as he straightened up and looked at them all.

“We’re trying to take the measure of you,” the oldest Matriarch answered. “Is that a test? Or is that just revealing the truth about you?”

“So there are no right or wrong answers then?” Caden asked.

“There is only you, King Caden. Who you are. What you believe. What you wish to do. What you will do,” the Matriarch with the half-moon glasses answered.

“I’ve just decided to accept this.” Caden gestured to himself as if he were indicating something physical that had changed about him, though he still looked as he always had except for the eyeshine. “I’ve been pretending that nothing has changed since I joined with my Spirit.”

The Matriarchs listened intently.

“I know how foolish that sounds and was.” Caden let out a dry cough laugh. “But when I think about what being a Dragon Shifter means… I understand why I didn’t want to accept it. Iolaire is wonderful. Valerius is…” He rubbed his chin as a ridiculous smile crossed his face, “well, I would never change meeting him. Without all of this happening, he and I wouldn’t… Well, we wouldn’t have met.”

He stared past the Matriarchs to the dark balcony and wondered if Jahara was there, listening. He decided that it didn’t matter. Whatever he passed onto the Matriarchs would make its way to her.

“Dahab tells me that Queen Jahara sees worth in the voice of youth and inexperience,” Caden continued, which earned a grin from the youngest Matriarch. “That would definitely describe myself compared to the other Dragons. I’m just not sure I agree with her about the worth thing though.”

“Is that why you resisted your father’s efforts to get you your own territory? That you feared your inexperience meant you were not yet worthy to rule?” It was Jahara who asked those questions.

She had been out on the balcony. She drifted into view, mist encircling her like a cloak that glittered under the moonlight. The suspicion that had clouded her exquisite features was reduced, maybe even gone.

Caden stood up and faced her. “I would be worried about the person in my position who would think otherwise. I’m not being falsely humble. I’m seriously worried.”

That had Dahab racing over to him, and much like Tilly would have done, she embraced him. “Do not doubt yourself. You bring light and change.”

When they broke apart, Jahara was regarding him speculatively, more so than before.

“Dahab is wise beyond her years. Some say that she has a sort of Second Sight,” Jahara murmured then shook herself and extended a hand towards him. “Come. Join me. I would speak to you more.”

Dahab grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

So there was a test of sorts in all of this. Whether or not I am the sort of person who Jahara would take an interest in.

Caden made his way out onto the balcony. Dahab shut the balcony doors behind them so that they had some privacy. The balcony was bathed in startling moonlight. Caden tilted his head back and let it wash over his face. Iolaire did the same, churring, and imagining flying with Raziel in the moonlight.

Soon, Iolaire , Caden promised.

When he finally lowered his head and looked over at Jahara, she was leaning one hip against the stone railing and was regarding him with a half smile on her lips.

“You are not only a Dragon of ice, but of moonlight also, I think,” she said.

Caden glanced up at the moon again and felt its pull on Iolaire and him. “I think you might be right.”

“So, King Caden--”

“Caden, please,” he said and it wasn’t because he felt unsure about the title this time.

She nodded and accepted the change. “And you may call me… Jahara.”

“I have a feeling that you don’t offer that very often. Even to other Dragons,” Caden guessed.

“Right you are.” She smiled back and her smile was beautiful. Seeing it made him realize how rare that expression was on her face. “But I do not think I will regret offering the right to you.”

Caden was struck by her phrasing and the use of the word “regret”. “Lots of people have let you down.”

He didn’t make it a question, but a statement. Even if he hadn’t known how she had been betrayed by her father, a man who should have loved and protected her, not sold her, he would have felt the waves of distrust around her.

“People do that,” she answered simply.

“It’s so strange to hear you say that,” he said.

Her delicate black eyebrows rose. “Oh, why?”

“Because what you’ve done with your territory shows such… hope and belief in people,” he admitted. “It’s like seeing the beginnings of Star Trek or something realized. A federation of highly intelligent, moral people working towards common goals of improving not just the human condition, but the entire planet and beyond!”

A smile twitched her lips. “So my goals belie my cynicism?”

“Yep, or they indicate…” He stopped and bit his lower lip. “Forget it. What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Tell me what you were going to say.” She was openly interested. He wondered how long that would last after he said something.

“I just thought that maybe the goals you have set for your territory is the real you. Not the real you.” He grimaced. “The you that didn’t have so many disappointments and regrets.”

She did not look offended, but more considering. Finally, she nodded. “Yes, maybe it is what I would have been like through and through if I had not been made to regret.” Then she gave him an almost impish look. “But like you, Caden, if the bad things hadn’t happened to me I would not have joined with my Spirit and all the good that I have done would not have happened.”

“True!” Caden nodded. “Too true.” It was his turn to be impish. “So did you come here to court me?”

He expected her to snigger or let out belly laughs herself. He could not see her ever wanting him romantically. She did not do that however.

“If you mean romantically? No. But we court friends and allies and even enemies,” she told him. “Other than Illarion and likely Tez, every Dragon has come here to court you as something other than a lover. But that does not mean what we offer is any less.”

Caden blinked. “Uhm, no! I mean… no, it isn’t.”

She smiled more broadly. “Besides, you may find that you want some distance from your lover. Africa has called many to her shores. You should come and see her.”

“I would love that,” he answered truthfully. He had dreamed of seeing the futuristic cities of glass and steel that dotted Africa’s ancient terrain like jewels.

She nodded. “I think in the times ahead that she would be a safe haven for you and… others. Perhaps all others.”

Caden leaned against the railing. “What do you mean a safe haven? Do you know about the Faith and--”

“Those who seek to create more of our kind by violence?” She nodded. “I have watched them for some time.”

“Why didn’t you tell the other Dragons?” Caden asked, alarm filling him.

“Not because I am on their side, Caden,” she assured him, not seemingly offended by him suspecting her. “But because I was not certain and how can one warn about individuals one cannot identify as a threat? No, that would have led to paranoia and arrests and the creation of more unrest.”

Caden could see that. “Yeah, but do you have any ideas? Any solutions?”

She studied him for long, silent moments before finally asking, “Solutions?”

“As to how to stop them,” Caden qualified.

“I do not think they can be stopped, Caden,” she answered.

Dismay filled him. If someone as smart and forward thinking as Jahara saw no way forward who could? He burst out, “What? No, that--”

“I did not mean I did not have a solution,” she interrupted gently. “I merely have no way of stopping people from believing something they wish to. The solution I do have is controversial and some will never agree with it. But I do not need everyone to agree.”

Caden frowned. “What is it?”

“It is actually about territory . You did not want your own territory because you felt you would be standing on your own,” Jahara stated and he nodded. “The way things are now is that the Dragons are spread out. The Shifters are everywhere too. They are the lesser amount compared to humans so danger is greater. If we were to be in one territory, we could ensure far greater safety for everyone.”

Caden nearly gasped. This wasn’t anything he had expected to hear. How many times had he heard the old adage that Dragons were incredibly territorial? He’d seen Valerius’ growing annoyance with every incoming Dragon himself!

“Are you suggesting that everyone come to--”

“To my territory? To Africa?” She took in a breath as if she could not quite believe she was offering it either before finally answering, “Yes, that is exactly what I’m suggesting."