Chapter 53: Roxanne

Friends.
I want to kill him as badly as I wanted to that first day. It's the day after we became such great friends and I'm running the tower stairs to get such thoughts from my mind. A friend is a good thing. It is! I've run six-hundred and twenty-seven stairs and I've yet to convince myself.
He told me before that he wished us to be friends. I didn't know how badly the word would hurt.
Damn dragon.
"Bride of Uncle Laryn, what are you doing?"
I'm so startled I miss a step and bang my shin. "Damn, ouch, darn..." I cut off the rest of my tirade because it's more frustration with Ashrac's uncle than actual pain. "What are you doing here, Ashrac?" I try to temper my question. From the look in his eyes I failed.
"I wished to visit you." His lips tremble and I instantly regret my less-than-pleasant tone. I sit on the stair that jumped up and bit me and rub my shin. "Please shift to your human form and sit down to tell me what you're up to today."
He doesn't shift or sit, which surprises me not at all. Dragons don't do well with orders. "My father has gone to the earth realm in search of a great prize. He says a man without morals has it and he must rescue it so he may treat it as the treasure it is."
I know exactly what treasure he speaks of. The evening before, I wasn't sure how to handle the "friend" bit of information Laryn came up with, so I stewed. Over dinner, Laryn went on and on about a chalice that Bastian covets. I managed not to laugh and point out that Laryn covets it more. I heard endless details of Bastian's search and how he thinks he might have a viable lead. It will serve my best friend right if he cannot find the treasure before Bastian.
Ashrac breaks into my bitchy musing. "Why are you running up and down the stairs?"
I rein in my temper so Ashrac doesn't think poorly of me. "I do it to build strength in my legs."
He contemplates this for a moment, his wings slowly flapping to keep him in the same place. "What of your puny arms. Do they not need exercise?"
I must bite my lip in order not to laugh. Typical man child. "My arms are not puny, but if you think so, you may wager your train set for the piece of jewelry that I stole." I finger the blue gem at my throat. Laryn likes it and it will serve the dragon right when Ashrac flies away with it. I would never damage his ego by winning.
The child spends no time at all thinking about it. "What have you in mind?"
"There are wooden swords in my room. If I knock yours away, I win. If you knock mine away, you win." He has the impudence to roll his red eyes. Even though he's a child, it's more irritating while he's in dragon form and reminds me too much of my blue-eyed devil.
His chest puffs out a bit. "Then your great jewel is already mine because I will defeat you."
He makes it harder for me to choose losing.
Ten minutes later, I'm fighting for my life. Of course they're wooden swords, but his intent is clear. The little heathen knows how to handle a weapon. And he's strong.
"Who trains you, Ash?"
"Uncle Laryn. These are my swords that he had made for me. You have the room that he gave to me when I was a child. I told him you could use it while you're alive."
Oh, that's right. I'm facing a kid who looks like he's eight but is actually older in human years. I'm guessing that's why a collection of boy clothes are in the bottom of my clothing chest. Before we began today's wager, I gave Ashrac a set so we didn't need to fight with him unclothed. Laryn flapping around in all his glory is one thing. A small boy quite another.
Ashrac catches me daydreaming and my sword goes flying. This is what I get for thinking I'm more sword savvy than an eight year old dragon.
He crosses his sword down in front of his legs and bows. I can do nothing but smile. "Will you hold this, kind sir, while I untie the jewel you have fairly won?"
"Yes, my lady," he replies and takes my offered sword. I reach behind my throat and untie the leather. He peers closely at it as if I might have switched it for a lesser jewel. "Thank you, my lady, for a brave challenge."
"You are welcome, sir. Can you stay for cookies?"
Longing replaces haughtiness. Then his expression changes to contrition. "I should not leave my mother for so long, but I will return tomorrow or the next day and you may serve me cookies."
I am so glad that Laryn never expects me to serve anything other than my body. I feel my cheeks flush at the thought and must bring my thoughts back to Ashrac. "I will see you then."
I feel better, and I whistle as I search out Laryn.
He looks up from the desk in his rooms and drops a map. "Did you have a good visit with my devious nephew?"
There are so many things we haven't discussed and his uncanny ability to know everything happening around him is one of them. "Very. How did you know he was here?" I rub my bare neck hoping he notices.
He says nothing about the missing jewel if he does. "I feel when another dragon crosses into my realm. Ash's imprint is very small, but if I'm not greatly involved in a task, I know when he's here." Laryn scoots back a bit from the desk and pats his knee.
With my improved mood I don't mind. I walk around and sit. My heartbeat accelerates. He smells so good. I know I'm still sweaty from running the stairs and the mock swordfight. Laryn doesn't seem to mind as he kisses my neck. I'm quite the devious bride. I pick up the map and with a loud sigh, I ask, "Would you show me where the earth realm is located?"
I receive a less than gentle nip. "You want..." another nip, "to know where a realm is located?" He's barely paying attention to me.
"Yeeeeees." I draw out the word. "Ashrac says his father went there to find a great treasure from a man without morals."
In the next instant I'm staring up from the floor at the shocked look on Laryn's face. "You tell me this now, bride? When did Bastian leave?" Laryn starts pacing while never taking his angry eyes from me.
I ungracefully come to my feet and place my hands on my hips. "My friend wished to play at swords. When a friend wants to play, you take care of their needs. What would you have me say to a friend?"
He peers at me like I've lost my mind. My words travel right over his huge, dumb head. "Did you think to ask when Bastian left?" He pulls his fingers through his hair in frustration, which goads me.
I answer in the sweetest voice I can muster, "I asked my friend all sorts of questions during our sword fight."
Red is creeping up Laryn's throat and I know he's a little more than irritated. "Well, bride, what have you learned?"
I give up. His skull is too thick. He hasn't a clue that I'm angry. I tell him everything I know about the chalice.
My empty-headed dragon hugs me thirty minutes later. "Sleep in my rooms. Sarn would not dare enter the castle to steal you. If he does, you know what to do." He plants a deep kiss on my lips. "I promise to take you to earth's realm another day. I must fly quickly and navigate earth stealthily. You're sure you will be okay?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Go find your chalice."