A Dragon's Tale Ch. 28

If that's what Kendra was feeling like all the time...

He looked at her.

She only met his gaze for a moment before looking away pointedly, clearing not wanting to speak to him, or even look at him. He wished he could do something to help her, and he previously had no idea what she had been going through. She had tried to kill them, but had apologized and probably saved their lives on the dock the previous night.

Honestly, he wasn't sure what to make of her now.

After bonding to his other wives, he'd felt a sudden rush of attraction to them. He didn't feel that for her, but he could definitely feel his attitude towards her softening. It wasn't attraction though. Not that she was unattractive -- she wasn't -- but he definitely wasn't wanting to tear her clothes off either. It was more like sympathy; a sense of understanding about what made her tick that made it much harder to dislike her.

"Kendra." He said softly.

"What!?" She snapped back without looking at him, but then her tone softened to merely one with an edge. "What?"

"I'm sorry we had to bond; I know you don't like dragons, and I don't blame you."

Her head snapped up and there was an accusation in her eyes. "You 'don't blame me'. Why?"

"When we bonded, I got a glimpse of..." He trailed off as the look in her eyes when from accusatory to enraged.

Her volume rose. "Stay out of my head you motherfu--"

"Kendra!" Taloni interrupted sharply.

Everyone else looked at her in shock. He had never heard her raise her tone like that to reprove anyone.

Ever.

Not even once.

Suddenly the Fey looked bashful. "Um, Kendra, please don't talk to master that way."

"Besides." Rachel added wearily from her seat on the floor. "Didn't you get a glimpse of him when you bonded too?"

The dragon huntress nodded in concession, hanging her head as she finished. Ethan felt like such a sucker for what he felt next, but he wanted to comfort the dragon huntress. He wasn't sure why -- the new bond probably -- but he wanted to. He couldn't decide how to feel about that.

*Master, you might want to tell your other wives.* Taloni suggested.

He nodded, then thought to all his wives. *Lady Ekthros just forced me to bond with Kendra by threatening to do horrible things to Taloni if we didn't.*

Silence.

Shock.

Confusion.

He felt all of these for several seconds before either of his first two wives replied.

*What?* Alana seemed to be in shock. *She... she what?*

*But how did she...* Beth trailed off, bewilderment all over his bond with her.

He explained, and then added. *And I think I forgot to tell you earlier, but Rachel gave me some of her deep mana last night to save my life, and she still had some of mine left in her, so...*

More silence.

More shock.

More confusion.

*Five?* His first wife near whispered mentally. *You have five wives now?*

*Wow.* Beth echoed.

*Yeah, sorry.* He replied. *I'm definitely not sorry about Rachel, but Kendra...*

*Please don't say that master.* Taloni looked sad. *She really is a wonderful person.*

He didn't answer.

He didn't know what to say.

His glimpse into who Kendra really was had been highly illuminating. Frankly the fact that she'd been able to get over her hatred of dragons long enough to stop trying to kill him was impressive. The fact that she had apologized was even more impressive, and spoke volumes about her character.

*How did Kendra take it?* Alana asked after a few moments.

*Not well. I could actually feel how much she disliked me; I mean, feel in in her mana. It was sharp; biting even.*

*Her hatred for dragons must run deep then.* Beth mused.

*Yeah.* He nodded and then his gaze fell on Rachel.

The mage was still sitting on the floor, still looking completely exhausted. Her deep mana was still low, which was probably why she hadn't chimed in much. He pulled himself to his feet, went over to her, and sat down next to her.

"Hey, how you holding up?"

"As well as can be expected I guess." She yawned, then shrugged. "You were just talking to the others, weren't you?"

He nodded, then lowered his voice to a whisper. "You know, you could probably try to join in now that we're bonded."

She nodded. "I would, but this collar makes it damn near impossible to move my mana around." She touched the leather collar on her neck that their captors had put there.

"We need to get it off of you then." He frowned, and popped out the claw on his index finger.

"Not sharp enough." The mage replied, looking like she wanted nothing more than a long nap.

"Hmm, maybe I could enchant it to be sharp enough?" He whispered in case there were guards about.

"May..." The redhead yawned. "Maybe."

She looked truly exhausted and her eyelids were drooping. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. He'd noticed before, but it was like someone had put a soft focus filter on her; she looked amazing. Amazingly tired, but amazing.

"What?" She asked.

"You're beautiful Rachel."

She got a dopey smile on her face. "Really?"

"Really really." He replied, trying and failing to do a good impression of 'Shrek'.

She smiled.

Ethan considered for a moment and then reached out, putting his arm around her shoulder and giving her a gentle pull towards him. She resisted for only a moment before leaning up against him, both of their backs against the cell bars. She laid her head down on his shoulder and completely relaxed into him.

"I'm..." She yawed again. "...I'm just going to rest my eyes a minute. Then I'll..." Another yawn. "...I'll..."

He leaned over and gently kissed her on the forehead. "Sleep."

"Yes m' lor..." She never finished her sentence, but dropped off to sleep on his shoulder not long afterwards. He smiled. Tired though he was, it felt really go to have Rachel relax into him like that.

*Master, look at Kendra.* Taloni thought to him.

He did and saw a strange expression on the dragon huntress's face. It was some combination of disgust and longing. He raised an eyebrow, but she just looked away.

Was she really that lonely?

* * *

"So let me get this straight." Selene said trying in vain to wrap her head around the concept. "You're telling me that you don't mind that your father justliterally sold you into marriage. What you mind is that he didn't sell you for a high enough price?"

Sarah sniffled, then nodded. "How would you know what you're worth to your husband unless you know how much he's willing to pay for you?"

The Brazilian woman opened her mouth to respond, worked it for a moment, and then closed it. "I don't even know how tobegin answering that."

The girl laid back down on her bed, her eyes still a little puffy and red from crying earlier. The room was so small that Selene could stand next to the bed and touch all four walls. Despite that, it really was well decorated. There were fresh flowers on the windowsill, the blankets had a pretty pattern sown into them with yarn, and a very small painting of a woman who looked like her mother sat on the chest were she kept her clothes.

"But, why would you want to marry a man who would literally buy you?" She finally said.

"Why would I want to marry a man who wasn't willing to pay for me?" Sarah countered. "I mean, if he doesn't want me enough to pay for me, why would I want him?"

Selene stared.

There was so much wrong with that statement that she didn't even know where to begin. "What if your father sold you to a horrible man?"

"Betrothed." Sarah replied. "He didn't sell me, he betrothed me. And Rindrin isn't so bad. He's a little gruff but he's honest and a good man." She looked down and mumbled something that Selene didn't catch.

"What was that?"

Sarah glanced at her and then looked down again. "My father got me the best husband that he could." She smiled faintly. "He's good that way."

Selene's jaw dropped.

"You father betrothed you to a man who outright said he only wanted you to be a housekeeper and have kids, and he wants another wife later!" Selene replied, trying to keep her temper in check.

"I hope she's nice." The girl said, hiding her face with her hair. "I would hate sharing a husband with another wife if she was mean."

Selene took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Only if she was mean?"

The girl nodded.

"You don't mind your husband marrying another woman as long as she nice?" The ex-FBI agent asked incredulously.

Of course not." Sarah looked at her, confused. "Illuminar -- blessed be He -- said that men could have multiple wives. Who am I to disagree with the God of Light? Besides, it might be nice to have another woman around to help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and such. And if she was really nice, we could be like close friends; even sisters." She sighed. "I always wanted some sisters."

"Okaaaaaay." The Brazilian woman finally said, realizing that she wouldn't be able to change the girl's mind.

Sarah smiled, then her face fell again. "I hope I'll be a good wife."

"I'm sure you will be." She replied, not adding that she doubted this Rindrin would be a good husband.

"Will you be there, at my wedding?" Sarah asked hopefully. "I don't know when it will be, but I'd like you to be there. You're my only friend and I'd really like to have a maid of honor. Would you do it? Please??"

"I... I would be honored." Selene replied, not having the heart to say no.

However, she did think a word with that blacksmith was in order. Maybe putting the fear of God into him would help make the girl's marriage a little less miserable.

* * *

Kendra sat in the far corner of the cell wishing that she was anywhere but here. Literally anywhere. The depths of Saidow's liar sounded nice, or perhaps a nice torture chamber. Her emotions were a whirlwind of contradictory things and she wasn't sure how she could possibly separate them out enough to start dealing with them.

She was married.

She had never thought it would happen and previously had dearly wished that it would, but now she dearly wished it hadn't. She shuddered as she thought about spending the rest of her life tied to an animal. Okay, Ethan wasn'tactually an animal, but he was a dragon and that was almost worse. She resisted the urge to shudder again.

She sat there silently fuming at not only that, but also at the threats made against Taloni. Given the chance, she was ready to literally tear Lady Ekthros limb fromfucking limb.

That was the moment.

Exactly then.

That was the moment when she suddenly realized exactly how Ethan felt about his wives. He'd made the exact same threat against her and for the same reason; their loved ones were being threatened. But for him to feel the same depth of emotion that she herself did...

Could a dragon do that?

Objectively speaking, she knew that dragons were theoretically capable, but... she frowned. She thought back to the moment they'd bonded and couldn't deny there was love in him. Not for her, but it was there.

She glanced at him.

Rachel was leaning up against his shoulder and she couldn't help but imagine herself leaning up against him like that. Not that she wanted to of course, because; dragon. Nevertheless, she felt a surge of jealousy for the affectionate way Rachel was conked-out while resting on his shoulder. She wanted to be anywhere but where she was, and wanted nothing else than to feel what the redhead was feeling...

But not with him.

Not with a dragon.

Rachel chose that moment to let out a soft sigh in her sleep. She truly looked contented where she slept, leaning against her brand new husband; their brand new husband. She was so disgusted by it that she shuddered as her stomach roiled and her brain conjured an image of her on his other side.

Wait.

She shook her head; that wasn't right.

Not with him.

Not with a dragon. There was no way she would ever let him near her. Ever. She stole another glance, and despite everything she thought and felt, she couldn't help but be a little jealous of Rachel anyway. Sick to her stomach, but jealous nonetheless.

* * *

Alana stood on the Argo's weather deck rooted to the spot.

Five.

Five wives?

She had always wanted sisters to be sure, often wishing for six so she could be one of seven sisters. Her fellow wives did feel a bit like sisters, but she was quite happy with just the two she currently had. She had only really wanted for Rachel to join them and then everything would've felt complete. The redhead had joined -- which was wonderful -- but Kendra too?

"I..." Beth started to say, and then closed her mouth.

"Yeah." The wood elf nodded. "Just... just wow."

"Uh-huh." The blonde nodded her head. "We're going to need a bigger bed."

"Rachel will fit, but I'm not sure that Kendra..." She frowned.

"I don't think she will, even if she wanted to. Besides, I'm not sure that Ethan would want her there."

"I could see how adragon wouldn't sleep well with a dragon huntress on board." Alana nodded. "But we can worry about that later. Right now, we really should be more concerned with finding and freeing Ethan and the rest of them."

"Is that such a good idea for you?" Beth bit her lip. "I mean, the bounty is on you too right? Won't they be looking for you?"

"I hadn't even thought about that." The wood elf put her hand protectively over her womb. "Damn it, I love carrying his child but..."

"But you don't want to put her in danger." The blonde came over and gave her a hug. "I could look for them."

"Lord Delmar knows you married him though. If he wants me, he might want you as well."

"Not if he can't see me." Beth broke the hug and her eyes twinkled. "Astral Projection; I can search anywhere without anyone knowing."

"I totally forgot." Alana clapped her hand to her head.

"I just remembered. Also, I don't need to sleep on the Astral Plane. I can search until I've found them; I can look in every airship in the city if I need to."

"When can you start?"

Beth grinned. "As soon as I can get to the bed in the captain's cabin."

Thirty seconds later, Alana felt a small double tap on her shoulder after the blonde had only been laying on the bed for a few seconds.

*Wish me luck.* The blonde thought to the group.

*Luck for what?* Ethan asked.

Alana explained, and was surprised at what she felt from her husband after she had. *What wrong?*

*Be careful.* He thought back. *I don't even like that you're in the city right now. I'd prefer you left and went someplace safer.*

*But where's safer?* Alana countered. *Lord Delmar knows we're here. The Argo is fast, but it doesn't have any weapons suitable for fighting other airships. With just Serif, Raklan, Anthiel, Beth, and I, we could never hold off a boarding force. Whereas right now we're in the middle of the docks we're much less likely to be attacked because there'll be witnesses.*

*That's a good point master.*

*Yeah it is.* He conceded.

*I promise we'll be careful.* The wood elf said.

*Okay; just make sure you are; I don't want to lose any of you.*

* * *

Selene pushed open the door to Rindrin's blacksmith shop, scarcely believing what had brought her here. The very idea of a man buying his wife from her father was so... so... There were no words. It seemed so degrading and dehumanizing. She wasn't sure she'd ever understand Sarah's desire to be purchased to indicate her worth to her future husband.

The shop itself was exactly like she'd always imagined a medieval blacksmith's shop would be. There were various farming implements everywhere, a small assortment of tools, and of course a large forge. The blacksmith himself was standing near a rough wooden table with many tools on it.

"Did you want something?" The blacksmith asked. He was running a file over a tool and occasionally checking it for something; smoothness maybe.

"Sarah." The Brazilian woman replied. "Why do you want to marry her?"

"Kids, and she'll make a decent wife." He replied. "That's even taking into account her problem."

"Her problem?" She interjected. "What problem?"

"You don't know?" He raised his eyebrow and put the file down.

"That's why I asked."

"Sorry, I'll not be gossiping. You'll probably find out soon enough anyway."

"I don't think you realize how hurt she was by your... negotiation."

"Facts is facts; not liking them don't change nothing."

Selene eyed him. She knew the type. He wasn't a mean person, just blunt and didn't think about how his words would affect others. He wouldn't intentionally set out to hurt anyone, but he would speak his mind regardless of who would be hurt by his thoughts. The only upside was that she got the impression he would be honest to a fault. At least that was something.

"You might want to be a little more considerate of your future wife."

He shrugged and picked up the file to continue working. "Maybe you ought to consider her marriage prospects before you come all up in here shooting your mouth off."

"I beg your pardon?" She'd always heard that this phrase was the English equivalent of 'what the fuck did you just say?', and that's exactly how she meant it. She didn't conceal that in her tone either.

"You really haven't thought about it have you?" He shook his head. "Just like a woman; always thinking with her emotions instead of her brain."

Selene stared.

What.

The.

Fuck.

"You see, it's like this." He said as he carefully ran the file across the tool. "She ain't got no marriage prospects. None. Any men in this outpost that might'a married her were scared off long ago by her problem. She's not enough of a looker to catch the eye of a passing traveler, and she doesn't have one of those magnetic personalities to attract them either. She nice, just not magnetic. Plus, any man who might vie for her hand would be scared off by her problem."

He blew the iron shavings off the tool and scrutinized it. "So really, I'm literally the only man in the Ten Kingdoms who would marry her."

"She's really lucky then." Selene said sarcastically.

"You pretty women ain't got no sense about you, thinking every other girl can get a man same as you can." He shook his head as he set the tool he had been working on down and picked up another. "I've lived in this here outpost my whole life, same as she. She's honest, nice, and a hard worker, but that don't mean nothing to most folk with her problem."

Selene stared daggers.

"You probably ain't even given no consideration to what she's put her father through, have you?"

"Huh?" The Brazilian woman cocked her head to one side. "Whatshe put her father through?"

"Yup." He nodded.

"What the hell do you mean?"

He looked confused at the world 'hell', but shrugged. "This here outpost used to be brimming with folk. Men from all over would travel through here going places. But that all changed when talk of Sarah's problem got out. The travelers slowed to a trickle, like they is now. Her father used to be a wealthy, cheery fellow running a damn fine inn."

Selene didn't get the sense that Rindrin was lying -- quite the opposite in fact because the town's past-its-prime look fit his description perfectly -- but she did find it hard to believe. The innkeeper seemed dead in the eyes and like someone who'd given up on life. She found it hard to imagine him being cheery.

"What happened?"

"He's a good father, even with Sarah's problem; wouldn't turn his daughter out or give her to the jailers. He kept her with him at the inn, and doomed the whole outpost while doing it. All his friends turned on him because of that and they eventually left the outpost. He used to be popular, wealthy, and cheerful; now because of Sarah's problem he's poor, alone, and near friendless besides me. He still won't give up on her anyways though. Like I said, he's a good man."