A Dragon's Tale Ch. 37

Ethan's enhanced reflexes triggered.

Time seemed to slow as he saw the blade whip down towards him. He waited a fraction of a second, then began his defense. He rotated his sword into a hanging block and pushed it upwards into Heinrich's strike with all his might as he took a step to his left. Then in a feat that would've been impossible without his enhanced reflexes, he rotated his blade at the last possible moment -- just before the blades met -- to parry with the flat instead of the edge. Heinrich's blade was descending vertically, Ethan's coming up to meet it at a 45 degree angle.

The blades met with terrific force.

Heinrich's great size and strength met Ethan's magically enhanced strength, and the result was as impressive as Ethan had hoped. The guard captain's blade rebounded strongly to the side while Ethan's own blade was pushed down. But since he'd used a hanging guard, that was perfect. He levered his sword forward into a strike that impacted Heinrich's thigh, the metal training sword making a dull thud and a clinking noise against the chainmail.

Now came the hard part.

Heinrich had already twisted his sword around for a return blow. The trick wasn't hitting your opponent; the trick was hitting him without getting hit yourself. Ethan watched carefully, using his enhanced reflexes to observe where Heinrich was aiming his counterblow. It appeared to be a level swing aimed towards his torso, and he almost reacted to block such a strike.

Fortunately, he waited a fraction of a second longer and saw through the charade; it was supposed to look like a level blow, but with the way his hips and arms were twisted he was going to go low. Ethan dropped his left hand off his sword and pulled it straight back into a low block just as Heinrich changed the direction of his sword, intending to hit Ethan's leg.

CLING!

Their blades impacted, stopping his attacker's blade barely an inch before it would've impacted his own leg. Ethan immediately disengaged and took a few steps back.

The arena was dead silent.

*I knew you could do it!* Beth thought to everyone.

*It's not over yet.* He replied, raising his sword to a middle guard. *A wounded animal is more dangerous.*

*But that would've taken off his leg.* Beth said.

*This is standard unarmored fighting rules, not real life. Plus, he could magically seal the artery so he wouldn't bleed out, which is what the rules are supposed to simulate. I need to hit the other leg, or both arms, or hit the head or torso to win.*

Heinrich picked his 'injured' leg off the ground to simulate the wound, as the rules dictated. He stood on one foot and glared at Ethan. "Who's your new sword master?"

Ethan resisted imitating the voice of Wesley in the Princess Bride by replying 'No one of consequence', and instead opted for something a bit more neutral. He tightened his grip on his sword and took a measured step forward. Heinrich shrugged and raised his own sword into a neutral middle guard, still standing on one foot.

*What now?* Beth asked.

*Well, I have an advantage because I can control the measure.* He replied. *I can move in and out of his reach while he isn't nearly as mobile. However, he could try a kamikaze style strike which is really hard to defend against if your opponent is willing to settle for you both 'dying'.*

*Kamikaze?*

*A suicidal attack where you know you're going to die and do it anyway.* He explained, having forgotten that 'kamikaze' was a Japanese word that she wouldn't know.

*You could simply throw your sword repeatedly my lord.* Rachel suggested from afar, probably guessing the duel's current state from his conversation with Beth. *That way you never need to expose yourself and you could call it back to your hand. Even if he catches the handle, you can call it back which should pull him off balance.*

*Yeah, but I get the feeling they would consider that poor sportsmanship.* He replied. *If I'm going to win, I want to do it on their terms.*

He had seen Heinrich fight 'without' a leg before, and he was good at it. He never over-committed or over-swung enough to push him off balance. But despite that, it wasn't very hard to win against a mostly immobile opponent if you were careful.

Hmm.

He had the upper hand and everyone knew it.

Ethan glanced around and could see it on the faces of every onlooker. They all sparred often and knew the score. In fact, some of them looked anticipatory. He had a nearly sure win here if he was careful, and everyone knew it; even Heinrich himself must know.

But then his eyes lighted on Beth and he found himself wondering: what was the real battle?

Hmm.

As he thought about it, he realized that he'd been going about this all wrong. Sure, fighting Heinrich and beating him would boost Ethan's own ego and status, and would humiliate Heinrich too, but was that the point? Is that what he was really here to do?

No.

The point here wasn't a duel; it was reconciliation and showing Heinrich that he could take care of Beth. He'd already proved the latter, now he needed to pursue the former.

That had to be handled differently.

*Beth, tell me about Heinrich.* He thought. *What's he like? What does he value? What does he hate?*

He glanced at her, and she looked confused but nodded. *Um, he spends a lot of time around my father and so has little patience for dishonesty of any kind. Likewise he values fair play. Um, he hates most wine but likes beer and mead. Um, he's pretty big, and so he has no tolerance for bullies or people who pick on someone who's weaker that they are. Uh... He really values it when people are direct.*

Hmm.

*Okay, thanks.* Ethan nodded, an idea forming his head. He turned and walked to the edge of the arena's circle, looked directly at Heinrich, and stepped over the line.

He had just lost the match.

* * *

*Wait, so master just purposely lost the match?*

*He did.* Beth replied, still feeling a bit stunned at the strange turn of events.

*Why master?*

*Because I didn't come here to beat Heinrich in a duel.* He replied. *I came here to convince Heinrich that I'm not the kind of man who would take advantage of Beth. That I care about her, that I'm not compelling her, and most especially that I'm not like all the other dragons out there. Can you think of anything that's more un-dragon like than purposely losing a match I could easily win?*

*Good point.* Alana thought back. *Although, I'd love for you to beat him because he was such an ass. Actually, I'd love to be there to see it.*

*Agreed.* Rachel echoed, then added in mischievous tone. *Groin shots count right?*

*Ladies.* Ethan shook his head.

*Please don't, he wants to have children.* Beth thought to them, not sure if she should be appalled or amused. *He's really not a bad guy, just protective of the people he cares about.*

*I can't fault him for that.* Ethan nodded, looking at Beth.

The blonde could see much fondness and love in his eyes as he looked at her, and -- as his mother apparently said -- it 'made her heart happy'.

She realized that she was smiling as Heinrich walked up to her with an odd, confused look on his face. "What's his game?" He asked, glancing at Ethan who was walking over to them.

"He cares about me more than winning." Beth replied simply.

"Hmm." Heinrich tapped his finger on the hilt of his training sword, clearly both confused and thinking.

Beth smiled wider.

She could see that Ethan purposely losing the match had been the last thing that he had been expecting. It certainly was a very un-dragon like thing to do, and as her father said 'talk is copper, actions are gold'. The guard captain seemed to be reconsidering.

"I would speak with you two alone." Heinrich finally said gruffly.

Beth looked at Ethan, who nodded and said. "Sure."

* * *

Selene frowned as all of Ethan's wives went silent and were looking at each other, eyes slightly unfocused at regular intervals. Their telepathy was getting really annoying. Even Kendra was in on it, and she technically wasn't one of his wives. That left Selene as the only one who was out of the loop.

She hated that.

"Um, what just happened?" The Brazilian woman asked.

The ladies quickly filled her in.

"That was probably a smart move." She said once they had finished. "That would make any reasonable person rethink his opinion of a dragon."

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, I'm just glad he got his dragon side under control during that duel." She glanced at Kendra. "Sorry again."

Kendra shrugged. "No harm, no war."

The Brazilian woman couldn't help but smile at the Ten Kingdom's version of 'no harm, no foul'. However, she found herself wishing that she didn't feel so much like an outsider in this lovely group of women. She didn't mean 'lovely' in the sense of physical attractiveness -- though they were lovely that way too -- but more in the sense of who they are as people. Their character and personalities were just lovely.

She wasn't sure that she was.

As she looked around at the incredibly kind and caring women, she wondered how she wouldreally measure up to them in a fair and unbiased comparison. Physically she would do well. But in every other way... in the ways that really mattered...

Hmm.

She wasn't so sure.

They were such lovely women and she wasn't sure that she was. For the first time in her life, or at least since she'd hit puberty, she felt like the least attractive girl in the room. Again not physically, but in the ways that really mattered: character and personality.

She didn't like that.

Not one bit.

* * *

"Why did you throw the match?"

Ethan looked at Heinrich as he asked the question, then around at his office. It wasn't large and it was just off the training area. It was also quite spartan with only a desk, two chairs, and weapons rack. Otherwise it was unadorned. For some reason, that seemed to suit the man. He seemed like a rugged fellow with simple and spartan tastes, and the office matched that personality.

"Why did I throw it?" Ethan repeated the question. "Because I care more about Beth's relationship with her father than I do about beating you in a duel. It's as simple as that."

The guard captain looked at him for several seconds before replying. "Has Beth ever told you about the few dragon hunts that I've been on?"

Beth's eyes got wide and Ethan felt some shock over their bond. "You've been on a dragon hunt? How did I not know this?"

"Perhaps your father didn't want you to worry." Heinrich shrugged. "The thing about dragons is that -- quite besides being wholly without mercy or compassion -- they possess a primal cunning that's unmatched among the mortal races."

"But Ethan isn't like that." Beth said with conviction. "He's really kind and caring, and he always wants to help people."

He felt his heart swell at his youngest wife's heartfelt defense of him.

"I would like to believe you Beth, I really would." Heinrich replied. "But that's rather like saying a cobra was born without venom, or a fish without fins; it's in their nature."

"But I wasn't born a dragon." Ethan countered. "I was born a man."

The look that Heinrich gave him in response reminded Ethan of how a parent might look at a child whose face and hands were covered in frosting and crumbs while the child insisted that he hadn't just stolen a piece of cake.

"It's true." Beth said. "Did my father never tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"The story of how I came to be in the Ten Kingdoms." Ethan replied.

"You weren't born in the Ten Kingdoms?" Heinrich raised an eyebrow. "Where then? The barbarian lands?"

"No." He shook his head. "Let me give you the short version of how I came to be in the Ten Kingdoms."

He did.

Not in full detail, but a quick summary.

Heinrich listened without comment until he had finished. When he had, the guard captain set his training sword down on the weapons rack, walked to his desk, and sat down behind it. He stroked his beard for a moment before speaking. "So, you were born a man, came to this world against your will via dark magic, and have been trapped in a dragon's body ever since?"

"That's pretty much the size of it." Ethan replied.

"I still don't fancy a man's chance against a dragon's will." Heinrich finally said. "Dragons are legendary for their iron and indomitable will. I don't believe a man's will could ever keep a dragon's in check, which would seem to be confirmed by your temper; it changes nothing."

Ethan glanced at Beth, trying to decide how much to say.

There was definitely truth to Heinrich's words, yet they did know how to keep the dragon in check; to keep its will from overpowering him. However, that wasn't something that he wanted to disclose to just anyone, especially not Lord Borden's right-hand man.

"There is a way to tame the dragon; to calm him and have Ethan in control." Beth finally said.

"Oh?"

Ethan nodded. "There is. I had my dragon side under control for a couple weeks until Lord Delmar's men captured me."

"How?" Heinrich asked.

Ethan and Beth looked at each other, and he could tell that she was at least as reluctant to tell him as he himself was. Maybe more so.

"Hermy, I don't think we should say." The blonde replied, and Ethan remembered that 'Hermy' was a nickname that she'd used for him before.

"And why not?"

"Because..." She looked at Ethan. *I can't lie to him; I would feel just awful.*

*Then don't. Give him a reason that's true, even if you don't give him the whole reason.*

The blonde teen looked back at her childhood friend. "Because knowing how to tame the dragon would also mean you'd know how to unleash him. Given how my father is right now..." She shook her head. "I don't want to put you in a position where he asks a question that you don't want to answer."

"Fair." Heinrich made a thoughtful sound and stroked his beard again. "But that puts me in the position of having to take your word for it. Dragons are notoriously crafty, and Beth might be being compelled. You see why it might be hard to take your word for it."

"Fair." Ethan echoed him.

He put himself in the other man's shoes and could see it. If someone tried to tell him that Havorleth, Kyrupto, or Drousin could be caring, noble, or selfless, he wouldn't have believed it. It would make sense that they would assume the same of all dragons. It was stereotyping, but that seemed a part of human nature regardless of the planet or how little he liked it.

Heinrich regarded him intently for several seconds, then lifted his hands and steepled them together. After several more seconds, he looked at Ethan. "I would like to speak to Beth alone, if you would permit it."

He looked at her.

*Please Dominus?* She thought to him. *I might be able to get through to him better without you here, and you can remain just outside. He'd never hurt me.*

"Very well." Ethan nodded, then looked at Heinrich while speaking to his wife. "Beth, I'll be right outside if you need anything."

Heinrich inclined his head slightly; he knew the score and why Ethan wanted to stay close.

* * *

Beth watched her husband leave, wishing that her oldest friend trusted him.

Alas...

She sighed and turned towards Heinrich. "You want to make sure I'm okay, like you always did."

He nodded, and once the door had closed he seemed to relax a bit. The corners of his mouth suddenly flicked upwards instead of downward in something that resembled the beginnings of a smile. Well, maybe a grin. Not even a full grin, but possibly the beginning of one.

"You don't need to worry about me." She continued. "He takes really good care of me."

"How could he, with four other wives?"

"Only three." She corrected him. "And I wouldn't be parted from them for the world."

He raised his eyebrow.

"It's true." She smiled. "After that dreadful conversation with father yesterday, who do you think I went to for solace?"

"The architects of your misery?" He looked skeptical.

She shook her head. "They aren't though. True, I wasn't thrilled initially; but Alana, Taloni, and Rachel are the best women I've ever known. They're so kind, and sweet, and caring; especially Taloni. She and I have gotten pretty close."

"Your father says that doesn't happen in a polygynous marriage."

"I can't speak about other women's marriages, but mine is a high point of my life."

Heinrich frowned.

"Let me put it this way." Beth said. "If an angel from Illuminar came down and appeared to us both, telling me that if I continued traveling with Ethan I would be dead within the month unless I left him forever, I would still travel with him."

Heinrich's frown deepened.

"It's true." She said. "I know it sounds silly, but I mixed my soul with his when we bonded. I absolutelyhate being away from him. It happened once while he was captured and I barely slept a wink."

"You've known him barely over two months." Heinrich countered. "These are the passions of a youthful teen, and they might fade. He already must've grown tired of you if he has taken so many other wives so quickly."

"No, actually it's the opposite." She replied. "He married Alana while he thought I was dead, and because a Luminar in Arcanum came to us saying that Illuminar himself had said they were to be married."

"And you were there?" He asked, clearly thinking Ethan had lied to her about this.

Beth gave him a look. "I can feel my husband's emotions Hermy; even right now. I don't think he could lie to me even if he wanted to."

He still looked skeptical, and his frown deepened still further.

"He married Taloni on accident, bonding with her while he was unconscious." She continued, then added at his look of incredulity. "I think it was the dragon's instincts that caused it. And Rachel, well he donated some deep mana to keep her alive after we removed the will-breaker ring that Lord Delmar had given her."

Heinrich suddenly stood, looking stern. "That's a very serious accusation, and one that shouldn't be made without proof."

"Which is why we don't go around telling people, but I thought an old friend could handle it." Beth countered.

He grimaced, but nodded and sat back down. "Continue."

"Rachel was forced to bond with him to save his life; Lady Ekthros had hit him with a kill spell that brushed someone else first, draining nearly all of Ethan's deep mana. If Rachel hadn't bonded with him, I would be a widow right now."

"So, he hasn't been seducing women or forcing them to marry him?" Heinrich asked after several seconds.

"Dear Illuminar in heaven!" Beth exclaimed. "What could've possibly given you that idea?"

"He's a dragon." He replied simply.

Beth wanted to disagree, but that was the reputation of dragons. Well, not so much the seducing part, but taking women by force was the usual way that dragon had behaved for a long time.

"He's not like that." She said, sitting down in the chair on the other side of his desk. "His homeland doesn't even allow men to take multiple wives. He only agreed to it begrudgingly because he had bonded to Taloni and was already married to Alana."

"You should explain this to your father." Heinrich said after several seconds.

"We were going to tell to him yesterday, but that conversation..." She shook her head. "Well you were there; he didn't really give us a chance to explain."

He inclined his head in concession.

For several seconds he just looked at her, a thoughtful frown on his face. He tapped his fingers on the desk several times as he scrutinized her, then stroked his beard once more.

"What?" She asked.

"You look happy." He finally said. "With him."

"I am."

"It might not be real." He pointed out. "He might be compelling you to be this happy."

"He isn't, but there's nothing you could do about it even if he was." She pointed out. "I really want my father to understand, and to not hate my husband. Please, would you tell him what I've told you? He won't listen if I say it; you know how he always steers the conversation; I'll never be able to get all this out."