“Join me for a bit,” Jahree requested gently. Lanni shook her head with a mild sense of urgency. “I can’t. I need to go up to Kripdom for supplies.” “Are they things Areen won’t deliver?” Jahree guessed, his curiosity piqued. “Shipments only come every other month, and we were limited with our last order,” Lanni explained, a frustrated undertone in her voice. “Would you like some company?” Jahree offered, his eyes searching hers for an an-swer. Lanni hesitated for a moment, then asked, “You want to come with me?” “I enjoy being with you,” he admitted earnestly, “my interest in you goes beyond the physical.” She raised her eyebrows lightly, “What about you going to bed? To sleep, I mean.” “I’m grown enough to stay up late. Will this be an all-day trip?” “I was planning on flying, but even then it shouldn’t be long, maybe an hour or two. I would truly appreciate your company if you don’t mind the flight,” Lanni said, her de-meanor hopeful. “I don’t mind at all,” Jahree nodded in agreement. After he bundled up warmly, Lanni led him outside to reveal her true form. Jahree had witnessed the dragon forms of Tey, Sai, and even Midta and Ket, but Lanni’s form was something entirely different. She too was white like Keteel and Midta, but her scales had an iridescent quality. As the sunlight touched her, she shimmered and transformed in a myriad of colors, radiating like the light refracted through diamonds. “Mistan Treka,” Jahree whispered, awestruck by her beauty, recalling an ancient story his parents had once told him. “Get on,” Lanni instructed, crouching low in the snow for him to mount. Jahree real-ized the cold ground must have been uncomfortable for her, so he quickly climbed onto her shoulders, securing his legs tightly around her neck. Compared to the dragons he had seen, she was definitely smaller in stature. She turned her head to him, her eyes conveying concern, “Have you ever flown be-fore?” “A few times,” he responded, feeling the heat from her bellyfire providing him warmth through the scales despite not him not being near her belly. “On Sai?” she inquired, knowing that the experience would be different without the spikes male dragons had along their necks as handholds. “Yes,” he confirmed. With female dragons, instead of relying on spikes, one had to use their legs for grip and hands for balance during flight. “What was that you said?” Lanni asked just as she gracefully launched into the sky, wings beating against the crisp air ”Mistan Treka,” Jahree called up to Lanni. She growled, and he could feel the vibrations through the body beneath him. “Beast?” “You speak Tamareen?” he asked, a note of surprise in his voice. “I do. You called me ‘diamond beast.’” “Mistan means creature, not specifically beast—though it can mean both, de-pending on the context. It’s from a legend about Mistan Treka, a creature said to be crafted from diamonds. It was known to aid those who were alone and in distress but would confront and terrorize the powerful and corrupt. The stories describe it as being incredibly beautiful. I apologize; I meant no disrespect. You share a resemblance to the creatures of those tales with your shimmering appearance, and that’s why I thought of it.” Lanni remained silent, absorbing his explanation. “All living things are creatures,” Jahree continued, aiming to clarify his thoughts. “That includes you, me, Samar, even the cow we ate last night. No one truly understood what the Mistan Treka was, hence the term creature.” Although Lanni couldn’t fully turn to face him during flight, she managed to twist her head enough to catch a glimpse of Jahree with the corner of her eye. Jahree’s expression turned to one of concern. “Lanni, enough. You know I don’t see you as a beast. You’re a magnificent woman in any form. Don’t sulk because you have a poor understanding of Tamareen.” Her response was another growl, gentler this time. Jahree still felt it. “Stop that, or I might lose my grip and fall,” he warned. She glanced back at him once more. “That tickles,” he admitted. “Sorry. I’m quite proficient in Tamareen. I have a talent for languages; I speak many.” “You appear to need practice with this one,” he teased. “Perhaps,” she conceded, her voice softening. “I’m sorry. The experiences with the Yarbs have been affecting me more than I care to admit. Additionally, my Tamareen might be a bit rusty. After all, most refugees arrive as children and tend to forget the lan-guage as they grow older. It’s been a few centuries since I last set foot in Tamareen. “You went to Tameria?” Jahree inquired, a hint of disbelief coloring his tone. “A few times,” Lanni replied, her voice holding the weight of past burdens. “Usually it was because of the rogues that come here to cause trouble. We want to make sure they weren’t planning something more sinister that could endanger our people.” “And yet your chosen is Tamerian. Why?” Jahree’s question hung in the air, laced with curiosity and unspoken implications. Lanni’s response was matter-of-fact: “Because you were born there. If you’d been born here you would be considered Menthan. Or Yarb, given where ‘here’ actually refers to.” He couldn’t see her face, obscured by the evening shadows, but he knew she was smiling—a soft expression that often played on her lips when indulgent amusement found its way through the stoic facade. “That’s not what I’m really asking,” he pressed gently. The chuckle that followed was a warm vibrato that seemed to ripple through the air. “I know,” she said, her voice containing a note of affectionate exasperation. “I told you before, Jahree. I was raised to judge an individual by their actions and the content of their character, rather than the reputation of their people, or even their own family.” Her words shifted to recall a darker time. “There was a man I knew when I was grow-ing up. He was a thief and a murderer. He poisoned my mom and grandma. Later he got my mother killed. He was responsible for much of the crime in town. His son was my bodyguard and one of the first of the new honor guards. He was the first prince-general to not be family.” Jahree listened, his expression solemn at the recollection of such personal pain. “Really? You trusted his son?” Jahree’s skepticism was evident. “We didn’t know about their relationship at first,” Lanni admitted, her voice soften-ing with the admission. “He hid it because he was nothing like his dad to didn’t want to be compared to him. When he did finally tell us, no one cared. He had proven his honor and integrity. Despite his lineage, he was incomparable to his father in deed or spirit. The man eventually married my grandmother.” “Which grandmother?” Jahree asked, seeking clarity as Lanni had several grandmoth-ers from both her birth family and her adopted one. “Chapado,” Lanni responded with a smile in her voice. “They made a loving couple.” Jahree, his curiosity yet unsatisfied, posed a larger question. “Why do you trust us, though? Not just me, but the Tamerian people as a whole. Why do you allow refugees to come here? How can you be certain they truly are refugees seeking shelter, and not spies or soldiers with ulterior motives?” His gaze captured the seriousness and complexity of his question, awaiting an answer that would reconcile trust with safety Lanni outlined the measures taken to mitigate the risks. “We do keep an eye on them. They get separated. The four at the home weren’t the only ones to come through. Two went to another home and two went with their parents to another town. We don’t allow them to bring tech, but we don’t stop them from bringing other things they need. Many can’t bring much. It gives us a chance to help them and in doing so, we put them where we feel they’ll have the least chance of causing trouble. Some of the adults don’t survive. They get sick. We don’t know why. It’s more than just being exposed to new diseases and the healers don’t understand it. We’ve tried to prevent it, and we warn them. Most are willing to risk it for their kids,” she elaborated. Jahree, considering this new information, made a connection. “And if the children are raised by Menthans, they’re more likely to develop loyalty to Menthanla,” he asserted, acknowledging the pattern he himself was a part of. “That is often the case,” Lanni acknowledged. “However, we also strive to keep the parents alive. It’s generally better for the children when they can grow up alongside their families.” Looking back at him, she checked asked, “How are you feeling?” “I’m okay,” Jahree replied. Her concern was palpable as she asked, “Are you warm enough?” Jahree admitted, “Not really.” Sensing his discomfort, Lanni offered a solution. “Lay down. Use my bellyfire. If needed, I can increase the heat.” Jahree cautiously maneuvered his position atop the majestic dragon. Carefully, he edged backward, moving away from her neck to avoid causing her discomfort and to get closer to her warmth-giving bellyfire. The dragon scales were arranged in his favor, over-lapping in such a way that he did not have to fret about displacing them as he moved. Lanni, sensing his struggle, offered to land. “Do you need me to land?” “Maybe,” he said tentatively. Swiftly finding a suitable place to touch down, Lanni descended gracefully and tucked in her wings, which he surmised were also feeling the cold. Jahree, concerned for her well-being, suggested, “Maybe we should transport.” “Are you that cold?” Lanni questioned, trying to gauge his condition. “I was thinking about your wings,” Jahree countered, his concern for her apparent. “Up in the air, I keep my wings moving enough to stay warm. I just prefer not to let them rest in the snow. Are you ready to continue?” Lanni asked. “Ready,” Jahree confirmed, finding comfort in the warmth of her body. Laying against her was considerably warmer. The dragon’s breath, intermittently bursting forth in flames, sent comforting pulses of heat through him. He nestled his cheek against the side of her spine, finding the scales to be unexpectedly smooth and silky when stroked down; against the grain, they were slightly abrasive, but not unpleasant to the touch. He thought about the conversation. he and Shan had the recently. Shan asked if it was at all odd being intimate with someone so different physically. While there hadn’t been any dragons on Tameria and he’d been unsure of Tey in true form the first time, he’d got-ten used to it quickly. Between the dragons, unicorns, and trolls he’d known growing up, people of different species or shapes didn’t bother him. And there were plenty of mixed races too. It was easy to forget Papa Tey was part human because even full-blooded dragons often took human form. But he’d known a few half-trolls. There had been a half-unicorn, half-elf. He was quite used to all sorts of people so he didn’t think much of it. He wasn’t sure what his parents would think, though. They had been unsure of all the races. Shan, however, had merely laughed off such concerns. Devoid of any parental fig-ures in his life, he was indifferent to the opinions of nonexistent guardians. Time elapsed, and after about another thirty minutes, they finally reached their desti-nation amid the chill of winter. Lanni had tried to provide warmth with her belly fire dur-ing their airborne journey, yet the brisk wind and high speed of flight had rendered his body cold nonetheless. “How are you doing?” Lanni inquired, maintaining her dragon form to preserve what little warmth they had achieved. “Ready to be inside,” he confessed, the cold nipping at his bones. “Do you need me to warm you?” she offered generously. “Press close and let me wrap my wings around you.” Though tempted by the offer, he could see that Lanni herself was affected by the cold, evidenced by her wings’ constant twitching. “You’re cold too. Your wings haven’t settled once. Let’s get inside and use a stove in-stead,” he suggested thoughtfully. Lanni nodded in agreement and, with a shudder, shifted into her human form. To-gether, they hastened to the nearest building. Upon entering, they made a beeline to a kindly glowing stove situated comfortably in the corner of the room. The warmth emanat-ing from it promised relief from the biting cold. A couple of other patrons had already gathered around, quietly enjoying the respite from the harsh winter air outside. Lanni turned her head at the sound of the familiar voice. “Lanni, is that you? It’s been a while,” the shopkeeper called out as Lanni and Jahree moved closer to the stove which warmed the cozy shop, the chill from outside still clinging to their clothes. “Yeah,” Lanni replied with a quick nod. “Been busy. We had a squad change.” She started to head towards the shopkeeper, ready to engage in further conversation. “Did you fly up? Just stay there and get warm,” the shopkeeper insisted kindly. “I’ll be there in a moment.” True to her word, she joined them shortly after, bustling over with a welcoming smile. When she arrived, Lanni pulled out a piece of paper and handed her a carefully com-piled list. “The top three items here are for Loka.” “They better be. You’re not licensed,” the shopkeeper noted with a stern but friendly voice, clearly familiar with the restrictions the Yarbs and Menthanlans placed on making potions. She scanned the list attentively, her expression transitioning from recognition to concern as she reached the items at the bottom. “You need that?” Lanni simply asked for a price check. “Just a price. I don’t know if I’ll need them or not. But if I do, I’ll need to talk to the bankers.” The shopkeeper gave a slight nod, understanding the nature of the request. “I can give you a rough estimate, though keep in mind prices are subject to change.” “That’s alright,” Lanni said with a reassuring tone. “I can cover a small variance, and it’s possible I may not even need them. I’m just taking precautions.” Curious, Jahree chimed in with his own inquiry. “What is it?” Lanni glanced at him and began explaining. “It’s just some components for a charm.” Jahree was puzzled over this. “I thought you could use anything for a charm.” “Well, it’s true that most charms can be crafted from a variety of materials. But, there are some that yield better results when made with certain specifics. And there are a few that require very precise ingredients. I have a feeling I might need to create one of those more intricate charms.” The shopkeeper interrupted their exchange with an offer to gather the rest of Lanni’s items. “My supplier won’t be in for a few days, which means I can’t confirm the price for the last item until then.” “That’s fine,” Lanni said with a smile. “I’ll scry you later to follow up.” With that, the woman bustled off to gather the requested items. As they continued to absorb the heat from the stove, Jahree noted Lanni’s extended chill. “It’s taking you a while to warm up, isn’t it?” His concern was apparent, so he stepped in closer and enveloped her with his cloak, creating a cocoon of warmth around both of them. Lanni couldn’t help but lean into him, finding comfort in his embrace. He smiled content with the moment they were sharing, which felt just right. Their intimate moment was gently interrupted when the shopkeeper returned, a bun-dle of items in hand. “Is this your chosen?” she asked Lanni with a knowing gleam in her eye. The atmosphere felt lighter as Lanni affirmed, smiling tenderly as she exchanged payment for the goods. “He is.” “That’s good.” The shopkeeper now addressed Jahree directly with a playful yet seri-ous tone. “You take good care of this one. She’s not the one you let slip away.” “Yes, ma’am,” Jahree replied with a respectful nod, his voice conveying the gravity of his commitment. He was already fully aware of the treasure Lanni was. The shopkeeper couldn’t help but add a friendly warning, “And remember, her uncle is the biggest dragon you’ve ever seen. If you hurt her, he’ll roast you to a crisp.” Jahree’s response was an unfaltering nod. “I’ve seen him.” He understood the risks all too well, but his resolve to protect and cherish Lanni was unshakable. “Here’s what you need. One of these days, you’re going to have to let me copy your cookbook,” the jovial shopkeeper remarked to Lanni as she bagged up the items. The scent of browsed the small, cozy shop filled with the scent of fresh herbs and spices. Lanni responded with a warm smile. “I don’t have one. I work by taste alone. All my recipes are up here,” she explained, lightly tapping her temple with a slender finger. “And they all taste superb,” Jahree chimed in with a chuckle, patting his stomach for emphasis. “At this rate, I’m going to end up fat.” The shopkeeper laughed heartily, the sound of her amusement mingling with the clink of jars and the murmur of other patrons as she turned her attention back to stocking a shelf with new arrivals. “Lanni?” A voice suddenly called out, cutting through the ambient noise of the shop. Jahree looked around, puzzled, as did Lanni. There was a moment of confusion until she hastily excused herself and stepped back, shrugging off her cloak. To her surprise, Cap-tain Samar’s image was flickering into view, scrying through the intricate star-shaped clasp at her throat. “Captain,” Lanni acknowledged with a nod, her face falling slightly at the severity in Samar’s tone. “You’re troublesome to pin down,” Samar noted dryly. “I’ve been trying to reach you.” “I’ve been in true form,” Lanni admitted a tinge of apology in her voice. “I saw. You nearly caused a panic flying over the city. Do you think you could transport back?” Samar requested. “It’s a bit cold for flying,” Lanni added sheepishly. “I just needed to stretch my wings.” “Good to hear,” Samar responded. “We’d been lucky. We were patrolling nearby and Marn had been in the area to help out.” “Marn helped out? That’s good to hear,” Lanni replied with gratitude. “We’ll transport back then; Jahree needs to get back soon anyhow.” “Make it swift, then,” Captain Samar urged before ending the communication, the shimmering image disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. Lanni, turning back to Jahree, asked with concern, “You warmed enough to travel now?” Jahree offered her a reassuring smile, broader this time. “I’m feeling better than you, by the looks of it.” “Then let’s get you back to Chervil and into bed,” Lanni said. He grinned at her suggestion. “Are you suggesting you’ll join me in bed?” “I was thinking more along the lines of a hot bath,” she countered playfully. “Perhaps I should join you there, then,” he retorted, waggling his eyebrows sugges-tively. “That sounds delightful, but those tubs are too small for the both of us,” Lanni re-minded him with a gentle laugh. “You go get some rest. We’ll save the joint bathing for another time.” With that, she used her powers to transport them back to the barracks where they were stationed. There, she planted a tender kiss on his cheek. “Pleasant dreams,” she whispered. He held her close for a moment longer. “Stay with me, sleep with me,” he murmured. Lanni shook her head, a wry smile on her lips. “I just got up.” He sighed softly, releasing her from his embrace. “A good night to you, then.” “Jahr, I promise, we’ll find time for that soon,” she reassured him with a comforting touch on his arm. With a nod of understanding, he trudged off to his quarters, surrendering to the beck-oning calls of his bed, while Lanni contemplated the warmth of a bath to ease the chill from her bones before she started her duties. #fantasy #magic #dragons #hiddenlands