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Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Fated?

Em

In the middle of eating a charred lizard, wingbeats shatter the peaceful silence as I wait for Ormr to finish his request. I look up as a male human glides on raven-colored wings that contract against him being pale. Angrily walking towards Ormr, his wings wide. Ormr looks at him, growling softly. Rage fills the cave, frustrating me. I try to get up, wanting to stop their confrontation but pain rips through my shoulder. My wing collapses to the floor, throwing me off balance. Both Ormr and this boy look at me in a panic, I lie back down, as the boy walks over to check my bandage, Ormr follows to look as well. Great, now I'm the center of their interest. I look away.

Your scales have almost healed, but the damage is underneath. You need to rest, so stop trying to get up. What were you thinking? Anger fills our connection. I can't but help growl a bit,

Since I don't know who you are, all of a sudden you come in here seeming like you were about to confront Ormr. One out of the two dragons who have NOT tried to put me on a plate as a meal. I would like to protect them, thanks for asking. Now, what are you doing? I feel something cool on my wound, I try to look, water had surfaced on my scales, steam rising from them. It's somewhat soothing. I relax a bit. 

I am healing the damage and agitation that you've caused! Now sit still, and let me concentrate. He shakes his head, and I smile because I haven't moved at all. He's being dramatic, It's actually amusing. I look at Ormr, he shrugs,

I guess introductions are in order; Emberlynn, this is Kai. Kai, Emberlynn. He looks at me, 

Kai can be stubborn when he wants to be, but he has a good view of what's right and wrong. And for future reference, don't expect him to do just anything for you. He looks at Kai pointedly. Kai smirks,

I wonder where I got that from!

Ormr gutters a laugh. Kai rebandages my wound and studies his work,

Will you help Sarai? Will you either: show her bondee here or take Sarai to her? Or are you going to be stubborn like always?

I notice the name he uses, and before Kai can answer,

What does Sarai mean, Ormr? 

Both boys look at each other, realizing I'm not fully understanding the newly exposed language. Both seem hesitant, I become more confused,

Ormr, Kai, what does it mean?... 

Surprisingly, as shy and quiet Ormr seems; he speaks first,

Well, you are aware of your heritage, correct? He's hesitant to look me in the eyes, out of fear?... Or out of respect? I nod in agreement. As aware I may be, I cannot hold back the shame of it.

Yes, I'm aware of my mother's behavior and actions, I am aware of my supposed Father whom I've been told all my life that he has passed because "He was too stupid and proud of his position," Quoting my mother, but he never left this world. Does that mean she thought he passed… or that he himself was dead to her? You could never really know what was going on in her mind. You couldn't quite believe everything she said, for if you did, You'd already be dead before you know it. She was trained to be a killer, a fighter, built for it too. But she was also trained to be Queen, even if that's hard to wrap my head around. If she was supposed to be Queen, then I'd be a-

Princess. Sarai means Princess, doesn't it? I look up, my mind wandering. Making sense of everything. Before anyone could speak,

It means I am to be Queen. It wasn't a question, it was a fact. In their eyes, I was already Queen. The respect, the trials, the mind games, the unasked care of others. I was the only one to be Queen. And since my Father was already King, it means they needed me to be ready as soon as possible. A faint ping rings in the back of my mind and my heart. 

What of Sam then? My bondee? I look up to both Ormr and Kai. they look at each other. Kai unconsciously touches his ruby red Bond Mark on his chest. Why is it red? Sam's mark, last time I saw it, was white. 

Ormr looks at me, 

For three generations, our society had been waiting for Bonded royalty. Your great grandmother was the last, She lived over two thousand years ago. Her name was Batel. Meaning Daughter of a god. She changed our ways, to have all dragons coexist with each other. Since your mother… He hesitated.

Since she disagreed with our ways, she decided to leave our way of life. She abandoned our customs, and to create more disarray, she stole one of her eggs… you. To raise you, without our customs, in hopes that you would side with her. Become like her. In every way possible. I only know this because when I was old enough to be Fated with yo- He stops, embarrassment flood our connection, with a bit of apprehensiveness I'm guessing is from Kai. 

What? They both are still, my patience thins.

What are you not telling me?

That we're fated?... Kai jumps in,

You and Ormr are fated, meaning you and Ormr will become...married in a way. For us, He gestures towards himself,

Humans, females or males will choose who they want to spend their life with.  We aren't "fated" at all, at least humans don't believe that. Dragons, on the other hand, are "matched" before they're hatched, by our Seers. Dragons that see in the future and distinguish whom will go well with whom. Before you and Ormr were hatched, you were matched. You will "marry". 

No wonder my heart jitters with nerves, while Ormr stand there, looking at me while apprehensiveness. 

So I will become Queens and Ormr, King? 

Kai and Ormr nod in synch, 

Yeah. But you as Queen, every dragon and bondee will look to you. Females here have more authority.  That is why our society is looking forward to you're ascendance. That is why everyone is taking great care of you. Because you are our next leader.

That solves some of my confusion,

So Sam, will become royalty or…

Kai nods reluctantly,

Of the humans, yes, she will be your advisor as you'll be hers. She has the same powers as you, authority as well.

Ormr interrupts, 

And since you and I are Fated, that means our bondees are too.

That takes me back, so Sam and Kai are fated, so they'll "marry"?

I repeat my question back to them, they both nod, Kai looking unhappy. I wonder if he's not ready for something that'll last for what sounds like a lifetime. Kai said that both males and females get to choose for themselves. But, it seems that as bondee, whoever's Fated to your dragon, you're also Fated to the other dragon's bondee. His future sealed with a birth of both him and Ormr.  

Is this why you get angry at the mention of bringing her here? Or meeting her? I look at Kai for any signs of denial.

He doesn't show any.