Chapter 9 (2/2)

They quickly reached the southern shopping district thanks to the shortcuts Draco knew by heart. They didn't talk to each other much because of the crowded and cramped aisles. It wasn't until a few streets away from his house when it got a little less busy.

-Master?- Darius looked at his apprentice.-Master was talking to my aunt, wasn't he? -The mage nodded, wondering what his protégé was getting at.-If I may know, who did you introduce yourself as?

-I said I was the new teacher at the Academy. I think I'm going to have to apologise to her for that.-He said bringing back memories of meeting the nice old lady.

-She didn't say anything?- the dragon asked.-She didn't notice anything?

-No, rather not.- Bleist scratched his head trying to recall the details of his visit.-When I introduced myself she looked a little surprised, but accepted my explanation rather quickly.-He rubbed his chin thinking if there was more to it.-She visibly livened up when I admitted that I had come to talk about you.-He glanced at the apprentice, who suddenly let out a breath and moved on with a more springy step.

-I think master can give up apologising.-The dragon smiled as if wondering whether to say more or keep Darius in suspense.-Auntie can smell a lie a mile away and draw the truth out of someone without asking even a single question. If she spoke to master then she must have found master trustworthy. It is possible that she already suspected what it might be about, and I provided her with the final pieces of the puzzle by telling her why I was away from home for so long.-He shook his head sighing slightly.-I think there will be tea and still hot chocolate cookies waiting for us.-A blissful expression appeared on his face at the very thought of homemade treats.

-Madame Nasua really is that perceptive?- Darius was intrigued. He had met all sorts of people in his life as an agent, but no one had yet seen through his bluffs. He couldn't believe that someone like this old dragoness who seemed to embody simplicity and kindness would be able to see through the lies of a professional. Well, maybe my skills are just a bit rusty already. I haven't worked as a spy since my officer promotion in the Guard. He admonished himself in his mind.

-Even more so.- The boy shook his head.-I haven't seen anyone yet who's capable of deceiving her. It doesn't matter what it's about, she always knows someone is lying.-He smiled amused by some memory that might have illustrated his aunt's resoluteness.-Anyhow, master will see for himself. Of that I am sure.

Darius looked at his pupil and found that he really wasn't lying and was completely honest. Very interesting. I wonder if this could be related to the dragoness's history, or is it some kind of innate sense she has? He thought he would ask her about it if he had the chance.

They walked out into the square where Draco lived. There was no one to be seen at the fountain in the middle, and the windows of the nearby tenements were dark despite the early hour.

-Is it always this quiet here?- Bleist was interested.

-Depends ,- murmured Draco.-It's usually not so quiet, but that may have something to do with the opening of several shops and branches in our district. More often than not, it just means an extra opportunity to have fun, but it's rare that there's no one here.- He added looking towards the fountain. Darius knew perfectly well what his protégé meant. He too didn't like that Pircea's people had disappeared so suddenly.

They approached the door, Draco breathed deeply, looked into his master's eyes and opened the door with a flourish.

-I'm back, auntie!- He darted towards where the living room was.-We have a visitor.- He added when Bleist closed the door gently.-Are you here, auntie?- The dragon moved ahead, not paying attention to anything in the hallway. Darius did notice, however, that some things were lying out of place. However, as they approached the living room, just as Draco had said, the smell of freshly baked chocolate cookies reached him.

The light was on in the lounge and several small naphtha lanterns were lit in the garden. Madame Nasua sat on a wooden bench under an apple tree and sipped her tea with a blissful expression on her face.

-So you found him after all, didn't you, Mr Erik,- she said smiling warmly. She looked him in the eye and patted the seat next to her.-Draco, dear, fetch yourself a chair from the kitchen.

The boy nodded and disappeared into the building. Darius looked at the dragoness, and urged with a nod, sat down next to her on the bench.

-I was wondering how long it would take you to reach him.- She took a sip of tea.- Please help yourself.- She pointed to a cup standing on the table and a plate with still-warm cookies.

-Thank you.- Darius sipped while tasting the excellent brew.-I must apologise to you.

-Ah, you have nothing to be sorry for.- Nasua waved her hand dismissing his attempt to take up the topic.-You don't have to say anything colonel.

Bleist chuckled with another sip. How does she know? It ran through his thoughts. He turned back to her. She was smiling staring at a surprised Darius.

-Please don't be so surprised. It wasn't hard to guess given what had happened to Draco and the fact that the Atlantean Embassy was scrambling around trying to sort things out quietly. Add to that the fact that my nephew was escorted out of the Academy accompanied by armed guards.- She shrugged her shoulders as if explaining the fact that two plus two makes four.- I also suspect to what I owe your visit.- She put both hands around her teacup and gazed into the amber liquid.- He smiled.- She whispered after a moment, when some rustling and the sound of furniture being rearranged came from the house.- It had been a long time since he had looked so pleased and moved.- Darius wanted to speak, but fell silent when she put her hand on his arm.- Please tell me why you have come to ask me to put him in your care? What do you want from him? What do you feel?- She looked deeply into his eyes and he felt that there was no way to get past the truth or even to understate something.

-At first...- He started without fully realising why he was talking. How does she do it? It flashed through his thoughts.-It was a coincidence. I was intrigued by his appearance. A black dragon, a rarity. I had never met one before. Plus the golden eyes. Something I had never heard of.- The words flowed and Darius lost control of what he was saying, what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it.- I felt I had to meet him, that he was important. I was looking for him, but when I found him he had already unleashed his power. I was fascinated, but I also knew I couldn't leave him alone. Later, orders came in relation to a report on him.- He dried his mouth, but he couldn't stop, couldn't take his gaze off the dragoness's emerald eyes.- I followed the orders, but when I learned more about him, about how the other dragons were treating him, I thought it would be better for him if he moved somewhere else, somewhere where he could grow.- Bleist was horrified. He, a person who was a strong mage, a trained spy, a colonel of the Azure Guard, a military advisor to the Grand Master, could not resist the influence of the old woman sitting next to him. Draco had said that no one had managed to lie to her yet, and she could make anyone tell the truth. He didn't know what was happening, he wasn't in control of his own body. He could only speak.- When I saw what a talent he had, I felt that I would like him to be my apprentice. For a long time I didn't realise I was feeling it. It wasn't until today when he first addressed me master that I knew I had been waiting for this moment from the time I saw him in the harbour on the Verde.- He was telling the truth, although he didn't fully realise it himself. He had managed to forget some of the feelings, but still, when Nasua told him to tell the truth he spoke it all.- He is my first apprentice and I want you to agree to that. I know Draco is going to become a great mage and I want to help him do that. I can't imagine him being stifled here by superstitious professors and humiliated by spoilt brats. He has potential beyond many, he just needs to be pushed in the right direction, shown the right path, guided and helped to grow. I can do this, even though I have never taken anyone under my wing before, although I have been asked to do so many times. I feel I am the right person to do this. Something tells me that I can understand him, find a common language with him, become a true master for him.- He fell silent, and madame Nasua stared into his eyes for a moment more. Why did I say all that? How does she do it? He still could not move, only to stare into the emerald eyes that seemed to see inside him, to look at what the magicians called the source, to see his true face. Finally she let go of his arm and looked away.

-Pardon me, but I had to know.- The dragoness said quietly.- I didn't want anything bad to happen to him, something that would hit him again, but you, however, really feel that this is the way it should be and you want the best for him.- Darius was confused, he didn't know what had just happened. He had never heard of such a are a good man and I think you will be a good master for him.- She took his hand gently.- You have my blessing, I entrust you with taking care of Draco.- She smiled.

-Thank you...- He murmured after a moment, when he had recovered a little from what had just happened.-What...how...did you do that?

-Oh, please don't worry about it. It's such an old dragon trick that has long been forgotten.-She shrugged her shoulders and took a sip from her cup.-It's kind of a secret in our family, passed down from mother to daughter. Really don't worry about it and...- She glanced at him.- Could you keep it a secret? I wouldn't want anyone to know about it.

-I...- Bleist swallowed his saliva thinking about it.-Well, I won't tell anyone.

-Thank you, colonel.- She looked up when Draco entered the living room, trying to manoeuvre the heavy chair so as not to snag on anything in the room. Darius wondered how long it had been since the dragon had gone to fetch it.-Oh, you were in no hurry.- Nasua frowned as she watched the boy place the piece of furniture, sit down in the chair and pour himself some tea.

-You shouldn't have left so many biscuits in the kitchen.- The dragon muttered looking somewhere over his aunt's shoulder.- Anyway...- He glanced at Darius and at Nasua, blinked a few times and sighed with resignation.- It's all settled now, isn't it?- He raised an eyebrow staring at his aunt.

-I don't know if there was anything to sort out.-The dragoness shrugged her shoulders, but the same carefree fires lit up in her eyes that Bleist had seen during their first meeting.-We just had a nice chat with your master, didn't we?- She glanced obliquely at Darius.

-Yes, of course.- The mage was quick to respond.-A very nice one.

-Auntie, you didn't do anything to my master, did you?- Draco asked suspiciously.

-Where did you get that from? -The woman waved her hand absentmindedly.-We have two more things to talk about, anyway.-She said before the boy had a chance to speak again.-Have you already planned when you are leaving? -She turned to Bleist with a carefree smile, ignoring her nephew rolling his eyes.

-Please call me by my first name.- Darius decided not to pry into what had happened a few moments before.- Unfortunately, I must admit that my duties do not allow me to stay too long in Dagos. And so my leave has already dragged on for a few days, so I would like to leave as early as possible tomorrow.- He turned towards his apprentice and noticed that the latter was sitting holding two cookies and blinking looking at his master.- I hope... that won't be a problem.- He mouthed trying not to laugh.

-Try the cookies while they're still there.- Nasua muttered poking Darius with her elbow.-I guarantee that in a few minutes there won't be any left and there are not even crumbs left in the kitchen.

-This...- Draco swallowed the cookie with difficulty and sipped it with his tea coughing slightly.-It won't be a problem, I'll pack later today, so I'll be ready first thing in the morning.- He shifted his gaze from his master to his aunt and then lowered it to the ground.-I'd like to ask for something though...- He took up quietly.

-You want to meet Jeviev and explain everything to her.- Bleist stated as if out of the blue.-I don't see any problem, by the way, I could also use a little more time to pack... It would also be useful to wake up Othis and say goodbye to him, otherwise for the next ten years he'll be reproaching me for not doing so.- He shook his head imagining what he would have to go through trying to placate his friend.- Gizel is probably gone by now, so that will be one less problem.- He sighed smiling at the sight of his student's relieved face. That was a good decision. He thought while feeling some indefinable warmth.

-Well, at least we got all the things I wanted to talk about sorted out.- Nasua announced clapping her hands.-Your friend was looking for you about two hours ago, she said she needed to talk to you.- She said as Darius and Draco focused their gazes on her. -She said she would be waiting for you where you always hide.

The young dragon's eyes suddenly widened, and he tensed as if he wanted to momentarily break into flight, but instead looked at his master mutely asking for permission.

-Go- said Bleist, and his apprentice jumped into the middle of the lawn within fractions of a second, changed into his dragon form and with a powerful swing of his wings soared momentarily over the rooftops of the tenements and disappeared into the darkening sky, leaving only dust floating after the take-off.-I have to admit, this is impressive.- said the mage wondering if any other dragon would be able to do it as quickly and smoothly as his apprentice.

-Practice makes perfect.- Said Nasua unmoved, but in her eyes Bleist saw admiration and pride.-But you can't deny him talent and ability either.-She added taking a sip from her cup.-On another subject...-She took up unexpectedly forcing the mage to return from the world of his reflections to reality.- I would like to discuss a few details about your departure, Darius.- She smiled warmly, and Bleist involuntarily felt that the dragoness could adapt to anything and act momentarily depending on the situation.