Dragon Bone

Charmaine was standing next to the pope. Everyone frozen in horror... that hadn't been mage mana... only legends of their trueborn dragon emperor spoke of divine fire.

Bodin had fallen to his knees, "A divinity in the empire..." while the ascended had eventually been able to wield power no human could... it had never reached that of their predecessor. But this Lord Reece. Even in his human body was able to effortlessly wield mana only the strongest of beasts. Only the legendary dragons of air or sea had been recorded to reach such pinnacles of power.

They watched as with another burst of silver fire, Ashton was no longer wearing court dress, but a silver skirt that had the lightest tinge of red when it caught the light. The necklace choker was a red bird of fire with silver tipped wings that connected behind his neck. The cape was made of silver and red feathers that reached the ground. His silver sandals wrapped up to his knees. The mask remained, and so did the bracelet from the elves, but otherwise he was bare.

Neolani used a spell to freshen Ash up, he nodded his thanks as Agapi laid out. Neolani led Ash to sit between her wings. "Sit, you're clearly exhausted."

Ashton waved her worry away, "It's hard to fly with baby down is all,"

Soon a procession of Inago warriors came with armfuls of boxes, bags, and miscellaneous items. They quickly set out a nest large enough for three full grown men to lay in and placed a silver threaded blanket inside.

Agapi lifted Ashton by his cape and placed him inside the nest, then brought it between her talons with a wing, "Generations will sing praise of your dance, now sit little one. Neolani will groom you."

Ashton fell back laughing, first they treat him as already ascended, now like a baby chick who'd not yet left the nest. "Lady Agapi, you sound like a mother."

Agapi used the back of a talon to flick the youth, "You are younger than even my youngest, and smaller than any I've ever seen. Do the dragonkin not feed you here?"

As if on cue, a dozen Inago warriors stepped forward all fishing out pouches, three knelt before the nest holding out their hands with the pouches for Ashton's perusal.

Ashton selected the largest pouch pulling the string to see inside. Large salted white seeds, Ashton pulled one out and popped in his mouth with a large smile. "Pumpkin seeds, how I have missed them."

The warrior gave a wide grin then ruffled Ash's hair, "Eat well little one, surely one day you will grow."

"Preferably up instead of out." Ashton agreed taking the next pouch, inside were sunflower seeds. "Hahahaha you all know me too well." Ashton laughed tossing several inside his mouth.

The second warrior also patted Ash's hair, "You are a simple one to care for."

After each pouch was accepted the warrior male or female would either rub his hair, pat his head, pat his shoulder, or hold his hand for a brief moment. Soon his nest was full of food pouches from seeds, dried fish, jerkies, sugar cubes, dried fruits, fresh fruits and more.

Ashton glanced around to see himself surrounded to the hips with different offerings, "I think many dream of sleeping in their food... I should be one of the few to make it a reality."

Sebastian was looking over the line still at least 400 strong waiting to make their... offerings? Even the lions were holding, albeit much larger, pouches. All the while the priests were discussing options of having a guardian beast ascend in the capital. All worries apparently gone with the last cloud on the wind.

Sebastian had to work to keep his expression neutral when over a thousand eyes tried to bore into his soul as he approached.

Ashton had set aside four pouches to snack on later, as it was, he was getting sleepy from all the mouthfuls of food he'd already had. Sebastian's approach did not go unnoticed as Neolani, Alexei and half a dozen warriors stood straighter facing him.

Sebastian hesitated just a moment before stepping to the side of the line, "My name is Sebastian Carlos, Duke of the Carlos house. If there is not enough room in the eastern palace, the Carlos Duchy has several villas available for the Inago Pride." Sebastian offered a formal bow.

Neolani looked the noble up and down, then focused on his dragon bone cane. She let her eyes rest on the ornament for just a moment, then the greeting procession continued. "The offer will be considered, Duke Carlos. I am Neolani Pasvantis, Ember of the Guardian, and Regina of the Pride." Neolani did not bow but gave the barest hint of a nod.

Sebastian finally gave in looking down at Ashton who was swimming in food pouches... "Lord Reece... perhaps we might have a few servants bring some of your snacks to the eastern palace?"

Ashton had his arms over the edge of the nest as he laid out to accept offerings while giving easy access to his very disheveled hair. Ashton glanced up as another large hand ruffled his hair as he ate a dried persimmon slice. "No need."

A moment later three quartz stones were placed just outside the nest in a triangle formation, then a rift in space opened just large enough for Ashton to start tossing snack pouches in.

"This way they are always available." Ashton added as the next warrior stepped up. Roasted pheasant with a homemade recipe. Ashton deliberately looked up... this was the first offering of meat.

The warrior rolled his eyes, "I know you eat bird meat," Ash broke out tossing a piece into his mouth while the warrior ruffled his hair exaggeratedly.

It's not like Ashton couldn't eat meat. Humans were omnivores.

Sebastian watched the interaction, "You appear... very familiar with the Pride."

Ashton glanced up, "Of course, they have carried my unofficial blessings for over twenty years."

Sebastian saw the firm smile in Ashton's eyes and wasn't sure how to respond... Ashton was reportedly only 17 years old. "You've aged well." He offered glancing around.

The entire pride and even the gryphons burst into laughter. Alexei let a ghost of a smile out as he looked over Ashton, "Very well, if I do say so myself."

Bodin overheard the conversation was this smile to the pride increase three points, "Lord Reece, we would be honored to house the pride in the palace chapel."

Ashton let his smile fall as he turned away from the priests. Nor did he protest when Neolani directed her spear at Bodin's throat.

"One more step, heathen, and our faiths will be tested." She growled threateningly. Of course she knew what this monsters did with their captives... if this were the savannah. Neolani would rip the man's head from his shoulders, mount it on a spike, ensure his soul was destroyed beyond all hope of reincarnation, then salt the earth for a mile in all directions.

Bodin stopped, his smile remained but his glance fell on the youth. Clearly, his feathers still ruffled. "The Lindorm and Pride faiths are not mutually exclusive," Bodin hedged as the procession of gifts continued. Dragons were the king of all beasts, even lesser dragons were hierarchically superior to gryphons. If the tribe was this hostile, they had to act fast.

Neolani sneered, "Do not insult us, we do not beg like petulant children to a beast of greed. We strive to bring honor to our deities, not only do you suck their lifeblood, you do not even let their corpses off."

The watching nobility glared, even Lucian stood up at the afront. Suddenly all the brands of the Inago gave a brief flare.

Ashton stretched in his nest drawing the attention of any who could see him, "Speak with caution, your dragon isn't here to defend you." He informed letting his silver eyes flash over the priests. His arms were folded over the edge of the nest while he rested his head.

Bodin's smile was clearly forced, "Lord Reece, there must be some misunderstandings," suddenly flames caught the edge of his robe.

"Misunderstanding? Yet in your sleeve is a dragon heart, your second uses a dragon fang, and even your third uses a dragon bone sword forged from the founding ancestor. For them to be so... lively even after 700 years means they were taken while the beast still lived." Ashton sneered in absolute disgust.

Lucian paled while Jaxon actually stepped away from the priest... if what Ashton said was true...

Bodin lost his smile, "That is nonsense, who would dare." Suddenly the flames weren't just on his sleeves but burned through his skin. Bodin tried to swat the flames away, then used holy mana but nothing affected the silver flames.

"What you barbarians do with your deities is no concern of mine, but if anything happens to those with my blessings... even your souls will burn." Ashton informed as the flames branded not just Bodin's arms from the elbows down, his mana channels, and even his soul.

Neolani withdrew her spear, "Clearly you are only hoping to deceive another foolish higher-level guardian to revitalize that wretched dragon heart. I have little doubt that is why so many of your priests have been looking for the dragon heart that was coincidentally released not too long ago."

Alexei also gave a snort, "I do recall another such incident twenty years ago or so, they do appear like clockwork."

Jaxon paled at the implication, many royal children were often sent to the church because of their unusual dragon mana... most were claimed to have died from not being able to control the mana. Some were returned so sickly they were unable to speak dying withing days. He also recalled that yes, there were consistent lesser dragon attacks on the empire, or the empire would always volunteer to help. He turned to Lucian who was staring at the priests.

Lucian had been taken to the church and almost tortured to death for three years as they tried to stimulate his inner dragon... the dragon heart had always been present... it wasn't until after the dragon hunt that his torment had changed from physical to psychological. Within days he'd nearly broken... the unending darkness, hands clawing at him, voices endlessly screaming at him... a year later his mother had been executed. Revenge had been his only tether to sanity... and that was questionable at best sometimes.

Ashton gave a beaming smile at the writhing pope, "Do you still wish to clear up any misunderstandings?" When the arms contained brands of heresy along every inch of skin Ashton let the flames die out. The burns already looked several years old as the patterns became distinct from the tips of each finger up to the elbows.

Bodin stared at the youth, that information had only been made available after he became the pope. Not even the emperors were made aware of the information. He didn't dare touch anything. His flesh may have stopped melting, but the sensation persisted. For some reason he couldn't understand, the lack of smell disturbed him more than any truth of the empire ever had. His arms were covered in what looked like decade old scars... but all he could smell was the still damp grass of the garden...

Neolani glanced over the young prince who looked as pale as death, "Perhaps the faithful of the Lindorm should make a few... inquiries." She added then waved the next warrior over to continue their offerings.

Charmaine stared at Bodin, all three of them. There had always been rumors... but the sudden invitations to have Serafin and Natasha spend a year or two learning in the cathedral had much more insidious undertones. She was suddenly grateful Lucian had refused to even entertain the idea.

Even though Wilbert and Promise were visibly shaken from the revelations, they helped Bodin to excuse themselves. Promise glanced over her shoulder and met Ashton's eyes even through her veil, he gave a nonchalant smile before he went back to accepting the gifts.