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Uh oh. I foresaw a lecture on the horizon, one that my parents would deliver with witnesses. “I try not to break any of the rules here.”
“You have abided by all the rules we expect humans to follow,” Phillip assured me. “The rules for dragon-kin are the same unless they have awakened a dangerous power. But the idea of the rules remains the same. Dragons have different rules, but that’s only to be expected. Our powers are stronger—and more dangerous.”
As I already worked to keep my heritage hidden, I decided I wouldn’t worry much over the titanium dragon’s commentary. I pulled out my phone and made a note to myself to check if any of the pilgrims had violated the rules that humans and dragon-kin needed to follow while within Dragon Heights.
The vigilante angle made a great deal of sense, especially if the culprit was someone with an opinion on the type of person who should grow into a dragon’s power.
Compiling the public criminal records of the victims would help somewhat—and I would interrogate my parents on what they knew about the situation and hadn’t told me.
My mother stopped and pointed at a paler stone in the pathway. “Orange dragons brought these stones. Several of our pilgrims flew them in from the heart of Africa. It was quite the show of strength.”
My father snorted. “Stupidity, more like. They lost three dragons to that expedition. When orange dragons challenge the sea, they lose.”
“Please do not transform and kill each other and everyone around you,” I requested, wondering if my words would make a difference. While my parents glared at each other, they did behave. Well, mostly.
To those who didn’t know them well, my parents were on the edge of homicide. In reality, they needed to find a hotel room and relieve their tension in other ways. That the titanium dragon and his son failed to understand they postured amused me.
When my parents had a dispute, they took care to keep things excessively cordial and calm.
Neither wanted to hurt the other—or hurt those who happened to be in the line of fire.
Once we ditched Phillip and Cedrick, we needed to talk about their behavior, how everyone seemed to know of them, and what was going on. More importantly, why did Phillip care what my parents thought about Garnet? I petted both the carbunclo and the bird, and I made a show of examining the stones we walked on. A pink rock caught my attention, and I pointed at it. “What’s this one?”
“Strawberry quartz,” my father informed me, coming to my side and crouching beside the stone in question. “These were imported from China, brought over by a smaller clan of pink dragons. They were wise and hired a cargo ship for their venture, although they flew the quartz over. They did not take the same risks that the orange dragons took, using the ship as a place to rest while another dragon took over the hauling duty. Of the ventures to bring stones, the pink dragons garnered the most respect for their strategic planning and dedication towards bringing the best raw materials for Shrine Hill. They brought a great deal more than they needed, and the shrine sells crystals from the same mine. Their flight consisted of fifty dragons, and they hauled far more than was necessary. One of the leftover crystals would make an excellent heritage stone for your little one.”
I joined my father, and I patted the stone before saying, “Garnet, would you like a stone like this one? If the shrine has one for sale, I will get it for your collection.”
The carbunclo jumped down from my shoulder and investigated the pink stone, her ears pricked forward and her tail held high. After a moment, she made a few inquisitive squeaks.
I could guess what she wanted to ask. “I’ll buy it for you because you were such a good girl and helped this morning with the bounty work. You can keep your earnings for treats. We can go to the shop to look for kitten milks and get you a few new bottles with your earnings.”
Apparently, I’d guessed what my kitten wanted, as she lost her furry little mind and developed a case of the zoomies, darting to and fro with wild abandon.
Unlike our visit yesterday, there were other people at the shrine, and they stared at us with wide eyes. Garnet took care to dodge the people, and when one of the women leaned over to say hello, the kitten squeaked and fled to me, jumping into my arms. I laughed, petted her, and said, “I’m sorry. She’s not used to people yet.”
“Quite all right,” the woman replied with a smile, and she displayed slightly pointed teeth, something I recognized as a dragon informing others of her race without having to transform on the street. “It is delightful to see her in such a joyful state.” The woman’s gaze turned to Phillip. “It seems you were correct on the proper caretaker of the carbunclo.”
Somehow, I’d become the heart of drama in Dragon Heights, and I wanted to slip back into the shadows of obscurity. As I wasn’t giving up my kitten or bird without a fight, I stood my ground, wondering at the woman’s comment.
The titanium dragon bristled. “I would not give up such a gift lightly.”
My father joined me and whispered into my ear, “That woman is the leader of the copper dragon clans in Dragon Heights along with her mate. Where she goes, he is close behind. He probably visits their shrine. The copper dragons are notorious about status symbols, and they view Garnet as one of the ultimate status symbols. They surely protested some mere human being given such a prize.”
While I appreciated that my father hid my status as both his daughter and a dragon-kin, I would make him pay for his tone regarding regular humans. I cuddled my kitten, and I took care to keep my expression from changing. “It seems you know a great deal about Dragon Heights.”
My father’s low chuckle was full of secrets and amusement. “That I do. Ignore their posturing and come along. I want to show you something.”
I obeyed, and my parents offered the copper dragon a nod, which she returned with a little curtsey before reengaging with Phillip. Cedrick wisely joined us, and he whispered, “I’m so sorry. Lady Amalissia loves picking fights with my father. She is close friends with my mother, but she enjoys egging my father on.”
My mother giggled. “Don’t let those old dragons fool you, Cedrick. They are quite friendly with each other, but they enjoy sparring. It is a safe outlet. Amalissia rules her roost, and your father will one day rule his once his father’s father tires of the job. And don’t let your father fool you about that. He doesn’t want to lead the titanium dragons, at least not yet. One day, perhaps. I would take care to watch your step, as you might end up the one stuck with the burden of rulership.”
Cedrick wilted. “I hope not.”
“That’s why you’re a candidate, just like your father.” My mother patted the dragon-kin’s shoulder. “Do listen to your father’s advice and remember to steer clear of the mercury, platinum, and silver shrines as well. Let’s not start an accidental pilgrimage.”
“I know to avoid the shrines,” Cedrick replied, and it amused me that his cheeks flushed. “You remembered our clan’s heritage?”
I needed to do some investigation into my parents. While I understood dragons tended to know each other, even in a city populated with tens upon tens of thousands of dragons, that my parents seemed to live up to their egos worried me. What had my parents been doing before having me?