Chapter 60: The Dragon's Hoard Part 1

Chapter 60: The Dragon's Hoard Part 1

Daniel approaches the dining table as he finishes fastening his armor. Hekate rests on his back as he carries her effortlessly. She greets everyone as they're taking their seats for breakfast. “Good mmmyorninnng,” yawns Hekate.

“Good morning, your Greatness,” replies Ryuogriar. “I'm surprised Daniel was able to rest.”

Hekate lays her ears back as she grimaces at the dragon. “I'll have you know, Daniel and I did unspeakable things together last night.”

“'Unspeakable' because there's nothing to speak of, yes?”

“Hrk! Why you... You insolent lizard! I'll chew your face off!”

Daniel extracts Hekate from his back, holding her out in front of himself for a moment. “Now, Hekate, don't ruin your appetite on faces. Take your seat and pretend you're an empress for a bit in front of the guests.”

Hekate flinches, and she glances at the women of the Stalvaltan family, who are awkwardly watching the spectacle.

The young feldrok empress springs out of Daniel's grip, dropping to her feet and standing proud. “Good morning, everyone. I hope you were able to rest comfortably in my castle.”

“Uh... Yes,” replies Aramellianna, exercising every bit of her composure and practiced noble grace. “Your Greatness Hekate, thank you for your hospitality. I hope your own rest was restorative and comfortable.”

“It was, thank you.” Daniel pulled Hekate's chair out, and she climbed up onto it. Daniel pushes her chair in and takes his own as she says chipperly, “Thank you, Darling!”

Hekate then huffs, “Now then, Ryuo, what's this I hear about you wanting to return to the dragon's keep?”

“Hmm?” asks the seniormost dragon.

“Daniel told me last night.” Hekate crosses her arms and looks away. “It sounds like an adventure, so I obviously intend to accompany him.”

“Ah. I thought you were trying to get rid of me again.” Ryuogriar dabs bread crumbs from her lips with her napkin, explaining as she prepares her waffles with syrup. “I have some personal effects still in the keep. Mukori offered to retrieve them on our behalf in order to avoid us risking being cursed again.”

“Cursed?” asks Bunnrimae curiously.

“Indeed,” replies Ryuogriar. She looks to Daniel, asking gently, “Mukori, how much of our story can we share?”

Daniel asks Xyreko as she sits beside Ryuogriar, even though she can't partake in food. “Xyreko, can the curse be replicated by anyone outside of the Citadel?”

“I do not know that I could replicate it, my Lord. Since its true nature was lost upon inoculation, I doubt anyone else could reverse engineer it.”

Aramellianna offers, “I have no intention of threatening the dragons who are allied with you, your Grace. We will explore defenses, but curses are far beyond our house’s specialty.”

“A-A-And you don’t have to worry about me making any, Dan-um, your Grace!” adds Wenlianna urgently. “I didn’t even really want to help with the air pulse cannon. For which I’m still very sorry, Great Aunt Reina.”

“It’s fine, Wenlianna. Thank you for telling me more about my sister’s descendants.”

Wenlianna blushes and nods.

Daniel adds, “And, you don’t have to be so formal with me. I’m still just Daniel.”

Aramellianna replies warmly, “Forgive us, your Grace. You may not favor formalities, but we must remain practiced and disciplined for the courts where it is not optional.”

Daniel nods. “As you wish, your Grace. Just know I object.”

Ryuogriar then explains, “Then, allow me. Thanks to the treachery of the Red Dragon, Morthybargaron, he betrayed the feldroks and led to their destruction in hopes of conquering the Citadel. However, the Feral Feldrok was able to repel him alone before he could take control, leaving the Citadel uninhabitable until Mukori -that is to say-, Daniel arrived. As well as Hekate.” She fidgets with her meal for a moment using her fork, and she adds softly, “The curse began around the time when the Citadel became uninhabitable. We female dragons began having almost no success even conceiving an egg. What few were successfully conceived were celebrated... until they hatched. The curse made both male and female dragons nearly infertile, and any hatchlings had their infantile defenses amplified.” She trails off, trying to be a little cryptic. Her expression darkens a little.

Daniel puts a hand on her shoulder, asking gently, “May I?”

She nods, and Daniel continues the explanation. “Infant dragons can breathe a little fire, but their main defense is a venom. Like most infants, they chew on everything, so I’ve heard, including their own tails. Normally, their venom is weak enough that they can survive, but learn a painful lesson not to chew on themselves. Under the curse, that was no longer the case. As one of the conditions for our uniting with the dragons, Xyreko inoculated the surviving dragons from the curse.”

“It was Morthybargaron’s fault,” states Geirahoel coldly. “His sins destroyed one race and nearly another. It’s surprising we weren’t hunted to extinction by all of the other races.”

There’s an awkward coldness for a moment. Daniel continues, “The curse spread from the Dragon Lord to the other dragons through contact. Since he was the lord, he was also trying to... uh, sow his oats, so to speak.”

“Meaning he came into contact with all of the other dragons either directly or indirectly,” murmurs Aramellianna as she pieces it together.

“You believe the curse lingers on objects as well?” asks Yanidere.

Ryuogriar looks down, and Geirahoel chooses to respond. “I... believe we’re all afraid that’s the case, so we haven’t asked...” She pets the two eggs that are now at either side of her in special highchairs made for them. “Trinkets and gold aren’t worth it.” Reignleif and Ryuogriar nod in agreement with the young dragon.

“But, if one of us unaffected by the curse were to explore, the risk is negated,” adds Treia, nodding as she figures out what they’re talking about.

Ryuogriar confirms, “Indeed. We will observe through Daniel’s helmet and guide him through telepathy.”

Vaergraes asks gently, “My Lady Dragons, I understand your caution, but if the curse can be dispelled, could it not be dispelled again?”

All three of them glance at each other, fidgeting quietly.

Hekate sighs. “They don’t want to take any chances that the eggs will suffer.” She teases dryly, “You dragons are a superstitious bunch.”

Geirahoel pouts, “You’d be cautious, too.”

“True! So then, Grand Duchess, what are your plans from here?”

“Me? Oh, your Greatness, I... I suppose we’ll have to return to the Grand Duchy.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Actually, I don’t see why you couldn’t come with us!” She looks at Daniel, grinning at him.

“I doubt they want to risk it, Hekate.”

“But, if we have more people, we could carry more magic bags and bring more treasure back!”

“We could bring goblins and ogres for that.”

“And, there could be hostiles present,” adds Xyreko. “It’s likely the Covenant tribes will already be trying to raid the keep.”

Hekate frowns. She hadn’t thought of that.

“It’s not easy to get to,” offers Reignleif.

Vaergraes adds, “She’s right. Wyverns won’t approach the keep, and dragons are the only ones that can reliably control drakes and wingdrakes. Even if they could get individuals in, it would only be individuals.”

“We also had cultists serving us,” adds Geirahoel. “They worship dragons and gave us treasure because of something in the past older than any of us. I doubt they could be convinced we’re dead. And, they definitely won’t side with the demons in place of us.”

“If I may, uh, your Grace, what of the dragons that aren’t present here?” asks Gwenesphia.

Ryuogriar is the one to answer the gatonine lieutenant. “Many of them are lying low in the Citadel or far away villages and avoiding conflict or responsibility. To my knowledge, they are avoiding the keep in case Daniel revives Morthybargaron, who was violently protective of his treasure.”

“Our focus is on retrieving personal effects for Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel,” replies Daniel. “We’ll collect everything else if the danger is minimal, but we can survive without treasure.”

Yanidere elbows Wenlianna gently, and the latter flinches. She blushes, finally speaking up. “Um, your Grace, your Greatness, I... I would like to accompany you on this expedition.”

Everyone looks at her, and Aramellianna asks, “Wenlianna?”

“I’m certain, Mother. I trust Daniel’s -e-excuse me,- Emperor Daniel’s companions, since he trusts them. I may be a burden, but I will gladly help however I can.”

The Grand Duchess sighs. “I agree, though this is highly abnormal. Still, abnormal has benefitted the Grand Duchy under your watch, my dear Wenlianna.” Wenlianna’s sisters all nod in agreement, confirming for Daniel that the diamonds and anything else Wenlianna has been producing have been providing substantial income.

“Lady Wenlianna,” starts Daniel. “I can’t guarantee your safety completely.”

“There shouldn’t be any traps, other than the cultists,” replies Ryuogriar.

“They won’t bother you if we give you our seal,” adds Reignleif. She casts a small spell, creating a simple little trinket that looks kind of like a dream-catcher on a blue dragon scale. “If they won’t listen, they’re not our allies.” She passes the trinket to Hekate, who passes it to Daniel. It’s not string or yarn forming the ‘webbing’ on the scale, but lines of small, gem-like sand.

Reignleif adds softly, “Their mages will be able to tell it’s mine, Mukori.”

“I figured. But, I was actually admiring the design.”

She blushes. Ryuogriar and Geirahoel quickly create their own as well, while Reignleif explains, “Um... Don’t get it wet. The crystals are my venom.”

Hekate suddenly flinches, leaning away from the scale. “Y-Your venom!? You tell me after I touched it!?”

Daniel chuckles as the others watch him nervously, excluding Ryuogriar and Geirahoel, who finish their own, blushing at each other that they had the same idea. “I’m sure it’s fine, Hekate. If it’s like table salt, it’d have to be submerged to dissolve completely. And, am I safe in assuming the poison isn’t easily absorbed in the skin?”

She looks down, but nods. “Sorry...”

“No, it was all a misunderstanding. I was impressed that you were able to make use of it.”

“But, you didn’t trust me enough...”

Hekate comes to the rescue, saying, “It was never about you, Wenlianna. Your family banners were carried by soldiers we thought were trying to assassinate Daniel. Daniel was always certain you could be trusted. And, if you were enslaved to produce his technology, terrible things could be made.” Hekate looks around, saying quietly, “Xyreko, make sure no one comes in here.”

Xyreko replies from nearby, “Of course, my Lady.”

Hekate faces Wenlianna and says seriously, “Daniel created a god-killing weapon worse than his dragonslaying staff. It’s the reason everyone in the world lost their magic for a brief moment a couple months ago.”

Wenlianna looks at Daniel as it sinks in, her eyes wide with shock. Hekate nods, “Yes. We were killing a very dangerous and powerful monster that even all of the dragons and the demon queen couldn’t defeat. Daniel turned it into a crater. Even Daniel’s dragonslaying staves could become dangerous weapons in the wrong hands.”

Daniel jokes, “Maybe we should bring you in here permanently, if only to protect you from being imprisoned.”

Hekate chuckles, but Wenlianna blushes softly. “Would you?” asks Wenlianna quietly.

“What?”

“Would you... consider taking me as a wife? I-If, hypothetically speaking... I did have feelings for you?”

Daniel cocks his head, and Hekate watches him, resisting her own urge to make an outburst for some reason. Daniel glances at the feldrok girl, and she huffs, crossing her arms. “Don’t look at me for help. I already gave my blessing for her to be a mistress.” She points at Wenlianna, sternly snipping, “But, I will be his first wife, his true Empress, and his favorite.”

Wenlianna blushes and looks at the ground.

Daniel sighs gently. He takes a seat on the ground, trying to think. “D-Daniel?”

“I don’t understand it.”

“I’m sorry...”

“It’s not you, Wenlianna. I just... I don’t understand.”

“Allow me, Darling,” coos Hekate as she takes a seat next to him. “Power draws people to you. Your kindness keeps them.”

“If that’s the case, you should have men crowding around you,” jokes Daniel dryly.

She smiles. “And, they would all be my minions. I don’t always like the idea of sharing you, but it made me sad when I realized... you don’t have anyone to care about on Earth. And, if they’re your family, they can be my family, too...” She suddenly perks up, pointing at him fiercely. “Don’t tell Ryuo I said that.”

Daniel chuckles, and Wenlianna kneels in front of them. “Daniel, I have thought about it since Hekate mentioned it yesterday. And, I’ve been thinking about... you, ever since you were taken away that day... I was so happy to see you again...” She wipes tears from her eyes, trying to recover her composure. “I only realized it after you were gone. I... I... I love you... Daniel...” She begins crying, and she throws her arms around Daniel’s neck, hugging him as she cries. Daniel gently hugs her, doing his best to comfort her.

“Heh heh heh heh!” cackles Hekate as she rubs her hands together. “Soon, the Grand Duchy of Stalvaltan and its greatest Magic Artisan shall be in my pocket. Heeheeheehee!”

Daniel scoffs and rolls his eyes with a smile. Wenlianna murmurs from his shoulder, “If I can be with Daniel, then you may have me, Hekate.”

Hekate puts her fists on her hips, saying proudly as her tail swishes back and forth. “Perhaps this harem is really mine. Mm-hmm.” She frowns, glaring lightly at Daniel. “Since my husband won’t touch me in a wifely manner.”

“Where I come from, I’d go straight to jail, Hekate.”

“So? We’re not there! We’re in the Fievegal now. I’m creating a new law; Daniel must marry me immediately and do unspeakable things. The end.”

“Laws don’t usually have ‘the end’ in them.”

Hekate growls impotently as she swings her hands at him harmlessly. “Shush you! You’re digging a very deep hole for yourself.”

Daniel chuckles. “I’ll take my chances.”

Wenlianna chuckles as well. “Thank you, Hekate. Daniel? Will you?”

Daniel sighs. “I care a lot about you, Wenlianna. I’m sure I’ll come to love you. If this crazy situation is fine with you, then I will.”

Hekate chuckles as she hugs his neck from beside him. “You love it, Daniel.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He smiles and adds softly, “I guess I do.”

Wenlianna nods. “Thank you, Daniel. I will accept this situation because no one else captured my heart, and no one else can capture my heart.”

Daniel smiles and flops onto his back. “I feel like an ancient emperor on Earth...”

Hekate snickers. “You are an emperor here, my darling.”

“There’s no way I actually qualify...”

“Well, until we’re both assassinated, you’re the Emperor of the Fievegal.”

“Whenever you need a break, you can hide in my lab, Daniel,” teases Wenlianna. “Oh, and, may I have a lab, please?”

“Consider it done,” replies Hekate proudly. She says a little bashfully, “The Citadel has a lot of unused space, still...”

All three of them chuckle together.

Wenlianna asks a little sheepishly, “Daniel... Hekate, can... I be considered part of the family now?”

Hekate cocks her head, and she replies, “Of course. I think so. You were already someone special to Daniel.”

“Thank you... The... eggs Ladies Ryuogriar, Reignleif, and Geirahoel have...”

“Whooo! Look at the time,” exclaims Daniel as he tries to climb to his feet. Hekate pounces him, shouting, “No you don’t! Answer the question, Daniel!”

“Assume what you want!” replies Daniel as he wrestles Hekate off of his back.

“I’m just curious,” adds Wenlianna sheepishly. “One of them... is my relative... I think.”

Hekate perks up as she keeps Daniel from rising to his feet. “You mean Reina’s? Yeah, you’re right. They’ll be your... Cousins? Daniel, what would they be?”

“I don’t know. Distant cousins, I think, since there are so many generations between them.”

Hekate rests her chest on the back of Daniel’s head, laying on him like a lounging sofa. “Wait, did you say ‘they’?” asks Wenlianna.

Hekate sighs. “Yes. Reina has another one in her belly.”

“O-Oh... I guess...” She gasps. “Lady Geirahoel... She was so thin this morning...”

The feldrok empress cocks her head curiously, flopping her big triangular ears to the side. “Did you just think Reina and Geira were fat?”

Wenlianna blushes sheepishly, avoiding eye contact. “Yeeuo... Don’t tell them that. Or, praise them for their eggs.”

Hekate hits Daniel’s leg with her tail in irritation. “Daniel, you did that to them.”

“So...”

“The second two,” replies Daniel sincerely. “I only helped for the first eggs for all three of them.”

Wenlianna smiles softly. “I see... Then, you probably won’t want any additional children...”

Hekate smirks. “Daniel is an emperor. He has to have lots of children. Though, ours will be the heirs to the Fievegal. I don’t know how it works, but yours can be the heirs to the Grand Duchy.”

Wenlianna looks at Daniel, and he chuckles nervously. “I wouldn’t consider it if I didn’t have access to the Citadel. Xyreko is a huge help with everything. And, that goes for... being with multiple women as well.” He sighs. “I definitely like the idea of having children. The dragons were in a tight spot to begin with, and they asked nicely. Shek and Skloe asked nicely. Though, lessons were learned with them.”

Hekate scoffs. “You get what you deserve, Daniel,” teases the feldrok girl.

He chuckles, “Yeah, I guess I do.”

“D-Did something happen?”

Hekate smirks, and Daniel remarks dryly as he holds his chin up with his elbow on the floor. “Goblins are extremely well-evolved experts at having children.”

***