Touch of Flame

Malachi watched Ravina as she spoke to his people. He strained his ears. They were allowing people to test the vegetable peeler for themselves and then they were selling it for a price.

Those who tried were impressed by its simplicity and Ravina gave credit to Boris who then explained that the idea was hers and he only followed it. People passing by stopped, curious to see what was going on. Ravina offered them a peeler and potatoes to try.

Some of them were reluctant even if they were impressed. “I am used to my knife,” an old woman said.

“You can take it for free,” Ravina told her. “See it as a gift from King Malachi.”

Malachi’s eyes widened. Why was she…?

Aaron laughed beside him. “Seems like your Queen is already taking care of you.”

This woman. He couldn’t understand her.

She gave the other old women peelers for free, again telling them it was a gift from him. A man passing by stopped and liked the peeler wanting to buy it for his breedmate as a gift.

“We should wrap it up then,” Ravina said.

They had already prepared all the necessary tools and Ravina wrapped it up for him.

“Your breedmate will be very happy,” Nako told him.

“I hope so,” the man said.

One of the old women who got the peeler for free told Ravina to come by her barber shop and she would give her a free haircut.

Great. Why were they after her hair? She didn’t need any haircut.

“I probably need it. Thank you,” Ravina said.

“Send my gratitude to King Malachi.”

“I will.”

After they sold all the vegetable peelers more people came to hear about it from the old ones. Ravina and Boris apologized that they sold out but told them that more would come and they could come by a few days later. Once everyone left they packed up and Boris decided to give her a share of the money which she refused.

“I gave some for free already. That is a payment enough.”

“Isn’t she impressive?” Aaron asked. “If you don’t want her then…”

Malachi glared at his brother while Aaron stepped back from probably receiving a punch.

“Relax. She is yours,” he chuckled.

****

Ravina was glad once Araminta left. There was just something about her that made her a little uncomfortable. Yes, she was warm and kind and she didn’t dislike her. But she was also passive. It would explain why the sons followed in their father’s footsteps. She was very unlike her own mother in many ways.

Ravina had come here counting on the queen mother but she should have known, that being with Khaos would mean that she would either be like him or be submissive.

Wondering what to do next, Ravina got a visit from Chanan. It felt like forever since she saw him and again he came to visit her and not Malachi.

“How are you doing?” He asked sitting straight on the couch. Again, he only wanted to have water.

“Surviving,” she replied.

He smiled.

“I heard about your ankle,” he said.

“Ah… it is fine, but I couldn’t come to visit because of it.”

He took a sip of his water.

“I saw you in one of my dreams when you were young and I… I was Arshan.”

He tilted him curiously. “How did you know it was me?”

“I called you by your name and you interpreted a dream of mine.” She explained.

He nodded. “Well, I don’t remember many things clearly. It was a long time ago.”

“So, I am Arshan? Then is Malachi Hiroshima?”

“Not necessarily. Just because you are Arshan doesn’t mean Malachi is Hiroshima.”

“Tell me about the third dragon tamer,” she urged.

“Her name was Selene. She was a breedmate of the king of Silver dragons, Fearghal. Selene was a masterful magician. Using magic, she helped her people in many ways. Some people said that she cast a spell on king Fearghal to use him to free her people. It was nothing that upset Fearghal. He always said that she had cast a spell on him and she needed no magic for that.”

Ravina smiled a little.

“They were known to be a strong couple. There is even a whole book of poems written by Fearghal where he praises his breedmate. He was known to be a romantic. With his breedmate, they freed many humans, and over the years they had three sons together.”

He stopped.

“What happened then?” Ravina wondered.

“The usual. There was war and destruction. Fearghal and Selene couldn’t fight for too long and eventually lost their lives. The sons were hunted and killed.”

Ravina frowned, her head throbbing just from hearing the story.

“And you still think I can do this?” She asked him.

“Well, failure is not the same as impossible. We have to fail a few times.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think I can do it. I don’t have the strength. I am losing myself in all of this. I can not only stay mission focused as I thought.”

“You have to live too,” he told her.

“Yes. But where? With who?”

“You are not getting along with king Malachi?”

“It is not about getting along. I could do that but…” she took a deep breath not knowing how to explain herself.

“I just don’t understand. People here tell their children that humans kill dragons, not telling them why and how. They say humans were kind to them while calling them their slaves in the same sentence yet they were angry for some reason. Everyone is a victim here despite the fact that humans don’t know their location while my people are living in constant fear of when they are going to be attacked next. So when I see king Malachi and knowing who he is and knowing he had been king for six years, I just feel angry.”

Chanan nodded. “Angry with who?”

“With myself mostly.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Would you feel good around someone who terrorized your home? And if you did feel good about it, would you feel good about feeling good?”

Chanan smiled gently with a small nod. “I guess I wouldn’t feel so good about it.”

“You are just agreeing with me,” she said desperately.

“I am not here to disagree. I am here to listen to you.”

“Aren’t you supposed to give me some good advice? Tell me something about your people, your King.”

“What do you want to know?”

“I don’t know. Anything to help me stay sane. I just have a feeling about your King. I am not trying to excuse his behavior nor do I want to but… why do I feel this way then? Something is not going well together in my head.”

“My advice to you would be the same then. Patience. In time you will learn more about others, and yourself, and perhaps then things will go well together.”

“I don’t have time, Chanan,” she whispered. “I feel like running away. Would I be selfish then?”

“Of course not. Just don’t run away unless you have a safe place to be and if you feel like you can’t stay here anymore, you can come to me.”

She sighed. She had nowhere to go. Going back to the castle wasn’t an option. Her cousin was still a danger.

“It is not like I can run far anytime soon with my injured leg,” she joked when she suddenly felt the connection again.

Her sister. Corinna. She was thinking of her.

Oh. Why suddenly after so many years? Ravina was confused. When Chanan left, Ravina went back to her room and thought of her sister, trying to see if she would feel it and think back of her. It wasn’t working this way.

When the sun set, Ravina remembered the mating ceremony. Aaron had told her to dress well. She felt a little nervous and decided to ask Nako and Mara what the ceremony was.

“It is a ritual containing several steps and the pair prove and show their bond to the rest. It is interesting to watch. You will see.” Mara explained.

“Yes. The pair try their best to show that their bond is the strongest. Then they get the title of being the heaven-matched pair,” Nako added.

“Who has that title now?” Ravina wondered.

“It is Georgia and her husband Dias. They are known to be quiet the pair.”

“Yes. And they have had that title for many years now. No one has beaten them. We will see if the couple tonight will.” Mara said.

Ravina nodded. She was more curious now, what it was all about.

“What should I wear?” She asked them.

“Let’s see,” Nako began to go through her chest. “What impression do you want to give?”

“Something subtle, yet impactful and elegant.”

“You want nothing extravagant?”

“No.”

“Alright.” She showed her different dresses and they tried to pair them with the right jewelry to see what they looked like. Ravina felt torn and didn’t know what would be the best choice when Malachi’s mother came by again.

“I came in case you needed help with dressing up,” she said and brought with her a lot of clothes.