and link my arm through his, walking so close to his side that we’re almost touching. It’s apparently enough, because he relaxes his wings. I feel his tail snake around my lower leg and glance up to find him looking intently down at me. He’s being naughty. I can tell by the overly innocent look on his face. I let it slide and let him guide me out of the room because I’m starting to like him way too much.
Sweet Affection
Borak
I have been spared an assignment in order to focus on my clade and queens. I have no wish to perform menial tasks that can be done by single warriors. I will keep my skills sharp and save my energy for sparring and real life battles. Had I no queen to worry about, I would embrace such work. Right now my job is to lure this beautiful queen who wishes to be mine.
We begin with a tour of the bridge. Mathadar comes to his feet the moment the doors slide open. “Greetings, Borak, Queen Juliet. What can I do for you this day?”
“I am giving my prospective queen a tour of the ship, and I wish her to see the magnificent feat of Draconian engineering that is our bridge.”
My king hardly misses a beat. “I did not realize Queen Juliet was your prospective mate, but I welcome you both nonetheless.” I know he bears me no ill will. Unlike Roan, I admitted to my misdeeds and accepted my punishment like a male of worth. Our kind has endured great hardships in life with little justice at the hands of our former queens. Therefore, we do not hold grudges against one another. I am as welcome as I ever was by my king and fellow warriors.
Eager to be helpful, our king walks with us from one console to another elaborating on my simple explanations regarding the function of each station. Mathadar is smooth, and if were not for him being our king, I would not wish him so near my queen.
Then I notice that my queen does not look at Mathadar, communicating with nods and short answers to his questions. She is angry with him, and I can guess the reason. It seems that everyone in my life is upset about my punishment and they blame everyone but the correct person. I must find a way to make them see the person in the wrong is me.
We take our time walking through section after section of the ship. Queen Juliet is but little interested in the workings of our battleship, electing instead to ask me questions about my service. I tell her tale after tale of the before times, how I came to breed my sons and of our daring escape. These stories seem to hold her enthralled.
Finally, we enter my favorite room on the ship. Pleased to find the cartography room empty, I turn on a holographic map that spans the ceiling of the gigantic space. My queen turns around in a circle, intent on getting a thorough look at the various galaxies on display.
“Would you like to see the path this vessel is taking from Earth to Onello?”
“Of course. That would be amazing.”
I make a few adjustments on the console, and the galaxies reorient. Our current trajectory lights up, with a blimp that represents our ship making slow but steady pace to Onello.
“We really are nearly there.” Grabbing my hand, she pulls me over to a bench. “What’s your home world like? I’ve read a little in the database, but I’m curious about where you live.”
“Those of with us old blood were gifted with vast and valuable mountain holdings. Kryos chose his land first and I chose second. All the others picked over what was left.”
“What drew you to your parcel?”
I smother back a smile. “Our territory is not a parcel. Our clade holdings encompass hectares of land, an entire mountain, and we have a water tributary that joins with the clade of Kryos. Where my friend prefers to cut his keep roughly from a mountain made of stone, my clade prefers a more modern keep. We too delved into our mountain to make our homes, but we incorporated many modern conveniences such as lifts to take us from one level to another, hot and cold running water, majestic pools to rest our weary bones and balconies where our queens can safely keep watch over our holdings. I have several large fireplaces that burn real wood. It was my