Dragons of Aster Cliffs (Chapter 7)

[sidhe_faerie]

 

CHAPTER 7

For the next two weeks, the workman built the sanctuary. Lord Aster would arrive early in the day and would leave as late as he dared. Every day Lady Benna flew to the site with a basket of lunch.

They would sit near the edge of the cliffs overlooking the sea and Atlantis.

“My Lady, you know that it is not necessary to bring me a meal every day. I can share in the workman’s meal.” Lord Aster told her.

“I want to and I need to stretch my wings a little every day. I fear my need to transform is being prolonged by my constant shifting back and forth. Usually after a few weeks as a dragon and I’m ready to be a human again but I’m finding it not to be the case this time.” Lady Benna said.

“I’m sorry. I know you are shifting for my benefit.” Lord Aster said.

“How else will I get to know you?” Lady Benna laughed. “You intrigue me, Lord Aster. You are always so formal and proper. I was hoping that if we spent some time together you would relax a bit. Maybe even court me?”

“I … I don’t know what to say. Your brother said …” Lord Aster looked bewildered.    

“What did he say?” Lady Benna looked annoyed.

“He said there was to be an arranged marriage in your future.” Lord Aster told her reluctantly.

“Oh did he?” Lady Benna said. “I suppose he told you that to keep you from pursuing me?”

“I have no idea what his intent was.” Lord Aster said honestly.

“Well, I do. I shall give him a good piece of my mind on the subject when I get back to the estate. He has no right to even say anything to you about me.” Lady Benna was upset.

“Is it true?” Lord Aster asked.

“Is what true?” Lady Benna was confused.

“That you are going to have an arranged marriage.” Lord Aster clarified.

“There aren’t very many families that would find an advantage to marry a draconian.” Lady Benna said sharply.

“You could marry another draconian or a half draconian.” Lord Aster countered.

Lady Benna laughed. “I will marry who ever and whatever I want. I have no need to marry another draconian and there is only one other fire element family we are not related to. They are completely boring. If I marry another element I run the risk of having a chaotic child that is not an elemental. That is not fair to the child or anyone else to be honest.” 

“I didn’t know there was that much of a problem for different elements to marry and procreate.” Lord Aster said as he blushed.

Lady Benna laughed. “Procreate? I though you knew since you brought a mating pair of each.”

“I just did that for balance.” Lord Aster said. “It is all so new to me. I had no idea of anything along those lines. I was just bringing them here to keep them safe. If they mated then that would be an added benefit.”

“I see.” Lady Benna smiled. “I need to let you get back to work and I need to be back before the little darlings wake up from their morning nap. I had the cages put behind the barn. They are growing too large to fit in them properly.”

“As long as they are not getting into mischief it will be fine. Lord Aster said as he watched her clear up the lunch. “They will need the cages to be transported up here.”

“That is true. I hope the structure will be finished soon or else new cages will be needed.” Lady Benna said. “They are growing constantly.”

Lord Aster thought for a moment. “I wonder when they will start flying.”

“Don’t ask for trouble, Lord Aster. They will start when they should. I didn’t fly until I was at least 10 years of age.” Lady Benna told him. “They may have to be as that or older before they fly. If they seem inclined I will help teach them.”

“Thank you again for all your help.” Lord Aster said sincerely.

“It’s nothing.” Lady Benna closed the basket and stood. “I will see you for supper.”

“Yes.” He watched as she transformed and flew away carrying the basket in her claws. He went back to work with a sigh.

When Lady Benna arrived home she was surprised to find her father sitting with her brother talking. They appear to have been in conversation for a while before she arrived.

“Father! What are you doing here?” Lady Benna rushed to greet him.

Lord Retalon stood and hugged his daughter. “I am here to see the progress of the sanctuary. Drake tells me that you have been visiting with Lord Aster every day at the work site.”

“I bring him a meal. My brother has been very chatty of late.” Lady Benna gave her brother a glare then turned to her father. “Father, what is this about an arranged marriage that Drake has told Lord Aster about?

“I have no idea.” Lord Retalon looked at his son questioningly. “You and your mother insisted that I let you choose your own husband. I can only hope that he is draconian but I know that you are looking to others.”

“But I thought…” Lord Drake started.

“So if I choose a mundane you will not be upset.” Lady Benna asked.

“As I said, I have no say in the matter.” Lord Retalon sat down and patted the settee for Lady Benna to sit with him.  “Lord Aster?”

“Maybe . I had to set him straight on my availability today. Thanks to you, dear brother, He didn’t think he had a chance at all.” Lady Benna glared at her brother again.

“He is a mundane. You will outlive him. Is that what you want to be someone’s widow?” Lord Drake said seriously.

“It is a small price to pay for happiness. I enjoy his company.” Lady Benna admitted. “Is that why you are here father to see if I was getting along with Lord Aster?

“No, but I have come to inform Lord Aster that there are two applicants for the caretaker positions. Lady Estella Wyvern and Lady Tsing Na have both expressed interest.

“I knew Estella would but I don’t remember Lady Tsing Na.” lady Benna said.

“She is from Lemuria and of the water element.” Lord Retalon said.

“That is perfect. We will have water, fire and air. All we need is an earth caretaker. “  Lady Benna said.

“We?” Lord Drake looked at their father. “Are you including yourself as the fire element?”

“Yes, I have been caring for them since I arrived. Father, you must see them they are little darlings.” Lady Benna smiled.

“I will check them later. As far as an earth draconian there is only one family I know that is still pure blooded. That is the Terras family. They live in the Old World. I haven’t heard anything in years from them. There may not be any left. I will send a missive tomorrow to where I believe they are to extend the invitation to be a caretaker to one of their daughters.” Lord Retalon said.

“That would be lovely.” Lady Benna said. “I’m sure Lord Aster will be as excited as I am about it all.” 

Just before supper, Lord Aster returned to the Draconis estate. He dismounted his horse and led it to the stables. On the way he passed the barn that the dragons are being kept. There was the sound of a woman singing in a language he had never heard before. He listened for a minute before taking the horse to be settled for the night.  When he passed the barn again he didn’t hear the singing anymore.

Lord Aster entered the house and walked into the large sitting room. He immediately saw Lord Retalon sitting with Lady Benna. “My Lord, this is an unexpected pleasure. I wasn’t expecting to see you until the sanctuary building was completed.”  

“I thought I would bring you news, Lord Aster.” Lord Retalon smiled at the young man. “There are two draconian that wish to be caretakers for your dragons. Lady Estella Wyvern and Lady Tsing Na have answered the invitation. I am sending invitation to the Terras family as well on Benna’s insistence. She feels that there should be a representative of each element.”

“I agree with Lady Benna.” Lord Aster said. “It will help their growth and teach them valuable skills to have someone who knows them by experience.”

“I hope there will be a response then. The Terras family has been quiet for some time. I don’t even know if there are daughters to fill the role.” Lord Retalon told him.

“I see. We should all hope for the best.” Lord Aster nodded. “Tell me have the ladies already arrived? I heard singing in the barn when I passed.”

“That was me. I was singing a lullaby in dragon tongue.” Lady Benna blushed. “It was one mother sang to us often. I hadn’t sung it in years. Lady Vena did not think it was appropriate for the mundane children to hear. Myrdren was a bit fussy so I sang it for them. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. Thank you. It was beautiful, at least the part that I heard. You must sing the whole thing for me sometime.” Lord Aster blushed when he saw the knowing smile on Lord Retalon’s face.

Lord Retalon was pleased. He could see what Drake had seen. They were falling in love. He was sure that they didn’t even realize it, at least not yet.

The maid came in to call them to supper. Lord Retalon stood with his daughter and then said. “Lord Aster could you take Benna into the dining room I forgot to check something before supper. “     

“That was not at all subtle, Father.” Lady Benna said as she took Lord Aster’s offered arm.

“Indeed! I thought it was. I can see that I need your mother for these things.” Lord Retalon chuckled. “Lord Aster, I would like to speak to you in private later.”

“Yes my lord. May I ask what it is about?” Lord Aster suddenly felt uncomfortable.

“My daughter.” Lord Retalon said bluntly.

“My Lord?” Lord Aster was confused and a little intimidated.

“Don’t worry, Lord Aster. I think you will be pleased with our conversation.” Lord Retalon chuckled at the young man’s obvious discomfort.

Lord Aster looked at Lady Benna who just smiled back at him. He wondered what her father wanted to talk about but he had an idea it was about his intentions and marriage.     

Chapter 8