Touch of Flame

The look in Saul’s eyes changed and his face became grimmer. “Several years ago there were a few weapons, now there are dozens, tomorrow there will be hundreds. Today we can only fight a dragon at a time, tomorrow there will be a weapon that will kill you in two or three, and the day after, one shot might end your life. Do you understand what I am saying?”

He looked at her with disgust but she could see he understood her words clearly. There was resistance in his eyes as well.

“You might hate my people but I assume you care about your people at least. Waging war against humans, and pushing people to their limit will only make them rise stronger. I am only here because I was pushed to that limit and I have nothing to fear losing.”

He nodded slowly. “I feel sad for you. It seems like you still live in the same dream as your father. Why don’t you save your life before you end up dying like him?”

She knew he would resist listening. “Did things go better for you than my father?” She asked.

He frowned, now his eyes burning with fury.

“Your father started a war he could not fight.”

“You are right. But my father didn’t want war. That was not his goal. My father came with peace but you gave him no choice. The weapons that you hate so much, were not invented to destroy lives. They came to exist to protect our people. They saved many lives. LIVES that you ruined with a simple breath. Those are weapons that would not have existed perhaps if there was peace. So is it truly my father who started the war? And even if he did, my people are fighting a war. Your people were massacring mine.”

“You are right. It was better that way. Your people were smart back then, knowing not to fight us.”

“You mean it was better for you? Now it is worse. Do you ever wonder why?”

His face hardened.

“The way you make your bed is the way you sleep in it. You and your brother, have made your beds into graves. Cold, dark, frightening, and lonely. You can not bring back those lost nights but you can make your bed better next time.”

She straightened her cane and giving him a slight nod she walked away.

When she went back home, Mara came quickly to meet her in the hall. Her eyes were wide. “Malachi just came.” She nodded toward the dining room. “I informed him you went out for a while.” She gave her a certain look.

Ravina gave her a reassuring nod and then went ahead to see him. As she entered the dining hall, she found him standing near the window, leaning against the wall and looking outside with arms folded over his chest.

It seemed like he went back to losing his robe again. At least he wasn’t wet or sleeping in her pink sheets. Back home, this kind of clothing would have been inappropriate. She wondered how women would react if they managed to see past the fact that he was a dragon. Would they react like her? She knew she would be considered a whore if she went home dressed like this. But clothes were the least of her worries now.

Malachi’s gaze left the window and fell on her. He pushed himself away from the wall dropping his arms, leaving his entire torso on display. For some strange reason, he looked at her hair. Was there something wrong with it?

“Where were you?” He asked.

“I just wanted to be outside for a while,” she replied.

He nodded slowly, his lips pressed into a thin line as if he wanted to say something he shouldn’t. He paced along the table and then stopped when he came to the end. He gazed at her again, his eyes looking a lighter brown in the sun. “I will be leaving for a while. I might not return tonight,” he told her.

“I will be alone here tonight?”

“Mara and Nako will stay with you,” he assured.

“Will they be able to protect me?”

He smiled a little. “No one will harm you.”

She wasn’t sure about that anymore and she wouldn’t care if not for her sister.

Ravina just nodded. He could tell she was holding back but he was king and had things to do. He couldn’t stay with her all the time.

He walked around the table and came to stand in front of her. “I will try to come back as fast as possible, but you need not worry.”

She nodded again.

“Just don’t go out until I came back,” he told her.

“Alright.”

He watched her with eyes she could not read. “If I come earlier, I could come by your room and play the flute for you if you would like.”

“You must be tired already then,” she said.

That same intense silence followed. “I will come by,” he then said.

Oh well.

“You wanted to cut your hair?” He pointed.

He seemed to care about it.

“Yes. You don’t like it?”

“You will look beautiful either way.”

Intense silence again mixed with her heartbeat.

“I am thinking shoulder length, like you.” She said to see if he would change his mind.

He nodded calmly. “Sometimes drastic changes are needed. As long as you are happy about it.”

Their eyes were glued to each other. She felt like she was closer to him than she actually was.

“Perhaps I will cut mine too,” he added.

“No!” She blurted before she could think. Did she say that out loud?

Looking at his reaction, she did. He raised a brow, looking surprised.

“I mean…”

He waited as she tried to find an explanation. “A change for me might not be the same for you,” she said not knowing what that even meant.

He looked down, head tilted slightly and with a knowing little smile.

“Hmm… I will think about it.” He said.