Thread: The Dragon of the Blue Moon

Chapter Four After that, the meeting didn't seem to last much longer. What with the dragon's help in making everyone to feel more confident with Nicholas's ability to handle things, there wasn't much more to do except delegate a possible plan B and C just in case. Even planning for his failure, nobody in the room, even though they'd not seen Nick hold a fortress yet, had very little doubt that he'd be able to. Already he was giving them unforeseen advantages in this war, when they'd been ready to give up Stoneshell keep within the month. They did not mention it now, but the meeting today was planned to be about damage control after the fact. Any ray of hope against losing the keep was something they were willing to get behind full-force, no questions asked. But of course, there had been questions, Reginald inquiring about Nicholas's abilities in a very interested manner. Talking about himself was something he rarely got the chance to do - with the tendency for his powers to freak people out, he really only shared information with others for the purpose of his own entertainment and only when he could predict the results in his favor - so, he relaxed even more amongst these higher nobles, once again placed within his element. He didn't reveal everything he could do and did not tell them about the dragon within his breast, merely explaining that he was born not completely human. The rest was a mixture of gloating about his command over the elements and a brief detailing about his favorite moves to use - most notably, stealing the soul from the earth to create black, infectious sand that in turn corrupted the flesh of everything that touched it, and blades of air that he placed upon his arms, wielding them sometimes several feet long to kill several men at once with just the swipe of his limbs. A lot of his more powerful gifts he kept secret however, preferring to remain a mystery and the dragon's natural paranoia foreseeing a time in the future when revealing all of it's strengths would eventually become a weakness. With the King's appraising interest however, Nicholas did not feel that way. After a time, several of the nobles finally left the room for the night and Nick was excused, for once reluctant to leave the presence of these men who seemed so much above and yet at the same time beneath him. Tristan stayed behind and said he'd meet him back in the grand hall later, and Nicholas took his leave back to the hall of pompous idiots. Maybe they were finally serving a meal of some kind. Upon reentering the room, a quick scan told him that there were some new faces who'd arrived. His eyes swept over features, and rich clothes in a bored fashion, blurring them all together until he was struck by the sight of something shining and glowing. Standing amidst the crowd, a maiden with wavy, shoulder-length blonde hair and a dark green dress stood. Hair like spun gold glistening in the lights from the chandeliers, was woven in a complex braid down the nape of her neck, a few curled and freely swirling strands falling loose around her face, but tied back with a green and gold headband. Eyes the color of a deep cerulean sparkled as she laughed, displaying through slender curving lips a row of pretty teeth. Her nose did not dominate the rest of her face but complimented it and helped the eye flow naturally down to her strong chin and slender neck, the skin of her cheeks and throat smooth and fair. And everything about her body was graceful and held with a majestic and noble air while at the same time possessing something that set her apart from the other nobles who stood with her in this room. An undercurrent of something free everyone else seemed to operate like a puppet on strings, backs straight, walking and all moving the same way, restricted and forced, laughing and talking with concern and interest that was superficial at best. This young woman was beautiful and fit in with the rest of them, her body held high and regal but not unnaturally. It was like she was born balancing books on her head, and walking like she owned the Earth she tread. She was standing talking with a gentleman in his late 20's, who appeared to be a servant or companion of some kind, and amidst all the rest of the richly dressed people, jewels dangling from their ears and necks, she was a gem set apart. She made the diamonds in the chandeliers and the luxurious woods and stone of the furnishings in the room seem drab and junky in comparison. And she did it without flashy adornments or gaudy baubles. She was just...perfect. And the dragon within the coccoon of his rib cage had noticed just as he had, rearing up and flashing it's crest in dominance. But before it could even utter a comment expressing it's characteristic greed, Nicholas muttered under his breath, Do want. and the serpent just smiled in agreement, helping the young man close his mouth and take the first couple of steps forward. As he walked towards her, Nick adopted the usual cool and collected saunter that he had in situations such as these, a charming smile held at the ready just under the surface of his lips. Stopping just a foot away from her, he nodded in respect to her, his dark eyes gleaming haughtily and said, Good evening, m'lady. Might I request your name? Or will you make me beg? An appropriate flash of teeth in her direction to lighten the mood of what he was asking. Her attention drawn to him, of course, the first thing she did was look him over and he could sense right away that she knew these clothes did not fit with who he was and he did not belong here. Her companion, the gentleman just a few years older than him, looked Nicholas up and down with a slight sneer on his face and an almost effeminate slant of his hips. Surreptitiously, the man leaned in towards the young woman and whispered something under his breath before turning back to smile in a mocking polite manner at Nicholas. All at once, the curiosity on her face melted into something a bit more guarded and self-conscious and her whole demeanor changed. Well, since you're offering, she said in a voice that made the dragon wrapped around his heart purr in pure delight. Then why don't you go ahead and beg. Nicholas paused for a minute, with one eyebrow cocked in amused confusion and he wondered if he should tell her he'd been joking. Before he could say anything however, she shook her head and played as if she were serious. What? Are you too good for it now? Well, then. Come on, Kawa. And she turned to walk away the slender and slightly effeminate man following behind her with a smug grin on his face. A smile broke across Nicholas's own features as he watched her turn and go and then he adjusted his suit jacket and cracked his neck before following. HE had nothing to lose by making a fool of himself in public, as he really wasn't here to impress anybody. Stepping lightly, he moved ahead of her smoothly and turned to face her, kneeling on the ground in her path and causing her to stop dead in her tracks. A shocked frown came to both her and Kawa's faces as they regarded him and he obeisantly clasped both hands up before him in supplication. Please, madam, he begged in a very loud and clear voice, the slight smile on his lips never leaving his face. He could feel the other people in the room start to turn and look in their direction but he did not tear his gaze away from her face. Please, grant me this one simple request of knowing your name that I may grace the ears of others to say it aloud. All at once, she became aware of eyes turning to look at her and an embarrassed blush rose to her cheeks as she glanced down at him again. Okay, alright, she murmured at him in a begrudging voice, urging him to rise with a small graceful gesture of her hand. Just get up, get up. Please. Oh, no. HE was the one making demands now and she would hate him for it if he prolonged this to it's finish. My lady, I cannot without your name. She looked behind herself back towards the doors but nobody had entered behind Nick yet, and he felt his breath catch as the light shone on the free whisping curls as she swung her head back to him, her voice going even lower. Yes! Alright, for Light's sake! You will have it! Just on your feet now! People were whispering now wondering what was going on and they were all looking at her expectantly. This...man whoever he was, was making a fool of her! Even as her volume seemed to grow lower, his grew, Nicholas's deep voice ringing through the empty space and reaching all ears. Your name, he said simply, a crooked smile coming to his lips and his eyes watching with pure expectancy. He could feel the moment she broke and decided to give in. She was of a higher station than he was, and she probably could have gotten away with completely ignoring any tantrum he threw and possibly even ordered him removed from the room at that point. But his original assessment of how she'd looked at him had been correct - she was interested. And now, she was trapped by her own sense of decency and desire to converse with him longer. When her voice came again it was a soft and spite-filled whisper through gritted teeth, her blue eyes flashing with anger and humiliation. Emily, she hissed. My name is Emily. And instantly, her obedience was rewarded as he smoothly rose to his feet with a triumphant smile, bowing his head slightly in a truce. Emily. Thank you. Don't ever attempt to 'call my bluff' again. I can assure you, you will regret it. The anger faded from her eyes then replaced with shock as she looked him over with new eyes. Even though his tone was light and friendly, the dominance in his words struck a cord in her that he could feel like a reverberating music note ringing through him. He had her and he would be able to return later to play that song again and again until she was singing back to him. For now, however, he took his leave, bowing once more and stepping away from her before she could say anything - another thing that would keep her hooked to him later. As he left her side, Tristan entered the room and he smiled as Nick approached him. ah, finally done talking about me behind my back, eh? Nicholas said and jabbed the other man in the arm with his elbow. Tristan, with his usual good humor merely laughed lightly. Nonsense. My father really likes you. He was just going over some recent personal matters that have come up. Ah. Boring stuff, Nicholas said with a nod. I made a new friend while you were gone and I think she'll replace you as my best friend. Sorry, buddy, he said with a faked sympathy. Oh? A woman? You replaced me with a woman? Is she someone who will tolerate your tantrums and whom you can tell all your lewd jokes to? Tristan said with a mock seriousness that he played well. If so, where is she? She sounds like my kind of girl. Nick turned to look back into the crowd of people across the room and at Emily who was seating herself with Kawa at the long table as food was being brought in. A light blush still dusted her cheeks and the smooth, peach skin of her brow was creased in thought - she was still trying to figure him out and trying to debate with the new feelings warring within her, he knew - and he pointed her out to Tristan. Her name is Emily, he said with a grand smile cast back at the other man. You were telling her your lewd jokes? Tristan asked with a sober grin. What? No. Don't be ridiculous. I was feeling her up behind the statuesque fellow who's shadowing her. Whoa, come on now, Tristan said as he finally broke through the joke to get a little serious, shying away from Nicholas with an awkward grin. Don't talk about my sister that way. Ha! Your sister, Nicholas said, thinking at first that the other man was still playing. But slowly the smile faded from his lips as he realized he wasn't and he looked back at the young woman sitting at the table. Your...sister?