After the lengthy talk with Peter, Dramix came out of his deep meditative state and saw Naleeit in front of him undressed and looking at a dress.
Dramix didn’t want to imagine why, as he laid down. As he did so, the bed made noise and Naleeit saw him going to sleep.
“Is it not lovely?” (Naleeit)
Dramix looked at her thinned figure. Over the last few weeks, she has put some weight back on. In turn, her strength increased as well.
“It looks fine to wear, but not for combat.” (Dramix)
Naleeit lowered it angrily.
“I haven’t worn a dress since I was a child. Not since I dawned armor for the first time.” (Naleeit)
Naleeit sighed in annoyance.
“The royal dressmaker made this just before the war. It was to be my wedding dress.” (Naleeit)
Dramix sighed and leaned on his back.
“I see. Ignorance bests me again it seems. I mean no offense if any was caused.” (Dramix)
Naleeit sighed.
“You sound distracted.” (Naleeit)
Dramix looked at her with his back still on the bed.
“I had an argument with my spirit. It’s a private matter.” (Dramix)
Naleeit folded up the dress and set it gently in a chest.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you. By the customs of our people, how does someone like us become….” (Naleeit)
Dramix finished her sentence when she paused.
“Wed?” (Dramix)
Dramix looked at the top of the tent.
“I’m sorry to say that that depends on many factors. Normally, I would buy to have a child born, or seek those of a family not old enough to bare the burden yet and care for her until she is. It’s little to bare if I desire her or not. In this case, you would technically be a gift from Gulliver to me for the loyalty I’ve shown him.” (Dramix)
Dramix expected her to be angry, but she sounded hurt.
“I see.” (Naleeit)
Dramix closed his eyes while sorry.
“It’s much like a ritual that Gulliver would perform if a neighboring king gave his daughter away to him. For us though, it’s a little more literal. There is one thing to note however.” (Dramix)
Naleeit leaned in on him.
“You defeated me and claimed me yours. You took me into your home and life after that.” (Dramix)
Naleeit looked at him confused.
“So what does that mean?” (Naleeit)
Dramix laughed lightly.
“There has been a few times when a woman has beaten a man in our race. They weren’t independent with their own freedom of choice and power. You could say that you’re the first true Drakan woman to ever exist because you aren’t bound to the laws that everyone else would hold you to. As long as I, or the bloodline we make live; you, or the children of our bloodline, can go against the norm as long as they reject it.” (Dramix)
Dramix then took a deep breath and relaxed.
“Tell me something Naleeit.” (Dramix)
She started to lay down to think about what she just heard, then she put a quilt over her body.
“What do you wish to know Dramix?” (Naleeit)
Dramix smirked a little before speaking.
“Let me court you tomorrow. Let’s rest together.” (Dramix)
Naleeit turned to her side to look at him.
“And what do you know about courting me?” (Naleeit)
Dramix chuckled loudly.
“Not a thing. We must finally lay our plans to the other to see though. We must find out where our hearts will be after this journey has ended. I don’t wish to die on this quest, and I know you’re the same.” (Dramix)
Naleeit paused, about to retort about how he could know how she feels or not.
She settled on a smile instead, as she took the candle and blew on it to make the room dark.
After a few days of rest and coping with their recovery, Naleeit no longer wore her armor, but refused to go anywhere without at least a sword on her side.
It was clear to everyone that she had settled on Dramix being her protector now, and while she aided the reserve force in recouping their lost strength or gaining new skills, she was more of a symbol of hope for a better future.
The prince’s fighting force went from a meager forty, to five times that with the slaver pits liberation. When they trained and recovered though, they all knew two things.
They were waiting, and they wouldn’t make a huge difference. It soon came to the point that Naleeit was no longer aiding in the training, and instead spent her time with an elf child.
As the temperature went from warm to hot, and farming fields were completed more than training by most, Gulliver became worried.
He came over to Dramix, as he cleaned off Zwilander to have it shine.
“Old friend, can I speak to you about something in confidence.” (Gulliver)
Dramix nodded.
“Surely he has recovered by now. If not, why sit here and do nothing?” (Gulliver)
Dramix put down the rag he was using and lifted the spear to be shown in the sky.
“I’m not wise in the means of war, but he has a large army that he must feed, and I’m sure he has plans for such an army after he’s through with us. My fear is that he’ll target my home next. There isn’t a force in this world that can stop the dragons when their riled up, but if he hits them hard enough, fast enough….” (Dramix)
Dramix paused to lower Zwilander.
“We aren’t like you. He can’t turn us in mass, but a few at a time. We breed slower, so we rebuild at a slower pace. What may take you twenty years to recover from, will take centuries for us.” (Dramix)
Dramix sighed.
“It will be hard for even an army to kill a single dragon due to the fact that we can fly. If one so happens to fall, all the others will feel the dying breath. This also extends to me and Naleeit. Will a call to war be had? I don’t know sure. However, they will no longer turn a blind eye to this conflict. They will at least be prepared and waiting.” (Dramix)
Gulliver shook his head.
“That gives me little comfort, Dramix.” (Gulliver)
Dramix smirked.
“Comfort is having a woman at your side and a full gut of ale and mutton.” (Dramix)
Dramix then stood up from the table.
“Care to spar my old friend?” (Dramix)
Gulliver nodded as he took a sword from the stand.
Dramix then put Zwilander on his back, as he took a staff from the stand.
To use Zwilander in training right now, or for sport, would mock the spear, which Dramix didn’t want.
