“Which is why he loves you!” Illarion laughed.
“True.” Valerius’ eyes closed. Raziel was already deeply asleep even though one of its forelimbs moved restlessly, looking for Iolaire to pull against it.
How needy we have become, old friend, Valerius thought. No longer the single Dragon.
A pillow was suddenly on top of Valerius’ face. He pulled it off and saw that Illarion had thrown it at him. “I’m not planning on staying down here.”
“Caden would be very angry with me if that hard head of yours is not properly supported,” Illarion said.
Valerius struggled but finally got it under his head. It did feel better.
“Why did you come back so soon, Illarion? I truly thought you were going to stalk off for good,” Valerius said.
“I told you, my plane--”
“Caden didn’t believe that and he is trusting. I am not trusting so don’t even go there,” Valerius told him.
There was a long silence. Illarion was still sitting on the edge of the bed, looking down at Landry’s parents, but Valerius didn’t really believe Illarion was seeing them. There was a grim, almost desperate set to Illarion’s jaw.
“If I tell you this I am insane,” Illarion said quietly.
“If you tell me whatever this is… then it is important and true,” Valerius responded after a long moment.
Slowly, Illarion turned his head towards Valerius. There was raw confusion and fury there. Not at Valerius. But at something else.
“I cannot… cannot do it!” Illarion shouted.
Valerius’ brow furrowed. “Cannot do--”
“Keep control of my territory!” The words sounded ripped out of Illarion’s throat.
Valerius said nothing. He knew that whatever Illarion would say next would be crucial to everything going forward. Even Raziel cracked an eyelid.
Illarion got up and began to pace the end of the bed like a caged tiger. Mephous’ green glow was in his eyes, but the anger was directed at a world gone mad in his mind, not at Valerius or at any particular person.
“Every day--no, every hour--it seems I find yet another person I cannot trust! Another person to be locked away, punished and then executed! People I have known all their lives, who would have died for me in the past, are now… now untrustworthy,” Illarion stated as he paced and his arms flew up into the air. “One cannot live like this! It will not work! Yes, ruling by fear is my way, but the fear… that is all there is now!”
Valerius thought of the camps that President Goodfellow had told him about. He imagined instead of an evilly grinning Illarion, enjoying his people’s suffering, a desperate one, unable to stop the violence and unrest sweeping through his territory. He imagined Illarion instituting harsher and harsher punishments with the thought that it would slow down the uprising, but it was only delaying it.
“I should go back, because things are slipping out of control even more. I can feel it. The reports from home are… I do not believe them!” Illarion stopped facing Valerius. “I do not know what I will return home to. I fear… I fear Mephous’ breath will be my last resort.”
Valerius shut his eyes for a moment. “Illarion… do not do that.”
“I know! I know what you think! You must be laughing inside! Pathetic Illarion! He cannot keep control of his people! He will lose his territory to humans!” Illarion let out a bitter, acrid laugh. “What would the great Valerius know of such weakness?”
“Everything,” Valerius answered.
He opened his eyes and saw the Green Dragon King looking down upon him. Illarion’s face was between expressions. He was about to attack to try and stave off what he perceived would be a put down, but he was also--and this was what Caden had somehow seen and brought out in him--looking desperately hopeful.
“Illarion, why do you think Raziel and I attacked Caden and Iolaire that first day?” Valerius asked softly.
“Because he was another Dragon in your territory!” Illarion snorted.
“And? A tiny Dragon. A baby Dragon. How strong am I if Iolaire threatens me just by existing?” Valerius asked. “Raziel and I have for some time felt things were out of control.”
Illarion’s expression went thoughtful. “But…”
“The bombings? Jasper Hawes? The growing inequality? The needs of those in the Below and elsewhere? All plucking at me and I had nothing to give them. No answers. No leadership. Nothing,” Valerius told him. “Until Raziel saw a creature that we could fight. A small white Dragon that fled from us and, while we were chasing it, killed a dozen people and injured far more. Does that sound like someone in control to you?”
