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“Should I be nervous?” I say, as if my tone of voice doesn’t betray the fact that I already am.
“No,” he says, “Not at all. I simply want to ensure that we follow every rule of etiquette.”
I see no concern on Aiden’s face, but I see a great deal of admiration. I realize now that Valentia is one of Aiden’s heroes. He’s not warning me because he’s afraid I’ll make a mistake and offend Valentia. He simply holds Valentia in such high regard that he wants to treat him with every possible ounce of respect.
I am even more excited now to meet the dragon who can inspire such feelings in Aiden Vipera.
We walk inside, and there’s a rush of warm wind. Rows of torches light, illuminating the massive cavern and the several tunnels beyond. I note with some surprise that the wind, although warm is not hot. It doesn’t overwhelm me the way I expect it too. I wonder if something else, some kind of hidden magic, lights the torches.
Hey, if dragons are real, magic can be real too, right?
Then I look up and see the cavern, and I gasp in wonder. Paintings line the walls, which stretch over sixty feet high and end in a vaulted ceiling as smooth as a basilica. Figures of dragons and humans carrying spears and swords and in some cases even rudimentary firearms line the walls. There are images of massive palaces with hundreds of dragons sitting in congress together. There are images of dragons fighting dragons, dragons fighting humans, dragons hunting creatures ranging from modern elephants and rhinoceroses to ancient mastodons, mammoths and even dinosaurs.
The images are surrounded by a flowing script that looks like a cross between Nordic runes and Arabic writing. Aiden notices me looking at it and explains, “The ancient language of dragons. None can read it anymore, not even Valentia.”
“This place is incredible,” I say in a hushed voice.
He smiles. “It is one of the oldest places known to dragons on Earth. Many believe this cave was carved out as the first of our ancient libraries, telling the history of dragon kind from ancient times.”
“So, you guys have been around since the dinosaurs?” he asked.
He smiles. “No one’s entirely sure. It’s possible that the drawings here are historically accurate. It’s also possible that these tales are mythical.”
“It sounds like a lot of your history is lost,” I say.
He shrugs. “Much of human history is lost, too. I try to focus on the future and not the past.”
“That is your greatest weakness, Your Highness,” a voice calls from inside one of the tunnels. The voice is aged but still powerful. It resonates through the cavern, and I am struck with a sense of the age of this place and the age of the owner of that voice. This must be Valentia, the Ancient One.
I see him a moment later. I’ve seen Aiden as a dragon. I’ve seen Amelie as a dragon. I’ve seen the king as a dragon. I’ve seen Lord Brantley. All of them are impressive in their own ways, and Valentia is no exception.
He is a brilliant blue and gold with a long beard that reaches almost to the floor from his chin, which is at least fifteen feet above the floor. Where Aiden’s build is compact and sturdy, Valentia’s is long and sinuous, almost serpent like. His scales gleam in the light of the torches, and though his wings are folded now, I can tell that the span is impressive. He’s not so thickly built or heavy as Aiden, but he’s longer and his head is, if anything, even more massive.
It’s his eyes, though, that impress me. They are beautiful with golden irises and catlike slits for pupils. I could lose my train of thought studying those eyes but it’s not their beauty that amazes me.
What speaks to me is the wisdom and knowledge in those eyes. He looks at me, and I feel the weight of those centuries of experience. I don’t feel afraid. I know for a fact that Valentia has no desire to hurt me. How I know this, I’m not sure. I still can’t read dragons’ expressions. I just know somehow that despite his power and his age, he has a kind soul.
He confirms that when Aiden offers him the gifts. “Great Valentia,” he begins. “Please accept—”
“Yes, yes, I accept,” Valentia says impatiently. “Your Highness, you have a great love of tradition, and I admire that, but we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
“Of course, Ancient One,” Aiden says.
Now I’m even more amazed. I can’t believe he allows someone to talk to him like that. Valentia clearly is considered an important dragon.
“So,” he says to me. “You’ve come to ask about your role as the mate of the Chosen One.”
I blush a little, and Aiden says, “She simply wanted to meet you, Ancient One.”
“Nothing is simple,” Valentia says, “Or rather, everything is simple, but we so often prefer to complicate things unnecessarily.”
He looks down at me and says, “Yes. You are everything I imagined you would be.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Ancient One,” I say.
“And it is an honor to meet you,” he replies. “I am grateful that when Aiden ascends in flame, he will have one like you at his side.”
I’m not sure what he means by that, but I feel a warmth of pride infuse me, and I simply say, “Thank you.”
