Chapter 24: Compersion

I self-edit and admit editing isn’t my greatest skill. I apologize in advance for anything I missed.

Night had well and truly fallen by the time Kendra had finished listening to the story that the dragon and his wives told. She kept thinking that she’d reject it wholesale if she had an ounce of sense.

Men in dragon’s bodies?

Travel to other worlds?

The amount of self-sacrifice they appeared to have engaged in?

It was all preposterous; ridiculous. It was absolutely ludicrous to believe a single word of it. She hadn’t heard such far-fetched tales since living at the orphanage where they read fables. It seemed the chances of the story being true were about the same as the sun failing to rise in the morning.

And yet...

She frowned.

A significant part of her training had been in lie detection. Being able to tell the truth from lies had been important in her previous line of work, and she was better at it than most. She hadn’t seen anything to indicate they were lying. Occasionally leaving things out? Yes. But given how many times she’d attacked them she didn’t blame them for keeping some things back. As far as she could tell, they were all being perfectly honest and truthful about their story.

And if they were...

If they really were the people they made themselves out to be...

She frowned.

She didn’t like the idea that she had been the bad guy. If they were telling the truth — and that was a big “if” — then she certainly had been.

“Kendra?”

The dragon huntress realized her attention had wandered from the threat at hand and her eyes snapped up. It was Taloni. The Fey girl had walked up to her at the ship’s bow, but the rest of the Argo’s crew had remained near the quarterdeck.

“I thought you’d like some food.” She said, offering her a plate.

Mid-way through the story, the high elf pilot had told the burly crewman to pull the firepan up and she’d started dinner. It was just roast venison and biscuits cooked over the firepan with some mulled wine, but it smelled good to her. Much better than the steady diet of dried food she kept on her airship. Dried food kept longer, but wasn’t nearly as appetizing.

“I’m fine, but thank you.” She replied as her stomach growled slightly, wishing that she trusted food from the dragon’s proverbial kitchen.

Taloni gave her a piercing look. “We didn’t poison it.”

Kendra smiled. “How’d you know I was worried about that?”

“I heard your stomach growl. The only reason I can think of that a hungry woman would turn down food was if she thought it was poisoned.”

“You’re very perceptive for someone so sweet.”

“Thank you.” She beamed. Then she grabbed the fork on the plate, took a small bite of everything, and again offered the plate.

Kendra took it, but didn’t take a bite.

“I promise, it isn’t poisoned.” Taloni said once she’d swallowed.

The dragon huntress nodded, not adding that there were a few poisons which were deadly to humans that didn’t affect the Fey at all. She took a small bite of the salt venison. It wasn’t bad, and certainly better than the dried cuisine she was used to.

“Why are you all being so nice to me?” She asked after swallowing her first bite.

“I think Ethan is nice to you because you saved my life. He’s really protective of his wives.”

“I heard.” She replied, remembering all the points in the story where his protectiveness had caused problems.

“Could someone who’s that protective of his wives be all bad?”

“I once knew a crime boss who was that protective. If anyone so much as said an unkind word about his wives or kids he would...” She thought better of relaying the specific details. “Well, they were never seen again.”

“Hmm.” Taloni mused. “Ethan isn’t like that though.”

“Oh?”

The Fey nodded. “If someone insulted Alana, Beth, Rachel, or I--”

“Wait.” Kendra interrupted. “Rachel? Why Rachel? I don’t remember him marrying Rachel, or even bonding to her.”

“No, he hasn’t.” She cocked her heard to one side. “I don’t know why people keep doing that; including her when they think of Ethan’s wives.” She shook her head. “Anyway, Ethan is protective, but he could let a comment pass. He wouldn’t like it, but he’s not so ... so...”

“Over-protective?” Kendra offered.

“Yeah. He let me fly out to talk to you even though he was worried about my safety.”

“I would never hurt you Taloni.”

“I know.” The Fey beamed. “I hope one day you’ll feel the same about Ethan and the rest of the crew.” She made a thoughtful sound then added. “Well, maybe not Raklan.”

Kendra made a non-committal noise in response. A part of her wished for that too. She wanted to believe their story. She wanted to believe that she’d found a few truly good and decent people in this world. She didn’t think it likely, but she wanted it to be true.

Her mind wandered back to Luminar Kossel’s prediction that the dragon was her last chance to have real friends in this world. If their story was true — and that was still a big “if” — then she could almost see that, except with Ethan of course.

She shuddered.

However nice the rest of them might be, he was still a dragon. She wouldn’t be friends with a dragon. Ever. Maybe his wives, maybe his crew; but not with the dragon himself.

Selene had managed to keep her mouth shut while Yvonne and Smithbond questioned Hailey. Yvonne did most of the asking, shooting pointed looks at Smithbond whenever he asked a question. He would always fall mute when she did this, seemingly cowed into silence by the purple-haired woman.

Selene knew better.

This was all a ‘good cop, bad cop’ act. She had considered pointing this out a few times, but didn’t think doing so would help Hailey, Jason, or Melinda. The willowy woman explained all about what the Ten Kingdoms were like seemingly without reservation. She refused to even mention Ethan or anything pertaining to him, but otherwise was an open book. Hailey also seemed to gain strength from having Jason and Melinda there too. Selene guessed that the ex-slave wouldn’t have been this forthcoming without her two best friends next to her.

Brilliant.

She realized this was another layer of the interrogation at work. Smithbond had maneuvered things so the interrogation took place in a location he could control, but with people that Hailey was comfortable around. Plus, it wasn’t in an interrogation room at all. It was a much more relaxed, casual setting. Or at least, as relaxed and casual as it could be in a prison cell.

He was certainly brilliant at manipulation, but that was just one more reason not to trust him. He had a very ‘ends justifies the means’ attitude which Selene didn’t share. She was willing to bend a rule occasionally for a good cause, but he had crossed several lines that she wasn’t willing to cross.

Ever.

“Okay, I think that’s enough for tonight.” Yvonne said as Hailey paused to take a drink of water. “I don’t have the authority to move you out of this room or release you, but at least I can make you more comfortable than he did.” She shot Smithbond a look.

“Sergeant!” She barked towards the door, summoning a man in military BDUs. “Get these people a hot meal; the best you can get from the mess hall.”

“Yes ma’am.” He replied.

“Oh for God’s sake, don’t call me ‘ma’am’, you’ll make me feel old.”

“Yes sir.” The sergeant corrected himself.

Yvonne opened her mouth to correct him again, but apparently thought better of it. She glared at Smithbond again before turning back to Hailey. “Look, only he can order your release, but if you’d be willing to talk more tomorrow, I think I can convince him to have you home by the end of the day.”

“Really?” Hailey and Melinda said at the same time. Jason looked skeptical.

Yvonne turned to Smithbond with a glare. “Right.” It wasn’t a question.

He nodded mutely.

Hailey and Melinda smiled, Jason narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything.

“Okay, sergeant, get them that meal on the double.” Yvonne ordered, then turned back to them. “Enjoy and sleep well.”

They left without mentioning Selene or even looking at her, so she stayed where she was. Hailey and Melinda looked very relieved, but Jason didn’t. He glanced at her and she guessed that he had noticed what she had. She had almost said something, but if Smithbond was telling the truth about letting the three civilians go, saying something might jeopardize that. Even if he wasn’t telling the truth, then saying something could make Hailey clam up, resulting in him resorting to more violent methods to get the information out of her. Saying something didn’t seem like it would end well, but keeping quiet might. Hailey and Melinda both seemed oblivious, so she decided to let it go, and apparently Jason did too.

The food arrived several minutes later, complete with flimsy plastic utensils.

Having not had a meal all day, all four prisoners tucked in with gusto and it was pretty decent food. There was a medium rare steak that was decently seasoned, mashed potatoes that she would’ve eaten seconds of, and some steamed veggies that all but a dedicated carnivore would appreciate. It wasn’t 5-star, but it was good.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m beat.” Selene said with a wink as she thought about her recently-healed injuries.

The others chuckled slightly, then most nodded.

“Yeah, been a long day.” Jason agreed. “Now, there’s just the matter of sleeping arrangements.”

Everyone looked around at the two cots that were provided for four people. Each cot was wide enough to fit two people, but not comfortably.

“I can take the floor if I have a blanket.” Jason offered.

“Absolutely not.” Melinda and Hailey said together.

“You’ll catch your death of cold.” Melinda fussed.

“And you’ll wreck your back.” Hailey added.

“No one should sleep in the floor.” Selene agreed.

Melinda and Jason had been sitting on the same cot most of the day, while Hailey and Selene had been sitting on the other. The couple had been sitting close together, while Selene and Hailey had maintained a respectful distance.

“Well, these arrangements seem like they’re working to me.” Selene had noticed some tension between Hailey and the couple and thought dodging it might help.

“Um...” Melinda glanced at Hailey, then Jason. “This particular cot is actually...” She looked at it. “Um, I think the baby might not like it so...”

Selene raised her eyebrow.

If they’d had a contest for the flimsiest excuse of all time, that might be a contender.

Apparently, Jason thought so too because He looked at Melinda with a reproving expression. “If you have something you’d like to say, then please just say it.”

“Um.” The Latina woman looked a little put in the spotlight, then turned to Hailey. “Can I talk to you for a moment? Like, in the corner?”

“Okay.” Hailey said, suddenly looking nervous. The two women got up and walked to the far corner, both looking nervous and unsure.

Selene looked at Jason, suddenly wondering if Ethan’s... ‘unique’ living arrangement was more common than she’d thought.

She mouthed at Jason: “Are you ... with both?”

He raised his hands in a classic ‘I don’t know’ gesture and then mouthed. “I think I’m about to find out.”

Kendra finished her food while chatting with Taloni. The little Fey girl was delightful company, even though Kendra had to keep deflecting questions about herself. The girl wasn’t prying, but seemed genuinely curious. After the first several questions, Kendra had taken the lead and asked about her life growing up, making sure to keep the focus off of herself.

“Why are you so private?” Taloni asked after a while.

“It was very important in my line of work.” She replied as she set her plate down.

“What line of work was that?”

“I helped people with problems.”

“Problem solving?” The Fey looked confused.

“More of a ... problem eliminator.” Kendra replied diplomatically.

Taloni looked confused for a moment, then her eyes got slightly wider. “Oh.”

Kendra nodded. “Yeah.”

“Anyone?”

The dragon huntress shook her head. “Mostly dragons, and a few others who...” She trailed off. “You’re a nice girl Taloni. You don’t need the details of how the emperor keeps the peace.”

The Fey girl opened her mouth to respond, but then stopped and cocked her head to one side as if listening to something. “Master would like to come talk to you.”

Kendra’s eyes flicked to the dragon.

He seemed to have relaxed quite a bit compared to his initial tension when she’d stepped onto his ship. It seemed that once he’d decided that she wasn’t going to attack without provocation, he’d let his guard down slightly ... but only slightly. Right now, he was watching her carefully.

She nodded in his direction and he walked over; he still stopped a good ten feet away from her though.

“Enjoy dinner?” He asked coolly.

“Enough.” She replied as she stood. She didn’t want to be caught sitting down if he tried something.

“You’ve heard our story, what are you going to do about it?” He asked.

She shrugged. “I can accept it without evidence, reject it without evidence, or I can go find some.”

“Find some?”

“If what you said is true, there are a few people in your story I could talk to so I can confirm it.”

“Fair enough.”

“You’re leaving?” Taloni asked as she also stood. She looked rather disappointed.

The dragon’s suspicious gaze, plus the furtive glances from the other crew members made it clear that they didn’t share the Fey teen’s disappointment. She didn’t blame them — quite the contrary because she would do the same thing in their position — but she could recognize where her presence was being tolerated, not welcomed. The only exception was the Fey girl, who seemed overjoyed to have her on board.

“I think that might be best.” Kendra replied.

Ethan made a thoughtful sound. Not quite agreeing, but not disagreeing either.

“Oh.” Taloni said as her face fell. She looked dejected for a moment, then she brightened up a bit. “Will you two please do something for me?”

“What?” Ethan and Kendra asked at the same time.

They eyed each other for a moment while Taloni giggled. Her amused giggles stood in stark contrast to the serious expression on her husband’s face, and the apprehension that Kendra herself felt.

“Could you two please just talk for a few minutes before Kendra leaves?” Taloni said, biting her lip and looking hopeful.

Ethan looked at her incredulously, taking his eyes off of the dragon huntress.

That was the moment.

That was the precise moment when she realized that she couldn’t kill this dragon. She realized that she probably wouldn’t ever be able to, despite having the perfect opportunity. His attention was diverted, she had her throwing knives, and she could bury one in his throat before he reacted...

... but she couldn’t.

Not because she didn’t possess the skill, but because of what it would do to the Fey girl. She would be crushed; devastated beyond belief. Kendra couldn’t do that to her. She just couldn’t. Unless this dragon did something horrible, something truly foul, she wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on him because of what it would do to Taloni.

She couldn’t bring herself to.

She just couldn’t.

Ethan and his Fey bride looked at each other for several seconds. She wondered if they were talking telepathically, because their expressions were changing like they were having a conversation, but there was no words.

“So, you just want us to talk?” Kendra asked after several seconds.

“Please master?” Taloni said aloud. It was a true request, and Kendra got the sense that she would accept whatever he did, even if she was sad about it.

Ethan looked skeptically at the dragon huntress.

“Please Kendra, just talk to him for a few minutes.” The Fey girl pleaded.

“Okay.” Kendra replied, not having the heart to say no.

“Sure.” Ethan nodded.

“Thank you!” Taloni beamed, then turned to the other woman. “Please don’t leave without saying goodbye.”

“I won’t.” She promised, hoping for another hug.

The Fey teen jumped up to kiss her husband on the cheek, using her wings slightly to control her movement, then she grinned at Kendra and nearly skipped over to where everyone else was.

An awkward silence fell.

Very awkward.

“So, anything you want to talk about?” He asked.

“Not with you.” She replied, then realize that would come off as a little cold. “I didn’t mean it to sound that way.”

“Understood.”

Another awkward silence.

As she stood there, it was strange to think of how surreal this experience was. Less than a week ago she had been feverishly trying to kill him, now they were awkwardly talking. Though, awkwardly not talking was more accurate.

“So, you can actually read you wives’ minds?” She finally asked.

“Not really.” He shook his head. “They can send me their thoughts and I can sense their emotions, but I can’t know what they’re thinking unless they send those thoughts to me. It’s like a conversation, but telepathically.”

“Oh.” Kendra replied.

Yet another awkward silence.

“You have a nice airship there.” Ethan said after what seemed like an interminable silence.

“Thank you. I’ve had it since I struck out on my own.”

“When was that?”

“A while ago.” She deflected.

Yet more awkward silence followed.

She wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t want to tell him about all its features, or that it was among the fastest airships in the Ten Kingdoms, or anything like that because she still didn’t trust him. That was the same reason she didn’t really want to talk about anything else either.

“I should be going.” Kendra said after another long, awkward silence. “Would you let Taloni know?”

His eyes went slightly unfocused for a moment, then the Fey girl turn her head their way.

“Done.” He replied. “You’ll forgive me if I walk backwards instead of turning my back to you.”

“I would do the same.” Kendra nodded, the edge of a smile on her face.

Likewise, the corner of Ethan’s mouth momentarily twitched up as if in a smile. She couldn’t decide if it was odd or fitting that their mutual mistrust of each other was the one thing they could agree on, and even smile about.

Irony.

As he started backing up and Taloni started walking towards her, a thought struck Kendra. Even though she wouldn’t hunt him, others definitely would. If one of them ever managed to kill him, would Taloni be okay? How would she cope? More importantly, would she recover? Somehow, Kendra didn’t think she would. Not really. The Fey teen loved him with all her heart and if something happened to her husband...

She frowned.

That would likely cause a wound that would never fully heal. She would go on, but would almost certainly lose that spark of joyful innocence that she possessed that was so precious and endearing. The dragon huntress wanted to prevent that if at all possible, even if it meant...

She sighed.

“Ethan.” Kendra called before he had taken more than a couple steps.

He was looking right at her, but seemed surprised that she called his name. “What?”

“The most powerful dragons I’ve fought didn’t have hard scales or strong muscles; they had swift limbs and fast reflexes.”

He eyed her suspiciously for several moments before he cocked his head to one side and seemed to consider her words. He made a thoughtful noise, opened his mouth, then closed it again and cocked his head to the other side.

“Why tell me this?”

Kendra pointedly flicked her eyes toward Taloni. “Take care of her.”

Ethan nodded slowly. “I intended to.”

A strange sort of silent understanding seemed to pass between them. They could actually agree on two things: their mistrust of each other and their mutual desire to protect the Taloni. Kendra supposed there were worse things to agree on, and it was enough that they probably wouldn’t be mortal enemies again.

“Did you and master have a good talk?” The Fey girl asked as she arrived.

“It was...” She hesitated while looking for the right word.

“ ... illuminating.” Ethan finished and she nodded.

He continued his retreat as Taloni walked closer. “Do you really need to go?”

“I do. I need to confirm the story I just heard. It’s ... it was pretty wild.”

The Fey nodded. “I hope we see you again.”

“You very well might.” Kendra said, thinking that she owed Ethan and the rest of the crew a serious apology if their story checked out.

“We’re going to the wood elven capital next.” Taloni said. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be there, but if you finish confirming that our story is true before we leave, I’d love if you could visit us there.”

“I might.”

“Then may Illuminar light your path.”

“Blessed be He.” Kendra replied. “I hear there’s a mountain in the wood elven kingdom where you can actually talk to Him.”

“Mount Ianis.” Taloni nodded. “I’ve heard the stories, but only the king can give access.”

Kendra nodded, having heard the same thing. “May Illuminar light your path as well...” She hesitated and then added. “ ... and the path of those you travel with.”

The Fey beamed, and then walked up to the dragon huntress and gave her a huge hug.

It was wonderful.

Better than the first one.

Given the choice, Kendra would’ve given up everything that she’d ever owned and everything that she currently owned to get just one hug like that every day. She blinked again, desperately holding back tears.

Taloni gave her a little extra squeeze, and then let go. “You know, life doesn’t need to be lonely Kendra.”

The dragon huntress smiled as she managed to keep her tears at bay. “I’ve heard that, but never seen it.”

The Fey teen smiled and then glanced back at her husband and fellow wives before looking back at her. “Now you have.”

Kendra glanced towards them and felt herself get slightly choked up. Was it really possible? Were they really what they seemed to be; what their story made them out to be? It seemed both impossible to believe and yet also impossible to deny. As she looked at them, her eyes landed on Ethan. He was looking at her with a strange expression that she didn’t quite recognize.

It was almost sympathy.

“I have to go.” She walked quickly to her airship and hopped in. Seconds later, she had untied the mooring ropes and pushed off against the Argo. Seconds after that, her mast had cleared the Argo’s side and she activated all of the ballast logs all at once. Consequently, her ship rocketed skyward for a moment until she deactivated them.

Then, safe from prying eyes, she let the tears silently fall.

Hailey’s stomach was way past butterflies. It felt like there was there was a whole Irish dance team doing a jig in her stomach. She stood in the corner of the small, concrete cell with Melinda, neither woman saying anything.

“Um, you wanted to talk?” She finally said to her Latina friend.

“I was always jealous of you and Jason, did I ever tell you that?” She said softly.

“No, I never knew. Jealous of what?”

“You two always seemed so close. There was this spark between you that I was always a bit jealous of. He was so excited while he was going engagement ring shopping, and even more so when he found one.”

“Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. “I mean, he got a ring for you too, remember?”

“Yeah.” The Latina conceded. She was silent for a moment before speaking again. “He didn’t ask me out, I asked him out. Did I tell you that?”

“No.” Hailey said hesitantly, not sure where her best friend was going with this.

“It was about a year ago and I’d had a little too much to drink.” Mels continued. “He had spent the previous three years pining for you Hailey.”

“He did?”

She nodded. “You’d been gone three years and on that first date, you came up more than once. I dressed up as beautiful as I know how, and even with me in front of him, you still came up.”

“Mels, I’m sure that--” Hailey started to say, but the Latina held up her hand.

“I know he loves me.” She looked like she did know it, but that didn’t change the anxiety on her face. “He’s so good and thoughtful, and he adores me; I know he does.”

“But...?” Something in her tone made Hailey think a ‘but’ was coming.

Melinda looked down for a moment before meeting Hailey’s eyes again. “But I’m worried that ... that since you’re back he ... he might...”

She swallowed.

“Oh.” Hailey said as she realized what the other woman was thinking. “Mels, I would never, ever come between you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“I know you wouldn’t, but that’s not it.” She shook her head. “Our world isn’t setup for how Ethan and his ... his wives do things. I’m worried that if he had to choose between us that he...” She got a bit choked up and the words died on her lips.

“Oh.” Hailey took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

There was a tiny part of her — a part she wasn’t proud of — that was glad Jason might choose her if he was forced to pick between them. However, that part was completely subsumed by concern for her friend. She knew exactly how wonderful it was to be loved by Jason. If she had to face the prospect of losing that, especially to another woman...

“I mean, it’s not like we’re married.” Melinda continued, then put her hand protectively on her very pregnant stomach. “I know he wouldn’t leave me, but if he really had to pick only one of us, I ... I’m not sure that...” She choked up a bit.

“Mels, I’ve seen the way he looks at you and I know him; he’d never leave you.”

“I know. But you’re here now, within his reach, and for all those years he...” She swallowed. “I’m just worried that if he was forced to choose between us...” Her voice faltered.

Hailey paused for a moment, deciding if she really wanted to voice the thought that was in her head. If would certainly alleviate Melinda’s concerns, but it would be like ripping her own heart out. Even so, she couldn’t stand to see her friend hurting like this; not if she could help.

Hailey took a deep breath. “I ... I don’t have to stay. I could leave--.”

“No, no please don’t.” Melinda interrupted looking horrified. “Don’t do that. We just got you back and I don’t think either of us could take losing you again.”

Hailey managed a half smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“There might be another option.” Mels said quietly. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh?” Hailey was all ears.

“If I’m honest with myself, my biggest fear is losing him.” The Latina said. “I can think of a way to deal with that, but it’ll be hard and complicated, but maybe possible. Maybe?”

“How?” Hailey asked with bated breath.

“Um.” The Latina woman took several deep breaths, as she always did when she was steeling herself. “We could...” Another deep breath. “We could take a page out of Ethan’s book.”

Hailey’s jaw dropped.

She felt her eyes get moist as her best friend’s words washed over her. “Really? You’d do that?”

Melinda bit her lip, then nodded slowly. “I think I could. I can’t lose him, and I know I’ll never stop worrying about that unless either you leave — which we would all hate — or if...” Another deep breath. “ ... if we made it so he didn’t have to choose.”

“You realize what you’re saying though?” Hailey asked with bated breath.

“I think I do.” Melinda took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “You’re my best friend Hailey, and the three of us have always gotten along perfectly. I think it could work; at least, I’m willing to try if you are.”

“I am; I so am.” She could feel her face slowly breaking into a wide smile as tears of joy collected at the corners of her eyes. “But are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Melinda gave her a slightly pained smile. “But I’m less okay with the other options. I can’t lose either of you.”

“I promise you never will.” Hailey said. “I couldn’t bear having him to myself if it meant hurting you.”

Melinda almost smiled. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too.”

“So, a pact then?” Hailey offered. “Either he gets both of us, or neither of us.”

Melinda smiled wryly. “We might need to twist his arm.”

Hailey half-chuckled. “Together, I think we can.”

“We can.” Mels nodded.

Hailey breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like an enormous weight had been lifted from her heart.

Melinda followed suit.

“So, in the spirit of our new pact, I was going to suggest...” Melinda glanced at Jason, who was determinedly looking elsewhere. He probably wasn’t even trying to eavesdrop; he was good that way. The Latina looked back at Hailey. “I was going to suggest that you ... um, that you sleep with him tonight. Not like, sleep with him. Just, you know, sleep next to him.”