Drishiel

  Dripping with various forms of liquid that the Heroes of Neval and their allies they’d called to die through at him. He could never understand how they could so callously leave their allies behind and why people still followed the Heroes of Neval. They’d taken three half-conscious individuals and rushed then to a tucked away property he kept for that very purpose. They’d be offered healing and rest. Afterward they would either send the individuals on their way dropping them off on a random plain or they’d invite them to stay.

  But never would they step foot on this estate. Never would he place that risk on his bond. Even if that bond wasn’t the most ideal.

  He invertedly slowed in front of the painting Ishennor had insisted on hanging in the main hall. It was why so many would already know her face. She wasn’t the only thing Ishennor painted but he frequently painted her.

  This particular painting was gleamed straight from Drishiel’s memory and it was stunning but it was also an almost uncomfortable reminder of that day. The first and at one point only memory he held of his bonded.

  He’d been so desperate for the deal. He’d been willing to overlook the red flags. He’d been irritated by the youth of the girl that they brought but at the time he’d thought she’d been at least in on the workings and the deal. When the ceremony started even swifter then he’d thought he’d been surprised and by the look on her face that was captured in the painting she was as surprised as him. She’d gripped her chest and leaned back. And then he’d been stabbed with a shifting blade. The bond should have taken enough out of him that the travel should have shattered him but it didn’t.

  He’d lived and he’d been furious.

  Drishiel stared at the beautiful, shocked face. He’d been angry at her for being their but never could he find it in him to place the blame on her. Because she was young, because of the shock in this expression. Even then he thought she had to have known at least a bit of things. In fact though she’d been offered a glass of Celestial energy and told to drink it. It was a wonder that with no Celestial energy she survived it leaving him wonder if there were others that didn’t succeed and died for a lie.

  But she had survived and they’d dressed her in fine clothes that had every significance to him a demonic man and even to a Celestial but not to a human girl who never experienced anything close to them. It was so obvious as she talked through it. She’d known she was to distract a demon. They probably tore his character apart and made him nothing but a monster. Which was why that shocked look had been there since he walked through the door. Because in that moment she realized it was at least in part a lie.

  And that was why thought it pained him he couldn’t demand anything from her because if he was scared and sixteen what would he have agreed to? Much worse he knew. And he hadn’t questioned anything either. Though the Celestials have never kept their deals in the way that was expected.

  The discomfort though at not having her there had evened out. Not fully but it was enough for him to use the necklace to check to see if she was safe. As long as it shown she was safe.

  Ishennor though was worse off. Far worse off. Drishiel had agreed to not sever the bond because he thought Ishennor would simply be fine with knowing she was still tied to them as he’d always been. But his painting rapidly grew in numbers the past two months, and he’d actively drank in his words to ease the uncomfortable moving of his skin.

  Drishiel realized a little late that in trading souls they’d traded issues. A dragon bonds for life but is fine with living lives separate from their bonded. Demons didn’t bond for life but they struggled to be far away from those they were tied to.

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  Drishiel could not imagine the bond being severed. He could be fine with her being anywhere as long as she was in fact still his. Ishennor on the other had longed for her presence though he himself had agreed that the binding staying was worth his struggle.

  Ishennor had also since this discomfort pushed less to follow Drishiel everywhere instead focusing in on gleaming information from the memories of those they brought back to heal. And because the information could be received with very little tainting and without pain on the end of the providers he didn’t argue Ishennor searching the memories of those they’d taken for glimpses of her.

  Most of the time Ishennor’s painting had that young sixteen year old who matched Drishiel’s memories but there were some who watched Aldrina from afar.

  Drishiel grimaced he’d only learned her name when Ishennor found it in someone’s memory.

  The only times he’d ever seen Ishennor lose his temper was when he’d gleamed an individual who’d tried and failed to drug Aldrina and when one of her tails flirted with her and went to bed with her in order to try to find information. Just to be turned into a toad and have to be saved by the Celestials.

  He wondered if Ishennor was planning his next painting. Drishiel thought dropping his cloths and turning on the shower. He stepped under it’s fall. And turned and swore at the dragon who was standing looking through the stalactite at him. At his notice Ishennor perked and ducked into the stall.

  The dragon who’d been abandoned by his kind when they switched worlds, left the only one in a cave surrounded by treacherous flames had never learned manner or boundaries and though he’d been doing very well at learning he didn’t see a reason to exercise those qualities with Drishiel. They already shared their souls after all.

  “I succeeded where you failed.” The dragon taunted with a toothy grin. Drishiel sucked in a breath already feeling put upon.

  “And what Ishennor did you succeed at?” He asked in a humoring tone. Igennor handed him the soup he was blocking and Drishiel accepted it.

  “Convincing our bonded to hear us out.” Ishennor informed smugly. Drishiel blinked and looked back at the dragon who leaned against the shower wall with a smirk.

  “You did?” Drishiel asked allowing Ishennor his space to brag. Ishennor grinned toothily.

  “It seems that is you’d have asked her to discuss first, instead of abducting her she would have agreed to talk it out.” Ishennor offered not sounding the least bit irritated simply stating a fact. Still Drishiel winced. He’d sensed the Heroes of Neval getting closer and closer. And was concerned about staying there for long. He’d not been thinking about much besides avoiding them.

  “She also said she was more mad at the fact that you left her cart behind. She thought you abandoned it. Aldrina was far less angry one she realized you did leave protection spells on her cart.” He informed. Drishiel frowned he’d gotten the feeling too that she’d called him less to save her and more to save her cart.

  “You told her about you?” Ishennor asked. He’d been concerned about how she would react to another bond thrust upon her but he’d been set on telling her. Until she specifically said she didn’t want to hear him out. Then he’d felt at a loss for how to bring it up.

  “Yes. Honestly, I was surprised that she didn’t look that concerned about it. Though I think that if we lie or she doesn’t like what we have to say she’ll have no qualm about severing the bond and disappearing far, far away.” He offered cheerily. Drishiel looked at Ishennor.

  “Why do you sound so happy saying that. That would destroy you.” Drishiel pointed out. Ishennor tapped his nose against Drishiel’s shoulder.

  “Like it wouldn’t destroy you too.” He offered. “I have been a good wing man though. I talked you up and I am charming and she stated negotiation. We are very good at negotiating. Also, I don’t think she’s too different. Her reasoning for accepting a deal with the heroes of Neval was very similar to why you did.” Ishennor offered.

  “Then hopefully we’ll be able to come to an agreement tomorrow.” Drishiel offered turning off the water and grabbing a towel. The dragon didn’t bother with a towel the water droplets simply left him and he shifted into a smaller form of a dragon and skittered out. Drishiel found him swirled in a ball on his bed. Drishiel shut off the lights and climbed into the bed with the dragon.