Chương 17: Episode Two Hundred and Sixty-One: Sir

I poked at one of the shells, and it made my finger tingle. Indigo flew back across the room.

"They smell weird."

"Dragons and unicorns don't always get along," explained Lorestone.

"At one point, long ago, some of your kind ate them." Indigo jerked back and shook her head.

"No, thank you."

"I think they are pieces of a horn." Lorestone inched closer, and touched one of them with a hand.

"They use their magic to form horns, which signifies ranking in the tribe. These are used as currency."

"So, they're a form of condensed magic," I said, thinking of the gems still stashed away in my fanny pack. Which I'd forgotten to put on today.

"So, then, these are for Betty." They sank down into the counter.

"What happens to most things given to you?" asked Lorestone. This time, his eyebrow ridges drew together.

"No clue." I shrugged.

"Some of it goes into the storage room, other things are currency like the shells. Normally, we operate in trade. Like, someone might come in looking for shells." Lorestone nodded.

"That makes sense."

"The comb is gone," said Indigo with a frown, before she looked up at me.

"It was pretty."

"It was, but there are plenty of pretty things all across the various worlds. Just think about your pillows." I patted her on the head, and she snuggled closer.

"How about we visit the library now?" Betty felt stable, and we'd taken care of multiple customers. Now would be a good time, and I'd get to talk to Lady Twilight about some of this.

"Lorestone can learn to fly!" Indigo's voice rose in glee. Lorestone flinched back from Indigo, but didn't say anything, as she flapped her wings. Indigo needed some other dragons to play with, that much was clear. Lorestone just didn't fit the bill, even though he had some dragon characteristics. The only noticeable difference when we changed locations was that the door opened, and Lady Twilight marched in. Indigo launched herself into the air, blazed right past the dragon and out the open door.

The door remained open even after Lady Twilight entered. Her eyes sought mine.

"It's a stage. I swear." I gigged, and shook my head.

"I'm not taking it personally."

"Oh, good," she said, as she walked into the center of the room. Then she caught sight of Lorestone. Her eyes widened, and she hurried closer to the counter.

"I might need some tea for this conversation."

"One dragon tea, coming right up. Then, let's head to the living room," I replied. It didn't take long to get the kettle to the correct temperature, or to let the tea steep. I used a lovely dark grey mug with lines crisscrossing it of bright purple.

"Do you want a ride?" I asked Lorestone. I offered him my arm, and he quickly climbed up it much like Indigo did when she was young. She didn't do that as much now. He rested on my shoulder, and a strange sort of comfort formed inside me. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Thankfully, I still had some iced latte left, and carried that up for me as Lady Twilight followed right on my heels.

When we crossed the threshold into the living room, the archway shimmered, and I knew it was now attached to the front door, which was still open. That took care of one worry, of a random dragon just walking in. I sat in my favorite spot on the couch, and Lady Twilightly only took a second to find a spot. Lorestone stayed close to me, but he climbed to the back of the couch to give me a little more space.

"You have a familiar, and it holds hints of dragon magic. Mostly stone and fate, but dragon magic is at its roots." She took a sip of tea.

"I've never seen anything like it."

"This is Lorestone," I said carefully.

"The statue." Lady Twilight's head went to one side.

"The Rock Lord Chromaflame gave you as a knowledge base?" Lorestone shifted on the back of the couch.

"Yes, I was once Lord Chromaflame's First Rock. Now, I am much more."

"I can see that you blaze with Sable's magic, like no familiar I've seen before. And, your form is unique. The dragon is still there, but not dominant." She looked like she might chuckle for a second, then stopped herself.

"Indigo wants to teach him how to fly," I added, trying not to be awkward.

"Oh, she would. Her instincts are saying she has a younger dragon nearby who isn't flying, and that's dangerous. She needs to protect those younger than her. This phase of her development is tough in normal circumstances, and now you have a dragon-touched familiar." I really wished I had read farther along in that dragon parenting book now.

"She's hit this stage much earlier than anticipated," Lady Twilight added.

"Or I would have warned you. Normally, this doesn't happen for maybe ten more of your years." I leaned back on the couch.

"Is she that advanced for her age? How is that possible?"

"Dragons don't age on a specific timeline," said Lorestone.

"It's a process, usually a slow process, that varies by dragon. Indigo is ahead of the curve. She lives in a highly magical area, with more knowledge than most, and she found her hoard early."

"Your familiar is correct. Lorestone, is it?" asked Lady Twilight carefully, like she knew something I didn't. Lorestone pressed his lips together, but didn't say anything for a moment. I waited.

"I don't know if my name is Lorestone," my familiar whispered.

"I was, Lorestone but now… it doesn't feel right." Lady Twilight nodded.

"You need to find the root of your true name. Sable has only started down that path. As her familiar, you will need to journey with her on it." Lorestone, well, not-Lorestone, wasn't the only connection inside my chest. Betty also sat there, and it was much like the familiar connection, though not identical. Did the shop need a true name as well?

"What do you want me to call you?" I asked, wanting to know.

"Henry. I like Henry." His wings fluttered around him, before he pulled them tight across his body.

"Sir Henry, I like it." His name rolled around inside my head, but it didn't feel complete. Something buzzed inside me as my magic pushed out without me meaning to. Time froze as a golden wave coated Henry.

"Sir Henry, Obsidian, the Guardian of the Whispers, bonded to the Shopkeeper of Threads." This was his true name, or at least a large part of it. A name whispered deep inside my chest, answering the call of his.

"Sable, the Shopkeeper of Threads…" but then the rest of it faded out, like I couldn't hear it. I knew Kin of dragons was in there somewhere. Then time resumed as his coloring darkened from the deep grey, to an almost glossy black. Henry moved first, and crawled down the couch into my lap. Lady Twilight blinked a few times, but said nothing as she sipped some more of her tea. I didn't know what to say, though at least my magic had calmed down.

"Sir Henry," said Lady Twilight.

"It's a good common name to use." I turned to look at her.

"Common names are used to not be shouting your true name all over the universe. Like Lady Twilight. It's close to who I am, but not who I am." She finished her cup, and set it on the coffee table.

"Like Indigo," I added. Though the word Luminous popped inside my head at the thought of her.

"Yes, though she clings so tightly to that name," she said with a smile. Chirping announced their presence before anything else did, as Indigo flew into the room, followed by Aurora. They both circled us overhead.

"See, Lorestone needs to learn how to fly! And we can teach him!"