I Alone Breed Dragons

"With that, I also think your suspicion of Maltie is more concrete — we have to apprehend her before her next move. She must have some way she unlocks the vault without the queen or Aldric. Mana she isn’t telling us about."

"Maltie isn’t the culprit."

"And how do you know that?"

A knock at the door came before I could reply. And Quinette walked in, her gaze landed on Aria, and she greeted with a smile.

Aria, on the other hand, her mood shifted — her gaze on Quinette pierced deeper than the surface, like she could sense the dark mana settled in her. Her gaze then shifted to her hip, where Quinette’s blade was supposed to be sheathed.

"Lady Quinette, permit me to ask — where’s your blade?"

"It’s broken."

And from that single reply, I watched Aria’s face for any further reaction, but she buried it behind a poker face. She didn’t push further, ignoring it completely.

She knew about Quinette’s forbidden magic locked into the sword? And from the story Quinette testified, the only person who knew was the queen. Why hadn’t the queen told Aria? What position did she hold apart from being just the queen’s personal assistant? There was a relationship between her and the queen that wasn’t public but was surely present.

"Walter, I came to see you before returning to Clover Barony. I’ll return the Gordon Mountain Pass when I come back."

"Don’t worry about that. You can hold onto it." Now that I had Quinette’s loyalty, letting her hold the border pass was safer, so as not to draw attention when my plan was in motion.

"Then I’ll do just that."

"Mind if I ask — what do you need the border pass for?" Aria asked, shifting her gaze between the both of us.

"It’s confidential."

"What are you planning?"

Neither of us replied.

Which annoyed Aria further, but she didn’t flare up. "Just know, Quinette, whatever you’re siding with Amor for — if it challenges the queen, you should be ready for the consequences."

"I don’t fear any consequences that would fall on me for following Walter loyally."

Aria stared at Quinette with disbelief, and didn’t speak.

Quinette then took a bow, about to leave.

"Aria, will you mind telling me about your world — the full story of what happened?"

"I’ve told you several times — under the queen’s order, we aren’t allowed to tell anyone."

I smirked. "Quinette." She halted halfway out the door, then stepped back in. "You called?"

"Quinette, can you tell me about your world’s history?" I leaned into my chair. "Tell me about... the goblins."

"Of course," Quinette started. "Twenty years ago..."

On hearing the narration begin, Aria shot off her seat. "Quinette, what are you doing?"

She ignored her and continued. "Before we were warred out of our home, the goblins were the weakest race among the six magical races. Elves, sirens, dragons, fairies, demons — they were weaker, often disrespected by orcs. They were badly treated and neglected, until one day... something gave them power strong enough to put the rest of the races in disorder."

"Quinette, that’s enough." Aria snapped.

But she didn’t listen. "One by one, each race sold their soul to the mysterious entity which had granted the goblins power, so they could be strengthened. In the end, they all conformed, except the dragons. Our six strongest pillars rejected it and fought. But our strength against all the other races wasn’t enough. So, using their last power, they opened a portal away from our world, letting those still alive from the war flee..." She paused, letting the words sink in.

Aria froze; she remained speechless as her efforts to stop Quinette proved useless, watching Quinette reveal the full lore of their land.

"So the goblins hold a special grudge against you dragons?" I asked.

"I believe so," Quinette replied. But I knew there was more — it all came together: the reason I’m a blockage. They want me dead for the same reason they want the dragons dead. I’m a blockage because I can bear the offspring of dragons, while they’re trying to make sure all the dragons go extinct. What ritual were they referring to... a ritual that requires all dragons dead? What evil are they planning? But one thing I could put my money on was that this curse preventing dragons from conceiving was their doing.

"You’re more dangerous than I thought, Amor. But I believe the queen had realized this long before..." I still don’t know what you intend to do with this information."

"Actually, tell me why you guys withheld this information from us."

"Isn’t it obvious? If humans found out they were putting themselves in danger by allowing us onto their land, your king wouldn’t permit our stay willingly, which would lead to violent resentment between the two races. The queen was trying to prevent that." Aria then calmed her breath.

"That’s interesting. Then I’ll do just that... I will walk into the royal castle and report this very vital information."

"This isn’t a matter you should joke about."

I hardened my face. "I’m not joking."

"What! Are you out of your mind? You’ll end up stirring a rift between dragons and humans. That’s the worst you can do."

"Then why don’t you go ahead and tell the queen? A matter this urgent, stating an enmity between dragons and humans, wouldn’t be something you should keep to yourself."

Aria hesitated to speak, her lips parted to produce words but couldn’t; she remained silent.

"You don’t know the queen’s whereabouts, am I correct?"

She settled back into her seat. "I don’t intend to provide you with an answer."

Of course — she wouldn’t be that easy to get answers from. A brief slip in her mask gave me the answer I needed. The queen can’t be reached. Aria can’t reach her; her three-month leave would still remain, rather than get cut short from the recent attack.

"I’ll take my leave now." Quinette then finally exited the room.

Leaving me and Aria alone in the library, the dead silence returned. Aria picked up her book from the table and continued reading.

"You don’t know what you’re bringing upon yourself. If you’re trying to disrupt this kingdom, you’ll get what you’re wishing for... and trust me, the burden of this kingdom will fall on you and overwhelm you." She lowered her book. "Then you’ll understand the responsibility the queen carries."