I Alone Breed Dragons

The revelation landed, but to say I’m surprised? Not really. "Are you sure?, Maltie."

"Yes, I am." Watching Maltie closer, there was no sign she was lying. Mostly when she is — there’s unnecessary contact, seduction, right in the middle of conversations where not needed — but now she was seated, still beside me, her hand by her sides, eye contact firm, didn’t trail off mid-sentence. Maltie wasn’t lying. Which made it more unbelievable, that a human in the council had connections with the goblins.

"I’ll fish them out."

"Where’s the evidence?" I said, with hesitation. We had to take the time — we had to act fast, if they find we already know who the culprit is, they might hide the evidence.

"No. In fact, take me to them."

Maltie was taken aback, she narrowed her eyes. "You’re serious. What do you intend to do? We can’t just kill him, we need to be very careful with this."

"That’s for you. I’ll walk to his house and kill him myself."

"Now take me there."

The rider then knocked on the door. "Sir?"

"Area 61." Maltie attended to the man, tossed him a few coins, then shut the door back.

She adjusted her seating, gaining composure. "The man we’re going to see is the vice chancellor at Kingston, a man of gray hair, and regal passion for magitech. Have you ever seen him?"

"I have."

The carriage then halted to an abrupt stop, indistinct voices reached us. It was a mix of mourning, some guards barking orders as they marched their boots on the earth, rhythmically.

"What’s going on?"

I checked through the little window, out, when I noticed the carriage taking another turn around, instead of driving ahead.

"What’s going on?" I repeated, louder this time for the rider to hear.

"Ummm, there’s a search going on, this area is on lockdown. I need to get back."

Then a man barked at our carriage. "Hold right there. Everyone hold your carriage." That’s when I decided to step out. I climbed down the carriage, into the road, with other carriages parked disorderly around.

A knight then approached me. "We’re carrying out a search around this area, didn’t you hear that?" he raised his voice.

I tilted my head. "It seems you’re unaware of who you’re talking to."

"I’m the Amor of Hearts House, a village chief, Supreme General of the Peace Knights, and finally a member of the dragon-human bilateral council. Do you want to really raise your voice against him?"

Maltie then climbed down the carriage, she stood by my side, took off her hat to reveal her hair, horns.

The guard froze on sighting Maltie, his hand trembled as he calmly reached for his hip. Why was he afraid of her? my mind questioned.

His blade then sang out of its sheath, he raised it against Maltie, and shouted, "She’s the one! All units, fall in!"

Knights then stormed to our position, they circled us, all swords raised.

Maltie pointed at herself, fully oblivious. "Me..."

"Yes, I saw you when you exited Mr. Randolf’s mansion, the VC of Kingston Magical Academy. You’re the one who killed him. Your eyes were glowing crimson with murderous intent, your hand soiled with his blood. It was you, and you have the audacity to return, what for, to take more lives with you. Cursed dragons."

I turned to Maltie. "Is this true?"

"What, how can you believe them? I didn’t kill anyone."

"You’re lying."

"No, I’m not, I didn’t."

"Take her." I swatted my hand toward Maltie. "Imprison her. She must be taken to court and judged properly."

Maltie gasped, stared at me with disbelief.

But I knew what I was doing.

From the number of guards and how public we were standing, a confrontation couldn’t happen. I wouldn’t normally hesitate to kill every knight here, since Maltie plays a very important role to me, but these were just pawns. Someone else had set Maltie up. She wasn’t lying, she speaks the truth, I could see it in her eyes.

This was the work of the goblins, who have connived — Amiko had magic to disguise her look, now someone shapeshifting to Maltie, it wasn’t all coincidence.

With her given a trial, I would gain enough time to find out who did it, leading straight to the goblins.

While thinking, I braced Maltie. Then a feeling moved through my skin, as her mana flared, a calm translucent energy flaming around her. She tightened her eyes shut and clenched her fist. "I’m tired of this nonsense." Her wings ripped her coat to pieces, fanning me away, as she revealed her full body. "I’m tired of people pointing fingers at me, it’s infuriating. You either kill me or I—"

Before she could complete her sentence, I shushed her. Pressed a finger to my lips. She got the gesture, kept her lips sealed, but anger still flamed in her eyes. No guard was able to move a step to her and seize her by the wrist. So I walked to her, and whispered into her ear. "Stand down. I know you’re not the one, just play the script. Nothing is going to happen to you, just wait."

Her eyes brightened with new hope, knowing at least I believed her. She relaxed her fists, and took a deep breath. "Fine."

I nodded slightly. "Good."

The guards then seized her, promptly binding her by her wrist, and binding her wings together, as she was led away like a criminal.

With a case like this, the rift between dragons and humans is about to become more violently hostile to both races. They must be found.

I followed the crowd, trail leading to Randolf’s house, on foot, brushing shoulders with others, slipping through the tiny corridors. It was really jam-packed, with no way a carriage could move. Still, I didn’t want to bring out my wings in public, that would cause another stir. I didn’t want such at this time.

Further along down the road, I reached the gate, wide open, with guards still finishing up the search, or collecting evidence, since this was heading to the court for judgement.

Other nobles were present, carriages packed outside. The assassination had really drawn a lot of attention from neighbors around. So I didn’t have time blending in, just stayed neutral and followed some group of counselors who came to visit too.