The next few farms were very similar to what the pair had already experienced, save for the incestuous pig farmers. Flora shuddered at the thought of them. Each farm had been the same; meet the farmers, make polite conversation, and view the animals. Nights however, were a different story.
Flora noted the odd way the King behaved each night. It was like he couldn't make up his mind on who he wanted to be. One night, he had behaved very similarly to the night in the cabin, very clearly teasing her for a reaction. And the next night? Ever the chivalrous man who could barely make eye contact without apologizing.
What frustrated Flora the most was the growing tension as they shared the tent each night. He held her as he had at the carriage house and cabin, and she let him. While she never slept as well as she did in bed, his arms around her made her feel safe enough to get any rest at all. It seemed to work both ways because he also slept well, and hadn't woken up from a night terror since their night at the carriage house.
And so it was a mutual agreement between the two. Really, they slept better this way, and they needed any rest they could get on such a busy schedule like this. Flora reminded herself of this, that that's all this was. It's only so we can sleep better. She thought to herself as she drifted off into sleep once more.
Oddly enough, Flora's dreams took her back to the cabin. It was the height of summer, the trees full of green leaves and the grass beneath her feet soft and lush. The cabin itself looked clean and repaired, a fresh layer of paint bringing its color to life. It was the perfect pastoral scene, and as Flora explored she found the pasture had been widened and housed three horses. She felt calm, unaware that it was simply a dream as she let it take her deeper.
A few chickens wandered the area around the cabin, making happy little clucks as they scratched the earth for bugs. The horses ran up to the fence to greet her, and Flora saw that it was Odysseus, Penelope, and Condor who inhabited the pasture. Flora was more than happy to give them each an appreciative pet, but found it disorienting when her hands seemed much too large to be her own. It was the first tip off that it was just a dream, but not enough to wake her up.
She continued her exploration of the revived cabin, going inside to see how the furnishings looked. Just like the pasture, the cabin had been enlarged. There were two doors at the back now, where Flora assumed the missing bed had been moved to. The inside looked just as new as the outside. The dishes were clean and nearly pristine, and had nearly doubled in amount. The kitchen table was also larger, being able to seat as many as six now. The area where the bed was had been turned into a little seating area with a small metal fireplace placed in the center. The seats weren't as outrageous as the ones in the castle, but had similar patterns of floral designs. There were also a few bookshelves filled with a wide assortment of books from non-fiction to children's literature. This part puzzled her until she heard the joyous cries of children outside.
That's odd. I guess I wasn't ever opposed to the idea of children. Flora couldn't quite puzzle it out until the two kids ran inside and she saw them. It was a young boy and girl, most likely twins. They wore simple clothes and beamed with excitement. But the most notable part were the little budding horns on their heads, gilded as if they were made of gold. Flora's shock quickly took her out of the dream, and she woke up with a jolt.
It was still early in the morning, and Erick was sound asleep. With his arms wrapped around her, Flora was surprised she hadn't woken him up. His back was pressed against his chest, and by all means she should have gone back to sleep, but she couldn't. She couldn't get the image of the dream out of her idea. It was wonderful and frightening and a dream come true all at once.
Flora did her best to roll over without waking up her king. No matter how many times she reminded herself of that fact, she couldn't help but feel a tiny indescribable pull to him. He felt safe, contradictory to everything she had been told about shifters and dragons in particular. Flora did her best to look up at Erick as he slept, wondering what it was about him. Obviously plenty of girls like him for his looks. Flora thought flatly. But that doesn't explain this feeling in my gut, the tightness in my chest when I leave. Flora pondered why she should feel like this, letting her thoughts wander as she curled up against the dragon king and drifted back off to sleep.
It felt like only minutes had passed when King Erick woke her up. She felt his hand on her shoulder as he shook her awake, and for a moment she desperately hoped it was just another dream. She heard his soft laugh as she presumably said something about sleeping for just a few more minutes.
"Come on Flora, it's the last farm and then we can go home." King Erick said this with a gentle tone, but it was a startling reminder for Flora. She moaned, out of anger or despair she wasn't sure. Erick gave her a frown, knowing that this was not the farm Flora wanted to go to. She had managed to avoid her father for three years now, but had never once thought up anything good to say when she would see him again. There's nothing good to say. She thought miserably. I left him, I abandoned him. Erick gave her an affirmative pat on the back before getting up and getting ready for the day.
"Did you at least sleep well?" The King asked tentatively, a hint of concern almost hidden by his cheery tone. Flora wasn't sure how she felt about that, or about this day, or if she even wanted to keep this job anymore. She considered not doing this ever again as her back and joints cried in pain after having slept on the hard ground so many nights in a row.
"I suppose." She replied, stretching in an attempt to wake up her sore body. "I had an odd dream about the cabin last night." Flora informed him, grabbing her bag of items and throwing on her outer wear for the day. She had already dirtied two of the three sets of clothes she brought, and was beginning to worry about her appearance before her father. What will he think of me when he sees me? Will he be proud or resent me? Flora gnawed her bottom lip as she stressed over this.
"What was your dream about?" Erick asked over his shoulder as he began to disassemble the tent. Flora was grateful for his distraction, but knew that putting off her worry now would only double it later. Regardless of this, she gave in to it.
"I had a dream about the cabin." She started, going over to the horses and getting them ready for the day. "Except it was nicer, cleaner. It had been expanded, and our horses were there." She continued as she got the horses' tack ready.
"That doesn't sound so bad." Erick commented as he took the last parts of the tent down, placing them inside their canvas bag. Flora shrugged her shoulders before responding.
"That part wasn't so odd, they're the horses I've seen the most recently." Flora told him as she started placing the saddles and bridles on the horses. "The odd part was when I got inside." She continued as the King picked up his bags and walked over to her and the horses. "When I got inside, there were children. Dragon children." Flora couldn't shake the image of their budding horns, something she had never really seen herself. Erick paused as he was setting the bags on his mare.
"Did anything happen after that?" His voice was tight, and Flora was a little nervous as to why. She shifted her stance uncomfortably as she tied her own saddlebags to Condor.
"I woke up. It was just an odd dream." She tried to brush it off as she pulled herself up onto her gelding. Erick did not mount Penelope, but stood there for a moment. It was clear he was processing something as his eyes went back and forth as if filing through his thoughts.
"I think it's possible we shared a dream." Erick did not seem totally pleased by this fact, his face drawn as he mounted up on his mare. "But I don't see how that's really possible." His face pulled down into a frown as he contemplated what had happened.
"Well, you did think into my head yesterday." Flora pointed out, still coming to terms with the fact that magic users could just do that.
"Well, yes, but that was done willingly. It's difficult to use magic in your sleep." He informed her, kicking his horse into a walk so the two could leave their campsite. "Especially Night Magic, it takes a lot of concentration." His voice wasn't a sort of serious that was scary, but there was something about it that set Flora on edge. "Are you sure you don't have any magical capabilities?" The King asked.
Flora nodded. "Very sure, never experienced even a lick of it." She said firmly. It had been a source of frustration for her. If only she had known something, anything, that could have helped during the plague. Maybe then her family would still be whole. Erick gave her a sympathetic look.
"Wait," she started. "You had a dream where you took my horse?" She recalled seeing Condor in the pasture of this new and improved cabin. Erick barked out a laugh.
"Well, it's like you said." He started with a smile. "I suppose my mind just put in the horses I know best. Besides, I'm the one who gave him to you." He pointed out with a sly smile. Flora did her best to give him a look down her nose, pretending to be someone more important.
"Well then, Your Majesty, I must be very important to now own a king's fine horse." She told him, using the most audacious impersonation of a noble's voice that she could muster. This caused him to laugh even more, and she smiled and laughed with him.
"Of course you would focus on the horses." He smiled, looking at her with an amusing gleam in his eyes. "I suppose that's what makes you a great Beast Master." The compliment seemed simple enough, but it hit Flora all the harder for it.
"Thank you." She said quietly, feeling a blush spread over her face and neck. King Erick replied in kind, and the two quietly rode on towards the next farm. Her father's farm.
It was roughly two hours before they arrived at Flora's old family farm. Not much had changed in the time since she left, although it seemed to be a bit more run-down than it already was. Most of the farmers, both animal and plant, knew that the Inspection was coming and they were expected to keep high standards. It did not seem that her father felt the same.
The closer they got, the worse it was. Animal shelters that needed repair, fencing that was broken, and animals that were on the loose in the yard. Farm tools had been left out to rust, and cobwebs were building in the corners of the house and barn. Bushes and wild plants were growing to the point of overgrowth. The entire thing almost looked abandoned, if it weren't for the older man and young boy. Flora's father Harold and her brother Benjamin.
As they got closer, the look on Harold's face only got worse. Mr. Acker was never a happy person to begin with, but this expression was the epitome of disdain. Flora reined in Condor a few paces away, even though King Erick went up closer to the gate. Condor pulled on the reins and pawed to move forward, but the stare from her father kept her planted in place. He said nothing beyond a gruff welcome to the King as he dismounted his mare.
Flora quietly got off Condor, grabbed his reins, and walked forward. She did not look her father in the eyes, but rather kept her gaze low. I already know he's going to lay it into me, be it now or later. Flora thought resolutely.
"I'm sure you're already well acquainted with the realm's new Beast Master Mr. Acker." King Erick started with his usual neutral tone and impassive nature. "I would like to congratulate you on your daughter's success." It seemed congenial enough, but Flora's father was not to be dissuaded.
"Hmph. Thanks." Was all he said, his arms crossed as he stared down his daughter. Flora did her best not to shrink under that familiar stare. King Erick made a pointed cough and Mr. Acker broke his stare from her.
Flora's brother looked wildly uncomfortable but said nothing. He reminded Flora of a deer surrounded by hunters, and felt pity for whatever he may have endured these last three years.
"Yes, well, I'm not getting any younger." Harold complained, and it was then that Flora really noticed how much more aged he appeared. Despite it being only three years, his hair was much more grey than it had been, with new wrinkles set in his face. The most alarming part however, was that he now walked with a cane. It was a long dark wood cane with a simple wooden adornment in the shape of a hook, making for an easy grip. The fact hit Flora hard in the gut, and she was almost tempted to turn around then and there and go home.
"Come on, let's get this over with." The old man that was her father huffed, and King Erick leveled him a glare. Harold only sniffed and turned around as he led the two through the farm. Benjamin hung back, and Flora was tempted to say something but thought better of it. Her father was grouchy enough as it was, better to get this over and done with and talk to her brother at a later time.
Harold said little as he headed towards the main barn of the farm, hobbling along with his cane. Erick politely followed, hands clasped behind his back as he stood straight and looked ahead. Flora tugged at her log book, willing it to come out with little trouble as she tried to keep up. It wasn't hard, her father wasn't going very fast, but she couldn't help the anxiety that came with being around her father. She didn't want to risk falling again but also didn't want to risk falling behind where her father was concerned. Thankfully she pulled it out with no issues.
That was until she tripped heading into the barn. It was her own fault really, she knew there was a rise from the ground to the floor of the barn. She had been so engrossed in starting her latest page of notes that she simply forgot and landed face first into the cement floor of the barn.
"Oh ow." Flora moaned, pulling herself up from the floor. She was saved from the worst of it being in her formal attire as she was, but the bruising up her arms and knees was sure to come later.
"Really Flora, you haven't been gone so long to forget something so simple." Her father chastised her. "You always were such a klutz." Her father said dismissively, looking down his nose at her. Flora wasn't sure how to respond, but didn't have to as her King made a pointed cough.
"You will refer to her as Beast Master Acker, or simply Beast Master." King Erick gave Harold a withering glare, but to Flora's surprise the old man only returned it. If Erick was surprised or offended, he didn't show it.
"She is my daughter, the daughter who abandoned her family." Harold said with a pointed look at Flora. She tried to say something, but found her throat tightened on itself and all that came out was a pitiful squeak. Benjamin shuffled uncomfortably behind her.
"You will address her properly as fitting of her station. Now, shall we continue?" It was framed like a question, but Flora knew from his tone that Erick was making his stance known. Harold grunted an agreement and the group continued through the barn.
Flora took as much time as she could to write down her notes, though she didn't have to. She knew this barn like the back of her hand. She had spent many days and nights in this barn, tending to the animals and following her father's orders. But right now, writing notes was the only thing that kept her mind busy and her heart steady.
There were few animals in the run down barn. It was a very typical barn at that, with wooden stalls doors that swung on rusted hinges. Old hay was piled up in each stall, doors were left askew, and animal waste was yet to be cleaned.
"Ben!" Her father yelled. Benjamin flinched before responding with a meek reply. "I thought I told ya to clean this place up!" Harold shook his cane at the piles of hay in emphasis. To Flora, it was clear that it had been more than a few days since the place had been cleaned, but said nothing as her brother scrambled for an apology and began cleaning. She shared a look with her king, his face set in grim lines.
"I don't know how you kids think you'll get anything done on your own." Her father complained. "I'm sure you only got the job because he likes you." Harold shook his cane in Flora's direction, and it took her a moment to process what he had meant. He thinks I'm only here… because the King likes me? Her heart sunk to the very depths of her being, and it must have shown on her face based on the smug look her father shared. King Erick was not so inclined.
"It has become increasingly clear that you do not value your daughter very much." Erick's voice was quiet, but fury raged beneath it as his face grew dark. Flora wasn't sure if she imagined it but it seemed as if the whole barn itself had grown darker, as if the shadows themselves were closing in with the King's wrath. Harold began an angry and blustered response, but the King stopped him.
"I am not done!" Flora nearly fell back, fearing the barely contained storm that Erick held in his voice. Benjamin made himself scarce, and Harold nearly quailed as he stared down the King.
"Your daughter has worked very hard for three years to be where she is now. She has earned it, and I do not care for your suggestion that I would do such a thing." Flora was not imagining it, the barn had gotten darker. Harold's eyes now darted around as he too noticed the growing darkness around them. This is why we stay away from shifters. Flora could almost hear her father saying to her. As it was, terror was now sinking into both of them, rooting Flora to the spot.
"During those three years, you were given ample time and support to improve your farm. It is obvious that you have rejected any and all help, and it has come time I do something about it." Erick's voice was ice, and when he turned to Flora his eyes matched his tone. Flora nearly ran then and there, but remained in place as she knew his anger was not directed towards her. Despite that knowledge, her fight or flight instincts were practically screaming at her.
"Give me the book." He commanded, hand outstretched. Reality settled and something snapped in Harold. Flora saw the change in expression as he went from terrified to angry, but an anger like that of an animal trapped in a corner. Flora watched as he picked up his cane, holding the handle in one hand and the body of it in another. The world felt as if it had fallen into slow-motion as Harold slid the body of the cane free, revealing the base of a sword. He bent down as if to slash the blade free, cutting all in its path, and Flora made a snap decision of her own.
"Father no!" She screamed as she pushed her King out of the way. It was too late for her father to stop, as Harold pulled the sword free and savagely slashed at whoever was before him. The cut went deep, two opposing forces meeting at a point as Harold cut open flesh and blood. His own flesh and blood.
It was odd, Flora noted, because she didn't feel any pain. She didn't feel anything as blood began to pour onto the cement below her. She knew it was just her body in shock, and that maybe she would feel something, eventually.
She couldn't tell who but she definitely heard someone screaming. Maybe it was her? She wasn't sure, and suddenly the world dimmed and spun around her as she fell. Was she falling? She didn't feel like she was falling, but suddenly she was looking at the ceiling, arms cradling her as her clothes became wet. She didn't remember getting any water on her, but perhaps an animal had just splashed some on her.
Flora could feel herself slipping, her awareness dimming to little else around her. She should be worried, should be concerned that she was very possibly dying. Instead, she felt an overwhelming calmness. She had worked hard, lived as best as she could, achieved her biggest life goal, and saved her king to boot. And yet, something still nagged at her, a life that still called to her
Erick's fury could not be contained as Flora fell back, the sword from the cane dripping in her blood. Erick rushed to her as she fell, catching her in his arms. Shadows ripped from their places on the floors and walls, pulling Harold down to the floor and restraining him, nearly squashing him in the process. It took every ounce of Erick's willpower to stop himself from killing the man right then and there.
Benjamin ran in at the sound of the screaming - horrified screams from Harold and an angry bellow from Erick - and stood there dumbfounded. The boy looked as if he had been the one struck, eyes wide and mouth agape as he watched the scene unfold.
"Don't just stand there!" Erick yelled at the boy, not caring that his anger clearly frightened the boy. "Do something! Get some wraps!" Erick yelled as he began to fuss with the layers of clothes on Flora.
It was hard to tell just how extensive the wound was at first, but it was obvious that it was bad. That fact became only more clear as he pulled apart her clothes, the cut running across her entire abdomen. It started at the point of her hip and cut all the way across and up to the middle of her rib cage. Erick was mixed with fear and fury as he pulled out his pocket knife and started cutting Flora's shirt into strips.
He worked furiously, doing his best to make quick and efficient work of her clothes. Harold rattled and pulled against his restraints, but Erick's shadows did not budge. If only they could heal. He thought miserably, using the rest of his magic to hold Flora's wounds closed as he made more strips of her clothes. He could feel her pain radiating in his own gut, as well as her consciousness slipping away.
"Just hold on Flora." Erick grunted as he cut more strips of cloth, wrapping them tight around her. Benjamin ran in, his arms full of towels and various clothes that he could find in his home. "It'll have to do." Erick muttered as he took the bundle from the boy.
As Erick was working, he almost didn't notice the light touch of Flora's hand as she lifted it to his arm. She set it down on his forearm, resting it there, and he paused. "What?" He said quietly, almost too scared to speak or hear what she would have to say.
"How did your dream end?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Wha- my dream? In the cabin?" He was shocked that this was what she wanted to say, and began working faster on pulling the wraps around her gaping wound. He thought he could see internal organs, and the thought frightened him into binding the wraps tighter.
"Yes, with my stolen horse." She replied with a faint smile, and he knew this was an attempt at humour. Erick gave a choked laugh, feeling his eyes fill with water as he answered her.
"The kids came in, very excited over a new bug they caught." Erick's voice wavered, as did his hands as he recounted his dream to her. Is she asking because she thinks she's dying? A little voice told him that she was dying and that if he didn't hurry now she would be gone forever. "And then my wife," Erick took a shuddering breath as his tears broke free. "My beautiful, loving, wife came in, and we lived happily ever after." He finished, tying the last knot in the wraps.
"Who was she?" Flora's voice was nothing more than a hush, and Erick couldn't stop the tears as they fell down his face. Before answering, he picked her up, heading for the exit of the barn.
"It was you, Flora. My dream is to have a quiet life with you." Erick whispered back, looking back as he willed his shadows to tug Harold behind them. The man fought every step, fury and fear filling his eyes.
"I like that dream." Was the last thing Flora said before she quietly slipped away. She was not dead yet, and Erick refused to let her die.
In a flash the King shifted from human to dragon, hugging Flora close the whole time. He caressed her in his taloned hand, holding her gently against his warm hide to keep her cushioned. He snarled at Harold, doing away with any semblance of pleasantries as he grasped the man in his other hand and casting his shadows back to where they came from.
Benjamin came running outside from the barn, gaping up as he beheld the King in his feral form. As a dragon, he was terrifying. His large golden horns curving around a dark blue head with darker hair running down the length of his neck, back, and tail. His talons were a similar shining gold, with yellow whiskers to match. It was a sign of his royal blood, and made for an impressive image when he bared his stark white fangs in contrast to his blue scales.
"I will send someone for you." Erick growled at the boy, and Benjamin fell backwards onto the ground. Flora's brother was purely petrified, and tears flowed freely as he watched his brother and sister get taken away in the claws of a dragon.
Erick pumped his wings and took off, leaving everything else behind as he rushed Flora back to the castle. The sun was high now, and with his larger form his speed ate miles and miles in no time. He pushed himself to his very limits, flying harder than he ever had before as he rushed back to the castle. Back to safety, to home, to healing. It was hard not to clench his gut as the sympathy pain wracked his body, darkness clouding the edges of his vision. The castle couldn't be further away than it was that moment, despite its fast approaching image on the horizon.