Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Sam ignored that. “So, are the dragon clans going to have a massive baby boom now that they’re finding mages?”
No interest in answering that question, eh? Okay, Dimitri could pry into it a different way.
“Yeah, of course. We’re desperate for kids at this point. Our clans are nowhere near the size they once were. It’s why we keep tracking down mage clans and testing people, inviting them to come visit. Do you think your family would be willing?”
“Some of them will. My brother will come down for the thrill of visiting, if nothing else. My mom has been sick with the flu recently and is still trying to set up a time to have a Skype interview with your king. When I talked to my dad last night, he said she was moaning and complaining about not getting to talk to a dragon king, but she also refuses to do a video call when she’s not looking her best.”
“What about your dad? Couldn’t he talk to Rodrigo?”
Sam shook his head. “Dad’s side of the family has kept no records of their family tree or clan information. He’d be of no use. My mom has more records for her side of the family and can talk in more detail. Besides, when it comes to magic, my mom’s side has always been more powerful.”
“I hope she feels better soon. What’s your mom’s clan’s specialty?”
“If they had one, it’s rather lost in the recesses of time. My family didn’t practice magic—openly anyway—for fear of discovery. They’ve kept it hidden, even now. They use a lot of basic spells and protection spells to mask their magical abilities. They focus on handing down knowledge and training to the next generation.”
“Huh. I bet if we ask Gunter—he’s the fire dragon genealogy expert—he’d be able to tell us.”
“Maybe. You know him better than I do, of course. Say, why did the ice dragons move to Brazil? The only thing anyone will tell me is because it’s warmer. But that doesn’t really answer the question.”
Sam was apparently done talking about himself, magic, and family. Alright, Dimitri could give him a break. Giving him some ice dragon history wouldn’t hurt anything.
“Well, after the war was done, we were decimated. There weren’t many of us left and being at home felt…wrong. It was too quiet. The halls echoed with the silence. No one could heal there from the grief. We lasted a winter and then Rodrigo said let’s move. Total change of climate, pick somewhere we could relax and recuperate. None of us thought it was a bad idea. We sat down with a map and as a clan discussed where to go. A few of us had been to Brazil, so we knew the land and the people. Knew they were hospitable, and the beaches were gorgeous. It sounded like paradise, so that’s where we went. I think we had it in our minds that it was a temporary move. Just a few years, maybe, to help us grieve. But once we were here…our desire to go back to that land of snow and ice evaporated. Surfing and sunbathing are so much more fun.”
“So that’s how it happened. I found it strange because, according to the histories, dragons are very territorial. I couldn’t figure out what prompted you to move.”
“Oh, we’re still highly territorial. Not of land, though, not anymore.” Dimitri shot him a wink before slowing to take the next curve. “We’re territorial of our clan and our mates now. The war changed a lot of things for us. We used to butt heads all the time with other clans, even get into fights, but…we don’t have it in us to be that petty anymore. With so few dragons, we look at another and see a brother-in-arms now. I’ll defend a fire dragon as readily as I would my own clanmate.”
“It makes sense. You don’t fight over potential mates either?”
Dimitri waved this away. “No, no, not how it works. We know if someone is our mate or not. No use fighting over someone else’s mate. It was because of that selfishness that we had the war to begin with. Trust me, no dragon would even consider it.”
Sam nodded and turned toward him a little, his voice dipping lower as if about to tell a secret. “I’ve another question, something more personal, but I don’t know how to ask it without possibly stepping on toes. Two of your dragon friends seem to be…together?”
Dimitri loved how Sam expressed no desire to be upsetting but didn’t hesitate to ask the question anyway. The man was nothing if not direct. “Yeah, they are. I know why you’re asking. It’s incredibly rare—practically unheard of—for two dragons to be lovers. I mean, we do hook up with each other sometimes—”
“You do?” Sam asked in surprise, eyes wide behind his glasses.