Page 77 of To Fight and To Fold

Aaryn won Vaelen over with that single line, but Vaelen was good at not showing it.

"You'll see him. We'll make sure of it," Vaelen said, nodding to Thea.

Thea nodded back, offering her deepest respect in front of Aaryn. Someone new. Someone Thea found herself wanting to impress.

The light shifted on Vaelen's face as she drew closer. It eased her features and she was practically grinning by the time she reached Aaryn. "Welcome to Cloud Haven. I'm Vaelen, archdruid of this circle," she said, and offered a hand.

Aaryn blinked. "Vaelen?" she asked.

The archdruid cocked her head to the side. "That's correct," she said. "Heard of me?"

"Actually… yes," Aaryn said, absently taking her hand, blinking quickly, her way of processing new information. Why was that so cute?

"Wasn't me," Thea said, lifting both palms innocently, as the archdruid's gaze landed square on her. "It wasn't!"

Aaryn chuckled. "It wasn't," she confirmed quietly, and Thea waved an arm as if to say, see?

"I'm Aaryn… of Starspark," she landed on proudly.

At that, Vaelen cracked a smile. "Charmed. I'd love to hear what the rumor mill has to say about me, Aaryn of Starspark. Another time. You'll be in Thea's care, so I'll let her deliver you to your dragon, and let you take everything in. If you need anything at all, come find me. Thea will explain how to travel the circle. No weapons, yes?" Vaelen checked.

Thea patted the dagger in her belt. "Got it."

Vaelen latched onto the ritual dagger, intended for show rather than action, but still sharp as any blade. Vaelen made eye contact with Aaryn. "You can have it back in due time, if you want it. Once we're sure you're not going to use it on anyone."

"Oh, I wouldn't—Okay," she said with a nod.

Thea had placed that same dagger in her very palm and she hadn't intended to use it. Thea didn't see that changing now. Her horns tingled at the memory, and she shook herself back to the present when Vaelen spoke again.

"Alright, then. You can go see Starspark. Thea, she's your responsibility now. Keep her safe, or keep us safe from her. Got it?"

Thea's eyes flicked to Aaryn. Yeah. Thea was up to the challenge.

"Yes, Vaelen," she said, and dipped her head once more.

Vaelen grinned. "And get her some clothes. She sticks out like a dragon in Windhelm. Alright, you kids. Have fun. Give Starspark a kiss for me."

"As if," Thea said, and Vaelen winked before turning on her heel. The large dragon blinked slowly at them before padding after her.

"Ready?" Thea asked her.

Aaryn nodded, gazing after Vaelen until she disappeared behind the trees, towards her home.

"She's… scary," Aaryn whispered.

Thea chuckled, because Vaelen wasn't scary at all. She was fierce, and protective of her people. As a leader should be.

"You'll get to know her," Thea said, and motioned back to the teleportation runes. "On to the next."

Aaryn walked ahead of her and once they were both inside the circle, Thea shifted the runed tile into place to activate it. One moment they were staring out over the trees that hid the training area and Vaelen's base of operations, and the next moment they were staring at the naturistic scene of the Dragons’ Nest, Thea's favorite.

Dragons occupied any part of the circle they wanted, but most preferred here. It had been designed with them in mind, after all.

Beneath the moonlight, which always seemed brighter up here in the clouds, was the dragons’ paradise.

Aaryn's gasp felt good to hear.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Thea asked, and led her between the stone pillars.