Vireo circled in the sky until his wings ached and his mind felt a little clearer, or at least, a little more. He couldn't stop his mother alone, not with threats and lectures. He had to play her game, and play it better than her.
He turned and flew back towards the city, the setting sun painting the desert in hues of orange and purple. When he landed on the patio, Xylia was waiting, her silhouette stark against the fading light.
"You took your time," she said, her voice neutral. "Thinking, I presume?"
"Yes," Vireo replied, meeting her gaze. He wouldn't show fear. He wouldn't show defiance. He would show cooperation.
"Good," she said, a faint hint of approval in her tone. "Because our plans are moving forward. Tomorrow, we go to the palace. You will be formally presented to the King and Queen. They wish to meet the newest recruit to our cause personally."
Vireo's stomach turned. The King and Queen? He'd only ever seen them from a distance during city-wide festivals, gleaming figures on a high balcony. Meeting them made everything feel terrifyingly real.
"They want to meet me?" he stammered.
"You are my son," Xylia stated, as if that explained everything. "And you possess unique… assets." She glanced at his snout, then the tip of his tail. "They are keen to see such potential in one so young. Do not disappoint them, Vireo. Or me."
Vireo just nodded, his throat too tight to speak.
The next morning, the air was crisp and cool. Vireo had barely slept, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Xylia was already waiting for him, her scales beautifully groomed, her demeanor calm and collected. She looked like a dragon on a mission, which, Vireo supposed, she was.
"Stay close," she instructed as they took to the sky. "And when we are before Their Majesties, you will speak only when spoken to. You will be respectful. You will be obedient. Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear," Vireo confirmed, trying to inject a confidence he didn't feel into his voice.
The flight to the palace was shorter than he expected. It was a grand, structure of sandstone, decorated with white marble and gold. Intricate carvings adorned its walls, and banners bearing the royal crest – a roaring sand dragon with a crown of sun-rays – fluttered from its towers. Guards in polished armor stood at every entrance, their expressions stern.
They landed in a vast, open courtyard paved with gleaming sandstone. Other dragons were present, some in elaborate robes, others in military attire. Vireo felt very small and very out of place.
Xylia led him through arched corridors and grand halls, their claws clicking on the polished floors. The air inside was surprisingly chilly. Tapestries depicting heroic scenes from Ventifact's history lined the walls.
Finally, they reached a pair of massive, intricately carved golden doors. Two royal guards, their scales a deep gold, stood on either side. Xylia exchanged a few quiet words with one of them, who then nodded and pushed open one of the heavy doors.
The throne room was breathtaking. Sunlight streamed through high, arched windows, illuminating a vast chamber. The ceiling soared high above, painted with a swirling depiction of the cosmos. At the far end, on a raised slab of polished obsidian, sat two imposing figures in their respective thrones.
King Sotol was immense, his scales the color of dry earth, with streaks of darker brown, and almost jet black eyes. He had fangs and a hefty stinger. A heavy crown of jagged gold and fire opals rested on his broad head. His eyes surveyed them with an intensity.
Beside him, Queen Ephedra was more slender but no less regal. Her scales shimmered with a pale, almost white-gold light, and her eyes were the same startling blue as Xylia's, but colder. She had fangs and a stinger as well. A delicate tiara of woven silver and moonstones adorned her head.
For a long moment, there was only silence. Vireo kept his eyes fixed on the floor, hearing the faint sound of his own frantic heartbeat.
"Rise," a deep voice boomed. It was King Sotol.
Vireo slowly lifted his head, forcing himself to meet the King's gaze. Oh god. He thought to himself. I'm really here. The monarch's jet-black eyes were like deep, starless pools, and they seemed to weigh and measure him in a single glance.
"Leave us," Queen Ephedra commanded, her voice crisp. She gestured with a slender, jewel-adorned talon towards the doors. The royal guards, and two other robed dragons who had been standing in the shadows, bowed deeply and exited the throne room, the massive golden doors closing behind them with a soft, definitive thud. They were alone.
"Xylia," King Sotol began, his voice a low rumble. "You have served our cause with unwavering loyalty. You tell us your son is ready to do the same."
"He is, Your Majesty," Xylia affirmed, her head held high. "He is strong, and he understands what is at stake."
Queen Ephedra's cold blue eyes shifted to Vireo. "You are young. But you carry quite the assets. You don't see it that often." She leaned forward slightly, her tiara glinting. "We are engaged in important work, young Vireo. A mission to secure the destiny of Ventifact for all time. It is a work that requires unshakable loyalty. The faction that we have the closes ties to, is called the Glow of the Sun."
The Glow of the Sun. So the faction had a name. It sounded noble and grand, a stark contrast to the dark, ugly feeling it stirred in his gut.
"To join this cause is to dedicate your life to it," the King continued, his voice echoing in the vast hall. "There is no turning back. Do you understand the weight of what we ask?"
Vireo swallowed hard. This was it. The point of no return. He had to say yes. He had to convince them. He thought of Peyote, of Leafy, of the world outside this cold, room.
"I understand, Your Majesty," Vireo said, his voice surprisingly steady.
"Good," the Queen said, a satisfied smile on her lips. "Then let us make it official." She raised an arm. "Come forward, child."
Vireo hesitated for only a second before obeying, his claws clicking nervously on the obsidian as he approached. He felt like a tiny insect approaching two magnificent, deadly predators. Or probably how Leafy felt when he saw Peyote at first.
"Repeat after me," King Sotol commanded, his voice filling the chamber. "I, Vireo, son of Xylia and Simoom, do solemnly swear my strength, my secrets, and my life to the Glow of the Sun."
"I, Vireo," he repeated, his own voice sounding small and insignificant, "son of Xylia and Simoom, do solemnly swear my strength, my secrets, and my life to the Glow of the Sun."
"I will protect the mission above all else," the King boomed.
"I will protect the mission above all else," Vireo echoed him.
"And I will bow to the will of the monarchy, who are the true heart of Ventifact," the Queen concluded, her voice sharp and final.
"And I will bow to the will of the monarchy," Vireo finished, "who are the true heart of Ventifact."
"Now," the king said, reaching for a paper behind the throne. "Words are one thing. We need more trust than just that." He pointed at him. "Cut your self from the tip of a talon to your underbelly."
What? Vireo thought with shock. This wasn't just an oath. This was a blood pact. Almost like a branding. His eyes darted to his mother. Her face was calm, her expression unreadable. She gave him a small nod. Obey.
His heart hammered against his ribs. He thought of Leafy, curiously patting his claw, and the thought of voluntarily slicing that same claw open, of marking himself for this cause he despised, made him feel sick. But refusal was not an option. Not here. Not in front of them.
With a tremor, Vireo slowly lifted his left arm. He extended a single, long talon. The obsidian floor reflected its sharp, black tip. He took a deep, shaky breath.