Zephyria studied Cardinal Guard, the four remaining warlocks, and her two mortals just to her sides as she forced her anger into the back of her mind. She approached as elegantly and calmly as she could manage in her badly wounded state. "I know little of the Fists laws, and so I am very curious. Did you say the remaining warlock's lives are in my claws? As in, I decide what happens to them?" Zephyria questioned as politely as she could.

  Petra glanced over the dragon that had looked like she wanted to eat her alive less than a few minutes ago and gave her a nervous nod and said, "Yes, Great Patron Zephyria. Under the legal system establishments by the Fists of the Forgotten, should someone attack the patron of a rightful member of the Fists then the patron gets final say in their punishment. Essentially you are the Judge, Zephyria. It would be wise to spare-"

  Zephyria cut her off by proclaiming, "I have heard enough, Cardinal Guard. Thank you for your explanation. I have a question for you now, Cardinal Guard Petra." Petra gestured for her to go on uneasily as the heavily wounded dragon refused to show even a tiny amount of discomfort. "I believe we were about to form a deal in which me and mine would protect your town for the period of one month, correct?" Petra again nodded slowly. "And these four mortal's fates are mine to decide as I please?"

  Petra cautioned, "Within limits, although those limits are few. What are you getting at, dragon?"

  Zephyria grinned a fang filled draconic smile as she stared down each four remaining warlocks. She spoke with a false sweetness, "Cardinal Guard Petra, I seem to have come into possession of four capable warriors who nearly took down a dragon and her chosen all on their own. They are fierce, durable, and most importantly capable. I propose an alteration of our previously agreed upon contract. Rather than myself, I will assign these reliable and competent warlocks under your command for the duration of the coming war."

  Petra cut her off immediately, "Public service punishments can not last more than 3 months, and they cannot have indeterminate times."

  Zephyria waved her off with a wing, "For three months then, Cardinal Guard Petra. And as your most generous benefactor granting you such capable warriors you will uphold your end of the deal, paid to me, as though me and mine were the one doing the work. Three monthly payments, benefits and all. You heard them yourself, they wish to make up for their foolish mistake. It is a deal that makes everyone happy, Cardinal Guard Petra, my reliable friend."

  Petra scowled. She countered, "They were already going to do that as you said. Why would I take this contract when I could have them work for me for free?"

  Zephyria bared her fangs even wider as she stretched her head uncomfortably close to Petra's face, causing her to take a step back uncertainly. "Why, Cardinal Guard Petra? Because, you've been implicated not once, but twice, in attempts on my life. I have little reason to trust you, and yet you have every reason to want my favor." Zephyria stood tall once more and dramatically proclaimed, "For the cruel and unjust crime of trying to kill an innocent person such as myself, I would have them executed for their most heinous crimes. An outcome none of us would appreciate, isn't that right my most respectable Cardinal Guard Petra?"

  Asher finally broke in hissing at her too quiet for the others to pick up, "Zephyria, what in the void has gotten into you? It's obvious she didn't do this, don't make her an enemy!"

  Letting the Cardinal Guard ponder her words, she whispered back at Asher with venom in her words, "Is it obvious? I don't believe it is. Twice now she she has been blamed as the cause behind attempts on my life that would have been successful if the circumstances were even a little bit different. I don't have reason to trust any of the mortals here, least of all her. So, they will make it worth my while to remain and continue to be at risk." Asher glared at her but bit his tongue. A complicated expression washed over his face as he thought about something deeply. After a moment he nodded, and then stepped back a little bit, letting Zephyria take the lead.

  Meanwhile, Petra grimaced and mumbled to herself as she paced slightly, "When will I learn to never trust a Great Patron? Void drag those greedy beasts souls to the void and grant me peace. Every last one of them is a cold-hearted devil." Petra glowered at Zephyria and as soon as she was done whispering something to her chosen, she seethed with barely restrained sarcasm, "You are right, most honorable Great Patron Zephyria. It is a deal that benefits us all, and it is something they already wish to do. Am I to assume you will be remaining in Rannoch and that I can rely on you for the defense of the town as necessary?"

  Zephyria dipped her head ceremoniously, and demurred, "You are still paying me the same amount of coin for an even greater defense, you simply have a less control of my actions and cannot simply order me to do your bidding. At worst you pay me for an extra month or two if the war ends early. Perhaps, a small fee if a job is particularly dangerous to a dragon such as myself, again. Incentive to not send me on suicide missions again seems fair to me. Surely that is a fair deal in return for greater protection and my loyalty in the face of such troubling accusations against you. Is it not, my friend?"

  Petra straightened up and said, "Then I believe we have a deal. The warlocks will be temporarily transferred to your command for the duration of three months as a form of public service. We will then formalize our contract in which you will order them to defend Rannoch for a price. Do not mistake me, Great Patron Zephyria. I see what you are doing and I do not appreciate it."

  Zephyria scoffed, "I do not appreciate multiple attempts on my life, Guard. Surely one such as I could expect to be safe under such an esteemed Cardinal's protection? I believe we have a deal then, Mortal." She turned to the four warlocks, "Did you get all that or will I need to repeat it for you?"

  Gerald, the hammer wielder, shook his head and bowed deeply. "The others may not have listened, but I paid attention just fine. I'll make sure they know our new posting and I'll pen a letter to the Fists regarding our new position. We are honored by your mercy and are glad to defend Rannoch in your name." The man bowed to Petra as well, "Trust seems to be a difficult thing to come by in Rannoch, we will do everything we can to earn yours, Cardinal Guard. We truly do just want to help."

  "You are dismissed, then. Shoo." Zephyria waved a wing at them to go away. Gerald gathered the other three warlocks and began to lead them limping back towards Rannoch with several guards following them.

  After the warlocks left, Petra began to follow when Asher called out, "Petra, wait. A moment, please." Petra turned around and glared at the dragon's chosen, but didn't keep walking away. "I will not pretend to claim what Zephyria did was right. It was blatant extortion and I'm disappointed she did it at all, even if she did manage to restrain herself from asking for too much." Petra raised an eyebrow in surprise as he continued, "However, I still trust you, Petra. And I believe if we can work past the short sighted decision Zephyria just made, we might be able to actually use this to all of our benefits."

  Petra dipped her head cautiously, "I'm listening, chosen. But I'm not happy."

  "We have mutual enemies, Petra. Someone wants you out of the way so Rannoch can fall, I think that much is obvious. You have no reason to want any of us dead and yet someone keeps trying to frame you, and is trying to get Zephyria to kill you in retribution. That, or simply see her dead and you missing your strongest ally right now. Zephyria might be falling for the obvious trick that it is, but I know she'll listen to me once she's had time to heal." Asher assured.

  Zephyria growled at Asher, "Watch your tone, little dragon." Asher just kicked sideways at the grumpy dragon's leg, eliciting a small smile from Petra.

  He continued, "You've publicly been strong-armed into currying her favor in a way that looks embarrassingly bad for you. Either they will stop trying to use you against us, or they will approach you and try to use this disagreement to get you to actually try to kill her for once. I don't doubt that with your help Zephyria would be dead right now, and anyone who was pulling the strings would have seen that."

  "You want me to use this to my advantage to try to lure out the person behind all of this. Is that right, chosen?" Concluded Petra. Asher bowed his head in confirmation. "I will consider it." Petra relented.

  Petra glared at Zephyria and pointed a gauntlet covered finger at her. "I don't care about the money, I'll just send a bill to the fists over this and they'll fund it. No, I'm pissed that you did this at all, dragon. You made me look weak right as my town is looking to me to save them from a fucking war, if word gets out about this trust in me and my people will be eroded. If I was desperate enough to fold to your extortion, who's to say I'm not desperate enough to fold to the enemy as well? This might, MIGHT, work out in our favor but that's because your chosen has a mind for this tricky political bullshit and not because of anything you did. See that you uphold your end of the bargain and keep my people safe, Zephyria, or I might not bother to help you again." Petra threatened the dragon as she walked away for the final time.

  As Petra walked away she barked out orders to a few of the remaining healers that were packing up their gear, "If your going to be a part of the Order, then you're going to have to learn to take care of a great patron eventually. Go help her, you cowards! She's not going to kill you for trying to stop her from bleeding to death."

  As the healers nervously approached the still bleeding dragon, Asher said, "Well. That could have gone more smoothly. Seriously, Zephyria. What got into you? We had this whole talk about how relationships and trust matter more than material reward in the long run when we first got here. It's hardly been a week and you're already extorting them?"

  Zephyria tilted her head in a draconic shrug, unrepentantly. "I did not lie, earlier. I do not trust anyone here. Now I have a reason to remain when the smartest decision would be to leave the place that keeps nearly killing me. I do not know Petra, I do not care for her feelings. I care for myself, you, and Conall. That is all. Now, we will have more money for you to arm yourselves with. We are less restricted now, and the town is better protected. It may not be the most political decision, but I maintain it is one where we all benefit." Zephyria glanced at the worst of her wounds as the healers approached, "And perhaps I should attempt to gain some armor of my own, my scales were frustratingly ineffective in this fight and I would very much like to not be injured so often."

  Conall stepped around and winced as he looked at the two jagged rends in her side, "By the void, Zephyria, I've been stuck on the other side of you this entire time. This looks awful! From you demeanor I thought that you had made it through this fight with only superficial wounds." Zephyria scoffed, "And show weakness before mortals? I would rather die."

  Asher and Conall stepped aside as two of the healers approached her left side. The healers began to converse in hushed tones that Zephyria didn't bother listening closely to. Instead she focused on her chosen as he spoke to her warlock. "Conall, what I don't understand is how any of this was legal. We all just watched as someone extorted the highest ranking military official of an entire population center. And the only complaint was that it looked bad for her, not that it was unlawful or immoral." He whispered.

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  Conall gestured helplessly. "That's just how things work here. The patrons have nearly absolute control, and nearly total political immunity. If I tried that I would be hanged, but since a Great Patron did it it's just another day. Petra made it sound worse than it is, it's unlikely anyone will truly be bothered by Zephyria demanding some extra compensation. Mortals exist to serve the Great Patrons, it's just our place in the world. Don't you remember your first day here? Zephyria was told to not kill too many people, and if she did she would just get chased out. Zephyria could probably kill Petra and see little to no consequences for it, especially given the accusations against her. Doesn't really matter that they are obviously nonsense."

  Asher sighed. "I won't pretend the North was any better with its nobles and their corruption. Old gods know I paid off people to look the other way before I got exiled from the Sunsvegards, but they at least had to pretend it wasn't corrupt. Hopefully your right and Petra just lets this go, I know the nobles up north would exact revenge for a crime half..."

  He trailed off and watched with incredible amusement as the two healers began to throw bandages over Zephyria, catch them, pass them under her, and throw them again, effectively wrapping around her entire torso. He couldn't help but laugh when Zephyria shifted her wing slightly and undid all of their progress, only for the two healers to huddle up once more and begin discussing again.

  Conall rolled his eyes while letting out a chuckle. He approached the pair, and tapped one on the shoulder. "Lads, I don't mean to try to do your work for you but I've mended her wounds myself, before. Try packing the wound with a common field poultice rather than trying to bandage it, if your familiar the one that's based on ochre moss has proven effective. If not I'd be happy to pass along what I know to some initiates of the Order."

  Zephyria was trying to pay attention, she really was! But this talk of mashing plants together, something about 'blood clumping herbs', and whatnot. It had her completely and utterly bored.

  "Mortals. You all wear the same clothes and more than one person has referred to you as being in an 'order'. What does that mean?" Zephyria said the nearest of the two healers.

  The man looked awfully nervous as his fellow healer remained in discussion with Conall about medicine. Stepping aside and approaching Zephyria from her front, he said, "I've never gotten to speak to a Great Patron, before. It's, well, it's an incredible honor. We're, uh. Well it's a part of the Fists you see." The man trailed off nervously.

  Zephyria tilted her head curiously. "Is that it? Just a part of the fists?"

  The nervous man shook his head so vigorously he looked like was visibly dizzy. "No! I mean, yes? We're a subsect of healers. We're not a part of the fists exactly, but we follow their orders as though we were. It is complicated and weird, I don't really understand the difference yet, honestly. Very few of us are warlocks so we focus on the mundane arts and don't worry ourselves with magic much. Oh, uh, 'The Sylvane Physica Order" is the full name, but that's a mouthful so just 'The Order' to most people."

  The dragon chuckled as she heard the name. "You and you mortals with your overly long names. Tell me, mortal-" Zephyria was cut off as Conall slapped her wounded side.

  "Hold still, Zephyira. We're trying to help you. And could you please let the poor man go? He's supposed to be learning right now, this is a good opportunity for him." Conall lectured.

  Zephyria wobbled her head in the dragon equivalent of a shrug, "I thought you all said these were members of this 'Order'. Am I being cared for by hatchlings?"

  Conall just sighed, "Students, Zephyria. Students. They may be good with other mortals, but most members of the order only know how to care for a magical beast from barely remembered lectures from who knows how many years ago. Most Great Patrons have warlocks they bind to them specifically to keep on hand as healers, so most of the order never even gets a chance to see a Great Patron up close, much less actually tend to one. Truthfully, I would have dealt with this wound like I did your last one but you seem to be generally okay despite how bad it looks. I figured I'd help them take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity."

  Zephyria grumbled but quit complaining. "Fine, fine. You don't need to lecture me." She looked at the healer she had just been talking to as he joined his friend in mixing and applying some beige mush to her wounds. Curiously she realized she didn't even notice them doing it as the area was entirely numb now. "Conall didn't make the pain go away with the snake bite. This idea of having warlocks dedicated specifically to the task of healing me. It is quite the curious idea. I wonder if I'll ever have the strength to manage multiple warlocks, Conall's pact was simply too draining on my heart-flame. It's still not fully recovered from that."

  She stared at Conall as she thought about this, causing him to hold up his hands defensively as guessed wrong at her thoughts. "Don't look at me like that. I just wanted to be a member of the order when I was young. Being a protector and helping people has always been my dream. I just learned I was better at fighting than I was healing. Means I know more than most about healing than the typical warlock, but by no means makes me an expert."

  She stretched her neck down and bonked the man on the chest with her muzzle. "Spend some time with this Order, Conall. Grow your skills as a healer. It will benefit us both, and perhaps if I am injured within Rannoch again I can let this Order take care of it under your supervision."

  Conall looked at her suspiciously. "You just like the idea of having a personal healer to attend to you, don't you?" He said.

  Zephyria chuckled eliciting a yelp from one of the healers who's arm was stuck inside her as her muscles tensed. "You know me too well, Conall. As I said, this will benefit us both. It is clear you have a passion for healing, and I have a passion for not dying."

  Conall laughed and then beamed at her. "Alright, alright. I agree, and I appreciate it. I've spend so long just trying to survive, perhaps it's time I actually looked back into an old dream."

  Asher patted him on the back and said, "Sounds like a plan to me. With the questionable deal Zephyria struck today, we'll have some more free time on our hands. I still want to train with my changing body, but I'm certain I can get one of those warlocks to fight me for a while if I think they're trustworthy. They were pretty good, although pretty shit in a wrestle. That guy was taller and heavier than me and he hardly used it to his advantage. Maybe I can teach them, as well."

  The chosen looked to his dragon and said, "Since you secured all this extra free time, yet tied yourself to the town for the time, what is your plan Zephyria?"

  Zephyria honestly hadn't thought about it until now. "I just assumed my mortals would keep leading me to doing things. Hunting monsters and the like. But if they intend to slow down and focus on themselves for a little while...? I truly have no idea what I'll do. I have that book my little dragon bought me, perhaps I will look into a way to bring it along with me in the future and read it where I can."

  She finally spoke up. "I would like to commission some kind of bag and perhaps some kind of armor to supplement my scales."

  Asher raised his eyebrows. "I thought you said you would never wear a saddle, now you want saddle bags?" He said incredulously.

  She growled at him playfully. "No. I will not accept a saddle, not ever. You cling to my scales well enough. No, they will be bags made for my use, not yours. Although, perhaps I could be convinced to share, eventually. I wish to carry the book you gifted me, and perhaps some of these healing herbs for Conall to use should I get injured again." She explained.

  Conall and Asher exchanged odd looks. Asher circled around her and studied her form. "Zephyria can you try to reach the base of your tail with your head for me? You couldn't even pull an arrow from your side when we met, but that was after spending centuries doing little but sitting in a cave reading. You've been fighting, swimming, and flying a lot lately so you might be in better shape. How flexible you are would decide where the bags would have to go. And, if you aren't flexible enough, modified saddle bags might be all you can use."

  She stretched back and with great difficulty was able to fold herself such that her muzzle touched the base of her tail. She heard a wet plop and then the healer she had not spoken to yet swore. "Hey! You're heavily wounded, remember? Take it easy and rest, not do intense stretching. You just squeezed out a huge amount of the stuff we used to stop the bleeding!" He cursed at her.

  Asher shouted back from the other side of the dragon, "Sorry! My bad! I got carried away and asked her to." He spoke to Zephyria more softly, "Accident aside, that was really good Zephyria. Your range of motion is a lot better than it was when we first met. Start doing some stretches and you might be the most limber dragon in the world."

  The more brave healer inspected the wound, but left it as it is. "It's fine, I think? The bleeding has almost entirely stopped and she doesn't seem to be uncomfortable. I think we used too much, it seems. If you actually have her rest she should be just fine, although these might scar. Not sure how scarring works with scales, to be honest."

  He stepped in front of Zephyria before continuing. "Like I just said, you're hurt even if there's no pain right now. Take it slow, relax, and don't do anything too strenuous until that heals. This sort of wound would put a mortal down for months, but from what I understand of magical beasts you should be fine in a week or two. If the wound opens up please have someone lead you to the Order's building near the town square and we'll see to it again. Perhaps try to stitch it closed with some better tools? Doesn't matter. Take it slow, and by the Patron's favor we never meet again."

  Zephyria scoffed, "So eager to not see me again? I'm offended."

  The man laughed. "You misunderstand, Great Patron. Should we meet again it would be because you are injured. It is every healers dream to sit within our temples with stores full of supplies and bored our of our minds due to having no work to do. A healer is only busy when there is tragedy in our midst."

  Zephyria gave the brave healer a nod, after a moment of hesitation gave the man a little nudge in the chest with her muzzle. She spoke softly, "Your words are wise, healer. With the old god's blessing, may we never meet again."

  The brave healer gave her a small bow and began to pack up his things. The nervous healer that she had spoken to earlier started to help then just began to stare at her with clear indecision on his face. She looked back at him impassively, waiting to see if he would say something. After a long stare down Asher walked up and whispered something in his ear. The nervous healer swallowed hard and walked up to her.

  "Excuse me, Great Patron?" He spoke with a slight tremor in his voice. Zephyria nodded to him slightly but said nothing. "I- I'd like. I mean. I was- wanted to ask." He stammered out before shaking his head vigorously again. "That is, I'd like to make a small request of you, Great Patron. I find your scales incredibly pretty, and I'd like to pet- touch I mean, your muzzle. If that's alright with you. I understand if you-" He cut himself off as Zephyria began to move towards him slowly.

  Zephyria lowered her head near his and looked him in the eyes. "I don't believe anyone has outright asked to pet me, yet. That was audacious." She said in a neutral tone, causing the nervous healer to look like he was about to shit himself. Instead of lashing out as he feared, Zephyria gently pressed the tip of her muzzle into his chest and held it there. "I appreciate the audacious ones. It is just us in this field, you may touch me." She whispered to him.

  The nervous healer hesitantly reached both of his hands up and held each side of her head gently. He carefully ran a hand along the top of her muzzle, mesmerized by her scales. Without thinking about it much, he took his other hand and scratched at her chin as one might a particularly large dog. Zephyria couldn't help but purr as she leaned into the scratching. The man looked delighted right up until she kept leaning into him and knocked him flat on his ass.

  She shook her head slightly in an imitation of the nervous healer as she refocused herself. She saw the other healer as well as her two mortals staring at her all with amusement and fondness written on their grinning faces. She stood tall and proud, as a dragon should. "None of you saw anything. Am I understood?" She declared as she fixed each of them one by one with an intense glare. Each one attempted to school their expressions and either nodded or gave a little word of affirmation as her gaze moved onto them.

  Asher, on the other hand, looked at her with a shit eating grin. "I saw everything, and what I saw was the cutest damn thing you've ever done. You want my silence? Let me do that to you later."

  She nipped at Asher playfully. "You would extort me, little dragon? How dare you." She said with mirth in her voice.

  He swatted her fangs away and said, "A dragon extorting someone? I'm just learning from the best, Zephyria. Perhaps you shouldn't be such a bad example if you don't want me to follow in your steps. Now, do we have a deal?"

  She just laughed and said, "You wound me, mortal. But fine, we have a deal. Nobody hears of this, and you get your wish. I did not publicly extort the captain of the guard to be seen as a pet. I have a reputation to maintain after all. I am a big, dangerous, manipulative, dragon."

  "And dangerous dragons do not like chin scratches."