Kendrick nodded, his gaze locked on her as he took another drink. “Fascinating. Continue, please.”
Esha couldn’t remember the last time someone had listened so raptly to what she had to say. It was exciting and frightening all at once. Mostly because of how good it made her feel. “Sea Elves. Their skin has a blue or greenish tint. I love their hair. It ranges from a bluish-black to greenish-black. Their eyes are normally iridescent blue to silvery-white. They have webbed fingers and toes, as well as gills behind their ears.”
“I take it they live in the water?”
“They can, and do, come on land. But, yes, they prefer bodies of water for their homes.”
Kendrick frowned briefly. “We have something like that. A myth, really. They’re called mermaids or mermen. Their top halves are human, and their bottom halves have fish tails.”
“Really?” Esha asked, trying to form an image of such a creature in her mind. “Maybe it’s a good thing they’re a myth.”
He laughed.
“That brings us to the Wood Elves. They are the guardians of all things in the forest. They live in harmony with it in a way I’ve always found calming. They’re good with animals, and they can sense truths and lies. They can be judgmental but take time to consider everything before passing judgment. A Wood Elf’s friendship, once won, is deep and lasting. They’re expert fighters—some of the best, really. You’ll know them by their coppery skin. Their hair is mostly brown to red, and their eyes are always green or hazel.”
“Which leaves us with the Mountain Elves.”
“Ah, yes,” she said and paused to drink. The tea was growing on her. “They’re not as isolated as the Moon or Dark Elves, but they make their homes in the mountains, and that keeps them more separate than any other classes. They are the rarest of all the elves. They’re cautious and aloof by nature and understand the importance of community. They’re shorter in stature with black or brown hair. Their skin can range from white for those who live in the colder regions to more of a brown tint in other areas. Their eyes are always black, and they are the finest weapons crafters among us.”
Kendrick finished his tea and sat up to pour another cup. “I saw Wood, Sea, Star, and Sun Elves in your unit of Rangers. You all work together well.”
“The Rangers are a way of life. It isn’t something agreed to in the spur of the moment. When I decided I wanted to be a Ranger, I was tested. Repeatedly. Not just with weapons but also with my mind, wit, and emotions. Our duty is to keep travelers safe, but also to halt any trouble we might find along the way. Being an Asavori Ranger means that you have passed countless tests, trained with the best fighters, learned strategy, and are able to put—and use—all that together.”
Kendrick’s green eyes held hers. “Sounds intense.”
“It took years.”
“That brings me to my next question. What is the lifespan of an elf?”
She grinned. “Much, much longer than a mortal. We live for centuries, sometimes reaching even a thousand years old. What about dragons?”
“They live for thousands of years.”
Her smile tightened at his words. “And a Dragon King?”
Kendrick slowly leaned to the side, resting on his elbow once more. “I’m no’ sure you want to know that.”
“I do.” She did, didn’t she?
He glanced at the ground and said, “It’s a little complicated. A Dragon King lives until the magic deems someone more worthy should take his place.”
“How old are you?”
A flash of something swept over his face. “I have lived so long I no longer remember the number.”
With that, he set down his cup and rose, walking to the side of the tent, his back to her. Esha watched him for a beat before placing her cup down and getting to her feet. Something had changed. The atmosphere was no longer friendly and open. She saw a strain in him now, and she wished she could undo it.
“That was an insensitive question,” she said.
He blew out a breath and turned to her. “Nay, lass. You have every right to ask. It just made me think of the past. At times, it feels like a wave of desolation will take me if I think too hard about it. Sometimes, I’m unable to fight it off. The depression is…daunting and verra difficult to shake. I usually take to my mountain and sleep when I sense it coming.”
“Then I will leave you to rest.”
He reached out and gently grabbed her arm, halting her, his face lined with remorse. “I meant dragon sleep. Where we sleep for centuries. It’s how I’ve gotten through so many endless years.”
Blood rushed through Esha’s ears as his words registered. Just how old was he? By his words, exceptionally old. But he didn’t look it. Surely, he wasn’t immortal. Or was he?
He released her arm. “Please, doona go. I’ve been patrolling my area for weeks on my own. One of my brethren disappeared recently, and it brought up a lot of things I’ve been ignoring. I want to learn about your people, and I want to work with you to hunt that thing I fought.”
Esha had been with him for long enough. She should return to Flamefall and speak to Savita. She knew it. Instead, she said, “Tell me about your people.”
His smile was slow and nearly blinding. “Dragons are amazing. They come in every size and color you could think of. Some might say we’re righteous creatures, and they wouldna be wrong. As you said earlier, however, there are always good, bad, and everything in between. Magic looks deep inside each dragon to find the strongest—the most powerful of each clan. The magic chose me to be a King.”
She grinned at the light that shone in his eyes when he spoke about the dragons.
“Each clan is a different color. Mine is sienna. The previous King was gravely wounded in battle, leaving us weakened and vulnerable.” Kendrick’s smile faded as he lowered himself back onto the cushions. He was silent for a moment as he poured more tea into both his cup and hers. As he added honey, he said, “Only a Dragon King can kill another King. That’s how one becomes a King.”
Her stomach twisted. She returned to the pillows and wrapped her hands around her cup. “You had to…kill him?”
“It was a mercy in the end. We heal quickly, but he had battled another King, and the damage he sustained was extensive. He was a good King—one of the best. When I came to take his place, he smiled. I’ll never forget that. He knew I would give him the end he desired so the pain would stop.”
“But you carry that around.”
“Every King does.” He shot her a half smile. “It is our way.”
She swallowed, her mind latching on to something he’d said. “Wait. If only a King can kill another King, then I take it you all fight often to take each other’s spots?”
“No’ at all. As I said, the magic decides who should be King. Anyone can challenge us, but it is always to the death. Someone will die. Many want to be King but doona get the magic’s call. That ultimately leads to their death. The other Dragon Kings are my brethren. We lean on each other for everything.”
Esha’s heart slammed into her ribs with shock as her mind connected everything. “If you can only die by another Dragon King’s hand, and none of you fights, then that would make you…”