Episode One hundred and Eighty-Seven: Lady Sable?

The first time I’d asked Lorestone that question, he hadn’t said he served me or called me a Lady.

A rush of emotion crossed Sapphire’s face as the Lorestone spoke. Longing, sadness, then shame, before it all vanished.

“Interesting that he sent this to you, now of all times.” Lady Twilight glanced at Sapphire with a smirk. “Might even say it's a work of the fates.”

“The fates don’t care about someone like me.” The words rolled off her tongue with disdain, as her nose scrunched up.

The lie rang throughout the room, and I had no clue how I knew that.

My eyes narrowed, and I sent a blast of my fate magic. Instead of a normal wave heading in all directions, it curved to Sapphire. Bonds stretched out from her, most threads barely visible, while three were different. A solid bond stretched to her backpack. Another smaller one went to Lady Twilight, while another vanished into the ether, though that one contained jagged spikes like it’d frayed.

“What’s in your backpack?” Until now, I’d trusted Lady Twilight, even though she’d brought someone I didn’t know into the shop. That strong of a bond reaching into the backpack worried me, though I had a guess. A horrible guess.

The Cat snorted from behind the couch. “Took you long enough.”

Sapphire’s eyes widened, and she leaned away from me, swallowing. “I…”

“You already agreed to playdates with Indigo,” whispered Lady Twilight. She set a hand on her knee, patting her twice. “It’s okay.”

Sapphire let out a long breath before pulling the backpack off her shoulder. The burr from the zipper caused Indigo to stir, but not wake. Then she pulled the opening wider. 

A tiny dragon rested inside, curled up. Bright blue scales shimmered silver as they let out a soft huff, curling up tighter.

This was her kiddo. In a backpack.

“I’m confused.” Both my hands went up, unsure of what to do with them. “Just explain this.”

Sapphire glanced at Lady Twilight who nodded her head again. “I didn’t know I was a lost one until I had Au… my baby.”

“The blood sometimes wins out,” interrupted Lady Twilight. “Sapphire’s dragon blood hadn’t been activated until then. But her little one shifted as soon as she was born. Thankfully, a rather gifted mage was nearby to clean up the mess.”

If that happened on a world without magic, that’d be one way to find out about everything all at once.

Damn.

“I just heard of lost ones the other day, and now you.” The guy had been a blue dragon as well, when Lady Borsal reached out to him.

Double damn. It had to be connected.

“That was my twin brother. I didn’t know how to tell him…” Her cheeks turned a bright red and she ran a hand through her hair. The words rushed out of her like a balloon deflating. 

“But another dragon found him first.” 

“Yeah, Lady Borsal. She’s a friend.” All of this made sense in a weird, interconnected way. Sometimes that was how life worked, though I was beginning to see maybe that was just how the fates worked. Serendipity certainly seemed to find me here more than it ever had before.

“Then how are you involved?” This time, my attention went to Lady Twilight. 

“The mage owed me a favor, and I’ve been helping Sapphire here adjust to being a lost one, and having a dragonet child. I didn’t know of her twin until the message arrived.” She patted Sapphire's knee again before continuing. “I plan to introduce her to her father once she's comfortable.”

My life had become a soap opera. A literal soap opera, for dragons. If I could film it, I’d make a fortune.

“I need to think of A… my little one, first.” She zipped the backpack up slowly before sliding it back on her shoulders. Her blue eyes met mine, and her eyebrows drew closer together. “Art isn’t my thing, so I’m trying to figure out where I fit, along with her.”

I didn’t know what to say. Though, I hoped all of this worked out for her. That she figured out where she belonged.

“It’s a lot all at once.” She let out another sigh. “I thought I’d need to adjust to being a single mom, not a dragon and mother of a dragon.”

 “I understand that,” I said. I really did. Learning magic was real, and that my brother knew as much, still weighed down on me. I needed to have a conversation with him, and soon, but life kept getting in the way. “Well, the shop is a safe space, and Indigo would love a friend.”

“Well, I need to get to work. I’ll check in with Lady Twilight about timing.” Sapphire stood and gave me a nod before rushing out of the room, though her eyes went to the ceiling as she left.

“She’s skittish, and I’m confident she’s part of our clan, or will be,” said Lady Twilight after Sapphire went through the archway. 

“Then you should introduce them to the clan,” I said. All of the secrets here didn’t make sense.

“Lord Bennit is still struggling with the loss of Indigo’s mother. I worry that by introducing her, he will latch onto her and her dragonet. Lord Echo wouldn’t appreciate that.”

“Good luck.” I smiled at Indigo, who still slept with tiny snores. “Indigo would love some playdates. I’m not involving myself in the drama.”

“That is all I can ask.” Lady Twilight stood, her purple robes flowing around her. She paused, her gaze still on Lorestone. “That is a useful artifact. It’s yours now. Make sure you use it.”

With that, she headed to the arch.

“Wait, when will you be back?” I leaped up and held up a hand for her to pause. “Indigo wanted to visit with you.”

“I’ll stop by tomorrow with her new friend.” Her eyes softened, and for a moment, lines appeared around her eyes. “The little ones bring me so much joy.”

“Well, then, tomorrow.” Too much information in a short amount of time, and I hadn’t had a chance to ask about the Cat’s curse. Or about Indigo starting an online school.

She headed out.

The Cat jumped onto the couch as I sat back next to Indigo. 

“Lorestone, what’s the history between the Clan of Knowledge and the Chromaflame?”

Something here wasn’t lining up.

“A very long time ago, the two clans almost merged into one, given the close nature of the types of items each needed to grow.”

“But they didn’t.” 

The Cat crept into my lap and circled twice before sitting down.

“No. I do not know what happened, but the two have remained separate since. The Chromaflame are the superior clan, but the Clan of Knowledge is also a well respected, ancient clan.” Still, it felt like I was missing something.

“What do you know about Lady Twilight?”

The Cat chuckled at my question.

“Born to the Chromaflame, she joined the Clan of Knowledge as a dragonet.”

Things clicked into place. The two clans had tension between each other because dragonets were passed back and forth between them. In fact, I’d bet they weren’t actually separate Clans in a lot of ways, but just two parts of a larger whole that somehow didn’t get along.

“Why don’t they just get along?” Frustration crept into my voice.

“History and leadership differences,” answered the Cat. “Dragons live long lifespans, and grudges are held a long time.”

Lorestone didn’t answer the question.

I side-eyed the Cat. “So, Indigo’s going to have a playdate tomorrow.”

“I heard.” The Cat rolled his eyes, and his tail flicked, almost hitting me in the face. “Lady Twilight will be here to make sure nothing happens.”

“Cat, I’m pretty sure we can handle two little dragons. We have Betty, and she is amazing.” 

 “Sable, don’t test the fates.”