"Oh, I'm well aware of what your kind thinks of mine." If you remember the comment about the wolves and the rats? That is one he's thought of many a times. "And of other species as well. There are many creatures in this world that are just as intelligent or more, than humans are. Though I doubt you've ever gotten educated about them." They were just things that were pests, dangerous, in the way.
"More than a decoration on a wall." Another snort, Hanna turns away from his tinkering, resting on his haunches, his eyes starting to do that thing again, though at the very least he isn't growling, just smoking. The temperature in the room is rising. "I'm so very sorry your revelations came too late." There was a story in that comment, as well as the next line he practically spit out, "And you should be thankful mine came far too soon."
If dinner weren't such a precious commodity, Maurice would have most likely been ill. He didn't understand the dragon's last words but they hung in his skin like arrows and he bowed his head further so that his hair was dragging the table.
And he could only wonder what would have happened if he had brought his bow.
He couldn't undo it. Apologizing wouldn't bring back the grizzly, scaly heads that loomed over the dining table. He couldn't stop other humans in other kingdoms from going out and fetching their own. He couldn't do anything. He felt like a ghost with early onset carpal tunnel.
"They're probably...looking for me now. I should have ridden through the gates hours ago. They're going to come and I can't stop them. Even if I ran out and waved my arms, I'm--sorry."
His mother's guards were far more skilled at the whole monster slaying thing than he was.
At his apology, Hanna took a calming breath, trying to reign himself in. Maurice had spared his life the night before, hadn't killed him when he had the chance, and he had felt some warmth for him, enough to treat him well. Voicing prejudices he knew were there now shouldn't change that. "Don't apologize for things beyond your control, my lord, that isn't your fault."
He sighs, long and breathy, and forgets his project for the moment, wanting his happy place. His head dips down when he reaches his bed, sliding into the pile easily, disappearing underneath, snout, ears and horns all that were visible aside from his long tail. Breathing deeply, he opens his mouth again, finding his mood much improved, a calm blanketing him. "I am not worried about tomorrow, and you shouldn't be either. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and if my plan works, your guards should leave without a scratch on them."
When the dragon started moving, he lifted his head along with his arms, prepared to defend himself. Once he was sure his head wasn't going anywhere, he lowered them and watched Hanna slip under the treasure like a gator into a moat. It was impressive how easily he moved under the heavy gold.
The prince hesitated, then got up and followed, stopping at the edge of the coins and crouching where the beast's nose poked out.
"Dragon! How can you not worry? I don't know how long you've--well, no." He had a pretty good idea of how long Hanna's been living in this hole because of all the junk he'd collected. "You just. You don't know my mother! She won't stop!"
"I have a name, use it." He returns, not appreciating being called just 'dragon', especially after Maurice's new revelations. "I am smarter than most would think a dragon is, if you'll remember. If I have to send them away a hundred times, it would be worth the cost of living still, don't you think? I don't give up on my life that easily."
This dragon had far stronger self preservation skills than his human counterpart in other dimensions. "Don't let it concern you. This is my battle now, and not yours. You'll work on your writing tomorrow just like you did today and I'll have dinner as usual waiting for you." He takes in a deep breath, amazing that coins didn't get sucked up his nose, "I promise."
The prince withdrew the hand he didn't even realize was reaching for that magenta snoot. He felt the urgent need to nudge him, to pull him up out of the gold by his chin so he could see just how distressed he was. Why wouldn't he just move? Skip the country! Why live in a country with a chain like The Queen's Wings at all? But his employer was a mage and if all the scrolls he'd cramped up his hands copying told him anything, he did in fact have tricks up his non-existent sleeve.
He also wasn't entirely sure how to go about learning Hanna's name. Somehow outright asking felt silly, something he might get scolded for. But he would worry about that if the two of them made it through tomorrow.
He stood and glanced at the half a haunch still left left on his plate. Suddenly, Prince Maurice wasn't the least bit hungry.
"I hope you're right...good night. Sir."
The prince took up his gloves and shuffled off back to the study. He knew he wouldn't sleep so he lit a candle and started copying the next volume of that enormous scroll.
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theattic2014-11-09 08:06 pm
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"More than a decoration on a wall." Another snort, Hanna turns away from his tinkering, resting on his haunches, his eyes starting to do that thing again, though at the very least he isn't growling, just smoking. The temperature in the room is rising. "I'm so very sorry your revelations came too late." There was a story in that comment, as well as the next line he practically spit out, "And you should be thankful mine came far too soon."
no subject
And he could only wonder what would have happened if he had brought his bow.
He couldn't undo it. Apologizing wouldn't bring back the grizzly, scaly heads that loomed over the dining table. He couldn't stop other humans in other kingdoms from going out and fetching their own. He couldn't do anything. He felt like a ghost with early onset carpal tunnel.
"They're probably...looking for me now. I should have ridden through the gates hours ago. They're going to come and I can't stop them. Even if I ran out and waved my arms, I'm--sorry."
His mother's guards were far more skilled at the whole monster slaying thing than he was.
no subject
He sighs, long and breathy, and forgets his project for the moment, wanting his happy place. His head dips down when he reaches his bed, sliding into the pile easily, disappearing underneath, snout, ears and horns all that were visible aside from his long tail. Breathing deeply, he opens his mouth again, finding his mood much improved, a calm blanketing him. "I am not worried about tomorrow, and you shouldn't be either. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and if my plan works, your guards should leave without a scratch on them."
no subject
The prince hesitated, then got up and followed, stopping at the edge of the coins and crouching where the beast's nose poked out.
"Dragon! How can you not worry? I don't know how long you've--well, no." He had a pretty good idea of how long Hanna's been living in this hole because of all the junk he'd collected. "You just. You don't know my mother! She won't stop!"
no subject
This dragon had far stronger self preservation skills than his human counterpart in other dimensions. "Don't let it concern you. This is my battle now, and not yours. You'll work on your writing tomorrow just like you did today and I'll have dinner as usual waiting for you." He takes in a deep breath, amazing that coins didn't get sucked up his nose, "I promise."
no subject
He also wasn't entirely sure how to go about learning Hanna's name. Somehow outright asking felt silly, something he might get scolded for. But he would worry about that if the two of them made it through tomorrow.
He stood and glanced at the half a haunch still left left on his plate. Suddenly, Prince Maurice wasn't the least bit hungry.
"I hope you're right...good night. Sir."
The prince took up his gloves and shuffled off back to the study. He knew he wouldn't sleep so he lit a candle and started copying the next volume of that enormous scroll.