Reports Come In

“Oh Alex! Is that Bryson on the line?” Duchess Coldwater asked cheerfully as she entered Duke Coldwater’s room and saw him seated in front of a monitor and conversing to what sounded like their son Bryson Coldwater.

Duke Coldwater’s crimson blood-red eyes drifted over to his wife, “Yes.” His deep voice rumbled, “He has brought some rather… interesting news of his stay in the mountains.”

“Oh lovely!” She said with a bright smile as she made her way over to him. Standing behind his chair she tenderly wrapped her arms around him and looked at the monitor. There she saw her beautiful youngest son, Bryson. Though her son looked strangely stiff.

“What’s wrong dear?” Duchess Coldwater asked concerned.

“Oh, well. Uh… mother.” Bryson greeted nervously.

“Bryson what is the matter?”

“Bryson. Tell you mother what you told me.” Duke Coldwater ordered.

“Yes father.” Bryson said looking down at the ground for a moment before looking back up, “My mission was to find out what was causing the famine issue for the villages up here in the mountains as well as help resupply them.”

“Yes I remember. Have you discovered the root cause? There were reports of a dragon were there not?” Duchess Coldwater asked.

“Yes. We have resupplied the villages successfully and have discovered the cause. It was indeed a dragon.”

“A dragon. Has it been dealt with?” Duchess Coldwater asked unwrapping her arms around her husband leaning into the monitor.

“Yes.” Bryson said before adding, “Sort of.”

“What do you mean by sort of?” She said raising an eyebrow.

“I have convened with the dragon, and after some explanation, she will no longer cause any issues.”

“She?” Duchess Coldwater said leaning in more eyes raising in interest.

“Uh, yes? Eimra is a girl.” Bryson replied confused.

“Eimra? You know her name? She told you it?” She asked sounding excited.

“Well, yeah. I had to talk to her.” Bryson said giving a confused shrug.

“How old is she?”

“Uh… maturity wise technically older then like Viola I think. But like I think she’s like almost century.”

“Can she transform? I know dragons can learn the ability to gain humanoid forms.”

“She said she can’t do it well.”

“I’m sure she can be taught quick-” She began before Duke Coldwater cleared his throat.

“Lilith, you are getting side tracked.” Duke Coldwater said calmly.

“Ah yes. Sorry dear.” Duchess Coldwater cleared her throat, “Please explain the issue you had with this Eimra girl.”

“Apparently she had been actually residing up in the mountains even further up north nearer the more uninhabitable areas for humans for the past decade. She simply lived of the local wildlife.” Bryson reported, forgoing Eimra’s admittance of stealing the occasional piece of literature.

“Then what caused these sudden attacks?”

“Ice giants appeared and drove her off her territory, as well as injuring her. Thus she began to attack villages for food.”

“Ice giants? Aren’t the mountains rather south for ice giants to roam?” Duchess Coldwater asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, father mentioned that he wanted to send a scouting team later.” Bryson said as Duke Coldwater gave a small nod of affirmation.

“Hmm. So have you taken care of these ice giants?”

“Yes, we’ve cleared their camps and dealt with all giants.”

“So what is the concern then Alex?” Duchess Coldwater asked looking to her husband.

“It is what Bryson plans on doing with the dragon. I require a second opinion.” Duke Coldwater said.

“Oh, what is the matter then Bryson dear?” Duchess Coldwater asked.

“After we have dealt with the giants an incident occurred and Marsh and I were lost momentarily in an avalanche.” Bryson said slowly expecting what was about to come.

“You were what?” Duchess Coldwater said dangerously quiet eyes widening and leaning forward.

“Um… there was an avalanche that I was swept in…” Bryson said quietly as this was going to be the second time he was going to be scolded today.

“Of all the irresponsible things, you got lost because you were hit by an avalanche?” She glowered leaning in violet eyes brimming with rage, not dissimilar to that of Duke Coldwater earlier when Bryson told him.

“I made a mistake with my plan.” Bryson said sheepishly.

“Oh that’s an understatement.” Duchess Coldwater said glaring at him.

“Marsh was with me. She help keep me safe.” Bryson said quickly.

“Of course she kept you safe, she cares about you. Why do think I like her?”

“What do you mean by care?” Bryson asked curious.

“I’m asking the questions Bryson. Are you hurt?”

“No, of course not.”

“Of course not? You were swept in an avalanche.”

“I managed to create a barrier to protect Marsh and I.” Bryson said.

“A barrier?” She said surprised as Duke Coldwater tilted his head slightly with interest.

“You created a barrier that was able to protect both you and Florence Marsh?” Duke Coldwater asked.

“Yes.” Bryson said with a nod.

“No injuries?”

“No. Marsh verified that we were both fine.”

“What do you mean by verify?” Duchess Coldwater asked her mind wandering.

“What?” Bryson asked.

“Lilith.” Duke Coldwater interrupted.

“Yes, yes.” Duchess Coldwater said with a wave of her hand, “Matchmaker later, I understand. Bryson dear, what shape was this barrier?”

“Uh, spherical.” Bryson recalled.

Duchess Coldwater gave Duke Coldwater an impressed look. Duke Coldwater made no reaction, “There is still room for improvement.” He said simply and Duchess Coldwater only smiled in response.

“So what happened afterwards?” Duchess Coldwater asked.

“The two of us decided to head back to the camp. It got dark so we found shelter.” Bryson said.

“You were missing for that long?” Duchess Coldwater said voice rising.

“I used father’s survival lessons and made a shelter.” Bryson said quickly.

“An igloo?” Duke Coldwater asked.

“Yes.”

“Hmm.” Duke Coldwater said giving a grunt of approval.

“Still.” Duchess Coldwater said.

“Then I found the ice dragon’s den. There we found the dragon, wounded. Marsh patched her up and as thanks brought us back.” Bryson said.

“Hmm.” Duchess Coldwater looked thoughtfully, “Well, despite everything I suppose you did solve the issue up in the mountains.”

“Not yet.” Duke Coldwater said, “What is to happen to this dragon, Eimra? She is residing in Coldwater territory and a young ice dragon will prove to be useful.”

“About that.” Bryson said nervously, “We could send her back to the Fairy Realm.”

“Why?” Duke Coldwater asked narrowing his eyes.

“Living in a better environment would prove beneficial for the dragon’s development. Pinop has informed me that she can very easily keep communication with her in the fairy realm. It would be safe for everybody.” Bryson said, hoping that his argument was convincing.

“Hmm.” Duke Coldwater pondered.

“She saved my life and seems to view me favourably. She also wants to reside in the Fairy Realm. It would be easier to have her have a favourable view of us and the family.”

Duke and Duchess Coldwater looked at one another having a silent conversation. Duke Coldwater seemed to be arguing something while Duchess Coldwater argued something else. A few moments later it seemed that Bryson’s mother won the debate.

“It has been decided.” She said with a cheerful clap of her hands, “Coni will send this Eimra back to the Fairy Realm. We’ll send a few people to help clean up whatever aftermath is left over from these giants. Bryson you will oversee this Eimra girl’s leave to the Fairy Realm.”

“Yes mother thank you mother.” Bryson said nodding his head in thanks, not quite believing that he had actually managed to convince his parents.

“However.” She added which caused Bryson to stiffen up, “I require Coni to write me a report of the situation and how exactly you got lost by an avalanche. Along with this you will need to be punished for your foolishness. This can be discussed later.”

“Yes… mother. Thank you.” Bryson said with a lot less enthusiasm. Oh great. What nightmare have I gotten into. Is it too early for me to renege on this deal?