The path took them through the mountainside city, and Drache avoided any of the subterranean short-cuts mostly because of Destiny. Like any large city, it was never truly quiet, and they passed more than one bustling dwarf or pair of meandering dragons in quiet conversation. But eventually, after coming down a sloping street of coopers and chandler shops, they reached a terraced garden where fountains trickled pleasantly in the darkness and they could sit among the greenery on benches carved into the sides of large blue geodes and look out over the harbour.

[color=ed1c24]"I've been traveling through the mountains for a long time yes, but I was talking about the Peak,"[/color] the red-scaled dragoness used her wing to point at the massive Ash Peak behind them. It was so high that there were low-lying clouds obscuring part of that terrible height, and the glowing openings to dragon lairs above that. [color=ed1c24]"Everyone is talking about it. Most of the Xarzi clan has left the city, and the ones who are left are in chaos, fighting over politics and profits."[/color]

She didn't bother to explain that dragons separated themselves into clans based on breath weapon rather than family ties or scale-colour groupings. With most of the ice-breathing Xarzi gone, there would be a lot of scrambling. Most people who lived in the city knew all of that already.

Drache sat down on one of the benches whenever they reached the garden, lounging with her long sinuous tail draping over the edge of the seat. [color=ed1c24]"What kind of things can you do, Aussir?"[/color] Her eyelids had lowered, but she was still watching him. [color=ed1c24]"If you don't mind working for dwarves you can always try the Guilds. There's so much trade for livestock and metal into this city it seems like they are always looking for protection for caravans. If you like sailing you could put in a word with the Harbourmaster to see if any of the ships have room for fighters on the decks..."[/color] She shrugged her wings, trailing off.

But her conversational neutrality faded as he began to talk about his childhood, her face becoming carefully blank. Oh she listened well, but pointedly didn't comment on her own experience with the tough subject he had suddenly delved into. Her past wasn't one she wanted to think about, much less share with a stranger. It struck her suddenly how strange it might be, that she would rather sleep with someone than bare her soul.

[color=ed1c24]"Dragonsteel? I can't say I'm familiar. All I know about the arena is that the fights are rumoured to be heavily rigged, especially recently. But I'm sorry to hear that she died. Both of my parents are dead."[/color] That was certainly strange. Most dragonkin tended to be outlived by their draconic parent. She reached out for his arm, gently curling her warm fingers around his wrist to draw him down next to her if he let her. When his words faded she didn't press for more, but privately disagreed that any one of their kind was lonelier than the next.

Drachiathoryx' ear-frills drooped a little, her eyes unfocused as she glanced out over the city. Aussir was sharing so much with her, and her first instinct was to withdraw, to hide from so much dangerous relatable emotion. For a moment she almost hated him for trusting her and opening himself up, finding it foolish for him to risk so much for her. She was just a stranger to him! In truth she just wanted to sit in his lap and let her fingers wander over his bare scales, but he had to get all [i]sappy[/i]...

She heaved a sigh and looked back. [color=ed1c24]"You flatter me with your trust, Aussir, and I'm not sure that I deserve it. You don't know me and I don't know you, and I certainly don't think I'll ever be in love with anyone, but I do believe our kind need to stick together. You don't have to apologize for taking your leave so quickly earlier, I understand. Perhaps someday I'll find out about the real you. I'm sure your birth name wasn't 'White'."[/color] She grinned at the soft tease, lifting her finger and running the tip down the front of his snout between his nostrils. Opening herself up, even a tiny bit, was distinctly uncomfortable.