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Jory was fidgeting with her wedding band again. She’d developed a habit of it when she wasn’t wearing her gloves and it didn’t seem to matter the ring material: the silver of their engagement rings, the real gold and jewels of their wedding bands, or the imitation bronze she had on now to prevent thievery. When she felt nervous, or annoyed, or stressed, or a million other emotions that she’d never speak out loud, she’d twirl the band around her finger. It was a terrible habit and Kasmeer should grab her hand to keep her from it, but watching her own wife fidget with the tangible symbol of their love made her insides go mushy with affection. Instead, she glanced around to make sure nobody was watching them at this public function she’d dragged Jory to.
Thankfully, they were all fixated on Navan, giving the keynote speech at this unveiling. The empress’s chief advisor had a captivating aura about her, despite her small stature and mild voice. That probably had to do with her being a mythical dragon out of legend. Standing at New Kaineng’s docks, where the new ports for Tyrian ships was about to be put into action, the stray ends of her hair below her bun were kinked and curled with humidity. Her skin was a bit flushed and scraped by the salty wind, but there was nary a scale to be seen.
Kasmeer knew that sometimes Kuunavang found it difficult to press herself back into the shape of Navan, especially after the death of her patron elder dragon. Once she had grown claws while listening to a particularly frustrating minister and hurriedly had to hide them under the table. Another time Kasmeer had tapped her on the shoulder and shyly mentioned that couple of scales were visible in the hollow of her throat. Pale pink, like a seashell or a kiss. Navan had simply swiped her thumb over the scales and they had vanished into her skin, like a wave washing away a sand drawing. Kasmeer wondered if her scales were scratchy, like a fish, or smooth like water-worn pebbles. She imagined what they might feel like against her lips…
A wedding band pressed into her skin as Jory took her hand. “You’re staring, sweetheart.”
Kasmeer’s face flushed, and while she could keep the red off her cheeks she wasn’t sure about her ears. Tearing her eyes away would have been an admission of guilt, so she kept them firmly on Navan’s lean form. “I’m listening to the speech.”
“Mm-hmm. What’s she talking about?”
“She’s making a speech about the importance of connection and trade,” Kasmeer said with a spark of pride. “Cantha entering a new era and bringing the rest of the world with it. Lots of ocean metaphors.” Kasmeer had edited the speech herself at Navan’s request, so she knew exactly what was in it. The saltspray dragon couldn’t help herself from comparing just about everything to the sea, but in this case it was actually appropriate.
Jory frowned. “Hmm. Not what it sounds like to me.”
“It’s not?” Kasmeer straightened in panic. Had Navan changed the script in the last day? Why would she do that?
Jory chuckled at her sudden panic, and Kasmeer’s heart sank. “Oh it is. I just wanted to see if you were actually listening or if you just read the itinerary.”
She squeezed Kasmeer’s hand in an attempt to soften the blow. Warm metal pressed into Kasmeer’s fingers, and she felt the weight of it on her left hand too. She swallowed, tearing her gaze away from Navan and fixing it on one of the elderly male ministers.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Jory huffed. “I’ve told you, don’t be. Your little crush is cute.” The corner of her mouth turned up in a way that set the hairs on the back of Kasmeer’s neck tingling. “What you really ought to feel bad about is not acting on it by now. I mean, it’s been what, six years? Come on hon’, you’re better than that.”
Kasmeer cut her eyes over to give her a short glare. “She’s a… she’s a proper Canthan official.” Jory rolled her eyes, knowing what she really meant. “And besides, I’m already taken.” She squeezed Jory’s hand, pressing her thumb to the wedding band. “We’re married! It’s been less than a year and my wife is telling me to go chase another woman?”
Jory sighed and looked out at the sea. Soft green light rippled through the clouds and lined her face, set strands of her dark hair aglow. Kasmeer felt a warmth in her chest at the sight; at least her poor confused heart hadn’t fallen that far.
Finally, Jory crooked a finger at her. Kasmeer really shouldn’t have, for both of their public images, but she tilted her head so Jory could whisper into her ear.
“All I’m saying,” Jory said, “is that if we’re married, my wifely duty is to help my wife get railed by a saltspray dragon if that’s what she wants.”
Kasmeer jerked back, her whole face flushing a bright red. Jory chuckled, though at least she had the decency to keep it quiet. Kasmeer dug her fingernails into Jory’s hand.
“You are terrible. Go find out when the rides to Seitung are!”
Jory took her hand and kissed the knuckles, then slipped off into the crowd. Kasmeer took a deep breath, smoothed out her dress, and kept her gaze politely on Navan, who was finishing up her speech.
It turned out beautifully, and Kasmeer puffed up her chest to see the new docks opening up, sized for Tyrian ships. Trade was such an important part of peace, and she felt a bit responsible for setting it all in motion.
Jory sidled back up to her. “Ship to Seitung is at 18:30.”
Thanks to the Dominion war, it didn’t take Kasmeer any time to translate the military time. “I thought it was 6:00.”
Jory shrugged. “Must have changed?”
On anyone else in the entire world, Kasmeer would have checked for lies. It was instinct by now. But fifteen years of love overrode instinct; she barely even looked. “That happens sometimes at these things.”
“Mm. Hey, I’m going to go snag some grub. Watching self-important people congratulate themselves makes me hungry.”
“It wasn’t – oh never mind.” Kasmeer rolled her eyes. “Just make sure it’s something you can finish before we get on the boat. And that won’t give you terrible breath.”
“No spicy noodles. I’m not Mai Trin.”
“Riiiiight.” Kasmeer tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and tossed her head just so. “So speaking of crushes…”
Jory shoved her in the arm and stalked off to go get food. Kasmeer bent over laughing with a smile.
She, apparently, had an extra half-hour to kill, so she mingled, dropping a compliment there, a poke for a trade agreement there. Soon many of the nobles filtered out, doubtlessly eager to return to their mansions in Kaineng. Jory never came back, but that was hardly unusual. She’d probably found something interesting and possibly illegal to sniff out, and Kasmeer would meet her back on the boat. Eventually she ended up speaking with a couple of dockworkers, essentially all that was left. May as well try and make a more approachable impression, especially if she was going to be on their boat soon.
A large (for a Canthan) man with a wisp of a mustache and a beer belly peered at her over the crate in his arms. “Pardon me your- m’lady – ain’t you supposed to be on the Golden Scale?”
It took Kasmeer a moment to remember the name of the transport ship – a beautiful thing with a saltspray’s head on the prow. “I’ve been told it doesn’t leave until 6:30.”
The man dropped the box, pulled a sheet of paper out of somewhere in his rough clothing, and stubbed his thumb at it. “My departure sheet says 6:00.”
“That can’t be right. Where is it docking?”
Slowly, the big man turned and pointed out to sea; just vanishing into the island mist was a small ship. “That’d be her, m’lady.”
Kasmeer pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh. Oh dear. I, um…”
“Ye seem to have been misled m’lady. My apologies.” To his credit, he did seem to look sympathetic. “We could find ye another ship perhaps?”
“No, it’s alright. I’ll speak with some of the ministers, I’m sure one of them has a private skiff.” The large man’s face shuttered at that; perhaps he was jealous? Kasmeer unfortunately no longer had the capacity to think about it right now. Where was Jory? Why had she given the wrong time? Jory didn’t make mistakes like that, was she alright? Why wasn’t she here?
She strode down the boardwalk towards the food stalls, heels thudding on the wooden planks, but her wife was nowhere to be found. This made no sense. Oh this was a disaster. Jory wasn’t here, which meant either something terrible had happened or she was already on that ship, but why she would be on that ship alone Kasmeer couldn’t fathom…
“Ambassador Meade? You don’t seem to have left with the others.”
The accent was unmistakable, but Kasmeer would have known it was her by the voice, or the sound of her steps, or the very energy of her presence. Her heart was a meticulous fool like that.
Navan came up beside her, shoulder stirring the air beside Kasmeer’s skin but never quite touching. Her elegant face was lined in a frown, her eyes were like the depths of the Canthan sea. “Is something wrong?”
Kasmeer looked around at the docks and found them deserted, except for them and the sailors. “You haven’t gone with them.”
“I wasn’t planning to. I have … other means of transport.”
Meaning they were now the only two left on the docks. What a coincidence.
She was going to kill Jory.
Right now though, she would need all the charm and poise she could summon. She took a deep breath and turned. “I seem to have missed my ship.”
Navan’s elegant brows rose. Her lips were painted a soft pink – did she do it naturally, or was it part of her transformation? “I see. Is Lady Delaqua late as well?”
Jory wasn’t here, so Kasmeer didn’t bother to correct the prefix. “Ah no – she… has some business in Kaineng.”
“Only you then.” And then the part that Kasmeer was dreading: “I suppose you could use a ride?”
Kasmeer sighed. “If you don’t mind.”
“I do not.” Navan’s lip turned up, just slightly. Kasmeer’s heart fluttered. The empress’s advisor did not smile, especially not since Soo-Won’s death. “Though you may regret your decision shortly.”
Kasmeer followed her down the docks, past the rows of noisy merchants and into a tunnel that led to the sewers. She was so entranced that it took her half the journey to register the ominous sentence.
They stopped in one of the many wastewater canals at the bottom of New Kaineng’s outer wall; the grate was conveniently down. Every footstep echoed off slick stone. Thick, dark water dragged itself through the canal and sent teal ripples across the round ceiling above them. It stank, though not as badly as Divinity’s Reach on a hot day. Graffiti stained the walls. Most importantly, the channel was absolutely deserted. A couple of stray bundles were stashed against the wall from the homeless, but Kasmeer doubted they would be taken seriously even if they did see something.
Navan stopped so close to the edge of the canal that she risked getting sewer water on her elegant slippers. Her nose wrinkled. “Poisoned water, but it will do.”
“I don’t suppose you have a boat, do you?”
“I do not,” the saltspray said. “You may want to step back.”
Kasmeer did, her heart racing. Navan pressed her hands together, as if she were praying. Then a step backward, a ripple of her arms, half a twirl. It looked as if she were practicing fighting moves – no, dancing. The teal light traced her outline, lit up her face… and then it seemed to become her. Her form wavered before Kasmeer’s eyes and then vanished entirely. In its place burst forth a torrent of blue scales.
Kuunavang’s sinuous form whipped past with a gust of salty air. Far too large for the narrow causeway path, she skimmed the canal and wrapped back around behind Kasmeer, surrounding her in shimmering scales. Kasmeer could smell the clean breath of the sea, practically feel salt stinging her skin. She turned around and around, lost in the maelstrom of scales and fins, until finally the saltspray dragon coiled around to face her, her snout only a few feet away. Her horns nearly scraped the ceiling; her tail trailed in the canal.
Kasmeer’s skin was covered in goosebumps, and not from the cool wind that was now flowing down the tunnel. Kuunavang tilted her head. Trying to read that draconic face was like trying to read a statue. Except for the yellow eyes and the pink skin around them – those Kasmeer thought were narrowed in some sort of concern.
“Are you alright, Lady Meade?” Hearing her title from the mouth of this magnificent creature was enough to take her breath away.
She should say something. Saying something was called for right now. “Yes, I … You’re beautiful.”
She squeezed her eyes shut after the words passed her lips. Amazing. She could practically hear Jory laughing.
Kuunavang snorted. “I see you’ve heard that saltspray dragons are weak to flattery.”
One flick of her tail sent water flying. Kasmeer watched shimmering droplets land on shimmering scales and thought that she’d only been telling the truth. It wasn’t the same as when Navan got a little too close and Kasmeer’s cheeks flushed from the heat of her body. It was like watching a sunset, or a raging storm. She could only marvel from a distance.
“Whenever you’re ready then,” Kuunavang said, “jump into the water.”
Kasmeer was abruptly snapped out of her daydream. “I’m sorry?”
Kuunavang huffed again. This time Kasmeer thought it was impatience. “I do not have a skiff. Carrying you would be … impractical. I assure you, so long as I am near, you will not drown.”
Kasmeer stared at the dark water and hoped there were no Risen lurking below. You’re cooking me dinner for a week, Jory. “Alright.”
Somehow, a running start seemed right. Kasmeer took a few steps back and felt the wind pick up behind her. Kuunavang lifted her front legs into the air, fins spreading from wall to wall. They rippled hypnotically as the wind held her lithe torso aloft. Kasmeer took a deep breath, held it, and leapt right under one of those fins.
She expected to sink into darkness and ruin her dress. Instead, her foot hit water and the water pushed back. She toppled forward, and wind rushed around her, buoying her aloft. There was no stopping now. She was running, running on the water, or perhaps the wind? She was the center of her own personal hurricane.
Kuunavang’s body went by in a rush of scales. Her clawed feet skimmed the water just like Kasmeer’s, throwing up little fountains of spray. Kasmeer had never seen a saltspray fly before – at least not over the water. It wasn’t so much flapping and flying but gliding, riding the wind and waves. Now Kuunavang’s power seemed to drag Kasmeer along. Together they burst from the canal like a bullet from a gun. The sudden brightness was blinding.
If she stopped running she would surely fall. She simply didn’t stop. Could she run all the way to Seitung? With the wind under her feet, it seemed like she could. Each bounding step took her yards. Sometimes it felt less like she was running and more like swimming, letting the air and the spray push back against her muscles like it was water. Kuunavang swirled around her: a trailing fin here, a coil of scales there, her whole body never all in view at once. She plunged headfirst into the sea and burst forth on Kasmeer’s other side a few seconds later, scattering spray everywhere.
Within moments Kasmeer was soaked through, but instead of dirty canal water she was covered in the fresh clean sea, and she couldn’t find it in herself to mind. In only a moment they were soaring past the small outlying islands that ringed New Kaineng. A couple of fishermen in a skiff pointed and stared, no doubt believing themselves blessed with good luck.
Kasmeer laughed wildly, and it was torn away by the wind. “This is incredible!” Her heart felt ready to burst from her chest, but every breath was salt and magic and wonder.
Kuunavang circled around, her head level with Kasmeer’s for a fleeting moment. And oh, how had Kasmeer thought her unreadable before? Now every fin radiated glee.
“It is Soo-Won’s gift to my kind,” she sang. “It is the best feeling in the world.”
Then she dashed forward in a burst of wind and leapt, her front feet throwing up a wave of water. She was ten feet in the air, twenty. She twisted and spread her wings, her whole magnificent body on view for just a moment, a still heartbeat at the apex of a jump just before the fall.
Salt and water filled Kasmeer’s mouth whenever she tried to speak, and she didn’t have the words anyway to describe that sight. But as they continued on towards Seitung, she thought that she would remember it for the rest of her life.
It wasn’t long before the hazy mountains of Seitung came into view over the horizon, and Kasmeer found herself disappointed at seeing them. She could run with Kuunavang like this forever and her spirit would be satisfied. Unfortunately, her body disagreed. Her legs were burning, her heart felt fit to burst, and every breath was salt-tinged pain. Kuunavang guided them around the coast to a secluded beach, bracketed by thick and thorny trees. A final burst of wind propelled Kasmeer onto solid ground, and she didn’t so much land as collapse onto her hands and knees on the sand.
She had to stay there for a moment, to get her breath back. The weight of her soaked clothing settled back onto her all at once like a literal wet blanket. A soft flash of teal light in the corner of her eye. A hand entered her vision. She took it, and Navan pulled her up.
The ever-present wind had died, and now the sun beat down on them both. It was a remarkably calm day.
“Wow,” Kasmeer said, between gasps. “Thank you.”
Navan dipped her head, with another precious smile. That was when Kasmeer noticed. “Oh!”
“What is it?”
“You have a – ah…” She pointed to her mouth.
“Ah.” Navan dropped her hand, to Kasmeer’s disappointment. She pressed both thumbs to the points of the fangs that were just barely sticking over her lips. A gentle push and the fangs receded into human canines as if they were made of clay.
She checked herself over for more draconic parts, though Kasmeer couldn’t see any. Navan’s lipstick was missing, but her clothes were pristine and her hair was up in its usual style. Interesting. Did she do her makeup herself? Did she want to?
Apparently satisfied, the disguised dragon looked Kasmeer over with a face that should have been blank. Now though it read clearly to Kasmeer, as if she could see the dragon lurking beneath the surface. She was amused. Understandably, given the drip-drip of Kasmeer’s fancy dress on the sand.
“I did say you may regret asking my assistance.”
Kasmeer shook her head. “I don’t at all. It was wonderful.”
“The sea is beautiful from so close, isn’t it?”
“It is.” And so are you.
With Navan back in her human form, the warm squirming feeling was back: the urge to not just look, but to wonder what Navan’s skin might feel like against hers. To find out if that hair was always silky and smooth as still water, or if it could tangle if Kasmeer ran her hands through it. Kuunavang was a dragon, but Navan felt so human, so real. She was real. By all accounts the human form was no illusion, so how much was the dragon and how much was the woman? Or were they all the same under the shimmering surface?
“I feel like I owe you something,” she said, instead of all that.
Navan waved a hand. “You helped saved Cantha from certain doom. Consider us more than even.”
“Still…” Navan had already turned away, aiming towards the forested slope that led up to the island proper. A clear dismissal. Even after all that beauty, that magic, Kasmeer was still greedy for more? She tangled her hands together to quash down the feeling, and her wedding band pressed into her palm.
Come on hon’, you’re better than that.
“Navan,” she called. The saltspray stopped and looked over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. “Even if it’s not owed, I’d like to offer you something.”
Saltspray dragons liked their treasure, supposedly. There were stories of trades, deals, offerings for good luck and calm seas. There seemed to be a draconic gleam in Navan’s eyes as she turned back, though her face was full of doubt. Kasmeer, empty-handed and dripping water, didn’t blame her. “And what would that be?”
Steadying breath. “It’s clear you’re more comfortable as a dragon. More yourself. I probably would be too if I could do all that.” Flattery might be a known tactic, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work. “Yet I can see there’s a part of you that enjoys being human too.”
“What makes you believe that?” Navan said.
“You do your makeup yourself. I’ve seen you dance at parties, even when it isn’t required. The Commander tells me you have your favorite sushi place.”
“Nika’s Blade does have the best yellowtail.” Her shoulders relaxed a little at the friendly joke. “What is your meaning with this?”
Kasmeer took a few steps forward, her heart in her throat. “There are certain nuances to being human that someone of your nature may not instinctually understand. Certain pleasures. I could show you one if you’d like. No complications, just … an offer from someone who has lived her whole life in one form."
Navan paused. Kasmeer had the very Jory-like thought that everything was about to go horribly wrong. She was propositioning a 300-year-old saltspray dragon. She was going to get her head bitten off. She probably deserved it.
Instead of growing fangs, Navan held out a hand. “Alright. Show me.”
Kasmeer took it and slid her hand up to Navan’s wrist. Her skin was smooth, touched by the cool breeze, but the pulse was as steady as any other woman’s. It didn’t speed up as Kasmeer stepped closer. Was that good or bad? “I’ll need to be close.”
Navan tilted her head in permission.
Kasmeer pressed a hand to her shoulder to be sure. She didn’t flinch. Nor did she pull away when Kasmeer stepped into her space, only raised her eyebrows. Kasmeer looked down into deep, deep blue ocean eyes. Ancient eyes. Dragon eyes. Navan felt far too small for what she really was. Before she could talk herself out of it, Kasmeer kissed her.
Her lips were warm, not cool or smooth. It felt like kissing any other woman – a little raw, lips a little chapped. A little salty. Navan was completely still, but Kasmeer had promised her an experience and that was what she would get. Even terrified and soaked in seawater, she at least knew she was good at this.
After a second or two, Navan made a sound – not a moan but a little “hm.” Something like curiosity. She tilted her head and kissed back. It was clumsy, the kiss of someone who had never kissed before, and so endearing for it. Kasmeer leaned into her a little more, the hot flush spreading to her whole body. She so badly wanted to tangle her fingers in Navan’s meticulous hairdo and pull, but they both needed to walk back into Seitung with some dignity.
She savored every moment, and pulled back when it felt right. Navan did not rush her. She looked up and made the ‘hm’ sound again. “Interesting.”
The one word revealed her canines, elongated to curving fangs again. Kasmeer’s heart thrilled. That was a reaction. She stepped back and let go, satisfied.
“I take it you haven’t done that before?” she asked.
“I have not. But I have seen it. And I do know what it means, among your kind.”
Kasmeer cleared her throat. “Right.”
“You have a wife, Lady Meade.”
“Oh, we have … an arrangement. She won’t mind, I promise.” The first part was a white lie; she and Jory had never talked about such a thing in so many words. The second part she was dead sure of. Jory would want details.
“I see.” Navan used her tongue to push her fangs back in, and Kasmeer tried very hard not to think about how those fangs would feel in other places. The saltspray stared out at the ocean. “You realize I cannot reciprocate? I am not human, such as I may look.”
“That’s alright,” Kasmeer said, and to her own surprise found it true. She might daydream and fantasize and get a little flushed over her, but she’d never expected Navan to be anything she was not. This final gift had been more than enough. “It was an experience, nothing more.”
“And that it was. Cantha might say you’ve been blessed with good luck now. I can’t say if that’s true. Sometimes I think we saltsprays are actually cursed.” She sighed. “Still, if it weren’t for you, I’d have flown back with politics on my mind and not heard the sea. For that, I thank you.”
Kasmeer shook her head, smiling. “Thank you yourself. It was an amazing trip.”
Navan studied her. “A loyal friend to Cantha,” she murmured, almost to herself. “A cool head in court. You showed me something new and you have brought me joy today when such things are so difficult. That means something.”
She jerked her chin as if she’d come to decision. One hand lengthened into scaly claws, the barest hint of fins pressing against the sleeve of her robe. With the other hand she reached up her sleeve. A slight wince and she held out her hand.
Kasmeer took the offering. Something cool and smooth dropped into her palm. When she opened her fingers she found a clear blue scale nestled there. It was one of the smaller ones, perhaps the size of a large coin. She tilted it back and forth, and the shifting light revealed iridescent patterns of pink and green. She looked to Navan in wonder.
The secret saltspray shook the scales off her arm and said, “It is a gift, freely given. Yours, you understand? Not for sale or barter.”
Kasmeer clasped the scale to her chest. “I understand.”
“Good. Then let us get moving before Seitung misses us.” Without another look she turned and started climbing the slope.
Kasmeer waited until she disappeared behind the trees. Gently, reverently, she pressed the scale to her lips. Smooth, but with wavy patterns like a seashell. She let out a little laugh in amazement.
On the way back to the empress’s court, she pondered what to do with the scale. It could make a nice piece of jewelry if she could find someone to set it. Maybe the Canthan ministers would treat her more respectfully if they knew she had been blessed by a saltspray. But no, she didn’t think Navan would appreciate her gift being used as a political tactic. This was for her and her alone.
To her absolute lack of surprise, she found Jory lurking in the shadows near one of the pillars, just outside of the empress’s court. Waiting for her no doubt. Kasmeer stalked up to her and crossed her arms. “Well hello. I see you figured out when the boat actually left.”
“There you are,” Jory hummed. “You look happy. And,” she wrinkled her nose, “you smell like salt?”
“Shockingly, traveling by saltspray is not the best at keeping one dry,” Kasmeer said, careful to keep her voice low. “We’re going to talk about you tricking me.”
“Mm-hmm,” Jory said without a hint of shame. “After we talk about what’s giving you that cute flush.”
Kasmeer rolled her eyes, and in a burst of pique and triumph pulled out the scale. “I got this.”
Jory’s eyes widened. “Is that -? Tell me she gave you that willingly. You didn’t steal it and get cursed for life?”
“It was a gift,” Kasmeer said. “Much like our kiss.”
“Your what?”
Kasmeer sighed at her proud expression. “Alright yes, your plan worked. You still owe me dinner for ruining my dress.”