Comfyvember 13

Story: The Ambassadors (original) Prompts: Relearning a skill — Surprise compliment — Fresh laundry

Pronunciation note: Shynael = shuh-NIE-ell, Vannasai = VAH-nuh-sigh

“Oh, look!” Shynael called out with a trill of laughter. “The hatchling's finally learned how to walk!”

“Very funny,” Shard grumbled, using the haft of a spear as a walking stick as he hobbled out of his room. His wounds were healing, but he still felt unsteady on his feet as soon as he'd gotten out of bed.

When he looked up from carefully watching his feet as he eased himself down the steps to the main courtyard, he realized that what at first glance he'd taken to be dappled sunlight on the dragons' backs were actually articles of clothing. Shirts and vests and leggings stretched out over their scales. “What's all this?”

“Your clothes,” Shynael trilled, “what's it's look like?”

Vannasai let out a short, musical trill as well. “Did you never do this on your travels? It's always how Vesper used to dry out her clothes.”

“Legacy said we had servants for this sort of thing,” Vesper said softly, coming into view around Vannasai's shoulder, carrying a basket with laundry that she proceeded to spread across Vannasai's green scales warming in the sun.

“That's so smart,” Shard said, hobbling closer. “I always just used bushes on our travels. You have such practical ideas, Vesper.”

She glanced over in surprise, her cheeks coloring at this unexpected praise. She ducked her head, but for once, she wasn't wearing her hooded cloak, and her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, so nothing could fall down and hide her small, pleased smile.

Shard smiled back, even though she wasn't looking. She deserved the praise.

Vesper reached into the basket and pulled out a white sheet—probably the one she'd taken off his bed that morning and replaced. She struggled to drape it over Vannasai's broad side.

“Here,” Shard said, limping over as quickly as he could. “Let me help.”

“Oh—no, you're hurt—“

“It's fine. Look, I'll hold it; you climb up, and I'll pass one end to you.”

After another feeble protest that she could manage on her own, Vesper saw that he was determined, and clambered up onto her dragon's back, with a little nudge from Vannasai's nose. Reaching up over his head and passing a corner of the sheet to her pulled on Shard's sore muscles more painfully than he tried to let on, but finally Vesper caught hold of the sheet and shook it out, snapping smartly in the breeze like the sail of a ship and then draping it over an empty patch of green scales.

The breeze ruffled Shard's hair, refreshingly cool in the bright glare of the sun. With it came the scents of new greenery on the trees, the flowery smell of the soap Vesper had used, and the ever-present smoky odor of dragon. It had become the smell of home.

His knees were beginning to feel weak again, so Shard staggered over to Shynael's side. Seeming to guess exactly what Shard needed most, Shynael obligingly crooked his foreleg at just the right angle that Shard could lower himself onto it like it was a bench, leaning back against Shynael's shoulder.

Shynael curled his neck around to lay his head protectively across Shard's feet. He gave a great yawn, tongue curling back like a cat's, then settled in for a doze in the sun. Vannasai did the same, while Vesper slid down off her dragon's side and sat down with a basket of mending.

A peaceful silence, such as Shard hadn't known for far too long, settled over the courtyard. He closed his eyes and let himself savor it.