A Friendlier Conversation

It took Saga and Gemma several minutes to console Dapper, who rubbed his face with his forelegs as if he were crying. Gemma kept coming up with reasons why she was screaming at something besides Dapper, telling him that he was a perfect gentleman and that she didn’t find him scary in the slightest. Saga simply stroked his back gently while Gemma spoke, but she got the impression the beatweaver’s “tears” were simply for show and that he just wanted to see how far he could take this.

Eventually, Saga gave him a gentle thump on his back. “Alright, that’s enough. Any more of this and your head will grow so large you’ll pop.”

Dapper looked up at her innocently, tapping his legs on the floor.

Saga rolled her eyes, then turned to Gemma. “He graciously accepts your passable apology. His words, not mine.”

Gemma stared at Saga, then down at Dapper, and Saga could see the dawning realization on her face. “I see I’ve been had.”

“A little,” Saga giggled.

“Well played, Dapper.” Gemma saluted the spider with two fingers to her forehead. “I’ll get you back one day, just you watch.”

Dapper chittered in a sound that Saga recognized as a laugh, then scurried back up to her shoulder and settled against her neck. As he settled in, Saga stood, and she and Gemma stepped out into the night to continue their conversation. Saga stopped and turned at the door to see if their Master was joining them, but he had his head bowed and arms crossed as if deep in thought. Deciding to leave him to it, she stepped outside.

Gemma, having already claimed a seat, gestured for Saga to sit next to her and held up two mugs. “Don’t worry, I didn’t fill yours all the way,” she said with a grin.

Saga laughed and joined her, and the two sat quietly enjoying their wine while the rest of the band continued their conversations. They were largely carrying on as if nothing had happened, and Saga couldn’t help but smirk in bemusement. What seemed like only minutes ago she’d been held at knifepoint and interrogated by the woman she was now sharing a drink with. She eyed the wine in her cup, suddenly wishing she had more of it. Today’s been…a bit much.

“So, Gemma,” she began, turning towards the other woman a little, “you and Master Dorrin seem pretty close. I’m surprised I haven’t met you before if you were one of his students. He’s been my mentor for years, but I don’t recall seeing you around before.”

Gemma shrugged. “He trained me in the early years, but he wasn’t actually my teacher. Actually, Headmaster Lantos trained me himself.” She looked Saga up and down for a moment, then whispered. “You’re Saga Vance, right? I assume Rose is an alias. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the others.”

Saga nodded discreetly, then matched Gemma’s tone. “How did you know?”

Gemma grinned. “You may not have seen me, but I’ve heard about you from Dorrin. He likes you, you know, but I’ll bet a gold piece he’s never shown it.”

“I’m not taking that bet,” Saga said, chuckling. “So how do you know him, then?”

Gemma didn’t respond right away, instead staring into her mug. Just when Saga was starting to think she wouldn’t answer, Gemma spoke. “Have you heard of a mining town called Lyra’s Lode?” When Saga shook her head, Gemma continued. “It’s an iron and copper mine south of the City. I was born there. When I was little, a monster attack killed most of the miners—Tunnelmaws, I think—and those of us who survived only got away thanks to a few adventurers who happened to be nearby.

“I lost my parents in the panic, and Dorrin…he made sure I was taken care of until the monsters were wiped out and the bodies of the miners were recovered.” She paused, and while she wasn’t crying, Saga could see an old pain in her eyes. “Both of my parents were killed in the attack. I didn’t have any other family. Dorrin took me home to the city, looked after me until I was old enough to join a guild. He taught me how to fight a little before then, but when I decided I wanted to be a blade dancer like him, he refused to train me further. He never gave me a reason why, though I have my suspicions. Instead, he set me up to train with and eventually be mentored by Headmaster Lantos.”

Saga nodded in understanding. “I was in a similar position. I wanted to be trained by the Headmaster as well, but he put me under Master Dorrin instead.” She shared a commiserating smile with the other woman. “Maybe they thought we’d learn better from someone we weren’t so close to?”

“That’s my theory, yeah.” Gemma took a sip of her wine. “Dorrin always checked on me, always made time to see me. After losing my parents, it was good to have someone who was always looking out for me, you know? I lived at the Academy until I graduated, then came pretty much straight here. Still…it was nice to know he was out there. He doesn’t have any family left either, at least that I know of. He’s pretty much my father, you know? He even gave me my name when he learned I was too young at the time to know my own, and none of the other survivors knew me well enough.”

Saga tried to imagine having Master Dorrin for a father and suppressed a shudder. Instead, she nodded to Gemma, smiling. “I’ve always had my family, so I can’t pretend to know what you went through, but I know how I’d feel if I lost them all. I’m glad you had him, and I’m glad he had you.”

Gemma’s eyes shined then, and Saga realized she was about to cry. “Yeah. I don’t know what I’d do without him. We don’t always agree, and we love to banter with each other, but at the end of the day…we’re family.”

“To family, then.” Saga touched her mug to Gemma’s in a toast and then finished her wine. It was very good, slightly sour but also sweet, and it didn’t burn on the way down. She’d only recently become old enough to drink by the City’s standards, and she wasn’t overly fond of alcohol, but this was nice.

“How about you, Saga?” Gemma asked, finishing her own drink. “I know who they are, but what’s it like being one of them?”

Saga pondered the question for a moment. “Stifling, if I’m being honest. I’m proud to have a father who’s both important to the city and a master in his craft, and my mother might be an even better smith than he is. They love me, care for me…but there are realities of their position that makes things awkward. Even having a family meal in public can be an ordeal, though we still make a habit of doing so when we can.

“The real problem for me is that everyone knows I’m their daughter. I’m expected to be a master blacksmith like them, but that’s not what I want to do.” She looked down at her arms. Under the sleeves of her coat, she knew they were much more muscular than any dancer’s, even after several years of neglect. “They support me being a bard, but there’s pressure from everyone else. Everyone assumes I’m going to go on to do great things, because of who they are and because of what I am.”

Gemma widened her eyes. “Oh, right. I heard the Craftking’s daughter was a drake. Is that why you wear the hat?”

Saga nodded, then continued. “I’m a second gold, from my mother’s side. You know what it’s like when people see that you’re a drake, though. We’re not that different from normal humans, not really, but people like to put us on a pedestal.” She tilted her head back. “Some people would like that kind of attention, but combined with the attention I’m already getting because of my family…it’s overwhelming.”

“So that’s why you’re calling yourself Rose.” Gemma nodded in understanding.

“Actually, that was Master Dorrin’s idea, but that is why I think I’m going to keep using the name. Saga Rose feels…right.” Saga leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees. Dapper crawled down from her shoulder and rested on her forearm, looking up at her. With a soft smile, Saga gave his back some gentle scratches before continuing. “It’s not that I’m afraid of people finding out what I am…I just want them to see me for who I am. Yes, I was born into the Craftking’s family, and I was born a drake, but I’m more than my birthright. I want to be a master bard, an adventurer…” She looked at Gemma, blushing. “I always wanted to be a hero, like Adressa.”

“The Wind Dancer? Saga, that’s a children’s tale, like the Keepers.”

“I know that! Still, I want to be known for something that I actually have control over, you know? I didn’t choose to be born to my parents, and I didn’t choose to be a drake, but I can choose to help people.” She paused. “Am I making any sense?”

“A little.” Gemma shrugged. “I don’t really mind one way or the other if people look at me different for being a drake, it’s never really bothered me.”

“I know, it’s weird. I’m probably the only drake on Chorana that actually cares about this.” Saga sighed and closed her eyes. “Thanks for listening anyway, Gemma.”

“Call me Gem.”

Saga opened her eyes and looked at the copper. “Really?”

Gemma nodded, smiling. Her cheeks were a little flushed now, and Saga realized the wine must be hitting her by now. “Sure. As close as you are to Dorrin and I am to your grandfather, we’re practically family.” She threw an arm around Saga’s shoulders and squeezed. “Feel free to stop by anytime you’re passing through the Crossroads. You’re always welcome at our tent.”

“Alright. Thanks, Gem.” Saga paused, realized something, then raised an eyebrow. “Wait a minute, are you saying Master Dorrin rescued a small child from a mining town and named her Gemma? Gem for short?”

The copper grinned mischievously. “I almost took the last name Stone.”

“Angels above, you really are his daughter," Saga said dryly.

The pair laughed, then sat together in companionable silence for a time, leaning on each other physically and emotionally. Dapper, nestled on Gemma’s lap, enjoyed both of their attentions. Just as Saga was about to suggest that it was time for bed, the impossibly loud howl of a wolf pierced the night’s activity, and chaos descended upon the camp.