Then there was this one job (Svad, Solomon)

The deal Astral and Svad had made was proving more enlightening then she initially thought. Turns out human society was pretty darn complicated one would say a lot more complicated than dragon society and she didn't think that was a good thing. So many humans with different titles and importance and certain mannerisms based on titles and behaviors. Dragon were simple. Get on the good side of the gods and respect the tribe leaders, mostly the one you belong to. Humans were...still confusing. It was a lot more complicated than that and she didn't totally understand it.

The due arrived at Anthropinos. Astral had passed it once before on their way to a different job but this was the first time she actually got to walk in and her breath was taken away from her. So much stuff crammed so tightly it was overwhelming. They were here to meet a client for an assassination mission. Word was he was looking for only one assassin to carry this deed out rather than multiple and paying whichever one got the job done. Word also was he was paying a lot. Either by coincidence or reputation Svad got the invitation and naturally Astral accompanied him now that she could finally do so with out him fussing. It took them a long time to get to the meeting location though as Astral was getting distracted by everything in the large city or kingdom or whatever they called it. She kept pulling the assassin every direction asking what everything was.

When they finally arrived at the bluntly named Cloak and Dagger Inn, Astral got her game face on. With the way she exotically dressed and the carefree way she spoke and behaved she found it best to adopt a guise of royalty or nobility. She'd never be able to get the exact attitude down that one would expect of them as that was too far removed from who she was. The way she held herself and moved about with grace and status came naturally to her however. If it wasn't for her assumed status and the dangerous looking man with her she'd probably be delayed further by male pestering not that she minded it. With her presumed deceased status and losing of worshipers she was lacking in attention these days. The humans certainly helped fill that void.

Their client a man by the name of Uragiru sat in the most obvious place possible, a table in the far corner of the room with a dark shadow cast over it. Astral followed behind Svad to go greet him.

Svadilfare was less than happy with becoming Astral's personal guide through the human world. It meant breaking a promise to his children that he wouldn't be traveling anymore. So he had insisted on telling them why and swore them to secrecy. And he knew they wouldn't say anything simply because he told them the truth: they would all get into a lot of trouble if anyone found out.

Svadilare received a letter one day from a man named Uragiru, asking him to come to Anthropinos. Some of the jobs Svad had been hired for since Ammos were small, one day missions. Escorting important people through hostile territories, acting as a bodyguard, even training soldiers were among a few. But finally the Kryoan was being hired as an assassin again. He didn't mind the smaller jobs--money was money--but assassinations paid more.

After bidding farewell to the kids and paying a quick visit to his grandfather, Svadilfare left Kryo and made his way to Anthropinos, Astral right behind. The trip there was uneventful, short, but full of questions. By now, Svad was used to the questions and minded only the sheer amount, often asking Astral to save a few for later. He, on the other hand, was much more sparing with his questioning. In fact, it had been almost two weeks since he'd asked anything about Dragons. What he had learned, surprised him a little. While it was very different, it seemed that Dragons had a similar lifestyle to Humans.

When they finally arrived at the large city, Svad wanted nothing more than to tie his Dragon companion to a tree somewhere. But as it were, she was in a human form so that wasn't an option. He just wished she would let him go more than two and a half steps before dragging him off to wherever to ask him about whatever. He should have expected, however, because Astral did this very thing at Brysur and Kryo. Not unlike a child awaiting a sweet after dinner, Astral was overly anxious to see everything. She wanted to know what every building was, what was inside, why it existed. It was all very exhausting to Svad.

Unfortunately, this made the duo rather late getting to the Cloak and Dagger Inn. There was no particular time he was expected to arrive, but Svadilfare liked getting to meetings as quickly as possible. Well, at least if he ever needed to buy time, he could count on Astral to do it. The Cloak and Dagger Inn was slightly familiar to the Kryoan, though he still needed directions to find it. He had stayed here once during a job as a bodyguard. Coincidently, since Astral had decided to look the part of nobility today, that's exactly what he was pretending to be.

He immediately spotted his client in the back of the tavern the Inn stood over--not that the man was trying to blend in. Svadilfare pulled out a chair for Astral, waited til she was seated, then sat down himself across from the other man. "Uragiru. Apologies for the unexpected company," he said gesturing to Astral. "But I picked up a job on the way here, as a bodyguard for the Lady Celestia. Now, your letter said you wanted the best assassin Pyyria has to offer. Of all the assassins out there, why ask for me specifically?"

Astral was surprised Svad chose to tell his children about her. It would forever effect their lives. Whenever dragons were mentioned they'd think back to that time their father lead one around. She also knew enough about humans so far to know rather than the kids getting in trouble for opening their mouth, it was far more likely whoever they told would just think their father was crazy. After all it wasn't well known to them dragons can use magic and they are right to assume most can't disguise themselves as a human. Only 7 are capable of that on their own.

Uragiru was concerned with the noble lady's presence. He knew from research she had no close ties Solomon but she was still an unknown and therefore a threat. He eyed her suspiciously trying to evaluate her. There was something different. She definitely was a noble but there was something he couldn't quite put his finger on that made her different and he couldn't decide if that was good or bad. "Listen here lady Celestia. If you speak of this to anyone I'll hire this man here to kill you." Guessing at where their client was coming from Astral responded. "You needn't worry. I don't care who it is you want dead. I can guarantee their life is insignificant to me no matter how prominent you perceive them." Uragiru was put at ease. He was right about her being different and was beginning to suspect she was actually royalty from other lands. It was now Astral's turn to be concerned. Whoever this man was he had a sharp eye and a sharp mind. She could see from his observing of her it wasn't her words that put him at ease. No he read between the lines and learned something closer to her nature than what he was told. Whatever deal this was she no longer wanted to associate with him, but was careful to keep that hidden.

That settled Uragiru turned his attention to Svad and addressed his question. "You are different from other assassins and not just in personality but in how you operate. I believe that is something needed for the job I have for you. And I have heard you are quiet in tongue no matter the job. I am hiring you for (insert large amount of money here) to kill Solomon Wyrmfire."

Svadilfare became a little nervous when Uragiru spoke to Astral and curious when he mentioned hiring him to kill her. "Certainly, if there exists enough coin for anyone to attempt to take down a Dragon deity," Svad thought. The assassin hadn't really had a reaction to Astral telling him she was a goddess. It's not like he knew Dragon gods actually existed or had ever met one before. It certainly was interesting and now her assurance that no Dragon would mess with him while he was with her made sense.

But Svad didn't need to worry about Uragiru's concerns for long. Astral responded well and Uragiru moved on to the Kryoan's question. "Solomon Wyrmfire? He hails from Leostonnia... Hmm." Svadilfare stood without another word and walked over to the inn keeper. He got a pitchur of water and a cup of mead then returned to the table. He poured a cup of water for Astral and took a sip of his drink before speaking to Uragiru again. "You offer a very generous amount. Why so much, even for a noble?"

Uragiru raised a brow of hesitant curiosity. It was an unusual question for an assassin to ask. "Leostonnia has a rotted wooden fence preventing civil war. An opportunity has arisen and I want to make sure my job has priority." He answered. Still the question put a hint of doubt in him. He would have to prepare plan B the moment they parted ways.

"I see," the assassin said before taking a drink. He should have figured the man's reason was political. Every asassination involving nobles and the like were. As long as said politics didn't affect him, he'd kill any noble. Well... except the one he was currently escorting. "My last question: where exactly is Leostonnia? I've never been there." Svadilfare reached into his bag and pulled a piece of parchment from it, unfolded it and put it on the table.

After getting the location and half of the agreed payment, Svadilfare and Astral left the Tavern. From there they went to get the necessary provisions--for Svad anyway. It was this point in the job that the warrior was glad his traveling companion was a Dragon. Once they left civilization, he didn't need to provide anything for her; it saved him a lot of coin. Once he had everything, the duo left Anthropinos behind. They traveled until sundown, Svadilfare set up camp, and Astral, who became irritated beyond belief watching the man try to get a fire started, did it herself before he had a chance to attempt it more than once. It had become a normal routine for them, so much so that Svad was starting to question why he even bothered attempting to make the fire himself.

Three days later found them half way to Leostonnia. They had encountered a couple Dragons and a group of merchants on their way to Brysur. After eating that night, Astral, as usual, asked a question... or ten. However, Svadilfare finally had a question to ask. He was laying on his back, looking up at the night sky and holding the moonstone. "How does this moonstone work exactly?"

"It charges with light. When there is no light it glows like it is now and will stop glowing when it runs out of charge. That particular one is the rarest moonstone. It's a magic moonstone indicated by it's red color and glow. So long as it's charged and you have it with you you'll be able to learn magic easily. Likely will learn some just by watching me preforming it. Heck you might be close to starting your own fires." Astral answered with a grin.

The grin kind of faded as she thought back to their little incident at the tavern before they set off. Astral still didn't understand alcohol. Perhaps she was incapable of understanding it because she was a god. Things between her and Svad had gotten a little awkward ever since then. Astral had really enjoyed herself but perhaps she was cursed as far as mates were concerned, to never find happiness.

In the dead of night Astral would slip away. She would return to the city they had departed from and decided to live there to learn more about humans and to give Svad a break from her. He seemed pretty damaged. A few months passed and Astral discovered she was pregnant. It led her to make a decision. She would abandon her dragon life altogether with the exception of to raise her child and pursue Svad. She decided to officially take on the name Celestia and to truly show her dedication and to truly understand what it was to be human all in an attempt to find love Celestia poured all her power and some of her immortality into a metal symbol attached to a plain black collar. The only power she now had access to was the one to transform back into her native dragon form and the natural abilities that came with that. Hopefully Svad would teach her how to defend herself as a human.

Celestia would seek out Svad and explain everything to him. Both what she was sacrificing for him and her pregnancy. Hopefully he didn't freak out. She wondered if he was still on that assassination job.

Svadilfare made a note of what the Moonstone could do and help him with. Astral was right that he was able to make small fires now; he'd been practicing for a couple weeks.

A few months later...

This was officially the longest job Svadilfare had ever had. He couldn't just sneak into the room of a noble in the middle of the night and kill him. For a few months, the Kryoan watched the heavily guarded home of Solomon Wyrmfire. He found there were too many guards and not enough places to hide their bodies.

Svadilfare walked the streets of Leostonnia as the sky darkened and the stars woke up. His Moonstone started to glow around his neck; he slipped it into his shirt and covered his shirt and closed his fur cloak. It was something he did every night when in a city or village. But tonight it felt different. He thought back to the night before he and Astral left Anthropinos.

Flashback
The pair stopped in a tavern for something to eat because Svadilfare had run out of food--or lost it to a pack of dogs, if you'd asked anyone else. Astral, wanting to learn everything about Human culture and life, insisted on trying an alcoholic drink. After giving her another speech about her obsession, he finally agreed to let her have some. He cautioned her to only have one cup since she'd never had mead before. Would you believe the disguised Dragon had six and a half cups? Svadilfare himself had had three cups, his usual limit, but the mead must have had a higher alcohol content, because he ended up drunk too. Thinking back, he realized he actually got drunk before Astral did... It must take longer for Dragons, they'd decided. After Astral's final cup Svadilfare cut her off and suggested they go back to the inn to sleep it off. And they did sleep it off.... eventually.

Svadilfare always slept on the floor whenever Astral accompanied him on a job. But drunken Astral insisted on sharing the bed and because he wasn't thinking clearly, Svad agreed. From there things got.... interesting.

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Flashback
Svadilfare woke the next morning with a headache and could only imagine how Astral would feel when she woke up.  He had no idea how to feel about what happened last night. First and foremost in his mind was the fact Astral, even if she could make herself look like a Human, was a Dragon. When that lovely thought finally left him alone, the next thing that came to him was the fact he was a married man. Yes, his wife had disappeared some time ago and was likely dead, but Svadilfare was a fiercely loyal man and loved his wife more than anything--except his children. Somewhere between that thought and the first, the Kryoan destroyed stuff; he didn't remember that, either. When the mix of anger, anguish, and terror no longer had his blood boiling, a new emotion popped up.

Despite the whole "your lover is a Dragon" thing, Svad had actually enjoyed it. His head was starting to hurt more. Svad watched Astral until she woke up, but after he couldn't bring himself to look at her again for the rest of the day. To his relief, she couldn't either. Every day after that, until they reached Leostonnia, was awkward. They barely spoke except for the usual evening question and answer session. And Astral made a point of sleeping half a world away from him. Despite the awkwardness Svadilfare insisted on keeping Astral with him at Wyrmfire Inn. He woke the next morning to find she had gone.

Present
Svadilfare walked into the Wyrmfire Inn, one of many inns that bore a name to honor the noble. He went straight to his room tonight instead of chatting with the inn keeper. For most of the night he lie awake, staring at the ceiling. He hadn't slept for more than a few hours for a while now. He passed time by trying to figure out exactly how he would kill his target--or get close enough to do so, for that matter. Svad concluded he would have to get close to the man, befriend him.

Celestia's first of only two leads was simply to check the location of the last assassination job he was given. Just getting there proved to be a little difficult. Already she was facing her first challenge of being mortal. She was now susceptible to exhaustion and strain. What compounded this is she felt so much weaker as a human. Also she was near the end of her first trimester. Only a knowing eye would be able to tell she wasn't just a little pudgy in the tummy.

The first thing she dead when finally arriving was check all the inns for Svad as well as the alias's she knew from traveling around with him. When she finally found where he was at she wanted to just get a room and pass out. She was very tired and hungry. Problem was she couldn't as she had no money something she didn't really think about when she decided to be like a mortal. Being required to eat and rest again was such a nuisance.

When Celestia got to the room he was in she kinda just walked in. Even if he was naked it's not like it was anything she hadn't seen already. Not that dragons cared to begin with. Her eyes were sunken and her body was weary, an exhausted condition Svad could never have seen her in before. She would pour her head out and explain everything. Sometimes it might have been difficult to understand what she was trying to say though as turns out just having a conversation was difficult in this condition.

Svadilfare was still awake, so he heard his door open. Instinctively he grabbed one of his swords as he sat up and pointed at the intruder. And then he saw that the intruder was a friend. "Astral?" Svad set the sword back down beside its partner as he stood and went to the woman. He took her hands and helped her over to the bed, set her down. Then he conjured a small flame to light the oil lamp on the bedside table. He looked at her. He didn't need the light to see how exhausted she was, but now he could see she bore a child. Svadilfare walked to the door and closed it, kept his back to Astral. Already he battled emotions. Should he be angry? Should he be concerned for her well-being? Should he be surprised she was pregnant? Actually, he really should be and was. Maybe he was supposed to be happy to see her, that she came back. "I'm no Dragon deity expert, but how did you know I was still here? It's been months."

It stung her pride to be in a condition that she needed help, but was infinitely grateful Svad so willingly provided it. "It's going to be officially Celestia now and I'm no longer a goddess. I've given up my previous life in exchange for a normal human one. I can't even do what you just did" Celestia said referencing the flame he conjured. "Well done, you're learning quick by the way. There is one exception though. I can still turn into my dragon form but only for the purpose of training a hatchling in my care as well as the future one." Celestia rubbed her stomach in reference. "Otherwise I'm a human now. I've given it all up so I can be with you. Speaking of which you are going to have to teach me how to defend myself as a human. I might as well be a hatchling right out of the egg as far as that is concerned. Err..sorry human phrase, new born fresh out of the womb."

She spoke his tongue but Svadilfare was having a very difficult time comprehending what As--Celestia just said. "What?" he heard himself say, though he was sure it hadn't been loud enough for her to hear from across the room, small as it was. He turned around and looked at her. "Why would you--? You--for me? Why would you do that?! Because we--and now, now you're--" Svadilfare was so mad he could barely form a sentence. He started pacing, resisting the overwhelming urge to punish his right hand some more by sending it through the wall. Instead he just clenched his fist so tightly he could feel blood starting to drip between his fingers, as a barely healed wound opened up again. If it were possible for him to break his hand by simply holding it in as tight a fist as he was, he was almost there. A level of pain that might have matched a woman giving birth engulfed Svad's hand and started to travel up his arm. But he didn't show it; he was too busy being mad at Celestia.

After he'd paced so long that the floor beneath him was starting to erode and he could no longer ignore the pain in his hand, Svadilfare stopped and looked at Celestia. He inhaled deeply then let out a long sigh. His voice was low but audible, strained with effort as he tried not to raise his voice. "You can't just abandon your kind. It is your duty to guide and protect them, when it is needed. You're not some Dragon just existing, you're a Goddess. Suppose I had wanted that you should turn me into a Dragon, so that I may be with you. Would you have allowed me to abandon my children?" He fell silent, having heard what he said.

He ran his hands down his face, forgetting or just not caring that his right hand was covered in blood. Another sigh passed between his lips. "Are you really so fascinated by my kind? So entranced by us that you would decide to be one permanently except when you need to go back home to see to your other child? You haven't even seen us at our worst... Look--" Svad trailed off and walked back over to the bed. He sat down and reached out with his left hand, taking Celestia's. "I owe you my life for saving mine... and that now extends to... our... child." He gaze fell to her stomach. How exactly was it possible that they had produced offspring? What were the odds that that would have happened after just one night? Svadilfare shook his head, getting a headache just thinking about it--or maybe that was his hand.

"...But I cannot honor that debt if you run from who and what you are. Celestia is merely a means for you to walk in my world. Astral is your true self. She is who saw fit to spare a mere human from the claws of a Manticore. Please, don't give up anything for me. Not this. I'm not worth it." He closed his eyes for a moment. Another sigh.

"It's late. You need to rest. Whatever food I have there," he pointed to his satchel which on right beside the bed on the floor, "eat it. I could hear your stomach from the door. We'll talk more in the morning, when I've had time to make sense of this." He tore a piece of cloth from his shirt, applied the last of his salve to it, then tied it tightly around his right hand. "I don't have any spaz fish, so if you want that, go to the innkeeper. Try to remember that we don't call it spaz fish. And don't worry about paying for it; just tell them you're with me. I'll pay for it later."

Svadilfare removed his cloak and rolled it into a bundle to use as a pillow. Without thinking about it, he reached up and ran his hand through Celestia's hair, brushing it back behind her ear. "Don't mistake this for something it isn't," he said in reference to petting her hair. "I'm just in no condition to hug you. I don't approve of what you've decided to do and I'm still angry. But... I'm glad you're okay. You disappeared for months...  I thought maybe something had happened to you." He stood and moved to the center of the room, laying down on the floor and resting his head on his makeshift pillow. Almost immediately he closed his eyes and drifted back into a light sleep.

((Remind me when you actually need Solomon to make an appearance))

The stress, the fatigue, things she hadn't experienced in a long time that brought her down combined with the criticism of the one she love quickly brought Celestia to crying two rivers of tears. Despite this she answered Svad albeit in an exhausted and broken up voice. "I'm not an existing goddess. The whole world thinks I died and no longer exist. At least now that last part is true. My story is a long one since I was immortal and all. Long story short I wasn't born knowing I was a deity and when I did find out my life went to crap. It's a long time for your life to be crap. My abandoning it was a selfish decision. Let me just have this selfish decision to be a normal person. To only have responsibility to each other and what is ours. To be seen and known to exist by the person I love. That alone is worth everything I have."

Celestia didn't argue as Svad mentioned the late time and the rest she needed. If it wasn't for her hunger she'd fall asleep right there on the floor. She ate everything edible in the satchel. Celestia made no comment to what Svad said before he went to sleep. She was too tired to even think of how she felt about it. Despite recent events Celestia had the courage or maybe it was just the need, but she cuddled up next to Svad preferring his warmth and fell asleep with him.

The next morning a messenger would arrive at their door and knock. Celestia would remain asleep as the message was delivered to Svad.
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"What was taking him so long?" Uragiru wondered aloud to nobody in particular. It had been months and the target he had hired Svadilfare to kill was still alive. It shouldn't have taken this long for the professional killer. Something must have happened. Solomon must have offered him more money to keep him alive or worse and more likely kill the person who had hired Svadilfare to kill him. The elderly Uragiru knew he was wise to prepare plan B right after he parted ways with Svadilfare. He hadn't chose the assassin for his skills alone. No Uragiru chose him because there was more than just money he had leverage over him for. The assassin had a family and Svadilfare wasn't very careful about keeping them secret. He enacted plan B and had Svadilfare's children kidnapped and secured in a underground cave. He then sent someone to find and deliver a message to Svadilfare. The message read 'I have your children and will kill them or sell them into slavery. Haven't decided yet. Allow me the easier decision of releasing them by completing our contract. signed Uragiru'

Celestia's words, her reaction to his own, struck him like an enemy's shield and brought down a wall. Though he hadn't wanted to, when tears streamed down her face he wiped them away. When she pleaded with him he fought not to react. In the end, he only pointed out her need for sleep and directed her to food.

Svadilfare stirred from his brief sleep when Celestia's body pressed against his. Again he grabbed for a weapon but stopped upon realizing it was only her. He sighed heavily. It wasn't that she had decided to lay next to him but that she lay on the floor when the bed was available. Svad rolled onto his knees, picked up Celestia--careful not to wake her--then carried to and laid her gently on the bed. After covering her with the blanket he returned to the floor and stared up at the ceiling, now unable to sleep. He replayed Celestia's words over in his head: Let me just have this selfish decision to be a normal person. To only have responsibility to each other and what is ours. To be seen and known to exist by the person I love. That alone is worth everything I have.

His gaze shifted from the ceiling to the bed, to Celestia. To be seen and known to exist by the person I love. She loved him; she said those very words--sort of. But did she really? Yes, they had shared a bed and enjoyed every moment... but then she left. For months Celestia had left him alone to wonder what had become of her, to lie restless for weeks in fear that something had happened. But was it fair to blame her? After all, she was not what she had appeared to be. Underneath, she was something completely different. Still, to abandon your lover without a word... Well... it's not like she knew enough to leave a message or that her reason for leaving was something normal.

This battle waged in Svad's mind for a while, and for all that time he never took his eyes off Celestia. To be seen and known to exist by the person I love. Again those words rang loudly in his mind. Dragon, Human--no being would say such words if they didn't mean them. But did Svadilfare love her? Yes he had lain with her and even if he had been a little drunk, he wouldn't have done so if there had been no feelings that existed. Of course that raised the question of exactly when he had started to feel that way.. Did it matter? To him it did, because it meant he had finally let go of his former wife. It would have been a day he'd remember for a long time. So why didn't he remember that moment? Perhaps it didn't matter at all. All that mattered was what he felt now, whether he could put aside his anger.

Svad's eyes fixated on the ceiling once more. Of course he could. To only have responsibility to each other and what is ours. Somewhere within the sea of emotions he was feeling, was the realization that he was going to be a father again. While he refused at the moment to dwell on the fact he would sire a child conceived before Celestia chose to be a permanent human, he was happy. And then he frowned as certain words echoed in his head again. To be seen and known to exist... Did she think he didn't see her? Actually, that was a fair assumption. He'd never really given any indication--other than their night together--that he felt anything for her at all, not even at least thought of her as a friend.

It dawned on Svad that he'd probably been laying there drowning in his thoughts for at least an hour, maybe two. The weary man sighed and ran his hands over his face. He was reminded of his bloodied hand, now caked in dried blood. And then he became aware of the pain that still existed in it. He got up and, reluctantly, left the room and walked to the tavern. He found a pail of water and lowered his hands into it, lightly scrubbing his right. After drying and bandaging it, he returned to the room and closed the door. Celestia still lie asleep, unmoving from how he'd lain her on her left side.

Svadilfare walked over to the bed and looked down at her. He could feel the anger he felt toward her slipping away. He had missed her every day she had been gone. He thought of her constantly. And now here she was, sound asleep after having just told him that they were to have a child... that she loved him. The Kyroan laid down on the bed beside Celestia and, after a long moment of hesitation, wrapped his arm around her. He pulled her close and returned to sleep.


The next morning...
Svadilfare woke to the sound of knuckles against wood; someone was knocking on the door. His eyes opened as his grip tightened slightly, protectively, around a still-sleeping Celestia. He sighed when he realized it was only someone knocking. After carefully leaving the bed to avoid waking Cele, he opened the door and was greeted by a courier. He thanked the young man and gave him a coin, then opened the folded parchment and began reading.

His heart stopped and his blood froze like the winter lakes. His skin became as pale as snow. At some point he fell to his knees and ceased to breathe. His body shook violently with rage and fear. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came, rather he almost started to gag. And then suddenly rage was all he felt, no longer fear or emptiness. Svadilfare stood and gathered all his belongings, then woke Celestia by shaking her shoulder. "Get up. We're leaving. Now."