Dragon Kin

23

"That's an interesting conclusion, you made. Food for thought." Max said, as he picked up his knife, and cut into the steak. "I don't know if I can add to it. I don't understand the bonding myself. Some have claimed to know, others were mad enough to believe they knew. I have listened but accepted nothing thus far."

That's all it was, a conjecture really. I had no data to ask and no tools to do so. But I did file it away for another time. "What is the Morrigan?" I asked.

"That, I know a couple of things about. When you bond with a dragon, you share in the energy that makes him a dragon. That stuff we generally call Mana. Some call it Magick. More people get upset when you call it that, so I stick with Mana."

The chicken, or next best thing, tasted wonderful. Perfect herbs and peppers. "Yes?"

Servers came and set down wine glasses and what looked suspiciously like lemonade. I sniffed it. It smelled like lemonade as well. I decided against the wine and took a sip. It was ... lemonade. Somehow that warmed my spirit.

"When that Mana from him is shared, you are changed. You're already changed. Soon, you'll begin to feel that change as it spreads out through your body. Are you familiar with the concept of a retrovirus?"

My throat went dry, and I nodded my head.

"It's not a virus, but I'm told from some very reliable sources that the change is much like that kind of experience."

"Is it," I said, my voice letting the words fall out onto the stone floor.

"Takes two, maybe three days for the effects to be noticeable. Perhaps a full week for the change to be complete."

"And where did you learn about retroviruses?" I asked, after taking a large sip from my lemonade while reconsidering the wine.

He sat back, touched his napkin to his lips to dab them clean, "Oh, I got a doctorate on your side, at a place called Cambridge. Have you heard of it?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. "A doctorate in what?"

"Engineering," he said, but then waved his hand, "but you learn all kinds of things going to classes at those places."

"Yes, of course. Not all engineering is bricks and gears and rivets."

"You're right about that. This was ... oh, a hundred years ago. I'm sure it's changed quite a bit."

"Yes, I'm sure. So, what about the changes then?"

"Oh, right," he said, leaning forward and picking back up his knife and fork, "These changes have a few things in common, I guess. Common enough to mention with some confidence, away."

"Sure." I said, getting a little impatient now. Was he evading? Didn't he bring up the subject? "What would you say is the most common change?"

"Most common?" he said. "That's got to be the Mana ability."

"What is that?"

"Well, the ability to use Mana. For things like opening a Way door. Or, well, whatever you learn how to do, I suppose."

"Is Mana a thing on my side?"

"Yes, but few have the ability to exploit that," he said. "Those few are likely women like yourself who are over there for their own reasons."

"Like, for example, we live there?" I asked.

"Sure, exactly," he agreed, continuing to focus on his food.

"Ocean made it sound that he was under orders to bring me across," I said.

"Well, yes. Sure he was. Standing orders. Especially a royal, or possible new royal family member. I understand that you two aren't — well, sex is usally involved by this point of the discussion. So of course we want to be responsible and available if you were to need anything."

"Do you mean, if I were pregnant?"

"It does happen. Far more often than the Morrigan, that's for sure," he said, continuing to cut, and chew.

"Oh," I said, not really knowing what to think of that. "And that's the main concern?"

"Not in this case of course. Just to ensure you get through the change and you're not in need of anything when that's over. Not sure what you might need, because it's too early. Just not enough facts right now."

Victor brought up the Morrigan. I had at least one passage in Oma's journal about the subject. Uncle Max either didn't wish to discuss it at this point or maybe he really felt it wasn't worth worrying about. Either way, I had a credible source, so I dropped the subject.

He leaned back, pushing his plate forward, signaling he was finished. A server moved forward and took his plate. "Now," he started, "What do you think about Victor's reason for being over there?"

Oh, shit.