The next story takes place not very long after Brand met Ember for the first time. – The Scrivener

EMBER’S WARNING

In darkness, Ember the Dragon alighted on the cemetery hill, transformed and Ember the almost-human made her way downhill toward the little town and the house of Ignis. At the edge of the town, a figure dressed all in gray seemed to wait. As she passed, he made a small sign with one hand. Ember returned it as she went by. Professional recognitions. Professional courtesies.

Later that night, before taking to the bed Ignis had prepared for her, Ember slipped into Brand’s room, sat on the floor by his bed and woke him. “Brand, there is something I must tell you. My heart will not let it wait. Your mother gave permission to wake you.”

“Miss Ember? What… wait… okay, I’m not dreaming, then. What is it?”

“I have to tell you… please understand… even though I do not wish to change you, my presence anywhere near you is unavoidably changing you, conditioning you to develop affection for me.”

“Oh! Mom explained about that. But you had that fixed, right?”

“We tried. We weakened it. But you sat so close to me when we met. It did work on you then and even I felt it.”

“That’s why you were watching me so closely when I “returned” from the dragon cave.”

“I thought I detected effects when I connected to you for that, yes.”

Brand yawned. “Whaaaat if what you detected was just me deciding I liked you on my own?”

“It would not have felt the same, if that was all there was.”

“I know about the spell. I don’t mind that it makes me like you... I like the feeling of liking you.”

“But, Brand, that is the spell at work, do you see?”

“Then… I like that the spell is also making me like the fact that I like you.” He smiled.

She shook her head. “That is also the spell….”

“Maybe it is. So? It can’t be helped. And I would have liked you even if there wasn’t any magic.”

“It’s not fair to you, Brand…”

“It works on you, too, doesn’t it? I’d call that fair. We both know what’s happening. I don’t want it to stop… I think… maybe neither of us really wants it to stop?”

“I have to tell you… there’s a chance to escape my influence…”

“The same chance for you to escape mine? Do you want to go away from me forever, Miss Ember?”

“No… No, I don’t but I will…”

“I don’t want to never see you again, either. But I’d endure it if you needed me to. Just… please don’t ask me to.”

She closed her eyes. “Oh, Brand, we’re both in too deep now…”

“Miss Ember… maybe dragons aren’t made to change quickly, but… My teacher told us that kids…young humans… we are. Experience, our lessons, everything… I’m changing all the time in ways I can’t even see. You said yourself young men change quickly. So… now maybe you see why it doesn’t frighten me to be changed by knowing you. Even without a spell, you’d still change me.”

Ember opened her eyes and met his. “Brand…”

“And I’d be happy about it.”

After a moment of silently looking at Brand, Ember said, “Your mother said you were smart… and stubborn.”

“If you didn’t care for my safety, you wouldn’t have come tonight. It feels good to know you worry about me.” Brand laid back again, pulled his blankets up and closed his eyes.

Ember whispered, “That’s still the….”

“No, it’s not.” Brand yawned again. “Don’t ask me how I know, but I know. That’s not magic. That’s you.”

Ember surrendered and whispered, “Then I’ll leave you to sleep, now.”

What have I done? she thought as she closed his sleeping room door.

~~~

It was dark again when Ember quietly let herself out of Agnes’ home, alone, and made her way out of the village, bound for the cemetery hill and departure. She had not woken anyone before slipping away.

At the edge of town, a figure dressed all in gray seemed to wait. As she approached, he made a small sign with one hand. Ember returned it. “I perceive your mission was not all a happy one,” the figure said. The voice was gravely and old.

Ember stopped to speak to him. “No, not all,” she replied.

“Will you join me over some tea before you leave?”

“I thank you but…”

“As a professional courtesy?”

“Very well, then.”

The old man’s little home was no more rich and no more poor than that of Agnes and Brand. Comfortable and serviceable, but not fancy. For a magician, it would have been simple to conjure luxuries. That he did not, augured well in Ember’s mind. A modest magician was usually one with wisdom. She noted that he used no magic in the preparation of their tea.

The fire was not up so she said, “May I assist?”

“Please yourself, My Lady.”

Ember motioned and the fireplace sprang to light just in time for the teapot to be set in place. The magician may have used just a little magic then, for the boil seemed a little fast to arrive. As he poured into two cups, he said, “May I assist you?”

“Please yourself, then.”

“You are troubled over some humans, are you not? Agnes’ boy, Brand, unless I’m terribly mistaken.”

“He’s too close.”

“The old dragon’s spell, yes. I see.”

“I told him of it. I wanted him to know why I was going to say goodbye.”

The magician held his cup in both hands and stared into it as if he sought something there. “hmmm… It didn’t proceed as you intended, I think.”

“No. I didn’t tell him. He wouldn’t just let me go.”

“He’s a smart boy. He comes to me for lessons, at times. Talked you into a corner?”

“He countered my reasons, yes.”

“And dragons are used to having their own way.” He paused to sip his tea. “Does this dragon have any regard for humans?”

“Some. For some.”

“For Brand?”

“…. Yes.”

“Brand is choosing his own way, isn’t he? Dragon-like of him, hmm? Tell me truly… have you so little regard for him that you leave him like this? Stealing away in the night. Does his choice hold no value for you?”

“I’m afraid…I can’t see his future.”

“You have sight?”

“Premonitions only. And not clear ones.”

“I have looked.”

“…And?”

“It, too, was unclear. Because I myself am interfering with it. I have seen two visions, both unclear. Both held sorrow. The more sorrowful of the two… did not have you in it.” He paused again to drink more tea. Ember had not touched hers. “So… let me ask you… what does your heart desire?”

“I don’t want to go away forever.”

“Then reconsider your choice tonight. Grant him the self-determination you cherish for yourself…. Your tea is cold. It’s time for you to go.” The magician picked up the two cups and stood up. As he turned away to pour them out, he asked, “Will you come again?”

“…Yes.”

He turned back to face her and almost smiled. “I’m glad. I think you will not regret it. My fireside is always welcome to you if you’re troubled.”

“Thank you, Magician.”

“Think nothing of it. Professional courtesy.”