Sunless

Chapter 1 of Act 1 of "Obsidian and Flame"

All Chapters | All Môrdreigiau Chronicles / Next Chapter

If you’re new to The Môrdreigiau Chronicles, welcome! You might find the Glossary helpful for some of these words. Colons indicate the sea dragon’s thought communications.

Obsidian and Flame chronicles the story of Panawr, a sea dragon prince with a deadly secret, and Arddun, who possesses a useless gift and has no desire to marry a prince. When they come together, sparks fly, but they grow aware that something more is at stake than the throne. Can they save their home, Caer Morgana, or will their quest be in vain?

Content warning: a future chapter contains a story line involving miscarriage or early child loss.

:You must be so proud.: The deep male voice penetrated Arddun ferch Wyddel’s delight at seeing her sister handfasted. None had expected Indeg to capture the heart of the Esteemed’s only son. The palace gateway glittered with crystalline bubbles strung across the ceiling and walls. The couple stood in its shadow, preparing to enter the ocean as dreigiau môr.

She glanced at the speaker. He wore the braided silver and gold torc of the royal family and a severe expression. About her height, the second son of the Esteemed Eigr’s Consort met her gaze with a mild, curious air.

:Of course,: Arddun replied, irritated by the sarcasm in his thought. :Why wouldn’t I be happy for my sister?:

Panawr ap Rhydderch’s trimmed black moustache failed to hide the twitch of his full lips before they compressed into a straight line. :Why indeed?: He kept his gaze upon the palace gate.

She watched the handfasted couple in their dreigiau môr forms disappear into the ocean’s gloom, heart in her mouth. She had her misgivings about the partnership despite Indeg’s sunny and certain love. Family members and guests began to drift away.

:Of course…: The words dragged out of him. He glanced sidelong at her. :There is the honour of residing in the palace with your sister. You will be a great comfort to her, I’m sure.: His hand grazed along the underside of his short, thin beard.

Arddun huffed a laugh, concealing it with the cuff of her pale green robe. :Indeg will be too busy with the Golden Prince to spare much time for me.:

Panawr’s lip curled. :I have no time to be your nursemaid.:

:I wasn’t asking,: Arddun flared. She’d been warned not to reveal any vulnerabilities. His snide remark reminded her that she would be isolated while Indeg consummated her love. Perhaps she should move back home until Indeg had time for her.

He started to turn away.

:What do you do with yourself? Mope about in the palace?: she needled.

:You are—: Panawr’s gills about his neck flared in a steadying breath above his braided torc. :Don’t be foolish, Arddun. Unless you are prepared to pay the consequences of your goading.: He stalked off, his silver-grey robe flaring at the ankles.

Arddun wanted to shout a thought after him but refrained. She shouldn’t be making enemies on her first day in the palace. She watched his retreat, his long black hair tied back in a simple ponytail that bisected his back, coming to rest at his tailbone.

As Arddun expected, the newly handfasted couple had little time for her once they returned from their night of dragon dancing. To occupy herself, she roamed the halls, exploring. Yet too many people looked at her like they knew she didn’t belong there. She abandoned the palace’s scrutiny for its sunken gardens.

Overhead, the translucent membrane protecting Caer Morgana rippled with passing fish. In the garden, coral and seagrasses ran rampant, the gravelled paths the only sign of any maintenance. The gardens needed someone to tend them.

She sighed. It would not be her. Whatever gift she possessed, it wasn’t for botany. Nobody could discern her gift or even how to access it. Honestly, it was worse than no gift at all.

Arddun ambled toward the garden’s eastern edge. The palace gave way to a mountainous outcrop. A landmark for Caer Morgana citizens, the rocky hill contained the caer’s hot spring house. No coral grew on its sides because of this heat.

She sighed. She loved to relax in the heated waters after a long day working with her father.

Arddun hastened her step, following the curving path around a towering seaweed bed. The walkway opened into a clearing made of the same gravel. Long stone benches stood at random angles, designed for soaking in the heat.

Two male dreigiau môr in brown robes sat on one of the benches, heads bowed in private conversation. Arddun gave them a wide berth, making for a narrow opening in the rock face.

:Halt!: The call came from one of the seated dreigiau môr behind her.

Arddun swiveled. One of them rose and walked a few steps towards her. :By whose order?: she asked with a casual air.

:Prince Panawr—: The draig môr broke off, frowning at his companion who had thought something at him. :He doesn’t wish to be disturbed.:

Arddun glanced back at the cave’s opening. :Will he be long?: She would return once the prince had decamped—or maybe she could convince Indeg to join her on another day.

:For another hour at least.:

She sighed, turning away, making plans to return the next morning.

Arddun had little reason to rise early while living at the palace with no friends to see and nothing to occupy her hands or her mind. But she would rise for an unexplored part of the garden that had been marked off-limits.

The clearing before the palace’s hot spring house remained empty. Arddun stepped through the rough-hewn opening and into the hill.

She spelled the bioluminescent lamps awake. One by one, they fluttered into fullness, a series of warm yellow lights running along the tunnel wall.

The tunnel proved short, opening into a small cave. Heat pulsed from the walls and floor. Along the floor, the cloudy water parted in soft puffs as she walked, allowing her to glimpse the smooth stone beneath.

In the centre, a circle had been carved from the rock. Within it, a ring of stone jutted out. It reminded her of the caer’s hot spring house, where dreigiau môr sat around the strongest heat.

She began to step down. Her toe hit an almost scalding fieriness and she paused, drawing back her foot.

Never had she experienced water this hot before, not even in the public spring house which lay just beyond this cave.

She descended, using the bench seat as a step, allowing the heat to sink into her calves. She waited until she grew accustomed to the heat before sinking down onto the curved bench, keeping her feet away from the floor. She loosened her robe, letting the sides fall free, allowing the heat to penetrate. She dare not stay too long in case the heat overcame her.

Arddun sighed in pleasure, the tension of living in the palace easing from her neck and shoulders. Just a few moments more, she thought. Her eyelids lowered.

A cough woke her, a hacking sound sending small quakes through the water.

Arddun blinked. Her head rested against the cave’s natural floor. She gave silent thanks that she hadn’t slipped off the bench to lie on the scorching subfloor.

She raised her head. Panawr sat opposite, amusement tweaking the corners of his mouth. His hand smoothed the front of his unbelted but closed robe.

She bolted upright, her robe sliding off her arm. She retrieved the edge, adjusting the robe so it fell into a deep vee. Arddun blinked. :How long have you been there?:

His golden skin looked flushed, which suggested he’d watched her for a while. Panawr leaned back, arms extending to rest along the back of the curved sunken bench. The long fingers of his left hand tapped a brief rhythm. :I tried calling you, even shouting.: His gaze went to his hand and his fingers stilled. :I cleared my throat.:

:Are you sick?: Arddun interrupted. :That cough sounded awful.: It also explained why he made use of this place two days in a row.

His amusement vanished. :It hurt my throat because I tried to make as much external noise as possible. I planned to have you carried out next.:

:I will leave you in peace.: Arddun rose. Her legs and knees went to jelly. She sank back onto the bench. Her fingers bunched in her robe, hoping her heat-flushed cheeks hid her dismay and embarrassment about being incapable of moving. :I think I may need to be carried out after all. My strength has all turned to water.:

He nodded, seeming unsurprised. :Your skin is quite red. I’ll call for someone to assist you—:

Arddun waved him off. She would not be so humiliated. :Give me a moment to stretch.: She extended her legs before her, wriggling her toes. :Are you sick? You were here yesterday.:

His dark eyebrow arched. :Not that it’s your business, but you don’t listen to the palace gossip?:

Oh, she had heard things about him. Cold and distant. So much so that not even his handsome looks could overcome the ever-present sour expression on his face. Or the one of cool disdain he showed her now. Not that she would admit it to his face.

:You’ve heard something,: he guessed, :but I won’t ask you to repeat it.:

Arddun relaxed with a relieved sigh. :I hadn’t heard of any illness.:

:Because I’m not ill.: Panawr gritted his teeth. He shifted position, bringing his left arm down to his side. :I have an old wound. The heat helps.:

:It wasn’t able to be healed?: Arddun started in surprise. In her concern, she traveled halfway across the circle before her knees gave way. She collapsed into an ungainly puddle on the floor.

Panawr bent forward and hauled her up to sit beside him. :You’ll burn yourself if you stay down there.:

Arddun rubbed her scalded rear and noticed Panawr massage his left shoulder. :I’m sorry for my carelessness. Does it hurt?:

His hand dropped away from his shoulder. :Of course not. It aches. That’s not the same as pain.:

Arddun frowned at him. The draig môr prince spoke utter nonsense. :Aches suggest you still hurt.:

His lips twitched again in brief amusement.

:What happened?: she asked. :I assume it was some time ago?: Not that it was any of her business. Why had she moved toward him as if she could do something? Her useless gift couldn’t help him.

Panawr nodded. :It’s ancient history. I was but a boy.: He fixed her with a glaring sneer. :Are you able to leave now or do I call for help?:

Grimacing, Arddun rose, standing on the bench’s seat. She stepped up to the cave’s natural floor. Her foot slipped, her knees failed—again—and she fell right into Panawr’s lap.

He caught her, drawing her close and saving her from the scalding floor. She grabbed his shoulders, coming nose to nose with him.

Wide-eyed, she held her breath. His dark brown eyes widened in momentary surprise. Her heart pounded. She dipped her gaze to his full, sensuous lips framed by his black moustache and beard. Her gaze flicked back up to his. He blinked back at her, his gaze long and considering.

Again, Arddun’s gaze dipped to his slightly parted lips. She hadn’t expected to feel these sparks of desire. Or did her pounding heart stem from the surprise of falling and being caught?

Panawr’s gills convulsed. He stood, still holding her in his arms. She clasped her hands behind his neck, hoping to avoid an undignified release. He ascended the two steep steps with ease. He strode to the tunnel’s entrance and deposited her. :Don’t waste your time on me.:

Arddun belted her robe, straightening the edges so it covered her from neck to toe. She wanted to sink into the ground, but lashed back. :Prefer sycophants, do you?: She had heard about his lack of true friends.

Panawr bared his teeth, leaning close. :Believe what you will.: He strode back to the cave’s centre, his silver-grey robe fluttering behind him.

The following morning, Arddun returned to the palace’s hot spring house. This time, she settled against the wall, avoiding the searing hot centre. She loosed the neck of her robe to soak in the heat. With luck, this time the heat wouldn’t overwhelm her.

The water stirred, warning of someone’s arrival. Panawr halted just inside the cave.

With alacrity, Arddun rose and bowed. Panawr headed for the sunken centre of cave. She slipped out, her cheeks red not from the heat but from recalling her embarrassment from the previous day.

She hurried, ignoring the smirks of the two male dreigiau môr who hovered outside, waiting for the prince.

The third morning, Arddun prepared to leave but Panawr forestalled her with a raised palm. :Wait. You don’t need to leave on my account.:

Arddun paused. :You and your friends have said otherwise.:

He stared at her. :That is so,: he admitted. :Why do you come here every morning?:

Arddun considered telling him the truth, but that would have rendered her far too vulnerable. Already, some of his female relations hinted at how they despised her lower station. :I discovered that if I head straight for the grotto from here, the water is really refreshing.:

Panawr advanced into the cave and stepped down onto the sunken bench. :You do seem to haunt the gardens these days.: He sat, leaning against the back of the stone bench. He sighed, his shoulders relaxing.

He’d noticed?

She shrugged. :I give the new couple the space they need. I like the quiet of the gardens.:

Nodding, Panawr pursed his lips. :It seems you are in need of a friend.:

Arddun closed her gaping mouth. :Are you offering? You?:

He craned his neck to observe the ceiling. :Was my observation correct?:

Arddun refused to admit it. She left.

Silence followed her across the small clearing and along the path which descended to the grotto by winding turns.

He hadn’t answered her question and it bothered her. She had absolutely no desire to become entangled with a prince, especially not one like Panawr ap Rhydderch.

Arddun halted, not too far the grotto. She spun and marched back the way she came. She ignored his syncophants’ startled and protesting cries and entered the cave.

She needed to see Panawr’s expression in order to discover if he teased her or if he had genuinely offered companionship.

What resonated or sparkled in this episode for you? Any questions? Come share them in the Comments section on the app/website.

All Chapters | All Môrdreigiau Chronicles / Next Chapter