Aubrey always hated the smell of burnt flesh. It made her nauseous. Seared meat meant for consumption was one thing, but the smokey stench of heated metal fusing to scale, flesh, and bone was something else entirely. She would never be used to it. She would never like it.

The only thing she hated more than the smell was the sounds. The sizzling and the screaming. No creature should make the noises that haunted her sleep. Even prey didn’t suffer this much. The onlookers stamped, cheered, sang, and lashed their tails on the ground while the howls of agony rang through the forge. Somehow they still couldn’t drown it out. Even more amazingly, the drake thrashing on the table hadn’t lost consciousness yet. They usually did around this point, right after they pissed themselves.

It disgusted her that this was the highest honor, a rite of passage, the symbol of adulthood. A dragon who had not earned their plate was not a true dragon. The reason for the plate mattered not so long as it was worn proudly.

Seeing the green-scaled dragon fighting against his bindings in a puddle of his own making, eyes bulging, drooling uncontrollably, she wondered what he thought of this rite of passage. Would he do it again? Did he feel like a true dragon? Or was he begging for death, for an end to the pain he couldn’t fathom?

Perhaps that was why she refused to wear a plate. She was afraid of the pain. Afraid of death. Did that make her a coward? Or was she brave for daring to defy the norm, a ritual she found asinine and unappealing?

She turned away from the drake struggling to stay conscious to the other poor souls in line, awaiting their turn at the forge. There were only three this time and she smelled the fear that was written plain on their faces. Their tails and wings were wrapped tightly around their bodies as if hoping to shield them against reality. The first dragon had thrown up twice. The second seemed on the verge of fainting. The last one had already pissed himself..

The veterans, their plates reflecting the glow of the flames, stared into the abyss. They were going through the motions seemingly unaware of the horrors taking place before them. She knew where their minds were. Back to their first time, reliving the nightmare. She wondered if their cheers were signs of happiness that it wasn’t their turn. Aubrey felt sorriest for the young whelps. Most of them covered their faces or cowered behind their parent’s legs. Unlike the others, the younglings wore their abject terror unashamed of how others perceived them. It was a shame that she knew they would purge this day from their memories and in a few years would become just as numb to it as everyone else.

Hearing Gandry, the Matriarch of the forge, speak brought Aubrey back to reality. Gandry was a Nighstalker, her black scales marked with silver-colored plating on her legs, shoulders, and tail. Her plates were signed with age, the scars of hard battles over the decades, and symbols telling of her achievements. The glow of the fire on her dark scales made her seem even more intimidating, a feat within itself. “Steel your nerves, whelps,” Gandry said proudly as she paced in front of the three “volunteers”. Her voice immediately silenced the other dragons in the room save the drake on the table. No amount of threats or promises would quiet him. “We are dragons, and we endure! We fear nothing! Run from nothing! The forge molds us! Here we face the heat, we embrace the pain, and we emerge from the flames stronger than ever!”

The other candidates straightened up and faced the dragoness, but traces of trepidation still lingered. Gandry didn’t seem to care and turned back to the drake receiving his first plate. The surgeons made up of humans and dragons surrounded him like phantoms circling the dead. They moved with an otherworldy precision, avoiding each other perfectly. If they spoke or made any sound, it was lost in the crowds. Their attention was focused on one thing. She felt a twang of pity watching the humans struggle under their heavy clothing. Dragons weren’t bothered by the heat, but humans didn’t have such a luxury.

Aubrey heard a small whine come from her little sister, Maron. The younger Ravager’s trembling made the light shimmer and dance on her red armored scales. Her yellow eyes bulged in fear. She was too young to receive her plate, and for that, Aubrey was grateful. The thought of Maron going through that was too much to think about.

“It’s all right,” Aubrey said as soothingly as possible. “He’s going to be just fine.”

She didn’t know that and couldn’t prove it. The ceremony ended in death on more than one occasion. It wasn’t pleasant. But her words seemed to have the desired effect and her younger sibling calmed down.

Aubrey shot an annoyed look at their mother, Nagarini, the clan Dracaena. The leader of all. Calming Maron should have been her responsibility. Instead, the older Ravager looked on stoically, still as a fallen branch. If it wasn’t for her occasional blinking, it would be easy to mistake her for a statue. The rings on her horns glowed, adding a fake flaming halo around her crown, a fitting look for their leader. The same with the metal plates adorning their mother’s legs and shoulders which made Aubrey shudder as it impressed her. How anyone could undergo the process more than once baffled her. How much pain did she endure? Was she afraid every time or did it simply become routine?

Aubrey’s gaze inevitably drifted to her mother’s tail as it always did. Nearly half of it had been replaced with a metallic replica. No one knew the story of how it happened or if they did know, they were sworn to silence.

Turning away before her mother caught her staring, she focused on the oldest of her siblings, Fusciani. She immediately regretted her actions as Fusciani couldn’t even be bothered to pay attention. She examined her nails and looked disinterested in the ceremony. The dragoness wore only one plate on her right flank, but the sight only angered Aubrey more.

“Of all the dragons here, you’re the one who should be setting an example,” Aubrey said under her breath.

Nagarini didn’t move her gaze shifted in Aubrey’s direction. Aubrey turned back to the ceremony. At a time like this, the last thing she needed was to draw attention to herself.

His screams had finally died down and he stopped thrashing. The others had stopped their cheering so only his pitiful whines and the crackling of flames could be heard. Gandry stood over the body and inspected it carefully. One of the surgeons acknowledged her presence with a nod.

Gandry addressed the crowd. “He has emerged from the flames reborn,” Gandry said, her booming voice echoing through the spacious chamber. “Another child of the forge has taken his place among us!”

The clan cheered in unison, the sound making the walls rattle. Aubrey didn’t so much as smile. Her gaze was fixed on the drake. He barely moved and his breathing was shallow.

“Now who’s next?”

Aubrey watched as the kobolds hurried in and pushed the table away. She imagined the faces under their hoods flushed and drenched in sweat. The kobolds worked quickly, getting the drake out of the way before the next candidate could reach Gandry.

The first volunteer, a Nighstalker, shuffled forward. The difference between him and Gandry was laughable. He didn’t share any of her proud presence. His shoulders were hunched, head bowed, and tail tucked where she stood tall and confident with nothing hidden from the flames of the forge.

“Do you wish to undertake the rite?” Gandry asked in a grave tone.

The drake nodded. He couldn’t speak if he wanted to as Aubrey just noticed the plate he carried in his jaws. It was a small thing, something easily hidden. Aubrey sighed heavily, knowing how this would end.

“Is that your plate?”

He nodded again and carefully set his plate down.

Gandry didn’t even inspect it and swatted it away. Even the sound of it clattering across the floor sounded pitiful, but the drake flinched as if it were deafening.

“You come to me with that piece of scrap?” Gandry roared. “Where is your pride? We wear our plates boldly and proudly! We do not shy away from the heat and make tiny sheets to represent our shame!”

She strode forward. The other two candidates stiffened. The Nightstalker started to back away but suddenly stopped as if time froze around him.

Gandry towered over him and spoke in a threatening voice, “Make another one. And the next time you bring me something that pathetic, I’ll make you eat it.”

The drake nodded furiously and hurried out of the forge. Every dragon in the room watched him disapprovingly.

“Hey, look, Aubrey, you might have a friend after all,” Fusciani said.

Aubrey didn’t respond. It wasn’t even good bait and she knew better than to cause a scene here of all places. Gandry did not take kindly to anyone disrespecting her forge.

“Next candidate!” Gandry called.

The next candidate came forward, this one a Ramscale. His red and gold body matched the glow of the flames perfectly, something he had to be keenly aware of. He picked up his plate, which was noticeably larger than the previous candidate’s, and strutted forward, Aubrey noted the puddle on the floor he left behind.

Without waiting to be asked, he set his plate down at Gandry’s feet. The forgemaster looked over the plate and frowned. The drake tilted his head. Without a word, Gandry stomped on it. The forge rang with the sound of crushed metal.

“This pathetic piece of shit is your idea of a plate?” Gandry asked. She lifted her paw, revealing the bent piece of metal. “Something this easily broken is not worthy of my forge! These plates are a symbol of our will. Are you telling me yours crumbles that easily under pressure?”

She seemed to have gotten her answer as the drake shrank away and whined. Gandry groaned loudly.

“Get out. And don’t show your face until you learn how to work the metal properly.”

The drake nodded just like the other and hurried out, but still caught a tail lash to the backside as he passed the forgemaster. His pained yelp followed him out of the forge.

Gandry approached the final candidate instead of waiting for them to come forward. It seemed the right call as the green dragoness was struggling to lift the plate that was half the length of her body.

“Leave it,” Gandry commanded. “I don’t even need to inspect it to know it’s too large and heavy for you.”

“But—” the Genial began.

Gandry continued as if the dragoness hadn’t spoken, “We are proud but not vain. What good is a plate this big? The rite would kill you and if you live, it would do more harm than good. Come back when you learn to temper your hubris like you temper metal.”

The Genial tucked her head and nodded. She moved to grab her plate but a withering glare from Gandry made her abandon it and commit her walk of shame barren.

Gandry sighed and turned to the crowd. “Is there no one else?”

Aubrey knew that question was meant for her. The others knew it, too. Some of their eyes flited expectantly in her direction before looking elsewhere. She expected nothing less. It was long past the time for her first plating, but she had no intention of doing it. Not now, not ever.

“Is there really no one else? Are you that afraid of receiving your plate?”

“Damn right she is,” Fusciani mumbled.

Aubrey shot a warning glare at her sister only to see their mother had beaten her to it. Fusciani tucked her head and fell silent.

No one else spoke or stepped up. Before Gandry could speak, a kobold ran into the room and kneeled behind her. Gandry whirled around as if ready to tear his head off. Aubrey couldn’t hear what was said, but she had a good guess.

Gandry shooed away the kobold and then turned to the crowd. “Our newest edition to the forge died on his way to the cooling pools,” she said solemnly. One dragon jumped to their feet, likely a relative judging from the devastated expression and how quickly they rushed out of the forge. “Do not take his death as a warning, but as a lesson. He lived proudly by our code and represented what makes us dragons. The forge is dangerous and it can be unforgiving. Sometimes we lose the mold despite our best efforts. But that is no reason to react with fear and shame. It is the price of progress and one that we gladly pay! Only the strongest materials can be tempered and honed. For we are dragons! Born of the flame, tempered by adversity, and coming through it all stronger than before!”

She stood there as if waiting for the others to second her words, or maybe it was only to let the message sink in. Regardless, no one dared speak or break the silence. Eventually, Gandry spoke again. “We may have lost someone today, but his spirit will be returned to the forge so that he may help the flames temper the next generation. May your forges never grow cold before their time. That is all.”

****

Retiring to her den was the best part of the day. No more stares, no more whispers, no more looks. Even if it meant being away from the forge. Away from the intense heat, the cackling flames, the smell of ash and molten metal. But right now, the things that brought her calm and comfort also remind her of what happened today. Right now, the low hiss of steam and pistons, and the grinding of gears from the hall would be enough.

If it was dark, she would walk the metallic halls amidst the glow of the lights chasing away the darkness that lived in the little spaces behind the pipes carrying steam and power throughout the clan. Those were the moments when she did the most thinking. The off-beat rhymic clanking of pipes helped center her.

But roaming the halls in silence would be short-lived. It happened every year. She would refuse her plate, everyone would pretend it was a big scandal, and then she would get reprimanded in private. No sooner had she lain down did the sound of approaching footsteps signal the end of that peace.

“Can I talk to you?” Maron asked.

The question was so unexpected, that it made Aubrey whirl around in shock. Instead of her younger sister standing confidently and triumphantly as she usually did, she stared at the ground with her tail wrapped around her body.

“Of course, you can,” Aubrey said, motioning for the whelp to come closer. “What brought this on?”

“Nothing. I just wanted to talk.”

“Yes, because you and I have such enlightening conversations,” Aubrey said. It was no secret the younger dragoness had more things to talk about with whelps her age. If she was talking to Aubrey, it was either to brag or to ask for something. “It’s just us here. Say it plain and we’ll work from there.”

Maron took a deep breath and stared at the wall. “Why don’t you get a plate? Is it because you’re scared?”

“No, I’m not scared. I simply have no intention of marking my body.”

“But why?”

“Because I’m proud of it, and I don’t need anything to remind me that I am a ‘true’ dragon.”

“Oh. Why don’t you tell mother that?”

“What makes you think I haven’t?” she asked, her temper rising. “You know how obstinate she can be, and the rest of the clan agrees with her.”

Silence fell over them. Even hissing from the hall seemed quieter as if not to disturb them. Maron traced a circle in the dirt. Aubrey watched the door like a sentry, occasionally throwing a glance at her sister. She didn’t know what to say or how to react.

Eventually, Maron broke the silence. Her voice was so low, Aubrey struggled to hear her. “The other dragons are saying things behind your back. They say you’re a coward.”

“Let them talk. I will not have my life and my body manipulated by public opinion.”

Maron shifted closer and fell silent again. Aubrey let her be, knowing that she would speak up when ready.

“I don’t want a plate. I’m scared,” Maron said, finally. “I know it will hurt. I know I can take it. But—” she trembled and let the rest of the sentence hang.

Images of dragons thrashing and howling in pain flashed before Aubrey’s mind. She draped a wing over her sister’s side. “I see. The first time I witnessed the ceremony, I fainted. It still haunts me to this day. Whenever I think of receiving my plate, I’m taken back to that place.”

Maron looked up. “But you said you weren’t scared.”

“I’m not. But when I think of that, I ask ‘Where is the honor in this?’ ‘Does she feel fulfilled?’ ‘Is she proud of herself?’ I realized there was no point. I would subject myself to such pain and torment, and for what? So others can see me?  Why should I do such a thing?”

“So you decided you don’t want a plate?”

“I did. I realized there was no reason to subject myself to such a thing for superficial reasons.” She leaned down and nuzzled her. “It is natural to feel fear. All creatures experience it. It’s what keeps us alive.”

“But we’re dragons. We’re not supposed to feel fear.”

“No, we’re not supposed to be conquered by it. Just like when we feel pain and bleed, we do not succumb to it. Much like the metal we forge, we endure to become stronger. That is what makes a true dragon.”

“So you say and yet here you are, hiding from the world,” Nagarini said.

Aubrey and Maron jumped up at their mother’s voice. Aubrey cursed herself for not noticing the older Matriarch approach. She had let her guard down. How long had she been standing there?

Nagarini strutted towards them. The light shifted with every step, sliding across her blood-red scales and red plates on her sides like water running through a trough. Aubrey struggled to maintain eye contact. Even as a Matriarch herself, a symbol of authority among dragons, she still felt like an ignorant hatchling in her mother’s presence.

“You still refuse a plate,” Nagarini stated. “Why?”

“You know my reasons. I know you were listening,” Aubrey replied, still fighting to look her in the eye.

“Is this about your vanity again?”

“It’s not vanity, it’s pride!” She motioned to the wall behind her. It was covered with metal plates that she forged and engraved herself. Each one detailed one of her accomplishments. “Is making them not enough? Why must I wear them as well?”

“This is not about that. It’s about your lack of conviction.”

“I have conviction! I take great pride in all of my achievements and I won’t have you belittling them!”

Nagarini stepped forward until they were inches apart. “Watch yourself,” she said in a dangerously low voice. “Just because you have awoken your Call does not put you on equal footing with me.”

Aubrey tried to stand her ground, but the pressure coming from her mother became too much and she turned her gaze to the floor.

“As I thought. You openly defy me and spit on our customs, but you lack the conviction to follow through. That is not the spirit of a Matriarch.”

“I’m not spitting on our customs.”

“Then what do you call it? Or are you so naïve to think that you can freely decide what parts of our laws you will and will not follow? How do you think it looks to everyone else that you blatantly believe yourself beyond reproach? Do you truly believe that the laws must simply bow to your needs?”

It had become too much. It took immense effort just to remain standing let alone maintain eye contact. She stared at her mother’s claws instead, fighting to breathe the increasingly constricting air. “Our laws are flawed and you know it.”

“And yet here you hide away from ridicule and hope for me to come to your rescue. If you’re not going to follow through, go see Gandry. Skip the ceremony if you must, but when I see you again, you will have received your plate.”

“And if I don’t?”

She knew the answer. Breaking their laws meant exile or death.

“If you do not know the consequences, you have no business defying me,” Nagarini said.

Aubrey didn’t retort as their mother stormed out. Swearing loudly, she turned around and saw Maron cowering in the corner. Aubrey swore again.

“See? She’s really mad at you,” Maron said from behind her wing.

“Let me worry about our mother. It’s going to be fine.”

They had this fight after every plating ceremony and Aubrey had become used to it. However, it still made her blood run hot. She went for a walk to cool down.

It turned out to be a mistake. She couldn’t go anywhere without the looks and the whispers. She growled and headed for the forge. At least there everyone was too busy to pay attention to gossip and staring like a drunken fool.

“Hey, you!” Gandry called.

Aubrey stopped knowing that was directed at her. Everyone else froze and stared. It made her growl and clench.

Enough was enough. She focused her Call on every dragon in the vicinity. Go about your business! The onlookers dropped their heads and resumed walking to their destinations.

Gandry smirked as she strolled over. As a Matriarch herself, she was immune to its effects. The smile dropped once she closed the distance between them. “That wasn’t necessary.”

“I’m sick of them staring,” Aubrey spat. “I’m not some roadside attraction here for their amusement!”

“Don’t take it out on them because you’re a dumbass. Walk with me.”

Aubrey growled again but followed. Gandry couldn’t compel her, but she knew better than to try to take on the Forgemaster. Gandry would drag her if she had to.

They didn’t get far when the Forgemaster spoke again. “I spoke to Nagarini. And I already know you’re not gonna cave.”

“I don’t see why she wants me to get my plate so badly,” Aubrey said. “I already awakened my Call, what else must I do to prove--?”

Gandry slammed her tail on the wall. The sound of flesh pounding metal reverberated through the hall, making Aubrey and every passerby stand still.

“I always knew you were stubborn, but not stupid,” Gandry said. “Is your head that far up your ass?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Now answer the question. Do you or do you not understand what’s at stake here? Don’t answer that. Just follow me.”

Aubrey glared at the back of the Forgemaster’s head as she followed. She had half a mind to wander off, but Gandry would periodically look back, most likely to ensure she didn’t do just that.

She led Aubrey to the upper landings where the whelps often hung out. One dragon noticed them and straightened up, starting a chain reaction of the others doing the same until every eye on the landing was fixed on them.

“See that?” Gandry asked. “This is the effect a Matriarch has. You think it’s just you, but the others are noticing.” She turned to the crowd and called out, “You whelps excited to get your first plate?”

No one spoke but the way they shrank away and looked fearfully at each other said plenty. Gandry didn’t seem bothered by it. “I see a lot of fear here. Are you that afraid of the flames?”

A small Ravager spoke up in a smaller voice. Aubrey could barely hear their words. “It’s going to hurt.”

“Yes, life is pain,” Gandry said. “But look behind you. It’s gonna hurt if you fall off, right? But has that stopped any of you from playing up here?”

A slew of little shaking heads was the only response.

“I know you’re all scared. When I got my first plate, I was scared, too.” She turned to the side, showing off the plate fused to her shoulder. “I made this when I first awakened my Call. I made this”—she pointed her tail at the one below it.—“when I lost my clutch. These plates are not just for show. They are our lives. Our milestones for living. We live a long life but our memories aren’t as long lasting. So we mark our plates with the moments we don’t want to forget so that we always know what made us who we are.”

“But must we wear these plates?” Aubrey asked. “Is creating them not enough?”

Gandry continued to face the whelps as she responded, “Much like our memories, these plates are a part of us. We can’t just cast them aside to gather dust in a corner and be forgotten.”

Aubrey stepped forward. “I disagree. Just because I don’t wear them in the open doesn’t mean I don’t care or stopped caring. You can see my plates as proof. I care for them. They do not sit in a corner and rust.”

To her surprise, Gandry smiled, but it wasn’t a joyous smile. The grief and pain it masked was easily seen.

“Then what is your solution?” Gandry asked.

Aubrey noticed the young dragons and watched them rapt attention. Their faces were full of hope and joy. Aubrey swore under her breath, realizing too late what she had walked into. The worst part of it all was she didn’t have a solution. If these whelps followed her, it would cause problems. She wasn’t the clan Matriarch and if the others started following her rule, it was a direct challenge to Nagarini’s authority. But she couldn’t lie to their faces. To tell them not to follow her and obey the customs she denied.

She stared at the curious, expectant faces at a loss. The fires had been lit, the metal was heated and ready to be shaped. There was no backing out now. But her next words would choose the form things took. “I…I don’t know. I always believed in following my path.”

“But you’re a Matriarch,” one of the whelps, a small Genial said with a soft whine. “Matriarchs can do whatever they want.”

“Hey, what did I say about that kind of talk?” Gandry asked. “It’s not about what you don’t have—”

“It’s about making do with what you do have,” the dragonlings concluded in unison.

“Crying over not being a Matriarch isn’t going to help you. We are dragons, forged in the fires of life and tempered by our experiences. We wear our plates proudly because they mark the things we have survived that made us who we are. We do not hide them away out of fear or shame. The pain we suffer in fusing our plates to our bodies is the pain of life. It hurts us, even scars us, but we emerge from it stronger than ever.” She shot a look over should at Aubrey. “That is the purpose of our ceremony. That is why we are strong. I want you all to remember that the next time you start doubting yourselves.”

She didn’t say it when she walked away, but Aubrey took it as her cue to follow. But Aubrey didn’t catch up until they were back in the hall, and it was then that Gandry spoke.

“You hesitated. When Nagarini said you lacked resolve, I just assumed she was bitter. But you actually haven’t thought this through. Are you that blinded by your own needs?”

“I’m not blinded.”

“Then why couldn’t you answer my question? Don’t bother. I already know why. You’re selfish. You only care about whether you get your plate or not. You never stopped to think about how that might affect those around you.”

“But I—”

“You’re a Matriarch, damn it! Those whelps look up to you whether you like it or not! The forge produces heat that affects everything around it! But the forge doesn’t think and it has no control! You do, so act like it!”

Aubrey didn’t have a response. It wasn’t like Gandry to be this angry. The Forgemaster was infamous for her temper, but rarely did she show genuine, fearsome rage.

Gandry paced before her, tail lashing the floor. “You were promising. I had such high hopes for you. The way you work the metal is enough to make me jealous, but what have you done with it? First Fusciani and now you. I know Nagarini didn’t raise you to be this selfish.”

“I am not my sister,” Aubrey said with a growl.

Gandry crossed the gap between them before Aubrey could react. The larger Nightstalker towered over her, forcing Aubrey to crane her neck. She wished she didn’t. The way Gandry stared at her like a complete stranger was frightening. “A second ago, you couldn’t answer a simple question. Don’t pretend you have a backbone now or I might forget to be nice.”

There was no hope of winning, but she wasn’t backing down. A Matriarch was above such tactics. Just like the metal didn’t bend to just any hammer, she would not bend to every whim and shout no matter the consequences.

“Or maybe you’re just angry because I’m the Matriarch you wish you could be,” Aubrey said, calmly. Raising her voice wouldn’t get her point across. She would not bow to her level. “Those whelps follow me even without being told, but here you are trying to intimidate me into obedience.”

Gandry grinned and began laughing. “I’m starting to see why your mother sometimes wishes she sat on your egg. C’mon, I’m thirsty.”

The Forgemaster turned away, leaving Aubrey confused yet relieved.

The Cauldron, as they called it, was always noisy and today was no different despite only a third of its tables having occupants. Aubrey never liked coming here. It was too noisy which made it hard to hear her thoughts. Gandry seemed to lack any concern as she strolled into the room. The few occupied tables she did pass, bowed silently in acknowledgment but frowned at Aubrey.

Once they sat down, a skinny human, face dripping with sweat took their orders, the brand on his cheek clearly marking his status. The sight of it made Aubrey sick.

It wasn’t until a table of food sat before them that Gandry spoke again. “You do know this isn’t about you, right?” she asked through a mouthful of meat and potato.

“Really?” Aubrey asked bitterly. “Good to know that berating my lack of a plate isn’t about me.”

Gandry chased down her meal with a large gulp of ale. “Don’t be a smartass. And eat your food.”

The plate of seared meat and fish was Gandry’s idea. Aubrey didn’t have an appetite, but she also knew better than to waste food, especially in the Forgmaster’s presence.

“Now, this isn’t just about you not having a plate,” Gandry said. “You said it yourself, they follow you without being told. You’re teaching them to defy their Matriarch.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing instead of blind obedience,” Aubrey said.

Gandry grinned then took another chunk out of her roast. “You say that, but you’re not the one in charge.”

“Maybe I ought to be.”

Gandry leaned closer, a devious grin crossing her snout. “Oh? And are you prepared for what that would take? Nagarini has been our Dracaena since before even I was hatched. You really think she’s going to just step aside for a pitiful whelp like you?”

Aubrey fell silent. Her words were spoken out of spite rather than sincerity. Becoming the Dracaena meant overthrowing the current one. Even if it wasn’t her mother, she didn’t want it to come to that any more than fighting Gandry who wasn’t blood.

“Even if you don’t, it will come to that eventually,” Gandry said before turning to the bowl of soup. Despite her snout being buried in broth, her words came through clearly. “They’ll want you to be in charge and put pressure on Nagarini to either step down or put you down. And before you start, ask yourself if your mother is willing to put the life of one dragon head of the clan.”

“I’m just one dragon now?” Aubrey asked, nettled.

Gandry lifted her head, soup dripping from her chops. “So she’s supposed to subject the clan to your whims because she gave birth to you?”

“I expected my mother to put more value into her children.”

“And she expects her child to put more value into their mother,” Gandry shot back. “Think, you damned fool. You think this is fun for her? You think she’s going to like snapping your neck to keep order? The fact that you expect her to just step aside and give in to you is proof you aren’t ready to be in charge.”

“ ‘We do not expect the metal to yield to us, but instead bend it to our will.’ ”

Gandry smirked and drained the rest of her soup. “At least you were listening. But are you listening now?”

“I am,” Aubrey said truthfully.

“Good. I’ll give you until the end of the week to figure out what you want to do.”

Aubrey left, leaving her plate untouched. There was nothing to figure out. Her mind had been made up. The conversation with Gandry made things clear.

****

“So that’s your decision then?” Nagarini asked.

Aubrey nodded. They were alone in her room which made this easier. Without bystanders, she could speak freely and not worry about the pressure of keeping up appearances. “We both know I’ll never submit and even if I did, would you be happy knowing you forced your child into a lifestyle she didn’t want? And I have no intention of going against my mother. No matter who wins, it would devastate Maron. I won’t put her through that.”

“And yet you still chose the solution in which she loses a sister.”

“She will lose me regardless.”

“And where will you go? You have never set foot outside our borders and you’re a Matriarch. That will make integration into any clan difficult. Even more so if they learn who you are.”

“And who is going to tell them? We live so closed off from the rest of the world, I would not be surprised if people think our clan is a myth!”

Nagarini remained stoic. It pissed Aubrey off. There was no one around to impress. Just once, could she behave like a mother instead of a Matriarch?

“You understand that if you leave, you can never come back?” Nagarini continued.

“Are you exiling me?”

“You exiled yourself. Or do you expect me to believe that you will return and have a change of heart? No, you will return with a head of new ideas of ways to change our culture.”

“Maybe this clan is due for a change in culture!” Aubrey said hotly.

“And yet you expect others to bring about that change for you,” Nagarini replied coolly.

Aubrey lashed the ground with her tail. “And what would you have me do?! Would you rather I tried to kill you? Tear our family apart for a chance to sit on the throne?”

Her mother remained as stone-faced as before. “I expect you to think for yourself and stop taking the easy way out. I didn’t raise you to be a coward.”

Aubrey snarled and started forward, but stopped midway. Whether it was bait or not, she wasn’t falling for it.

“You are not shaming me into this,” Aubrey said.

“I’m not shaming you, I’m teaching you a lesson I failed to teach you before. You are a Matriarch. That makes you a leader whether you like it or not. And a true leader knows it’s better to be right than to be popular. So when you wake up to that realization, then you can come back. Go. Learn how the world truly works, and you’ll find that it won’t so easily bow to whims.”

She turned and left without another word, leaving Aubrey to stare, dumbstruck. It didn’t take long before Aubrey regained her senses and an unquenchable rage rose within her making her body burn as if on fire. She threw her head back and roared until the walls shook.

“If you’re the example of what a good leader is supposed to be, then I hope I never become you,” she said to no one.

Her frustrations draining rapidly, Aubrey shuffled out into the hall. All that was left was to say her goodbyes. She could just leave. Just up and go in the night without a word. But it felt wrong. It felt like admitting that Nagarini was right and avoiding facing her failures.

She would prove to her mother that she was not afraid of anything.

Gandry was her first stop. As expected, the Forgemaster was in the foundry standing over the dragons who failed the ceremony.

The Nightstalker was the first to notice her despite the noises of the forge, and her voice carried just as easily. “Well, if it isn’t the rebel herself. Made up your mind already?”

Aubrey focused on Gandry and not the other dragons who stopped working to eavesdrop. “I have. I decided to leave.”

“Uh-huh. And what did Nagarini say?”

“She called me a coward.”

Gandry lashed the floor with her tail, making all the bystanders flinch. “Damn it, Naga! I swear, you’d think she was the impatient whelp! Is it that hard for her to just speak plainly?”

“You’ve known my mother longer than I. You know what she is like.”

“Yeah, I do. That’s why I know she’s right.”

“Excuse me?! This was your idea!”

“No, this was your idea. You didn’t listen when I told you to get your plate, so don’t pretend you hang on to my every word.”

Aubrey could only stare, her mouth moving like a suffocating fish.

“Look, your mother is ass at expressing herself even after all these years. But this is a lesson you have to learn yourself. If I spell it out to you, it’s not the same.” Under her breath, she grumbled. “Still could’ve been less of a bitch about it.”

Aubrey found her voice long enough to ask in a strained voice. “And what lesson is that?”

“You really do have selective hearing. What did I just say? What have we talked about? Look, You have the potential to be a Dracaena. She sees it, too. That’s why we really hoped you would pull your head out of your ass and see the bigger picture. Think about something besides yourself.”

Now Aubrey lashed the floor. “Is it that difficult to just say what you want? You leave these vague hints and then get angry with me because I can’t read your mind!”

Gandry opened her mouth to speak, but Aubrey cut her off. “How is that supposed to make me a better leader? You berate me at every possible opportunity and still think that I’m supposed to meet your standards! Well, I have better things to do than to base my decisions around your approvals! Everyone else may be okay with bowing to your every whim, but I’m not!” She stormed out before Gandry could recover from the outburst and she wasn’t in the mood anyway. The time for discussion had clearly passed and there was nothing more to be said. All that remained was one final goodbye and then she could say good riddance to everyone.

Finding Maron was easier than expected. Usually, her younger sister was hard to pin down due to her inquisitive nature. But one thing Maron could always be found doing was practicing her flying. Ever since attaining flight, she practiced at least once a day to improve. The goal was to be the best flyer in the clan, a goal Aubrey was sure would be achieved one day.

Maron was flying high above the western landing pad as usual. It was the one that received the least amount of traffic so she could practice the more reckless maneuvers without incident or scolding. Her training must have been paying off because she noticed Aubrey despite doing flips mid-air.

The young Ravager landed with a worried expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Am I that easy to read?” Aubrey asked with a chuckle. “However, nothing is wrong.”

“I’m not stupid. I can tell something is wrong. Did Mom yell at you again?”

“Yes, and no.” She crouched and spread her wings, prompting Maron to do the same. They kicked off the ground in unison, shooting into the air away from any potential eavesdroppers. It was only then that Aubrey continued. “I’m leaving the clan.”

Maron stopped and hovered in place. “What? You’re leaving? But why? Were you exiled?”

“No, I was not exiled. The choice to leave was mine. As for why, the answer is simple. I cannot live by the clan’s rules and by our laws, if I cannot do that then I cannot live here.”

“So, you’re just going to leave us? But do you have to?  Can’t Mom--”

“Our mother cannot show favoritism, especially to her daughters. It would be a bad look if we were allowed to break the rules but others were punished.”

Maron’s tail lashed at the air. “But it’s not fair! I don’t want you to go! I don’t want to get my plate! And that means I have to go, too!”

Aubrey wanted so badly to nuzzle her and comfort her, but it was hard to do that while remaining airborne.

She decided to attempt it anyway. The best she could manage was pressing her head against Maron’s, but it would have to do.

“I can’t take you with me,” Aubrey said, her voice breaking. “I have no idea what awaits beyond our borders. I could never forgive myself if something happened to you and mother would never allow it.”

“But—”

“Maron, please. I know this is difficult but you must stay here.”

Maron tore away from her, the shock and outrage plain on her face. Without a word, she flew back towards the landing pad. Aubrey watched her rush inside, forcing a dragon coming out to leap out of the way. With a heavy sigh, she slowly descended and headed inside.

It was hard to tell if word had somehow gotten out about her departure or not, but it seemed like every eye was on her.  She did her best to ignore the whispers as she passed. All it would take was one insult and she would do something regretful.

Once back in her room, a strong feeling of longing welled up within her. This was the last time she would step foot in here. The last time she would walk the halls. The last time, she would see anyone again.

It would be best to say her goodbyes, but it dawned on her that there was no one else to say goodbye to. Even before denying her plate, she had few, if any, friends. After she awakened her Call, they all just drifted apart.

Her reflection stared back from every plate on the wall. “A strong leader but I can’t recall anyone I call a trusted friend.”

There would be no answer, so she started taking the plates off the wall. No sense in leaving them behind. Fusciani would no doubt leap at the opportunity to melt them down.

“You requested me, my Matriarch?”

Aubrey whirled around, surprised at the human intruder. She didn’t remember sending for anyone, and it also wasn’t like the kobolds to go wandering into a dragon’s room without permission. The man kneeling at the entrance was no simple miner or carrier. His clothes were too neat and his exposed hands did not have scars or cracked nails.

She fought back the growl building. This human was one of her mother’s kobolds. “I did not send for anyone. Go back and tell the Dracaena I do not require assistance.”

The man remained kneeling. “Forgive me, but I was told to assist you whether you asked for it or not. Until you remove my head from my body, I am to serve you.”

Aubrey snarled and slammed her tail into the wall. The man flinched but remained. “My mother really does play a twisted game. Fine. You can assist me by helping me pack.”

The man nodded and got to work. Despite his obvious muscles he struggled to remove the plates from the wall and put them into the packs suitable for her to carry.

As she watched him, something crossed her mind. “What’s your name?”

The man hesitated before answering. “Orla, my Matriarch.”

“I am not your Matriarch. My name is Aubrey and I would prefer you use it.”

“Yes, my—Aubrey.”

“Why don’t you take a break? I can tell you’re tired.”

Orla nodded and sat on the floor. Aubrey tilted her head. Even as a kobold in direct service to the clan Matriarch, he still wore the brand marking him as such. She couldn’t help but look at this human and wonder what went through his head.

“Are you afraid of me, Orla?”

“No,” he responded immediately.

“Do you despise me?”

“No,” he repeated just as fast.

“You answer quickly.”

“Hesitation implies thought. There is nothing to think about.”

“So you never think about the way things are? You never wish some things were different? You never question the status quo?”

Fear flashed across his face. “I would never do such a thing.”

Aubrey sighed and rolled her eyes. “Speak freely. The Dracaena isn’t here. Anything said here does not leave this room.”

His shoulders slumped and his face sunk. The stoic expression was replaced with one of exhaustion. “As you command. I question many things, but I prefer to leave that kind of thing to better minds.”

Aubrey tilted her head again. “Better minds?”

Orla stared at the floor. “I’m no leader, Aubrey. It takes a special mind to think about what is good for others especially if you don’t directly benefit from it. I’m not that kind of person. I think of my own comfort and happiness first and foremost.”

“I don’t understand. Is that not the same as leaving things as they are?”

“To be honest, I like things as they are. I’m fed, I have a safe place to sleep, and my life has purpose.”

“Servitude to a dragon is your idea of purpose?”

“Is it not? I hear things are different in the north, but, honestly, I don’t mind my life.” He stood up and was once again back in his role. Or perhaps this was his true face and the exhaustion was simply a lack of interest in a subject he had discussed many times over. She couldn’t tell which. “I hear many of the others whisper about rebelling. About escaping. They ask me to help them because I’m so close to the Dracaena.”

“And do you?”

“I do not.”

Aubrey was taken aback by the statement. “But why?”

“As I said, I care about my comfort and safety first and foremost. And I can tell they’re going to fail. The ones who lead them are never worthy.”

“And you can tell that just by looking at them?”

“I can tell that because I am service to a very wise and powerful leader. The men and women calling for these changes and inciting rebellion only care about their needs. They don’t think about the people caught in the sparks. The lives it could potentially destroy. They only want the things they care about. And that is why they always fail. With everyone acting in their own interests, infighting is just a matter of time. They destroy themselves and scatter their following. It’s…difficult to watch sometimes.”

“In the meantime, you just sit idly by and watch,” Aubrey said more bitterly than intended.

“I see no reason to ruin a good thing.”

“A good thing for you, you mean. But I believe that is enough of that. Thank you for speaking your mind. Now we must get back to work.”

There was no way he could lift the bags now filled with metal plates, so Aubrey assisted him. With the plates safely nestled on her back, they went to the food stores to grab supplies for the journey. Word must have gotten around about her intentions because a collection of bread and dried meats waited for her. She grumbled under her breath as Orla added the travel packs to the others.

The bags felt light but she dragged her feet as if they were tied down. This was her first time leaving home. She had no idea what awaited beyond the borders. There were stories from the hunters but they rarely traveled far.

This wasn’t how she wanted her first time leaving home to go. Was this the only way? Was there something she could have done or said differently? Was there no hope for the clan or her family? Was she just thinking about her needs?

Her mind was so swarmed with thoughts and imaginings of what life in the north was like, she didn’t notice when they came outside. Now they stood at the edge of the clan, the rest of their territory laid out before them.

“This is as far as I’m allowed to accompany you,” Orla said, kneeling again. “The Dracaena has one last message for you. She says to follow the river. It will lead you to a place called Rubellum, the closest human settlement to here. She also says to be wary of humans traveling the woods. Many of them carry weapons capable of harming dragons.”

“Yes, I’m fully aware.” The weapons were referred to as guns and they were banned in the clan as they had no use for them. Aubrey had never seen one in action but she was taught they were incredibly powerful and impossible to dodge. Her only hope would be to stay mobile and avoid line of sight.

“Did my mother have any more words for me?” Aubrey asked, hopeful.

“That was all.”

“Oh. I see.” She failed to hide the pain and disappointment in the lack of encouraging words or even a goodbye. “Then you may return, Orla. Thank you for keeping me company.” She waited for the human to disappear before turning to the road. Taking that first step was much harder than expected. This was the point of no return. Once she started, there was no going back. The clan would be forever closed off to her.

Her chest tightened. Here, she stood on the cusp of leaving all alone. No friends, no family to see her off. Not even an enemy to chase her away. With a growl and whine, she dug her feet into the dirt and broke into a run, urging as much speed out of her legs as she could manage.

****

Gandry squinted as she stepped outside. The sun always seemed brighter at the highest point in the clan. Or maybe her eyes were finally going because of staring into the flames for so long. It didn’t matter because she had other reasons for being there.

Nagarini sat alone at the edge of the landing pad. Her plates shone in the light, coating the Dracaena in an ethereal aura. Gandry approached the edge and looked down. Aubrey could be seen running along the path, her form growing smaller with each second.

“You didn’t see her off?” Gandry asked.

“Neither did you,” Nagarini replied, still staring. “And I can’t see off the Matriarch who defied me. It sets a bad precedent.”

“Fuck protocol. You’re her mother. She really thinks you don’t give a fuck, you know.”

“Then she truly doesn’t know me. I tolerated her defiance and even let her leave. An uncaring parent would never have let things progress this far.”

Gandry slapped the ground with her tail. “She doesn’t know you because you never gave her a chance to! Would it kill you to show some shred of affection, just once?”

Nagarini continued to stare into the distance. Gandry snorted and paced instead. “I know it still hurts, but you can’t keep shutting them out like that. Have you talked to Maron, yet? She’s very upset by the whole thing. And Fusciani will never admit it, but she’s bothered by it, too.”

“Fusciani only wants to feel superior, Aubrey is too focused on herself, and Maron hasn’t developed her individuality. They need to learn this lesson and I cannot teach it to them. They need to think for themselves and decide what they want out of life and each other. That can only happen if they are not under my shadow.”

“I get that, but just let them know now and then. Give them some guidance, or do you really want a repeat of Z—” She immediately fell silent, knowing she had crossed a line. The way Nagarini stiffened confirmed it. Gandry watched with bated breath. Nagarini rarely turned violent, but when she did, it wasn’t pretty.

Nagarini relaxed and continued to watch the speck disappear into the distance. Gandry exhaled but still backed out of striking range.

“I understand you only wish to help, but don’t you ever mention that name in my presence again,” Nagarini said. “Now what is the status of the ceremony?”

“I don’t see the next set of volunteers making it. This whole thing is a relic of the past, Naga. When are you finally going to make it voluntary and stop this nonsense?”

“It was always voluntary,” Nagarini replied simply.

Gandry rushed back to her side. “Wait, what? You mean to tell me that any of them could have said no?! Then what was all that bullshit about Aubrey refusing her plate?”

“This was never about Aubrey refusing her plate. It was about her lack of conviction in following her beliefs. That was because she prided herself on being different from others and used it as a means to look down on them.”

“You make no damn sense sometimes. If you had just told her that instead of trying to force her into it—”

“That she never concluded that on her own is exactly why I did it. She didn’t want a compromise, she wanted obedience. She didn’t want to have the law changed, she wanted her choice to be allowed free from consequence. And I showed her exactly what that kind of thinking amounts to.”

Gandry held her tail stiffly above the ground. “You let your daughter exile herself just to prove a point?”

“I did it to teach her a lesson. And you’re no better. You never sought a compromise. You expected things to go a single way because that’s how they’ve always been. The rest of the clan is the same. They see everything as a binary. Even though I never enforced it, they see anyone who denies the status quo as a threat, an anomaly that must be purged to maintain the sanctity of their worldview.” She paused, unmoving. Gandry remained silent. She had been around Nagarini long enough to know when there was more to be said. “I let Aubrey leave because she is better off. As she is now, she can only see two choices, destroy them or become them. I hope that her experiences in the outside world open her eyes to the true way of things.”

“And what, may I ask, is the true way of things?” Gandry asked through clenched teeth. She hated that she agreed with her while also hating her logic.

“That compromise is the way of the world. Just like how we know that to create the shape we want, we must use certain tools and methods. The metal does not bend simply because we allow it. Just as we understand if we push it too far, it will break. So, too, must we accept its limitations despite our feelings on the matter. When Aubrey realizes this then she will finally be ready to rule in my place.”

Gandry scoffed and went back to pacing to calm down. “Please. Like you’ll ever step down.”

She froze. For the first time since Nagarini’s eggs hatched, she saw the Dracaena smile.

“You never know. Stranger things have happened,” Nagarini said.