Chapter 99. The Deed

Tithalia didn't respond right away as her eyes bounced between her daughter and me. Finally after a few seconds that felt like hours she spoke.

{I wanted to take a trip to see all of my children and find out what they were all up to after your father decided I was no longer good enough to be his mate. Tracking you down was rather difficult.}

Tarakona remained glaring at her mother as Tithalia looked down at me.

{So you are truly my daughters mate, and have already gone ahead with fertilizing her eggs?}

"Yes." I answered trying to figure out how I could get out of this without losing my entire farm.

{I would ask how as you are not equipped to do that as you are now but it would be something the Deed has allowed you to do. I'm more interested in how you have gained my daughters favor.}

"By treating her with respect." I shrugged as a reaction before catching myself and tried to act a little more professional. "I know it sounds simple but all I've been trying to do since I arrived in this world is make a place for myself and the easiest way of doing that was by gaining the faith of all my Livestock."

[He has treated me right mother and even died to protect me.]

Tarakona lowered her head so that she could nuzzle into my side as she said this before going back to glaring at Tithalia.

The Red Dragon watched the display of affection as if she didn't believe what she was seeing.

{Daughter. You are aware of the difficulties you will have with a human as your mate correct? Not to mention the extra work you will have to put into raising your hatchlings when they realize how easy it will be to push him around?}

I scoffed. "With all due respect if something like that happens their going to find themselves outside of my farm very quickly. My own father demanded respect and rewarded effort and I plan to be like him."

[They will also be punished for looking down on any resident of this farm, be it Clovek or any of his Livestock regardless of species.]

{Daughter, they will be Dragons. Raising them to be friendly with others species is a quick way for them to be killed by hunters or manipulated in some way. Why do you think any Dragons that reach full maturity only do so by being the monsters everyone says we are? Because those that choose any other life are killed by the ones they choose to be friends with.}

Tarakona growled softly in the back of her throat but didn't meet her mothers gaze. I took that to mean she wasn't wrong.

And I have to somehow figure out how to deal with that before our child hatched while also raising a Centaur foal.

{I will drop the subject child. You already know what must happen and will need to properly explain to your mate the ramifications of what he has seemingly agreed to without knowing.}

That's ominous. But at least she accepted that I was her mate.

{As for you Clovek, as Tarakona's mother I will be taking it apon myself to threaten you by making sure you take care of my daughter, even if she says you are doing everything possible.}

"Don't worry. Having a Dragon that can destroy my farm simply by breathing, your threat is received loud and clear." I responded with a little dry humor.

{While that is good, you are mistaking the true extent of what I am capable of.}

Before I could question that Tithalia reached out her hand and grabbed the air. As her claws touched creating a circle between them, motes of whispy lines came together to form a worm-like creature as long as Tithalia herself.

She can touch me!

The words flashed across my vision as the worm took form, revealing a mouth full of teeth that snapped uselessly towards the Red Dragon, while something inside my chest wrenched itself forcing me to my knees.

{My threat is not just towards you Clovek. If my daughter is mistreated because she is a Livestock I will be destroying the source of your strength before I scorch you to oblivion. Is that a clear enough threat?}

I tried to respond as I took in the form of what I was calling my Deed. The worm-like creature slowly came into better focus as it's purple skin become visible. There was no sound emanating from it but we could all see it trying to scream.

[Mother there is no need...]

Tarakona tried to reason but before she could continue the second one of my Deeds formed itself into a similar creature with light green skin and rammed into the side of Tithalia.

There was an audible oooph from the Dragon as she was almost taken off her feet but it wasn't enough. Instead her tail came around and caught the green one near the middle of its body, with the blade scoring a large cut that pinned it to the ground before it disappeared.

"I get it! Just don't hurt them!" I called out finding my voice. I didn't know if they could be killed but I really didn't want to test that.

Thankfully Tithalia let the purple one go.

{I'm surprised there was a second one.}

She almost seemed to be talking to herself as if it weren't all that big of a concern. Though my green Deed hadn't done anything apart from surprise her with its attack. There was not even a scratch on her scales.

{Well I'm not too old to admit that I can't learn new things, and for that I thank you Clovek. Multiple Deeds can exist simultaneously.}

"Glad I could help with that." I got out rising back to my feet.

Deed? Are you okay?

Stupid question. Forms damaged on both our parts. She forced us to take physical form by throwing more essence at us than we naturally get from you and it has had... Complications. Get rid of her while we evaluate our options.

At least their not dead.

[My love?]

Tarakona's worry shook me our of reading purples message and I returned to focusing on the two Dragons.

{Child. He is communing with the Deeds. Making sure they still grant him power.}

Tithalia tried again to bring her daughter in close but she flinched away.

[And he is allowed to make sure those on his farm are all right mother.]

The venom in her voice was almost visible as it dripped from her tone but it tapered off towards the end.

[Mother I am big enough to make my own decisions and I have chosen to love Clovek even though he isn't a Dragon. I understand your need to show him that just because he has me he is not above you but please. We are happy, don't threaten or ruin that.]

Tithalia seemed to soften at that.

{Then I shall leave you to it my child. It would do well for you now that you know I am present. Hopefully the Deeds will make you life easier now that it knows what will happen if it doesn't.}

[My mate has done all he can and I already appreciate the benefits the Deed has provided.]

Tithalia's attention returned to me and I felt the weight of that gaze like it was trying to bore me into the ground.

"Don't worry I will be doing all I can for Tarakona as she lives with me. I will be treating her as an equal to my other mates." I added the last part after some thought. I didn't want her thinking Tarakona would be better than everyone else just because she was threatening me.

{For your sake I really hope that's good enough. Maybe you will be good enough for my daughter. In time.}

Tithalia returned her attention to her daughter and I could see the tension ease from her features.

{My daughter. I hope I haven't pushed you too far with my actions today and I hope you know exactly what you want with your future.}

[You will always be my mother but unless you accept my mate fully and our way of life you will always exist on the outside of this farm.]

Tithalia flinched at that but stayed standing.

{I see. Then I shall take my leave for now. There will be a time when I return and I hope for all our sakes you will have exceeded my expectations of you. Mate of my daughter.}

The Red Dragon then jumped into the air and took flight with her flames picking up strength as she got further away.

{Clovek. My daughter is enraptured that much is obvious, please take care of her and tell the Deed it needs to make you physically powerful. You will need to be able to stand beside her when difficulties arise, and not think she can solve them all herself.}

I couldn't offer a response but it didn't seem like she was looking for one as she dipped into the horizon. We stayed watching her until I couldn't make out her form in the distance.

"So." I said to break the silence. "Hopefully meeting your father will go better."

Tarakona scoffed and brought her face to nuzzle into my side as if she wanted to make sure I was still there.

[My father had no interest in his children so even if he still lives you don't need to worry. I am proud of you for standing up to her. It cannot have been easy for you, small thing.]

We both laughed at her mothers name for me as we continued to watch the sunset like she was going to turn around and come back.

"Well we do need to prepare for her return as I don't think we can do any type of farming if she's just going to do that every time she visits." I said pointing towards the ground that probably wouldn't look out of place in a desert.

[I'm more concerned with the Deeds. My mother's ability to grab them like that is not a Draconic trait as I myself can't.]

Yeah that was problematic.

A solution has been found. Prepare yourselves to go to the falls immediately.