It is one thing to meet a dragon ...

[Philomel]

Turning to him Philomel found a smile flickering to her face, like a candle that was reluctant to light. Reluctant as she had so little idea of what else might be going on inside that giant head. Intelligence was alive in the eyes, ones that spoke with a desire to just be with her.

He huffed and pushed his head so his nose was suddenly touching her shoulder. She jumped slightly, genuinely surprised at how sudden he had come in to greet her. There he was, great nostrils flaring and breathing air up her skin. The brown hair there ruffled and she felt her heart begin to ricochet into heightened exclamation. Delath let a low rumble in his throat as he whispered.

Mother.

Mother. He regarded her like his mother. And Drys his grandmother. They were a small, strange family of dragon, goddess and faun.

"Does that mean then Celandine is your sister?" Philomel murmured. "What about-"

Me, another face pushed his way in, up under her elbow on the other side. And this.

There was a small black nose, a white chin and russet head. A snuffled and a jaw shoved forwards a very confused rabbit who paused before awkwardly climbing onto Philomel's lap. Silence fell and then there they sat, four creatures of very different species, all caught in the whirlwinds of fate. A faun from a brothel, a fox from an ash tree, a rabbit from a demi-god and a dragon reborn as a form of wyrm.

Peace settled and for a while they were just in silence, the awkwardness falling away, the uncertainty coming to nothing. Philomel found herself genuinely smiling, loving that her life was this, that she had a daughter who loved her.

That paradise went on for a few minutes, but it could not last. Thunder soon came along with a horse. Looking up, surprised, Philomel saw a huge stallion bearing over to them, and on its back a young man with streaming hair. On his lapel he wore a white lily flower, a sign of his loyalty.

His name was Tarrimar, and he was the newest acquisition to the Gilded Lily fortress. A past pimp who had turned rent-boy, who was originally from Beinost and had originally come over as a genuine link between the Elssmith enterprises and the Gilded Lily.

Now he was a warrior, and gave his loyalty to Philomel. He was one of the only two men trusted enough to live in the fortress, the other being Rameses Vaeron, Celandine's father. Tarrimar was bold, still beautiful and strong armed. And he was riding at them with prowess.