The Fae World: Kalinia: Aeron: Creating the Dragons (part 4)

[k_a_webb]

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Aeron bit his lip, wishing that Malina hadn’t spoken at the same time as being grateful that she had. He couldn’t help think that if she hadn’t the dragon would have killed them all and found someone who would do what he wanted. In their lab there were a few people who would happily follow the dragon’s orders without feeling any guilt about breaking their oath, because they hadn’t truly meant it when the said it, while everyone who had worked on the dragon project had been chosen due to their true allegiance to the Queen. Of course that was all going to change, thanks to her need to experiment with the powers they had.

“Thank you,” the dragon said, smiling. “You may be the first to swear your oath to me.”

Malina nodded, but Aeron could see the fear in her eyes, and he wished he could tell her she’d made the best choice she could. “If I am to swear an oath I’ll need your name.”

“It’s Jaromir.”

Breathing deeply Malina knelt in the way they always did when they were swearing an oath. “No, we’re not doing this,” Enna said, her voice harsh, making Malina jump. “We follow the orders of our Queen and no one else, especially not a creature we’ve just made.”

A shiver of fear went down Aeron’s spine. “You have a choice,” Jaromic replied, his voice even. “Swear your oath to me or die.”

“We made you.”

“True, and I am grateful to you for that. Under any other circumstances I would let you survive, but I know that, because of your oath, you’ll go straight to your Queen to tell her what’s happening, which is something that I really think I’d rather not let happen.” Jaromir glanced at the jars that held the spirits of the other dragons. “I want you to finish creating my race.”

“I know.” Enna ran a hand through her hair. “The Queen, when she finds out about you, is probably going to put an end to this experiment, but I might be able to convince her that we should continue.”

Jaromic thought for a moment. “What do you think?” he asked the still kneeling Malina, making her jump a second time.

“When the Queen finds out about you it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to convince her that we should continue the experiment, because you’re unexpected and she really doesn’t like the unexpected. If you swear an oath to her and serve her faithfully she might change her mind in the future, but I can’t see it happening any time soon.”

“Your honesty is appreciated.” Jaromir looked at the jars again before turning back to Enna. “I will not ever swear an oath to your Queen. I’m a King in my own right and my people are sitting there.” He shook his head. “I need to do what’s best for them, not what’s best for you, no matter how much I appreciate the hard work you did to create my spirit and body.” Aeron could imagine the look Jaromir was giving Enna from the fear on her face. “Swear an oath to me or die.”

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.

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[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>> Jaromic replied, <<

That should say "Jaromir" above.

>> “Swear your oath to me or die.” <<

And with that, I like him rather less. It's a complex issue though. Setting up a false dichotomy is bad logic and worse negotiation. But all creatures have a right to exist and to defend themselves, and a newly created one has very little basis for making good decisions. I am reminded of how artificial intelligence can go wrong if raised by people who shouldn't be entrusted with the care of goldfish.