Celebrimbor Helyanwë (suntdracones) wrote in st_margarets, @ 2015-04-12 18:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: ashton hartley, character: blake hartley, character: cressida hallowfen, location: under the castle, npc: mr pheres |
Thread: Caregivers
WHO: Cressida Hallowfen & Celebrimbor & Blake Hartley [NPC]
WHEN: Sunday, April 12, midday
WHERE: Dungeon cavern beneath the castle - later at Cressida's office, Hydra dorm
NPCs: Mr. Pheres
It had been made reasonably hospitable, for a giant underground stone cavern. Ashton, still drugged with the sedative that left him unconscious, had been put under enchantment to force his change into human form, much like the warlock had done to him the previous year. In boy form, he was much easier to pick up and carry down to the large space where he wouldn't be a risk to anyone else, or to the rest of the property. Once there, when the enchantment wore off, Ashton's body had taken its natural form and now laid in silent slumber under the watchful eye of the school nurse.
Ashton's Keeper had been summoned. While most adolescent students at the Academy had parents or legal guardians who were responsible for them, Ashton had a Dragonslayer. The man was grizzled and old, having reached his 50th season in the hunt with the salt+pepper hair and scars to prove it. Blake Hartley even sported a limp in his step from a healed over savage acid attack from a dragon years ago.
He arrived at St. Margaret's, having taken two days to travel out of northern China where his hunting escapades had taken him tracking down a white dragon. He left the trail to come to the young black dragon's aid, the news disturbing him quite a bit to hear that Ashton had not only been sick for some time, but had gone on a rampage attacking the Academy. The precarious peace that existed between Slayer and Prey was strained as it was, and this was the kind of message Blake did not want to receive.
Just once. It would take only once for Ashton to turn to his dragon nature and level the city of Camden. Then, if that day ever came, Blake would finish what he started with the beast and regret ever saving it. The decision to spare the young black already did not sit well with the long line of Dragonslayer ancestors at his back.
Blake had met with Ms. Menides, receiving her cold greeting and reluctantly surrendering his fae-made blade to the Headmistress's care. The sword had tasted the blood of many great and majestic dragon kin, including Ashton's own sire and dam. Unarmed, Blake Hartley descended to the underbelly of the castle. Despite his age and his slight limp, the man's clear blue eyes were sharp and no one could look at him and mistake him for a slackard. Blake looked every inch a hunter.
He stopped just inside when he got his first full glimpse of Ashton, stretched out on his side and breathing steadily, if too shallow for a beast his size. Every time Blake saw Ashton after being gone for months, he was surprised and pleased with how much he had grown. After scanning the room for Barclay, suspecting the quick witted Druid who had taken on the role of Ashton's Handler wasn't far from the dragon's side, Blake approached the progeny of one of his own father's trophy kills.
Nearby, Mr. Pheres kept watch on the man, resisting the urge to step between the Dragonslayer and the young dragon. It was a healer's instinct, to protect the weak and helpless from further harm, but the centaur reminded himself that this man was the same who had sent the dragon there to learn and flourish, not to die at the end of a pike. Still, he stayed nearby, walking to the table he'd set up to get some more ingredients for the salve he was preparing for Ashton's tongue.
"How long has he been sick?" Blake's voice carried in the cavern with gruff resonance. He laid a hand on Ashton's eye-ridge, touching the smooth warm black scales. "Why was I not informed sooner?" Barclay had been in touch with Blake, but the slayer had been too pre-occupied to get back to him before Ashton's attack on the school.