Chapter 23 - Winter Clothes
The Dracoserpens had claimed they would depart at first light.
Yet somehow, morning came and went without any sign of departure.
Antonius had just begun considering whether their stay might be extended—and what arrangements would be required—when a messenger arrived from the cathedral where the Dracoserpens were lodged.
When he went to investigate, he was greeted by the male Dracoserpens named Kiba.
"Most fortunate news."
Kiba smiled.
"Your younger brother has safely entered Dormancy and fallen into a deep sleep."
Antonius blinked.
"Dormancy?"
A frown crossed his face.
"He won't wake up?"
Kiba explained that Dormancy was a vital stage in the maturation of a Dracoserpens.
Their strength was temporarily sealed away.
They slept deeply.
For a time, they were vulnerable.
"The safety of your brother is our highest priority."
Kiba's expression remained calm.
"However, we cannot delay our departure indefinitely while waiting for him to awaken."
He glanced toward the cathedral.
"If he has not awakened within the next half hour, we must leave."
Thus came the request.
They needed Andri's belongings prepared for the journey.
Theodoros headed for Andri's quarters.
Antonius went with him.
The room assigned to Andri was painfully modest.
The bed was of ordinary size.
Far too small for someone of his stature.
Theodoros began sorting through Andri's belongings.
Summer shirts.
Light trousers.
Antonius stopped him.
"Not those."
Theodoros looked up.
"Pack the winter clothes."
Theodoros stared.
"It's summer."
A pause.
"And he's going to a tropical country."
"Pack them anyway."
Antonius did not hesitate.
"The wool coats."
"The lined underclothes."
"The cloak."
"All of it."
Theodoros looked puzzled.
Even so, he obeyed.
Every piece of winter clothing Andri owned was packed.
When they returned to the cathedral carrying the luggage, Kiba was waiting.
"Would you like to see him?"
The answer hardly required asking.
Kiba led them inside.
There lay Andri.
The cathedral's nave had been cleared of pews.
In their place stood enormous beds built to accommodate the visiting Dracoserpens.
Andri occupied one of them.
Fast asleep.
His face looked exhausted.
Too exhausted.
For a moment, Antonius's heart lurched.
The sleeping expression reminded him far too much of the day of the landslide.
The same deathly stillness.
The same frightening stillness.
Then he heard the breathing.
Slow.
Steady.
Alive.
Only then did Antonius realize he had been holding his breath.
He stood beside the bed and studied the sleeping face.
The scales.
The inhuman features.
And yet—
For some reason, he thought of Mother.
Before he realized what he was doing, his hand moved.
He brushed a lock of hair from Andri's forehead.
Then, just once, gently patted his head.
Kiba watched in silence.
"He doesn't seem inclined to wake up."
Antonius withdrew his hand.
"My apologies for the trouble."
Kiba chuckled softly.
"Trouble?"
He shook his head.
"One of our own has just entered an important stage of growth."
His gaze shifted toward the sleeping Andri.
"There is nothing troublesome about that."
Then he looked back at Antonius.
"We will protect your brother."
His voice carried quiet certainty.
"You may set your mind at ease."
Antonius nodded.
Then bowed his head.
