The red-haired, child-like baby dragon came her way. He smiled in his delightfully boyish manner, and then handed something to her.
Mericlou curiously eyed the strange gift in his palm: a large faceted ruby of some kind, the size of a pocket watch. She accepted it. When Krako placed it into her hands, it felt warm to the touch. It gave off an orange radiance, which burned brightly from within.
It is a belated wedding gift for you, pretty one, Krako said, cocking his head to the side, like a canary debating whether or not to eat a piece of birdseed. To her delight, Mericlou was almost certain that she saw him blush underneath the tiny scales on his cheek.
"It's beautiful, Krako, thank you so much," Mericlou said, gazing starry-eyed at the glowing orange jewel. There was something magical about it; she was almost certain. It gave her a comfortable, pleasant feeling to handle it.
"It's a magna ruby," Aldrec said, coming to her side. "They're extremely rare … nearly priceless, actually. Only the Garushnit king and a few noble houses in Lemsram have any in their full possession, and only dragons can make them."
"So it is magic?" Mericlou whispered, as if her voice would break the jewel.
"Most definitely," Aldrec said. "It's said that the red dragons, who have the power to become flame, and swim through the heat of the planet's depths, take the fire from the core, and place them in a living, still forming gem. They wait thousands of years before tempering the forming jewel to perfection. It's a process that even the dwarves couldn't copy."
"But … I don't deserve something like this; it's way too valuable," she said, presenting the jewel back towards Krako, but he pushed it back her way her insistently.
You have no knowledge of all that honored Aldrec has done for me, he said, a look of profound pride on his face as he glanced her husband's way. This is but a small token of my gratitude for him, if only indirectly. I am a friend of all who know him, and that includes his wife as well.
"A dragon's friendship is not something easily earned, Tulyr," Aldrec warned, "nor is it taken lightly. Krako is in a sense, pledging his allegiance to both of us."
He bowed respectfully to Krako. "Master dragon, it is an honor for you to express your devotion to us, especially at such a young age. Our wish is that you may live that devotion with honor in your adult life as well."