There were some caverns deep within Doomwood that were too dangerous for most to approach, which suited Isadora just fine, as they knew about the veritable treasure trove of gems and other reagents for their necromantic research that lay within, and didn’t particularly want to share.
But this was new.
“And what are you, hmm?” Isadora mused, picking up the large egg with a smooth green shell that was glowing softly in the dimness of the cavern. As they lightly ran their fingers across it, they felt a warmth seemingly pressing into them as a small knock came from within the egg. “Oooh! Reagents shmeagents, I will certainly be taking you home with me, I’m sure I have enough books to work out what you are!”
--
“What have you got there?” Risha asked as she entered their home, placing her rucksack on the table along with a hefty sack of gold.
Isadora beamed up from behind a large tome they were studying, the egg resting on a pillow in front of where they were sat cross legged on the floor. “All my research indicates that this is a dracolich egg, Risha! We’re going to have a baby dragon!”
“But we don’t know how to raise a baby dragon.”
“Oh I’m sure we’ll figure it out! Or find someone to help teach us!”
“...Does this mean I need to start baby proofing the house?”
“Probably!”
--
“I found someone to provide advice,” Risha announced as she strode into the living room, a sack bound with rope slung over her shoulder.
“Oh?” Isadora looked up from the book they had been reading aloud to the egg. “Where?”
“Moonridge,” Risha replied, hefting the sack down...which squeaked an “mmph!” when she did so. “There is a contingent of DragonLords stationed there. It is not a Rose friendly town, so I could at least get in and out unnoticed.”
“Ooh, helpful!” Isadora rose and flounced over to Risha, resting their arms on her shoulder and peering down at the now wiggling sack. “So you got a DragonLord?”
“I did,” Risha finished undoing the ropes around the sack and whipped it off, revealing a rather alarmed DragonLord, still in armour, who took a moment to pull the cloth that had been stuffed in her mouth out and run her fingers through her cornrow ponytail in some kind of anxiety soothing motion, looking around at her surroundings.
“Where-?”
“Hi!” Isadora grinned down at her with their slightly pointed teeth. “I found a dragon egg, and you're going to tell me how to raise the baby inside!”
“I...” the DragonLord blinked. “You found a dragon egg?”
“Well specifically a dracolich egg, but there's enough overlap between the two, right?”
“Yes, I suppose-”
“Wonderful! So! How to raise a baby dracolich?”
“Um,” the DragonLord glanced around again until she saw the egg. “Well the best thing I can say is to take the baby to someone who knows what they're doing, who can help you get started with raising and feeding and training them. Probably not Dragonsgrasp, but maybe Sunbreeze Grove in Fairglade-”
“Not an option,” Risha broke in.
“I see... I can try and get some copies of the scrolls we have in Moonridge with written instructions and advice. And…I would highly advise getting a Dragon Amulet.”
“And where am I going to find one of those in Doomwood?” Isadora rolled their eyes dramatically.
“The Order has some to give to those who have newly bonded-”
“So you'll get me a Dragon Amulet?”
“I...yes, I'll get you a Dragon Amulet. But how will I find-?”
“I will collect you,” Risha responded flatly.
“…Please don't put me in the sack again.”
--
The egg had been placed on a bed of silken cushions as the time of the hatching drew closer, Isadora having moved their (non-practical) research into the room so they could keep an eye on it, threading their fingers through the thin gold chain that held the Dragon Amulet the nice DragonLord had sourced for them, which they had taken to wearing now that the egg could hatch at any time. Risha was out on a job that day and so the room was quiet enough that Isadora heard the sound of a piece of shell hitting the table.
Jumping up in excitement, they swept over to where cracks were forming across the egg, watching with baited breath as more shell began to fall away, catching a sight of white bone within every so often and the sound of small squeaks, until eventually the egg had completely fallen away leaving a little baby dracolich sat on the cushions, peering back at them curiously.
“Hi baby! Oh you're just so cute aren't you!” The baby dracolich wriggled and chirped as Isadora picked her up, hooking her claws into their robes and nosing the Dragon Amulet around their neck. “Hi Malecia! I'm going to love you forever and ever and ever and ever and-!”
“Am I interrupting?” said Risha.
--
@dragonfabled-dotventures asked how isadora got malecia and this was the result! ^.^
