by L M Lacee
He stopped and hung his head, shaking it from side to side. “I cannot do this again Papa, I resign my position. Obviously you need someone other than me. Someone who can see in people more than what is on a paper. Edith gasped. “Sharm no!”
Rene’ felt for his son, he saw the heartache behind the words. He knew Sharm was trying to understand how this was happening. The fault here was his own, not his sons, he had not talked to his boys about what would occur when change happened. Rot always rises to the surface. Eventually, they would find all the corrupt people and remove them. Until then things like this were bound to happen, it was just he hoped not too often.
He and Andre would have to explain it to his sons, and Andre` would have to assign someone to research all the healers. He tensed as did Verity, when they saw Andre` move to Sharm’s side and smack him on the back of his head. Just like he used to do to all the boys when they had been young cadets.
Sharm rubbed his head, yelping. “Uncle Andre`!” At the same time Edith growled and if Sharm had not been quick, she would have launched herself at Andre`. Laughing as well now, Sharm said “No…no…my love, it is just my Uncle Andre`s way of telling me. I am being a moron. Is it not, Uncle?”
“Of course it is. I apologize sweet lady, but your Shadow is acting like a dragonet and sometimes dragonets have hard heads.”
He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it in a courtly manner, a twinkle in his eyes that matched Edith’s as he said. “I give you permission to do the same at any time. I have found over the years it is most effective. Especially with Rene’s boys.” He threw her a wink. Rene’s muttered. “I resent that!” Made her laugh.
Andre` straightened up and addressed Sharm. “You, my nephew will not resign. The dragons and their families, as well as Dragon’s Gap need you and your lovely Shadow. Your Dragon Lord needs your loyalty to him, especially now not to mention your family, what would we do without your calming influence. I personally cannot sooth all these hot heads alone. You think this incompetent fool of a dragon is like that twat Donald.”
At Sharm’s surprised look, he laughed. “Your father and I have always talked you know, as did your mother and I. That is of course when I am not being a jack ass.” This was accompanied by quiet laughter from Rene’ and Verity.
“So as I was saying, dragon kind needs you and that is no light thing. She…” He pointed over his shoulder at the slumped woman. “Needs help and to have a deep and meaningful discussion about procedures and chain of command.” He gave him a hard look. “I feel it would be best left up to those that know how to do so. I will assign someone to follow up on that.”
“Thank you Uncle.” Sharm said with a shake of his head. Andre` smiled at his calmer tone. “If eventually you are sure she is worth it, go back to basic training. Your only problem, like that young lady your mother dismissed before I could talk to her more.” He turned to Verity the twinkle still in his eyes. “Yes I know that you scooted her out of here and why.”
Verity flicked imaginary lint from her sleeve. “I have no idea what you are referring to Lizard.”
Andre laughed. “Rene’, control your Shadow.”
Rene’ moved back and enfolded the love of his life in his arms. “Never going to happen brother.”
Andre` said to Sharm. “You are the right male for the job. Like the missing June you are taking too much on yourselves. Dragon’s Gap has grown, and you and she have not.” He sighed loudly. “Change has come we must catch up and quickly.”
Rene agreed. “We are in changing times, all our dragons know this. We know this.”
Andre said softly. “We must all forget what was. It is a new era with new and exciting times ahead for us all.”
CHAPTER FIVE:
C iana listened through the thin walls to the conversations going on in the other room it was not that hard, they did not lower their voices.
It sounded like the healer Melinda was getting read the riot act, no one it seemed was pleased with her treatment of Ciana and in truth she could not find it in her heart to be sorry for her.
Elara was quiet almost like she was listening to something and it seemed like what she was listening too was Ciana. Decision time. Stay in here or go out and hope someone can help. Ciana sat and rocked a few more times until she made up her mind and stood then walked to the door she drew in a breath and placed her claw on the handle and after several frustrating minutes managed to get it to turn and opened the door.
There were a lot of people in the small apartment making it seem smaller if that was possible. Ciana could see Andre` had stopped growling, when the door opened and she took a step through all speech halted and everyone turned towards her.
By now her face, neck and arms were covered in silver scales, her eyes were elongated, and the lavender was a deeper purple now with pronounced silver flecks. Holding the tiny dragon in her arms. “Andre`?” Ciana said in her deepened voice. “I think we are in trouble?”
After saying her fateful words a lot happened in a very short space of time. Lots of orders and shouting into phones then men and women started to come and go.
Andre` was the go to man it seemed. Once he had seen Ciana and Elara, he had taken her under his arm and escorted her to a chair at the small dining table. At the same time, healer Melinda had jumped to her feet screaming. “I did not know! How was I to know?”
Until a man who seemed to have some authority had snarled. “It was your job to know, she told you. What more could she have done. You are the healer, the trained one. There are no excuses for your gross neglect.”
Ciana tuned them out as Elara started to grumble again, she kept her attention on her baby dragon and tried to think her scales gone and her voice back to normal. Unfortunately, she couldn’t keep her concentration as half her brain was taken up with amazement and the other half was a gibbering frightened woman sitting in a corner with her thumb in her mouth rocking.
Sharm shook his head as he stared at Melinda she had not long come to him from Europe where she had been since she qualified. She was a female over five hundred years old by dragon standards she was still young but old enough to know her duty to dragon kind.
Foremost was if a female dragon was suspected, it was investigated until its conclusion proved either way or most of all that the chief healer was always notified! He said now. “Not to believe the evidence of your own senses and then you compound your deceit by not notifying myself. My Uncle is right you are directly responsible for this!”
Rene’ said in a deep voice that sent tremors of danger down all their spines. “Healer Melinda you will be brought up on charges to determine if you are indeed just incompetent or a criminal.”
Silence met his words. Melinda stood shaking. “Please my Lord Sharm. She did not smell like Dragon. The baby maybe faintly, but the female. No.”
He scornfully asked. “Would the outcome have been any different if she had? I think not. You are dismissed Healer Melinda, report to my office in two days’ time.”
Shattered by his words Melinda made to leave. The once proud female’s head bowed in the knowledge she may have made terrible errors. She stopped before she walked out the door when she heard Sharm say in warning. “Do not leave Dragon’s Gap. Do not make me send the Hunters to find you, Melinda.”
The threat was implied if he had to send them to find her, she would suffer. Melinda’s shoulders fell she had toyed with vague ideas of leaving and returning to her father’s estate in England. She did not turn around just dipped her head in acknowledgment and left. Sharm put his phone to his ear once she was gone. “Johner. Yes brother. North wall...No Cherry Apartment. Could you put someone on Melinda Coatsvale please? Until further notice. Thank you... yes later.”
They were all staring at him as he closed his phone he sighed. “Johner will make sure she is okay. Until she has her interview.”
Edith kissed his cheek. “You are a good male Sharm Kingsley.”
“Yeah well, she still screwed up but ma
ybe she will learn. We will find out.”
“It is all we can hope for.” His shadow said. Sharm shook off the problem of Melinda as Edith went to Verity who looked upset, she was talking into a phone. Sharm sighed again, what a mess! He went to the table where Andre` had seated Ciana and Elara.
Andre went to move away, but Ciana grabbed his hand carefully with her claws and begged. “Please don’t leave me! Please…Andre`.” Her voice shook showing how scared she really was.
Andre` bent down until he was looking into her face. “I will not leave dear girl, together as Edith said we will sort all this out.”
He straightened and drew Sharm nearer. “This is my nephew Sharm. He is a great doctor or what we here at Dragon’s Gap call a healer.”
“Really a doctor! How will he be any different that the healer?” Ciana asked before she censored her words and she knew she sounded suspicious because that was how she felt.
Sharm shook his head. It was not this sweet female’s fault his healers were morons as his Edith would say, he told her gently. “There are a few of us that are medical doctors as well as healers and before you ask there is a difference. I will be welcomed in any hospital, unfortunately healers are still not allowed to attend patients in hospitals. It is a stupid law as my Edith would tell you with shifters out in the world.
We also have dentists and research scientists, in fact all aspects of the science disciplines. I am the chief healer of Dragon’s Gap and believe me when I tell you, dealing with me will be entirely different.”
Andre` said. “So Ciana, I am going to ask that you trust my judgment. As well as your own, and allow Sharm to see what is going on with you and Elara. I swear he will explain everything he is doing and when he knows for sure what is happening, he will tell you.”
Ciana took a breath and let it out slowly, “Okay!” When she looked at Sharm and clutched Elara closer. Andre` realized the problem. “Believe me when I tell you, no matter what you think, he will not take Elara from you. I will not allow it.”
Sharm growled. “Uncle please!” Sharm pulled the other seat nearer to Ciana, grinning he said with a conspiratorial wink. “My Uncle Andre` as you have probably noticed has a flair for the dramatics.”
Ciana smiled how could she help it, he was so right with a side look at Andre` who had raised an eyebrow. She nodded. “I have seen that.”
Shocking her as well as the males, tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, I am sorry. I don’t know what has come over me. I am not a crier.”
Ciana carefully wiped at her eyes with the backs of her claws or hands until a white handkerchief was dangled in front of her face, courtesy of Andre.
She murmured. “Thank you.” As she took it and wiped her face.“I am sorry I don’t usually cry…”
“But…,” Sharm cut her off. “You are tired and frightened.”
“Yes to both.”
“Okay so let us take care of some simple things first.” He looked up at his Uncle. “Are you staying?”
Which was a silly question, and he probably deserved a slap for it but all Andre` did was nod and grunt. Rene` came over before they could get into anything, he had with him two chairs which he placed so he and Andre` could sit. He said when Sharm looked at him. “Your mother and Edith are in charge apparently.”
Andre` nudged him. “They kick you out?”
“Yes!” He grumbled. “She said if all I was going to do was shout at people. I was no use to anyone!” He looked at Sharm again. “Your shadow has a sharp tongue on her.”
Sharm smiled as he said. “We all know this. Why do you persist in arguing with her?”
He smiled. “I like the way her bear crackles.”
“Huh! I wonder if she knows this.”
“Of course she does, she loves me.”
“Her or her bear?” Sharm asked.
Rene’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he grinned. “Both!”
Sharm grinned in return, his father amused him. He fixed his eyes on Ciana who had been silently watching the men. “Ciana this is my father. Lord Rene’ Kingsley he is as you probably already guessed my Uncle Andre`s brother.”
“I thought so, hello Lord Rene’.”
“Hello Ciana. Welcome to Dragon’s Gap. I am distraught your introduction to our home has been less than cordial.”
Ciana smiled at his genuine concern. “I am sure it was an aberration.”
He agreed. “Let us hope it was.”
Sharm said. “Alright, firstly let me say that there is no one in the whole of Dragon’s Gap, myself included. Who can or will remove this adorable hatchling, which is what a baby dragon is called, from you. Make no mistake Ciana Walker you are this little hatchlings mother. I and everyone here know it. Now do you have any more concerns on that?”
Ciana knew he spoke the truth she could hear it in his voice but more than that she could feel it in her mind. “Thank you Sharm. I believe you. I have no more worries about that.”
“Good, secondly, can you tell me what happened with you and Elara?”
“Sure, we were in the room because it seemed like the whole world was here and there was growling. Elara was making noises like little hisses and grumblings so I thought until things settled down we should stay out of the way then… then my voice deepened, and Elara shifted to what you see now.” They all looked at the sweet little dragon curled up her little snout lay on top of Ciana’s arms. “My arms grew scales, and my fingers went to claws, then my stomach felt like there was a boulder in it and I felt like my skin was stretching like something was trying to full me up, it’s hard to explain?”
Andre` touched her shoulder. “It is alright Ciana we understand?”
Ciana eyes grew round as she asked. “You know what it is?”
All three men stared at her. She ducked her head and Andre` gently said. “As do you! If you will only admit it to yourself?”
Quietly they heard her say. “I am the same as Elara.” She stared at the tiny dragon. Her eyes taking in each detail, then she looked at her own arms and hands that were now covered in scales and claws. None of them answered her. They just sat and waited for the female to accept the impossibility that she was and had always been a Dragon. Sharm thought that wasn’t the only impossibility she and they had to face. He shared a look with the other two males and saw they too understood. History was once again being made. He wondered what it all meant for dragons.
He watched as his Sire looked at his Dam, did he wonder if she too would shift. It was a scary thought not so much for him but for his mother and father to have to deal with female dragons shifting. As he too looked over at his mother who he was sure was talking to Reighn, he really hoped it meant she would shift. He hoped all female dragons would. Ciana frowned. “I do not understand apart from the obvious of… I have scales. You are saying, and evidence does not refute your statement that I am a dragon as is Elara? But why is that so strange? You have dragons here. I have seen them flying!”
Sharm did not answer her directly. “You seem as surprised as we are?”
“I am, believe me, I am! I never knew. I knew I was part shifter or thought I was shifter but dragon, nope. Never!”
“Your parents did not tell you?” Rene` asked her as she shook her head. “My mother died in childbirth. My father is unknown. I was raised by my grandparents who are now both deceased.”
“We are sorry for your loss.” Andre` said as the others nodded and she could tell for him, for them all, it was not just a platitude, they actual felt the loss.
“Thank you, as am I.”
“So the Moon Goddess gave you Elara to bring here?” Sharm wanted to clarify as well as take her from her sadness he could see her slipping into. “Yes.”
“And she did not tell you that you or Elara were dragons?”
“No, not a word she said my destiny awaited me here. I guess she was right.” She looked at the three men and knew something other than the obvious was not right, quietly she asked. “So want to tell me what is g
oing on?”
Andre` was the one to talk he said just as quietly making sure he kept an eye on where Verity was. He, like all males knew the pain their females went through being unable to shift. “Sadly our female dragons have never been able to shift in recorded history not a mention has ever been made of them being able to take flight. It is not known if they were ever able too. That is one thing the other is we have not had a female dragon born in a little over two maybe three hundred years.” He held his hand up as Sharm went to speak. “There are always exceptions. We know of one female who is less than that in age.”
Ciana had blinked several times before she whispered. “Oh wow so Melinda was not thirty then?”
Sharm smiled. “No, she was much older.”
Ciana nodded. “I see and yet explain both me and Elara?”
“We cannot also you should know dragonet’s do not shift until they are around five and some not until puberty.” Sharm said.
“Yeah, Melinda explained that in detail, so again explain Elara?”
He shook his head. “I cannot, it may be because she too is Goddess touched. I do not know and really, like everyone else my answers to your questions will only be guesses.”
At least he was honest thought Ciana as Rene` asked. “What does this mean?” He looked at his shadows wishful face. Ciana shrugged her shoulders. “I have no idea, but I know it is true. I am a dragon partially shifted, holding a completely shifted baby female dragon and I have no idea how that happened.”
She smiled when she heard her voice it was almost normal again. The deep bass tones were gone, her vocal chords were hers once more. “Oh thank goodness. I thought I was going to talk like that all the time.”
Sharm rubbed his eyes with the balls of his hands. “Okay let’s do this. We will work on the assumption that Ciana is a female dragon that maybe can shift.”
