Scales and Flames

by Catherine Banks

  I scoffed. “Abandoning?”

  “I’ve fought injured numerous times, as have many soldiers under my command.” Father leaned against the table and crossed his arms over his chest. “You have one little accident on your horse and you force the doctor to lie for you to get out of a hunt. That’s abandonment.”

  “I’m not abandoning anyone.” The frustration I had felt for being summoned quickly turned to anger at my father’s words. “And I didn’t force the doctor to lie to you. I was thrown from my horse, hit my head and broke several ribs. Do you really think—”

  “I think you should reconsider your story, Hensley.” He pushed himself off the table and shuffled papers around. “What will my men think when they hear about this? They look up to you. They follow you blindly into battle.” Father turned and met my gaze. “I don’t think that will be the case once they learn what you’re doing.” Turning back to his papers, he let out a sigh. “So, I’m giving you one chance to come clean, admit your fault. We’ll forget the whole thing and begin working on our plan of attack.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Did he really think I’d made up the whole story? That I made the doctor lie for me? That I was abandoning my soldiers? This is ludicrous. He’s lost his fucking mind.

  “I’ll even make sure that the men never find out about your betrayal, and—”

  “Father!” I raised my voice and immediately my chest began to tighten. Never in my life had I yelled at my father. All his criticism. All his judgment. All his anger. I had become a sponge, taking it all in, soaking it up into my pores. But now, I was full. And all I had been holding inside began to overflow, flooding the room like a tsunami. “That’s enough!” I watched as he slowly tilted his head slightly to the side. An extreme furrow overtook his brow as his shoulders pushed back and his chest puffed. Shit. He’s pissed. But so am I.

  “Hensley…” His voice was deep, low, and growly. My name spoken through his gritted teeth elicited a feeling of anxiety. Even if I were to back off, apologize for raising my voice or beg for his forgiveness, it would be too late now. There was no going back. I was in it. I had to stand my ground.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way, Father,” I said. “I’m sorry you think that I would do something so devious as fake an injury.” I stood tall. “May I remind you that of all those who serve you, I am the only one who has been there for you without fail. I am the only one who has taken your commands without question. And I am the only one to fight, defeat, and kill your enemies without conscious.”

  My father lifted his head, his chin pointing forward. “You are a good warrior.” His tone lightened as he spoke of my deeds. “You’ve executed many flawless kills, saved many of your fellow soldiers and you’re a good leader.”

  “And I’m a good daughter,” I added. I paused, waiting for some type of confirmation. None came. “I think sometimes you forget that. I am your daughter.”

  “I don’t forget,” he said. “I could never forget. I look at you and I see your mother.”

  I let out a soft chuckle. “Is that why you hate me? Because I remind you of her? Because I remind you that she’s not with us anymore? Because she died protecting me?”

  “I don’t hate you, Hensley.” My father swallowed hard and cleared his throat. For a moment, I hoped and waited for some type of emotional response. For some type of loving interaction with my father.

  My hope was quickly dashed.

  “I don’t hate you. You’re my daughter, and I will always love you.” Father puffed out his chest and stood tall. “But when your mother died it tore out my heart. Seeing you, looking into your eyes and seeing your mother staring back at me forces me to relive the pain of losing her every day. It’s too much for me to bear.”

  “I lost her too, Father,” I said. My voice matched his tone of bitterness, anger apparent in my words. “She was my mother. And when she died, you blamed me. Well, I blamed me, too.” I fought back the tears, not wanting to let him see my pain. “I was a child. I was alone. You slunk into your chambers and hid behind your war against dragons leaving me to fend for myself and to learn to live without either of my parents’ love.”

  “Hensley…” He took a step toward me. I backed up and moved to the door. I couldn’t listen to him anymore. He might be my father, but I didn’t have to like him. And I didn’t have to wear the jacket of guilt he placed on me all those years ago.

  “I’m going to my room to rest,” I said. “Doctor’s orders.” I thought I heard him speaking as I slammed the door behind me, but I didn’t stop to listen. I’m sure he would send someone to summon me again if he really wanted to talk to me.

  No summons came.

  Five

  Resting my head on the pillow, I realized the ringing in my ears had intensified. It was louder, more constant, more intense. She was my mother. My anger continued to flow, rushing through my veins, fueling the fire inside. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to calm down. Instead, I only became more aware of the ringing. Tossing and turning for a moment, I finally got comfortable and decided to try to get some sleep. I just need some rest.

  The ringing in my ears began to pulsate, echoing my heartbeat. I started counting the pulses and felt myself getting sleepy. I continued counting as the pulse ringing in my ears transformed into chirping birds. Opening my eyes, I found myself standing at the edge of a lush forest.

  “How did I get here?” I could smell the fresh pine, the apples, the fragrance of lilac from a nearby bush. I didn’t know where I was or where I was going.

  Strangely, I had no fear. No worries. No sense of being lost.

  I heard rushing water and decided to follow the sound. A few feet away, I spotted an opening in the trees leading to a path. I followed it. A few tree branches hung low, so I pushed my way through. After walking for short time, I came upon a three-drop waterfall. I stood still and silent for a moment, taking it the beauty of the scene.

  The water rushed over three different drops down the side of a steep mountainside, pouring into a crystal blue lake. A small river raced away from the lake to disappear into the horizon. I moved closer, the water inviting me in. Kicking off my shoes, I quickened my pace across the soft thick grass to the edge of the lake. Small pebbles created a beach along one edge of the lake. The pebbles were cool on my feet. It felt wonderful. I heard a splash and looked up to see someone in the water.

  “Hello?” I yelled, hoping to be heard over the crashing water. “Is this your land?” The person didn’t respond but simply ran their hands back and forth through the water. “I’m sorry if I’m trespassing. I don’t remember how I got here.”

  The figure slowly turned around. It was Greylore.

  I gasped and put my hand to my chest. What’s he doing here?

  Greylore strode through the water, leaving a small wake behind him. Moving closer, I could see his smile and it awoke the latent desires inside of me.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said. Greylore walked out of the lake wearing nothing but a pair of white linen shorts. The water made them transparent and I was able to see that every part of his body was well-built and muscular. Water rolled down his body, now glistening under the setting sun. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him. “What took you so long?” He spoke to me, and I felt a connection between us. A connection that comes from knowing, understanding, and loving someone for years.

  “You’ve been waiting for me? Here? All this time?” I ran my hands up his damp chest, tracing the curves of his well-defined muscles. “Why?”

  “Because I love you,” he said. He pressed his lips to mine and I melted into his arms. “You may not see it yet, but we’re meant to be together. I’ll love you for the rest of my life, Hensley.”

  Looking into Greylore’s eyes, I knew I wanted to be his, to give myself to him. I reached down and unbuttoned my top, pushing it off my arms and letting it fall behind me.

  “If we’re meant to be together,” I wh
ispered, pressing my flesh against his, “If I’m meant to be yours, then take me now.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “If you give yourself to me, it’s forever. We’ll be mated for life.”

  I nodded again as I pushed my skirt over and down my hips, allowing it to fall to the ground around my ankles. Greylore’s eyes slowly scanned my body before placing gentle kisses on my cheek and my neck. Reaching down, he grabbed me by the fleshy pads of my ass, picked me up and walked back towards the water.

  I woke up in my bed, wrapped in the sheets, dripping juices from between my legs. Realizing where I was and that I had been dreaming, I took a moment to gather myself. I turned my head toward the window. The first rays of sunshine peeked between the long green drapes. It was morning. I had slept all afternoon and through the night.

  I guess I was tired.

  Later that morning, I sat at the breakfast table across from my father. We were both silent during the entire meal. As my father got up to leave, he pushed his chair in and looked at me.

  “When you’re finished, please meet me in the war room,” he said. “I would like your input on our battle plan.”

  “Father,” I met his gaze and tried to remain calm. “I would like to remind you that the doctor has ordered me to refrain from duty.”

  “Yes, Hensley,” he said. I could hear the annoyance in his voice. “I remember. I would simply like your input regarding our current plan to see if your expertise could offer us any additional information to increase our chances of success.”

  Oh. Okay. “Of course, Father,” I said. “I would be happy to help. I’ll be there shortly.”

  “All right then,” Father said. “I’ll see you soon. Thank you.” He turned and walked away. He said thank you. He must be desperate.

  I hurriedly finished my breakfast, wanting to get this interaction with my father over. I knocked on the door of the war room.

  “Come!” I heard from the other side of the large wooden door. I reached down to push open the door only to have it opened for me. “Hensley.” My father stood in the doorway. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  I walked into the room to see two other men standing near the large table at the other end of the room. “Please, join us.” What is wrong with him? Did he have mead for breakfast instead of coffee?

  The two men greeted me as I joined them around the table. “So,” I said, “What can I do to help?”

  “As you know,” my father spoke first, “we are moving in on Genbar, the black dragon on the north coast.” I nodded. “We believe he may have others in his service, as his hoard has doubled in the last year, but he has only left his lair once.”

  “That’s a real possibility,” I said. “I looked down at the map spread out on the table in front of us. “Many times, dragons will have other creatures in their service, offering them protection in return.” I studied the location on the map, running my hand along the borders, taking note of the markings my father had made. “This is the area where we found the Lycian nest, isn’t it?” I pointed and looked to my father. He nodded. “I would be on the lookout for Lycians then. They travel in packs and have been known to offer their services to dragons. At least two that I know of for sure.”

  Two of the generals whispered back and forth. My father held up his hand to quiet them. “Thank you, Hensley. You’ve been—”

  “You want to let me in on the little secret?” I said. I took a step back and crossed my arms. The generals exchanged glances with my father. “You asked me here, remember? So, if I’m going to help, you need to tell me everything.”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” one of the generals said. “But since you’re not coming with us for this encounter, it’s truly not relevant.”

  “Well then,” I said, I put my hands on the edge of the table. “Since it appears my opinions and input are truly not needed, I will be going. Gentlemen.” I glared at each of them individually, saving my father for last. “Father.”

  “Hensley, wait.” My father moved around the table and hurried after me as I made my way to the door. I reached for the door handle and he grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “I’m sorry I brought you here under false pretenses.”

  “Really? You’re sorry?” I scoffed. “I’m not sure you know the meaning of the word, Dad.”

  “I thought if you were a part of the attack planning, it would light a fire in you and you would want to join us. I was hoping you wouldn’t be able to stay away.”

  “You still think I’m doing this on purpose.” Holy shit. You are unbelievable. “The doctor is the one—”

  “Fine.” My father put his hand up to stop me from repeating what he already knew. “I’ll admit it. I’m not sure we can do this without you.”

  “You will be fine,” I said. “You have plenty of other worthy, strong, capable soldiers in your command. Just give them a chance.”

  “I think if you reconsider—”

  “Please stop,” I said. “If you push me, you could make my condition worse. If that happens, I’ll be out of commission a lot longer, or maybe for good.”

  I couldn’t get that lucky.

  “Isn’t it better to give me a little time now than be forced to give a lot of time later? All because you want me on this one hunt?” My father let out a big sigh but didn’t say anything. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to go for a ride to help me relax and calm my nerves. The doctor said it’s not good for me to be stressed right now.”

  Without looking back, I grabbed the handle and exited the war room. I walked slowly down the hall, waiting to see if anyone was going to come after me. Once I reached the corner and was sure no one was coming, I raced down the back hall, out the back door, and to the stables, smiling and giggling the whole way.

  Six

  Approaching Greylore’s home, I felt the butterflies in my stomach take flight. I let out a chuckle, feeling like a lovesick schoolgirl. Once in front of the beautiful cabin, I dismounted, grabbed my bag from the saddle, and readied myself to tend to Aurora. She bucked her head backward, pulling the reins from my hand and walked toward the stall. I put my hand on my hand on my hip and watched Aurora make herself at home, shaking my head and marveling at her cleverness and intelligence.

  Moving toward the front of the cabin and I called out. “Greylore?”

  I waited for a response. I heard birds chirping, Aurora stomping in the stall, but no response. I called out again. “Greylore? Are you here?” Still no response. Please be here. Standing in front of Greylore’s cabin, I was overtaken by the beauty of the property. There was a quietness, a peacefulness, a stillness that I had never felt before.

  I decided to investigate the apple tress that he’d told me about. He said they’re behind the house. I tossed my bag over my shoulder and walked around the side of the cabin. Rounding the back of the house, I came upon a beautiful sight. Several rows of large, full apple trees. I smiled and took a deep breath, allowing the sweet scent to fill my senses. I moved through the rows, lifting my hand, brushing my fingers through the leaves.

  “Hello there.” I heard a voice and turned to see a naked Greylore standing in front of me. I gasped, shocked. His body was stunning. Tanned. Toned. Muscular. I gripped the strap on my bag and wrung it between my hands. I felt a stirring inside me as I looked at his body. He was beautiful. And his manly features were quite large. I felt heat rising from my chest to my neck, racing to my cheeks and ears. I could only imagine varying shades of red displayed across my pale skin.

  “I, um, yes,” I stammered, not even sure what it was I was trying to say. “Aurora is…,” I pointed behind me, “There. I just wanted, the apples, to look at you, I mean, them. You know, the apples.”

  Greylore smirked. It was obviously clear what I wanted.

  “Turn around,” he said, softly. I paused and shrugged. “So I can get dressed.”

  “Yes,” I said with a bit too much enthusiasm. “Absolutely.” I tu
rned my back to him, scrunching my face as I looked away. Idiot! “I hope it’s okay that I dropped by.”

  “Of course,” he said.

  “I wanted to see you. Well, not see you.” My hands started moving with my words, darting here and there like a hummingbird. “Not that you shouldn’t be seen, because you are nice to look at. But not that I was looking, of course.”

  “Of course,” he said again, amusement clear in his tone.

  “Because I was looking at you, but not looking at you. I mean I couldn’t help looking at you because I looked up and there you were!” I’m such a babbling idiot! I took a deep cleansing breath and let it out in a big, loud huff. “May I pick an apple?” I heard a branch rustling behind me, and then felt a hand on my waist and another hand appeared in front of my face holding a large, shiny red apple.

  “I picked one for you,” he said. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck and chills ran down my spine and up my neck simultaneously.

  I sat at the small table in his kitchen area and watched as Greylore, moving with the finesse of a dancer, prepared us a snack of tea and baked apples. Sliding into the chair next to me, he smiled and touched my forearm.” I’m glad you’re here, he said.

  I investigated my tea, stirring it slowly, afraid I’d blush again if I made contact. “Me, too.” “So, how’s your head?” he asked.

  “Better.” I reached up and touched the still sensitive area on the back of my head. “It still hurts, and I have this ringing in my ears, but the dizziness is better. I’m not nauseous anymore. I went to see the doctor and I guess I have a couple of cracked ribs, too.”

  “I was afraid of that,” he said. “I’m so sorry.” He gripped my hand in his. “I wish I could fix it for you, make you feel better.”

  “Thank you,” I said. We sat in silence for a moment. “May I ask you a question?