Scales and Flames

by Catherine Banks

  “You must find a way to protect yourselves,” I said. “If nothing else, your heads, your eyes, so the arrows aren’t able to hit their mark.”

  Ulkan paced the floor several times and then leaned on the back of the chair. “There is a colony up north that has devised armor to protect themselves against their enemies. Perhaps we could take a note from them. We could create armor for our dragon forms, head, ankles, and tail.”

  “Yes! Let’s do that!” I let my excitement get the better of me and shouted. Shit! I gotta remember where I am. He’s an emperor. “Sorry. I got carried away,” I said. “I didn’t mean to yell.”

  “Don’t apologize,” Ulkan said. “I love your enthusiasm. And I promise you, I will get my people on this today.”

  “The sooner the better,” I emphasized. “We don’t know when he’ll be here, and I don’t want—”

  Greylore wrapped his arms around me. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” He kissed my forehead. “Even if your father set out after us the same day we left, it would take months for his soldiers to reach our borders.”

  I looked at Ulkan. He nodded.

  “It’s true,” Ulkan said. “You flew a long way. Dragons can fly hundreds of miles in one day. At least four times as far as any man can ride on horseback.” All at once, the panic I had felt trickled away from my body. Little by little, a sense of calm washed over me. “We have time. Let’s make the most of it.”

  I put my hand to my belly. I like the sound of that. Hurry and get here little one. So we can all make the most of it.

  It only took about six weeks for me to have a nice sized baby belly. I remembered Ulkan saying it wouldn’t be a normal pregnancy, but I had no idea I was going to balloon up so quickly.

  Sitting at the dinner table, I felt the sensation of something wet running down my legs. I began to feel embarrassed thinking I had wet myself. But as a slow cramp moved up my back, something told me that wasn’t the case.

  No. It can’t be. It’s too early.

  I felt an intense pain rush from my back, around my sides to the center of my stomach. Slamming my hand down, I gripped the side of the table and groaned loudly. Everyone looked at me. “Something’s wrong,” I said, my teeth gritting to fight the pain. “The baby, something’s wrong.”

  Greylore and his father didn’t waste any time. Greylore pulled back my chair, scooped me up in his arms and raced down the hallway. I could hear Ulkan shouting out commands, but the words were muffled in my ears as the pain intensified. I moaned, attempting not to scream as we made our way down the corridor to the hospital wing.

  “Breathe, baby,” Greylore said. “Just breathe. It’s going to be okay. You’re both going to be okay.”

  I felt a chill as the cool air hit my wet clothes. “I’m so sorry,” I said. Tears ran down my face. Please don’t let me lose my baby. Please.

  “Here,” someone shouted. “Put her here.” Greylore lowered me onto a gurney and they wheeled me away, him holding my hand, running alongside.

  “I’m right here, babe,” he said. “I’m right here.” I couldn’t handle it anymore. The pain was too intense. The worst pain I had ever felt in my life. A crushing, throbbing, ripping pain with a surging heat. I screamed.

  “Give her something,” Greylore yelled. “Help her.”

  As the gurney came to a stop, I watched as one of the nurses pushed Greylore to the side, talking to him while they put a gown over his clothing. Nurses ran back and forth behind me, beside me, around me. One gave me a shot in my hip. Another gave me a shot in my arm. and a third held a tube over my face, telling me to breathe. The tube was blowing out a cool stream of air and surprisingly, it made it easier for me to breathe.

  I began to get sleepy. The pain subsided. The light in the room began to fade. I could hear Greylore’s voice in my ear. “I’m right here, baby,” he whispered. “I’m not leaving you. I’m right here.”

  Greylore? I can’t see you. I was blind. I was cold. I was lost in the darkness. I began drifting, floating, falling. I could hear people talking, yelling, frantic, but they seemed so far away. I wanted to get out of there.

  Greylore? Greylore? Where are you, Greylore? Swear your love to me and I will no longer belong to my father. I will no longer be only a human, but a shifter’s wife. A shifter. What is a shifter? It is not a head or a hand or a tail or claw or any other part belonging to a dragon. It is only a name. And would a flower if called by another name be less beautiful? No. It would not. Nor would my Greylore be less perfect if he were called by a different name. Not a shifter. Not a Nugu. Not a prince. I don’t care what name what you use, only that you are mine, and I am yours.

  “Hensley.” I heard him. Greylore. I tried to open my eyes. Pulling, stretching my face. Trying to force my body to do my bidding. “Hensley, open your eyes, baby.” I moved my head from side to side. I could hear him, calling to me. Greylore.

  “Come on, baby. Open your eyes.”

  Baby? Is that a baby crying? I pulled harder, stretched my neck and my eyes began to open. That’s a baby. Is that my baby?

  “There she is.” My vision was slightly blurry, but I could see Greylore sitting next to me. “Hello, my love,” he said.

  I swallowed. My mouth was dry. I smiled, licked my lips and tried to talk. “She’s ready,” he said.

  A nurse walked over, propped up my bed slightly and gave me a drink of water. “Are you ready?”

  “For what?” I said, my voice scratchy.

  “To meet your baby,” she said. Her voice was a song. Her words the most beautiful lyrics ever written. I turned to Greylore. He smiled and nodded. I could see his eyes were red and a tear rolled down his cheek. A nurse approached on the left, carrying a tiny bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. Pink? Why would they put our son in…shit!

  “Hensley, Prince Greylore, I would like you to meet your daughter.” The nurse placed a tiny, perfect baby in my arms.

  “She’s a little small,” the nurse said. “Only five pounds. But she is perfectly healthy. Congratulations.”

  “A girl?” I said.

  Greylore kissed the side of my head. “Yep,” he said. “It’s a girl.” He laughed. “My dad is going to shit!”

  I looked around the room and all the nurses were tossing me glancing over their shoulders, talking among themselves. “Why is every staring?” I asked.

  “You have no idea how amazing you are. In all of history, only three females have ever been born to human women.”

  “Really?” I said. “Like ever? Only three?” I couldn’t take my eyes off this perfect tiny human resting in my arms. She’s perfect.

  “Really,” he said. “One was over a thousand years ago, long before the third world war. The second was my mother, almost two hundred years ago. And now her.” I looked up to see Greylore staring down adoringly at our daughter and in that moment, I fell in love with him all over again.

  I had to see her. To check her. All of her. I placed her in my lap and carefully unwrapped her from the blanket. She’s perfect. I kissed her ten little toes. Ten little fingers. Her puffy little belly. And the top of her delicious head covered with bright auburn hair. As I wrapped her back up, she opened her eyes a bit and looked up at me.

  “Look,” I said to Greylore. “She has green eyes. Like you.” He smiled the sweetest, proudest smile I’d ever seen.

  “She needs a name,” he said. “What do we want to name her?” We both sat quietly for a moment. “How about Grace,” he said. I shook my head.

  “Bethany.” He shook his head.

  “Colette.” I laughed and shook my head vigorously.

  “Autumn,” I said.

  “Maybe.” We both sat quietly for another moment.

  “Ruby,” we said in unison, and then laughed.

  “I guess we figured it out,” I said. I kissed the top of her head again. “Ruby. Our little gem.”

  Nineteen

  The next few weeks were a blur. Feedings. Diapers. Rocking. Crying. Mostly from the baby. Bu
t they were the happiest days of my life. Greylore’s community accepted me. They accepted my daughter. I had a family. And after Greylore and I performed our binding ceremony, Ulkan even insisted I refer to him as “Father.” After all, I was officially a princess.

  It seemed like I had just fallen asleep when there was a loud banging on the door to our chambers. Immediately, Ruby began to cry. I picked her up and cradled her in my arms while Greylore ran to see who was at the door.

  “Excuse me for the intrusion,” Meesha said. He bowed as he stepped inside. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t important, with the new baby and all. But I was—”

  “Meesha,” Greylore interrupted. “If you don’t tell me why you’re here, you’re going to be assigned to babysitting duty for a month.”

  “Oh, my,” Meesha looked over at me as I rocked Ruby back to sleep. “Yes, of course. Well, it seems that the Dragon Defense Force, Commander Ekard and his men, are closing in.”

  “What?” I gently placed Ruby in her crib, grabbed my robe from the bedpost and moved to the entryway. “How far?” I asked.

  “They haven’t found us yet,” Meesha said. “And the wards are holding, but it won’t be long until they are at the clearing. It appears they have captured one of our own and are using him as a guide.”

  “That fucking bastard,” I said. I looked at the men standing at the still opened door. They were both staring at me. “Sorry,” I said. “My father brings out the worst in me.”

  “Sir, if I may say, I like her,” Meesha said. “She reminds me of—”

  “Yes, I know,” Greylore interrupted again. “She reminds you of my mother. Yep. It’s becoming a thing.” Greylore motioned for Meesha to leave. “Keep us posted,” he said. “We’ll be out shortly.”

  “Okay,” I said, wrapping my arms around Greylore’s waist. “Should I be flattered or insulted that people keep saying I remind them of your mother.”

  “Flattered,” he said, kissing me. “Definitely flattered. My mom was a badass, commanding officer of our defense fleet who could basically kick any man’s ass, including my dad.”

  “Really?” I laughed. I like this woman. Wish I could have met her.

  “But don’t tell him I told you that,” Greylore said, pointing his finger at me.

  “I know this may not be an appropriate time, but…” I felt a little embarrassed to admit I wanted him. I needed him. I was craving him. Fuck me, Greylore!

  “But what?” Greylore looked at me, puzzled and intrigued.

  “The baby is sleeping. We’re up. Alone. And it’s been a while since…” Greylore bent down, wrapped his hands around my backs of thighs and picked me up. “I take that as a yes.”

  “That’s a hell yes,” he said. He carried me to the couch in the living room area, and sat down, placing me on his lap. I gently opened my robe and lifted my nightgown to show him I wasn’t wearing any underwear. He reached behind him and pushed his pants down to his knees, his erection already growing.

  “I’ve missed you,” I said, pressing my lips to his.

  “I’ve missed you, too,” he moaned.

  “Good,” I whispered. “Now show me.”

  Positioning himself underneath my wetness, Greylore put his hand over my mouth before he thrust himself inside me. And it’s a good thing he did. I probably would have woken up the whole community and maybe even alerted my father to our location.

  “Hensley, you can’t go out there,” Greylore said. He grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Please, don’t go out there. He thinks you betrayed him. Committed treason. He will kill you.”

  “He’s my father,” I said. “I have to try. I can’t let him destroy himself. And I can’t let him continue to make those men kill innocent people.”

  “You don’t owe him anything,” Greylore said. He moved into my path. “I don’t want to lose you.” He put his hand on my cheek. “I need you.” Greylore looked down at Ruby, our beautiful three-week-old daughter, cradled in his arms, sleeping. “We need you.”

  “I know you do,” I replied. I kissed the top of Ruby’s perfect little head. “And I need you, too.”

  Ruby stirred a bit and I watched as Greylore rocked her, shushing her until she settled in and fell back asleep. Two years ago, my biggest concern had been making sure my sword was sharp and my latest one-night stand kept his mouth shut. Now, I had a family. A loving family. My family.

  “I can’t talk you out of this?” Greylore whispered, not wanting to disturb our daughter again. I shook my head. “Then I’m coming with you.”

  I opened my mouth to object, but he put his finger over my lips. “If you’re going, I’m going. Period.” Greylore leaned in and kissed my cheek. I guess I should have expected that.

  Knowing our daughter was safe with Greylore’s sister-in-law, we walked out to confront my father. We moved through a large opening and out onto a rock ledge. Everything looks so different from up here. My father stood below us, in the front clearing where Greylore and I first entered the Dragonlands. The stone walls surrounded the clearing on three sides, creating a cul-de-sac, or a rock bowl.

  “Hello, Father,” I said. My voice echoed off the rocks, giving me the sound of a giant. This is cool.

  My father sat high on his white stallion, adorned in his glistening silver armor. Behind him were his five generals and Davian.

  “Hensley?” My father’s voice echoed too, and I could hear him as clearly as if I were standing next to him. He seemed to be questioning my mere existence. “Hensley.” I was surprised to hear him speak my name in such a civilized manner. “It’s wonderful to see you. We thought you were dead. Killed by the beasts.”

  “Which I’m sure you used to fuel the fire of your revenge,” I said. I scanned the battalion of men as they gathered. Men on horseback. Men with bows. Men tending the ballista. “I can’t say I’m surprised to see you here, but please, tell me, why you have braved coming to the very lands you warned me against? Isn’t this the land where the most evil, darkest demons of our lands dwell? That is what you told me growing up.”

  “It is,” he said. “Which is exactly why I’m here. To rid our world of these beasts once and for all.”

  “And how did you find us, Father?” The Commander turned in his saddle. I watched as ten men pushed and pulled a large steel cage to the center of the clearing. Inside the cage was a man, in chains. Large spears were mounted to the cage, pointing at him from every direction.

  “On our last hunt, we didn’t kill the beast,” my father bragged. “We captured it. Once we were able to force it to its human form, we convinced it to lead us here.”

  Greylore stood near the edge, clenching his fists. I could tell he knew the man inside the cage. “And why would he do that? He would never willingly betray his own kind.”

  “I gave my word that if the beast led us here, I’d guarantee its safety and would release it to you once we arrived. And I am a man of my word.”

  I watched as several men pulled the spears from the cage walls, unlocked the cage door, and released the man from his chains. Once the man was free, he wasted no time running from my father, transforming and making his way up the wall to where Greylore and I stood.

  “After all,” my father said, “I’m sure it would rather die with its own kind than alone, down here, in a cage.” Once the man changed back to his human form, Greylore hugged him, checked him for injuries and hurried him inside.

  “So now what?” I said. “You’re here. What do you want?”

  “I told you,” my father’s voice faltered, quivering slightly. He paused. “I told you, we’re here to defeat the demons of these lands, taking them down once and for all.”

  “Is that what you told all these men to get them to help you? That dragons were evil?” Stay calm. You can do this. “Why don’t you tell them the truth, Father? Let them make up their own minds?” I shouted, hoping at least some of the men could hear me. The Generals, Davian, someone. “Tell the men what they are truly fighting. Give the
m the option you never gave me. Or are you going to make murderers out of all of them as well?”

  “Hensley!” My father roared. “We can discuss this in private. Come home with me. Come home with me now, and we’ll figure it all out.”

  “Did he tell you what we killed?” I turned my attention directly to the men. “Did he tell you what you’re hunting now? They’re not evil creatures as he’d have you believe. Or monsters. Or demons.”

  “Hensley, I’m warning you!” I paid no attention to my father’s words or his warning.

  “Did he tell you the only reason we fight these creatures at all is because he blames dragons for my mother’s death? You see, my father wishes my mother had protected herself and given me to the monster instead. Don’t you, Father?”

  Even from a distance, I could see and hear a low rumble from the men. “In truth, what my father has you hunting are dragon shifters. They are part dragon, but they are also part human.

  “They are only part human,” my father bellowed. “Which means they are also part demon.”

  “No, Father,” I yelled. “They are human. Like me. Like you.” I paused and looked at my father. Making sure he was looking back at me. “And like my mother.”

  I watched one of the Generals lean into my father to speak to him. I knew what they were doing. What they always do when their original battle plan meets a snag. They improvise. They come up with a plan B. They try to outsmart the enemy. Not this time, boys.

  “Hensley,” my father shifted in his saddle, a telltale sign that he was getting frustrated. “Please, I’m asking you one last time. Come down from there, leave this place with me now, and allow these men to destroy these beasts once and for all.”

  “I’m sorry, Father,” I said. “But if that’s why you came here, you have wasted your time and energy. It’s never going to happen. My place is here now.”

  “If you choose to stay here, defending our enemy, then you, yourself become our enemy.”

  “Excuse me, Commander?” Davian kicked his horse and pulled in front of one of the generals. “With all due respect sir, Hensley is your daughter, one of your most celebrated warriors. What do you think it will do to the morale of the company if you suddenly declare her to be our enemy?”