As the sun set, torches were lit and placed around the courtyard. Silas spotted Margosha and some servants passing out bottles of Gwen’s tonic to the commoners. No doubt, more tonic was being distributed inside the Great Hall. Some soldiers had already distributed the tonic in Dreshka, and tomorrow, as the Summoning officially began, Aleksi was planning to take several cases to Vorushka.
Gwen had warned him that it might take a few months before they saw any results from the tonic. For now, Silas hoped she would finally have some time for him. The best way for him to protect her would be to marry her. But he needed time alone with her so he could court her and win her heart.
* * *
Gwennore woke up early on Diamonday to prepare the bottles that would go to Vorushka. Annika and Margosha both came to help, and in a few hours, they were done. Annika alerted one of the soldiers standing guard at the door, and he dashed off to find Aleksi.
“I’m so glad we’re finished,” Gwennore said as she checked the cases to make sure the bottles were packed well with sheep’s wool to keep them from breaking. “I’ve been curious about the Summoning. When does it start?”
“Usually about noon,” Margosha said as she sat back in a chair and stretched her legs.
Annika peered into the barrel of mead. “There’s hardly any left. We’ll need another barrel.”
Gwennore nodded. They had used only a spoonful of mead for each bottle, but they’d filled more than five hundred bottles, so they were running low on all their supplies.
“Do you think the tonic will actually work?” Margosha asked. “I’d hate to think we did all this labor in vain.”
Gwennore took a seat and massaged her sore shoulders. “In theory it should work. We included several ingredients that are known to kill disease. If the infertility problems are caused by a small amount of plague still lingering in each person, and the tonic kills that plague, then their infertility should fade away.”
Annika sighed. “If it doesn’t work, our country could eventually die.”
Margosha winced. “Don’t say that.”
Annika sat at the table across from Gwennore. “I suppose the few fertile women like you and me will have to have a dozen children.”
“What?” Gwennore gave her an incredulous look.
Annika grinned. “It will be our patriotic duty.”
Gwennore picked up a clove of garlic off the table and threw it at her.
“The tonic will work.” Margosha nodded, as if trying to convince herself. “It has to work.”
Aleksi entered with half a dozen soldiers. “Is the tonic ready?”
“Yes.” Gwennore showed him the three cases. “Be careful transporting them. Oh, and tell the people in Vorushka that they mustn’t drink the entire bottle at once. They should take only a sip every day, so it should last them about a week. In that time, we hope to have more ready.”
“All right.” Aleksi ordered two men to pick up each case.
Gwennore followed them out the door. “And can you ask the people to return the empty bottles? We’re going to run out soon.”
“I’ll arrange something with the town mayor,” Aleksi said as his men carried the cases down the stairs. “Don’t worry. We can handle this. You should get some rest. Silas thinks you’ve been working too hard.”
“Where is he?”
“Up on the roof with Dimitri, watching over everything.” Aleksi waved as he started down the steps. “See you later!”
“Thank you!” Gwennore called after him. As Aleksi charged down the stairs, he passed by Brody on his way up.
“Brody.” Gwennore smiled at him. It wasn’t often she saw him in human form. “What have you been up to?”
“I was going through the crowd, seeing if I could catch the scent of the Chameleon, but he doesn’t seem to be here.” He walked with Gwennore back into the workroom and greeted Annika and Margosha.
Annika passed him what was left over from their breakfast. “Has the Summoning begun yet? It’s almost noon.”
Brody shook his head with his mouth full of bread. “The king and queen haven’t shown up yet.”
“Really?” Margosha frowned. “I hope the queen is all right. She seemed a bit tired this morning when I saw her.”
“She stayed up late last night at the feast,” Annika said.
“Let’s make some verna tea in case she needs it.” Gwennore added more wood to the fireplace so they could heat the kettle of water.
Just as the water started to boil, Olenka dashed into the room. “Do you have any more of that tea?”
“We’re making some,” Gwennore told her. “Is the queen not well?”
“She’s a little weak, but she’s insisting on going to the Summoning. The king thought some of this tea would help.” Olenka winced. “They’re both intending to wear their crowns.”
“Oh, no,” Gwennore groaned.
“Here, let me have the tea.” Margosha set the teapot on a wooden tray. “I’ll take this to her and try to convince her not to wear the crown.”
“Good luck,” Annika told her as she and Olenka hurried from the room.
“Let’s go to the courtyard,” Annika suggested. “I want to see what happens.”
Gwennore nodded. “I’m curious, too.”
“I’ll take you,” Brody offered. He gulped down a cup of water. “But stay right next to me. Silas is worried about someone trying to kidnap you.”
Annika snorted and rested her hand on the dagger at her belt. “They’ll have to get through me first.”
* * *
Several hours passed, and Gwennore was soon bored as she waited on a wooden bench in the courtyard. Brody had run out of his allotted time to remain human, so he’d gone to Karlan’s office to shift back into a dog. He was now curled up at her feet, napping.
She glanced up at the roof. Dimitri and Silas were up there, making the rounds. Every now and then, she caught a glimpse of him and waved. He always waved back.
The crowd grew restless, and some ventured into the Great Hall for a bite to eat, while others wandered out the gate to see the garden. Some lay down on the benches to take a nap. Most of the nobles retired to their rooms.
Late in the afternoon, Margosha and Olenka found Gwennore and told her that the queen had recovered enough to get dressed. The Summoning would begin soon.
Horns blared, and the crowd rushed to find their places on the benches. Nobles hurried into the courtyard to take their seats close to the dais.
After a few minutes, the horns blared again, and the king and queen exited through the double doors of the southern wing and stepped into the courtyard. They paused as the crowd gave them a cheer.
Gwennore groaned as she noted the crowns on their heads. King Petras strode down the aisle toward the dais, but the queen was stopped by numerous commoners who wanted to give her bouquets of flowers. Soon, she had more flowers than she could hold, so Margosha and Olenka took them from her.
Gwennore stepped closer as she noticed the glazed look in the queen’s eyes. Was she about to faint? “Your Majesty, you should lie down.”
Freya glanced at her with unfocused eyes. “Who—who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I’m a healer, remember? I’ve been making the tea that’s been helping you.”
Freya frowned at her. “You’re the elfin witch who took my baby away.”
“Please, Your Majesty. Go back to your room so you can rest. That crown is too heavy—”
“You want my crown, don’t you?” Freya screeched. “You’ve bewitched Silas, so you can be the next queen!”
“Your Majesty, you must remain calm.” Margosha tried to ease her back, but the queen shoved her away, then turned toward Gwennore with a frantic look.
“It’s all your fault,” Freya hissed. “You’ve been poisoning me, haven’t you? You want me dead!”
“No, Your—” Gwennore gasped when the queen seized her by the arms and shook her.
Brody growled at the queen, then bi
t her skirt to try to drag her away.
“Stop!” King Petras ran toward them with Karlan right behind him.
Gwennore grabbed the queen’s wrists, and her gift immediately activated. Racing pulse, irregular, lurching heartbeat. “Your Majesty! We need to get you to your—”
“No!” the queen screamed, then suddenly fell to her knees, a hand pressed to her chest.
Screams and shouts rang out as the crowd pressed closer to see what was happening. Brody growled and snapped at people to keep them back, while Margosha and Annika yelled at them to give the queen some room.
As Freya collapsed, her crown fell off, and Gwennore caught the queen’s head to keep her from banging it on the stone pavement.
“Your Majesty.” Gwennore’s mind raced, trying to think of some kind of medicine that might help.
Suddenly, a convulsion racked the queen’s body, and Gwennore felt a spurt of panic. No, this couldn’t be happening. The queen went limp, her eyes glazing over as her head turned to the side.
“No.” Gwennore gave the queen a shake. “Your Majesty!”
King Petras shoved her aside. “What have you done?” He knelt beside his wife. “Freya!” He shook her, but there was no response.
Tears burned Gwennore’s eyes. “She—she’s gone.”
“No!” Petras lifted the queen into his arms and rocked her. “No, no! She’s going to be fine.”
Murmurs spread through the crowd, then wails grew in volume as people realized their queen was dead.
Gwennore turned away, her heart sinking. Each time the king cried his wife’s name, she could feel his pain as sharp as a stab from a knife. She’d failed. She’d failed to keep the queen alive.
Karlan stepped close to her and whispered, “Go back to your workroom now.”
She gave him a dazed look.
“Go!” he hissed.
She stepped back, suddenly realizing that the crowd was pointing at her.
Dimitri dashed up to her. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” King Petras rose to his feet, his eyes flaring gold as he focused on Gwennore. “You. You murdered my wife.”
The crowd began to chant, “Kill her! Kill her!”
“Arrest her!” Petras shouted.
As guards started toward her, Dimitri gave her a shove. “Run out the gate! Silas will get you.”
Gwennore hesitated only a second as she saw Dimitri and Karlan holding back the soldiers. She turned and dashed toward the southern gate while Annika pushed back the encroaching crowd and Brody snapped and growled at them
Tears ran down Gwennore’s cheeks. So many people wanted her dead! She dropped her mental shield as she darted through the gate and into the garden. Puff! Silas!
I’m coming.
She looked back. Soldiers were streaming through the gate. A spear landed close by, thudding into the ground. Her heart lurched and in a panic, she ran through the garden, then skidded to a halt at the cliff that overlooked the river and town of Dreshka.
She glanced back. The soldiers were coming.
A screech sounded overhead. Puff. He launched from the castle roof, shooting a gust of fire to keep the soldiers from advancing.
She reached her arms up, and he swooped down, catching her and pulling her to his chest. Puff. She wrapped her arms around his forelegs as more tears ran down her cheeks.
His mighty wings beat the air as he lifted higher and higher into the air.
Silas. I was so afraid.
He angled his head back to look at her with his golden eyes. Don’t worry. I have you.
Chapter Thirty
Gwennore closed her eyes and let the wind whooshing past them dry the tears on her face. You’re safe now, she told herself over and over to combat the memory of a bloodthirsty crowd chanting, “Kill her! Kill her!”
Gwen. Silas’s soothing voice entered her mind. Don’t think about them. They don’t know you. They didn’t know the queen was ill or that the king and queen have been going mad.
“The queen is dead,” Gwen whispered.
I know. I saw it from the rooftop.
“I was panicking. I wanted to help her, but there was nothing I could do.”
I know, sweetheart. I panicked, too, when I saw what was happening. After I sent Dimitri to you, I thought I had better shift, so I started tearing off my clothes.
On the rooftop? What a shame she had missed it.
I heard that.
She swatted his leg.
Did you just hit me? After I rescued you?
With a smile, she hugged his leg. He’d said the same thing the first time he’d rescued her. “How many times have you saved me now? Four? Five?”
I lost count. He made a huffing noise that sounded like a chuckle when she swatted him again.
“I suppose I should thank you.”
I suppose you should.
Her smile widened as they repeated more lines from the first time they’d met. Where was he taking her? She glanced at the setting sun. They had to be headed northwest.
I have a cabin on a mountain not far from the Tourinian border. You’ll be safe there.
Her smile faded. Did it matter that she was half Norveshki? Or that this country felt like home? How could she remain here when people wanted to kill her?
Gwen, don’t give up on us. The people who attend the Summoning fit into two categories. They came there to complain, or they came because they’re bored and looking for something to gossip about. They represent a small portion of the population. Most of the Norveshki are friendly, hardworking folk who would never judge you unfairly. They’ll be grateful for everything you’ve done. And they’ll give you all the respect that you deserve.
Could she believe that? She wanted to. As she glanced down at the green hills and sparkling blue lakes, her heart ached with a yearning to call this place home. And as she leaned her cheek against Puff’s soft leathery skin, she longed to call him her dragon. Her first and only love.
His forelegs gave her a squeeze.
He must have heard her. Her cheeks grew warm with embarrassment. It hardly seemed fair that he could hear all her thoughts when she heard only what he wanted to tell her.
She gasped as a sudden jumble of thoughts raced through her mind, so crowded with her own thoughts, she could hardly keep herself separate. And even more powerful was the sudden surge of emotion that swept over her like a flood. Love. Anxiety. Determination. Love. Desire. Frustration. Love. A longing so great, it made her heart ache. Pain.
Silas. He’d opened his mind completely, and most of his thoughts and feelings were focused on her. With a shock, she realized the pain he felt was real. He hadn’t been joking about rule number two and a dragon’s extra-large heart.
Just as suddenly he shut the mental door, and she felt an immediate sense of relief. There had been too much in her mind all at once.
Gwen, now you know how I feel.
Tears came to her eyes. He loved her. He loved her something fierce. Her heart filled with so much love and longing for him, she thought it might burst. “Silas.”
Snookums.
She snorted. The rascal. She nestled against him and watched the lovely scenery go by. He swooped along a valley with high mountains on each side. Wind whistled off the snowcapped peaks, but she remained warm against his chest. “I love flying with you.”
Rule number six, he told her with his deep voice. If you fall in love with a dragon, don’t be afraid to fly. He can take you higher.
She smiled to herself. Higher. With Silas, she definitely felt as if she was flying higher. She was becoming the best that she could be.
As they flew into the sunset, the blue sky was painted with shades of pink, yellow, and orange. And down below, there were different shades of green. They were surrounded by color, and Gwennore was suddenly struck by how lovely the world was. The death of the queen and her narrow escape faded away, leaving her with a feeling of peace.
We’re almost there.
They were approac
hing a wide expanse of glittering ice that reflected the rays of the setting sun.
“What is that?”
A glacier. My cabin is nearby. His wings beat the air, lifting them higher to the mountain on the north side of river of ice.
She spotted a rocky cliff, then a stretch of green pasture. A log cabin sat by itself, its roof covered with grass.
Silas swooshed down and released her onto the grass. It was cool against the palms of her hands as she pushed herself to her feet.
He landed neatly, then folded his wings as he turned slowly to face her. The last rays of the sun made his scales gleam green and purple.
She smiled at him. “You make a very handsome dragon.”
His golden eyes glimmered as he stalked toward her. Thank you.
When she reached up, he lowered his head so she could touch his face.
Come, I want to show you something. He walked toward the edge of the cliff, then settled on the grass.
She followed him. “What is it?”
Patience. It will come.
She sat next to him. Darkness fell around them, and the air grew chilly. The wind picked up, whisking down the glacier, and she shivered.
Cold? He unfolded his left wing and draped it over her to block the wind.
With a smile, she snuggled up close to his warm body. “What are we waiting for?”
Look and listen.
She glanced up and as the sky grew dark, millions of bright stars filled the sky. “It’s beautiful.” The twin moons looked closer than they had ever been before. She reached up a hand. “I feel like I could almost touch them.”
An odd, hauntingly beautiful sound filled the air.
“What is that?” she whispered.
It’s the music of the glacier.
She peered over the cliff at the river of ice that gleamed under the light of the two moons. “How?”
In the summer, some of the glacier melts and the water bores holes through the ice, forming pipes. When the wind blows through the pipes, the glacier makes music.
She listened for a while. “It’s amazing.”
I will always love you, Gwennore, whether we’re flooded with rain or shining as brilliant as the stars.
She smiled. “That’s lovely. Thank you.”
Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon--A Novel of the Embraced Page 34
