He awoke to find the straw-haired woman smiling at him from beside the couch. He touched his head experimentally and discovered there were no bandages. His expression must have shown his amazement for Giselle laughed, the movement crinkling the skin around her soft hazel eyes.
"Gwydion is a marvelous healer when he chooses to be. You are very lucky."
"I would thank him."
"I am right here." Cedric had missed him, sitting so quietly in his great wooden chair, the table beside him littered with empty containers and a burned and blackened stone. The young knight scrambled to sit up and face the mage. "Not too fast, boy. Even an eldritch healing takes time and rest."
The woman smiled and left the room, gently touching Gwydion's shoulder as she passed him.
"So, you are the knight who would be a dragonslayer?" The mage's slate-blue eyes bore into him.
"I have sworn to stop the dragon's rampage. I am prepared to do whatever it takes."
"Even kill me, no doubt, since I control the dragon. Despite the fact that I have just saved your life."
"If I must." Cedric did not like the direction this discussion was taking. "My liege has charged me to put an end to the destruction."
Gwydion glared at him. "So there will be more bloodshed in the name of false honor."
"I am a knight, not a fool. Battle is only a last resort. The people of the barony want only to be left in peace. As one reasonable man to another, I beg you to rein in your pet."
"The people of the barony deserve what they get. I have no peace. There can be none for them."
"Then you are an evil man."
"I am evil?" Gwydion erupted from his chair, clenched knuckles white with fury as he advanced on Cedric, who stood unsteadily to meet him. "And what are those who destroyed and defiled the sacred groves? What of their evil? Do you even know the meaning of the word? Those same fools who sent you to destroy me are responsible for blighting earth magic that has stood since the time of man. Is that not evil? They have killed people for no mason other than their own fear and lack of understanding. They drove me from my home, from my land, forced me to turn outlaw. And when I tried to fight back, they cut down my only son in cold blood!" The mage's hands were shaking. "Can you not understand the honor demanded by love? No price is too high for such a crime. I will not recall my dragon!"
"But you ensorcelled the baron's daughter!"
"Do not presume that which you cannot understand! My war is with the baron and his people, not you. Do not make the mistake of standing between us, or, by the Goddess, I will have your life!"
"Then kill me now, for I am sworn to stop you." Cedric hoped he sounded more convincing then he felt.
"I will not take the life which I have so recently given. You will be escorted back to your own men. If you ever return, however, I will make good on my promise." So saying he whirled and stalked from the room, his robe billowing like storm clouds about him.
Cedric sank back down upon the couch, trying to still his own shaking hands. Military encounters were so much cleaner, somehow. There was no doubt, no time to consider right or wrong, only the swift justice of the blade.
Some little time later Giselle came for him. As they left the keep, Cedric looked for Aurora, but there was no sign of her. Giselle wasted no time mounting her horse and trotting into the forest, forcing Cedric to give up his surreptitious search and follow lest he be left behind.
Evening shadows all but obscured the path so that Cedric would have been completely lost without a guide. At least he no longer felt any malevolence from the surrounding forest. He maintained a companionable silence, half afraid that any conversation might distract the blond woman enough to lose the path. Eventually he sighted the ember glow of the camp's cook fires. Turning to thank his guide, he discovered she was gone.
That night Cedric dreamed of Aurora, while the dragon again watched from the ridge.
The next day he rode into the valley alone. Somehow he managed to locate the waterfall glade. Perhaps it was easier because he no longer feared the forest. He tethered his horse to a stout tree and entered the glade, afraid it would be empty. But she was there, waiting, seated on a rock. Her beauty was even more radiant than before.
"I was afraid you might not come after what Gwydion said to you."
"Dear lady, I could not stay away."
She stood to greet him, hesitantly, as if unsure of how to proceed. He looked into the depths of her blue-green eyes . . . and was lost. Before he was quite aware of moving he gathered her into his arms, savoring her sweet suppleness against him, and kissed her. She did not resist, but looked at him in wonder as he released her. Tentatively, she reached out to touch his lips, as if amazed at their texture.
"I'm sorry. I should not have presumed so, my lady." Embarrassed, he stepped back. How could he assume that she would share his feelings?
"No, my brave knight, there is no need for forgiveness." She lithely closed the space he had placed between them and initiated an embrace of her own. He joyously returned it, breathing in the honeysuckle scent of her hair as he swept her off her feet to lay her gently on the grass.
They spent the day together, sometimes in each others arms—she seemed to find each embrace wondrous and new—sometimes talking or playing in the waterfall. She wanted to know everything about him. What it was like being a knight. All about court, all about his life. Cedric delighted in telling her. Never had he had such an attentive audience. Only once when he tried to turn the subject back to her, did she withdraw. But as soon as the topic returned to other subjects, she was her joyous self again.
Even looking at her, touching her, he could not quite believe she was real. He wanted to memorize each nuance of expression and movement. At last he understood why the court minstrels went to such lengths to sing the praises of love. Everything he had known before was but a pale imitation of this moment.
All too soon the shadows began to lengthen. Aurora suddenly pulled away from him. "It grows late, I must go."
"But you're coming with me, back to camp."
"I can't go with you. I'm sorry."
Cedric could not believe he had heard correctly. "What are you saying? Have I done something wrong?"
"Oh no, beloved knight, but my place is here. I am bound here."
"Is it Gwydion? Does he have some kind of spell on you?"
She avoided meeting his eyes. "You would not understand." Just then a distant horn sounded, a long, low, mournful sound echoing across the valley.
"Oh no! I must go. Now!"
"But why?"
"He calls. They know I am gone. He must not find me with you. He will kill you if he finds you here." She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and spun her back to face him.
"I will protect you from him. Do you not love me? Do you not trust me?"
A look of profound sadness covered her face. "Oh, dearest one, I do love you, more than you can know. And I do trust you to protect me, so far as you are able. But you do not understand. I must never see you again, I am bound to him!" She leaned forward, kissed him passionately, then turned to flee into the darkening wood. He tried to follow, but soon lost her in the shadows. As he gave up and began his lonely return to camp, he noticed a brightly colored arrow feather lying on the path. Perhaps there was still hope.
"So do you think she is the baron's daughter?" Jason asked that night as Cedric dispatched a man to ride for the baron.
"I do not know for certain. She avoided the subject completely. Whoever she is, the sorcery that binds her is very powerful."
Jason's eyes widened. "It must be if even love could not break it."
Cedric looked shocked. He had told his squire nothing of the day's events.
"It's all over your face. You've fallen for her! The knight who could not be moved by any of the pretty faces at court has fallen for a mystery woman!" The red-haired youth could not keep the edge of glee from his voice.
"She is unlike any woman I have ever known. And she is in tro
uble. I must find a way to rescue her."
"And defeat the dragon."
"And defeat the dragon. But Gwydion is the key to both; either way I will have to face him." He glanced over at the stone pillar. The dragon was not there. "Tomorrow we will attack in force With luck, and a fleet horse, the baron will be here in time to see our success."
Dawn found the armsmen clad in mail and riding single file into the valley. Though still leery of the dark magic they believed infested the area, they followed Cedric because he had been to the wizard's lair and returned. Their idle chatter faded away to silence in the thickening shadow of the wood.
Cedric led the way directly to the glade, hoping that she might be there. But the glade was empty. He led them through it, trying to hide his disappointment. The horses' many sharp hooves tore the sod, defacing the soft grass where he had loved. Guiding them to the trail of arrow feathers that marked the way, he prayed it was not an omen. Not even Jason had been told of the threat the mage had made to him.
After an uneventful trek they reached the clearing. Cedric heard the men gasp and saw his squire cross himself as the castle "appeared" before them. Guiding his horse across the stream, Cedric saw a familiar form running towards them from the castle steps. "Aurora!" He spurred his horse towards her, vaulting from the saddle to take her in his arms.
"You must leave here at once, Cedric." Worry lines creased her smooth brow.
"Because of Gwydion's threat?" He gently smoothed the frown from her face. "I am not afraid."
"You should be! He intends to see you die. Please, beloved, for my sake, leave these woods."
"Only if you will come with me."
"I cannot! Do not ask that which I cannot give!" The anguish in her voice tore at him.
"Then I must free you so that you can!" He signaled Jason. "Take her to safety." Remounting his horse he rode up to the silent castle.
"You cannot free me! You do not understand!" She wrenched free of Jason's hold and ran to place herself between Cedric and the castle steps.
At that moment the great doors opened to reveal Gwydion, cloaked in crackling blue fire. "Stand aside, girl." His voice reverberated with authority. "I warned this knight of his fate and he has come seeking it." Sparks flashed in his hands. Several armsmen drew their bows at the sight.
"No! It is my place. I will deal with him!" Standing tall, the girl faced Cedric, her voice carefully controlled. "I begged you to leave in the name of love, now I beg you in the name of honor. Leave this place, or I will not be responsible for your fate."
"It is because of honor that I cannot leave. I am a knight. My sworn quest can only end with his death," he pointed at Gwydion, "or the death of the dragon."
"Then by my honor, I am sworn to stop you." There were tears in her eyes as she pulled a large pendant from her belt pouch and put it on.
"Do your duty, then!" Gwydion called to the girl as he advanced on the young knight. "Or I will end this myself."
"Step aside, Aurora." Cedric glared at the mage beyond, sword raised to signal the attack.
"NOOOoo!" Grasping the pendant, Aurora threw back her head and screamed in anguish. A strange green glow enveloped her, emanating from the pendant. Reining back his startled mount, Cedric looked on in amazement as Aurora's body melted and flowed, coalescing into the form of a great dragon. Her human cry ended in an inhuman scream.
Cedric's horse tried to bolt as the dragon spread wings and launched herself skyward. He quickly dismounted and released the terrified animal, to stand gaping as the great dragon disappeared into the clouds above. For a moment, no one moved save to scan the empty sky.
"My lord! Behind you!"
Cedric spun around to see the great dragon streaking towards him, claws outstretched. He could see fire flaring from her nostrils as she drew near. Quickly he threw up his shield, remembering this creature had broken a full-grown bull.
She struck the shield with claws extended, gouging through the metal and knocking Cedric off his feet with the force of the blow. He rolled and brought his shield up as she came after him, spitting fire. Could this creature really be Aurora? She dove for him. He rolled away at the last moment, coming up beneath her belly.
She screamed in frustration and reared up on her hind legs, leaving her vulnerable underside open to Cedric's sword.
And he could not strike. Dragon or girl, he could not kill the one he had loved. He lowered his sword, diving behind his shield as a burst of fire singed him. Claws raked at him once more as she lifted back into the sky.
Crawling out from behind his ruined shield, Cedric wondered that he still lived. Jason ran to his side to help him to his feet, both men scanning the sky for her next attack. The swordsmen and archers were drawn up in formation, anxiously watching the sky, bows at the ready.
A blood-chilling scream heralded her approach as she broke through the clouds to plummet towards them. Cedric saw the archers sight and draw as she approached.
"No! Hold! Do not shoot!"
It was too late. Cedric saw the arrows fly towards their mark. Time slowed for him as he breathlessly waited for the dragon to make that amazing quicksilver evasion he had seen so often
But she never altered her course. The arrows struck true. They slammed into gleaming flesh, eliciting a scream of agony from the wounded dragon. For a moment, she hovered gently on the wind. Then the great wings sagged and fell slack, leaving the gleaming creature to tumble limply to earth. She landed at the steps of the castle she had protected.
Cedric raced towards the fallen dragon, ignoring the gasps of the men as the dragons body slowly melted into that of a young woman. He gently scooped her into his arms, trying not to jar the bloody shafts protruding from her flesh. She looked up at him with pain-filled eyes, and smiled.
"Why?" he gasped through his tears.
"I had no choice." she gasped. "I had to fight to preserve my honor, but I chose death to preserve my love."
"What honor? I don't understand!" He felt a presence beside him and turned to see the mage standing over him, bereft of blue flame, looking very old as he gazed at the dying girl.
"Just as you were honor bound by your king, she was bound to me to serve myself and my people at any cost. You see, she was a lonely dragon who wanted nothing more than to be human. And I was a bitter man who had just lost his son and wanted nothing more than revenge. When I used my waning power to grant her wish and swear her to my service, I never dreamed she would be so human as to become trapped between love und honor. You see, dragons take honor very seriously. She has chosen death rather than betray her lover, or her liege." Gwydion choked on the last word.
"Then yon must save her. She kept her word! She faced death to protect you!"
"I cannot save her. I no longer have the power!"
"But you're a healer—you healed me! Do not betray her like this!"
"Do you think I would let her die if there were any choice?" The mage's voice cracked. "I have already seen one child sacrificed in my name! Do you think I want to discover a daughter only to lose her?" He turned his back to hide his tears.
The straw-haired woman, now wearing a flowing gown of blue, stepped from the castle and ran to the mage's side. Taking his hand she turned to Cedric. "He used the last of his focusing gems and potions to heal you! Even that was a near thing Yet your wound was not so grievous as this. With the destruction of the sacred groves the old magic is waning, and even Gwydion no longer has the strength to compensate for its loss."
A sudden bellow of war horns broke the moment as the baron and his men burst from the trees to thunder into the clearing. The baron rode directly to the steps, dismounting as he shouted excitedly. "They said you shot the dragon! They saw it fall. . . ."
He stopped when he saw the girl, pierced with arrows, in Cedric's arms.
"Yes, Father, the dragon is dying. Your sworn man carried out his duty." An icy feminine voice snapped from the top of the steps.
Alemandus turned in shock to the blond wom
an glaring at him. "Giselle!"
"She dies by your command, just as my son died, two years ago."
"Your son?" His face went white as he stumbled back against his horse. "My God! My grandson!"
"Giselle is your daughter?" Cedric did not try to cover his own shock. "Just how long has this feud been going on?"
"Seventeen years ago I ran away to marry Gwydion." Giselle answered, "Our son was born the following year."
"I didn't know!" Alemandus pleaded.
"You didn't want to know! Nothing mattered but your politics and your stupid war. You could not believe that I would choose to be with Gwydion rather than be the baron's daughter. Now there is another death upon your head!"
"Perhaps not!" Gwydion approached the fallen girl to kneel at her side. "There may yet be a way to save her." He touched the small stone still hanging from its thong on Aurora's neck. "But it will require the aid of all assembled." Standing, he looked directly at Alemandus. "It will require that you join with me in a healing circle."
"You must be mad! I cannot join you in your heathen rituals! Find someone else to share in your evil!"
"Then you would condemn this girl to death, just as you did your own grandson?" His words lashed the baron.
"But you have said this girl is the product of sorcery. I will not risk my soul to save a creature that has none!"
"Enough!" Carefully handing Aurora to Jason, Cedric stood, sparks in his eyes. "This was has already gone on far too long. While you bicker, a girl is dying! Your hatred has already cost you a child that was blood kin and heir to both of you. Must it also take the life of one whose only crime was that she would not be foresworn? Do you value honor so little that you will let her sacrifice so much? You have a choice. Let this hatred continue to drag you to ruin, or put aside your grievances and regain some of the honor you have lost."
Dragon's Eye Page 5
