by Sher Dillard
An owl at the tree line hooted, but Elsbeth didn’t hear. Sleep had taken her.
Chapter Ten
A soft chuckle woke Elsbeth from a dream about dragons shooting fire, and armored scales tickling her nose.
Her eyes sprang open. Drake.
His good arm squeezed her. Letting her know that he was awake, also.
She sat up and stared at him. He smiled weakly and shifted on the hard ground.
“You’re awake?” she said, unable to believe that he lived. Color had returned to his cheeks, and his eyes were clear.
He nodded and tried to rise.
“No!” she demanded as she held a hand against his good shoulder.
He looked down at her hand, then up into her eyes, silently asking her if she really thought she could stop him from rising.
Her hand dropped away. “You need to rest,” she said.
He chuckled again and shook his head. “I need to go to the trees for a minute. It’s either that or embarrass myself. You gave me enough tea to float a castle stone.”
Her cheeks flushed as she realized what he was talking about. Really, Elsbeth, she said to herself. This is not the time, nor place, to worry about propriety. The man needs help.
She gently guided him to his feet, then held his good arm as he slowly shuffled to the trees. Once there, he looked down at her and raised an eyebrow.
Getting his message, she hurriedly backed away. When he was done, he turned, and she was once more by his side.
“Are you all right?” she asked. Her heart refused to beat while she waited for an answer.
“I’ve been better,” he said with a smirk. “But, you can bet, the Gray is doing worse.”
The mention of the other dragon reminded her of what he had done. Of his dishonesty. With a crash, it all came rushing back. The pain, the sense of betrayal, the shame at what he must have thought of her. Now that it appeared Drake would recover, she could let loose the emotions flowing into her.
“Are you sure you are going to be all right?” she asked once more. Her voice holding a tenderness that obviously surprised him.
“Yes, eventually,” he said as he scrunched his neck to look at her nursing skills with the bandage.
“Good,” she said as she slapped him on the good shoulder. “You jerk. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her hand barked with pain. It was like hitting a stone wall and just as effective.
All of the emotions she had felt, every fear and terror. The betrayal and disappointment in him. Everything surfaced at that moment.
Her eyes burned into him. “You are a … a ….”
“A dragon?” he asked.
“No, a jerk, a first class bastard. A mean, and despicable man.”
With that, she hurried to her pack and started stuffing her things into it. She couldn’t get away from this man fast enough. How dare he put her through this? And to think, she had used her last petty coat as a bandage for the man.
He had brought her to new and wonderous heights. Only to pull the ground from beneath her and send her tumbling into despair. The idiot was insufferable and a lout.
Throwing her pack over her shoulder, she started to march across the meadow.
“Where are you going?” he called after her.
She didn’t answer. She wasn’t going to give him her attention. He didn’t deserve her attention.
“If you’re going to Sinstra, that’s the wrong way.”
She halted and studied the trees in front of her. She twisted and turned, but could not identify the trail. How did he know where to go?
Her cheeks grew warm with embarrassment. She couldn’t even stomp off with any sense of dignity. The man controlled everything. He provided the food, knew the way, and protected her from dragons. Without him, she wouldn’t last a day in the forest.
Her people needed a queen, she reminded herself. She must reach Julian. Too many lives depended upon it.
The thought sent a shock of shame through her.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she turned to look back at him.
He didn’t laugh, he didn’t smirk. In fact, his eyes looked concerned. He was worried about her.
If he had been truly worried about her feelings, he would have told her the truth earlier instead of springing the surprise of all surprises on her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes downcast, as if he was actually ashamed.
“Because I wanted you too much,” he said. “If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t have understood. To you, I would have been a monster. A creature from your nightmares. I couldn’t stand the idea of you looking at me with fear.”
“But, my look of disappointment and hate, is acceptable?” she asked.
He winced and shook his head as he made his way to his pack. Her stomach clenched into a ball. Her words had hurt him.
She noticed how he kept his injured arm close to his side and grimaced when he bent to refill his pack.
“Let me do that,” Elsbeth said, as she hurried to finish what he started. Her heart silently broke. She had desperately hoped that he would have a good reason. Some magical excuse that wouldn’t allow him to reveal the truth.
Instead, he had used her.
“Here,” she said as she tried to hand him his pack.
He winced as he slipped it over his good shoulder.
She shook her head. “You’ll never make it to Sinstra. The wound will become infected. You’ll grow weak, and leave me abandoned somewhere deep in the forest.”
He smiled. Obviously amused by her being more concerned about her goal and not the fact that he’d be dead at the side of the trail.
“You’re right,” he said. “We need to get help.”
“Help?” she asked. “Where?”
He paused for a moment, as if afraid of what he was about to say.
“My mother’s,” he replied with a heavy sigh.
.o0o.
Drake swallowed his fear as he gingerly stepped over the log. His mother was not going to be pleased. Even now, he could well imagine the raised eyebrow when he showed up at her door.
This was not what was supposed to happen. But, his mother had to be informed. She had to know about the Gray.
Sighing, he adjusted his injured shoulder.
Elsbeth had fashioned a sling for him. He remembered how her tender fingers had brushed his neck while she adjusted it. Her eyes had locked onto his for a moment. For an instant, that familiar spark of passion had been there. Only to be replaced quickly with that hurt, disappointed look of hers. The one that tore at his very soul.
What did she expect? For him to tell her all his secrets? To expose himself. No. He had been hired to escort her to Sinstra. Their joining had been but a side benefit. He hadn’t forced her. She’d wanted it as much as he. Had enjoyed it as much as he had.
Why was she mad?
She’d spent the day shifting between helping him and shooting him daggers of death with her eyes.
He wondered what she would think of his mother. And, what would his mother think of her? He shuddered. He would have done anything to avoid this. The mixing of his worlds could not end well.
Reaching the edge of the forest, he pulled aside the brambles and watched Elsbeth. He wanted to see her expression when she saw the lair.
Elsbeth glanced up at him for a moment, then stepped through the greenery.
She gasped and looked back at him in wonder. He could tell she had a thousand questions, but the woman refused to talk. She had developed the silent treatment to a fine art. Unless it dealt with his health, she refused to acknowledge his existence.
.o0o.
Elsbeth fought to control her shock. She didn’t know this place even existed. No one knew it existed.
The forest had ended to expose a flat, gray granite cliff face. Carved into the cliff were two large fluted columns. Wider than her outstretched arms, both of them rising up so high, she couldn’t see the top.<
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A trail had been cut into the rock. Weaving back and forth up the cliff face. Stone steps.
She turned to look back at Drake. Did he really mean for them to climb this staircase to the sky?
He can fly, she reminded herself. Heights wouldn’t be a concern.
Of course, she didn’t have the same ability. Heights had always been a worry. She remembered the fear she felt every time she had walked the castle walls at home. The sick, worrying feeling that would creep through her when she looked over the edge.
She had felt the eyes of her people watching her. Always judging her. Measuring her, waiting for her to fail. But it had taken every bit of her strength. It had taken every bit of energy to hide her fear.
Now, the bastard next to her wanted her to climb into the clouds. Why wasn’t she surprised?
He smiled at her and turned to start climbing. His color is better, she thought. Was that due to exertion or had he a fever? Her stomach turned over. What would she do if the wound became infected?
His mother may be able to help, she thought.
The thought of meeting his mother made her cringe. What was she like? What kind of woman could give birth to such a man? Elsbeth looked down at her dress, and ran a hand over her hair. She must look a fright. Three days on the trail. She was in no condition to meet Drake’s mother.
But what choice did she have? The man was already making his way up the stone steps. He wobbled for a moment and reached out to touch the cliff face for support.
She hurried up after him, touching his lower back to let him know she was there if he needed her.
They continued up. Every forty steps, the carved stone would switch back the other direction. Forty steps later, the stairway would shift again. Then again, and again. It seemed as if they would climb forever.
Up they climbed. She felt her breath begin to falter. Her legs grew numb. How is he doing it? she wondered. It must be shear will power.
At last, the stone steps crested onto a long landing that stretched across the face of the cliff. Cutting through one of the carved columns and ending at a very large, very dark opening.
Her heart jumped as she tried to catch her breath.
Drake watched her for a moment, then said, “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Elsbeth shivered, his fear and worry were catching. As she turned to follow him, a woman stepped out onto the landing.
She appeared older, very stately. A stiff back and erect carriage. Elsbeth immediately thought of her Aunt Josephine. The woman was as forgiving as a tree stump and just as exciting.
The woman’s soft gray hair was up and neatly pinned behind her head. She wore a dark red dress made of the finest velvet. Two gold studs for earrings were her only jewelry.
Her hands clasped in front of her, the woman scanned them as they approached. Elsbeth’s stomach clenched in fear. She well knew that look. It was the look her governess would give her when she failed at doing what was expected.
The woman’s stare raked over Elsbeth, making her feel less than acceptable. Then, the woman turned to stare at Drake, quietly shaking her head. Her eyes gleamed with secret amusement, but her lips remained firm and set.
Drake halted before the woman and dipped his head, then turned to pull Elsbeth closer.
“Mother,” he said, “may I present Princess Elsbeth Beaumont of Lushcany?”
The woman’s eyes opened in surprise at the mention of princess, then, quickly ran those eyes over her gown.
“Elsbeth,” he continued, “may I present my mother? Queen Matilda of Perralt, and sovereign of the Forbidden Forest.”
A queen? Elsbeth thought. Another damn secret. Why hadn’t he told her? Elsbeth’s insides stiffened in shock. That bastard. He should have warned her. He should …
Twenty years of training kicked in. She must remember her manners. Dropping into a deep curtsy, she dipped her head with respect.
“Your Highness,” Elsbeth said.
The woman continued to remain quiet, leaving Elsbeth uncertain how to continue. Should she rise? Should she wait for some sign? What were the rules in Drake’s world?
If Drake was a dragon, was this woman a dragon, also? She definitely had the eyes for it. They looked like they could crucify a person at fifty paces.
Drake’s mother was even more imposing than Elsbeth had feared. But to learn she was a queen in her own right. It was enough to make Elsbeth regret ever deciding to leave home.
“Rise, my child,” the queen said.
Elsbeth swallowed hard and rose to look the woman directly in the eye. Best that she learn that Elsbeth was a princess in her own right, as well. The rightful queen to the land of Lushcany.
The two woman studied each other for a moment. At last, the Queen seemed to come to some kind of acceptance and slightly nodded her head. Almost admitting a little respect.
She turned to her son. “This is a surprise, Drake, I thought we agreed to two full years.”
Drake’s cheeks actually flushed. “As I remember it, it was more a royal decree than an agreement.”
A spark jumped into the Queen’s eyes at Drake’s comments. Elsbeth felt for sure this was not the first time these two had clashed.
“I see that you are injured,” the Queen said as she indicated his shoulder. “Is it serious? Are you likely to die within the next few minutes?”
Drake almost smiled. “Probably not,” he answered simply.
Elsbeth could feel the tension rising between them. Why? she wondered. Why wasn’t a mother overjoyed to see her son?
“He is seriously hurt, Your Highness,” Elsbeth said. Interjecting herself before things became too intense. “I did the best that I could, but he needs a proper healer.”
The Queen looked at her, then back at her son. “And, how did you become injured this time?” she asked solemnly.
Drake paused for a moment, then said, “A Gray.”
The Queen blanched, her eyebrows rising in surprise. “A Gray? In my forest?”
“Yes mother,” Drake said. Elsbeth could have sworn the man was pleased to have shocked his mother. Oh, what a holy terror he must have been as a little boy.
“I assume you resolved the issue correctly?” she said with a haughty voice.
Drake shook his head. “He escaped, wounded, but he is gone.”
“And you didn’t go after him?” the queen asked.
Elsbeth stepped forward. “Drake returned to protect me. He had no way of knowing if there were other dragons about. And, he really is seriously wounded. He needs to be seen by a healer, as soon as possible.”
The Queen glanced down at where Elsbeth’s hand rested on her son’s arm. Then, back at the woman making demands. She seemed to hesitate before she turned and gestured towards the dark opening.
A young woman, dressed in black with white lace at the collar and cuffs of her dress stepped out of the shadows. She threw Drake a quick smile, sending Elsbeth’s insides into turmoil. That smile spoke of a history.
“Mary,” the Queen said, “please escort our guest down below. Help her dress for dinner. One of Gwyn’s gowns should fit.” The Queen paused and looked at Elsbeth once more, confirming her judgement on the Princess’ size.
“We always dress for dinner,” the Queen said, her voice making it clear there was no choice in the matter.
“As for you, Drake,” she continued, “you know your way to the healer. Heaven knows you have been there enough. I will see you at dinner and will expect a full explanation.”
Drake dipped his head. “Yes, Mother,” he said before glancing at Elsbeth. His eyes seemed to apologize. As if his mother’s attitude where his fault.
“This way Princess,” the servant said, indicating that they needed to hurry.
Elsbeth glanced once more at Drake’s mother, then shook her head. There was a story there. A story she desperately wanted to know. But, for now, it was best to just go along and press the matter later.
She followed the servant int
o the dark opening. Torches lit the interior with a soft glow. Drake turned off, giving her one last encouraging look. Her young guide looked back and forth between Elsbeth and the back of the departing Drake, her eyes narrowed in concentration, but she didn’t say anything. Elsbeth felt a sudden sadness at the separation. Remember, she reminded herself, you are mad at him.
They continued on, twisting, and turning.
At last, they turned one last bend and stepped out onto a covered walkway.
Elsbeth gasped. She had never seen anything so beautiful. So peaceful. So perfect in her entire life.
Chapter Eleven
A lush green valley stretched out before her. The kind of place that provided safety and comfort. It reminded her of a painting. The kind of painting she would have created if she wanted to show safety and comfort.
In the distance, a village, with smoke rising from chimneys. Square field lay like patches of cloth across the landscape. A stream fed by a rumbling waterfall on the other side of the valley, meandered through the landscape to disappear around a distant bend.
High, snowcapped, mountains encased the valley. The cliff they had just passed through formed a wall blocking off the rest of the world.
She had entered a new universe. A universe without trouble or pain.
Her mind flew to defenses and military matters. It was impregnable, she realized. The only entrance up that narrow staircase and through the dark portal. A few men could defend it against an army.
Elsbeth’s heart skittered with wonder. The place was beautiful. Everything was perfect. As if there was never a problem too big to solve.
She caught the servant, Mary, staring at her. Obviously wondering how the princess would react to the sight of this beautiful world.
“It’s unbelievable,” Elsbeth said. “Almost magical.”
Mary smiled. Pleased. “Yes,” she said simply as she led Elsbeth down an interior staircase.
Her room reminded her of home. Stone walls covered in tapestries. A big bed, and beautifully handcrafted furniture.
Another lie from Drake. He had led her to believe he was a simple huntsman from the forest. Not a prince of a magical land.
“If you will prepare yourself,” Mary said as she indicated a basin and water, “I will go get you a dress for dinner.”
