Avalee and the Dragon
Page 18
“Avalee, no,” her mother cried out to her, reaching from the cage of her father’s arms. “No.”
Avalee’s expression softened as she looked at her mother. “Yes, mother. I must go. I have to. I wish I could make you understand, but I cannot. I’ll be fine, though. Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure?” This time it was her father. Avalee nodded once, and he nodded back. He comforted Avalee’s mother, soothing back her hair and holding her tight against him, even as he gazed sadly at his daughter who would once again sacrifice herself to the dragon. Give herself for the benefit of her village. Avalee knew this was what he believed, and it broke her heart, but on a deeper level, she knew that telling him the truth would only make things worse, harder to accept.
She turned slightly and grabbed the dragon’s uninjured arm, pulling him back and around the low bench towards the nearby woods that bordered the garden. All the while, she kept her eyes on the councilmen, watching and warning them alike. It wasn’t until they were several paces beyond sight of the garden and the men who stood there that Avalee turned and pulled the dragon into a run. She knew these woods, having played under their boughs—hide and seek, tag, and other games that served her well now. She pulled him along until they were both gasping for breath, until she saw the spot she’d been aiming for, a small clearing, not the one she wanted, but good enough to tend to his wound.
She stopped and pulled him around to face her. His face was pinched and white with pain, and she forgot her anger at him trying to leave her. Instead, she leaned down and ripped a long swath of fabric free of her gown and then, without warning, grasped and tugged the knife free of the dragon’s arm, quickly pressing and then winding the cloth around the wound to hold back the bleeding until he could heal.
He grunted at the pain, but otherwise watched her with silent eyes. She ignored his gaze and drew him into motion again, this time at a walk.
After a long time, she spoke, “You said you had no name to give me.”
“It is not my name to give, not anymore. Jaer is dead.”
“Oh?” she glanced over her shoulder at him. His lips were pressed together, and he was staring at the path ahead, not at her. She pushed on, “Yet the Elder knows you as Jaer, and you accepted the name from him.”
“Jaer died twenty-two years ago. I am a dragon. I have no name.”
The dragon—no, Jaer—was being stubborn. She let him think she’d given up while she tried to think of an adequate response. They were following a dear trail, almost invisible, but there just the same. Sunlight flickered and filtered through the branches, not nearly as diffused as it would be in summer when leaves would thicken and weigh them down, but still not as bright as it would be elsewhere.
“Am I, too, dead?” she murmured at long last. The thought had come to her abruptly, the realization that she shared his fate now, in more ways than one. “Shall I abandon the name my mother gave me? The two of us, shall we abandon ourselves and humanity and raze the countryside together?”
The dragon huffed and looked at her. “No, of course not. You are, and always will be, Avalee.”
“Then why are you any different? Why must I be Avalee, and you the dragon? Why can’t we be Avalee and Jaer, sometimes the dragon?”
He was silent, again watching his step. Avalee did the same, but she glanced in his direction more than once, trying to guess his thoughts. After many long moments, he revealed them.
“Why not, indeed? I rather like the sound of that—Avalee and Jaer.” He grinned over at her, and she returned the grin with a smile of her own.
“Now that that’s settled,” she said, “where to?”
“Dragon’s Mount.” Jaer grimaced at the landmark’s name and then continued, “And then back across the desert. Rolph will be moving on soon, and I want words with him when he does. He may want to come back here. That, and Lady Aramere’s family will need to be notified of her fate, well, at least that she has passed—not the rest, I don’t think.”
“Rolph?” Avalee focused on the image of Lady Aramere’s old servant. “Why would you, would he…?” She trailed off, not sure which question to ask, but wanting the answers just the same.
The dragon chuckled. “He was only ever there for me. My brother always did take pride in the job of keeping an eye on me, even though I’m the elder. He took it upon himself to help Janessa out when her time was done, though she never made the connection. She was always so stuck up back then, and really, she only had eyes for me, no one else, at least until I changed.”
Avalee’s head was spinning. So much to take in. Rolph was Jaer’s brother? Janessa had eyes for Jaer? What?
He looked over and made a face at her confusion. “Sorry, too much at once, I guess.”
She nodded and broke her eyes away from his. Ahead of them was the clearing she’d been aiming them at. If she remembered correctly, it would be big enough for him to transform, and then they could be on their way, away from the village and anyone who might get it in their head to be a hero and follow them.
She sighed just before they reached it, and stopped him, catching both of his hands in hers and gazing into his eyes.
“There will be time. You promised forever, right?”
A wide grin brightened his face as he squeezed her fingers gently. “Indeed, forever, and a dragon’s promise is unbreakable.”
“Good,” she said and then tugged on his hands until he leaned down and gave her what she wanted, one more kiss before they took that first step.
The first step into forever. Avalee and the dragon.
No, Avalee and Jaer.
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About the Author
Patricia lives in the United States of America with her family. Her favorite pastime is reading, especially epic fantasy. She enjoys bringing elements of fantasy, humor, and modern life together in her stories, though she writes in a range of genres.
In addition to her love of literature, she also enjoys knitting and crocheting, practicing Isshinryu Karate, visiting scenic parks, and canoeing. Her insight into military life comes from a six-year enlistment in the United States Navy.
Connect with the Author Online
Facebook: Patricia Hamill Author
Facebook: Shadows of Valor
Twitter: @PatriciaHamill2
Goodreads: Patricia Hamill (author)
My Blog: I read too much!
Books by this Author
The Golden Ship
Fearless
The Freeze
Shadows of Valor (Shadows of Valor #1)
Forgotten Valor (Shadows of Valor #2)
Fight for Valor (Shadows of Valor #3)
The Complete Shadows of Valor Trilogy (print)
Avalee and the Dragon
About the Cover Artist
Jack Baker is a fantasy illustrator based in the UK. He has a passion for creating artwork for fantasy books and book covers. Find out more or check out some of Jack’s other artwork at jackbakerdesign.com.