by Bianca D'Arc
Lana slept well and awoke refreshed. Roland’s injuries looked much better this morning and she thought black dragons must heal in their sleep even better than regular dragons like Tor. They flew far that day, resting less often, and she realized Roland took breaks more for her and Tor’s convenience than his own. He seemed so much more powerful, so much better. She was happy to see it.
At one point, he trumpeted loudly and landed on a rocky outcropping. Tor followed suit.
“From here you can see my land,” he said with a touch of pride. “See the river in the distance? That is the Arundelle River and it marks the northernmost boundary of the Kingdom of Draconia and the Northland wastes. We should reach the river by nightfall if we push hard, but I think perhaps it would be wiser to spend the night on this side of the border and cross in the morning.”
“Why is that?” she asked, stretching her limbs a bit.
“The border is guarded. A strange dragon such as Tor will be welcomed, but challenged when they first sight him. You, milady, will be a shock to the knights, for no female has partnered with a dragon, as you have with Tor, in millennia. I want to rest up and see this in the full light of day.”
His tone indicated amusement and some deviltry. Lana raised one eyebrow in his direction, but he only chuckled in that dragonish way of his.
“Very well, Roland. We follow where you lead.”
Roland stopped them for the night near a tributary of the huge river that had grown larger and larger the closer they flew throughout the day. Lana remarked to him each time they stopped at how large the river was and he could tell it was the biggest body of water she had ever seen. He thought of showing her the ocean and looked forward to the light of wonder it would no doubt put in her eyes. There were so many wonders this beautiful little woman had never seen. He would show them all to her, but first she had to know who and what he truly was.
He would deal with the “who” later, but for tonight, he had plans to show her exactly what he was. One more night of their unconscious power exchange would make him well enough to shift without danger, he guessed. It would have to be. Before the next dawn he planned to show her the truth of his form and explain a little more about black dragons and her connection to the line. Hopefully she would take it well.
Roland directed them to a special area of the river he’d visited before. There were a series of small pools on this side of the border that would act as bathing pools and provide fresh drinking water for them all without Lana having to tug the heavy pail over to him time after time.
Roland landed almost perfectly, having to limp only a few feet to a small pool where he could easily crane his long neck over to drink. He drank thirstily, noting Tor doing the same at another of the little pools while Lana set up her tiny camp.
Tor suddenly jumped back, landing on his tail in another pool with a huge splash, drenching them all. The look of surprise on his young face overtook the shock of the water.
“What is it, Tor?” Lana’s voice was concerned as she moved toward her dragonet.
“Something moved in the water!”
Roland laughed with relief, realizing it was probably a fish that had startled the youngster. He reached in carefully with one talon and neatly speared a large fish from the bottom of his own pool. He held it up to the light, the scales shining iridescently in the fading sun as it wriggled furiously in death.
“Have you never seen one of these before?”
“What is it?” Tor moved closer to examine the odd creature, his eyes wide.
“I think…” Lana said hesitantly. “I think it’s a fish. Am I right?”
“Right you are, milady.” Roland dropped the fish at her feet, turning back to pluck a few more out of the pool. He threw one to Tor and started crunching on the others himself. After he had quickly eaten three and taken the edge off his hunger, he turned back to them.
“At last, I get to provide dinner for my rescuers. Let this be the first of many meals we share.” Roland bowed his great head to the fish at Lana’s feet. “Allow me to prepare and cook this for you, milady. I think you’ll like it.”
“I remember fish.” Her voice held the edge of tears and a bit of wonder. “My mother would make them sometimes with butter and herbs when we lived near a stream. They were smaller than that, though.”
Roland listened with compassion in his heart while he used his sharp claws to filet the big fish. He threw the innards to the younger dragon who was now chasing fish in the larger pool somewhat successfully. For every fish Tor caught, five got away, but he was chuckling with the effort and enjoying the game as one his age should.
Using just a hint of his own flame, Roland cooked the fish to perfection before handing it back to Lana, using the large pad of his paw, between the deadly talons, as a kind of platter.
“Try this,” he coaxed as she stepped hesitantly forward.
She plucked a piece of the tender, cooked fish from his extended palm and put it to her lips. Her little tongue licked it first, making him think things about that tongue that were better saved for when he was in his alternate form. Blissfully unaware of his salacious thoughts, she took the piece of fish into her mouth and started to chew delicately. Her eyes lit up and tears formed there, surprising him. She was such a strong little thing, it was a shock to see her tender feelings so exposed.
“I remember this! It tastes like I remember.”
“Just without the butter and herbs.”
She laughed at his dry observation and took the rest of the cooked fish from him, placing it on a small slate she used as a plate. She ate the whole thing, savoring every bite as her eyes glazed with memories. Roland watched her, enjoying her delight in such a simple thing.
He would give her many such happy moments, he vowed. He would bring her new experiences and shower her with gifts of every kind. He wanted to see her happy. It was a need he had that was so foreign, it was startling, but it just felt right. She was his. He would pamper her and give her everything within his power to make her happy. She just didn’t know it yet.
Finishing the meal, Lana wiped her mouth daintily with a small cloth she used to clean and then wrap her few belongings. Everything was soaked from Tor’s earlier splashing but it was warmer here in the lowlands. Tor continued to play in the nearby pools, showering them from time to time as he caught or lost a fish. He was enjoying himself immensely, learning a new skill, and catching a healthy dinner at the same time.
“Thank you, Roland.” Lana’s eyes glowed up at him. “I’d forgotten fish, and I think you’re an even better cook than my mother was.” She laughed up at him and he chuckled with a dragonish snort of smoke at her little joke.
“I’m glad I could give that memory back to you, little one. I like to see you happy.”
He touched her gently with his muzzle, rubbing over her soft breasts and relishing the feel of her arms as they came up to hug him like she often did with Tor. It wasn’t something most dragons welcomed from humans, but then, he wasn’t most dragons. He was only half-dragon. The other half of him longed to feel her wrap her arms around him in passion, but that would come soon. As soon as he could manage it.
“I’d better clean up. It’s so warm, I think I’ll take this opportunity to wash everything, since Tor’s already helped get all my belongings wet. Plus, I don’t want to look like a dirty Northerner when your people see us tomorrow.”
“They’ll be amazed by you no matter how you look.”
He watched her move around gracefully, dipping to gather up her few belongings and take them to the side of one of the smaller pools. She began to wash everything and he uncovered some big rocks for her, which he heated with his breath to a nice warm temperature so she could lay her furs and extra clothing out to dry.
“Why is it such a big deal that Tor and I are friends?”
“It’s a rare woman who can communicate with dragons. It’s even rarer for anyone to be able to heal dragons with their touch. I know of only a few people in th
e whole kingdom who have the gift.” He paused, considering his next words carefully. “I think you should know about two women in particular, who were recently discovered to have the same gift. The ability to heal dragons is an inherited trait of royal blood. Our long-ago king, Draneth the Wise, made a pact between dragons and humans that keeps my land peaceful and secure, both races living in harmony. These two women were lost members of the House of Kent, a line of royal blood distantly related to the current king’s line. I think you may also be part of the House of Kent.”
“But I’m not royal. At least, I don’t think I am. I have no idea really, but before I was taken north, we lived simply. Not at all how I imagine a royal would live.”
“You might be surprised. The two women I mentioned? They lived in hiding and did not even know of their birthright until just a short while ago. I believe you may be related to them.”
Lana stood from the stream, her clothing wet in patches, her expression deadly serious, her face pale.
“Do you know their names?”
“Why?”
“I remember my sister. Two sisters, actually. We were little, but my sister was my mirror image. I called her Riki. And the baby, she was just a toddler. We called her Lora.” Tears fell unheeded down her face as she shared just a tiny bit of her past with him. Hope she didn’t dare voice shone in her eyes.
He moved closer and faced her straight on. “The younger of the women is named Belora and her mother is called Adora.”
“Mother? Stars!” Lana fell to her knees on the soft bank, her body trembling. Roland puffed warm air to comfort her, wishing he could transform and take her into his arms, but it was still too soon. “I don’t know my mother’s name, but Belora could be baby Lora. My name is Alania, but Mama always called me Lana.”
“Then you are most likely one of the twin daughters of Adora we have been seeking.”
“Seeking?”
“Once we realized who Adora and Belora were—long-lost cousins of the royal family—we sent word to all dragons and knights in the land and beyond to search for word of Adora’s lost twin daughters.”
“I don’t know if I’m really one of the girls you’re looking for, but I’d like to meet these women and see if they know me, or if I recognize them. But it’s been so long!”
Roland limped over, caging her with his strong forelegs, his heat reaching out to her. “I will take you to them myself. I have few doubts that you are one of the twins we seek. Your healing gift and your relationship with Tor are proof enough for me.”
Chapter Four
Lana reached out for Roland, drained emotionally and needing to cling to his strength. In just a few short days this strange black dragon had become a guide through unknown lands, a protector and a close friend. And now he was giving her hope that she might find her family after all this time. It was enough to make her cry, and she never cried. Well, at least not often. She’d learned early on in Salomar’s household that crying was a waste of effort and only brought unwanted attention.
Roland’s emotional strength was even greater than Tor’s. Roland was fully-grown, for one thing, and emotionally mature. He was also willing to let her lean on him while her emotions rocked from one extreme to the other. There was something so comforting about his nearness. She had slept better these last few nights, nestled under his protective wing, than she ever had in her life. He felt so good to her. So right.
“Can Tor and I stay with you, at least for a little while, when we get to your home? I mean, is there room for us?”
“Yes, little one. There will always be room for you and Tor wherever I am. You are my saviors and my good luck charms. I won’t let you leave me ever again.”
She leaned against his broad chest, hugging his long neck. “That sounds so nice, but what if this woman Adora really is my mama? Oh, sweet Mother of All! Roland, thank you so much for telling me about them. They might really be my family.”
“I think they probably are. And if I’m right, we’ll go where they are or ask them to come to us. I know they’ll want to see you as much as you’ll want to see them.”
“Oh, I hope you’re right!”
“I’m always right. You’ll learn that soon enough.” His tone was teasing as his neck craned over her to breathe warmth into the pool she’d been using to wash her things. “You’re shivering, Lana. Warm yourself in the water and finish your washing. We need to rest up so we can cross the river at first light. I want the dawn to sparkle off Tor’s beautiful silver scales so you make a grand entrance to my land. His size alone will have all the dragons talking about him soon enough, but we have few silver dragons among our number and none so brilliant as Tor.”
“Is that true?” Tor bounded over, full of fish and starting to get sleepy as young dragonets often did. “Are there other dragons who look like me?”
“A few,” Roland told him. “But none as big as you are, Tor. The dragons in my land are all the colors of the rainbow. There are only a handful of black like me. A few dozen are silver, but they are mostly silvery gray—not bright, clear, iridescent silver like you. If I had to guess, I’d say you were an Ice Dragon. They are rare, even in the Northlands.”
“An Ice Dragon? That sounds nice,” was Tor’s sleepy reply as he settled his large bulk down for a nap. Within moments, he was fast asleep.
Lana smiled fondly at him as she made her way to the small pool Roland had heated for her. She took off her footwear and tested the water with her toes, a little hesitant about how deep the water might be. Cautiously, she stepped into the shallow part of the pool where she could still see the bottom, moving inch by inch lower into the warm water. It felt like heaven.
Her filthy pants and tunic billowed around her as she sank lower and she decided to take them off once she was in water up to her shoulders. Turning toward the bank, she found a good spot with a big, flat rock and a shallow area where she washed her clothes, then wrung them out as best she could. She threw the damp clothing toward the grassy bank where Roland’s warm breath made quick work of drying everything that had gotten wet.
Lana noticed the black dragon watching her intently. She realized she was naked under the water, but this was a dragon. He should have no interest in her naked human body, but something gleaming in the depths of his faceted emerald eyes made her think otherwise. Ridiculous, she told herself. He’s a dragon.
“Why the blushes, little one?” Roland’s voice echoed in a low purr through her mind as his head dipped lower and closer to the pool where she stood submerged to her shoulders.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to eat me.”
Roland chuckled in his dragonish way, sending smoke billowing lightly near her head. “But what if I said I did want to eat you?”
She sank lower into the pool, her eyes wide. “I thought you said your land was civilized. Civilized to me means dragons don’t eat humans.”
“What if I weren’t a dragon? At least not completely.”
“What in the world are you talking about?”
“I will tell all tomorrow, little one. For now, rest assured my land is civilized and you will be safe and welcome there.”
She was truly confused by his words and the speculative tone in his voice. Roland backed off though, setting his large head on his front paws, watching her as she began to relax again. He sent puffs of his hot, cinnamony breath over her to keep her warm in the chill night air. The last rays of the sun were just beginning to fade. It would be dark soon.
“You had better come out of there before you wrinkle like a raisin.”
“What’s a raisin?”
It amazed him how such simple things had been denied this beautiful soul, when he’d been raised with such bounty. The idea humbled him.
“A raisin is a dried grape.”
“What’s a grape?”
She stroked the cooling water up and down her arms as she scrubbed her skin with some of the tall gr
ass growing by the pond. It was scrubweed, common in many areas of the world and, apparently, she remembered well enough the use of it from her childhood.
“A grape is a kind of fruit. They grow in bunches in the southern regions and have a sweet, juicy taste. You’ll like them. When they’re dried, they wrinkle up, very much like your skin is wrinkling from staying in the water so long.”
“But it feels so good to get clean!” The smile on her face was so refreshing he could hardly condemn her for lolling in the waters he kept warm for her.
“At the Lair they’ll have bathing chambers with heated spring water that you don’t have to share with fish and frogs.” He snorted with a chuckle as a tiny frog hopped up onto the bank near his foot. “There will be scented oils and perfumed soaps and special herbal formulations for your beautiful hair to make it shiny and smooth.”
Her eyes gazed at him in wonder. “It sounds wonderful, but will they let me use such grand things?”
“Of course! You are my guest and more than that, you are a gentlewoman in your own right, companion to an Ice Dragon the likes of which my land has not seen in many, many years. Lana, do not doubt yourself or your worth. You are a beautiful, intelligent, talented woman and you will be welcome in my land and in my home.”
“When you say it that way, I almost believe it. But I’m not used to anything but working, running, fighting and hiding, Roland. It’s hard to get used to the idea that Salomar can’t try to hurt us anymore.”
“Never again.” He drew his head up high and stiff with anger at the thought of what this beautiful girl had been through in her young life. “Neither Salomar, nor any like him, will ever threaten you or Tor again. Not as long as I breathe. You have my word on that, Lana, and you will learn that once given, my word is my oath.”
She tried to wipe away a tear so he wouldn’t notice, but he saw her furtive movement. She was coping as best she could with all the changes in the past few days, he knew. What she needed now was to feel safe. His voice was much gentler as he settled his massive head back down on the ground before her, his warm breath puffing in her direction.
