The dragon stood in the middle of the valley. She tossed her head as she saw Thea.
*We go.*
The words were not a question, but an order, laced with impatience.
*Please, Zara. These men are important to me.*
The dragon’s gusty sigh lifted Thea’s hair, even from across the valley. *Bring them.*
Thea turned back toward the trees. “ Zara says okay. But stay beside me.”
She heard their footsteps as they followed, but did not turn.
“By the Goddess,” Dahlabar said in awe. “She is beautiful.”
Zara trumpeted in pleased response.
Thea turned to face Desmond. He said nothing, just stared at the golden dragon. At last he turned to her. “You can speak to it?”
*I am not an it,* Zara rumbled.
Thea reached to scratch the dragon’s forehead. *What can I say? They’re but humans.*
She watched Desmond close his eyes for a moment and his face twisted in pain. “What does she want from you? Your Goddess.”
She reached to touch his arm. “I must go from you for a while.” She felt his arm tense beneath her fingers.
“I love you, Thea. I want us to have a life together, a home and children.”
“I want that also,” she said. “And we will have it, just not for a while.”
Desmond clasped her hands. “If you leave, it will not happen. I know this in my soul.”
She smiled. “I will return. The Goddess has promised me this. Then we will be together.”
A sad smile curved Desmond’s lips. “Swear to me,” he said, “that you will always love me, that you will seek me throughout eternity.”
Thea laughed softly. “Desmond, I will always love you…”
“Swear,” he said, his hands tightening upon hers.
“I swear,” she whispered, a sudden chill making her shiver. “Desmond, what have you foreseen? You are not a far-viewer.”
He dropped her hands and turned from her. “I have seen nothing.”
*Thea.* Zara’s mind touched hers, but this time gentle with understanding. *We must go.*
“I must leave,” Thea said, and she heard Desmond sigh as he faced her. He opened his arms and she went into them. He pulled her close and she listened to his heartbeat beneath her cheek. She felt him kiss the top of her head and she pulled back and looked into his eyes. Her lips parted to speak, but he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. Their kiss was long and deep. She felt tears spring into her eyes. Why do I feel as if we are saying good bye? We are not. I will return.
Desmond stepped back from her, and without another word, turned and walked away. Before the first tree, he stopped and looked back. “Remember your promise. Always seek me. I will love you for eternity.
She lifted a hand toward him, but he turned and moved into the trees. “Desmond,” she whispered.
“You must follow your path, daughter,” Dahlabar said from beside her.
She closed her eyes and swallowed the tears in her throat. “We will be together. We will.”
There was no response, and she opened her eyes and looked into her father’s face. “I will miss you, Poppa-Dah.”
“And I you. But I know the Goddess will protect you…” A roar filled the air. “As well as the dragon,” he added.
She rose up onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “It is time.”
“Go. I will be here when you return.”
She turned and walked from him. Zara extended her leg as she neared. Thea pulled her new boots from her feet and placed them in the woven bag atop her other purchases. She could stand another short flight without the warm leggings and woolen tunic. The bag had two strong ties and, with the boots inside, she wrapped the lengths of woven cloth around her waist and knotted them. Boots secure, she climbed the dragon’s leg, seated herself between the first two neckline ridges, and pulled on the leather gloves. She turned and looked across the valley at Dahlabar. He lifted his hand and waved.
*Are you ready, Thea?* Zara sent.
Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, she nodded, and sent the answer with her mind.
The dragon took three lumbering steps, and then leapt. Dirt and grass rose as her huge wings beat against the air. Thea buried her head against the spinney ridge in front of her and felt her stomach dip with each sweep of Zara’s wings. When she dared to open her eyes and looked down, the valley was far below and Dahlabar but a toy-sized man. As Zara winged away, he still stood, staring upward, and Thea watched until she could see him no more.
As they neared a mountain’s side, Thea turned and faced forward, her gaze on the land spread before her. *What now?* she sent to Zara.
*I know not. The Goddess will show us the way.* And with those words, the dragon dipped a wing and glided onward.
Note from the author:
This is the story of how Thea, Zara and Desmond first come together. Thea, Desmond and Zara’s story continues in my Daradawn series, The Blue Flame, The Emerald Dagger and The Silver Angel.
Barbara M Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara M. Hodges lives on the central coast of California with her husband Jeff, two basset hounds, Ophelia and Hamlet, as well as a sassy ginger stripped feline, Wallace.
Barbara is a big NASCAR fan as well as a decorative painter.
Website barbaramhodoges.com
Blog http://barbhodges.blogspot.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/barbara.m.hodges
NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER:
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