by Judith Leger
Between pants she managed to answer, “All right, just be
quiet. I’m trying to concentrate here. The pains are coming
faster than when I had Mandy. They’re not as severe, but
they’re beginning to hurt.” She angled another glare at
Paladin. “Bad, too.”
There, she’d answered his question from earlier. Still hurt
and angry at him with his deception, right now it seemed
unimportant with the baby coming.
He raised a brow, stood up, and sat at the head of the
bed. “Come, lean against me.”
Wanting to reject his offer, but knowing it would be petty
of her, she moved so she sat flush between his spread legs,
resting against his body. He placed his hands on her
ballooned stomach and spread his fingers over each side.
She sighed and tried to relax. The two wizards stood
facing each other across the room. The length of the bed plus
some feet separated them. They placed their hands, palms
against each other at chest height and muttered some type of
spell she couldn’t hear. A diagram appeared on the stone
floor, another circle like the one Ren used to clean the
cavern. This one held more lines, strange shapes, and odd
writing inside of it. The lines gleamed with golden hue. The
light dissipated, leaving black marks imprinted on the floor.
After they finished, Leo and Ren came to the cot, one at
the head, and the other at the foot. Paladin eased from
behind her and helped them lift the bed. They carried and
positioned it in the center of the circle.
When Largin spoke, he stared at Paladin. “Perhaps you
should wait outside.”
Despite her anger at Paladin, a wave of panic built inside
her at the thought of him not being there with her. She
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started to argue, but Paladin interrupted her.
“I will be here when our son is born.”
She sagged in relief. “Thanks.”
He met her look, his gentle and caring. “I won’t leave you.
You will be safe in my arms.”
Tears burned the backs of her eyes. He returned to his
position behind her. She wanted to embrace him, but
another pain, harsher than the other ones, cut from her back
around to her lower belly. She panted, agony rendering her
speechless.
The wizards moved to their previous positions at the edge
of the circle and knelt, their hands flat within the diagram.
Again they spoke in lowered tones, snatches of words coming
to her here and there. “Power...bound...subdue...protect...”
All the words between were too obscured for her to make
out.
Lights radiated from the marks, surrounding them. An
invisible, heavy weight came down and the very air
thickened, pressing on her. Paladin gasped, and concerned,
she struggled to look up at him. His eyes dilated to the point
where very little blue showed.
She opened her mouth to say his name, but another pang
sliced into her. She cried out, clutching her stomach. Her son
pushed all thoughts from her mind. Bare seconds separated
the pains.
The contraction ended, and she managed to snap at
Largin. “This won’t hurt my baby?”
“Not at all. It only ensures the child’s power will be
repressed enough to allow it to be born. Nothing more. You
and Paladin, of course, will feel the effects as well. Not to
worry, little mother. They’re simply safe guards. We have
never had a dragonseed born who has been blessed with all
the clan leader’s powers. I can only hope it is an
uncomplicated matter.”
Uncomplicated? Seren snorted in response. Since her
arrival on Avaris, complications sprouted around her like
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weeds.
Her world centered on her pain. Nothing else mattered
but Paladin’s arms around her along with his encouraging
whispers close to her ear. A woman—one of Ren’s servants,
she wasn’t sure–arrived and checked her. She grinned
quickly at Seren. She scurried off to return moments later
with folded white clothes and a basin of steaming water.
Seren eyed the basin. “That’s not too hot for my baby, is
it?”
Bowing, the woman shook her head. She set the basin on
the table across the room. “No, my lady, not at all. It is a
dragonseed after all.”
Another sharp pain shot deep within her womb, forcing a
moan to escape. The need to push came over her. She
struggled to sit up, but the weakness in her limbs made it
difficult.
The rich aroma of spice floated in the room. She sucked
in lungs full of air and choked. Coughing, she pushed against
Paladin, still fighting to straighten.
Panting, sweat pouring from her, she grunted, “I have to
push.”
The room spun around her. Paladin moved from behind
and stepped to where her bent knees spread. The pain
crested. A surge of fluid came from her, wetting her hips and
the blankets beneath. She gasped at the sudden heat. Light
radiated from between her legs. She concentrated on the
illumination. Her body took over, stomach tightening then
releasing. The birth took her control away.
The luminosity grew in brilliance until it exploded with
power. The force shoved her flat on her back. Staring up at
the stone ceiling, she gathered her strength, struggling to
draw in air. A low mewl came from the end of the bed,
followed by a howl. Tears welled in her eyes, blinding her.
She managed to half rise to see. Held in his father’s hands,
their red-faced son vented his fury to the world. Matted with
blood and mucus, he squirmed, batting his plump arms and
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legs at whatever he believed caused his discomfort.
Sobbing with joy, she watched when the woman came
and took her child to bathe him. When she’d finished, she
wrapped him in a blanket and carried him to Seren. With
gentle care, the woman placed him in Seren’s arms. Smiling
down at her son, Seren tried, but found no words to describe
how happy this moment made her. She lifted her gaze and
met Paladin’s. He stared at their son.
“He is healthy.”
She laughed. “Very much so. Look at his hair. It’s two
colors.”
The thin wisps covering the baby’s head were ebony
mixed with some white blond. Random sections resembled a
zigzag across his head with the black on bottom.
“I wonder if it’ll stay like this? Do any of your family have
hair similar to this?” She looked up at Paladin.
He shrugged. “I’ve never seen such. Have you decided on
a name?”
She nodded. “He said his name the other day. Legion.”
“Look, his eyes are open.”
Their child relaxed his scrunched lids, revealing two
different colored eyes. One was blue like his father, the other
gray like hers. His cupid bow mouth shifted in an open smile
> aimed at them. Her heart melted.
She held her son. Wrapped tight, he looked at her with
such knowing eyes. They had to succeed in keeping him
alive. No matter what. Sending up silent, sincere pleas, she
hoped Avaris’ problems disappeared and they would remain
safe.
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Chapter Twenty-Five
Seven days after Legion’s birth, news arrived concerning
the clan leaders flying toward the caverns. Seren asked Ren
why. He’d looked at her in his stoic manner and walked away
without answering. She stared after him, the first rays of fear
shattering the peaceful fairytale world she enjoyed with her
son.
She searched for Leo and Paladin, finding them in the
small room they shared. Leo held a front panel to the armor
Paladin wore during his rescue of her. His swords lay across
one of the beds. They both turned to look at her. The fear
burst inside her. She stood in the doorway, unable to speak
or move.
Eyes vacant, Paladin stared at her. With his stare, no
words were necessary. The answer lay there for her to see.
Arcane and his army approached.
She clasped her hands together. Her teeth ached from
clenching them so hard. He seemed so calm, standing there.
Didn’t he realize their doom drew closer? He turned away to
finish dressing. She whispered his name.
“Do not, Seren.” He angled a hard glare at her. “This is
war, and with war, battles must ensue. We cannot stop it.
They want to destroy us. In turn, we desire to stop them.”
“But—”
He lifted a hand, stopping what she’d intended to say. “Be
still. I will not go to fight with the memory of your fear in my
thoughts. Be strong for me and for our son.”
She took a deep breath, struggling to shove her growing
terror aside. Next to Leo, even in the armor, he appeared
small and thin. Too thin. Their forced separation had
affected him.
His deep voice broke through her muddled thoughts.
“Where is Legion?”
“He’s sleeping. I asked one of the girls to watch him for
me. I’d wanted some fresh air but now...” She bit her tongue
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to keep from crying. Tears burned her eyes and her vision
blurred. She reached out to touch his arm, trying to find the
words to keep him close. Instead, she curled her fingers into
her palms. No, she wouldn’t do it.
The last clasp fastened under his fingers, and the helm
placed on his head. He picked up his sword belt. With fast
efficient movements, he buckled it around his slender waist.
He walked to her side, slow and with ease in his movements.
Would she ever see his walk—God, she loved his walk—
again?
His fingers, lean and beautiful, brushed a lock of her hair
from her brow. “I cannot stand by and watch them fight. I
have to help.”
With a nod, she moved out of the doorway. Paladin
stepped through it, his gaze never leaving hers. “I will
return.”
Seren, suddenly chilled, wrapped her arms about her
waist. Her words after Bask’s visit returned. She wanted to
tell him she forgave him, and that she loved him, but not
now. She forced an answer past her lips. “I know.”
He left the room to trail behind several other warriors
moving to the passageway leading to the entrance.
She followed, her legs weak with fear. Once above
ground, he continued through the gap in the barrier Ren held
open for the ones intending to fight.
At the sight of the desert surrounding the entrance, her
eyes widened. The six clan leaders waited. Not alone, either.
Heart racing, she gazed over the area outside the barrier.
Dragons, too many to count and of all sizes, colors, and
shapes, surrounded the limestone entry way. They waited on
either side of the cavern’s opening on the outer edges of the
barrier. She stood, mouth open, staring at them.
The reality of what was about to happen bit deep in her
heart. She started to cry out for him to stop, but his wings
burst out from his back. He whipped around, flying toward
the spot where Lior waited with other white dragon clan
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beasts still loyal to her. They spread out behind her, their
white scales catching the light around them.
Trembling, Seren stood stiff, pain rippled through her
chest. The ache increased over not telling him how much she
cared.
Leo came to her side and placed an arm across her
shoulders. “Come inside. We’ll go to the top. The barrier
should hold against an attack. You’ll be able to see the battle
from there.”
She nodded, jaw aching from clenching her teeth to keep
from screaming at Paladin to stay with her. The calm way
Leo spoke did little to soothe her nerves. This impending
battle would result in a life and death struggle, not a
fireworks display on July fourth. Didn’t he realize it? Paladin
left. He might not come back. The thought ripped a hole in
her heart.
Unable to vent at her friend, she followed him through
the cavern to the spiral stone stairs leading to the top. They
came out on the flat ledge.
The sky darkened. Dragons, too many to number, waited
for the rogues’ arrival. To the northeast, a black line formed
on the horizon. So many had come to destroy them.
Uncertainty entered her mind.
She drew in a shuddering breath and glanced at Leo.
“Will he be all right?”
“We just have to hope. Trust in our strength. They know
what they’re doing.”
Though he spoke words of assurance, doubts about how
much they both truly believed his words remained with her.
* * * *
The magic swirling in the air thickened the closer Paladin
came to Lior and the other clan leaders. He landed nearby,
his gaze taking in the lines of dragoons. On their backs,
dragonseed soldiers waited for the order to charge. All the
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leading clans, their banners slapping in the gusts blowing
over the desert, cried out of the unity of the black, red, blue,
green, and purple dragon clans. Dracs pranced alongside
their older relatives, cawing and blasting magic from their
elongated throats.
Bask glided from Lior’s neck to land next to him.
The silvered skullcap glowed with a white brilliance. “Are
you prepared to die, Sire?”
Gritting his teeth, he glared at the ageless wizard. “I am
ready to live. So should you be.”
A low chuckle came from Bask. “Ah, but I have lived far
too long. The thought of death no longer brings fear to my
heart.”
“Nor to mine. I have no intention of dying this day.”
“Take care, mighty White Dragon King, there will be
many desiring your head.” With this morbid warning, the
wizard
returned to wait atop Lior’s shoulder. Paladin studied
them. What did the two speak of while the enemy came
closer? The gentle way Bask caressed Lior’s neck revealed his
affection. The sight brought a regretful twinge shooting
through Paladin’s gut. He should have mended matters with
Seren. At least showed her his love.
Screeches rang overhead. He raised his eyes and stared in
awe at where the lesser dragons of every clan glided above on
the air currents. Magic glinted in the sky around the winged
beasts, sending streams of sparkling dust trailing behind
each.
Legless forest dragons with vertical striped green and
yellow scales running the length of their bodies with long
trailing feathers weaved through the flying ranks of their
distant kin. Roars erupted below them to echo across the
dunes. Sand whirled around the dragoons and whipped up to
the flyers.
Along the northern horizon, black clouds roiled closer,
powerful magical waves propelling in the direction of their
waiting forces. He narrowed his eyes at the approaching
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army. Through the grayness, Arcane flew in front of the mass
of writhing dragons.
“Well, old friend, our guests will soon be upon us.”
He shifted his gaze to the left. He’d never noticed Ren’s
arrival. “So it seems.”
A wicked grin flashed across the wizard’s face. “Best
method to relieve tension. Fighting and sex. Two ways to a
man’s heart.”
His comment, so strange coming from the serious man,
brought a laugh from Paladin. “For once, I have to agree with
you.”
“So, shall we go and greet them in the manner most
fitting for their visit.”
Responding with a like grin, Paladin nodded. He called
upon his innate magic to unfurl his wings. The wizard leapt
on the shoulders of a nearby lesser white dragon. Sand
billowed with the fanning of their wings as they lifted into
the sky and headed for the encroaching enemy. Many of the
other lesser dragons fell in line behind them.
* * * *
Worry clouded Seren’s mind. Her concern increased with
the many dracs taking flight above them. Waves upon waves
of dragons ascended to the sky above the cavern.
Seconds later, the first swell of rogues arrived with
Arcane in the lead. The converging magnitude shot straight
for the seven dragon clan leaders. The dracs which were
