by Nathan Roden
Lucien managed the smallest of smiles.
“I don’t care. I never wanted to be king. I would have been happy to serve beneath Simon—to have met a girl and fallen in love, and she with me. To have fathered a dozen children and grown old…”
“The queen is very fond of you, Lucien. She told me so before she left.”
Lucien waved his hand.
“She is a good person. She has always been a good wife and a good queen. She has done her duty, in my eyes and in Sterling’s.”
Lucien’s lip quivered as he looked out of the window.
“I will find her and keep her safe. My wife and our son. I will do so with every ounce of my being.”
Belinda sniffed.
“Jaclyn and I agree on one thing, Lucien. You do not deserve this fate.”
Lucien ducked his head and stepped toward the door.
Belinda moved forward and put her arms around him. She pulled him tightly against her chest.
Lucien shook almost uncontrollably. Belinda felt the sensation of holding a wild animal, but she would not let him go. He struggled—until he struggled no more. Lucien shivered, and quaked, and sobbed into Belinda’s arms. He sobbed like he had been waiting for the opportunity his entire life.
When Belinda finally let go, Lucien wiped his eyes. He grabbed the door handle.
“Oh, wait,” Belinda said. “I almost forgot to give you your things.”
She handed Lucien his crown.
“I thought it was lost,” Lucien said.
“Brendan picked it up,” Belinda said. “It was damaged. I straightened it out as best I could.”
“Thank you,” Lucien said.
“And this…was in one of your pockets.”
Belinda handed Lucien a velvet pouch. The pouch contained the stones and seashells Lucien had kept for as long as he could remember.
Lucien blushed.
“It is childish of me to keep these.”
“There is nothing childish about memories,” Belinda said.
Lucien nodded. And then he was gone into the night.
Fifty-Seven
Boone, Ben, and Helena made repeated trips to the brook. They soaked pieces of clothing in the cool water and covered Jaclyn with them.
“I think it’s working,” Helena whispered.
Jaclyn stirred and opened her eyes.
“I feel awful.”
Helena choked back a laugh, her eyes welling with tears.
“You frightened us, my queen.”
Jaclyn turned her head, focusing on Simon.
“Hello, stranger.”
Simon lowered his head. Jaclyn reached out and patted his jaw.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said. “I think the baby is coming.”
“It is an honor to be here, my queen,” Simon said.
Helena gripped Jaclyn’s hand.
“And at tonight’s moon, you can meet the real Simon.”
Helena felt Jaclyn’s grip grow strong. Her face brightened and her eyes grew wide.
“It’s…tonight is the full moon?”
“Yes,” Simon said. “But right now we need you to be as comfortable as possible.”
“There is so much to be excited about—”
Jaclyn’s back arched into the air. She screamed. Helena winced as Jaclyn squeezed her hand with almost supernatural strength.
“Is the baby coming?” Boone whispered. He moved back and forth, unsure what to do.
Jaclyn bucked two more times and then fell still. Sweat formed on her forehead and face.
“More water,” Helena said. “Get more water.”
Boone and Ben rushed off toward the brook.
“Helena,” Jaclyn whispered.
“Yes, my queen.”
“I am going to give you a command.”
Helena’s jaw moved, but she made no sound.
“I may never serve as queen again,” Jaclyn said. She squeezed Helena’s hand, gently.
“You are no longer my maiden. You are to address me by my name. My name is Jaclyn.”
“But my—”
“Ah, ah! You are one of my best and most loyal friends, Helena. Please, do this for me.”
“As you wish. Jaclyn.”
“Simon?”
“Yes.”
“When I left Lucien, he was under the care of Lady Jacobs.”
“What?”
“He had been beaten, severely. By Lord Sterling. Lucien set me free.”
“How badly was he hurt?” Helena asked.
“I don’t know,” Jaclyn said. “Bad.”
“We have mounted a sizable resistance,” Simon said. “Your father has reached Islemar by now.”
“How many men?” Jaclyn asked.
“The number of men, I cannot attest to,” Simon said. “But as for dragons, we have more than seventy.”
“Dragons?” Jaclyn exclaimed. “I…I don’t understand…”
“The dragons have been repopulating, deep in the Southlands.”
“They have joined with my father? But how?”
“The clan follows their leader. And thanks to Caleb—I am their leader now,” Simon said.
Jaclyn reached out to Simon again. He moved close to her.
“I have known it since the night we met,” Jaclyn said. “You are no ordinary dragon. And no ordinary man.”
“You’re embarrassing me,” Simon said.
Jaclyn laughed, which made her wince.
“It will not be the last time.”
“Rest now, my queen,” Simon said. “You have a busy time ahead of you.”
Jaclyn put her hand to Simon’s jaw again. She closed her eyes with a smile on her lips.
“I cannot wait to touch your real face.”
Jaclyn went through contractions for the rest of the day. They began to take a great toll. Boone took Helena aside.
“How long will this go on? She can’t endure this forever. She grows weak.”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Helena said. “The baby will come when it is time.”
“What if she…what if she loses consciousness?” Ben asked. “Is that possible?”
“I don’t know,” Helena said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Simon did not leave Jaclyn’s side.
In the moments she was lucid, Jaclyn stroked Simon’s head and talked about their brief moments together as if they had just happened. She remembered every single one. Simon knew that he did.
“Simon,” Boone said.
“I’ll be right back,” Simon said to Jaclyn. He stood and joined Boone.
“It won’t be long now,” Boone said. “Your trousers are clean and dry. I came across a pair of boots on the way here. They should fit. Where shall I leave them?”
“I’ll carry them. I don’t want to leave until I have to, but I don’t want her to hear me.”
“I’ll bundle them up and leave them hanging from that tree,” Boone said, pointing to the west.
“Thank you.”
“Try not to worry, Simon. Women do this all the time.”
“She is very weak,” Simon said. “She has been through far too much at this critical time.”
“Better to be here, with people who love her, than in a dungeon cell being watched over by Lord Sterling.”
“Yes,” Simon said, his thoughts drifting. “We need to get her and the baby home as soon as possible. We are too close to the King’s Road.”
Simon returned to Jaclyn’s side.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Yes. We had some last-minute clothing issues to discuss.”
“I’m sorry?”
“My clothes,” Simon said. “I prefer not to run around naked.”
Jaclyn smiled and closed her eyes.
“When I can hold my baby and see your face, it will be the greatest day of my life.”
“Hold onto that thought—”
Jaclyn’s eyes opened wide. Her back arched and her scr
eams came again. Helena ran to her side. They waited for the contraction to subside, but it continued.
Helena looked at the others.
“I think this is it. Make certain we have all the clean water possible.”
Boone patted Simon on his side.
“You have to go, Simon. It’s almost dark.”
Simon put his face as close to Jaclyn as he dared.
“I have to go now.”
Jaclyn forced her mouth shut. Her lips trembled.
“I love you,” she said.
Simon looked up at Helena, who watched him through her tears.
“I love you,” he said. He snatched his clothes from a tree limb and fled to the west.
He had not gotten far when he felt the first twinges in his wings.
I’m still too close.
He tried to fly, but his movements were clumsy. He ran until he could run no more. The cracking of his shrinking wings sounded in his ears.
You will be quiet! He screamed inside his head. You will be quiet—for her!
But it was not within his power to be quiet. The transformation to humanity had always been the worst two minutes of Simon’s life—far beyond his capacity to endure it in silence.
Boone and Ben knelt beside Jaclyn, each holding a hand. Helena knelt between Jaclyn’s legs, straining to remain calm, and trying to stay strong. She placed her hand on Jaclyn’s knee and felt the queen’s body vibrating, as if lightning passed through her. Something fell to the ground from Jaclyn’s dress. Helena picked it up.
It was a folded piece of parchment. Helen unfolded it and began to read.
It was Simon’s note. Despite the heavy rains of the last few days, the parchment was intact and without stain. Not a single letter of the prose was tainted by the water. Helena squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Through her tears, she folded the note and put it in her pocket.
Boone and Ben ignored the pain as Jaclyn’s nails dug into their hands. They pushed the chorus of Jaclyn’s screams and Simon’s screams out of their minds. The trio of friends locked eyes and drew strength from one another.
Had it been one minute? Two? They had lost the concept of time.
Helena jumped when the baby’s head slipped into her hands. In the distance, Simon’s cries stopped. At the same time, Jaclyn’s cries stopped. Her head fell to the side.
“My queen?” Boone said. He patted her cheek.
“Helena?”
Helena used her finger to clear the baby’s throat. He began to cry.
“He’s fine! He’s perfect!” Helena said. She looked at Jaclyn’s face.
“Ben! Here! Take the baby!”
Helena grabbed a skin of water. She splashed Jaclyn’s face.
Helena lowered her head and listened to Jaclyn’s heart.
“She is so weak,” Helena said softly.
She pushed the hair from Jaclyn’s eyes. She leaned down.
“He is perfect, Jaclyn! You have a beautiful baby boy who cannot wait to meet you.”
Helena continued to weep. She put her mouth close to Jaclyn’s ear.
“Please be all right. Please, stay with us.”
Simon slipped to one knee in the wet grass. He righted himself and skidded to a stop. He was clad only in trousers and boots.
“Jaclyn?”
Fifty-Eight
Helena looked up at Simon. The look on her face terrified him. He fell to his knees next to Jaclyn.
“Is she—?”
Simon put his cheek over Jaclyn’s mouth.
“She’s breathing!”
Simon looked at the others.
“What can we do? What can we do for her?”
Helena covered her mouth. She shook her head.
“There’s nothing we can do, Simon. Nothing…but wait. Wait and pray.”
Simon took Jaclyn’s hand. He kissed it, over and over again. He whispered in her ear.
“Please. Please come back to us.”
The baby continued to cry.
“He needs you, Jaclyn. He wants to see you. He wants to feel your touch. He wants to sleep in your arms. Please…”
Helena put her hands on Simon’s shoulders and helped him stand.
Boone bounced the baby gently, but he continued to cry. Simon stepped closer to Boone.
“He’s…he’s beautiful.”
“Here,” Boone whispered. “Say hello to your nephew.”
Simon’s hands trembled as he took the baby. He held him close and looked down at his tiny face.
“I’ve never held a baby. I…don’t remember seeing one—other than Lucien.”
The baby stopped crying. His eyes cleared, and he stared up at Simon.
“Would you look at that!” Ben said. “He’s smiling!”
“He knows your voice,” Helena said, as she wiped her eyes.
“Doesn’t he need to eat?” Boone asked.
“Yes,” Helena said. “You need to leave us alone. I’ll help him to nurse. It might just...it might help her.”
Simon, Boone, and Ben walked away. They sat down and stared silently at the ground.
Boone was the first to speak.
“She’ll come around, mate. She’s just exhausted.”
Simon nodded.
“I wish Caleb was here.”
“You can’t think like that, Simon,” Ben said. “That boy has gifts beyond belief, but he’s not a god. He could not help Sir Edmund and he could not help Papa. It is not what you want to hear, but some things are just meant to be.”
Simon balled his hands into fists.
“She is going to live!”
Ben stepped in front of Simon. He held out his hand.
“I believe it as well.”
Boone added his hand to his brother’s.
“The queen shall live.”
They stood, their arms around each other’s shoulders, drawing strength.
Helena joined them a few minutes later, carrying the baby.
“Did it work?” Boone asked.
“Yes, thank the gods,” Helena said.
Simon cleared his throat.
“Did she…?”
Helena gave a polite smile.
“She moaned—twice. The fever has not returned. Her heart still beats strong. She has just been through so much at a critical time—we have to hope that she is using this time to heal.”
Helena looked at Boone.
“Give Simon one of your shirts.”
“Where is his?” Boone asked.
Helena looked down.
“The baby is wrapped in it.”
“By the way,” Ben asked. “What is the baby’s name?”
“I don’t know,” Helena said. She looked at Simon. “Did she tell you?”
“No.”
Simon knelt at Jaclyn’ side again. He took her hand.
“You once told me that being my friend was the hardest thing you had ever done.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“I have faced an army, and a giant, and the leader of a dragon clan. And yet, nothing frightens me more than the thought of losing you.”
Simon kissed Jaclyn’s cheek. He lifted his head and saw his tear fall in the same place.
“Please come back.”
The baby began to cry again. Simon turned and saw Helena walking back and forth trying to calm the little one. Simon held out his hands.
“May I?”
Once again, after seconds in Simon’s arms, the baby stopped crying.
“He seems to like you,” Boone said.
“I was thinking…” Helena said.
“What?” Simon asked.
“Since you are able to keep him quiet, maybe it would be best if you take him to Islemar. There will be nursemaids there. The longer we tarry, the more likely it becomes that the army will come between us and the village.”
Simon thought about what Helena said.
“I can’t. I can’t leave her!”
“You have only one opportu
nity to travel under cover of darkness,” Helena said. “It may be days before Jaclyn can travel. Our situation becomes more dangerous by the hour.”
“We have allies,” Simon said. “Lord Lamont may not know where we are, but he knows where we started.”
Helena peeked at the baby who was fast asleep. Her shoulders slumped, and she rubbed her eyes.
“We should all get some rest,” Simon said. “We will need it.”
“I don’t know how you continue to stand, Simon,” Ben said. “How many times have you almost died in the last two days?”
“More than I care to remember.”
They lay in a circle, surrounding Jaclyn. Simon tucked the baby in the crook of his arm. He fell asleep immediately.
The next morning was cloudy. There was no bright morning sun to awaken anyone. Simon jolted awake when Helena picked up the baby.
“He will need a little cleaning up at the brook before he eats again,” she said.
Simon walked on his knees to Jaclyn’s side. He checked her breathing and relaxed a little. He put his hand to her forehead. No fever. Her lips moved slightly, making no sound.
Simon rose and turned his head away. He was disgusted with himself. Jaclyn held onto life by a thread. She was his brother’s bride, and now the mother of his son.
Yet, Simon could not take his eyes off of her lips. Was she trying to speak? Was she tryin to speak—to him?
He wanted to kiss her. For a moment, he was almost powerless to stop himself from kissing her lips.
She had touched his scaly jaw and looked him in the eye. She had said the words.
I love you.
Helena returned with the baby.
“What’s wrong?” Helena asked.
Simon forced a smile.
“She’s coming back to us. I know it.”
Fifty-Nine
“He’s all nice and clean and ready for breakfast, aren’t you, my good boy?” Helena wiggled the baby’s nose with her finger.
She waved her hand at Simon.
“It’s time for Uncle Simon to go away now.”
Simon found Boone and Ben preparing to go hunting.
