by L M Lacee
“Charlie took them with her.”
He nodded then roared. Who dares enter my realm without my knowledge?”
The two males moved closer. “Dragon Lord we apologize, we meant no harm. We opened a tracer to Princess Olinda and arrived here. I am Jordan Reading and this is my brother Ethan Reading. We accompanied Ri’ Caederyn, to the meeting with Princess Olinda.”
“I remember.” Stated Reighn.
“We have come to ask the Dragon Lord, if we can form a Blessing under the rule of Princess Olinda.”
“Why would you want to?” Asked Reighn.
“We are all half-bloods like Princess Olinda. Without her parentage obviously. Our mothers are all human. She said she would protect us.” Jordan told him.
“She did say that!” Reighn agreed.
“We were taken to reside on Uformina by fathers who have no time or care for us. As half breeds we are very low in the Blessings ranking.” Said the one named Ethan.
“How many are there of you?” asked Lars.
Ethan bowed his head. “At last count, we numbered over one thousand males and three hundred females.”
“What of your mothers?” Asked Reighn.
Jordan came forward a little more. “Some of our mothers still survive. Some have since passed away.”
“Are any of you in contact with them?” asked Lars.
Ethan nodded slowly. “We have spoken twice to our mother. Some others have spoken more to theirs, some less. It is not encouraged.”
“Do they have other children?” asked Storm.
“No, none do.”
“Do they know they have young?” asked Reighn.
“All know my Lord.”
“Will they come here?”
Both males smiled. “Dragon Lord, yes they would.”
“What of Ri’ Caderyn?”
Their shoulders straightened. “We have defected.”
Keeper said. “No you are asking for sanctuary!”
“Oh!” The one named Jordan said with a nod to Keeper. “Correction. Dragon Lord we are asking for sanctuary?”
“Sanctuary is granted for all Unicorn full and half-bloods who wish to come to Dragon’s Gap and their mothers.” Reighn intoned the age old acceptance.
He looked at Lars. “Take them to the center.” He asked Jordan. “I am assuming the tracer is what you used to open a portal?”
“It is not a portal my lord, like you do.” He explained. “It is more a transference of energy from one place to another, which manifests in a type of shade that stands before you.”
“So you are not really here?” asked Stan.
“It is a metaphysical question.” Ethan told them. Which made Keeper grin.
“Regardless you will need a portal to bring you and your people here?”
“Yes my lord.”
“Who is the tracer?” asked Ark.
“Jordan is the tracer, he locates the target.”
Reighn eyed the shades. “Ri’ Caderyn will not be happy to lose that talent?”
“He would not be if he knew of it!”
“I see.” And Reighn did, they had hidden their abilities. Olinda was right they were not treated well. “When are the others ready to come?”
“As soon as we call for them!”
“Then go and do so.”
“My lord about Princess Olinda.” Asked Jordan.
“Yes I will see to her and explain to her and her shadow. Preferably before he kills you all.”
“Could you tell them both, we did not mean to frighten her.” said Ethan.
“We did not think she would be so frightened. She was not at the meeting with Ri’ Caderyn.” said Jordan.
“Olinda unfortunately has not had an easy time lately. As you know before she came here she was hunted. Unless you have had a similar experience it would be hard to understand her fear.”
“It would be. Lord Reighn have the ones who did this been found?”
Ark said. “Yes my brother and I saw to it.”
Ethan inclined his head in respect. “We Unicorns thank you. We would have done so if we had known.” He asked Reighn. “May we speak to Princess Olinda?”
“Yes but get your people here first. Then you will talk to her.”
“Thank you.”
They both bowed as Reighn nodded to them and then turned to Storm. “You and Lars see to this for me. Have the matron’s help, contact mama and Grace and ask Sage to call out the troops! I am off to see how our Unicorn Princess is coping.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN:
B y the time Reighn made it to Ash’s and Olinda’s place she was home and sitting wrapped up on the balcony. Ash was with the hatchlings in the nursery.
“Ash!” he said as he entered the bedroom. “Reighn!”
“How is she?” he asked as he took a hatchling from Ash and sat in the rocker with a bottle and hatchling in his arms.
Ash sat with the other hatchling in his arms and placed the nipple in his waiting mouth as Reighn did.
“She is angry at herself for being what she calls a wimp! I looked it up, it means spineless coward.”
“Olinda?” Reighn asked surprised. “A coward really?”
“I know. I explained that someone who had done what she had over the last four months should not feel that way.”
“What did she say?”
“That she cannot help feeling like she does!”
“I will go and talk to her.” Reighn told him as he patted the babies back. Ash shrugged as he said with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
She is not a Shield Reighn, you cannot yell at her and tell her to toughen up!”
Reighn burped the baby and then placed him in his bassinet and stood looking down at him. “I am well aware of that. I have daughters and a shadow, they do not like yelling.”
“Well alright!” said Ash.
Reighn asked with an edge to his voice that Ash could not miss. “Do you doubt my abilities to sooth Olinda?”
“It just seems unnatural, that is all!” he told him.
Reighn stood taller and Ash was sure he heard his dragon in his tones when he said. “You are more like your brother than I thought!” He turned and strode from the room.
Ash let him get to the door before he said. “I will take that as a compliment!”
“It was not intended you ass!” He snarled back. Ash looked into Steel’s sweet face and said. “Your uncle owes the swear jar double for swearing in front of you and your brother. Aunty Sage will be cross.” And laughed when he heard. “Screw the swear jar!”
Reighn lighter of heart at the small fight with Ash, found Olinda wrapped up in a colorful blanket sitting on the balcony. He wondered why these extraordinary females found such peace with the balconies. As far as he knew they all used them for solace.
He took the opposite seat to Olinda. She looked at him without saying anything. She seemed so sad it almost broke his heart.
“Olinda I am sorry I cannot take the fear away from you but you are intelligent enough to know who can.”
She nodded and sucked back a sob. “I thought I was okay you know, I did the loads of crying thing, saw my grandfather, got angry but seemed okay. Then this happened today. I was like a clinging fool hanging onto Ash like a limpet.”
Reighn smiled at her description. “And you think he will think less of you because of that?”
“Well yeah. I am not a silly, weak female. I was strong, capable. I managed to survive my mother’s death. The months of hiding and running. All of that and then one thing happens and I fall apart. What must he and all of you think of me?”
“That you are a beautiful, intelligent, strong, capable female that endured much and survived. We are proud to have you in our family.”
Olinda sobbed and threw herself into his arms, he rocked her as his dragon crooned.
Sage lent her head against Ash’s arm and quietly said. “See I told you he knew how to do that! She will be okay but call Rene’. Its time she saw him."
Ash watched as his shadow cried and Reighn, his friend, his brother, his Dragon Lord held her and crooned to her and said to Sage. “I think you are right, it is time for her to have some peace.”
“She loves you Ash!”
“Does she?” He asked sadly as he looked down at her. “I think not yet.”
“Oh I know she does. No female worries that much about her shadow if she does not love him.”
“I hope you a right.” But he thought she was not.
Much later that day, Rene’ stepped into the apartment of Ash and Olinda with Verity by his side.
“Good afternoon Olinda and Ash. I hear you Olinda would like to talk to me?”
“Reighn said it would be a good idea and Ash said you are the most trustworthy person he knows.”
Rene’ smiled at Ash as he said. “I thank both of them.”
Olinda asked. “Can you help me?”
“It is what I do, let us go into the little lounge that my Verity has told me about. She says you are making changes.”
“We are.” she asked Verity. “Edee told me you designed all the apartments?”
“I did, dear one.”
“Are you upset at the changes we are making?”
“Oh no never, it is what is meant to happen. You and Ash are making it a home for your family. This…” She swept her hand around “Was just a basis for you two, to build on.”
Relieved Olinda smiled. “Thank goodness I was so worried you would feel slighted.” Verity hugged her. “Do not worry, now go talk to Rene’ he will make it all clear for you.”
“Thank you.” Olinda looked up at Ash. “I am sorry.”
“For what my soul.”
“Maybe I didn’t try hard enough?”
“Maybe you tried to hard!”
“Oh I never thought of that. I love you very much. I never thought I would but you make my heart whole. Never think you don’t.”
“As I love you my heart always. I will be here.”
She looked into his beautiful green eyes and reached up and kissed him. “I know.” She whispered. “Mine forever, thank you my shadow.” Ash’s heart filled and he felt his dragon sigh. She was finally theirs.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT:
A day later Ash sat on the balcony off of his bedroom, it was nine in the morning. Olinda was sleeping he had finally worn her out at some time around five this morning. They had made love almost constantly since she had woken after three hours of sleep.
It was like having a complete Olinda. Where he had seen bits and pieces of her before. Glimpses of who she was, now it was like all the pieces had come together. After her session with Rene’ she had woken happy, healthy and dare he think it, wanting and needing him.
It was as though the help Rene’ gave her and admitting she loved him opened flood gates to her emotions. He loved every minute of being with her and would be in bed with her now but Reighn had summoned them to his office. He had no idea why and Lars had been less than forth coming.
His dragon told him. You are whining like a little girl. Our Dragon lord commands us.
Ash growled back. Commands! He knows I am with our shadow and has decided to be annoying!
His dragon laughed as he said. I do not think the Dragon Lord is that petty!
Olinda mind sent as she yawned and stretched. Huh! See what you know! I put nothing past that male.
Ash turned around and stared at Olinda. My shadow you can mind send along the bond?
She smiled at him. Yes I guess it is strong enough now. Hello my dragon.
Hello my shadow, we need to fly soon.
Yes we do.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE:
R eighn asked with a delighted look in his eyes.
“Prince and Princess guess what you are doing?” Ash and Olinda had spent the last fifteen minutes in Reighn’s office being brought up to date about the Unicorns and what, why and who was here.
“No I am a librarian.”
“And I am a Shield Commander.”
“And now you are Unicorn wranglers.” Said Reighn with a touch of delight.
They looked at each other. Olinda shrugged as Ash crossed his arms and stared at Reighn with narrowed eyes.
Reighn said. “Lars and Stan will help plus your brothers. Stan has contacted Mama, she and Grace as well as the matrons are going to help with their mothers. Now come with me and meet your Blessing.”
Goddess. You are so lucky you are not here!
Olinda mind sent to the Goddess and she was positive she heard laughter.
They walked with Reighn into the room used for court and saw nearly two thousand people. Males and females standing around. Olinda said. “Ri Caderyn is so going to notice this many of his people are missing!”
Reighn said. “I know but as you said we are forewarned so therefore forearmed. Also I have fairly reliable information that he will think long and hard about whether it is worth making an issue of this!”
“We had better be prepared.” said Ash.
“That is why you are here Prince Ash!”
Ash growled at the title, making Reighn smile as he addressed, the by now, silent room.
“For you who do not know this is Olinda and Ash Battle.” Instantly everyone bowed, Olinda and Ash returned the salute.
“Now as half-bloods, we have been told you breed true. Is this so?” Reighn asked.
Jenny stepped forward making Olinda gasp and ask. “Jenny, you are a half blood?”
“I am Princess. Dragon Lord only males if they produce males breed true. Most females have gifts like Princess Olinda.”
“Oh you know?” Olinda said.
Jenny answered. “Yes, we, Ethan and Jordan decided not to say anything. It was we believed safer for you and us.”
“How did, Ri’ Caderyn not know.” asked Ash.
She smiled bitterly. “He does not lower himself to look and relies on others. His advisors who tell him it is not possible for half-blood females to have gifts. He believes that to this day.”
“Well that is just bull-headed.” mumbled Olinda.
Reighn said. “What do you need to do now?”
Ethan answered. “We have places to stay courtesy of the lovely matrons and liaisons. We have been told our mothers will be here within days. What we would like is work and if possible most of us can shift. Would we have permission to do so?”
Reighn bit back words about assholes that hurt those they were responsible for. It was not healthy to stop shifters, shifting. Sharm had told him on more than one occasion.
It was their right to shift, he would hate it if his dragon could not wear his own skin as the kits called it.
He said now. “Shifters should shift, that is your right. Anytime you may and should shift, if you want.”
Ash said quietly. “The meadow Cara looks over from her bedroom and the families dining, lounge room. What do we call that room?”
“Sage calls it the Sunday family room.” Reighn told him.
“So the Sunday family room. That area should work.”
Reighn looked at him then Storm, who nodded and smiled. Reighn said just as quietly.
For Cara the world, if that will make her smile, then do so!”
Olinda pulled Jenny aside. “Jenny, I have a problem that I hope you can help me with?”
“Princess anything.”
“Do you know what a Keeper is?”
“Yes Healer Ella told us.”
“Well Cara was hurt. You know this, she was seen by her grandfather who is a Keeper.”
“I see, can I guess? She still remembers things.” Guessed Jenny.
Surprised Olinda nodded. “Yes pain.”
Jenny sighed “It is what we call a hidden memory. It is rare but I have read of gifted people who have the ability, some might say, the unfortunate ability of being able to compartmentalize their minds. Or information in their minds.”
Olinda asked. “Oh and you think she has this?”
“I would put money o
n it.”
“Could you talk to her father about that?”
“Of course she is young, she has many years before she has to cope with pain.”
“Storm!” Olinda called, he came to her. She smiled. “Storm, Jenny will tell you about Cara and her brain.”
“There is a problem?”
“Not one your father cannot fix now!”
“Good.” He kissed Olinda’s cheek. “Thank you, dear one.”
She ducked her head and hurried back to stand beside Ash as he addressed the gathering.
“Behind the castle is a meadow or should I say several large meadows, we will make it into one complete one if you tell us what you would like there…”
“Excuse me Prince Ash.” A small silver haired female with black eyes stood surrounded by four females who had to be sisters, interrupted him. “Yes lady…”
“Oh Kim.” She told him as she bowed.
“Well Lady Kim how can I help you?”
She smiled. “I was just going to say my sisters and I can shape the meadow, if that is permissibly. We will use our gifts and place what would be acceptable for the Blessing there.”
Reighn said. “Most acceptable please go with second Stan and his shadow, they will show you where the meadow is.” They hurried to where Jacks and Stan stood and shortly left.
The males realizing they were to be able to shift let out whoops of delight that replaced the worried frowns.
Claire said to Jenny as they walked to where Olinda stood. “Do not be surprised if your females end up shifting as well.” Jenny got a look of hope and wonder in her eyes.
“We will hope for that to happen.”
Claire smiled. “Stranger things have happened. This is after all Dragon’s Gap.”
June plus several teenagers arrived. Claire said to all the Unicorns present. “We will find you work but first you need to fill in these forms so we can match you with the proper positions.
And yes if you wish to be guards you are most welcome to apply and you are also allowed to try out for the Hunters and Shields.”
“Healers are always wanted.” Said Ella as she and Keeper, Sharm and Edith arrived.
Keeper said. “I need people for the library.”
Edith said. “Please anyone with artistic talent that would like to use it. See me.”
