Child of the Loch (Child of the Loch Series) (7 page)

When we were all tucked into our beds, my father and I bade them all, “Good Night.” Each man would take a turn guarding our camp. Sean would take the first shift from his pallet. Those were our last thoughts before sleep took us all.

I awakened with a panic. Something was creeping amongst the wheat. I heard cracks of wheat stalks and the animal’s gaffs. A large reptilian claw tore through the thin walls of my tent. I screamed in terror. All five men in the camp ran towards me swords drawn.

Laughter erupted from them all. There were quaking shoulders and even a snort or two. My tent was literally torn to pieces and lying on the ground around me. A 7 foot dragon was curled up against me and sighing contently. It looked at me adoringly with cat-like brown eyes.

Four letter words, unbecoming a queen threatened to jump from my lips. I flapped my hands not sure whether to pet the dragon or end it. I stroked its mind and found it to be a worthy being full of peace and good intentions.

“Dragon, I will look after you because you decided not to eat me.”

The dragon gaffed and snuggled closer, nearly pushing me into the ground with its massive head.

“Stand up, Dragon. I will give you a name and a purpose,” I was getting used to being a “Queen” of ceremony.

It stood to its fullest height and stretched its bat-like wings. I assessed it for the first time. The fuzzy, purple scales were hard and spotted with gold that seemed to replace the fuzz, like a chick getting adult feathers. Its silver wings were powerful. This dragon was beautiful and loyal.

Remembering from the fairy tales that my father taught me as a child, “You’re name will be
Dranco
. You will be the closest to my side, when I am outside of the castle walls. I charge you as a protector of the crown. You will bear my burdens and I will ride no other animal. That honor is for you alone. In return, I will feed you only the best foods of your choosing. You will want for nothing while in my care. You are mine and I am yours.”

I offered kinship as I had with the others; I knew the proud dragon would accept no less. I motioned for him to lean to me.

Dranco
bent toward me in a low bow. I scratched him behind his tiny ear-like indentions. The men watched in amazement as I leapt upon his strong back and
Dranco
made a sound of contentment deep in his long throat. We were of one mind and thought. He took a running start and flew up into the sky.

I laughed and squealed, when he coughed and blew a smoke ring that we flew through. We flew for many miles and he ate the supple fruit from many trees, as though he knew I could not stand to watch him eat the small animals we saw along the way. He was a dragon after all.

I recognized the forest from shared memories and below I saw the Western Wood the kingdom of
Chian
.
Dranco
flew low and my mind touched the minds of many.

“Where is
Chian
the Great Sovereign of the Ogres, who sent me gifts and loyal protectors?” I inquired of every mind I met.

Finally, a gruff voice answered from the tallest tree, “I am
Chian
, who seeks me?”

Dranco
landed gently and I slid off his back. I kneeled before the Sovereign of the Ogres and moved my hair, exposing my neck as the others had done to me.

“I am Josephina Elena McDonnell, Jr., daughter of
Jacoh
McDonnell, the Exiled Prince, and grand-daughter of
Misha
McDonnell the Second, King of the Loch. You paid me a great kindness. I have come to pay my respects and gratitude.”

“Rise youngling.” The tall, ruby-haired King embraced me against his barrel chest, like we were long lost family. He kissed both my cheeks, making me blush.

A horn sounded, “The Halfling Princess of the Loch has come to us.” Ogres crowded around us touching my hair and stroking my face and shoulders. They brought gifts of food and cloth. It was a greeting befitting the truest friends of the Ogres.

“Great
Chian
, I cannot stay long. The men you have sent to me await my return. I was entrusted to this dragon’s care for only a short time. I must ask you for one thing while I am here. I pledge my friendship to you and your kingdom for always as you have pledged yours to me, but I must also ask for your permission to take Ella to her mate, Tine. He tells me she is a warrior in her own right. I cannot in good conscience separate the two for long. Also I am the only female among my party and I desire the companionship of my own gender. I beg you for your blessing and her service.”

I was trying to be as formal as possible. I was addressing a much respected ally who was in fact a king. I was amazed that I sounded so proper, like some kind of English lady of old.

Ella, a sinewy woman with a bow on her shoulder and various knives in sheaths along her long body, stepped forward from among the crowds. Her long brown hair was streaked with jade that matched her eyes. Those beautiful eyes shined with anticipation.

Chian
looked at me thoughtfully and nodded his approval, “You will be a good Queen. You care about those in your kingdom. There are few who seek out the mate of their guards so that the two could be reunited. This is a good thing. Take her and go but in exchange, you must promise to visit me again. Your sweet face and kindness will soothe our hearts that grieve for
Misha
.”

“Thank you Great
Chian
and many blessings upon you and your kingdom but we must go or my men will be searching for us.”

He touched his forehead to mine in the Ogre way of showing affection. I felt sad as we left; I didn’t have anything to offer the King nor was I able to stay longer with him. Ella and I mounted
Dranco
. I could feel her fear and excitement.

Immediately, I recognized from her thoughts that she was more excited to be near a dragon rider than a queen. Dragon riders were thought to be extinct and it was considered a good omen that the new Queen of the Loch would be reviving the tradition.

As we rode through the skies and back to the meadow, I turned to Ella and placed my hand on the side of her cheek. She was good and kind. Ella was a strong warrior and fiercely loved her mate. If Tine gave his oath to me, she would follow and nothing would lead her astray.

“Ella, your mate, Tine, swore his allegiance to me. His sword and his gifts are for my kingdom alone. Now I ask you for the same oath. I do swear that you will be my friend and confidant, as close to me as any sister. I know that you don’t have the magic of Sheen, Kane, or your mate, but I can see that you are loyal, good and kind. I will need your merit and friendship in the days to come.”

Tears formed in Ella’s eyes, she was not used to being chosen for her non-magical gifts. She was a rarity in her homeland and didn’t have natural magic like the others in her clan.

“Queen you do me a great service. Where you go I will follow, when you call I will come. Whatever you ask of me I will do. My sword and my gifts are yours.”

By the time we reached the camp, I was sleeping soundly on
Dranco’s
back and holding tightly to his scales. Ella was nodding off but would not sleep for fear of falling. There was only a soft bump when he landed in the center of the waiting men. I stirred stretching and Ella slid off his back and into Tine’s arms.

Tine kneeled as did Ella, “We thank you Grand Queen of the Loch. We are forever yours. No other sovereign would allow us to serve you as one. Our swords, our gifts and our friendship are yours.”

While still on
Dranco’s
back, I said sleepily, “Rise. Your oaths were already given. Serve me as one in the morning, but tonight is yours.”

They disappeared into the wheat with another bow. I could hear their soft laughter and felt the depth of their love.

Kane and Sheen stretched and nodded to me. I saw the sleepiness in their eyes and dismissed them with a droopy hand. Sean and my father stepped forward to help me down off
Dranco’s
back.
Dranco
growled gently in his throat telling them to let me be. He surveyed the lands once more before laying his head down with me still on his back. They each smiled at me. Sean sat down at
Dranco’s
shoulder and my father kissed my cheek before returning to his tent.

The next morning lying face down on
Dranco’s
back, I was awakened by the musty smell of his scales and the snoring of 4 Ogres, my father and
Dranco
. I was surprised that the ground did not shake in protest with the loud sounds. I was amused to see that
Dranco’s
snore was accompanied by sweet-smelling smoke and the deep rumble of a purr-like sound of pure comfort and happiness.

Sean was asleep still sitting up against
Dranco’s
strong shoulder and his sword was in his hand. Before I called to him, I yawned. I used my morning tear to rub on the tired ogre’s neck because I felt his crick. I was careful not to wake him with my touch sending calming and relaxing messages to him, so that he would not read into what I’d done.

When I said his name, Sean awoke and was on his feet with a jolt. He rubbed his neck and was surprised to find no pain. I called to the other Ogres and my father. Each man was ready to help me down but I slid gently into Sean’s waiting arms.

Together we brought the packs and baskets. I placed my forehead to
Dranco’s
and asked if we could put our things upon his back. He bowed low and said the packs and I held no weight to him. We were feathers upon his broad shoulders.

I took a blanket and spread it across the dragon’s waiting shoulders and evenly distributed the packs and baskets. I secured them with rope and carefully checked with
Dranco
to make sure he was comfortable. He was more than my beast of burden.

Though
Dranco
favored flight, he walked beside me as we traveled down the path. We carried on a conversation in our heads and occasionally he would let out a huff that seemed very much like a laugh.

I listened to the others as we walked. Ella and Tine walked hand in hand, while they discussed and joked. Sheen and Kane walked in step behind them occasionally cooking up mischief. My father and Sean lead the way, wordlessly, they had an understanding that only men with the powerful urge to lead shared. Sean lifted his sword every once in a while to see us all in its blade.

At dusk, before we rested for the night, I patted my dragon and scratched behind his wing as we walked. I counted my companions and smiled at each one. My fellowship was growing and I knew intuitively that I would need the numbers on my side. Something about the Loch opened long dormant urges. This must be what my father meant when he said, “That McDonnell blood that flows through your veins will make you strong enough to do what is necessary for you and your people.” I was learning.

The journey continued as we entered the 4th month since we’d left home. I relived every moment of the journey and was growing to love each member of our party more.

Dranco
was nearly 8 feet tall, growing taller every day, and losing the fuzz and purple in his scales. The Ogres said that he would be a large dragon and grow to be at least 12 feet within the next years. He would then reach maturity and mate for life. I figured I’d worry about
Dranco
, his mate and hatchlings when the time came.

Sheen and Kane proved to be the jokers amongst us, switching places and tackling each other. I thought that they were full grown but Sean explained that at 15 they were still children and never to say that to their faces. Even if they were children, they had powerful gifts and strong, able swords. I knew I could count on them. Besides they were great for sparing and I could fight with them as if they were my rambunctious younger brothers.

Tine was the serious one of the group. Tine reminded us of the practical things such as how inappropriate it was for Princesses and
Oaflings
to be wrestling in the leaves and throwing bread, even though those were both fun ways for me to improve my hand to hand combat skills and my reflexes. 

Ella was the best cook and confidant. She gave me the much needed feminine opinions and taught me much about the Ogres as a race.

My father had become father to us all. He made sure that even as I sparred with the boys that they knew that I was their Sovereign and would not be disrespected. We also took daily walks away from our group so that he could teach me more of the
Lochoan
ways.

As for Sean, I was feeling less and less sisterly toward him. I had bonded with the rest as a sister, even
Dranco
garnered those feelings but Sean was different. He was kind, patient, stubborn and waiting for me at every turn. His silent protection and quick laughter drew me closer to him. I was sure that he had no secrets from me and that was the challenge because it seemed I could keep no secret from him either. I believed I was falling hopelessly in love with him.

6

I
t was evening and we all lay sleeping under the moon as our secure lives were torn to ribbons. We were attacked by James and his men. They pounced upon us showing no mercy to age, gender or rank. There were at least 30 men, all with craggy,
warted
faces. There were too many of them for us to fight but there was no choice. We would not watch our mission and our lives ended.