dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (37 page)

“We could. But I wanted to remind you of the first time I brought you here. I think you were rather fearful of falling!”

“Can you blame me? I would have died.”

“I would have caught you.”

“Yes, but I didn’t know that!”

“Would you have felt better if you had?”

Lleland glanced at the panoramic vista spreading before them. “No,” he said softly. He could feel Lydia’s eyes on him.

“Are you unhappy, Lleland?” she asked.

He turned to her with a smile. “No,” he said, “I’m very, very happy.” He brushed his fingers against her lips, catching his breath when a few wisps of flame escaped her mouth and curled around his hand. She stared at him for a moment, then turned and walked along the ledge as Lleland followed. The cold wind rushed around them and Lleland held out his arms to keep his balance, but he had no fear of falling, and easily kept pace with Lydia. They reached the place where the mountain ridge joined the ledge of the wall and jumped down.

They gained the cliff easily after that and Lydia led Lleland to the crack in the rock. He eyed it with resignation and sat down on the ground to squirm through on his back after Lydia. When he rose to his feet, Lydia was pulling on a pair of breeches beneath her gown. He watched with a smile as she loosened the laces of her gown and shrugged it off her shoulders, then tucked her chemise into her breeches. “You’re not protesting my impropriety,” she said with a laugh.

“I didn’t know better last time,” he said. “But I wouldn’t dream of provoking a dragon!” Lleland glanced up at the funnel. “So you think I can get up there?” he said.

“Certainly,” she said. “Just jump.”

“Jump? I told you before I can’t jump that high.”

“Like this,” she said. She bent her knees slightly, then propelled herself upwards, stretching out her arms and securing herself against the funnel walls. She glanced down at him with a grin.

“I can do that?” he said.

“Try.”

She scurried upwards a few feet as he bent his knees as she had done. He drew in a deep breath and pushed himself off the ground. His arms shot out and he pressed his palms against the wall, securing himself so he didn’t fall back to the ground. He looked up at her, a few feet higher than him in the tunnel, and laughed. She smiled back and scampered up the wall. It became narrower the further up they went, and at the very top Lleland had to lift his hands above his head and pull himself up.

Lydia was already on her feet and had walked to the edge, her posture pensive when Lleland pushed himself up. Snow covered the ground, and Lleland could see puddles of water where she had walked. He watched her for a moment. The wind whipped strands of hair around her face, and lifted the loose fabric of her chemise from her shoulders. He walked over to her.

“What’s wrong?” he said.

She turned to him. “You’re swearing your allegiance to a dragon clan this evening. Are you really ready to do that?”

“It’s what I’ve become,” he said. He lifted a wisp of hair from her face. “If I don’t do this, I’ll never belong anywhere.”

“But does it make you happy?”

He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. “Being with you makes me happy,” he said.

She pulled herself out of his arms and turned away. “That’s not enough,” she said. “You can never undo your oath. If something happens to me, you’ll still be bound to my father.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, and gently turned her around. “I know that,” he said. “I confess I wouldn’t have chosen this path, but now that I’m here, I find myself quite content to remain upon it. You know how I railed and fought against what fate had given me, but I see now that I have been granted far more than I could ever have imagined.”

“So you really want to be a dragon?”

“Yes, with you at my side.” He brought his hand to her neck and his lips to hers. He could feel her warm breath in his mouth and could taste her scent, and he deepened the kiss. He pulled away slightly. “We should be married as soon as possible.”

“Tomorrow?”

He smiled. “Is that the soonest?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

“Then tomorrow.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her again. He could feel her smiling. She turned in his arms, and they stood at the edge of the cliff and stared out at the snow-covered peaks. “You’re right,” he said, “it isn’t that high.”

She smiled. “As I told you before, it’s just a matter of perspective.”

“I didn’t believe you then,” he said, “but now that I’m aware of what you are, I know better than to question you. I’d hate to see what kind of terrible monster you can turn into.”

She turned back around in his arms and met his gaze with eyebrows raised. “Really?” she said.

“No,” he whispered. “I can’t wait to see the monster, and I’m anxious to know the dragon in every possible way.” Her eyes started blazing, and he stared into them as the flames mounted within his belly. He traced her lips with his fingers, then replaced them with his mouth as his hands gripped her waist. He could taste the flames in her mouth and he pulled her closer as her burning fingers seared his skull and lit a path down his back.

Supper was served in the hall as usual that evening. The mood was festive, and when the last of the dishes were cleared away, one of the servants brought out a fiddle and started scraping a tune. The tables were pushed to the walls to clear the center of the hall, and a circle quickly formed.

“Come,” Lydia said, pulling Lleland to his feet. Her hand was warm in his, and he squeezed it as they took their places within the circle of dancers. The music was lively and the dancers laughed as they swung their way around the hall. Finally Fritz put his instrument aside, and the maids started clearing away. Lleland and Lydia took a seat at the table with the others.

“So, Lleland,” Max said, taking a seat across from him, “I hear you’re a scholar.”

“That’s right,” Lleland said.

“And you’re a bit of a traveler as well, since you journeyed, on foot, all the way to Storbrook.”

“I don’t want all my knowledge to be from books,” Lleland said. “I want to experience the country for myself.”

“The whole world is at your feet now,” Max said.

Lleland smiled. “I suppose it is. Have you traveled much?”

“Oh, here and there. I marched with King Alfred when he invaded Terranton.”

Lleland frowned. “I didn’t think dragons concerned themselves with human affairs.”

Max laughed. “We don’t. Aaron sent me to watch over Anna.”

Anna, in conversation with Keira, turned at the sound of her name. “Aaron
sent
you, did he?”

“Of course! And you know how I have to obey my Master, as much as it pains me to do so!”

She leaned forward on the table and stared into her husband’s eyes. “If I recall correctly, there wasn’t much pain involved.”

He gazed back. “The pain was watching you with the stablehand.”

Aaron cleared his throat, and Max dragged his gaze away. “My apologies, Lleland. You were telling me you wanted to expand your travels.”

“Should the opportunity come along, certainly.”

The hall had emptied, and apart from the dragons and their spouses, only Thomas remained. Aaron turned to him. “Do you have the chalice?”

Thomas lifted a package onto the table. It was wrapped in dark red velvet and tied with a gold cord. “Right here, milord,” he said.

“Good.” They watched as Thomas carefully untied the package to reveal a large goblet. It was made of gold, and inlaid with jewels. Beside it lay a dagger, with a hilt decorated as lavishly as the cup. Thomas lifted each item and handed them to Max.

“In the absence of any council members, Max will officiate our ceremony here this evening,” Aaron said. He rose to his feet, and strode into the center of the hall, with Max a step behind. Lleland glanced at Lydia. She smiled, and reaching out her hand, squeezed his fingers. He stood, but before turning away, stooped to kiss her. His hand slipped from hers as he strode into the center of the hall and stood before Aaron.

“Are you ready?” Aaron asked.

Lleland nodded.

“Very well.” Aaron extended his arm towards Max, but his gaze remained fixed on Lleland.

Gripping the dagger, Max slashed the blade across Aaron’s wrist, catching the blood in the chalice as it spurted from the wound. Aaron did not flinch, but continued to stare at Lleland. The blood slowed, and Max slashed again, and more of the life-giving liquid flowed into the cup. It was three-quarters full when the blood slowed to a trickle, then stopped, and Max handed the chalice to Lleland.

“The blood of your Master,” he said. Lleland took the cup in his hands, and met Aaron’s gaze. He lifted the cup to his lips and drained the contents without breaking the stare. The blood tasted like a strong liquor that burned on its way down, filling him with flame. He felt the heat flare within him, and saw Aaron through a haze of flames. He could feel the depths of his being reach towards Aaron, securing him to the strength and power of his Master.

He lowered the cup and held it out to Max. “Master,” he said to Aaron. He felt Aaron’s stare probe his depths.

“Hold out your wrist.”

Lleland extended his hand towards Max, but did not move his eyes from Aaron. He felt the sting of the dagger piercing his skin, and the cold metal pressed against his arm to catch his blood. From the corner of his eye he saw Max pass the cup to Aaron, and as Aaron downed the contents, he could feel his life-force slipping into his Master. He heard Max’s voice as though from some far distance.

“You can give your oath now,” he said.

“From this moment forward, I recognize you as my Master,” Lleland said, “and pledge you my fealty and obedience.” 

“Welcome to Clan Drake,” Aaron said. “We’re now your family, and you belong with us. You’ll never be without a home, and we’ll not leave you wanting. You’ll share in our successes and in our failures.”

“Thank you, Master,” Lleland said. He stared at Aaron for another moment. For the first time in his life he felt as though he belonged – that he had people, and they had him. He smiled and turned towards Lydia. She rushed over to him and wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling his lips to hers. He kissed her deeply, ignoring the audience, until Zach’s laugh broke through his thoughts.

“It would seem that Master Seaton fits right into this family.” He walked over to Lleland and slapped him on the back. “How does it feel?” he asked.

“Good! Very, very good! I feel as though … as though I’ve come home!”

“You have,” Lydia said with a smile.

Lleland wrapped his arm around her as Keira and Anna walked over to them. “By tomorrow you’ll be part of this family in every way,” Keira said.

Lleland smiled, and pulling Lydia close, kissed her forehead. “I cannot wait,” he said.

Chapter 42

Lleland awoke the next morning with a deep feeling of contentment. He rolled over in his bed and stared out the window. He could feel his bond with Aaron. It demanded nothing of him except loyalty, and offered a place to belong.

He rose from his bed and went in search of Lydia. He’d just started walking down the passage when he saw Max coming towards him. “If you’re looking for Lydia, she’s in Keira’s chambers with Anna. They’re getting ready for tonight’s ceremony. In the meantime, Aaron wants to see you in his study.” Lleland glanced down the passage towards the master chambers. He could hear Lydia laughing. He turned and headed towards the study.

The door was closed, but Lleland could sense Aaron inside and he opened it without hesitation. Aaron looked up at him from his desk, and waved him over to a seat.

“I hope you had a good night’s sleep,” Aaron said as Lleland sat down. “It may be a while before you have another.” He laughed at Lleland’s shocked expression, but then became serious. “You’re a good man, Lleland,” he said. “I know that becoming a dragon was not your choice, but I’m glad Lydia has found someone who can match her in strength and be her equal.” He paused. “You’ve embraced what you’ve become. Now embrace all that Lydia is as well.”

Lleland nodded. “I will.”

Aaron leaned back in his seat. “Have you given any thought to your future?”

Lleland frowned. “I must return to Civitas to complete the year of teaching. Indeed, I’ve already extended my absence too long. I have no independent wealth and need to earn my living. I must also find a place to live. I’m sure you know I cannot bring a wife to the college, nor do I want to.”

“I’ve already spoken to my cousin about you and Lydia living at Drake House,” Aaron said. “And I have a proposition for you. You’re a well-read and well-educated man. I have need of such a man to be my scribe.”

“You already have Thomas.”

“Thomas is getting old, and cannot travel as he used to. But what I have in mind is not the duties of a steward. I want someone to travel through our territories and create a record of our history. You’ll meet all the dragons of the clan, and set down their records. My territory extends far beyond the human kingdom, and some dragons live in far-flung places. You’ll travel to these locations and remain with the dragons as you transcribe their histories.”

“What about Lydia?”

“She’ll travel with you, of course. Her curiosity and adventuring spirit almost matches yours.”

Lleland smiled. “I think you already know what I wish to say, but I won’t make a decision without first consulting my wife.”

Aaron smiled. “There’s no rush to make a decision. Just let me know when you have. And now, I’ve been instructed to keep you away from Storbrook for the remainder of the day, so I’m taking you down the mountain with Zach and Max to see Richard.”

“Master Carver? The man who thinks I intend to kill you?” Lleland had seen Richard a few times while he was staying in the village, but the man had refused to speak to him despite his efforts to offer an explanation. Instead, whenever he saw Lleland, he scowled and walked away.

“When he sees you with three dragons,” Aaron said, “he’ll realize that he reached the wrong conclusion. Now
I’m
just going to check if Keira and Lydia need anything before we go, and
you’re
going to
meet us outside.”