dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (41 page)

Lleland nodded. “Good. Because if you aren’t, I’ll have to kill you.”

He left the room with a shudder and returned to the chambers he shared with Lydia. “There’s something I have to do before we leave for the city,” he told her.

“Does this have to do with Matthew?”

“It does. I met his wife. A poor, miserable woman.”

“It’ll probably be a relief to her that Matthew is gone.”

“I think so. But she’s lost her only means of existence. She has no other income.”

“Ah! You want to help her.”

“Yes. I don’t have much, but I would like to give her what I can. But by giving to her, I’ll be taking from you.”

Lydia smiled. “Our needs are not great! We are beasts, after all, able to survive in the wild. Do what you must.”

Lleland wrapped his arms around Lydia’s waist and kissed her. “Thank you,” he said.

Their plan was to leave Storbrook after dinner. Zach was leaving at the same time but, he told Lleland and Lydia, he would follow his own route and meet them back at Civitas. “Being around the two of you will be too much for me to bear,” he said, and Lleland had punched him good-humoredly. He was very glad that Zach was not traveling with them.

As dinner finished, Aaron motioned Lleland to join him in his study.

“Sit down, Lleland,” Aaron said as Lleland closed the door behind him. “You’re now a member of my clan,” he said, “and I’m your Master. There’ll be times when I call on you to render me service, and I’ll expect your obedience.”

“I understand,” Lleland said.

“As a clan member, you’ll share in our prosperity and our misfortunes. If someone like Jack threatens the clan again, you, too, will be threatened. But it isn’t just dragons that threaten the clan. Humans are also a threat, and the information they possess can be our downfall. You know that better than anyone. So you’ll also understand how important it is that our secret be kept at all costs.”

“Yes.”

Aaron nodded. “Not only are you part of my clan, but you’re now also my son. I’m proud to call you that, Lleland – you’re a fine man.”

“Thank you.”

“I look after my family, Lleland, and that includes you. You’ll never be alone, and you’ll never be left wanting.” He took a small sack from his drawer and dumped it on the table, where it landed with a heavy thud. “This is yours.”

Lleland frowned. “What is it?” He opened the sack and looked at the glittering coins inside. “I can’t take this.”

“Why not? It’s a gift from a father to his son.”

“But – it’s too much!”

Aaron snorted. “Then think of it as Lydia’s dowry.”

“I –”

“All you have to say is ‘Thank you, Father.’”

Lleland looked up and caught Aaron’s gaze. His own was covered in a haze from the flames leaping in his eyes. He smiled. “Thank you, Father,” he said.

Lleland and Lydia left Storbrook a little while later, after an emotional farewell between mother and daughter. “We’ll be back soon, Keira,” Lleland assured her. “As soon as the school term is over.”

“I know,” she said tearfully, “but it’s just that Lydia’s … married!”

Aaron laughed, and wrapped his arm around her. “Lleland will take good of her, my sweet. And we can visit anytime.”

She sniffed. “I know.”

“And just think, we’ll have the place all to ourselves at last!”

Keira burst into tears again, and Aaron shook his head in confusion.

“Ready love?” Lleland said to Lydia.

She nodded. “Yes.”

They left by way of the chamber, soaring from one of the windows, but instead of heading south, they flew north to the village, where they landed and made their way to Hobbes’ house. Mistress Hobbes was in the hall, and she rose as Lleland and Lydia entered.

“Master,” she said. “How can I help you? Do you bring news of Matthew?”

“I do,” Lleland said. “He’s not returning.”

“He’s dead?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know he won’t be back?”

Lleland paused. “He’s been placed under arrest,” Lydia said. “He was found guilty of a crime.”

“I’m not surprised,” Mistress Hobbes said. “Thank you for bringing me the news.”

“There’s something else,” Lleland said. He held out a bag of coins. “This is for you.”

The woman frowned. “I won’t accept money from you.”

“It’s not from us,” Lydia said. “It’s from, er, Matthew. He didn’t want you to be left destitute.” The woman’s eyebrows flew up in disbelief, but she remained silent as she eyed the bag.

“Take it,” Lleland said. “As my wife says, it’s from Matthew. There’s just one thing you need to do.”

Her expression turned wary. “What’s that?”

“Tell your children the truth about dragons. That they aren’t a danger and want to live in peace.”

“That’s not what Matthew said.”

“I know. But Matthew was wrong. It wasn’t completely his fault, because his father hated dragons too. But their hate was based on fear, not on truth. Tell me you’ll teach your children the truth.”

Her eyes flew back to the bag of coins, and after a moment she nodded. “I will.” She took the bag. “I’ll tell them we were saved by dragon gold!”

Lleland glanced at Lydia, eyebrows raised, but Lydia just smiled. “That’s right, Mistress,” she said. “Dragon gold.”

They arrived back in Civitas three days later, after a slow, leisurely trip that involved many stops and detours. As they walked into Drake House, a voice was heard from the parlor. “Took you long enough!” Zach called. “I was beginning to wonder if I needed to send out a search party.”

“Zach! How marvelous to know you’re here!” Lydia said, walking ahead of Lleland into the parlor.

“You always were happy to see me, sister,” Zach said with a laugh. He glanced at Lleland. “I saw your friend when I was traveling back. Scott.”

“Did he recognize you?”

“He did! He waved and shouted at me as I flew overhead, and when I landed, he wanted to know when you were returning.”

Lleland laughed. “What did you say?”

“I told him you were thoroughly occupied, and then offered him a ride back to the city.”

“Really? Well, that was generous of you!” Lleland poured a glass of wine and handed it to Lydia. “Have you attended my classes?” he asked Zach.

“I have. Your students will be overjoyed at your return. They’re probably wondering what they did to cause you such displeasure that you’d choose Dodds to stand in for you. The man is excruciatingly dull!”

“You could have taught in his place.”

“And miss watching the boredom on the others’ faces? But I did pose a few, er, interesting questions.”

“I’m sure you did,” Lleland said wryly.

They passed the afternoon pleasantly, and a few hours later there was a knock on the door. Hannah bustled into the room.

“There’s a man outside who wants to see you,” she told Lleland. “His name’s Scott.”

“Thank you, Hannah,” he said. “Please show him in.”

She disappeared down the passage, and returned a short while later with Scott a few paces behind.

“You don’t waste any time, do you?” Lleland said as Scott entered the room.

“It’s your wife I wanted to see,” Scott said.

“You have your own.”

Scott scowled. “You don’t need to remind me,” he said. He accepted the glass of wine Lleland held out to him. “Callaway and Elliott will be back soon,” he said. “We should speak to Grant before they do. Make sure he understands our side of things.”

“You can’t mention who any of us are,” Zach said.

“I know!” Scott said, his tone exasperated. “But he needs to know why we don’t have a head on a stake!”

“I agree,” Lleland said. “Do you know if Grant’s in town?”

“He is.” Scott grinned. “In fact, I can tell you with complete certainty that he’ll be at home alone this evening. His steward happily gave me the information in exchange for a silver coin. Which you need to pay me back!”

“Tonight? Very well. Meet me outside his residence at eight.”

Grant was, as Scott had discovered, home for the evening, and the two men were quickly admitted. “Ah! Seaton. Scott. Back already? What happened? Where are the others?”

“Callaway and Elliott are still en route. Hobbes remained behind,” Lleland said.

“What happened? Did you see the dragons?”

Lleland glanced at Scott. “We did. But as we traveled, it soon became clear that they weren’t a threat.”

“No-one we spoke to seemed in the least concerned about them,” Scott said. “Even the people in Hobbes’ village were unconcerned.”

“The aim of the League is to remove dragon threats,” Lleland said. “These dragons are not a threat.”

Grant frowned. “So you let them be?”

“We did.”

“And what about Elliott and Callaway? What do they think?”

“Elliott saw our point,” Lleland said.

“And Callaway?”

“There’s a black dragon in the mountains,” Scott said.

“Like the one that plagued Civitas?” Grant interjected.

“Exactly,” Lleland said. “Callaway was, er, distracted by the resemblance.”

“Did he kill the dragon?”

“No. He will, if he can. But he’s no longer interested in the others.”

“I see.” Grant frowned in thought. “What about you, Seaton. Do you want to kill this dragon?”

“No. I’ve finally come to realize that the dragon that killed my father is dead and gone. The other dragons had nothing to do with his death.”

“Hmph! So you no longer wish to hunt?”

“No.”

“You made an oath, pledging to give your life to our cause. And you’ve been our most successful hunter.”

Lleland hid a grimace. “I know, Master. And I’ve served the League faithfully for ten years. I ask you to release me from my oath, but even if you don’t, I refuse to hunt any longer.”

Grant nodded thoughtfully. “What about you, Scott? Are you also reneging on your oath?”

“I want to remain in the League,” Scott said. Lleland frowned, but was silent.

“Very well. Seaton, I release you. Scott, you’ll receive word soon.”

“What are you doing?” Lleland said angrily when they were back on the street. “Surely you don’t wish to kill me?”

“I don’t, Lleland,” Scott said. “But someone needs to know what the League is up to.”

Lleland glared at Scott for a moment longer. “You’re going to be our spy?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I agree that dragons shouldn’t be hunted. Besides, I need the money.”

“You want me to pay you?” Lleland was shocked.

“Of course! You don’t expect me to serve you for nothing!”

Lleland laughed wryly. “I can just give you my blood!”

“Ah, but you won’t! Come now, you must admit it’s only fair.”

Lleland sighed. “Very well!”

Zach laughed when Lleland related the incident later, but Lydia was concerned. “Do you think we can trust him?” she asked.

Lleland had been wondering the same thing. “I think so,” he said.

“We’ll smell a lie,” Zach said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

“When are you going to introduce me to your mother?” Lydia asked Lleland a few days later. He’d returned to class, and as Zach had predicted, his students were thrilled to have him back.

“She’s terrified of dragons,” Lleland said. “After all, her husband was killed by Jack.”

“She needn’t know what we are,” Lydia said. “But you cannot hide me away forever!”

“I know, my love. And I don’t want to. It’s just that last time she saw dragons, she had nightmares for weeks, even though they were in human form.”

“You still need to introduce me,” Lydia said.

“You’re right. We’ll go on Sunday.”

Drake House was closer to Tottley Alley than the university, and it didn’t take long for Lleland and Lydia to reach the house on the following Sunday. Anabel was busy in the kitchen when Lleland pushed open the door, but she stopped what she was doing when she saw Lydia at his side. Her eyes flew back to Lleland as she took off the apron tied around her waist.

“Lleland, who is this?” she said.

“Mother, this is my wife, Lydia.” He took Lydia’s hand. “Lydia, meet my mother, Dame Seaton.”

“Dame Seaton,” Lydia said with a nod as Anabel’s eyes flew to Lleland.

“Your wife?”

Lleland nodded. “Yes, Mother.”

“Oh, my!” She sat down on a chair. “Lydia, is it?” Lydia nodded. “Well, my dear, welcome to the family. I cannot tell you how thrilled … but when did this all happen? I didn’t know you’d even met someone.”

“I’ve known Lydia for some time now,” Lleland said. He squeezed her hand. “Her brother is one of my students.”

“One of your students? Well! And who are your parents?”

Lydia glanced at Lleland before answering. “My father is Aaron Drake,” she said.

“Aaron Drake?” Anabel paled. “The dragon-slayer?” she whispered.

Lleland knelt down beside Anabel and took her hand. “Aaron Drake only killed one dragon, Mother,” he said. “The one that killed your husband. But he doesn’t hunt others.”

“He doesn’t? But what about you, son? Does he know –”

“I don’t hunt dragons any longer, Mother,” Lleland said. “Lydia has shown me that not all dragons are monsters.”

Anabel looked at Lydia. “You have? Oh, thank God! I’ve been so worried.” She rose to her feet and pulled Lydia into an embrace, startling her. “Oh, my child, that’s the best news. I know you will be perfect for my Lleland.” She pulled away and placed her hand on Lydia’s forehead. “You’re very warm, my dear. Are you with child?”

Lydia blushed. “No, Dame,” she said.

“Ah, well, all in due time.”

Lydia glanced at Lleland as he wrapped his arm around her. “You’re all I want,” he whispered as Anabel hurried from the room to fetch some wine. “Our lives could not be any more complete.” She smiled, and flames flashed in her eyes.

“I love you,” she whispered.

They spent a few hours with Anabel, and left as it was growing dark. Lleland took Lydia’s hand as they walked along the street. “I’ll admit I was rather nervous introducing you.”

“I know.”

“The thing is, she kept warning me about dragons. That they were all around me, but that I couldn’t see them.”

Lydia smiled. “She was right.”

“So I thought she might recognize you as a dragon. That somehow she’d know!”