Tears of War (32 page)

M
aleena walked over to Nydara who examined the sculpted trees and bushes in curiosity. “I need to get back to Calladar. If the Council of Nine is still meeting, I should be there.”

Taela nodded. “Father will be happy. Though I’m not looking forward to explaining it all to Sehlas. The poor man lost everything.”

Serena sighed. “He’ll just have to deal with it and move on. She looked at the dragons. “Any more news on Loki yet?”

Taela shook her head and frowned. “Paki say not yet I’m afraid.”

“You should get back. I’m happy for you, my friend,” Serena said.

Taela wrapped Maleena in a tight hug. “ I’m so happy for you and Mckale. Kellinar and Anevay will be too.”

Maleena hugged her back, thankful that sharing thoughts with and hugging her fellow Spirit sister brought no discomfort. “Just wait to spread the news. I don’t want any of the dragons to leak it to Tellnox and have him tell Mckale. I want to tell him myself.” She glanced at Miya and Paki. “I know you two won’t. Females know when to keep quiet. But if Shryden, Mernoth, or Namir hear about it they won’t be able to help themselves.”

Serena laughed. “We will keep it under wraps as long as we can.”

Taela stepped back and gave her a wry smile. “Don’t take too long. You know how hard it is to keep things from a bondmate.”

Maleena nodded as she walked to Nydara. “That I do.”

In a few short moments she was in the saddle with the safety straps secure. “Take care, my friends. I look forward to the day we are all together again in Galdrilene. I miss everyone.”

“We miss you too,” Taela said as she and Serena backed away to allow Nydara room to maneuver her wings.

With a tremendous jump, the silver launched into the air, climbing higher with powerful strokes of her wings. The light of the setting sun rippled along the silver’s scales as the Slide spun open. The tug pulled them in and in seconds they were over the darkened landscape of Calladar, where the sun had already set.

Nydara reached for her,
“Tellnox says the meeting with the Council just ended and went better than we had hoped. There was some opposition from a couple of members that insisted no Dragon Riders could be trusted; however, in the end the Council voted six to two to stand with Galdrilene and the Guardians. It was up to Arandrall as the Head of the Nine to uphold the vote, which he did of course. The Council has met Tellnox already and they have planned a…”
Nydara hesitated and Maleena felt her trying to understand the word.
“They have planned a ‘ball’ to introduce you to the rest of the hierarchy in Calladar. What planning goes into a ball? Isn’t it just a round thing that humans like to kick and throw around? How will a ball help introduce you? Will you throw it to people?”

Maleena laughed softly, amused at the things not included in the dragons ancestral memories.
“There is more than one type of ball, my love.”
She had to admit the image of a bunch of people in fancy dress standing in a field and throwing balls at each other was rather amusing.
“This type of ball is a formal dance. Mckale taught me the steps to these dances in the past. Do you remember?”
She sensed the dragon’s confirmation.
“People gather together in a great room. They dance, drink, eat a certain amount of food, and gossip. I have never been to one myself, but I have been told of them. Galdrilene has celebrations and dancing, but it isn’t really formal like this will be. In Galdrilene, everyone can dance with everyone. From what I understand of formal balls, only those invited are allowed to participate and servants remain servants, which is silly if you ask me. So in essence it’s the same thing.”

“So this ball is a good thing?”

Maleena imagined a crowd of people all in one room.
“I guess it depends on your perspective.”

Nydara changed the subject.
“Tellnox says Mckale can sense how tired you are. They suggest I take you back to the lair of Mckale’s family. He will be there after a while.”

“That is fine. It’s dark so not many will see you.”

Nydara snorted a thick curl of smoke that the wind whipped away.
“Enough will. Mckale’s family is either going to be very popular or very hated with the neighboring families come the morning.”

“They will be whether you land there or not. After your dramatic landing atop Arandrall’s fortress and the Council meeting, everyone will know of you and where Mckale and I are staying by mid-morning.”

“Should Tellnox and I stay closer to you tonight?”

Maleena’s hand trailed protectively over her still flat stomach, a twinge of anxiety in her gut.
“No, I want you to sleep safe. Mckale and I can defend ourselves from anything long enough for you and Tellnox to Slide to us if we have need.”

Nydara landed behind the barn. Mola’s piercing barks filled the night as the dog rushed toward them. As Maleena got down from the saddle, Nydara lowered her head and eyed the canine.

Mola stopped a few yards from the dragon, a low whine in her throat. Maleena sensed the dog’s desire to protect warring with self-preservation in the face of such a large and dangerous adversary.

Maleena sent the dog soothing emotions as she unbuckled the catcher strap and looped it up on the saddle. “It’s okay, Mola, Nydara is no threat to you or your family.” The dog wagged her tail slowly, her eyes still locked on the dragon.

“I will leave now. The dog is still upset by my presence,”
Nydara sent.

Maleena backed away to give the dragon room.
“Sleep well, love.”

As the dragon lifted off Barden came around the side of the barn with a lantern. “Mola, what are you—” He stopped, his mouth agape as the massive silver rose into the sky, the wind from her wings whipping around.

Maleena patted Mola on the head and walked over to Barden. “She’s beautiful isn’t she?”

He nodded. “That she is.” Barden’s eyes flashed to hers, sudden worry rolling off him. “Where is Mckale?”

“He is leaving the meeting now. It went well although we should wait for him to explain the details. I had to leave before the meeting began, so I missed it.”

“Why did you have to leave?” He immediately waved his hand. “Never mind. It’s none of my business. Have you eaten this evening?”

She didn’t realize how hungry she was until he mentioned it. Her stomach clenched and her mouth watered at the thought of the ham they had eaten that morning. “I would love something to eat. Do you have any more of that ham?”

He laughed. “I’m afraid we won’t have any more until morning. We do however have roasted chicken and potatoes with early spinach if you like.”

It sounded wonderful. “Yes, I would like that. Just as long as it isn’t eggs.”

Mckale rode slowly around the house to the barn. After untying Arella’s reins from the ring on his saddle, he lowered himself to the ground. He removed the tack from the horses and placed it inside the barn before brushing them both down and turning them out into the pasture. He did it all without thinking much about it, his mind preoccupied by Maleena and the conversation he’d had with Tellnox.

The green had informed him that something had happened while she was in Haraban but Tellnox didn’t know what. He had felt a flash of surprise from Nydara and then the silver had walled him off. Nydara cryptically refused to say another word and said when it was the green’s business he would know.

Mckale turned and walked across the grass to the house. Hopefully Maleena would tell him what was going on. He sensed the wall in the bond between them. She’d walled him off too. What were she and Nydara up to?

Barden and Kaden sat in the front room. Both looked up as he came through the kitchen. “You’re back finally,” his father said. “I thought you would return hours ago.”

Mckale rubbed his neck. “Arandrall wanted to speak further with me.”

Kaden scooted over on the cushioned, high-backed bench. “Sit and tell the details of how it went. Maleena said she had to leave and missed it. The guard yard was chaos today after word spread of a dragon landing on Lord Arandrall’s fortress.”

Mckale glanced at the stairs then looked back at his father and brother. They would have to wait for a little bit. “I will tell you about it shortly. If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Maleena for a moment.”

Without waiting for them to answer he crossed the room and started up the stairs. He sensed that she was still awake although little else. Damn the Fates for making it so she could wall him off. He pushed open the door to their room. She was sitting on the bed wearing a shift with her long, thick chestnut hair falling over her shoulders. She looked up from some papers on the bed and smiled at him, her face radiant.

Mckale’s chest loosened. Obviously whatever happened wasn’t too bad. Why wall it away then? He closed the door and leaned against it, his arms crossed. What was she hiding? “Care to explain why you have me walled away and why Nydara has done the same to Tellnox?” Her violet eyes only sparkled in the lantern light. He glanced away before she made him forget what he wanted to say. “What happened in Haraban today?”

“I was able to retrieve Sehlas. Tellnox filled you in on that didn’t he?” She paused and looked at him with an innocent look in her eyes that could only mean trouble.

Mckale nodded. “Yes, he filled me in. What else did you do?”

“I discovered why I have been so tired lately. Why the eggs this morning made me sick to my stomach.”

He didn’t know what he expected, but it wasn’t that. His chest constricted again. Had Serena healed it? “What was it?”

She smiled. “You mean, what is it...”

It still affected her then. Was it something Serena couldn’t heal? “What is it then?”

“A baby.”

He stared at her. “Who had a baby?”

“We’re going to. I’m pregnant, Mckale.”

Mckale’s heart stopped and his breath froze in his lungs. Maleena was pregnant! The thought thawed him and he could breathe again. His eyes flew to her perfectly flat stomach and then back up to her glowing face. “How—” he cleared his throat. “How do you know for sure?”

“I saw the baby’s soul during Sehlas’ healing. Serena confirmed it. I’m almost four months along.” She looked uncertainly at him. “Are you happy?”

Was he happy? The last time he’d been filled with this kind of emotion was at Tellnox’s Hatching. Mckale crossed the room in long strides and dropped to his knees next to the bed. He took her hand in one of his and slid the other around the back of her neck, drawing her face to his. “Am I happy?” he whispered against her lips. “So much I can’t even describe it.” Then he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her thoroughly.

The next morning Maleena and Mckale came down to breakfast together. Barden looked up at them as they sat down and Mckale began to place food on her plate. Barden’s eyes drifted between the two of them. “Kaden and I finally gave up waiting for you, Mckale. I guess you got sidetracked.”

Blood rose in Maleena’s cheeks and she stared at her plate. Mckale chuckled. “I guess I did. A few hours of time makes no difference.”

Kaden smiled and shook his head. “At least this is an off day for me. Maybe if I have a full day, I can hear what happened at the meeting yesterday. Unless you two are headed back upstairs this morning.”