The Dragons' Chosen (36 page)

Chris took a deep breath and collected herself. She looked at me one last time. “Okay, I can do this. Give me a few minutes alone with him and then we’ll talk.” With her normal lack of decorum, she shot a wink at me. I stepped to the side as she walked the remaining steps to my father. She executed some posture between a bow and a curtsey, her glass pieces glittering in the candlelight. I laughed aloud. I knew I should have taught her to curtsey.

My family, the servants and the guards turned to look at me. My mother signaled that I should rejoin my siblings at the table and wait this out.

From outside the iron-clad oak doors I heard noise, voices raised, and a bugle call to announce visitors. But I was immune to anything except what was happening before me. Chris was here. I wouldn’t have to travel alone, with just the men I’d begged to go. She could accompany me to the Crystal Caves.

She spoke quietly with my father for what seemed an interminable time but couldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes. Father pointing an irate finger at her, and Chris pointing hers right back. My father’s eyebrows came down and his nostrils flared in anger. I started up to assist, but a small headshake from my mother held me in place.

Strain as I would, I couldn’t hear their words, what with the guards nervously shuffling about and the servants’ low whisperings. Once, when father’s angry voice rose and bounced off the ceiling, a maid overlooked in a shadowed corner dropped a platter of sweetmeats. So high was the tension in the room that I may have been the only one who noticed.

After smiling encouragingly at Chris, Mother remained calmly in her seat. Her left hand rested firmly on Harold’s shoulder as he wriggled to get up. My sister, Danielle, sat a mere three seats from me, vacillating, it seemed to me, between trepidation and excitement. Her eyes caught mine and we both winced as Chris waved her hands in the air, making some point. Father glared at Chris, eyebrows drawn down even further. His hand slammed down on his chair arm as he leaned forward, pressing his face almost into Chris’s. His left hand, knuckles white with restraint, latched onto the arm of his chair as his back stiffened in anger.

Chris froze, finally realizing that she may have overstepped. Father didn’t move again. So fierce was his expression that we all watched, waiting for Chris to be ordered away—I feared to the dungeon.

Casually, my mother leaned over and whispered in Father’s ear. He scowled, looking first at Chris and then me. His brow cleared. Mother whispered again. He snorted. The glower on his face relaxed into a half smile. Chris started to back away, but Mother spoke to her, and Chris, after a quick wild-eyed look at me, knelt.

Father raised his hand up for Chris to kiss his ring. Chris grabbed his hand and shook it firmly. Father appeared startled but recovered himself with no further ado, acting like that was how he concluded all his interviews.

I jumped as his voice rang out. “Done.”

Chris delivered her combined curtsey/bow again. Father dismissed her, shaking his head in amusement as if watching a small child cartwheeling in the throne room.

She danced over to me, obviously pleased with herself, her arms clasping mine as if I were a lost treasure.

“What did you say to Father? What did he agree to?”

I pulled her toward a quiet alcove, seeking some privacy from the gauntlet of stares. Chris ignored my questions, clasping my hand in a tight grip. “So what do you think of the dress? Cool, huh? Does it suit?” She spun around, then took hold of both my hands.

I nodded, unwilling to draw attention to the daring cleavage. I wondered how many of the ladies in the court would imitate that look within a fortnight. “You look lovely. But what happened with Father? Why are you here?”

“Oh, you’ll see.” She winked, and then her face turned serious. “I had to come, of course. Had to see if you were happy and safe with your family.” Chris looked hard into my eyes, all girlish folly pushed aside. “You’re not, are you? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

I smiled through the sudden tears. “Nothing is wrong. It’s just that I feared I wouldn’t see you again.” I reached out my arms and enclosed her in a hug. “And Tristan? Is Tristan alive? Is he badly hurt?”

“He’s fine. Oh, right. He said you saw him shot and would be worried. Dragons are very, very tough. A few little arrows didn’t cause him much grief.”

I brightened and then realized that he wasn’t here. He hadn’t come back for me. I brushed my hurt feelings aside. I smiled, trying not to let Chris know how disappointed I was. I changed the subject. “So what happened after I left?”

“Oh, lots! I went with Hugh to give Tom Mastin what was coming to him. I understand that he had received gold from the dragons as well, and that neither side knew the other was paying him. Tom and I had some unfinished business. We had a little chat about women and ethics. He was eager to see my point.” She looked at me. “It’s all about framing the question properly, isn’t it?”

“What did you ask?

Chris checked her newly manicured nails as if looking for flaws.

“I asked him if he wanted to live. Then he and I took a joy ride three hundred feet in the air. With him dangling from my claws.”

Chris grinned at my look.

“I offered your father the same diplomacy for your Priestess, but I understand your Mother had dibs on that.”

I burst out laughing. “And what did Tom choose?”

“Oh, disappointingly, he wanted to live. Still, I felt there was stuff he should think on. So I decided he needed a contemplative retreat. I left him in the middle of a huge lake, on an island with just enough room to walk a pace or two. Poor man can’t swim. He was already looking downright meditative when I left.”

I couldn’t bear not to ask.

“What happened with the man-dragons? Did you return to their home with them?”

“Oh, that. Well, we started talking—Hugh, me and the others—and I…” She took a deep breath, her eyes twinkled with delight. “I flew with them. It was so amazing. And now I’m trying to re-establish relations between countries, er, kingdoms, like China and the US, like the three kidnapped princesses did, same kind of thing.

“You know, like John Lennon, ‘Give Peace a Chance.’” She almost danced in place at my blank look.

“Oh, you’ll see in just a bit; you won’t have to wait for the movie.”

I was dizzy with Chris’s thoughts flaring up like fires at Beltane.

But she seemed so pleased with herself that I changed the subject to let her enjoy this mystery. Mother would tell me soon enough. “Have you decided to stay with the dragons? Or are you leaving for the world of Berkeley?”

Chris twisted her mouth in a wry smile. “I’m not sure. Hugh and I are working on a compromise. I can’t just walk away from my world and jump into this one.”

Outside, the clatter swelled to a shout.

She grabbed my hand. “Ignore it. Give me a few more minutes.”

I put my hand on hers, thinking to reassure her. “Chris, I owe you a debt. I would give you much more than a handful of minutes. You must know that. Why would you doubt it?”

“Mmm.” She smiled, a look of one well-pleased with herself. “Well, just bear with me while I fill you in.” And, again, a smile of a fox that had captured a hare.

I cocked my head, listening.

Outside, the cacophony was getting louder. Whatever it was could wait. Chris was here with me and I rejoiced.

The seneschal, Samuel, after confirmation from my father, went back to his station. Through the half open door, Captain Markus, in full dress livery of blue and gold, conferred with him. From my vantage point, I saw Michael right behind him. I paled. Were they here to betray my plans?

Chris spoke faster now. “So we came, or rather we planned when to come. I had to return to Berkeley to finish the semester, but we planned the timing pretty carefully.” She grinned again. “It looks like it worked.”

“We?”

“Hugh and me.”

“Hugh’s here?” My mind went blank for a moment, bewildered and confused. “Are the other dragons here also? Is Tristan here?” I started to pull away, but she nodded her head.

“They all are.”

I thought I hadn’t understood at first. I didn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe it. Tristan was here and hadn’t bothered to see me. I was surprised at the intensity of my joy and disappointment.

Then the ever-increasing noise outside made sense to me. My heart leapt and I felt my feet freeze in place.

The seneschal stamped the floor with the royal staff and announced the visitors.

“King Wilheim and Queen Camille, may I present, King Hugh Buchan—”

He didn’t get any further. He stopped and questioned Markus again, trying to get the pronouncements right. The seneschal looked confused. Markus repeated their names and titles. I heard the word dragon. After a panicked look behind him, the seneschal’s eyes rolled up into his head as he slumped to the floor.

My blood chilled. I felt goose-bumps on my arms as one by one they entered the room.

Man-dragons, five of them. Dressed in formal court attire. My eyes flashed to Tristan and my breath caught. There he was, standing just inside the timbered doors with his chestnut hair braided neatly, dressed as if for a meeting with the king, a white linen shirt, topped with a gray overtunic and high black boots. His sword slung by a wide leather band on his left side.

Chris could barely contain herself. “Think about it.” She squeezed my arm. “You’ve changed the dynamics of two countries. It’s just like Gandhi said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ Look at them. No longer are they hiding behind legend and mountains. They came, all of them. Prepared to play ball.” At my quizzical look, she added, “To talk.”

Still I said nothing. The enormity of their presence overwhelmed me. The man-dragons proceeded forward in an orderly fashion, long legs striding across the floor, the click of their boots’ heels reverberating off the walls, to stand before my father. Tristan stepped forward, bowed and then spoke in low tones to my father.

Finally, I found my voice again, my emotions in a tangle.

“Why, Chris? Why are they here?”

“Negotiating a new treaty, one where all the cards are on the table, totally up front.”

I felt my body sag. Not for me. Tristan isn’t here for me.

“Yes, of course, he said I was free. That they wouldn’t come for me.” I was trying to make it sound like something I desired.

She watched me, my face flushing. I looked over at Tristan intent in his conversation with my father. Should I go to him? Could I even talk with him? All my brave plans to force an answer blew away like fleece.

“How nice that they all came to parley a pact, even…even Tristan.” I bit my lip; I sounded inane even as the words slipped forth. I couldn’t say his name without tears welling up.

Chris looked at me as if my crown had fallen lopsided. “Oh no! Is that what you think? Tristan just came for the treaty? Tristan has been pining like an abandoned puppy, er—a rather big one in dragon shape, for sure. But once spring came, you’re all he talked about. He’s here, we’re all here, for you.” She stopped at my look.

“Not by force. Never again will they do that,” she amended. “You have to go to him. He’s being silly over some ridiculous promise he made to you. Go.”

Could that be? Did he truly care?

Chris stamped her foot. “Oh, for criminy’s sake, Genny, you know you have a case on him. Are you going to go or not?”

My mind whirled. Since I returned, Tristan was whom I thought of, whom I dreamed of. And there he was.

Chris was still talking, babbling in my ear.

She poked me, nudging me forward out of the alcove.

Both Father and Tristan’s gaze turned toward me. Father, anxious, and Tristan with such hope and love in his eyes that I couldn’t look away.

“He’s waiting for a signal from you, Genny. He’s such a stickler for protocol and manners,” Chris said with a dismissive shrug of her shoulders.

“I can’t.” Now that he was before me, I found my tongue glued inside my mouth and my feet locked to the floor.

Chris looked at me and we stood in silence for what seemed forever. About me there was a world that continued as my mind circled around. Was I a pawn or was I the player?

Chris waited expectantly. “Did you learn nothing?” She slammed her elbow against my side. It’s
your
life, isn’t it?” she whispered.

Worlds collided in my brain. One where I was the dutiful daughter—clever, protected and mannered. One where I had stood strong and defied five dragons. One where I braved my fears and flew high above the land strapped atop a dragon. One where I had plotted and planned for months to return to the Crystal cave to force an answer from a dragon. And one where I loved Tristan.

Demonstrate, I remembered. That was a term Chris had used long ago. A word from her world, a way of standing up for something important to you.

I looked at the men, the man-dragons, aligned before my father.

“They, too, are demonstrating, are they not?”

Chris quirked her head. “Yes, absolutely.” Her face broke into a grin. “Nana would be amazed! It’s just as she wished, a demonstration, a demonstration of dragons.”