Maiden Flight (4 page)

“I want to, more than you can know, but there's more to consider than just my desires.”

“What could be more important than this?” His hands skimmed her back, bringing her close to his heart.

“My mother relies on me, Gareth.” Her voice was small. “I can't just leave her.”

Gareth set her back slightly so he could look into her eyes. “You are a noble creature, my Belora. Kelvan and I will take you to your home and speak with your mother. As Kel is fond of saying, the Mother of All will find a way.”

He stroked her cheek. “You’re truly not afraid of Kelvan, are you?”

She gave him a puzzled smile. “Why would I be afraid of a dragon?

They’re noble creatures, especially those who are in service to the lands and fight to protect us.”

“And you can hear him when he speaks to you?” Gareth held his breath.

So much depended on her answer.

“Well, yes, of course. Can’t everyone?”

He shook his head and laughed lightly. “Not everyone, Belora. Only a few are blessed with the ability.”

She tilted her head, thinking. “That’s strange. I thought everyone could.

My mother can, I know that for certain. She was friends with a dragon when she was little.”

He kissed her lightly. “Then the Mother of All has definitely put you in our path for a reason. If we are meant to be together—and I feel close to certain we are—it will all work out. All I ask is that you at least come back with us to visit the Lair. I want you to see it and learn a little of our ways." He stroked her hair back from her face, his heart shining in his eyes. "If you think you could live there, well, then I’ll have another question to ask you, but we'll take first things first. Let us go see your mother and then we’ll go to the Lair for a visit. Do you approve?"

"All right. A short visit."

* * * *

Adora watched in awe as a mighty dragon landed in the small clearing in front of her cabin in the woods. She’d not seen a dragon since she was a little girl, and this one was a beauty. Blue and green with the iridescent sparkle of his kind, this dragon reminded her of her childhood friend. Even more amazing, this dragon bore a young knight on his back along with her daughter! She wiped her hands on her apron and rushed out to greet them.

"Belora, my dear, you've brought guests." Adora smiled as her girl raced from the dragon's side to hug her.

"This is Gareth and Kelvan." Belora's excitement was evident as she took her mother's hands in hers, pulling her forward to meet them. “Gareth, Kelvan, this is my mother, Belora.”

Adora surprised them all by bowing low to Kelvan in the old way first, before she even acknowledged his rider. The dragon preened openly at the show of respect and stood to his full height, returning the courtesy with a formal sweep of his wings.

"You honor my humble home with your presence, Sir Kelvan. Be welcome here."

The honor is mine, Madam. Your daughter claimed you once knew my kind and I am pleased to see the old ways preserved in your memory. You do both our peoples proud. Kelvan included them all in his silent speech.

Adora blushed prettily as she straightened. “You are a handsome dragon, Sir Kelvan, and a pretty talker.”

The dragon rumbled in a way resembling laughter and all the humans smiled as he laid the dead stag at the lady's feet.

An offering for your table, Madam. Courtesy of your daughter.

“And Kelvan too, Mama. That's how we met. I shot the stag, but he didn't see me and snagged it from above for a snack. I disputed his claim to the stag and he brought me to Gareth to see who was in the right.”

“Ah yes, you bring me not only a dragon, but a knight as well.” Adora clapped her hands together in joy though her tone was mischievous. “You are Sir Gareth?”

The young man strode forward to stand before her. “I am.”

“Welcome to our home, sir. It has been many years since I last saw a dragon and I must admit complete ignorance of the knights who work with them. The dragon I knew as a child had no partner at the time.”

Gareth smiled kindly down at her. “We are not much different from normal men, Lady, except that we can hear the dragons as you do and partner with them to protect the innocent.”

“It is a noble calling.”

Gareth inclined his head to acknowledge her words.

“But worrisome. If you are here, trouble must not be far behind.”

You are perceptive, Madam. The dragon’s powerful voice sounded through all their minds. Trouble brews on the border and the king has dispatched us to create a new Lair not far from here. You must be cautious in your travels and dealings with strangers. The skiths are growing restless.

Adora gasped but did not otherwise show the fear his stark words brought to her soul. Her keen mind worked around the dire news as she made her guests welcome and turned the subject to more pleasant matters.

She asked them about the new Lair they were building and prepared refreshments while Kelvan, in an uncharacteristically thoughtful move for a dragon, dragged the stag away into the forest to prepare it for the women. A few swipes with his razor sharp claws and it was ready.

When he came back, they were sitting around the fire pit in front of the small cottage, talking amiably. Being certain he had everyone’s attention, Kelvan covered one nostril with an overly large digit and exhaled a burst of flame over the spitted stag. When the flame subsided, the animal was fully cooked, just right for human consumption.

Dinner is served.

They laughed at the dragon’s wry humor.

After dinner, Gareth and Belora took a walk down to the stream to gather water and steal a few moments alone together. It was obvious to Adora that her beautiful daughter was deeply in love, as was the tall young man at her side. His heart was in his eyes as he looked down at her girl, and she knew it was a long, lasting kind of love that filled his heart. Though she had never known a knight before, she knew dragons and the men they chose to fight with had the highest qualities of nobility and honor. She had little to worry about as far as her daughter's match was concerned, but still her heart was a little heavy watching them.

He loves true and deep, Lady. It’s the nature of knights to decide what they want quickly and pursue it. Many recognize their life mates within moments of meeting. The Mother guides them in all things. Fear not for your girl. The dragon came up to sit across from her, his wings folded loosely against his sides as he sat on his haunches.

“I fear not for her, though I thank you for your words of comfort. If anything, I fear for my own future, selfish as it seems.” Adora shook herself and changed the subject before the dragon had a chance to interject. “But it's not important. I knew a dragon when I was a child. I used to bring her melons from our garden and she would always slice a little piece for me as a treat.

You remind me of her, Sir Kelvan. You have similar coloring in your wings and around your eyes. Her name was Kelzy.” She sighed, lost in memory. “She had a scar running near her left ear.”

And another on her right foreleg.

“Yes! How did you know?”

Kelvan bowed his head to the side. She is my mother. His voice was solemn. And you are Adora. She speaks of you often.

“She lives still?” A smile bloomed on her pretty face.

Kelvan chuckled softly in his dragonish way. Our kind does not age as you do. When you knew her, she had suffered the loss of her knight and needed some time to recover. We bond quite closely to our partners, you know. She’s one of the elders in charge of building our new Lair and teaches the younger ranks how to fight and work with the knights. She chose my knight for me, in fact, even before I could claim him.

“She chose well.” Adora’s eyes followed the progress of the young couple across the small clearing. They were strolling slowly, oblivious to all except each other.

He is a good man through and through. You have naught to fear for your daughter or yourself.

“It is selfish of me, I know, but I fear being alone. I’ve already lost children and it nearly killed me. Still, I want my girl to be happy, and her happiness lies with the young knight. It's obvious to see.”

Then come with us to the new Lair. I am certain my mother would welcome you.

“I refuse to be a burden. This is Belora's time. I don't want to interfere.”

You would not be a burden, Lady Adora. We always need help in the Lair, and there are so few humans able to deal well with my kind. We already know you and your daughter can. We would welcome you both.

Adora considered his words carefully, mulling over the possibilities in her mind. “I can cook and clean, I suppose. I also know of healing herbs. It's how we've made do out here in the forest.”

Healing skills are always needed among the fighters. You would be more than welcome, Lady. What can it hurt to come for a visit? I know my mother will want to see you. If you do not come back with us, at least for a visit, I can nearly guarantee she will make the trip out here herself to make certain you are all right. She is not a young dragon any longer. Won't you spare her such an arduous journey? I can have you there and back again in the next day, if you will consent to come for a visit.

Adora was torn, but she did so want to see the dragon who had been her childhood friend once more. “Perhaps a short visit. Just to see Lady Kelzy. I have thought of her often and missed her greatly. But I must return to care for my patients. I am all the help the local village has, and I can’t just abandon them.”

Yet you do not live in the village.

“By choice. Not because they would not have us. When I came here, I was hurt deeply by the loss of my children. Twin girls as bright as the sun.” She paused while she collected herself. Her baby girls were gone and it left a hole in her heart that was wide and deep. How she missed them still, years later.

Nothing would ever make up for losing her beloved twin daughters. The only consolation she had was that Belora was still with her, still safe. She sighed deeply before continuing. “I couldn’t bear to be with other people and my work often brings me into the forest to gather herbs. I enjoy the solitude and don’t have much. This place was empty and available. It needed a good cleaning and still needs some repair, but it’s home. It welcomed me, helped me heal, and sheltered Belora as she grew. This place has been good to me.”

Kelvan bowed his head in respect. I can feel the love in your words for this place. Our new Lair begins to feel that way to me as well, though I’ve only been there a short time. Perhaps because my mother was able to set it up to her specifications it has always felt like home. I have come to learn that home is wherever those you love are, so for me, home will always be with Gareth and his mate.

“You think Belora is his mate?”

I do. He moves slowly to claim her though, because she does not know our ways. I think that once she sees how we live and learns more about us, she’ll fit in well. The Mother of All would not be so cruel as to bring them together only to break their hearts. They both watched the two young people walking back from the stream, hand in hand. It was obvious how much in love the two were, though they had only met that day. You must come for a visit, Lady. It will help if you can see how your daughter will live and know that she is not gone from you forever. I’ll fly her back to see you as often as possible if you choose to stay here. I understand the importance of family.

“You are a kind and noble being, Sir Kelvan.” Adora reached up and placed her small palm on his knee joint. “I’ll go with you to visit your new home and see Lady Kelzy once more. But only for a short time. With war coming, my duty is to the people of the village who depend on me.”

If you were male, you would surely be a knight, Lady. Your heart is compassionate and strong.

“I think that’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.” She smiled softly and turned back to watch the younger couple, kissing in the dappled moonlight, distantly in the forest. She thought they looked right together – her baby girl with a handsome and strong knight who so obviously cared for her. It was like a dream come true. For Belora.

Adora sighed wistfully, resigned to knowing that this time was for her daughter, but still it saddened her that she would never know such a love again. Her time was over.

The dragon tried not to gloat as his mind sought out that of his partner.

Adora has agreed to come with us for a short visit to the Lair. She wants to see my mother, and I told her Kelzy was far too old and decrepit to fly all this way out to see her.

Gareth burst into laughter and sent his thoughts back to the dragon as all knights were trained to do. Kelzy will singe your hide for even suggesting that she's too old to fly this short a distance. Your mother is one of our finest fighters, Kel, and by dragon reckoning, she's still quite young.

You know that and I know that, but Adora doesn't. You should be thanking me for getting her to agree so easily to come along. These females belong at the Lair, Gareth. You know that as well as I do. We need them.

You're right, Kel. Gareth sighed. I’ve only just met her, but I know in my heart, Belora is mine. And her mother seems a treasure. We don’t have enough healers at our new Lair if it comes to war. There are so few women who can deal well with dragons and knights alike. We need every one.

These two are special. My mother saw the light in Adora as a child, so clearly that she talks of her to this day and her girl is just the same. If she consents to be your mate, you will be truly blessed.

Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself a bit? First we have to see if she can live at the Lair.

But you want her.

Hell yes! I want her. But don't forget, she must choose me, Kel. Without her trust and her love, it will never work.

The Mother of All would not put her in our path only to take her away.

She is not so cruel.

I hope you're right, my friend. I hope you're right.

* * * *

Kelvan alighted on the ledge carved out from the stone face of the cliff for just that purpose. It was wide enough for several dragons to take off and land on at any one time and there was one already there, waiting for them.