The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) (48 page)

“Ah... all internal, dear
boy.  Can’t be marketed.”  He winked conspiratorially.  “But if you ever find a
way around that, let me in on it.  We’d make a fortune!”

“I’m sure we would,” he
agreed.

“A pleasant thought.  But
introductions aside, why don’t we get down to business?”  Gesturing towards a
group of chairs, Lendric waited until they were all seated before continuing
amiably.  “So, what grand trouble brings you here, Dominick?  The need for
another potion to send Riff croaking?”

Dominick grinned, albeit a
bit sheepishly when his parents turned to him questioningly.  They’d never
known about
that
incident!  When he’d been twelve years old, a
whopper of a fight with his brother had prompted him to venture forth to locate
Lendric in the dream-state, asking the dragon sorcerer if he’d grant him a
potion to turn his scheming elder brother into a frog.

Lendric had been highly
amused by the boy’s request, but told him that he obviously couldn’t just go
turning
anyone
into frogs!  Seeing his point, Dominick came up
with an alternate... more
subtle
means to get even with his
brother.

Placing a minor spell of
illusion upon the fifteen-year-old Riff—who had lately become quite favored by
female attention—he suddenly developed a slight crimp to his style.  For the
next time he tried to kiss one of his many girlfriends good night, the spell
caused her to see herself kissing a frog.  Riff nearly jumped five feet at the
girl’s scream, afterwards scratching her name out of his ‘little black book’.

It was only after the same
thing happened with several other girls that Riff finally cloistered himself in
his room and bemoaned his fate to become a monk for life.

Unfortunately, overhearing
this was Dominick’s downfall.

Since he began rolling on
the floor with laughter outside his brother’s door, Riff put the pieces
together and deduced that he had something to do with his sudden trouble with
women.  To find out for certain, he met his brother in the dream-state under
another guise to sneak the information out of him.  After discovering the
truth, he turned into a hideous beast and frightened the younger boy into
waking up screaming.

From that day on, the
pranks continued nonstop, some of them quite serious when they were older, such
as with Riff’s seducing Dominick’s girlfriends behind his back, or in front of
him.  Followed by Dominick’s spreading rumors to Riff’s girlfriends about
various illnesses and diseases he’d contracted.

In other words, it was war.

A constant war that Lendric
occasionally tuned in on for amusement!

“Ah... no frog potions
today,” Dominick replied quickly, distracting his parents before they asked
questions.  Certain things were better left unsaid!  “What I need now is a very
powerful spell of teleportation.”

Lendric’s eyebrows raised
in amazement.  “A realm of teleportation beyond your mother’s remarkable
ability?” he queried.  “I find that hard to believe.”

“It involves teleportation
to another planet.”

The dragon elf clicked his
tongue with a chuckle.  “Now, Dominick... I’m sure your brother may seem to
deserve banishment to Mars on occasion, but to actually teleport him there for
good...”

“This has nothing to do
with Riff,” Dominick interrupted, a slow smirk forming.  “Although I may note
your suggestion for future reference.  But seriously, I was thinking more along
the lines of traveling to another world to be united with the woman I wish to
marry.”

Lendric’s wide grin nearly
rivaled that of his dragon form.  “And I thought I’d seen everything in all my
years as a dragon,” he laughed, patting Dominick’s shoulder companionably. 
“Congratulations, dear boy!  What’s the lucky girl’s name?”

“Julianna.  The problem
is...”

The dragon laughed again. 
“It’s about time you decided to settle down and give that grandfather of yours
a few great-grandkids.  Now maybe he’ll stop pestering me over it.”

“He probably will, but
first...”

“I’m sure you’ll be very
happy together.  So tell me, when’s the wedding?  I wouldn’t miss it for the
universe.”  Seeing the younger man murmur in frustration, he stopped
instantly.  “You were saying something?”

“What I was saying was, the
sentiment is appreciated,” replied Dominick, “but you’re missing the point. 
Julianna lives on another planet in the galaxy, and I’ve only been able to
spend time with her while in my astral form in the dream-state.  So while we
both love each other and want to get married, we can’t in reality until we can
be brought together on the same world.”

“Hmmm... that would present
a bit of a problem, wouldn’t it?” murmured Lendric.  “She’s not from Mars, is
she?”  Dominick shook his head.  “I’m glad to hear it.  I doubt your
grandfather would approve of you living there for the rest of your life.  So,
where is this girl from then?”

“The planet on the other
side of the sun... Earth.”

“Earth?” exclaimed Lendric,
brightening slightly.

Dominick’s eyes narrowed
curiously.  “You sound as if you know something of it.”

“I should say so,” he agreed. 
“I’ve been there.”

Nothing could have pleased
the younger man more, feeling as if he’d just been granted the key to the
galaxy, his thankful smile illuminating the room.  “By Chaos, Lendric, you’re a
wonder.  This means the problem’s solved, and Julianna and I can have a future
together in reality.”

“Well… not exactly.”

Dominick’s enthusiasm died
instantly.  “Not exactly?” he murmured.  “I don’t understand.  You just said
you’ve been to Earth.”

“In the past, yes I have,”
Lendric said uneasily, “but as of three months ago, this mode of teleportation
has disappeared.”  Seeing the expected confusion on the younger man’s face, he
patted his shoulder once.  “Half a moment, and I’ll explain.  You see, my
brothers...”  Abruptly, Normrynth ran in, immediately tugging at his shoulder.

“Your pardon, Master
Lendric, but someone else...”

“Wyvern’s wings, man, can’t
you see I’m busy?” he growled.  “Tell whoever it is to come back later!  As it
is, this place is becoming more crowded than a medical waiting room.”

“Yes, but she’s being most
stubborn.”

Lendric blinked at that.  “
She?
”

In answer, a voice shouted
out, “Lendric, you gold-scaled demon!”  Leaning back, the dragon elf sighed
wearily, just before a beautiful woman with bright red hair strode into the
room.  “Will you kindly tell this upstart of an apprentice just who I am,
before I’m given cause to do so
my
way?”

Lendric gestured towards
her.  “Normrynth, this is my sister Carilya I once mentioned.  Kindly don’t bar
her entrance the next time.”

Normrynth blanched,
stuttering nervously.  “Oh, my word, I didn’t know...”

“You do now, you arrogant
toothpick!” snarled Carilya, hands on hips, rounding on her brother.  “Lendric,
I sent you word that I’d be arriving.  Didn’t you get my letter?”

“Yes, I got it,” sighed Lendric. 
“Is
he
with you?”

Carilya’s face turned as
red as her hair.  “His name is Devon, and you
will
treat him with
respect.”  As her brother nodded once, she turned about.  “Sweetheart, I told
you he’d see us.  Come and meet him.”

A tall dark-haired man walked
in, granting a respectful nod to Lendric.  All the while, his eyes remained
wary.  “I presume you’re my wife’s brother?”

Lendric managed a crooked
smile.  “And I presume, you’re my sister’s
human
mate, Devon
Williams.”

“Aye,” he declared.  “As
human as she’s a dragon, but bearing her no less love than any man.”

“So you say,” he replied. 
“I would assume she’s told you of the potential consequences to this marriage
if you ever have any offspring.”  Devon remained silent.  “They’ll all be part
dragon as she is:  strong, resistant to the elements, and long-lived past you
by countless years.”

“Indeed,” agreed Devon. 
“As they’ll all be part human as well.”

Eyes narrowing, Lendric
added, “Due to that factor, you may end up condemning one or more to bear the
onus of the violet eyes, attracting them dark enemies from birth!”

“Carilya told me of this,”
he replied.  “But since I’ve had to survive by my wits since being orphaned at
the age of ten, I think I’m more than capable of protecting any children we may
have.”

Lendric laughed without
humor.  “Clever fool!” he sneered.  “Think your frail human skin will protect
you against the demons and dragons of the night that would run you through or
set you aflame in a heartbeat?”

“She’s told me that
children of the violet eyes develop a great power in time.  That shall aid them
protection.”

“Carilya left out one point
then.  Those powers never develop before they reach maturity, and generally not
until they reach the age of twenty-five.”  Devon’s cheek twitched, but he remained
silent.  “In any event, it would seem I have no choice but to accept what is
already true.  Therefore, you are welcomed by our family.  I just pray for both
your sakes, and your possible future children, that no tragedy will result from
this.”

Smiling proudly, Devon
stepped forward to shake the dragon elf’s hand.  “You have my word, I’ll
protect my family with my life.”

Lendric’s eyes remained
somber.  “Pray you never need to test that, Devon Williams.”

Clapping her hands once,
Carilya brightened.  “Well, I’m glad that’s settled.  Now, would you mind
introducing your other guests?”

*****

“Now, back to the situation
at hand,” Lendric sighed shortly afterwards, turning back to the awaiting
Westbrooke trio.  “It’s rather interesting you should mention the need to
travel to Earth, Dominick.  Only a few years ago, I went there myself, and I
was planning to again in the near future.”

“You visit Earth
regularly?”

“Well, from time to time,”
said Lendric, spreading his hands.  “It’s an unpredictable universe, and
sometimes there are necessary reasons for doing the unusual.”

Discord coughed loudly,
folding his arms while glaring at his son.  “Yes, I believe Dominick and his
brother are no strangers to the unusual so to speak.  Especially this one. 
Falling in love with a woman from another world.”

His wife touched his arm
gently to silence him.  “You mentioned a method of teleportation earlier.  What
was it?”

Lendric nodded once, waving
a hand in the air to cause a misty vision to appear.  As the vision grew clearer,
he gestured towards it.  “This is the legendary Myzalik Teleportation Staff,
and the device you require.”  From the vision, it looked like an ordinary dark
brown wooden staff, with the exception of a crystal orb—the size of a golf
ball—positioned at the top, which emitted a glow of rainbow colors.

“It is to the best of my
knowledge, the only teleportation device which survived the Mage War intact,
and only a select few—yourselves included—know of its existence.  Not something
I would want known to the masses, so please keep it within your own family.” 
They all nodded.

“It was named for its
creator, the human sorcerer Astorian Myzalik.  He was a long-time ally of the
late Magus Clan, who as you may know, discovered the means of teleportation to
Earth.”

“Yes,” Dominick agreed
somberly.  “Chaos reviewed their history with me.”  At his parents’ confused
looks, he smiled.  “I’ll explain later.  Lendric, please continue.”

The dragon sorcerer
nodded.  “Astorian was old but survived the Mage War.  Sometime before his
death years later, he passed it on to his only son Cyrus, who was also a
sorcerer, and who underwent a transformation to become a half-dragon to match
the years of his dragon wife Melanthe.”  He smiled slightly.  “Cyrus and
Melanthe are my parents, and they passed the Staff on to me.”

The younger man looked
shocked.  “Did they die too?”

Lendric laughed, shaking
his head.  “No, dear boy, they’re very much alive and well.  But my father knew
of my curiosity for other worlds and decided I would appreciate it more, as
well as be responsible with it.”

Sighing heavily, he
abruptly shook his head.  “But I’m getting ahead of myself.  The Myzalik Staff
is undoubtedly one of the most powerful items on Chavernos due to its seemingly
limitless range of operation.”

“Can the Staff send more
than one person there and back?” asked Dominick.  Lendric nodded slowly,
sparking a suspicion.  “You mentioned your brothers earlier.  Do they have it
now?”

The dragon elf smiled. 
“Insightful as ever,” he replied.  ”Which brings us to what happened several
months ago.  My elder brother Zaruldar, and my younger brother Pyrozill, wished
to borrow it for the span of a few weeks.  While I would be more hesitant to
loan it to Pyro alone, with his often juvenile attitude despite his age, I
presumed that Zaruldar’s wise counsel would be sufficient to accompany him.”