Omnixius
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DKP 8-1 Time to act
🕑 Added 2022-03-11 20:45:51 +0000 UTCThe cave roof towered overhead so high that the lights along the ground didn't reach them. The floor was relatively smooth, having been polished by years of labor. Now that floor shook as he stomped down the hall, seething with anger. He arrived at a massive chamber hollowed into the rock where a glittering hoard lay heaped in mounds. Most of it was raw ore, but a significant portion had been smelted into coins by his followers. Without a care, he flopped into the metal and began to feed on its soothing power, absorbing the magic and turning the gold to dust.
He hated to waste the metal this way, but so much power had been spent buying Lilly a precious few minutes of freedom. He had hoped to replace it by absorbing the treasures stored in Calathen, but that plan was now out of reach. Now, his time was short, and the need to recover was too great. He would have to sacrifice some of his private hoard to recover or risk failure.
As golden lines of power swirled about his scaled form, he began to wonder how he could have been so wrong. He knew every word of the prophecy and that the divines would meddle to protect it, but his plan had been so perfect. Now he realized his understanding of events was flawed. The prophecy would never work with a dragon bound against its will, and he had been too clouded to see it.
But how had Lilly broken free of Solesta's protection? Even so, how could she love a human man and a woman, not to mention another dragon? Even worse, how in the name of the sleeper was she bound to all three of them? Had he divines broken the law and intervened? Had they left their heavens and come to Errost to alter the course of events? If so, they risked awakening the sleeper and shattering the world once again.
He rolled into the piles as they tumbled under his great bulk filling the chamber with an echoing rattle. With a long sigh, he began to ponder just how all of this had gone so wrong. Two of his chief lieutenants were dead, and he left himself vulnerable. If not for Ferrizorgar's selfless act, he might have been slain. This disaster transpired because he felt something that drove him to a reckless act. All he wanted was to free Lilly from the slavery he was sure was his fault, but dancing with her that day had somehow clouded his judgment. He struggled to understand how that could have happened and wondered what it could mean. He refused to believe the most logical answer that Solesta’s protection over his heart was breaking. That would mean bits of Balisha’s poison were seeping in and weakening his resolve. Could being so close to Lilly have somehow weakened this protection?
No. He was not an ordinary dragon but a creature of truly ancient power. He was old by dragon standards even before the bloody war between the goddesses, and no others could match his great age. Yet somehow, he had become blinded by what could only be described by the human word affection, and that made him sick.
A fist slammed into the ore and coins, scattering them in a great shock wave. What a fool he had been trying to rescue a dragon that didn't need rescuing. Lilly wasn't a slave, a puppet, or even a pet; she was his lover! She was willing to kill another dragon to save a human and worse, Sutherisa somehow found them! What vile magic allowed her to locate the moon shrine so quickly? Was this another secret kept from his ears by his untrustworthy allies?
He began to question his motivations, wondering if he’d lost his way? For thousands of years, he was certain of the truth, but now it seemed vague and ephemeral. Lilly was free of Solesta's protection and fully entangled in Balisha's curse. She now believed, as Balisha did, that dragons and humans could somehow be one people sharing in this weakness they called love. It was a disgusting thought that made even him shiver. Balisha was a blight on dragon kind, and her vile dreams for the children of scale led to their downfall and near extinction. Now her faith was struggling to rise again, and with it, her power would grow. She would begin tearing at the protections Solesta erected, and one day those walls might break. The scourge of human emotions would begin to poison dragon minds, and one by one, the great and noble race of dragons would fall. This meant his plan had to move forward. The time of waiting was over, and the battle needed to come to his enemies. If Lilly was committed to embracing the human weakness of love, then she was counted among those enemies. From here on, he would see her as his chief adversary as she was the one who represented the accursed goddess.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the magic of his wards alerted him to a presence. Another dragon was entering his cave and boldly walking down the long tunnel. He knew who it was long before she got there but made no effort to rise and greet her.
When the red scales entered the dim light, she raised her long slender neck and looked up at his form in awe. She strode right to his hoard without hesitation, then bowed her head in supplication.
“You look frustrated, Great Father,” Issikathia said with a predatory look in her eyes.
He glared at the little dragon with fire in his eyes, wondering what game she came to play today. He was never sure what she was thinking as she had a penchant for deception, always concealing her true motives. She was unusually bold for such a young dragon, but she was loyal and never failed to heed his call. Still, in light of his current mood, he couldn't decide if he was pleased to see her or deeply annoyed.
“I take it word has spread?” he asked, knowing full well she heard about the disaster.
“I have heard the plan failed, and there were casualties,” she replied. “But none seem to know how I failed.”
“Then let me be clear, so none will wonder what happened,” he said with a low rumble. “The dragon known as Lilly is not a slave to the man Gersius.”
“So, she wasn’t bound to him after all?” Issikathia asked in surprise.
“That’s just it, and what took me by complete surprise. She is bound to him, but not out of slavery. She took his binding of her own free will,” he corrected.
Issikathia scowled and tossed her slender head in revulsion. “You mean to say she actually loves him?”
“Do not use that vile word carelessly,” he cautioned, then answered her question, suggesting that Lilly was so in love that she was lost to any hope of redemption.
“But you broke the bind. Why didn't you dominate her and bring her back? Then, we might have been able to show her the truth,” she suggested.
He snarled and rose up, towering above her like a mountain over a tree. His nostrils flared as he remembered the moment when he tried to dominate Lilly and learned a terrible truth.
“I tried!” he roared in frustration. “But the divines have meddled in this affair. Somehow she is bound to more than just him.”
“But that is impossible!” the little red exclaimed. “You can only be bound to one master.”
“She told me she has no master,” he bellowed while shaking his head, unable to believe it himself. “But what she has are three lovers. She is bound to the man and the human woman as well as Sutherisa.”
“She is bound to them all?” Issikathia stammered as she struggled to believe it.
“She isn’t just bound; she loves them. All of them,” he insisted,
Suddenly Issikathia’s expression changed to one of curiosity as she began to contemplate what he had just said. She smiled slightly and looked into his blazing eyes before asking a simple question.
“She loves another female?”
A long rumbling sigh escaped his jaws as he shook his mighty head. The red was capricious at times and prone to unusual thoughts. She had already had three broods in her short time, something unheard of among dragon kind. By the time she reached his age, he would not be surprised if she had several more, and that thought disturbed him.
“She loves the two females and is somehow bound to them as well. I severed Gersius from the bind only to find her heart was still shielded. I can only assume the divines are breaking the law and acting directly to prevent our victory,” he said.
“I wonder if she mates with the humans?” Issikathia said, then chewed on a thought. “How would she mate with a female?”
“How should I know?” he growled with disgust. Why would knowing any of that be important now? All he knew was Lilly called the two females her wives and probably did depraved things regularly. It was further proof of Balisha's tainting influence if they did, but none of that mattered. All that was important now was that his plan failed, which meant the prophecy was still a threat.
“Perhaps there is something to be learned from this,” Issikathia suggested. “Maybe we dragons would benefit from taking multiple mates.”
He glared at her with narrow eyes full of dancing flames. Dragons didn't take mates; they didn't pair bond at all except in matters of faith or defense. To suggest that they would create some kind of union between themselves was ridiculous. To suggest they bond as groups of three or larger, even more so. Males didn't take mates or wives to use the human term. Females didn't take husbands because they didn't want or need them. Dragon females were not like humans. They were every bit as strong and capable as their male counterparts. The two genders were virtually indistinguishable unless they took their cursed human forms. Even so, in dragon society, power and position were determined by age, not gender, and powerful matriarchs have ruled the order of scale on a number of occasions.
Still, her comment struck a nerve, and he began to wonder how a dragon would build such an – He struggled to find the word and had to resort to the human term of family. If a dragon did want such a thing, Lilly would have been a perfect choice because she clearly had the capacity to accept another female. He growled and shook his head, driving the image away. Lilly had played through his mind ever since the day they danced, and now he was worried it had tainted him. Then, to his shock, he felt a touch at his hand and looked down to see Issikathia rubbing against a clawed finger. He drew his hand away in annoyance, leaving her looking up in disappointment.
“Why do you reject me every time I offer?” she asked.
“Because I respect you as a dragon and a sister of the scale,” he replied. “Besides, you are far too young for me.”
“I am aware of your age, great father. But I only wish to show my respect. Is it not appropriate for a female to seek out a strong, healthy male?” she asked with a sweet voice that dripped with a hidden motive.
“Do not try to sway me,” he rumbled and lowered his head to glare at her. “This is dangerously close to the poison that is affection, and I will not be snared.”
“Who said anything about affection?” Issikathia replied in mock shock. “I was merely showing my reverence. Do you not desire to breed?”
He sighed again as they repeated an old conversation. He explained that he bred several times in his long years, and that was more than enough. However, she was young, and there were other males who had yet to spread their blood. Let her seek one of them out if the calling was once again burning inside.
“You could learn a thing or two from the humans,” she laughed and moved away.
Now his anger flared as she dared to cross the line. This was exactly what he was striving to prevent! Dragons lived for hundreds of thousands of years before humans appeared on the world. In all that time, they needed nothing that they couldn't provide themselves. Humans did the things they did because they were weak, dying easily to hunger, weather, and even age. The only thing they seemed to be good for was finding the precious metals hidden throughout the world. They had a skill for mining and then shaping these metals into objects that even he found interesting. All the cups, trays, and statues that dotted his hoard were made by humans. There was even a large silver mirror in a golden frame studded with jewels that he particularly treasured. It was an object that was precious to him, given as a gift by humans long before the wars. It served as a reminder that humans and dragons could coexist but not as one society. He didn’t hate the humans, but he saw no reason to treat them as equals.
“Take your filthy words and go elsewhere,” he replied after a long pause. “I want to recover in peace.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said with her head turned to one side. “I just wanted to help take your mind off your worries. I know you had high hopes for this Lilly.”
“I thought I was to blame for her condition,” he replied. “I wanted to undo my mistake.”
“I see,” she replied with a slight smile. “I bet you would not reject me if I was this Lilly.”
“You are walking a dangerous line,” he growled. Even if you were, I am still far too old for you. You are tiny compared to me.”
“Not in our human forms,” she insisted. “Come, let us take our guises, and then you can pretend I am her. Show me what you would do if she were here with you now.”
For a moment, he considered what he would do if Lilly was here right now and briefly entertained the thought of strangling Issikathia.
“Begging for favor again?” came a melodious voice. “When will you ever learn?”
Issikathia twisted her long neck around to scowl at the slightly larger red dragon that now strode down the hall.
“Carigarra dear, how good it is to see you managed to survive,” Issikathia said with a sugared tone.
He took notice of the new arrival and scolded himself for not feeling her presence. It was more proof that his mind was clouded that she was able to walk right up to him unannounced.
“I did manage to survive,” Carigarra replied with a threatening glare to her rival. “But I am far more pleased to see Lord Mezigiath is still alive. When I realized the danger, I flew to the lunar temple, but the battle was long over.”
“And what about your role in the plan?” Issikathia asked playfully. “I assume you were a complete failure.”
Carigarra let out a deep rumbling growl as she bared her teeth. Issikathia didn't seem moved by the display but used it as an excuse to step closer to the massive dragon behind her.
“I regret that our enemies saw through the ruse at the last moment. I attempted to slay the fallen dragon Sutherisa, but she was warned before I could strike. I found myself in a confined space surrounded by battle priests and had to use some of the artifacts to escape.”
“And the sword?” he asked even though he already knew the answer.
“Beyond my reach,” Carigarra replied. “I tried to fight my way to it, but priests of Balisha were guarding it.”
“You should have eaten them!” Issikathia roared.
“The sword is hidden down tunnels barely wide enough for two humans to walk abreast!” Carigarra shouted back. “I had to remain in the human form just to reach the lower halls. I killed several of them, but one managed to wound me, and I retreated to the caves to heal. But, before I could fully recover, I was discovered by two humans, and from them, I learned of the danger to your plan.”
“What did you learn?” he asked, now curious.
“The female priestess told me her goddess Ulustrah altered their binding to include the human Thayle in it. I realized instantly that your plan to sever the bind was at risk as Lilly would still be shielded.”
Now he had proof that the divines were breaking the law and putting the world at risk of another devastation. If their clumsy efforts to stop him woke the sleeper, then all his plans would come to ruin. Carigarra went on to explain how she fled the battle and rushed to aid him but found the temple destroyed. He then informed her that Sutherisa had found them somehow and three of their allies were dead. He also expanded on his theory that Sutherisa was also part of this bind based on what Lilly claimed.
“I can confirm she loves both the women,” Carigarra agreed. “I could see that fact from the way she behaves around them. You would never believe that child was ever a dragon. But to be bound to three masters, doesn't that defy the laws of order?”
“It doesn't defy them; it outright breaks them!” he growled and slammed the hoard with a fist. “The divines are willing to put the whole world at risk to stop us from restoring the old order.”
“But the time is growing short,” Carigarra insisted. “Soon, there will be nothing anyone can do.”
“Anyone except the dragon knight,” Issikathia said to remind them that she was there.
He slammed the coins again as his irritation grew beyond his ability to contain. He glared at the two dragons and reminded them that the original trap was still in place, and all had already gone according to plan. Soon the dragon knight and his dragon would be no more, and nobody would be there to stop them. Still, the very existence of Lilly created a problem. She had stronger emotions than he ever suspected a dragon could have. She was becoming the very symbol of Balisha's curse, and her presence could potentially sow chaos.
The comment hung in the air as the two females glared at one another. They understood what he meant and why Lilly was a danger. Dragons lived by logic and reason, not by petty emotion. It was why this plan to mingle with humans was doomed to fail and caused so much suffering. It was the root of the problem, but if Lilly could genuinely love and be happy? The implication was that Balisha could be right!
“The thought is disgusting!” Issikathia spat and drove it from her head.
“Then you understand the need to set the trap,” he replied.
“It is already set,” Issikathia replied. “Whiteford marches from the east with a large and powerful army. I have sown the seeds of discontent throughout the area they call the common lands. They will be forced to send many of their soldiers to deal with the threat.”
He nodded his pleasure with her work and then turned his gaze to Carigarra.
“I don't blame you for how your mission ended. I, too, was taken by surprise, but we cannot allow the next trap to fail. You must ensure they come.”
“I have already done as you commanded,” she said with a nod of her head. “The forge master will let slip the truth, and they will come running to take the bait.”
“Good,” he said and leaned back. “Then alert the others. I want no mistakes this time. Lure them in and destroy them for good!”
The sky was overcast with the rumblings of a distant storm echoing the mood that dominated the plaza. Gersius and Sarah stood on a balcony addressing thousands as they proclaimed both the failed assassination attempt and the capture of the forge master of Vellis.
People watched in shock as he exposed the man’s crimes one by one while haunted by this own similar experience in Whiteford. Gersius was careful not to blame Vellis or his faithful for what happened. He made sure the people understood that nearly every faith had those who acted against him, and the regular servants were not to blame. His wrath was for those entrusted with leadership and abused that trust for their own gains.
He also publicly announced the approaching army from the east and boldly stated that it would be crushed. The empire would close all trading and commerce with any of the kingdoms who lent soldiers to this army's cause and, if necessary, would invade and occupy them. He stressed that the people were still safe from the Doan and that soon he would act to end that war once and for all.
He wasted no effort to use his powers for dramatic effect, dipping into the dragon voice while his eyes blazed with fire. He was like an angry god, proclaiming war and conflict as thunder echoed from the heavens. The effect was dramatic as the crowd watched in stunned silence as their emperor condemned his enemies and vowed to hunt them to the far corners of the world. It was a show of strength and determination, giving the people much-needed reassurance and peace of mind. Still, it also highlighted that his enemies were numerous and continued to strike at him despite the safety of the cities walls.
Sarah took over after him, swearing that the empire would never fall so long as she lived. She declared Shadros a hero of the empire a second time and publicly announced Alayse's appointment as General commander of the newly formed army. She wanted to honor Jessivel, but he insisted that they bring as little attention to him as possible. His work required that his name be spoken of in whispers, so she credited the plot's discovery to the seekers in general. Tavis was given a medal, and the college of weavers was mentioned as instrumental in discovering the weaves the enemy was using against them.
Her speech was meant to highlight that the empire was full of heroes and champions dedicated to seeing it stand firm. She reminded the crowd that the divines stood behind Gersius and thus the empire as a whole, and together they were unshakable.
There they stood the patron god and goddess of the empire, promising that one day there would be peace and a time to rival the legends of old would begin. It was a grim day but one that hinted at a dawn of peace soon to come, if only the four leaders of the empire believed that was true.
Later Gersius ordered the temples of Gorrin sealed and put under imperial protection. They would be kept safe and returned the moment the followers of Gorrin wished to reclaim them. It was now a crime to loot one of their empty temples, and guards protected their doors.
Sarah laid out a plan to rotate a small army of the women of Ulustrah from region to region. She wanted to try and triple the empire's food production and reduce their dependence on foodstuffs from the common lands. Since Gersius planned to pursue the Doan into their homelands, the army would need a massive amount of food and a chain of logistics. He would prepare the military while she took over the details of keeping it fed and marching. She penned an order calling for horses and lumber to build hundreds of wagons. She even sought work crews to build vital bridges, level roads, and make sure the paths to the west were ready for the traffic.
The palace was closed except to those who were invited or given special permission. The cave system beneath was explored in great detail, and no less than three exits were found, one of which was miles outside the city in the northern hills. Gersius didn't want to station men to guard these points, so he ordered them bricked, backfilled, and barricaded. If an enemy wanted to use one, they would need to spend weeks clearing a passage. Several weavers were added to the tunnel guards, and they each maintained a ward of alerting on the passages that remained just in case somebody spent the effort.
Hundreds of letters were sent to the noble houses and families in every territory and province. If they were aiding or harboring enemies to the empire, they had one chance to make amends. If they came fourth and exposed what was going on, they would be exonerated of their involvement. If, however, they chose to keep such matters a secret, then the seekers would ferret them out, and they would swing for their treachery.
In addition to these letters, a hundred men were sent to spread the speeches across the empire. In a week's time, every town and village would hear what was said this day. Soon word would spread across their borders, and the neighboring kingdoms would learn that the dragon empire was not asleep. The dragon was awake, and it was very hungry.
Lilly held a special service for the fallen priests of her order, blessing their sacrifice and asking Balisha to keep them safe. She held the entire thing in dragon form as she stood on the temple's steps and addressed the crowd that came to witness the event. Black and white smoke blazed in both of the dragon braziers as she told the people of the power of Balisha and how she wanted dragons and men to get along.
She then announced a plan to build lesser temples in outlying cities and towns. She now had enough priests to expand and let the people know that there was always room for more. If any of them felt the power of the dragon's call, they should come forward and embrace the goddess who loved them.
Gersius gave Lilly permission to make that announcement and, together with Jessivel, worked to ensnare some of their foes. He knew announcing the faith of Balisha would soon be expanding might drive them to reckless action. If Jessivel was watching closely, some of them might be caught and then lead them to more.
Speaking of more, the one thing that failed to earn results was questioning the captured forge master. He refused to comment on his plans or where the other conspirators might be found. Instead, he was eager to laugh at Gersius and Sarah, claiming that their victory would be short-lived. He said a new power was rising and that even the divines would soon bow their heads.
Sarah was unamused and promised they would find his companions and each of them would share his fate. Let his so-called power rise; they would be waiting at the gates of his heaven to greet him. Later she pronounced his sentence and sentenced him to hang. It was a bittersweet victory as they were crossing an age-old boundary that few dared to consider. The faiths were independent of the lands, and kings could not sentence them. Any man of faith accused of a crime was tried by their own order, but who could try the leadership? Worse, Gersius was seen as the leader of the faith of Balisha, and his wives represented Astikar and Ulustrah. This could be seen as a declaration of war between faiths, and the matter had to be handled delicately.
To help ease the pain Thayle held a proclamation of her own, announcing that the forge master was the second head to be sentenced. The first was Prime Yarvine of Ulustrah, who betrayed her order and led her flock astray. Thayle made sure the people remembered that some women of Ulustrah stood inside the golden gate and were slaughtered when the gates fell. She also reminded them that the old Father Abbot was still at large and would suffer the same fate. This wasn't a personal attack on the faiths but rather an effort to weed out the corruption that plagued them all. All the faiths, including Gorrin, were welcome inside the empire and given complete freedom to practice.
All they could do was hope the rest of the faithful saw it the same way, but already there was trouble. Even before the pronouncement, strong words of condemnation were being hurled from the spires of Gorrin. The order of the smith god would have been valuable allies in the coming battles, but they hated the empire. They vowed to craft weapons and armor for any force that would invade the dragon empire and lend their own battle priests to the cause. It was a tenuous situation as tensions in the east inflamed and spies reported they were already crafting weapons for the army of Whiteford.
Alayse rode out later that afternoon, a banner of the goddess Ulustrah flying beside the new banner of the dragon empire. With her went nearly a thousand light cavalry in a grand display, further showing the empire was ready to act. War was being spoken from every lip as the distant storm rumbled and reminded them that blood would soon be spilled.
Now Gersius sat on his throne, scowling at the hole blasted in the floor. It was a reminder of just how close Carigarra had come to toppling the empire all because she had a pretty smile. They were all fools to allow a near stranger to get so close, but they trusted in the aura sight and had no cause to be alarmed. In addition to this failing, he had allowed his desire to live a peaceful life to take precedence. Now was not the time to entertain a new wife; he should have been focused on the war. He should never have gone riding in the countryside, even if they believed nobody knew where they were. It was a bitter lesson that nearly ended in disaster, but Lilly shined by professing her love despite the bind being broken.
He would not make this mistake again and stepped up his efforts to march, ordering his central army to be made ready in one week. Shadros was now helping scout the north, and he sent small squads of men to reinforce the posts that protected the mountain valleys. If the Doan showed up out of the northern wilds, he would have some warning before they started to rampage.
“Grim thoughts,” Sarah said as she entered the room and walked to her throne. “I still can’t believe we haven’t found them yet.”
“I struggle to believe it as well,” Gersius said with a tired sigh. “How do you hide an army that large?”
“They must have gone far to the north,” Sarah suggested. “They might appear closer to the east than directly north.”
“If they are far to the north, it might take weeks to find them,” he replied and rested his chin on a hand. “I cannot be tied down like this. I need to advance on the west now.”
Sarah nodded and commented that it didn’t make sense that the Doan were waiting. They had the forces necessary to break through but didn't seem interested. Gersius believed they were waiting for the missing army to get into position, perhaps even to attack the border keeps from behind.
“That would help them break the line with minimal casualties, but they could have done that months ago before you reinforced them with Gams,” she countered.
“It doesn't make sense,” Gersius agreed, but he was grateful they were waiting. His program to allow women into the light infantry and a massive expansion of the dove shields was having results. He had thousands of soldiers training across the land but was critically short of weapons and armor. So many of the smiths were followers of Gorrin that their absence crippled his production. Amateur smiths were rising up to fill their place, but it would be many years before they were up to speed. To try and ease the burden, he ordered the armor collected from the raven guard stripped and repainted. This would work for some men, but most armor had to be custom-fitted, and it still left him desperately short.
“We will manage,” Sarah said as she read his thoughts. “Besides, the eastern front is about to deliver us a huge gift of weapons and armor.”
Gersius smiled at how she saw it and had to agree that those materials would be quickly used for his own men.
“You understand how important this battle will be?” he asked.
“I understand my role,” Sarah replied and put her hand over his arm. “I will be there for the battle to ensure Alayse has the upper hand. I want to see what these would-be dragon slayers do when faced by an ancient dragon instead of a child.”
“They will have an unusual amount of enchanted weapons,” Gersius warned.
“I don't intend to let them use them,” Sarah laughed. “I can burn the ground from well above then use weaves to fan the flames. When I am done, we can pour their ash out of the armor and take it for ourselves. Though it will be a pity that I won't be here for the forge masters execution.”
“I would do it immediately, but I want to make a spectacle of it,” he replied. “Thus, I need to allow time for people who wish to witness the event to travel to Calathen.”
“I understand,” Sarah sighed and leaned back. “All that matters to me is dealing with these fools who claim they will take Lilly’s head back as a trophy. How dare they threaten our wife.”
“How dare they, indeed,” Gersius agreed as his anger began to simmer. He brought up another point of contention that Lengwin was actively purging his order. There were many bishops and lesser leaders who were complicit with the Father Abbot's plans. Some of these were going to be put to death alongside the forge master.
“It will be a bloody day, but the start of a better future,” Sarah agreed and got up, moving to stand before him. She reached down and took his hands as he met her gaze. “Thayle has helped me understand how important having a family is to you. Soon the final battles will begin, and your empire will be at peace, then I promise you will have your family.”
“I am tired of fighting,” he admitted as she began to rub his hands. “I just want to hold my child.”
“Your child is already growing safely in Lilly's cave,” Sarah reminded. “And Thayle will likely bear you one soon after the fighting ends.”
“And what about you?” Gersius asked, causing Sarah to blush.
“I,” she stammered and looked away as words failed her. She had to take a moment to gather her thoughts before she could continue. “Lilly assures me that if I asked Balisha, she would grant me the same blessing. I have given it some thought, and if it would make you happy, I would have a child with you.”
“I would never ask that of you,” Gersius said and got up to pull her into a hug. “I know you are terrified of the curse and saw firsthand what it did to your daughter. We hope and pray that Lilly's child will be born free from it, but we can not be sure. I do not want you to have to face the possibility of bringing another child into the world only to lose them to the madness.”
“I’m sorry,” Sarah said and sniffed. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” he replied. “You, Lilly, and Thayle have faced terrible fears to offer me children. I am eternally grateful to have such loving and dedicated wives, but until we know your child will be safe, I think it is best we do not have one.”
“Of course,” Sarah replied with a nod and wiped at her eyes.
“When the day comes that we know for sure your child will be born free, then Lilly and I will pray to Balisha for your blessing. Then we can talk about having a child,” he said while rubbing her back.
“I feel so silly sometimes,” Sarah laughed as she enjoyed his embrace. “I told Numidel that all this love talk was nonsense. Now I cry when I look into your eyes and feel the pain of emotions. I am older than most dragons by far and big enough to squash you like a bug, yet I melt in your arms. Why do I need you so much?”
“Your eyes have been opened, and now you want what all beings want,” Gersius replied as he pulled her tighter “You want to be loved, and you know that I love you.”
Sarah smiled and wrapped her arms around the man who was her whole world. It was a rare moment where her emotions boiled the surface, brought on by the pent-up fear from nearly losing them. Gersius understood these feelings all too well and wished she didn't have to experience them. Unfortunately, it was the price they paid for the love that was born on a long, painful road to war. Soon that would elevate to new levels of destruction, and he hoped that in the end, his wives would still be there to cry for the sake of love.
Comments
Sam4005
Arrogance will be their downfall
Sam4005
Ty for chapy
