Omnixius
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DKP 6-24 Love or nature
🕑 Added 2021-04-04 21:19:41 +0000 UTCLilly burst into the tent and stormed directly to Gersius and Sarah as they looked over a map. Gams, Lengwin, and a dozen officers from Ulustrah and Astikar looked up at the sudden disturbance.
“I am not wasting a single flake more of the gold on this stupid weave!” she insisted and folded her arms. “Why am I practicing this so much?”
“We were just telling the leadership that,” Sarah said as she frowned at Lilly.
“Well, now you need to tell me,” Lilly insisted.
Gersius looked to Sarah, who nodded, so he closed his eyes and concentrated on what he hoped to accomplish. Lilly saw the image in her mind as her expression changed to one of absolute horror.
“No!” she yelled. “Absolutely not! What kind of a dragon do you think I am?”
“Lilly, this is very important,” Gersius began, but she backed away from him, shaking his head.
“No,” she replied and tossed her head.
“Child, you are behaving like a child before the leaders of the camp,” Sarah scolded. “You needed the practice to be sure you could do it.”
“Could you do it?” Lilly asked as she glared at Sarah. “Could you waste all that gold?”
“It isn't being wasted,” Lengwin insisted, but Lilly ignored him as she glared at Sarah, waiting for her reply.
Sarah coughed as Gersius read her thoughts and turned to look at her.
“What is wrong with you dragons?” he asked. “You understand how important this is?”
Sarah cleared her throat as Lilly smiled triumphantly. “You see, it’s not so easy to do when you have to do it. No dragon would do this unless their life depended on it.”
“Child,” Sarah began and stood up. “I understand how you feel, and I admit I have strong feelings about it too, but it must be important.”
“It must be important?” Gersius repeated. “You do not have faith in my plan?”
“I never said that,” Sarah. “I am simply admitting that this is a tough decision for a dragon. You are asking a lot of her.”
“It's a pointless decision because I am not doing it,” Lilly repeated.
Gersius curled his hands into fists as he leaned over the table, silently clearing his thoughts. Lilly and Sarah both looked at him in alarm as he stood tall and turned to face Lilly.
“When the time comes, I need you to do this,” he said.
“You can’t ask me to go through with this,” Lilly pleaded. “Just thinking about it makes me ill.”
“If I have to, I will use the command,” he replied.
“What?” she said in shock. “Don’t you dare! You promised never to use the command on me again.”
“Lilly, this is too important. I will never appreciate how you feel about this, but what I am asking you to do is vital to achieving our goals.”
“But is it worth it?” Lilly asked. “Nothing is worth the gold, nothing!”
He got up and moved to stand before her but didn't lay a hand on her. She looked into his eyes as he remained perfectly quiet, allowing her to think through her anger.
Lilly finally lowered her head as a frown spread on her face. “I don't want to do it,” she squeaked. “But I will if you need me too. I promised I would go through that gate with you.”
Gersius nodded and let out a sigh. “I won’t make you practice the weave anymore, but you have to do this for us. When the time comes, you have to do it with all your heart.”
Lilly nodded and turned away, feelings of shame emanating over the bind. She went out of the tent in mournful stagger and vanished into the night as Gersius turned on Sarah.
“You of all people should understand why I am asking this of her,” he said.
“I never said I didn’t understand it,” Sarah argued. “But I have to admit I share her blood and its need. As much as it pains me, I can't help but feel the same way. If you asked me to do it, I would agree, but like Lilly, I feel ill just thinking about it.”
“You dragons mystify me,” Gersius said. “You would not part with a single coin if your life depended on it.”
“You understand how important the metal is to us,” Sarah said. “I have managed to part with a little from my hoard. I bought the girl's dresses.”
“You weaved that from the wagons,” he said as she flinched in alarm.
“How did you know that?” she asked aghast and stood up to look about the room.
Gersius shook his head at her. “Not only can I see your aura and know you just lied, but I had Tavis place a weave over the gold wagons. He told me when something was magically altered. You marked those coins and then drew on them instead of your hoard. You are every bit as unable to accept this as Lilly.”
“We need that energy to survive,” Sarah said in defense of her actions. “You must understand, we don't grow like you humans do. Without the magic of the metals, we become frail and sick.”
“Lilly has been just fine,” he countered.
“It takes a few years for a dragon to deplete her stored power. A dragon that was careful and used little of it might go longer, but eventually, it will catch up on them. We even begin to shrink as the power depletes, growing smaller and weaker.”
“Numidel was able to part with a large bundle of coins without batting an eye,” Gersius pointed out.
“He is different!” Sarah shouted and then regained her composure, looking around the room at the watching faces. “I'm sorry. I did not mean to shout.” She took a moment to gather her thoughts as she rubbed at her temple. “Any dragon who for one reason or another find's themselves with no source of power will last maybe fifteen years. This is to give them time to find something to feed on, but honestly, after ten years, they will be too weak to go on. Once this sets in, they will go to sleep one day and pass away.”
“So it’s like starvation,” Lengwin offered.
“It is exactly like starvation,” Sarah agreed. “A few years in, and the dragon will be wracked with pains and feel tired frequently. This is to encourage the dragon to sleep on a hoard, but if no hoard is available, the suffering goes on. We dragons instinctively feel this in our blood, and seeing any of the precious metal fills us with a desire to acquire it. It is simply a means of trade to you humans, but it is life-giving and sacred to us. Asking us to willingly destroy any of this material is tantamount to asking a starving man to destroy a wagon full of food.”
“Perhaps you should allow the dragons to sleep on the gold we have collected,” Lengwin suggested.
“They all have small piles of coins to sleep on,” Gersius pointed out. “Even Shadros has been provided some gold and silver to ensure his good health. What confuses me is why they need more and more. It seems like no amount of gold is ever enough.”
“You don't understand the calling of the blood,” Sarah replied. “All of the rare metals slowly produce magical energy, acting as a constant source of nourishment for us. There is no limit to the amount of this power we can absorb, and to reach our full potential, we must absorb massive amounts. You can do this one of two ways: you feed for thousands of years or amass a significant hoard. A dragon with a large hoard will grow faster and achieve levels of power we all dream of.”
“So the coins produce the power slowly?” Lengwin asked.
“Very slowly,” Sarah replied. “Thus, we need large hoards to feed properly and massive hoards to grow more quickly than normal. The larger the dragon is, the more they need. The tiny amount you have provided us might be sufficient to keep Lilly and Shadros satiated, but for Numidel and I, it is almost nothing.”
Gersius nodded and looked to the other leaders as they whispered between themselves or waited for his reaction. He took a moment to consider what she had said as a thought that contradicted her point of view came to mind.
“I am starting to understand your need, but you do work weaves,” He pointed out. “You told me yourself that you protect your lairs with them.”
“Yes,” Sarah agreed. “We use a little of the gold to protect the much larger share of it. To a dragon, this is the only noble use of the metal, a little now to ensure the greater majority's safety.”
Gersius could feel her anguish over the bind as even talking about consuming the metal twisted her in knots. He went to the bind and focused on sending her love as the pain began to subside.
“Be at ease,” he assured her silently. “I am grateful you are here to explain this need.”
“Why do you love us dragons when we are so horrible?” she asked in his mind.
“I love you dragons because you love more completely than anyone I have ever known. You form powerful and deeply bonded relationships and because you are glorious. When we have the city taken, I will try to arrange something more significant for you and Numidel to feed on.”
Sarah smiled slightly as he took her hands and spoke aloud. “I forgive you, but Lilly must go through with this. You understand why.”
Sarah nodded as he turned to the maps, pointing to the gates of the city.
“Sarah, look here. When these break, I need you to be in position,” he said.
“When those break, the cities garrison is going to bottle you up in the narrow opening,” Gams said with a look of concern. “You know they are going to put every man they have in the courtyard behind those doors.”
“Likely, it will be all the false priests they have amassed,” Lengwin added. “The enemies unholy might will be waiting for you.”
Gersius nodded. “I am counting on it.”
“I don't understand why I have to do this,” Lilly growled as she paced back and forth before the massive blue head that was Numidel. “You must understand how wasteful it is!”
“Child, did I not give you a portion of my hoard freely?” he asked as he looked down, watching Lilly fume.
Lilly looked up and stared into his burning blue eyes. “Well, yes, but that was different.”
“How was it different?” he asked. “I lost a portion of the metal I feed on, and I did it in good cheer.”
Lilly paused to consider the idea and shook her head. “But that metal wasn't destroyed. It was still there until..”
“Until you gave it to Balisha,” Numidel said with a nod. “You had no trouble giving her the gold knowing full well she would consume it for your blessing.”
“But I needed that blessing,” Lilly said. “It was too important.”
“And Gersius needs this weave. It too is very important. You should be honored. He chose you to be the one who does it.”
Lilly blinked and came to a stop as she pondered the idea. “I guess it didn’t matter to me as much at the time. All I saw was what I really wanted, and suddenly the lust for the metal was pushed aside.”
“Such is the way of strong emotion,” Numidel said. “When your emotions are tested, your heart's desire often wins out.”
Lilly nodded and looked up with a confused expression. “I was once told that I would one day have to choose between my heart or my nature. I wonder if this is the choice. Choosing to do what Gersius needs, over my dragon nature to preserve the gold.”
Numidel tapped his fingers at the ground as he considered the words with an almost fatherly expression. “I suppose this could be the test, but do not be so quick to assume it is.”
“At least I don’t have to practice anymore,” Lilly scoffed. “I must have done it a hundred times.”
“He needs to be sure you can do it under pressure,” Numidel said.
“Yes, he does,” Lilly replied as she thought of the image she saw in his mind. “Oh, there must be another way!”
“There are often many ways to a solution,” Numidel said with a calming tone. “But they come with very different costs. The question is, which of the prices are you willing to pay to get to where you want to be?”
“You sound like Gersius,” Lilly growled and resumed her pacing. “I want all of this to be over so I can take them back to the valley.”
“You know he has to stay and be emperor,” Numidel reminded.
“I know!” she shouted and then looked around to make sure nobody nearby hear the outburst. “I’m sorry, it’s just that doing what he wants is so undragonlike.”
“And marrying a human man and woman is?” Numidel teased.
Lilly smiled and tossed her head, the blue wave of hair crashing about her hips. “I was snared and tamed by a man and then trained by a woman. I can't help it if I fell in love with them.”
“You say that so casually as if it means almost nothing. Child, you are the very picture of love and happiness in this camp. I have overheard many commenting on how they envy Gersius because of you.”
“They do?” Lilly asked as Numidel nodded.
“Innocent child of the scale, your love is a beacon to others, and it burns so brightly even mighty Sarah was moved by it. She had to know why you felt so, and in her need, she fell into your arms. I am grateful for your effect on her. She and I were not exactly close when we were sealed in that temple. As you know, dragons do not lair near one another, even in the best of circumstances. This always put us at odds, but we understood why we had to be there. Then her calling came, and it all became worse. You may not know this, but a female's scent changes during the calling.”
“it does?” Lilly asked in awe as Numidel nodded.
“I knew when it started, and for months she tried to hide deep in the tunnels that were hers, but you females can act distressed during your calling.”
“Wait, did I smell different when my calling was accidentally triggered?” Lilly asked.
Numidel let out a sigh. “Child, we both smelled it, and that was why Sarah was nearby every night when you slept. We knew the dreams were coming, and you would need her help, so she stayed in the tent waiting.”
“That’s why she was there when Thayle went out to get me water,” Lilly said. “But how did it become worse between you and Sarah?”
“We were both very young when the calling came and could not cross the seal that protected us for very long. If Sarah had been gone for more than a few hours, the curse would have taken her. Of course, the nearest male dragon that wasn't me was days away. She had no choice, and I would have had to fight her to prevent it.”
Lilly looked shocked but remembered Sarah admitting to as much. Numidel went on and explained how before that moment, he had been trying to convince Sarah that love existed. After that moment, she was closed off, unwilling to hear any more of it. It wasn’t until they were set free and she saw Lilly that her eyes finally opened.
“No wonder she was so conflicted,” Lilly said. “But the prophecy predicted her being the first wife.”
Numidel lowered his head and looked her in the face as he spoke in hushed tones. “I believe Astikar intended for her to be the previous dragon knights. Sarah refuses to admit it, but I suspect that is why that dragon knight failed. The dragon he picked had other goals in mind and wasn't committed to freeing Balisha as you are. When they failed, mighty Astikar worked to make Sarah first in line for the next knight, but the others were concerned, and a pact was struck. I do not know the terms of this pact, but you were the new first dragon.”
“My family and I have spoken about why I was chosen to be first,” Lilly said. “We agree that it was because I would respond the way I did. Ulustrah contributed her champion to make sure we came together and then join us. I suppose I needed Thayle to teach me how to be a human woman, and now I have Sarah to teach me how to be a proper dragon.”
“It warms my heart to hear you use the word family,” Numidel said with a toothy smile.
Lilly returned the smile and paused to face him. “Did Taylin come to visit you?”
“She did and spent a significant portion of the day with me. She also told me Sarah suggested she spend more time with me. I find it very hard to believe that Sarah is the one encouraging me to love again.”
“She is struggling to come to terms with how amazing love is,” Lilly said. “But she has come to the conclusion that you were right, and I think she worries about you.”
Numidel laughed and looked into the camp. “That mighty Sarah would worry about me is rather amusing. I do find speaking to Taylin to be stimulating. She is fascinated by stories of the old world and loves to talk about flowers.”
“All the women of Ulustrah talk about flowers,” Lilly laughed. “Even Gersius talks about them.”
“Flowers are gifts from dragons,” Numidel said as he looked down on her. “It is said that whenever a dragon cries, a new variety of flowers is born.”
“Is that real?” Lilly asked as Numidel smiled.
“I doubt it, but it has always been our legend. In truth, I know of only one flower for certain created by a dragon, and that is the tears.”
“Dragons tears,” Lilly whispered back. “Gersius once made me a crown out of those. I was upset, so he was trying to cheer me up. He was hurting too, but you know how he is. He buries everything so deep inside that it took me days to get him to share anything.”
“That is his way,” Numidel replied. “He is a man, and the world expects him to shoulder burden without complaint.”
“That's so silly,” Lilly insisted. “Sarah, Thayle, and I keep looking for ways to take things off of his shoulders. He shouldn't have to carry all this alone.”
“That is why you are prized like a rare gem in his eyes,” Numidel said. “You care about the man inside and see the pain though he tries to hide it. That you wish to carry some of his burdens for him makes you a treasure among women.”
“If he would let us,” Lilly replied. “It’s so hard to help him sometimes.”
“He will learn how to let go and allow you to help him more,” Numidel encouraged. “He has already given you much of the responsibility for leading Balisha's faith and in training her soldiers.”
Lilly smiled and looked back into the camp. “And now I feel terrible. He asked me to take a burden from him, and I refused to do it.” She looked up to Numidel with wide eyes. “I need to go find him and tell him I am sorry and will do exactly as he needs when the time comes.”
“You already told him that,” Numidel reminded.
“I know, but I need to say it the right way. I want to make sure he has no doubt I will be ready and willing when he calls on me.”
She made her goodbyes and ran into the camp to seek out her husband and ensure he knew where her heart lay.
“They have been practicing night and day,” Thayle said as Chiune lined up a thousand women to demonstrate the maneuver for Gersius. He and Sarah stood by as the women began to sing, creating their shields and linking them up like scales down a dragon's back.
“Impressive,” Sarah said with a smile. “But will this work?”
“It has to,” Gersius said as he looked over the display. “You have them assigned to groups of three?”
“Every woman knows her group, position, and rotation,” Thayle said. “They could do this in their sleep.”
“Good,” Gersius replied and studied the formation.
“Gams didn't approve of your strategy,” Sarah said as she, too, studied the women. “He thinks you are taking too many gambles.”
“In war, everything is a gamble,” Gersius replied and looked to Thayle. “Show me the rotation.”
Thayle nodded and gave Channi the go-ahead. A moment later, the women were rotating the blessing and maintaining a near-perfect alignment.”
“I have never had to train so many so quickly before,” Channi said. “Are you sure you want to send them in with no armor or weapons?”
“We don’t have the equipment to arm them properly,” Gersius replied. “I still don’t have enough armor for all of Lilly’s soldiers.”
“If this strategy of yours works, they won’t need them,” Sarah said and folded her arms.
“What of the reports from the spies?” Thayle asked. “I am told there are more women ahead of us.”
Gersius nodded. Jessivel received a report from a man inside Calathen who stated very clearly that there was an entire company of women of Ulustrah in green and red standing beside the Father Abbot. In addition, there were priests from other faiths as well, including Vellis and Gorrin. Their numbers were spotty, placing them at only a few hundred, but that still meant more blessings to be used against them. There was also a sizable contingent of war weavers. They came from the colleges in Calathen and from the nobility who often sent their children to study there.
“I am sorry,” Gersius replied.
“Don’t be,” Thayle said. “They choose to stand with a mad man who ordered their very faith purged from the land. They have no future in this world or Ulustrah’s eternal garden. I will not weep for their loss.”
He nodded as Sarah stepped forward to take Thayle’s hand. The two women shared a look of encouragement as Gersius gave permission for the drill to end.
“That leaves only our cavalry,” Gersius said as Thayle looked up.
“Oh, that is well in order,” she said with a smile. “Jessivel has seen to it that you will not be disappointed.”
Gersius shook his head, knowing all too well what she was hinting at. The previous day, Alayse had boldly challenged Jessivel to a duel over who would command both armies' unified cavalry. It was a vain play at power and a means to display her superiority. However, the fight didn't go as she planned it.
“Beaten like a brat from what I understand,” Sarah said with a pleased grin as both women read his thoughts. “That Jessivel is no slouch with a great sword.”
“Jessivel and I used to spar in training. His father was the trainer of three of the combat styles in the order's schools. No doubt, he has known the sword since he could lift one.”
“And that woman wanted to show the camp her superiority,” Sarah mused. “Am I to understand he toyed with her for a bit before putting her out of her misery?”
Gersius smiled and wished he had been there to see it. By all accounts, Jessivel goaded Alayse into thinking he couldn't come out of a parry fast enough to counter. She committed to a strategy that focused on a hail of attacks, and he took her apart. The fight ended with her flat on her back, Jessivel standing on her shield to pin one arm, his sword at her throat. She sputtered her submission with a face flushed so red the crowd thought she was bleeding.
“She reminds me of another woman who wanted to show her superiority,” Gersius mused.
“Yes,” Sarah agreed with a smile. “But she only wanted a good fight.”
“Is that all she wanted?” Gersius asked. “You know I can see your aura?”
“By the divines,” Sarah groaned. “I keep forgetting because I don’t have the sight yet myself.” She huffed and finally admitted the truth for all to see. “Maybe I wanted another chance to dance with you.”
“And what a dance it was,” Gersius agreed and turned back to the women. “They understand where they are to be at every phase of the battle?”
“Yes,” Thayle said with a shake of her head. “I know you are worried about sending unarmed women into battle, but they know exactly where to be and when. If your plans go the way we hope, they will never be in any danger.”
He realized this question had already been answered several times, but it needed to be asked again. Once the actual battle started, people would find it difficult to coordinate, and doubt would cause some to delay. He needed to be sure his forces understood their roles so well they could act even when captains were not on hand to issue orders.
Gams was now well versed in every detail of the battle, from the opening maneuvers to the final charge on the palace. Despite Gersius's insistence, this was the only way; he had serious reservations about some of the risks. He was very vocal about this formation and the danger posed if the enemy broke through to them. They would be slaughtered like sheep, and thus Gersius had to make sure they were always well protected.
The rest of the army knew where it was supposed to be and what to do, but nobody knew how the gates would break. As far as the rank and file soldier was concerned, the plan was to combine the two swords' power to grow a vine so big it could tear down the gates. Gersius impressed on them all that the gates would break quickly, and they would charge into the city. There would be no effort to sweep the lower districts and encircle the upper city. Instead, they were to rush directly to the inner walls and pass into the upper city. The war cages would be dropped on the causeways that linked the inner and outer walls. This would prevent the enemy from retreating from the outer walls to fortify the inner ones. With those gates taken, Gersius could drive on the great cathedral of Astikar and the palace itself. Thayle would be instrumental here, leading the army from the ground as he took to the air with Lilly. They would race ahead and hopefully catch one of the figureheads unaware. Numidel and Sarah would be on hand to deal with any dragon problems, with Shadros helping the ground attack.
“It will work,” Sarah said as she took his arm.
“Reading my thoughts again?” he asked as she tightened her grip. He was rather impressed she was clinging to him, a gesture only Lilly performed thus far.
Sarah smiled and focused inward to use the bind to communicate.
“You respond well to being firmly clutched,” she said. “You draw some kind of strength from it, and right now, you need all the strength you can get.”
“A physical display of love is a powerful form of encouragement,” he replied in her thoughts. “Especially from you.”
Sarah blushed slightly and held on tight as he turned to see Thayle smiling at them.
“You see, I was right about this as well,” Thayle said. “You fought me on Lilly, then myself, and now Sarah, yet you can’t live without any of us.”
Gersius smiled as Chiune, and some of the other women laughed at the display.
“I am sorry,” Gersius replied. “I should trust in your heart where love is concerned.”
“Good,” Thayle replied. “Now, is there anything else you want to see for the tenth time?”
He shook his head, so Thayle dismissed the formation, sending them to sleeping rolls for the night. There was now only one task left, and Thayle arrived to take his hand as Sarah took the other one.
“So she answered the prayer?” Gersius asked.
Thayle nodded. “Mingfe had the dream last night. She is ready to take the final step.”
“We need to find Lilly. She will be very upset to miss this,” Gersius said.
“I would never have believed that dragon would change so much, so quickly,” Sarah said with a slight smile. “But then I suppose he had the bind to help him.”
“How does that explain you?” Thayle asked. “You changed tremendously in even less time without the bind.”
Sarah sighed and looked to the stars above as if for an answer. “When I saw the joy that little blue beauty exuded, I was fascinated. When I found out she loved a human man and woman, I had to know why. Numidel tried to explain this love to me many times, but I had no idea what it was until I saw it. Even now, I still struggle to believe the things I feel. That I worry about others is so strange to me.”
“You are learning how to see beyond yourself,” Thayle said. “And, Sarah, you are very good at it.”
Sarah went to reply as a sudden pressure arrived in the bind. Lilly was drawing closer, and she felt tense, almost upset. They waited for her to appear in the tents, running to them with tears in her eyes.
“Child, what is the matter?” Sarah asked as Lilly practically threw herself into Gersius’s arms.
“I'm sorry!” she cried. “I know you are under terrible stress, and you need me to help you. I am sorry I said I wouldn't do the weave when you asked.”
“Lilly,” he said and cradled her head. “You already told me you would do it.”
“But I did it under duress,” she cried. “I had a chance to take a burden from you, and instead, I made it heavier. I want you to know I will do anything you ask of me. Please, don't worry at all. I will do the weave when you need it. I will do it for you.”
“Somebody is maturing,” Thayle said and joined the hug. “You never cease to amaze me.”
Sarah began to stroke Lilly’s head as she clung to Gersius’s chest.
“Well, she saved us the trouble of finding her for the binding,” Sarah said.
“What binding?” Lilly asked and looked up.
Thayle explained the news that Mingfe and Shadros were going to bind one another in just an hour. Lilly's eyes went wide with excitement, and she leaped from Gersius's arms to Thayle's, crying about how happy she was for them.
“And you wonder why this love enthralled me,” Sarah commented. “I needed to know why she felt like this. It was gnawing at me to see a dragon who behaved with such happiness.”
“I wish you had been there to see her grow,” Gersius said. “I will always treasure those early days of innocence.”
“If I had been there, I would have meddled in it and encouraged her to behave like a dragon,” Sarah said. “No, this had to happen exactly as it did. She needed to grow without me so she could be a light to my eyes later.”
“Let's go. I don't want to miss it,” Lilly said as she peeled away.
Gersius took Sarah’s hand as Lilly tugged at Thayle, urging her to lead the way. Together they went to a remove clearing outside of the camp, carefully protected from prying eyes by rings of guards. They stopped at treeline to watch as Shadros stone alone in his human form in the middle of the clearing.
“Why are we stopping here?” Lilly whispered.
“Because they are going to speak their true names,” Thayle said. “We are honored guests to be allowed to share this moment, but out of respect, we have to be far enough away that we can't hear it.”
A moment later, two lights appeared in the trees as an escort led Mingfe to the clearing. She wore a deep blue gown and a crown of white flowers that flowed in a trail down her braided hair. Her escort stopped at the edge, and she stepped into the moonlight alone, making her way to the center. She looked the picture of beauty, her dark skin glowing in the magical light as Shadros never took his eyes off her.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Lilly said excitedly. “I can’t wait to tease Shadros.”
Thayle tried not to laugh as the two finally met in the middle, and Shadros took her hands. They shared a delicate kiss before he knelt and she placed a hand on his head. She began, and so to did the guards hidden in the trees. It was designed to drown out their voices, so onlookers would not hear the sacred names. In a moment, Shadros was free of his bind and looked up as Mingfe knelt before him. She leaned over and whispered in his ear as he looked shocked by what was happening.
“She is telling him her name!” Lilly said excitedly.
“Goodness, Lilly, when did you become so excited by romance?” Thayle teased.
“I can’t help it. This is so beautiful!” she replied as her hands clutched for Thayle and Gersius.
They watched as Mingfe nodded and tilted her head as he placed a hand on it. He, too, lowered his head, and with her hand firmly in place, they began to sing together. There was a glow of silver light around their heads, and thunder rolled in the distance. Tears began to fall from Lilly's eyes as a strong breeze blew out from the clearing's center as the ground faintly shook.
“Lilly!” Thayle cried as Lilly squeezed in excitement. “Lilly, you're breaking my hand.”
Lilly let go and clasped her hands over her chest instead as the tears began to flow.
“He did it,” she cried. “He’s free at last.”
“It means so much to you to see dragons free of the curse,” Gersius suggested.
“I want them all free,” Lilly said. “For Balisha, I will find a way to save them. I will go to any length to break this curse. All dragons should know the beauty of love.”
Together they turned back to the scene before them as the two in the middle of the clearing wrapped one another up in a passionate kiss. Shadros was free at last, and the gamble of keeping him had paid off, but this strategy would likely not work again. If Lilly was to have her wish, another way had to be found to break the curse. Gersius felt restoring Balisha was perhaps the first step, but what would it cost to free dragons, once and for all?
Comments
I am very sorry this was so late. I am struggling to function of late. I promise, these will keep coming unless I die, in which case, I hope I am reborn in a love like Lillys.
