Omnixius
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DKP 4-25 The flip of a coin
🕑 Added 2020-01-06 01:42:10 +0000 UTC
Thayle opened her eyes to be greeted by the darkness of the tent. She lay on her back on a bed of animal skins in perfect comfort. She went to sit up and smiled to find Lilly pinning her down. Lilly lay between her legs with her head on Thayle’s stomach and her arms wrapped around her waist.
She sighed and began to stroke Lilly’s head gently as the dragon slept.
“How did I get so lucky?”
Gersius walked into the tent and smiled at the sight.
“Is she still asleep?” he asked.
Thayle nodded and looked down at the beautiful silver-blue hair.
“Our little dragon has me in her grasp.”
“She can sleep for a little longer,” he said. “The camp isn’t going to be ready to move for another two hours.”
Thayle looked up at him with dipped brows. “Why the delay?”
“Two dozen priests of Astikar arrived this morning from nearby temples. They wish to join us to restore the faith of Astikar. I have some of your order putting them to the test.”
Thayle nodded and laid her head back down. “How did you find such a gentle dragon?”
He smiled as he went through some papers on the table. “I originally thought I was lucky, but now I know the divines meant me to find her.”
“Well, she's ours now,” Thayle said with a smile.
He laughed and unrolled a piece of paper to read it’s contents. “You know Lilly often says that about you.”
“She does?”
He nodded his head while reading. “She tells me often that you are hers, and will share you with me because she loves me.”
“So, I belong to her, and you are allowed to love me as well?”
He smiled as he set the paper aside. “She is very attached to you,” he said, turning to look at her. “You are her best friend as well as her lover. She feels more comfortable learning from you.”
“She learns just as well from you,” Thayle protested.
He shook his head. “You are a woman. You can teach her how to behave like a woman in human society should. I can only take her so far. You will have to take her the rest of the way.”
Thayle looked down at the blue head firmly pressed to her stomach.
“I will show her everything and treasure every moment of it,” she said.
“What you showed her last night was funny,” he said.
Thayle blushed slightly. “She needs to learn how to make love to you. All she ever does is close her eyes and hold on. I have no idea why that was so shocking to her.”
“She thought you were going to bite me,” he said.
Thayle smiled and settled in to enjoy being held so tightly.
“I love to see you two together,” he said, looking down on them.
“Oh, I know,” Thayle said. “I know everything you feel when you watch us. Such a simple man, you like to watch us kiss. Don't you have any other fantasies you would like to see?”
“I see plenty of the other things you do,” he laughed.
“But they don’t seem to please you as much as watching us kiss.”
“When you two hold one another and kiss is when you look the most in love,” he said. “Seeing you two share that is the moment I enjoy most, and Lilly loves to share.”
“Such a giving dragon,” Thayle mused. “She is also very warm for an ice dragon.”
“She is warm,” he said. “I love having you two in my arms.”
“Nothing is stopping you from having us now,” Thayle teased.
He knelt beside them and leaned over her. “I would hold you both in my arms all day if I could. You two have brought love and happiness into my life when it is in it’s darkest hours. Never have I marched off to a conflict like the one I am facing, and never have I felt so grateful to be going. I have you and Lilly at my side to fill me with your love, and it makes every step easier.”
“You make me so happy to be your wife,” Thayle said. “I look forward to when I can hand you your child.”
He smiled and ran his hand down her shoulder. “There will be time for that later.”
Lilly suddenly stirred and lifted her head from Thayle's stomach.
“Is it morning?” she said sleepily.
“It is, but you can stay in bed for a couple hours more if you wish,” he said.
Lilly smiled and tightened her grip on Thayle’s waist before laying her head back down.
“I guess I am staying in bed too then,” Thayle laughed.
“You are her pillow after all,” Gersius laughed as he stood back up. “I will come back when it is time to start breaking down camp.
“So, you're not going to join us then?” Thayle asked with a bat of her eyes.
“I am leading the acolytes in prayers this morning, remember?”
“Oh drat,” Thayle said and went back to petting Lilly's head. “I suppose if you don't do it, Lilly will have to.”
He nodded as he stepped back. “You two enjoy your embrace and share your quiet moment. I will be back when you need to get up.”
Thayle waved him off as he left and went back to petting her dragon.
“I love you, Lilly. I started to fall in love with you the first day I saw you. I never dreamed you would one day be mine.”
Lilly rubbed her cheek on Thayle’s stomach and sighed. “I will always be yours.”
“What made you take to loving me so easily?” Thayle asked. “I am not even a man?”
“Does that matter?” Lilly asked. “Can’t I love you for being you?”
Thayle smiled. “Your answer is wonderful, but many people don’t share that point of view. You took to loving another woman with ease. Especially for somebody who had no concept of what love was.”
“Maybe it was Gersius,” Lilly said in a quiet voice.
“What does he have to do with it?” Thayle asked.
“He loved you, and I feel him over the bind. So maybe he made it easier for me to love you as well.”
Thayle paused to think about that a moment. “I wonder if that’s why?”
“Don't feel disappointed; I loved you all on my own,” Lilly said. “Even when I was free of the bind, I was starting to love you. If he had any influence, it was only to make it easier for me to express it.”
“Well, that's comforting to know,” Thayle said. “I suppose a lot of your freedom comes from not being unburdened by a culture that forbids women to love each other.”
“I never thought about it,” Lilly said. “I am a dragon, and I am arrogant. I saw what I wanted, and I said I have the right to have it because of what I am.”
Thayle laughed. “Well, that's another good way to look at it.”
Lilly tightened her grip again and turned her head so Thayle could pet the other side.
“Something Sutherisa said has me confused,” Lilly said.
“Oh? What was that?”
Lilly closed her eyes and took a deep soothing breath.
“She said you and Gersius glowed with dragon gifts. Does that mean she can see them?”
Thayle snapped her head back and looked at the top of the tent.
“That does seem an odd thing to say, doesn't it? I have no idea what she meant by that now that you point it out.”
“Maybe she can see auras?” Lilly guessed.
Thayle didn't think so, and she ran her hand across Lilly's shoulders.
“We can see the aura's, and it gives us no insight into the dragon gifts,” Thayle said. “It has to be something else. You don't see anything unusual when you look at us, do you?”
“I don’t see anything in the auras but colors.”
“Maybe it’s not the aura sight. Maybe you need to use your dragon sight?” Thayle suggested.
Lilly shook her head. “I don’t see anything that I didn’t see the first day I met you.”
“It must be something special she is doing then,” Thayle said.
“Or something I’m not old enough to have,” Lilly said.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Thayle asked.
Lilly lifted and arm to trace circles around Thayle’s belly button with a fingertip.
“Dragons gain things as they get older, and once they reach a certain age, they grow rapidly in size.”
“Is that why Sutherisa is bigger?” Thayle asked.
“My mother is much bigger than Sutherisa,” Lilly said.
Thayle tried to imagine a titanic dragon that would be even bigger than Sutherisa. The image failed to come, and she had to put an arm over her eyes to drive the thought away.
“So you think maybe her age allows her to see the gifts being shared?” Thayle asked.
Lilly shrugged and continued to circle Thayle's belly button. “My mother never said anything about it. Or, if she did, I didn't pay attention enough to remember it.”
Thayle felt sadness over the bind as Lilly admitted that.
“You feel guilty about that, don't you?
Lilly nodded and laid her head on Thayle’s chest as Thayle cradled it.
“Lilly, you can't be upset with yourself for not listening to your mother. You were cursed and driven to do the things you did. Despite that, your mother did manage to teach you a lot of things that have come in handy.”
“I wish I could talk to her,” Lilly said.
“Have you tried this dream thing you were talking about?”
Lilly nodded gently. “I try every night, but I don't know how to do it. It feels like the more I try, the harder it is. I only ever achieve it by accident when I am exhausted.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Thayle said and kissed the top of her head. “It will come to you. Sooner or later, it will come, and you will figure it out.”
“I want you to see the valley,” Lilly said.
“I have seen it in your dreams,” Thayle said. “I saw the stream once, and the mountains while you were flying.”
“I want you to stand in it beside Gersius and I.”
“We will all be there one day, and we will call it home,” Thayle said as she stroked Lilly's soft hair.
“But that day is so far away,” Lilly said.
Thayle smiled and kissed her head. “What’s a year or more to a dragon?”
Lilly smiled and ran her hand up Thayle’s waist.
“It's funny; time seems more important to me now. The more time I spend with you, the more I notice it. I only want to sleep now when one of you is holding me.”
“Maybe you’re learning that from us,” Thayle said and then had a thought. “Lilly!”
“What?” Lilly said, alarmed.
“Maybe Sutherisa can teach you how to enter the dream?”
Lilly leaned up, breaking the hug and looked into Thayle's eyes.
“Do you think so?”
Thayle smiled. “I have no idea, but she is our best bet. Numidel might know as well. They might be able to teach you all the things you never learned from your mother.”
Lilly chewed on a lip and looked to the doorway of the tent.
“It won't do you any good to get out of bed,” Thayle said. “They flew off to look for that temple last night.”
Lilly sighed and laid back into Thayle’s arms.
“I wonder when they will be back.”
“They said six days at the most,” Thayle replied. “Then you can ask her all the questions you want.”
Lilly nodded and closed her eyes.
“So, tell me about this order of the scale?” Thayle said.
“There isn't much to tell. My mother said that dragons used to meet sometimes, and when they did, the eldest dragon present always presided over the meeting.”
“What did they meet for?”
“I don’t know,” Lilly replied.
Thayle sighed. “So much of the world was lost in that terrible war. Nobody remembers what any of our history or ancient ways mean. There are buildings in my homeland from that time that men still argue over why they were built. We used to build something called wind towers, but none of us knows what those are or what they were used for.”
“I’m sorry,” Lilly said.
“You’re sorry for what?”
“That we dragons did all this.”
Thayle wrapped her tightly and pressed Lilly to her chest.
“Never be sorry for that,” Thayle said. “You are not to blame for what your mother did, let alone your ancient ancestors did thousands of years ago.”
“I still feel bad, especially knowing what happened to Ayawa’s people.”
“I am more shocked to know it was Ulustrah who killed Appateros,” Thayle said. “I always see her as a gentle goddess of the forest.”
“That war was so terrible even some of the gods died,” Lilly said softly. “Do you think I might cause it to happen again?”
Thayle felt Lilly’s apprehension over the bind and cradled her head.
“No, I don't,” Thayle said. “Solesta is gone, and you are restoring Balisha to her power. We are only trying to restore two divine orders and save the old empire. We aren't marching out to face some of the divines.”
“How do we know?” Lilly asked.
“Because the Doan are the enemy,” Thayle said. “They and the Father Abbot are all we have to worry about.”
“But Gersius said somebody was behind the Doan. He said somebody was teaching them how to fight wars and giving them power. Couldn’t that be a divine?”
Thayle tried not to react to the word as the simple logic chilled her blood. Who was behind the Doan? Why were they marching in such a coordinated and large scale fashion? Most importantly, why was the Father Abbot helping them? She rested her chin on Lilly’s hair as the thought echoed in her mind.
“Go back to sleep,” Thayle said. “I will wake you when it is time to get up.”
Lilly nodded and settled into Thayle’s chest as Tahyle stared at the ceiling.
“It can't be a divine,” Thayle whispered. “Sweet mother, Ulustrah, please tell me Lilly is wrong.”
Gersius sat with the acolytes and led them in prayer to Balisha. He was pleased when they opened to the divine that he could see so many of their cords. All of them but one had made the connection now, and that last acolyte would make it soon. He worked with them on the blessing of healing this morning and tried not to laugh when they struggled with the tones. It was one of the things all new priests and priestesses struggled with. Many of them were soft-spoken and had trouble holding a full clear note. He was rather grateful that Balisha's blessings were mostly single tones and not elaborate chants like Astikars.
As he sat with them and went over the concepts of faith, he began to wonder. In light of what Numidel and Sutherisa said about the first dragon knight, he considered taking more acolytes. Surely it would help Balisha to have more faithful praying to her. Whatever aid she had, could then be returned as blessings when needed. The issue was going to be part logistics and part-time. Gersius was already over-committed and found it difficult to meet the needs of the camp. He was building an army on the march, many of who were training as they progressed.
The army was now going to include the acolytes themselves. Gersius gave Kilgian the task of teaching them basic strength training and how to hold a weapon. This was to toughen them up more than teach them to fight. Gersius needed them to develop the arm strength to hold a sword and shield. For armor, many of them would wear light mail since that was what was most abundant in the camp right now. There was a plentiful supply of gambeson as well, but he knew most of that would be needed as the militia grew. They would use a rather short sword for training until they grew in strength, and then he would press a priest of Astikar to start teaching them real techniques. Once they were ready and had some muscle, he would graduate them to a longer sword.
He told them about the plan this morning, and many of them looked terrified. Gersius reassured them that he didn't intend for them to fight in the front lines. However, he impressed on them the danger of a battle and how he could not guarantee they would always be safe.
Whatever the case may be, he was now determined to make a concentrated effort to get some of them ready to operate as a full priest. Lilly called all of the ones who could make the connection a priest, but Gersius knew better. When one of them could work all the blessings and swing a sword, he would call them a priest. Then he would take three new acolytes and task that priest with their basic training. With any luck, he would have his first priest in a month, just as they began to cross into the empire.
He wondered about sending the first priest back to Avashire to establish a temple and begin safely away from the fighting. This would be an act of desperation at best. It would take years to train any of them for the task properly, and anyone he sent back would likely accomplish little.
A small issue arose when he asked them if they had questions, and they bombarded him about the two new dragons. Many wanted to know who the two new dragons would belong to. Gersius had to take time to explain that the dragons would decide that themselves. With surprise, he discovered they believed the dragons had to be bound to a human. He realized they got that from his relationship with Lilly. Many long minutes were spent explaining how that came about and how he freed her. He then explained how and why she came back and wanted to be bound. The new dragons had no such need and would likely not seek a human to bind with.
Several of them were disappointed and turned their questions to Shadros. Some of them were of the mindset that he should belong to Balisha and not to a priestess of Ulustrah. Gersius had to squash this notion that the dragons belonged to anyone. He explained that they were their own and would decide who they wanted to be with.
After prayers and training, he dismissed them to the chores they did in the camp and waited as Lengwin and the other leaders arrived for the morning meeting. As the men and women gathered, he saw the change in demeanor. There were smiling faces on nearly all of them, and they began to congratulate one another on their victory. Gersius realized that just like his acolytes; they were operating under a false impression.
As the meeting progressed, he did indeed learn that they had become emboldened by the arrival of the dragons and now felt they could not lose. Gersius spent the next hour explaining how they were sure the Father Abbot had a red dragon working with him, and for all, they knew several more. If anything, the battlefield was now more even.
He took much of the cheer away and brought them back to a firm grounding. He was grateful when Lengwin moved the meeting on and went over the new arrivals. Twenty-five priests of Astikar, one who was a veteran commander of the troll campaign. It was one of the few significant offenses of the order that Gersius wasn't asked to command. It had gone to a Knight-Captain Vorn, who from all accounts had masterfully beaten the trolls and pushed them back a hundred miles or more into the wilds.
The meeting moved on to shortages and expected marching lengths. It was here Gersius asked about stops and layovers at major cities and towns. He explained his desire to expand the number of acolytes in training to help ensure the rise of Balisha's faith. Lengwin was perplexed by that decision, accurately sighting the logistics. Thankfully some of the other captains agreed that a little more effort to help ensure Balisha's return would be wise.
They agreed to take a full day to stop at two major tows ahead. In addition, he would fly ahead with Lilly and Thayle as usual but add recruiting to the list of things they did while visiting towns.
The meeting ended as the teams arrived to pull the tent down. Gersius went back to tell his wives they needed to dress and get ready for the march ahead.
“No sword practice this morning?” Lilly asked as Thayle rapidly brushed her hair.
“There will be no time,” he replied as he packed his maps and papers into a small chest.
“You were thinking of a strange technique last night,” Lilly said. “It looks awkward the way you’re stepping.”
“It's designed to get under a man with a long poled weapon,” Gersius said. “It looks awkward because your stepping under the pole and then standing to carry it up your shoulder while you stab in.”
“What made you think to teach us that?” Thayle asked.
“We added pikemen to our army,” Gersius said. “Since we are fielding men like that, it seemed proper to teach you how to counter them.”
“Don’t pikemen fight in ranks?” Thayle asked. “Even if you dip under the first poles, the second and third ranks will skewer you.”
Gersius nodded with a smile to see Thayle understood a little about the proper use of a pike formation.
“It is only meant to fight them when there are not supporting troops or additional ranks. For a massed formation, we will use something called a shield trap.”
Thayle looked at him strangely, and he closed the chest. “I will explain it to you as we fly out.”
“Were flying out?” Lilly asked.
“I made a decision this morning as I worked with the acolytes,” Gersius said. “I think we should take on more of them.”
“You do?” Lilly said with a happy note in her voice.
“If our current efforts have made it so Balisha can protect two dragons, then perhaps we could help her protect more.”
“I think there is more to it than that,” Thayle said. “Those two are firmly committed to Astikar and have a strong understanding of faith. I doubt a wild dragon will be as easy to shield.”
Even so, the more people who know Balisha's faith, the better,” Gersius replied. “I do not want to make the same mistake the first dragon knight made.”
“How many more are do you want?” Lilly asked.
“I want to raise one of them to a full priest,” Gersius said. “Then, for every full priest we have, we will take three new acolytes. It will be the task of the priests to handle the early training of history and meditation.”
“Gersius,” Thayle began. “You know it takes a year or more for a person to master that. None of them will be qualified to teach it for a long time to come.”
“I will still be on hand to guide them. I just need some assistance with larger groups,” he pressed.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Lilly said. “But who can we make a full priest?”
“How is culver doing?” Gersius asked.
Lilly shrugged. “He can make the connection, and he knows the blessing of cold, but I haven't had much time to work with him recently.”
“I didn’t get a chance this morning,” Gersius said. “We are too busy to spend the time we need training them individually.”
“And you want to take on more?” Thayle questioned.
“I was hoping to grow our numbers to thirty,” Gersius replied. “I also asked Kilgian to begin teaching them physical training.”
“For what?” Thayle asked.
“For combat,” he replied.
Lilly and Thayle exchanged concerned looks, so Gersius elaborated.
“I don't expect them to fight yet. I just want them to know something for when a battle goes wrong, and an enemy gets into our rear.”
“That’s why we have reserves,” Thayle pointed out.
“And sometimes reserves have to be pressed to the front to hold a line,” he replied. “Then, a light cavalry charge hits the rear by surprise.”
Thayle sighed and put a hand to her head.
“We really are marching into a bloody war, aren't we?”
“Unfortunately so,” Gersius said. “I am still hoping the size of our force will convince most to let us pass unmolested, but there will be a fight at Calathen, no matter what.”
“And it will have dragons fighting dragons again,” Lilly sighed.
Gersius and Thayle looked as Lilly’s shoulders sank. He moved to stand before her and took her hand to stand her up.
“I would avoid the death of a dragon if I could,” he assured her. “Your kind can't be blamed for anything it does under its current condition. Let's hope with Sutherisa and Numidel's help we will be able to drive off any opposing dragons without killing them.”
Lilly nodded and looked to the doorway.
“Should I go change?”
“Yes, we are done here,” he replied. “You and I should get into our armor,” he added, nodding to Thayle.
As the tent came down around them, they climbed onto Lilly's back and headed into the sky. He directed her south and west to a town called Sunderton. It took them nearly four hours to find it making it just after noon when Lilly flew high over the city looking down.
“I see a temple to Ulustrah on a hill to the west,” Lilly said. “There is a strange tower near the north wall, and a large walled yard just left of it.”
“That is probably a keep for the local lord,” Gersius said. “Where is the temple to Astikar?”
“I don’t see one,” Lilly said.
“There must be one,” he insisted. “Lengwin assures me this town has a sizeable temple.”
“I don’t see any of your square towers,” Lilly insisted.
“Could this temple be different?” Thayle asked.
“I suppose it could,” Gersius said. “Maybe it is the round tower?” Neither of his wives had any idea, so he decided to press on. “Let's make sure they knew we are here, fly over the city, and give them a roar.”
Lilly did as he instructed and flew lower so she could easily be seen from the ground and let loose with a roar.
Gersius and Thayle looked back as Lilly flew past the city to see people pointing up.
“Where should I land?” Lilly asked.
He looked over her shoulder and spotted a field that looked recently cleared of timber. Lilly made a gradual spiraling flight down to land in the clearing. They made their way to the road with Gerisus and Thayle walking side by side with Lilly in her dragon form towering from behind. There they waited for the local temples or guard to send people to greet them. When an hour passed, Gersius became concerned.
“I hope this town isn’t planning to be hostile,” he said.
“Maybe they were attacked by the other dragon and are afraid to approach,” Thayle said.
Gersius watched the road and wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t about to waste the trip.
“We will walk to the walls,” he said. “Lilly, follow behind us about thirty paces and look ahead with your sharp sight.”
Lilly nodded, and Gersius led the way down the road. Twenty minutes later, they cleared the trees into a series of farms that circled the town. He saw the farmworkers flee when they noticed Lilly, but nobody made any effort to be hostile.
As the walls grew taller, Lilly began to study them with her far sight.
“I see only five guards at the gate,” she said. “Nobody looks to be alarmed.”
“They should be after we flew over them and roared,” Thayle suggested.
“Be on your guard,” Gersius said. “This town seems to be ignoring us.”
“So that means they aren’t afraid,” Lilly said. “Isn’t that good?”
“I can’t imagine a town not responding to a dragon flying overhead,” Gersius said as the wall came closer.
“Well, they are responding now,” Lilly said. “I think the guards can see me.”
Gersius put a hand over his brow to block the sun to see men moving quickly before the gate and the doors beginning to close.
“Not the welcome I was hoping for,” he muttered. “Lilly, look around us, is anything out of place?”
Lilly glanced all around with her head high in the air. “Unless the sheep are about to become hostile, I see nothing.”
Gersius nodded and continued to approach the gate with a sense of apprehension. The guards retreated inside, and the doors closed firmly. The road outside the city was empty of people, but men began to appear on the walls.
“We’re inside arrow range,” Thayle whispered.
“None of them are holding bows,” Lilly said. “They just seem to be talking and pointing.”
Gersius stopped them when they were a hundred paces away.
“I will go forward and talk to the men on the wall.”
“Were doing this again?” Thayle asked.
“It worked last time,” he pointed out.
“I promise if they harm you, I will encourage Lilly to freeze this city in ice,” Thayle said.
Gersius smiled and leaned forward and lifted her chin to kiss her. “I will be fine. I have the two greatest women in the land to back me up.”
Thayle folded her arms in frustration as Gersius went to Lilly to get his helmet from a bag on the side.
“I don’t like you going alone,” Lilly said.
“I will be only half the distance closer,” he said as he fished it out. “You will be able to reach me in seconds.”
Lilly looked back to the walls and let out a low growl. “I still don’t like it.”
He smiled and put his helmet on before putting a hand to her side.
“Be still my wife. All will be well, but keep watch of the land around us. If you see anything out of the ordinary alert me.”
Lilly nodded and looked around again as he made his way past Thayle.
“No closer than halfway,” Thayle insisted as he started to approach the city.
He took the precaution of keeping his shield on his left arm. His sword was his left hip while wind razor was at his right. He approached boldly down the center of the road with his arms at his side. He hoped to appear as nonhostile as possible.
“Halt,” a man from the wall called. “Who approaches the city with a dragon?”
Gersius gave them a moment of silence before dipping inside to find Lilly’s gifts. He looked up as his eyes began to glow blue and answered them with the power of the dragon voice.
“I am the Dragon Knight returned. I have come to call all those who would rally to my cause, and aid me in defeating the Doan and rebuilding my empire. I have come to speak to the heads of the temples of Astikar and Ulustrah, to enlist their aid directly.”
Men from the wall leaned over and spoke before one of them leaned back out.
“You and the woman may enter the city, but the dragon must remain outside.”
“The dragon is my companion and will not be left behind,” Gersius said. “If it bothers you that much, I will meet with the heads of the temples here in the road.”
The men whispered something between themselves before moving away from the edge. Gersius couldn't see what they were doing clearly, but it looked like they were speaking with a man in the street behind the wall. A moment later, they returned the edge and called down.
“One of our leaders wishes to meet you here,” the man said before calling to open the gates.
Gersius waited as one of the two gates opened, allowing a tall man with long brown hair to step out. He wore a simple dark shirt over gray pants with an equally gray cloak. He walked directly to Gersius with an almost pleased look on his face.
“Greetings, Lord Dragon Knight,” the man said with a deep bow and a flourish of his right arm. “I take it; you are Lord Gersius of Astikar?”
Gersius took a moment of pause to be so quickly addressed by his real name. Word was certainly spreading that he was the dragon knight, and they were sure the Father Abbot already knew they were in the north. Still, this was the first man to address him so directly.
“I am,” he replied. “I wish to speak to the heads of the temple and the city rulers, if possible.”
“I am Illison, pro council for the city, and sent to see how we can assist you. If you wish to meet the heads of the temples, I will arrange for them to be gathered. Please leave your dragon here and come inside.”
“I would speak to them out here if the dragon is not permitted inside,” Gersius said.
“But we have a fine dining hall we can all sit down and talk at,” the man insisted.
“The dragon is always at my side,” Gersius insisted. “I will not leave her alone on the road.”
Gersius flinched as the man suddenly produced a single coin from nowhere and flipped it. Gersius watched as the coin rose and began to fall, but was snatched from the air by the man who didn’t even seem to be watching it. He opened his palm and looked at the coin before smiling and looking back up to Gersius.
“The dragon will be allowed inside,” he said. “But she will not fit in our dining hall.”
Gersius felt a sense of distrust at the sudden reversal. He glanced at the coin and pondered its significance it played. Illison stood smiling and rubbing the coin between two fingers as if it was vital to him.
“You are a leader of the city?” Gersius asked as he dipped into the aura sight.
Of course, I am the pro counsel to count Jevlin DuLorn. Sadly our lord is away on other business, but I will do all I can to see to your needs.”
Gersius noted that every word flashed white with the truth and let his worries abate a bit.
“Please, go and collect your companions and I will lead you in,” Illison said.
Gersius nodded and walked back to the women waiting in the road.
“What did he say?” Lilly asked.
“The local lord is away, but this man is the one left in charge in his absence. He is going to allow us into the city to speak to the heads of the orders.”
“Why not bring them out here?” Thayle said.
“He suggested we could sit at a banquet hall and talk,” Gersius replied.
“I won't fit in any banquet hall,” Lilly pointed out.
“Were not going inside,” Gersius said. “Something about this man is off.”
“What do you mean?” Thayle asked.
“He denied Lilly entrance to the city until I refused to part with her. Then he flipped a coin and changed his mind.”
“He flipped a coin?”
Gersius nodded. “I asked him directly who he was and watched his light. He never lied, but I still do not trust him.”
“Well, they certainly haven't shown any hostility,” Thayle said. “Maybe he is just eccentric?”
Gersius looked back to the man waiting on the road and wondered. “Just be on your guard.” Thayle nodded, and the three walked back to meet the man.
Gersius introduced Pro counsel Illison, and then introduced Thayle and Lilly, taking great care to point out that Thayle was also a dragon knight. When he introduced Lilly, he referred to her as the high priestess of Balisha, and the man's smile faded away. He produced his coin, flipping it again and snatching it from the air as before.
“Alright, that is disturbing,” Thayle said silently over the bind as the man studied the coin in his palm.
“Why would he be looking at that coin?” Lilly asked silently, as well.
“I do not know,” Gersius silently replied. “But he didn’t like hearing Lilly was a priestess of Balisha.”
They fell in beside the man as he led them through the gate and began to preach of the virtues of the town, and it's good people. He explained they were a prosperous trader of black rock that was mined in the nearby hills.
“What is black rock?” Lilly asked as she ducked under the arch of the wall to get into the city.
“It's a rock that burns very hot,” Gersius said. “Smiths use it a lot for their forges.”
“A rock that burns?” Lilly questioned.
“We call that cindris,” Thayle said.
“The empire lands call it coal,” Gersius added as Lilly finally arrived inside the walls.
The town was like any other with stone streets on the main routes and packed earth for the narrower side lanes. The buildings were mostly wood and plaster with a few stone brick houses. Most of them were two levels in height, but a few climbed to three and even four. They were shocked to see how few people were on the streets. Those that were present hid on corners or peered through windows as Lilly lifted her head again.
“I am not here to harm anyone,” Lilly said softly. “Please, people, come out and go about your day.” Nothing changed as Illison met with twenty men in armor just ahead of them.
“Have word sent to the temples to send their representatives to the hall,” he said to several men of the guard who saluted and ran off. The other men marched ahead to clear the way so they could enter further into the city.
“We will have to stick to the widest streets,' Illison said as he returned to lead them. “So, the trip might meander a bit.”
“We understand,” Gersius said as Lilly tried carefully not to thrash her tail and batter any houses.
With a nod, Illison led the way and resumed his oration about the town, and it's history. They followed behind, slowly winding their way through the town, heading closer and closer to the walled yard.
“I sent word to have a banquet prepared,” he said.
“That isn't necessary,” Gersius replied. “We are only here to spread the word of our presence and our need. We are seeking volunteers to help us in any way they can.”
“And maybe some new acolytes for Balisha’s faith,” Lilly added.
There was a long silence that provoked glances between the three.
“Of course,” Illison said at last, with a nod and a smile. “But it would be poor manners to meet the future emperor and empresses of the dragon empire and not offer them a crust of bread.”
“You have bread?” Lilly asked.
Illison looked back at her and then flipped his coin. Again he snatched it from the air and smiled at what he saw.
“We have the finest bread in all the lands. A seasoned honey loaf made with three types of grain. It has a rich, hearty aroma and soft yellow body.”
“Could I have a little?” Lilly asked.
Illison smiled and nodded. “I fear you will not fit in our banquet hall.”
“You could bring me out a loaf,” Lilly said.
“We aren’t staying for a banquet,” Gersius insisted.
“But the leaders of the temples are both out,” Illison said. “It might be several hours before they arrive.”
“Did he just lie?” Gersius asked over the bind.
“No,” Thayle replied silently. “But I see why you feel uncomfortable. Every time he flips that coin, I grow more apprehensive.”
“I really want some bread,” Lilly said in the bind. “See if they have any butter.”
Gersius let out a sigh and looked around nervously. He had no reason to believe anything was wrong. Illison was being very accommodating and had thus far spoken the truth. The city watch was operating in the open and doing nothing to suggest they were about to attack. The people were understandably afraid, but they were not panicked.
“We will accept your offer provided there will be butter for the bread,” Gersius said.
Illison smiled. “Of course. Salted white cream from the high land cows. A very flavorful and creamy churn.”
“I want some of that too,” Lilly silently added.
“Whoever heard of a dragon whose favorite food was bread and butter?” Thayle replied silently.
Illison led them around a turn where the street widened into a broader lane that went right to an inner wall.
“Where are we going?” Gersius asked.
“His lordship has a banquet hall built into the lower chambers of the hill under the tower.”
“It is underground?”
Illison nodded. “He spent a fortune to have it hollowed out and fitted with accouterments.”
Gersius looked around again to ensure their safety. He saw only the astonished faces of townspeople as the group passed.
Ahead of them loomed the walls of the inner yard, and Gersius shook his head. The doorway was an arched double entrance, but it was so low Lilly would never be able to pass through it.
“Wait. Lilly will not fit through that door,” he pointed out.
Illison looked at the door as if considering something and then shrugged.
“We will have to bring the bread out here.”
“I am not leaving her in the street,” Gersius replied.
“I could fly over the wall,” Lilly offered.
Gersius looked around at the buildings that lined the street and realized she would never be able to stretch her wings to get lift. She would be forced to walk back to the city gates just to fly in.
“I think perhaps we should come back another day,” Gersius said.
“Surely there is something we can do to accommodate you?” Illison pressed. “The banquet hall is just inside the yard and down a tunnel.”
“Lilly cannot get into the yard,” Gersius pressed.
“I could change,” Lilly offered.
Gersius turned around to look at her and shook his head slightly.
“Why not?” she asked, not even bothering to use the bind. “I have a dress in one of the bags, and the streets are nearly empty. If Thayle helped me dress, I could be covered before the mist faded.”
“Then she could walk in with us,” Thayle agreed.
“I think perhaps it would be a better idea to come back,” he insisted.
“Why?” Lilly asked. “It took hours to fly here.”
“She has a point,” Thayle said over the bind. “We can’t keep revisiting cities so far away.”
“What do you think of this man?” Gersius asked silently back.
Thayle glanced at Illison a moment and then back to Gersius. “He seems strange but honest. He hasn't lied about a single detail. Even his description of the bread showed as true. He's not even exaggerating.”
“Please?” Lilly asked again.
“Fine,” Gersius said.
Lilly smiled a toothy smile and squatted down so Thayle could more easily get the dress out.
“What is happening?” Illison asked as Lilly began to remove the saddle.
“The lady Lilly is going to join us in the dining hall,” Gersius said.
“What?” How?”
“Just watch,” Gersius said as Lilly took a few steps back.
A white mist began to crawl over her skin, and then she was suddenly engulfed in a great cloud of white smoke that hid her form. The cloud swirled around her as if racing in a great wind. It produced a sound akin to a breeze in the branches of trees. There was a great flash of light that caused some cries from onlookers, and Thayle ran into the cloud.
“What did she do?” Illison asked, alarmed.
“You will see,” Gersius said, now enjoying the fact that the man was not so at ease.
A few moments later, the cloud began to dissipate, and two shapes could be seen moving inside. When it was clear enough to see, Thayle was lacing the back of a blue dress topped with golden trims around the frame of a woman with long blue hair.
“By the divines,” Illison gasped. “So, that's how.”
Gersius noted the strange comment but didn't have time to ponder it.
Lilly smiled and brushed off her dress as Thayle went to get her boots from the saddlebags. A moment later and Lilly was booted and standing beside them.
“It is a great honor to meet you again,” Illison said with another deep bow.
“Lead on to the bread,” Lilly insisted as she took Thayle’s hand.
Illison gestured to the open doors with a long arm and then led the way.
Inside the courtyard were several long low barrack houses and a modestly large estate house that was four stories tall and made of gleaming white plaster.
A stand of fruit trees ran down one wall with a large round fountain at the end. Aside from this, the inner yard was an open space inside the low walls. Illison led them to the back where a low tunnel appeared in the wall leading into a lantern-lit shaft.
The tunnel was ten paces wide and well lined with cut brick and stone columns. There were doorways into side rooms halfway down its length, and Gersius felt apprehensive immediately.
“What’s wrong?” Thayle asked over the bind when she felt it.
“He is leading us into a confined space,” Gersius replied.
“Every building is a confined space,” Lilly replied silently.
Gersius nodded as they entered into the tunnel and held his hand open, ready to pull on his sword in a moment's notice.
Illison walked right in as he began to explain the work needed to build the dining hall and the kitchens connected to them.
“All the servants live in the side halls, so they are always on hand when needed,” he added.
Gersius nodded and decided he was acting foolish. Aside from the coin, Illison had done nothing to set him on edge. He was cheerfully giving them a tour of the city, and its history on the way to the dining hall. He was about to relax his hand when a wave of sensation fell on him that he hadn't felt in weeks. Every hair on his arms stood up, and his eyes went wide as his hand firmly gripped his sword.
“Gersius, what's wrong?” Thayle said in a panic over the bind.
Gersius didn’t reply. He stopped in the hall as Illison walked ahead a few paces before stopping to turn around.
“Is everything alright?” he asked.
“You are leading us into an ambush,” Gersius said as he blinked his eyes.
“My Lord Dragon night, I would never do such a thing.”
Thayle raced to draw her sword as the lie was revealed, but Gersius acted with a speed that surprised them all. Before Thayle could draw her sword, Illison was impaled, and Gersius was kicking him off the end of the blade.
“What?” Lilly cried as Thayle rushed ahead with her sword and shield raised.
Gersius checked the man and fished around in his robe to see if he had anything to identify him.
“Everything he said was the truth until now,” Thayle said. “What made you think to ask him that?”
“He knew your sight would reveal the truth. I had to ask him a question that truth or lie would reveal the answer,” Gersius said as he pulled a silver chain from around the man's neck. It looked like a coin with a rune etched in the surface that resembled an eye with two extra lines.
“What symbol is that?” Thayle asked.
“Youthan,” Gersius said as he stood up. “We need to get out of here.”
Thayle nodded and turned to Lilly, who was standing a dozen paces behind just in time to cry out in alarm.
“Lilly behind you!”
Lilly turned as a man in dark armor hurled a small object at her face. It broke and covered her face in an oily substance that made her cry out in pain.
“My eyes!” she wailed as her hands came to her face. Gersius raced passed her and slammed into one of the two men throwing him back before meeting the other head-on. The man danced on his feet, but Gersius wasn't in the mood for a sparring match. In two moves, the man was wounded twice, and a third strike put him down. His companion tried to get up, but Gersius was on him in a moment to impale him to the floor.
“My eyes are burning!” Lilly shrieked as Thayle tried desperately to pull her hands away.
“Lilly, let me see!” Thayle yelled as cries echoed from back down the hall.
“They know the ambush is spoiled,” Gersius said. “They are coming.”
Thayle pulled Lilly’s hands apart to look a the red swelled eyes that were covered in a rusty liquid. The smell of it burned her nose and eyes and made her have to turn away.
“We need to wash that out,” Thayle cried as she quickly put her shield down in her lap. It was round and concave on the handle side. She put her hands together and fell into a prayer to Ulustrah, praying for water. Inside her hand's water pooled and slipped through her fingers into the bowl of the shield. Gersius dashed past them as five men in the same dark armor appeared from the direction of the dining hall.
He wasted no time calling for Balisha and reached out his shield arm. A silvery dragon claw formed around the lead man, and Gersius threw him back. His fellows were startled by the attack as Gersius jumped into the gap, his sword hacking in a wide arc. In seconds two of them were dead, and the last two were desperately trying to fend him off.
Thayle grabbed Lilly by the hair and pushed her face into the water collected in the bowl. She reached down and tried desperately to rub the oil off as the sound of men dying echoed around her.
When Lilly came up, her eyes were still burning, but she was blinking them as tears poured out.
“Let me try to heal it away,” Thayle said as her hands came to Lilly’s face.
Gersius saw Thayle trying desperately to help Lilly as he killed the last man. He ran back to them and looked down the tunnel both ways before kneeling to Lilly.
“Can you see?”
“Everything is blurry,” she cried. “My eyes hurt so much!”
“What is this?” Gersius asked said as he tried to rub some of it off her cheek.
“It's a pepper oil,” Thayle growled. “It's made from peppers and sap. It sticks to the skin and burns like fire for hours. It will dissolve easily in vinegar. We have to get her out of here,” Thayle said.
“They are most certainly waiting in the yard,” Gersius said.
“Maybe there is another way out,” Thayle suggested.
“My eyes!” Lilly screamed as she shook her arms in pain.
“I can't heal it, it's not an injury,” Thayle cried.
Gersius nodded and pulled Lilly to her feet. “Then, we go out the way we came in.”
“You just said they would be in the yard,” Thayle protested as he handed Lilly to her.
“I know,” he said and quickly led the way.
As they raced to the tunnel exit, the truth of the situation became evident. At least twenty men stood in the yard with swords and shields.
“We’re trapped,” Thayle said as Lilly cried and rubbed at her eyes.
“Wait until I have them fully distracted and then bring Lilly out,” Gersius said as he looked across the yard.
“You’re not going out there!” Thayle snapped.
“We don’t have time to talk about this,” he said.
“There are probably archers on the walls!”
“I am counting on it,” he said.
“What?” Thayle asked, but he didn't wait to reply. With a great cry, Gersius charged into the open yard with his shield raised high.
“By the divines!” Thayle gasped as men locked shields to meet him.
Crossbows fired from the walls as Gersius reached out a hand and sang the tone of the dragon's claw again. He snatched a man from the wall and pulled him back using the man a second shield to absorb bolts as he charged into the line of men. He threw the bolt riddled body into the men on his right and went to work with his sword.
Thayle looked on dumbstruck as Gersius began to cut men apart.
“By Ulustrah, he is a monster,” she gasped.
Gersius drew on holy strength as he battered shields with the sword of the dragon knight. His blows were so heavy that the light shields of the men buckled under the blows as did the arms holding them. His eyes burned a blazing blue as he took blows intentionally to create openings and kill men as fast as possible. In seconds four were dead. A few moments later, three more had joined them. With no clear shot, the crossbowmen were useless, and they hurried to get down and join the fight with swords. They raced to fill in the rapidly depleting numbers of the men in the yard.
Thayle waited in the tunnel for any sign that it was safe to bring Lilly out as the women wailed and rubbed at her eyes. She watched as Gersius tore through men like a giant using dragons claws to hurl them and break up any organized groups. As the shooters from the walls arrived, one of them charged in with a spear. To Thayle's horror, he managed to catch Gersius through the side under his plate.
Thayle saw Gersius stumble forward before hacking the man down. He planted his sword in the ground and pulled the wind razor from his side. She saw the blade glow blue with fire before Gersius used it to cut the spear shaft away and resume fighting with the point still embedded in his body.
She felt his pain over the bind and began to panic as the men crowded around him, trapping him in the center.
Gersius realized his moment had come and that it was time to show them that Balisha, too, had power. He reached up, and a silver ray of moonlight raced down to meet his outstretched hand. A ring of blazing white surrounded him and engulfed the men in a swirling white mist of snow and ice that ran around them all in a circle. A moment later and dazed men fell away from the cloud crawling in the dust and covered in ice.
Gersius looked up and motioned to Thayle to bring Lilly out. She didn't hesitate and ran into the yard to a clear spot to help Lilly undress. He quickly walked around and ended the life of any man who looked like he might recover before Lilly was ready. That task done, he went for the gate into the street where a dozen guards stood and quickly ran away from him. He grabbed the huge saddle, and calling on dragon strength lifted one side over his head and dragged the rest to Lilly.
Lilly struggled to belt the saddle on as Thayle ran to him and began to claw at the side of his body that oozed blood.
“We can deal with that later,” he said.
“You have a spear in your guts!” Thayle cried. “How are you still standing?”
“I have had worse injuries,” he insisted and helped Lilly fasten the belt.
He noted that Lilly kept her eyes closed as tears continued to pour out. Quickly Gersius shoved Thayle into the saddle and climbed up after her. In moments Lilly took to the sky and flew off randomly as Thayle tried to turn in the saddle.
“What if you fall?” Gersius insisted.
“What if you bleed to death?” Thayle argued back.
“Why does Gersius feel so in pain?” Lilly asked as she shook her head to try and drive the oil from her eyes.
“He has a terrible injury,” Thayle cried. “I need you to fly as level as you can so I can tend to him.”
Lilly did her best as Thayle unlatched the armor on the side so she could spread the plates and get at the spear.
“I can’t believe you just fought forty men alone!” she growled as she reached into the wound and grabbed at the slick shaft.
“They were not seasoned fighters,” Gersius said through gritted teeth. “And they were not expecting a battle with me.”
“You still could have been killed,” Thayle said as she struggled to hold on to the little bit of shaft as she pulled.
“I used their numbers against them to tangle them up,” he said as the spear moved.
“You cut this too close to your armor,”" she hissed as her hands slipped.
“I needed the freedom of movement,” he replied.
Thayle had to reach to Lilly for strength and pulled, tearing the point free. She held it up in shock as she saw it was nearly a foot long. She reached around behind him to realize it had gone through him and lodged in the armor on the other side.
“No wonder it was so hard to pull out,” she cried as she tossed it aside and let it fall.
Gersius wobbled as the blood poured out, and Thayle quickly put her hands to his side and began to sing her healing tune. In moments the golden light covered his skin, and the wound began to close.
He was relieved the spear was out but was weak from blood loss. He looked around to get his bearing to realize Lilly was flying the wrong way.
“Turn north,” he said weakly. “You’re going further south.”
“I can’t see anything but a blur,” Lilly cried. “And keeping my eyes open hurts more.”
“Look through Thayle’s eyes, and turn around,” he suggested.
Thayle nodded and sat to look straight ahead. She pulled his arms around her waist and held them as Lilly banked and flew off in another direction.
Gersius rested his head on her back and focused on breathing as he counted his blessings. He wasn't sure what happened or why that man was so expertly betraying them. All he knew was a warning had come from a most unexpected source, but why had Astikar done it?
