3

It took Adyn three days longer to reach the edge of the little valley nestled among the jagged edges of the peak. His horse stamped restlessly and he gazed down across a long meadow with a decent-sized cabin at the far end. Beside the cabin a fence enclosed three peacefully grazing horses. He nudged his mount onward, and in less than a candle mark they were approaching the tidy cabin.

Adyn paused before dismounting and tying the reins to the fence. The other three horses came over to the rail to investigate, and his mount snorted happily. He walked tentatively up to the door of the tidy cottage. “Hello?” He hesitated, looking around, and then knocked, feeling foolish to be knocking on a door out in the middle of nowhere.

A sudden chill overtook him as the point of a blade touched the small of his back, pricking his skin through the cloth of his jerkin. A strong arm wrapped around his neck, and a firm body pressed against his back. “What do you want here?”

He stilled as the shape of the form and the sound of the voice registered. “Milady, I come in peace. I mean you no harm.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” The arm was removed from his throat and the warmth left his back. “Turn around.”

Adyn followed the orders and turned to meet those stunning violet eyes again. He tore his gaze away as his breath left in a whoosh and he shook his head, flustered. “I saw you at the inn. Who are you?”

He swallowed hard and forced himself to meet her level stare. “My name is Adyn of Dakar. I come seeking the Dragon Knight.”

“Why?” While she had backed off, the wickedly sharp-looking dagger was still aimed at him. He glanced across her slim, lithe form before meeting her eyes again. Those violet pools had narrowed threateningly.

“I need his help. It’s a matter of life and death.” Her lush figure was only emphasized by the snug-fitting trousers and blouse that hugged every curve. This was no wilting flower, of that he was certain. Her long hair, so pale it was nearly white, was pulled back into a braid and hung nearly to her knees.

“Isn’t it always?” She did her own once over, and he knew he saw approval deep in those violet eyes. “I’m afraid the Knight isn’t offering any services. To anyone.”

“Not even to a sick child?”

That caught her off guard. She raised her free hand to grip the tail of pale hair. She sighed deeply and lowered the knife. “A child. That figures. All right, follow me.”

Adyn stood still for a moment before scrambling after her as she led the way across the meadow and away from the cottage. She walked swiftly and strongly, and he took the opportunity to admire her curves in more detail. Then she stopped abruptly, and he nearly collided with her before he caught himself. She spun and glared at him.

“There is no need to treat me like a whore.”

Adyn could only gape. “A-. What are you talking about?”

“I can feel you staring at me. I’m not for sale.” There was violet fire burning in her glower.

Adyn sputtered. “I just-. There’s no harm in me admiring a fit form, is there? You looked me over as well, as I recall.”

Her eyes narrowed to mere slits, and she again spun around and walked away. He shook his head before rushing after her. What exactly had he gotten himself into?

Lira could feel him sizing her up, and it infuriated her. She refused to be treated like a toy no matter how stunningly handsome the visitor was. She led the way to the edge of a cliff and then turned and put her hands on her hips. He stumbled to a stop, raising perfect black brows as he stared soberly at her with those piercing leaf-green eyes.

She glared darker. “Now, we wait.”

“Wait for what?” He looked around curiously. There was nothing special about this place, except that the cliff towered over a second deep valley. He looked out at the view and whistled softly.

She knew the view was stunning, but she also knew that while he tried to put on a relaxed face, there was an urgent need deep down that he couldn’t hide. It was this that had made her decide to bring him to this place.

She looked him over in more detail, taking in the muscle-heavy arms and legs and broad chest tapering into a slim waist. He was the model of the male figure, and deep down a twinge of longing fluttered. She stamped it down ruthlessly, moving her stare to his face, where perfectly sculpted lips longed for a woman’s kiss. His strong jaw line and straight nose only complimented his heavily-lashed leaf-green eyes. His raven-black hair was long with a slight wave, falling loose to mid-back. He was indeed strikingly handsome, but she refused to be swayed by a pretty face just because she missed male company.

A sound boomed across the valley below, and she turned expectantly. Her guest looked confused at first, and she snuck a peek as amazement and exhilaration dawned across his face. She tore her eyes away from him to watch across the valley.

The dragon was indeed an amazing sight, deep rippling blue-violet with silver spangles across his hide. The best comparison she could make was that he looked like a piece of night sky winging towards them. He was huge, easily the size of four or five wagons set end-to-end. His head was the size of a horse, with intelligent silver eyes. His wings were leathery, rather like a bat’s, and his sinuous body was covered in thousands of tiny scales that glittered brightly in the sunlight. Muscles rippled as his wings carried him in their direction.

He lofted over them, and both humans tipped their heads back to watch as he flew over, all four legs tucked neatly to his body, claws retracted. He landed gracefully not far away, and Lira motioned for her visitor to lead the way towards the massive dragon.

She watched his throat work as he swallowed hard, and then she had to admit she was impressed as he walked forward without further hesitation, stopping mere feet from where the dragon was settling down with forefeet crossed tidily and wings folded up tight to his body. She followed, and moved to stand beside the massive head as it snaked down on its long neck to settle inches away from the visitor’s face. Wide green eyes met silver ones, and she waited patiently as the dragon reached his own conclusions about the man.

:Hmm… this one is a good man, Lira.: The dragon blew warm breath softly across his face, rippling his hair.

:Is he?: She cast a sideways glance at the man.

:Indeed. I can see how bright his soul is. Why is he here?:

:He says he needs help from a Dragon Knight. For a sick child.: She watched to see what the dragon’s reaction would be.

The dragon snapped his head up, snorting. To give her guest credit, he barely flinched. :Can it be?!:

She shrugged. :It’s why I called. You know I wouldn’t have bothered you without reason.:

The dragon opened his mouth is a wide dragon smile, sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. “Well, human, what exactly can we do for you?”

Adyn blinked dumbly for a moment. While he had never met a dragon- well of course he hadn’t, it had been more than fifty years since one had even been sighted- he had never even heard tales that they could speak. “I…” He swallowed yet again, and then bowed slightly. “I apologize, milord. I have never met a dragon before.”

The dragon made a sound suspiciously like a chuckle. “Of course you haven’t, you’re much too young for that. You may call me Athear, human.”

Adyn nodded absently, staring deep into the silver reptilian eyes. “And my name is Adyn of Dakar. I came because my nephew is ill; gravely ill. The healers have given up all treatments. My sister came across some obscure reference in a treatise of a youngster with similar symptoms, and so I was sent here to see if anything can be done.”

“What symptoms is this child experiencing?” The dragon cocked his head slightly, and Adyn forced himself not to take a step back.

Adyn reached into his jerkin and pulled a tattered piece of paper out. He recited the list by rote, wanting to be sure that he didn’t miss a thing.

There was a long silence when he was done. Then the dragon brought his face close to Adyn’s again, and snorted softly again. “Lira will help you.”

Adyn blinked. “Lira?”

“Lira. She is the last living Dragon Knight.”

Adyn tore his gaze from the silver eyes and met startled violet ones. “She is the Dragon Knight?”

She stood taller, straightening, and he suddenly took second notice of the muscles that corded her arms and legs beneath the rough-spun clothing. Her hands had gripped that knife quite surely. It was suddenly not so surprising that she was a warrior.

He nodded. “I would appreciate any help you can offer. It’s very important that my nephew live. Not only for my family and for his own sake, but also for the peace of two nations.”

She nodded firmly. “You’ll have to bring him here.”

Adyn froze. “I cannot do that.”

Lira blinked. “Why not?”

“I’m afraid that my nephew cannot sit a horse for more than a few hours at a time. He is crippled.”

Lira’s heart sank. “Crippled?” The dragon’s head twisted around to meet her horrified stare. “But…”

:It’s all right, Lira. You can do this. You must, you know that.:

:I cannot!! I haven’t been beyond Gedon for a decade!:

:Lira, this is important.:

Adyn could sense some sort of conversation taking place. Lira’s emotions flitted across her face, and he watched in fascination as first shock, then horror, and finally resignation transformed her features.

:All right. I don’t know how much help I will be, but I will do it.:

The dragon sighed deeply. “You will have your Dragon Knight, human. But I warn you now that every fiber of my being will be with her in spirit. You will ensure her care, and you will guard her with your life. I sense the dedication you feel towards your nephew. Lira’s care must be even more important. You have no other representative that the dragons will converse with, and if there is to be a future for the Dragon Knights, which your own human future must depend on, she must be kept safe.”

Adyn nodded dumbly.

“Now leave us. Return to the cottage, and make yourself a camp nearby. Lira and I must speak alone.”

Adyn nodded again and retraced his steps back to the cottage, numb. A journey of several weeks had ended exactly as he’d hoped and yet more than he’d dreamed. A living Dragon Knight, here, and a dragon as well! And the great beast had mentioned other dragons. Adyn led his horse away, stumbling on deadened legs. He made camp by rote, his mind whirling at the possibilities.