by Joseph Lallo
Terrilius swallowed the last of the meat and water.
“I thank you for your aid, and, again, I apologize for my foolishness. If you can lend me a horse, I will be on my way to the castle.”
“I don't have a horse. When I need to go somewhere, I ride Hal.”
“Well, then I . . .”
He paused at the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps on the snow. Outside the window, he caught the merest glimpse of Halfax disappearing among the trees.
“Where is he off to?”
“Probably to find you a horse. I rather think Halfax is eager to be rid of you.”
“He tried to kill me.”
“You and your men tried to kill him, and planned to kill me. You can't fault Halfax for doing a better job. Besides, he brought you to me to fix you up, so that should set things right.”
“I hardly think that it does . . . but it doesn't matter. It probably would have been better for my kingdom if he had killed me. This fiasco only proves how worthless I really am.”
“Now, Terry, that's not true.”
“It is! The very fact that I am still in this place is proof enough that my own men despise me. In the past, wars have been fought to secure the land where a royal had fallen. For me, they are unwilling to face a single dragon. But I do not blame them. What reason have I given them to respect me?”
“Precisely!” Jade snapped angrily, “What reason have you given them to respect you? For heaven's sake, Terry, you are a prince! Have some self-worth! I've only known you for two days, but in that time I've learned an awful lot about you. I've learned that you have ideas, good ones. I've learned that you've got more drive than a dozen men when you find something you care about. And yet somehow you think that none of that is enough to be a leader. How can you expect people to respect you if you don't respect yourself!?”
“I have done nothing of any worth in my life.”
“Nothing? For three years, your father thought there was a terrible sorceress and her terrible dragon in this very tower. Who was the first one in all of that time to try to do something about it? You! You were doing it to prove you were a man worthy to lead, but anyone willing to risk it all for something they believe in is already worthy to lead. And you faced a dragon and lived to tell about it! I was going to fix up your scars, but--”
She smashed a vial on the floor, filling the room with a sharp scent.
“--to hell with it! You want people to respect you? You wear those scars like a trophy! And if that doesn't work, you come back here and you drag the head of that black dragon thing from the ground and give them a real trophy! You can lie and tell them you killed it with your bare hands and they will never know, but it won't matter, because they will never truly believe in you until you stand up straight and give them someone to believe in!”
Jade was out of breath, eyes wide and mind slowly catching up with what it had allowed to slip from her lips.
“Do you really--” he began.
His thought was cut short by approaching hoofbeats. A horse burst into the clearing. Not just any horse, but the very one that the prince had been knocked from when he first encountered the dragon. Halfax stalked in the shadows, his very presence enough to keep the frightened steed within the clearing that so few animals would venture into.
“Go! Get on your horse, go back to your people, and be the man you know you can be!” she demanded, pointing out the door.
The prince looked her in the eye, then looked to his horse. When his gaze returned to her, there was a look of resolve in his eyes. Without another word, he left the tower and climbed atop the horse. Halfax was nowhere to be found, vanished in order to permit the prince to leave. And so he rode off.
The dragon appeared again when the sound of hooves faded into the distance. He watched as Jade stood in the doorway, her eyes straining to watch the strange visitor leave. He knew from the look in her eye that her heart and mind went with him.
#
If there had been any doubt that the young man had made an impression upon her, the days that followed put it to rest. She spoke only of "Terry." She told of the ideas he'd had, of the remarkably swift recovery. Sometimes she spoke of things that irritated her, other times of things she had admired, but always she spoke of him.
Halfax weathered the constant conversation with his usual stoicism, but beneath the surface, his emotions churned. Anger, resentment, and acceptance clashed within him at the mention of the prince's name. Those tossed about upon a sea of emotion often become adept at concealing them. The dragon, his feelings usually so subdued, was unaccustomed to such things. It was weeks later. as he and Jade strolled leisurely side by side, returning from one of their frequent trips to forage for herbs, that the young woman finally spoke up.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, stooping to pluck a sprig from between two stones.
“No.”
“You seem distant. More so than usual.”
“There is nothing wrong,” he rumbled.
“Clearly. Well, you are certainly acting differently. Ever since you brought Terry.”
The dragon released a brief, involuntary growl at the sound of the name.
“I thought so. Are you still angry at him? You and I both know it was a simple misunderstanding when he wanted to kill me.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“You don't feel bad about hurting him, do you? He made a full recovery, and he did everything to deserve it. There is nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I do not feel guilty.”
“Then why act this way? It isn't as though . . . Hal?”
The dragon had stopped, eyes suddenly locked on the tower between the trees in the distance.
“What is it, Hal?”
“He is here.”
“Terry?” she asked, a heavy dose of excitement in her voice tempered with a dash of confusion.
“He is in the tower.”
Jade squinted into the distance and could just make out the form of a horse standing uneasily outside the ring of good weather. She took a few dozen steps toward the tower, fairly giddy with the prospect of another visit, but stopped when she realized that Halfax was not following.
“Well? Aren't you coming?”
“It would be best if I kept my distance.”
“Humph. Suit yourself,” she said, quickly continuing on her way.
At the sound of her approach, Terrilius appeared at the doorway.
“Terry!” She said with a wide smile.
“Hello, Miss Jade, I . . .” he began, holding out a hand to take hers in a courtly greeting.
She pushed the gesture aside in favor of a hug that seemed to make the prince every bit as uncomfortable as it did the dragon.
“What brings you back to the tower?” she asked, bringing him inside and sitting him down.
“I wished to thank you.”
“Oh, no thanks needed, Terry. You were in bad shape when you came here last. I couldn't very well leave you to die . . . though I was tempted, looking at what your men did to Hal.”
“Er, yes. Of course, I am quite grateful for that, but you did more for me that day than repair my body.”
“I don't think I did . . .” she said doubtfully.
“I encountered some of my own men as I left the tower. It was a small search party that was afraid to venture near to where your dragon was encountered. The sight of me alive, and with the scars, after what the others had told of the beast's attack . . .”
“Defense, you mean.”
“Yes, defense. Well, my survival did wonders for my reputation. When I returned to castle, I began to think of what you'd said. About my ideas. About confidence. You lit a fire in me that day. I said my piece, and my father . . . listened. Already I can sense a difference in the way I am treated, in the way that I am seen. It is thanks to you and your advice.”
“No, no, no. I didn't do anything but tell you what you should have already known.”
“So you say, but how co
uld you have known? You and I had met only a day prior, and you revealed to me things about myself that even I didn't know.”
“Well, I've spent more than a few nights by the bedside. Pain, disease. They strip away a few layers. Let you see what's underneath. There is a lot to see.”
“Well, in light of your help in saving my life and my future, I wish to reward you,” he said, pulling open a large sack.
“Entirely unnecessar--is that a full moon herb? And a telra root?”
She reached into the bag and rummaged around.
“Powdered lapis! Dried cutleaf!” She exclaimed as she pulled each from the bag.
“We haven't a single scholar who knows a thing about potions and magics as you do, but these were a few rare substances my advisers tell me were valued by the mystics of the past.”
“You have no idea the good I can do with some of this. Do you have a source for these ingredients? Can you give me a name? With a ready supply, I could--”
“If they are useful to you, I shall see that you have more than you shall ever need. But I did not come here only to give you gifts.”
“I imagine you'll want your armor back, too.”
“Well, yes, but I had hoped, perhaps, you might share with me some more of your insight.”
“About what?”
“My father has agreed to attempt to open trade with Tressor, but there is much to consider. I could think of no one whose thoughts I would value more highly than yours.”
“Of course I'll help, Terry!”
#
And so it began. He stayed for two days, and in that time, they discussed everything from royal diplomacy to the methods Jade used to keep her garden so healthy. Not a month later, he had returned again, with bags of gifts and a head full of questions. The visits became a regular occurrence, which Jade eagerly looked forward to.
With each appearance, and with each discussion, the tone of their interactions subtly changed. Jade asked questions of the prince now. She asked about the places she'd read of in her books. She asked of other lands, of great festivals. Tales of life in the castle fascinated her. As they spoke they smiled and laughed. And all the while, Halfax watched from afar.
Again, the dragon was no stranger to the ways of humans. His duty in protecting generation after generation of humans had seen him bear witness to dozens of flowering relationships. She had feelings for him, and he for her. It was in their eyes, in the tone of their voice, in their posture, even their scent. Each time they spoke, Jade seemed more interested in his tales of the capital, and Terrilius more insistent that she become an official adviser.
Thus, when the prince approached one day not upon a horse but inexpertly leading a carriage, Halfax knew precisely the reason why.
#
There was no true road to Jade's tower. It hadn't been a problem when the prince had come by horseback, but navigating even the small carriage between the trees and over the rough ground was no small task. Terrilius struggled with the reins and quietly cursed his inability to find a willing driver. Despite his many trips to the tower and back, none of his soldiers or his servants were ever willing to accompany him, so great was their fear of Halfax and so stubborn their distaste for the man he had been. It was fortunate in that it provided the prince with a measure of privacy for his meetings with Jade, but it meant that he was left to guide the carriage with his own hand.
Suddenly, the horse, increasingly hesitant as they traveled, faltered and refused to go any further. There was little doubt as to why.
“You know that I mean her no harm, dragon,” he spoke aloud, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
The prince's eyes were wide, sweeping the shadows that suddenly seemed so dark and numerous.
“You have kept your distance since that day, dragon. A wise decision. Why stop me now?”
“Because until now, you brought things with you. Today you mean to take something away,” the beast replied.
His voice was a rattling growl, deep and resounding, and powerful enough to shake little cascades of snow from the trees. It was the first time the young man had heard Halfax speak, and it chilled him to the bone. Terrilius drew his weapon, a well-made and pristine short sword, and tried to steady himself once more.
“Jade is coming with me,” the prince stated, sword held low but ready.
“Yes. She is,” Halfax rumbled.
Like lightning, his tail lashed forward, striking the sword and whipping it away. When it was well out of reach, he slid from the shadows, eyes locked on the young man.
“She is going with you. Not because it is what you want. Because it is what she wants.”
“And you will allow her?”
“It is not my place to allow her or disallow her. She does as she wishes. Her life is her own, to live as she sees fit. And she wants to be with you.
"But know this. I will never be far from her. I will always be watching. If you ever hurt her, if you ever fail her, if you allow even a single tear to run down her cheek . . . there is nowhere you can go that I can’t follow. There is nowhere you can hide that I can’t find you. And when I do, there won’t be enough of you left to bury.”
He stepped forward until his snout was inches from the prince’s face, smoldering breath nearly singeing the boy’s hair.
“They won’t even find your bones.”
With those ominous words, Halfax slipped back into the shadows. Moments later, though there had been not a whisper of sound, the dragon was gone. The carriage continued on its way, reaching the tower not long after. The prince entered, and from his place in the forest, Halfax watched. He watched Jade's eyes light up at the sight of him. He watched her consider the noble’s words and he watched her, with a joyful embrace, accept.
“Hal!” Her voice rang out.
The dragon paced toward the tower, Terrilius leaving to ready the carriage. The two exchanged a tense look as they passed. Jade was standing in the doorway, her expression vaguely uncertain.
“What is it?” the beast asked.
“He wants me to go with him, Halfax,” Jade said, something between excitement and anxiety in her voice.
“Do you want to go with him?” he asked.
“I do. I really do. I never realized how backward things were. It wasn’t just my home village. It isn’t just Rook. The whole world has turned its back on knowledge. I have so much to offer. I can help so many people. He wants to make me his head adviser . . . and . . . when the time comes . . . his queen. If I go with him, I can change things. The two of us can bring a little light back into the world. You and I can--”
“No.”
“What? What do you mean no?”
“There cannot be you and I. Not anymore. Not if you go with him to the capital.”
“Why not?”
“There is no place for me there.”
“We can find a place for you! He has a palace!”
“A dragon does not belong in a city. The people would not allow it.”
“He's the prince!” she exclaimed in rising desperation, tears beginning to flow. “He can order the guards to leave you alone. He can order the people to--”
“He cannot order them not to hate and fear me. He cannot order them not to see me as an enemy, and you as a traitor for bringing me. I cannot protect you if we are surrounded by terrified people. I'll watch over you, and if something threatens you, I will be there for you. But I cannot be by your side.”
“Then . . . then I won't go! I'll find another way!”
“That isn't what you want.”
“I want . . . I want you to be a part of my life, Halfax, I . . . I know I never said it, because I know how uncomfortable it makes you when I show you affection, but . . . I love you, Halfax. You are the closest thing I have to a father. You gave me shelter and food, and you raised me. Everything I am is because of you. I'm thankful for that, but you gave me something else that has meant so much more. You gave me you. You were my family when mine was taken away. I don't want
to lose you like I lost them.”
“You aren't losing me. I will always be watching you. You may not see me, but I will always be there.”
“But . . . I . . .”
Jade looked Halfax hard in the eye. She didn't see anger there--or hatred, or malice. She saw instead acceptance, peace, and sorrow. He wasn't doing this to hurt her, because she was abandoning him. He was doing it because he believed it was right. Deep inside, she knew it was, too. It was time.
“So . . . back to normal for you, then. Lurking in the shadows, making sure nothing hurts me. Just like you've done for everyone before me.” She sniffled, wiping away some tears and attempting a smile. “This must seem so silly for you. Me crying like a baby when you've had to do this so many times before.”
“No. Never like this. Most of those before you didn't even know I was there. Those who did treated me like a curse, or a blessing. I was just a force in their lives. Each of them had been my burden. My responsibility. My duty. You are the only one who has simply been . . . mine.”
For a moment, there were no more words. Jade stepped forward and embraced the dragon's neck. He clutched her lightly to him with his paw. When the moment was over, Jade stepped back and smiled through the tears once more.
“Well, I suppose that’s it, then. They have a place for me in the palace. I don't suppose there is anything here I need to bring. I'll leave my things. If you ever end up with another stubborn brat like me, at least they'll have something to read.”
She sniffled again, and began to walk toward the small carriage the prince had waiting.
“I'll miss your cooking!” she called back to him. “And don't think I've forgotten about your wings! I'll keep searching for something to fix them, and if I find it, I'll track you down whether you like it or not!”
She climbed into the carriage and turned back. The dragon was gone.
“Goodbye . . .” she whispered.
The carriage creaked off into the distance. When it was out of sight, Halfax slipped from the shadows. He took a few steps toward the stable, his eyes on the handful of coins that made up his hoard. Standing over them, his eyes turned to the distant sound of the carriage. He touched a claw to the crudely engraved amulet that hung about his neck. A moment later he was on their trail, carefully out of sight, the coins left behind.