dragon archives 02 - pursued by a dragon

by Linda K Hopkins

  “Are those hawks?” she asked Margaret, directing her attention to the distant specks. Looking up, Margaret stared at the sky for a long time.

  “They are too far away to see,” she finally replied. “They may be hawks, or perhaps eagles. Too large for falcons, I think. You may see some other animals as we ride, though. Some deer, perhaps, or maybe a fox.”

  “What about wolves?” Cathryn asked.

  “No, there aren’t any wolves in these areas.” Margaret pointed into the distance. “Can you see the swans? They will be landing in our little pond, which is not too far ahead.” Following Margaret, Cathryn kicked her horse into a trot, and they quickly covered the distance to the pond, reaching it as the swans made their somewhat ungainly landing in the water, honking loudly as they did so.

  The disturbance caused waves to lap against the edges of the pond, causing water lilies to bob on the surface. A loud plop signaled the presence of a frog exiting into the water, while other water birds loudly proclaimed their annoyance at the intrusion. In just a few minutes, peace and calm had been restored, and Cathryn slid off her mount to examine the flowers and weeds growing at the water’s edge. Small birds flew amongst the reeds, while dragonflies hovered over the water’s surface, waiting for a tasty morsel. Butterflies flittered about, and with the peace restored, frogs climbed back onto the lily pads.

  “It is so beautiful,” said Cathryn quietly, afraid to disturb the peace once more. She watched as a mother duck took to the water from amongst the reeds, a brood of fluffy ducklings following in her wake. Their presence created barely a ripple as they moved smoothly through the water, diving their heads below the water’s surface in search of food before bobbing back up once more. As she watched, Margaret moved around the pond, carefully collecting plants and flowers.

  “Ah-ha,” Margaret said with satisfaction as she broke off the stems of a plant with small white flowers. “Marsh mallow, useful in the treatment of many ailments.” She moved to another tall-stemmed plant. “And this is yarrow, which prevents poisoning of the blood.” Margaret’s arms were soon filled with an abundance of plants, which she carefully placed in a saddle bag. Cathryn had found a log to rest on while Margaret scavenged, and she lifted her face to the warmth of the sun.

  The air had grown hot by the time the two women turned their horses towards the woods, and the cool shadows were a welcome relief. Bluebells littered the ground along the path, while birds darted between the trees and squirrels scurried along the branches, chattering impatiently. In the distance Cathryn could hear the burbling of a stream, the sound a soothing background noise. They rode along in silence, the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves against the well-trodden path the only sound foreign to the calm of the woods. As they rode, Cathryn found herself considering the woman riding before her. With her smooth skin, lustrous hair and straight back, she looked more like Favian’s sister than his mother. And she and Owain seemed so happy together. How wonderful it must be to have parents such as these, Cathryn thought to herself. She could see where Favian had got his ideas of love and marriage. Perhaps, she thought, it is possible to truly love someone after all.

  Chapter 15

  “Cathryn, my dear,” said Margaret later that day, “I’m afraid I need to leave you to your own devices for a short while. One of our tenants has taken ill with fever, and I promised I would tend to her this afternoon.”

  “I’m happy to accompany you,” offered Cathryn, but Margaret was adamant in her refusal.

  “It may be a contagion, and I would not want to send you home ill.”

  “But you could contract the disease too,” Cathryn protested.

  “I have a very hardy constitution, my dear,” she replied. “I always tend the tenants in their illnesses, and have never been ill a day in my life. I will be fine, but I do not want to risk your health.”

  Not wishing to argue further, Cathryn nodded her head in acquiescence. “Very well. Perhaps I will take a walk through the woods.”

  “Do you have a pair of walking boots? It may be a bit muddy.” Margaret glanced at Cathryn as she nodded. “And you may see the gardener burning some rubbish.”

  Cathryn slipped into the courtyard a short while later, heading towards the woods in the distance. She had just reached the shade of the trees when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Favian following her along the path.

  “Favian,” she greeted. “Should I be concerned that you are following me into the woods?”

  “Not at all,” he responded. “I remain bound by my promise to act like a perfect gentleman.” Cathryn lifted her eyebrows dubiously, and he let out a laugh. “Oh, you of little faith,” he teased. “Actually, I wanted to return your hairpin.”

  “My hairpin?” she said in surprise. “When last I looked, it was nothing more than a lump of molten metal.”

  “Not at all,” he said, pulling an object from a pocket. On his palm lay a hairpin, far more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. The pin itself had been made from bronze, but perched at the end now was a silver butterfly, measuring no more than half an inch across, its lacy wings open in flight. Lifting the pin from Favian’s palm, Cathryn looked at it more closely. Each detail of the butterfly had been intricately wrought, no feature missing. It looked as though a tiny butterfly had been dipped in molten silver, capturing every element of the small creature.

  “This is exquisite,” breathed Cathryn. “Where did you get it?”

  “I used the metal from your pin and fashioned a new one.”

  “You made this?” asked Cathryn. “It is so beautiful.”

  Favian shrugged. “Metalwork is a family talent.”

  “The pin is curved.”

  “That is to prevent it falling out so easily.”

  Cathryn turned it over in her hands, inspecting it more closely, before holding it out to Favian.

  “I cannot accept this,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because … it would not be appropriate! I am betrothed to another man.”

  “Did I mention that this is actually a gift from my mother?” Favian said, his face unreadable. “She commissioned me to make it, and as she was going out, asked me to give it to you.”

  “Really?” said Cathryn, her tone filled with skepticism. She looked at the beautiful item once more, the appearance of fragility belying the strength of the delicately molded metal.

  “Very well,” she said with a grin, “I will be sure to thank her when she returns.” Favian smirked back as she pulled her loose hair into a ponytail and twisted it into a bun.

  “Let me,” said Favian, taking her by the shoulders and turning her around. He gently pulled her hand away, allowing her hair to fall over her shoulders once more. Gathering it into his hands he pulled it together, twisting it as Cathryn had done before winding it in place. Taking the pin, he carefully pushed it through the thick coil of hair, securing it in place.

  “You’ve had practice,” she said, with a slight shiver as his warm breath caressed her skin.

  “Perhaps,” said Favian, gently running his fingers down her neck. The breath caught in her throat as instinctively she dropped her head slightly forward. She heard Favian’s slight intake as he lightly traced his fingers across her skin, before dropping his hands and stepping away. Drawing in a wavering breath, she turned around to look at him. He was watching her, his expression intent, but as his gaze met hers, his mouth pulled up in a rueful smile. He watched her for another moment before turning his back to her and gazing out across the fields towards the house. Something in the distance drew his attention, and in a moment his body was alert and tense.

  “Wait here,” he said, his voice low, before striding away from her. Confused, Cathryn looked past him in the direction he had been staring, pulling back into the shadows when she saw Aaron appear from around the house. He was marching towards Favian with long, purposeful strides, arms swinging and fists clenched. His brow was furrowed in anger, and his eyes were narrowed
as he watched Favian draw closer. Stopping a few feet away from his cousin, Favian dropped his head. Raising his right arm, he placed a fist over his heart. To Cathryn, watching from beneath the trees, the gesture seemed deferential, but all sign of subservience disappeared when Favian lifted his head and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at his cousin. Although Aaron was a tall man, Favian topped his height by more than an inch. The two men glowered at each other for a moment, but it was Favian who spoke first. Cathryn was too far away to make out the words, but she could see both men stepping forward until they were nose to nose, each one tightly controlled as they swapped angry words. At one point Aaron gestured towards the trees, and Cathryn wondered whether she was the reason for this argument, although why Aaron had taken such a dislike to her, she couldn’t fathom. A slight breeze wafted over her, bringing with it the occasional word, but not enough for her to follow the conversation. As she watched, Favian turned his back to his cousin and started walking away. Aaron said something to Favian’s retreating back, but he ignored it. He spoke again as the breeze picked up, and this time Aaron’s words reached her as clear as a bell.

  “Does she know?” he said. Favian stopped, and lifting his head, looked across to where Cathryn stood, his eyes meeting hers over the distance. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

  Turning on his heel, Favian strode once more to where his cousin stood, and grabbing him by the arm, dragged him away in the opposite direction. Aaron pulled his arm from Favian’s grasp, but kept pace with him as he marched towards a large clump of bushes and disappeared from sight. Cathryn stared at the bushes in confusion, wondering whether she should leave, when a burst of flame suddenly leapt up from behind the bushes, sending sparks flying into the air. She remembered Margaret saying that the gardener would be burning rubbish that afternoon, but was surprised that Favian would continue his argument in front of the man. The sparks were still drifting down when Favian came out from behind the bushes, striding towards her. He was alone, his head lowered as he frowned at the ground. His arms were crossed and his hand tapped out a steady beat against his upper arm as he walked. The muscles in his neck strained again his skin, and even from a distance Cathryn could see the tension in his jaw. As he approached, Favian dropped his hands to his sides and he looked up at her, the tension slowly draining from his body as he continued to draw near.

  “My apologies for leaving you like that,” he said. “Aaron won’t be back, so do you mind if I join you on a walk? I thought perhaps I could show you a favorite place of mine.”

  Cathryn looked at him in consideration.

  “Why does Aaron bear such an intense dislike towards me?” she asked.

  “He’s worried about my affection for you.”

  “Oh. Why?”

  “He thinks love makes you weak and vulnerable.”

  “What was Aaron referring to when he asked if I knew?” she asked. Favian pulled his head back in surprise.

  “I was not trying to eavesdrop,” she defended herself, “but I could not help overhearing. He was referring to me, was he not?”

  “Yes,” said Favian reluctantly.

  “And?” she prompted when he did not say anything more.

  Favian contemplated her for a moment before slowly responding.

  “I do not believe I need to tell you,” he said. “You have made it clear that we have no future together, which eliminates any need on my part to take you into my confidence. But perhaps,” he continued, “you feel that the situation has changed?”

  Cathryn looked down, uncomfortable, knowing that he was right. She should never have demanded this knowledge from him.

  “No,” she said. “Nothing has changed.”

  “Very well,” he said. “Then let us consider the matter closed. I would still like to show you my favorite spot — are you up for the challenge?”

  Cathryn glanced up, meeting the provocation in his amused gaze.

  “Lead on,” she replied.

  Chapter 16

  It was cool under the trees, but Favian kept up a swift pace, and Cathryn found she was glad for the coolness. The mist from the morning had completely burned off, and the afternoon sun was hot.

  “Am I going too fast for you?” Favian asked at one point, but she pointed to her boots and assured him she was managing fine. As they walked, Cathryn could hear the sound of a river getting closer as the temperature of the air dropped slightly. Favian had left the path, and was now winding his way through the trees towards the sound. The ground was slick with damp leaves, and Cathryn found herself grabbing for branches to steady herself as she walked.

  “Nearly there,” Favian called over his shoulder, and a moment later, after they rounded a small hillock, the river was in front of them. There was a bend in the river at the point where Favian had led them, the water rippling over large shallow rocks.

  “Do you think you can manage a little scrambling?” Favian asked. He pointed a little further up the river to where a large flat rock jutted out from a rocky promontory and overhung the water rushing below. It was about ten feet above the ground, and Cathryn could make out a path cutting up from behind.

  “I believe I can manage it,” Cathryn replied, following Favian as he headed towards the back of the rocky outcrop. He climbed with ease, his long legs giving him an advantage, but for Cathryn, encumbered by long skirts and much shorter legs, the going was not quite as easy. With each new height, Favian stopped to pull her up and in this way, she managed to gain the rock he had pointed out.

  Cathryn sank down next to Favian on the warm rock, and surveyed the surroundings. From this height she could see the river wending its way through the woods until it finally got lost in the thick of trees. Beyond the trees she could make out distant mountains, the peaks still white with snow.

  “It is beautiful,” Cathryn said. “Do you come here often?”

  “As a boy, I used to spend all my time here. It was where I used to sit and contemplate the mysteries of life, and it had the added advantage that my sister never ventured this far into the woods!”

  “I cannot imagine having that particular problem,” Cathryn said with a laugh. “What is your sister like?”

  “Ayleth and I share the same coloring, but that is where the similarity ends. We do not have much in common.”

  “I believe your mother said she’s older than you?”

  “That’s correct,” said Favian. “By eight years. Aaron and I used to play tricks on her, and she would rage for days. Not,” he quickly added with a grin when he saw Cathryn raise her eyebrows, “that I condone that kind of thing, but boys will be boys.”

  “So Aaron also lived here?”

  “No, he lived with his parents in a most marvelous castle.” A slight frown crossed Favian’s features, but was quickly smoothed away again. “But he frequently stayed here. He was also an only child,” Favian smiled down at her, “and we were closer than brothers. When he was here, we were inseparable. This was one of our favorite places to play. We would swim and fish in the river, and sleep under the stars, and plan our futures.”

  “Are you still close?” asked Cathryn, remembering the anger between them earlier. Favian sighed, looking away at the mountains before responding.

  “Aaron will always be my brother, but he has changed.”

  “What changed him?”

  “Many years ago he saw his parents being slain by people in a nearby village. In one instant he lost all faith in humanity. He drew himself away, dwelling on thoughts of anger and revenge.”

  “Is that when he came to live with you?”

  “No. He spent many years living alone, like a hermit. I found him a few years ago living in the mountains and forced him to come home. He does have his own estates, including Storbrook Castle, but he does not enjoy being trapped within their walls. Even when he comes here, he seldom stays in the chambers we keep for him.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Cathryn, laying her hand on Favian’s arm. Looking down at her hand,
he reached his own over, intertwining his fingers with hers, before meeting her gaze.

  “Like all of us, Aaron needs to find someone to love. But I am confident that he will.”

  Cathryn smiled at his optimism before gently pulling her hand away from his. The rock where they sat was high above the flowing river, swollen with the spring melt, and carefully leaning forward she watched as the water churned far below her dangling feet. A cloud passed over the sun, casting them into shadows, and she looked up with a shiver. High overhead a bird was circling, and she watched it for a moment.

  “What kind of bird do you think that is?” she asked. Favian looked in the direction she pointed out, his eyes narrowing as he watched the bird in silence for a few minutes.

  “That’s not a bird,” he finally said.

  “It certainly is not a horse,” she retorted. Favian glanced at her with a grin and then looked at the circling figure once more.

  “It’s a dragon,” he said. It was still circling above them, dropping lower and lower with each turn, but it was too far for Cathryn to make it out clearly.

  “Really?” said Cathryn, her tone dripping with skepticism. At her response, Favian looked down at her again, watching her until she returned his gaze. His expression was serious as he replied.

  “Yes,” he said. “Really. That is a dragon.”

  “Dragons aren’t real.”

  Favian leaned in towards her until his face was only a few inches from hers.

  “Yes, they are,” he said, his tone gentle. He glanced back up at the circling figure, his jaw clenching as it dropped lower. As she watched, the creature looked down at them, and she gasped as she saw that Favian had been telling the truth. The creature circling above them was certainly no bird. As if to confirm this realization, the dragon opened its mouth and spewed flames into the air around it. Cathryn cringed back.