Finally, he spoke, "I know him, and the woman within. Women, if my guess isn't too far off."
"How?"
"You will see. Just wait." The dragon looked over his shoulder in the direction of the house. "It shouldn't be long; though I am unsure whether they will wish to see me, even as I am."
"They know you as a—"
Avalee stopped and clamped her mouth shut, noticing the return of the man, Rolph, from within the house. She didn't know what revealing the dragon's nature would mean for the two of them, so she held back her question for now.
"Come, my Lord, the Lady Aramere will see you now." Rolph eyed the pile of goods and then gestured towards them with a thin, long-suffering smile. "I shall see to your purchases after I have left you with my Lady. They shall be safe until that time."
Now he beckoned again, urging them to hurry, probably so he could tend to the packages and then return to whatever he'd been doing before they'd arrived. The dragon stood first and held out a hand to assist Avalee in doing the same. She ignored the offer and managed on her own.
The dragon didn't seem to care; though she thought she caught a hint of a grin turn up the corner of his mouth before he turned to follow Rolph towards the house. Apparently, her companion found no end of amusement in her. She wasn’t sure she liked that, but found it hard to stifle a responding grin.
They entered through the front door, a heavy wooden one, much higher quality than the one that secured her family's home, or anyone else's that she knew. It was worked in scrolls and vines, rather pretentious in her mind, and featured a rather disturbing likeness of her companion as a door knocker. The bronze adornment featured a vicious dragon's maw, inch and a half long teeth fully bared and holding on to a metal ring, which ended with a large, heavy knocker in the shape of a dragon's fist. It almost looked like the dragon was trying to bite and rip the ring apart between its teeth and claw.
The dragon ignored it, but Avalee found it hard to look away until Rolph closed the door behind them and hid it from view.
"This way, my Lord."
The two followed the man down the short hallway to an opening leading to their right. Avalee stepped closely behind the dragon and peered around its back when they reached it and he stopped. Then she gasped in shock.
"Elisa," she whispered.
"Come," this time it was the dragon who spoke, and he took one of her hands and led her into the sitting room.
Elisa stood uncertainly and curtsied, "My Lord, Rolph said we had a visitor. Lady Aramere will be here soon. I will..." It was then that Elisa saw Avalee. She'd been mostly hidden behind the dragon's back before then, but now he had pulled her out to his side. "Avalee! How are you here? The dragon, he will be furious that you've escaped."
Then the woman clasped her hand to her mouth and fell into the chair she'd only just recently occupied. She was having trouble breathing. Avalee let go of the dragon's hand to rush over and tend to her, and soon found herself staring into the woman's shocked eyes.
"Calm yourself, Elisa. Calm yourself."
Elisa managed to reply, just barely a whisper. "Did you hurt him? Kill him? How did you escape?"
Avalee looked over her shoulder at the dragon in confusion. He shook his head slightly, barely enough to register. It was enough to confirm Avalee's suspicion. Elisa had no idea that this man was the dragon. She wondered at that. Elisa had been in the company of the dragon for ten years. Ten years and she didn't recognize him in this form. Avalee did not know what to make of it. But what she did understand was that despite her ten years of captivity, Elisa was distraught at the idea of the dragon injured, or even at the idea that Avalee might have simply managed an escape.
"Shh, the dragon is fine. He's fine, and I haven't escaped. I am here for supplies, that's all." Avalee ran her hands over the other woman's hair, smoothing it, trying to comfort her. "Shh, calm."
Finally, Elisa peered closely at Avalee. She seemed to be trying to gage the level of her honesty. "The dragon sanctioned this?"
Avalee nodded. "I promised him I would return." She looked over her shoulder at the dragon. He was watching her carefully, and trying not to watch Elisa. He didn't seem to want to meet the other woman's eyes. Avalee understood. He didn't want her to know that he was the dragon.
Turning back to the woman, who now held her face in her hands, Avalee spoke again, "This man is someone the dragon uses to purchase its goods. I longed for a journey, for time with others like us, and the dragon allowed it. I am guarded, not freed. You see? The bargain is intact. Nothing to worry about. Our people are still safe from him, and he is safe as well. He waits beyond sight of the village for our return."
Avalee caught the dragon's eye over her shoulder, and his faint nod of approval. He was pleased with her story.
Elisa's hands gripping hers drew Avalee's attention back to her. "Good, good. You must keep the bargain. I am only surprised my Lord allowed this, freedom. You may not think it so, being guarded," Elisa's eyes shot over to the dragon and then back to Avalee, "but it is. I was never accorded such. But enough of that, come, sit here with me."
Avalee stood from her crouch and then did as asked, allowing Elisa to maintain her hold on her hands. Anything to comfort the woman, though Avalee would have preferred to keep her hands to herself.
She watched the dragon back off until it stood just inside the opening out onto the hall, where it leaned casually against the wall to watch her and Elisa as they waited for Lady Aramere.
"It is good that you came here; though I cannot imagine how this man knew where to bring you," Elisa said, still ignoring the dragon. "You wouldn't know Lady Aramere, but you might know of her. Ah," Elisa rose and drew Avalee up with her, "here she is."
An older woman stepped through the door and examined Avalee thoughtfully, before gesturing for the two women to take their seats. She stepped gracefully into the room and took a cushioned chair that sat right across from them. "Welcome, guest. Rolph told me I had a visitor, but I am afraid I do not know to whom I am speaking."
"I am Avalee, of Sranaka." Avalee included the name of her village, assuming such was the only real thing the woman might recognize. Might, though Avalee doubted her village was known here. She was wrong.
The Lady Aramere's eyes widened, and she looked to Elisa for confirmation. Elisa nodded, and the Lady peered closely at Avalee. "You are a guest of the dragon, then."
It was Avalee's turn to nod. "Yes, he has allowed me a boon today. I am here to purchase supplies."
A low cough from the wall where the dragon stood forgotten, alerted the Lady to his presence for the first time. She was back on her feet in an instant, her hands clasped tightly in her skirts.
"Lady Aramere." He bowed, ever so slightly. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Avalee's escort under the dragon's instructions."
"Oh," the Lady gulped, "of course, my Lord. Of course you are. Would you prefer a seat to the wall?" She gained her composure, her voice gracious and steady, despite the look in her eyes when she glanced first at Elisa and then at Avalee.
Avalee realized that, unlike Elisa, Lady Aramere knew exactly who stood in her sitting room. She was also taking the cue from the dragon to keep that knowledge from the other woman.
"My Lady," the dragon replied with another bow, "I thank you for the offer, but I prefer to stand."
"Very well," Lady Aramere turned back towards her guest. "You must be hungry, I will call for refreshments, and we will talk." The woman tugged at a cord that hung near her chair, and a chime sounded from elsewhere in the house.
"Thank you," Avalee said. She wanted her hands back from Elisa, but didn't have the heart to free herself from them. The woman still seemed shaken to see her. But looking over at the Lady Aramere, Avalee began to realize their host was just as shaken, if not more, though she tried to hide it and was managing to do so fairly well.
"Avalee," the Lady said after a long time. "I see that you don't know who I am. Did the dragon not reveal my ident
ity before sending you to meet me?"
So the woman knew of the dragon. Avalee shook her head.
"I have known the beast for close to twenty years." She stopped at that and watched for a reaction. "Perhaps you will know me as Janessa."
"Janessa," Avalee blurted, "the first!" She felt Elisa's hands tighten on hers, holding her in place.
"Yes, the first sacrifice. I have done well for myself since then." Janessa gestured around herself without looking away from Avalee. "I have a husband now. Children, too, though they are all away visiting their grandparents, my husband's parents."
Avalee nodded, "I am happy for you, that you have found love and happiness after all." But she looked over at Elisa and then between the two of them questioningly. "How is it that Elisa found you?"
Elisa spoke, "She found me, actually. The dragon left me in a clearing, a half day's journey from here, and not long after, my Lady Aramere appeared through the trees with a spare horse to bring me here. I had thought I was hallucinating, to tell you the truth. Ten years is a long time, and then to have her there, the first human being I'd seen since before my long confinement. Well, I thought she wasn't real."
Avalee looked back at the Lady, who said, "Indeed, ten years may seem a long time, but it isn't really. I kept track, and I waited. I had not the benefit of a guide upon my release.” Her eyes turned briefly towards the dragon, and in that instant, a shadow of dark emotion raced across her features, hidden with a warm smile when she returned her gaze to Avalee. “I wanted better for my successor. Of course, she didn't know me, not at first."
"No, not at first," Elisa agreed. Then both women fell silent as they remembered that day, not that long ago, in the forest.
The dragon watched on in silence, and Avalee watched him. What she saw there surprised her. Remorse, regret. But she wasn't sure that it was remorse for the women's losses, or his own. She remembered the low conversation between him and Elisa the night before he freed her. He had been hurt that she wanted nothing more to do with him. Was he still?
She wondered why the dragon allowed Elisa think him just a man sent to accompany Avalee. She wondered, and then the dragon's eyes turned and caught hers, and she felt a pang at the emotion she felt through the connection. Doubt faded. He was not sorry for himself. Not for himself at all.
She offered a smile for him, hoping it gave him some small comfort. She understood. Somehow, he was sorry for what he had done, and for what he was doing now. And he was sorry for Avalee. She looked away, unable to maintain the connection.
~~~
Chapter 15
Avalee and the dragon stayed for only a short time longer. Rolph came in soon after that awkward silence began and distracted everyone with the mundane activities of passing out small sandwiches and pouring and handing out dainty cups of tea. The dragon held his sandwich and tea awkwardly, and Avalee guessed that besides the fact that he rarely had call to eat and drink such, or perhaps because if it, he was not entirely fond of either.
She watched him take a polite bite of the sandwich and apparently force it down, and she had to force herself not to smile at the face he made. For her own part, she quite enjoyed the crust-less sandwich. It was better than anything she'd found or prepared in the cave up to this point. The bread was incredibly nutty, and yet it was soft and chewy. She would have been happy for just the bread, but the thinly sliced roast beef and yellow cheese inside were also delicious. She didn't remember picking up any of either commodity and wondered if it would be too late to make one or two more stops on their way out of town.
She finished both tea and sandwich in short order, and before she could look for a place to set the empty dishes, Rolph was collecting them from her with a quick nod of his head, not quite enough to call a bow. The dragon, seeing her finished, caught Rolph's eye and handed over his own barely touched meal. She sensed he was ready to leave.
"Lady Aramere. Elisa," Avalee said as she rose from the short couch, "I am afraid my stay, though pleasant, is at an end. I really must be getting back with my supplies." She glanced over at the dragon and remembered the second stated reason for their visit. She looked back to her hostess, who had set aside her own food and drink, and asked, "Would it be a trouble if we borrowed a cart to carry our supplies out of town? I'm afraid I was too eager in my purchases."
Janessa glanced over at the dragon and then back to Avalee to answer. "Of course. I'll ask Rolph to bring one around and load your supplies."
"My Lady," said Rolph, "I have anticipated said request. The cart has already been made ready."
"Very well," said Lady Aramere to Rolph before looking back to Avalee. "I do hope you will find the opportunity to visit with Elisa and myself again." As she said that last, the Lady glanced at the dragon and then back at Avalee, her head cocked to the side and one of her eyebrows raised. Avalee didn’t know what to make of that look. Did the woman want her to come back, or not?
"I would like that," said Avalee, trying to be polite, though she had no idea whether the dragon would want to allow that. She wasn't quite sure why he had taken her to visit today, for one. For another, he seemed nervous around the two of them, more so with Elisa, which Avalee found odd considering the mixed signals she was getting from Lady Aramere.
"Goodbye, Avalee, and good luck." This was from Elisa, who once more captured Avalee's hands, this time in a friendly squeeze, quickly released to Avalee's relief. She wasn't quite sure she liked Elisa. The woman had chained her, had barely said a word to her, and then had left her to the dragon without a goodbye or a backwards glance.
The Lady Aramere wasn't quite as clingy as Elisa, merely touching fingers with Avalee, then stepping back from her ever so slightly before nodding to the dragon. It was more of a dismissal than a good bye, but Avalee’s breath caught at the glimmer of hostility that flashed in the older woman’s eyes before she turned away—there and gone so fast that Avalee wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined it.
"Goodbye," said Avalee to both of them, and then she followed the dragon who hadn't said even that much. He was playing the part of surly guardian all too well for Avalee's taste, and she hoped he wasn't in as bad of a mood as he seemed.
Outside, the dragon stepped quickly past her and looked over the cart and its burden, checking that everything was right. Avalee watched from a few paces away until he glanced her way, brows raised. He was ready to go. Now.
She sighed and followed as he led her out of the yard through the gate and then down the street towards the edge of town. She never got up the nerve to ask him about the beef and cheese, and soon they were well on their way outside of town and along a path much more suited for a cart than the way they had taken in.
~~~
Chapter 16
After about half an hour of silent travel, the dragon finally spoke.
"How did you enjoy your visit to the town?" It was an offhand comment, unexpected.
Avalee answered without thinking. "It was alright, but the shopping was great. I think I got a lot of great deals, and I don't think even my mother would have done half so well."
"Hmm, the shopping. What about the other?"
She realized he'd been asking about the meeting with his former captives and had to think about it for several long moments before she spoke.
"Well, it was awkward."
"How so? I thought you would like seeing the women from your village and knowing that they were alright."
She looked over at the dragon, he was watching her carefully as he pushed the cart, only checking his way in quick glances.
"Well, Lady Aramere, Janessa, seemed less than thrilled to see me and downright unhappy to see you, though she hid it, or tried to. Elisa, on the other hand, kept grabbing at me and hovering on the edge of tears. Like I said, it was awkward." Avalee looked away and watched her feet hit the path for a while before adding a question of her own to the conversation. Actually, more of a statement.
"Why is it that the Lady Aramere recognized you like this, while
Elisa did not?"
The dragon grunted. Then he said, "I never appeared to Elisa like this. She was happy to serve her time, keeping company with me when I was there out of duty. She never asked for anything but my promise to see her free when her time was finished, at least once she learned I wasn't going to eat her."
"And the Lady Aramere?" Avalee prompted. "What about her? Did you spend much time with her like this?"
"No," he said. He was watching the trail and seemed to be avoiding looking back at her. The ways he spoke implied something more.
Avalee waited for several more paces before she caved in and prompted him for more information. "But she did recognize you."
"Yes, she did. I was surprised, to be honest with you."
Avalee nodded and glanced over at him, he was watching her again.
"It's the eyes, I'm guessing,” she said.
"The eyes?" His brows rose inquisitively, wanting an explanation from her.
"Have you seen yourself?" She smiled over at him. "They are your eyes, not a man's, not quite human. Definitely yours. They don't look like human eyes."
"I see. Then she didn't know, merely suspected."
"No," Avalee disagreed. "I think she knew. Like I said, they are your eyes. I am surprised Elisa didn't recognize you, too—she, being your most recent guest—but she seemed to ignore you for the most part, so that's probably why."
"I see," the dragon said. Then it seemed to lose interest in the conversation and from then on watched the path instead of Avalee.
She used the opportunity to fall back and think. Why had he taken her today? He could have just as easily managed this trip alone. He could have purchased what he thought she needed and simply brought it to the cave, but he'd taken her, and he had transformed. And then he'd taken her to see the women. She didn't understand why. Then also, Rolph had obviously known him, at least as the man. Avalee wanted to ask about that, too, but the stiff back of the dragon discouraged her from asking.
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