“Well, I don’t need any looking after.” She spoke with false bravado. Her heart beat so fast, she feared it would burst from her chest. Breathing hard, she clutched the spike in front of her.
Grenalda turned her humongous head. “All set, then? Here we go!” She took a few lumbering steps, then raised her spacious wings and lifted off into the air.
At first closing her eyes, Allegra finally opened them as she saw the ground disappear below and felt the rush of air. Her heart thudded, her mouth dry.
Grenalda flew higher, higher, her wings flapping.
Allegra clasped the dragon’s spike, her fingers locked around the sharp protrusion. Soon, she saw nothing below her, no ground, no trees, only a vast space. A gradual darkness enclosed them, then complete pitch black surrounded them. With a suddenness that surprised her, colorful flashes burst all around them, red, yellow, blue and green flickers, like lightning. She swallowed again and again, fearful that the dragon was taking them, not to their world, but to another exotic place.
Just as quickly, they emerged from the sky full of colorful flashes, and a familiar landscape was spread out below them. Yes! There they were, back in Avador! The Orn Mountains rose up below them, the high peaks piercing the night sky.
Grenalda turned her head. “Tell me where you want me to land, not where there’s any humans,” she added.
Allegra and Rowan yelled at the same time. “Soon! Start descending, Grenalda.” The dragon followed their instructions as a vast plain came into view, the Plain of Sorrows. The Nantosuelta River glimmered in the dark, snaking its way through the land. All these landmarks Allegra had learned since coming to Avador.
Rowan shouted behind her, “Here, Grenalda, land here!”
“As you wish.” The dragon made a gradual descent, the ground coming up to meet them. She skimmed along for a distance, then stopped. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
It depends on your viewpoint, Allegra mused, breathing a long, slow sigh. Her hands were clamped around the dragon’s spike, and she had to pry off her fingers, one by one. She flexed her aching hands several times to relieve the soreness.
Landing next to a mound, the dragon gave them easy egress. Rowan dismounted first and reached for her. Exhausted with tension, she trembled inside but refused to show any weakness. She smiled at him, as if this sort of thing happened every day.
Grenalda waited to make sure they had dismounted. Holding hands, Allegra and Rowan walked around to the front of Grenalda, where they were eye level with the creature. Allegra patted Grenalda’s scaly cheek. “Time to say ‘goodbye’, Grenalda. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’ve done for us.”
Rowan spoke up beside her. “Let me add my thanks to Allegra’s. You have done us a great service. We will surely miss you.”
Grenalda’s eyes lit up. “Will I see you again?”
Allegra shook her head. “I fear not, my friend. But we will remember you for the rest of our days.”
The dragon hung her head as tears poured down her cheeks. “I’ll remember you, too, and I’ll miss you. . .very much.”
Allegra patted her again. “Grenalda, I have an idea. When you return to your world, perhaps you can let other humans such as Rowan and I get gradual glimpses of you. Convince them that you won’t hurt them, that you just want to be friends with them. And possibly, other humans will need to return to their own world, as we did. Once they find that you want to be friends with them, you can offer them transport, like you so kindly did with us.”
“Really? Do you think that might work?”
She nodded. “Something tells me it will, if only you proceed gradually. Don’t carry people off, as you did with me. That’s no way to make friends.”
“Yes,” Rowan agreed. “Take note of what she says. Nothing would make me happier than to think that you and humans might get along well together.”
Allegra leaned closer and kissed the dragon’s metallic neck. Her eyes watered as she inhaled her tinny odor, or was that the only reason for her tears? “Goodbye, my friend. We will miss you very much.”
Grenalda’s beady gaze covered both of them. “And I’ll miss you.” She raised her head, as if discarding any despondent thoughts. “I’ll remember you, all the thousand years of my life. Stand back now, I’m taking off.”
They stepped far away from the dragon and walked down the hill. Grenalda plodded along for a short distance, then lifted her wings. Soon, she was in the air again. She turned her head and wiggled her wings in farewell, then disappeared into the night sky.
In unison, Allegra and Rowan sighed. Surely he must share her thoughts, considering all they had experienced, including their journey back.
He hugged her close. “Home again.”
Chapter Fifteen
“In the name of all the gods and goddesses, where have you been?”
Rowan organized his thoughts. After an anxious night upon his return from the Otherworld, he had headed to the Ministry of State first thing this morning. But how to explain his absence?
“Rowan?”
“First, let me ask you, how long have I been gone?”
“You don’t know?” Donat Fand rolled his eyes. “Four moonphases, more or less. So where have you been?”
He sighed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Donat fixed a steady gaze on him. “Try me.”
“Well . . .” He pondered long and hard, then began. “–and so,” he said, several minutes later, “we returned to Avador last night.”
Donat sat back in his chair. “If anyone else had told me this story, I’d have said he was out of his mind.”
“Do you know, if our situation had been reversed, I’d have said the same. The princess can corroborate what I’ve said.”
“The princess? Where is she now?”
“At my apartment on Granno’s Way. I’ve taken another apartment for now,” he quickly added. “I instructed her to stay inside, not to venture out as long as she remains in danger.” Is she still in danger? he worried. What if their journey to the Otherworld had been for nothing?
“–no danger.”
“Sorry, I missed the first part of what you said.”
“A very important part,” Donat replied, “and what I’ve been waiting to tell you for the past few moonphases. Prince Arnou has defeated the war faction in that country. He has–shall we say–eliminated the warmongers and taken the throne.”
Rowan breathed a long, slow sigh. But what about the assassins? Were they still loose, still a threat to the princess? He had to know! “As I told you just now, the reason I took the princess away from here was because the war faction had sent assassins after her–“
”The assassins no longer remain a threat to the princess.”
Rowan leaned forward in his chair. “Do you know this for certain? Do you have the prince’s–king’s–assurance that the princess is safe from danger?”
“As best I can piece together the information, this is what happened: The assassins returned to Fomoria after failing to kill the princess. Sometime after that, Prince Arnou, along with his supporters, moved against the war faction and arrested all of them. His henchmen got the traitors to talk–just how they accomplished this, I leave to your imagination. So we know the princess is safe.”
Rowan released a pent up breath. Danger no longer threatened the princess; she could move freely now. When would he see her again?
Donat’s voice cut through his thoughts. “The prince–King Arnou now–has sent word to us that he wants Princess Allegra to return to Fomoria. He wants to marry her and–“
Rowan’s ears buzzed. A terrible realization seized him. He should have known that nothing would come of his love for Allegra. Who was he, an assistant state minister, compared to a king? And Allegra would be a queen.
“–to give his reign legitimacy. So you must arrange for her return to Fomoria. Hire a carriage for the princess and her maid.”
His heart was breaking,
but he maintained an expression of absolute nonchalance. Allegra would be gone from his life. He would never see her again.
“This matter is urgent,” Donat continued. “Tend to it after you leave here.” He tapped his desk. “Now, on to another matter, equally important. After you see to the princess’s return and no later than two days hence, I want you to journey to Elegia, apprise them that Fomoria no longer endangers them, at least for the present and let’s hope for all time. Doubtless Elegia has already heard about the usurpers’ defeat, but we want to give them our official assessment.” He reached forward to hand him a paper. “This is a summary of recent events in Fomoria. The list includes names, dates, facts the government of Elegia might want to know.” He paused. “Any questions?”
“None that I can think of now. After I see to the princess, I’ll study the paper and leave for Elegia tomorrow.”
“Good. And let me say that you have served the Ministry of State very well.” He smiled. “And yes, I do believe your recount of the trip to the Otherworld. You did what you considered necessary for the princess’s safety. I still hope to retire before the year is out and will definitely recommend you as my successor. I see no reason why Queen Keriam wouldn’t agree with my choice.”
“Thank you, Donat. That means more to me than I can say.”
As Rowan left the Hall of State and walked out into a cool, overcast day, rampant thoughts swarmed in his mind. At one time, heading the Ministry of State had meant much to him, but now he would gladly relinquish the position if only he could have Allegra as his wife. Bittersweet memories surfaced, of their recent trip to the Otherworld, a sojourn that seemed be belong to another time. He recalled every precious moment with Allegra, yet feared she would judge their time together in a different light, as a pleasant but exotic experience, a series of events that had no relation with their own world of the here and now.
Why do you doubt her love for you? Could it be because the Otherworld had lent a sense of unreality to their relationship, their time in that place so far beyond the realm of likelihood? She may have seemed to love him then, but they had returned to the actual world with all of its trials and turmoil. From the first, it had been her desire, her mission, to return to her native land, and there was no room in her life for him. But oh! To hold her in his arms one more time, to cover her face with kisses and drive them both out of their minds.
He wished he could ask her to write to him now and then. But no, she would be far too busy in her duties as queen. Besides, he knew mail service from Fomoria was unreliable.
More important, he hoped and prayed that the new king would be good to her, extend to her every kindness she deserved.
And now, he must undertake the task given him, return her to her own country. And she, his dear Allegra, would become queen of Fomoria. So he must complete his mission and send her on her way. Then never see her again. But no, he amended. He might well see her again . . . when she was another man’s wife. She would soon become joint ruler of her native land. Best he remember that.
* * *
Allegra paced the floor of Rowan’s apartment, agonizing over what had happened in her country during their stay in the Otherworld. She had no idea how long they’d been away. What about the assassins? Rowan had told her to stay inside for fear the murderers might yet find her. Was she safe now? When could she return to her own country, a land she missed more and more every day?
Elsa came to mind. Her poor maid must be worried sick. She could hardly wait to see her again, explain her absence. But how? What could she possibly tell Elsa that the woman would believe?
Memories of Rowan expunged all other thoughts from her head. All the qualities that made him so dear dominated her mind, his kindness, his gallantry and solicitude of her, his bravery, his commanding presence in any situation. She recalled his kisses, his love words, too well aware that it was only that illusory and dreamlike paradise that had aroused his passion. Closing her eyes, she relived his embrace, his body pressed close to hers. Ah, to know that passion again, to feel his lips on hers, his hands caressing her body. A sudden warmth stole over her, a spark of passion that left her weak and yearning for him, a desire like nothing she’d ever known. She wanted him now, this minute, and longed for him for all time.
But what made her think that he loved her now, in their own world? He had never before spoken of loving her, not until they had traveled to a faraway place, a world beyond space and time. She wrung her hands together. Where was he now? When would she see him again?
Hours had passed since she’d first risen this morning after a restless night of troubling dreams. Rowan’s cook had prepared her a generous breakfast, but all she’d been able to swallow was a cup of tea. The cook had left, saying she’d return later, but Allegra still had no appetite–
A knock on the door. “Princess Allegra.” Rowan! Ah, she’d recognize his voice anywhere. But Princess Allegra? Her heart throbbed, but she assumed an expression of calmness as she opened the door to see him standing there, his black tunic and trousers imbuing him with an air of distinction. He made a slight blow. So that’s how it would be, no kisses, no embraces, just strict protocol.
He smiled. “My lady, how have you been since I last saw you, was it only last night? Did you sleep well?” All formality now.
She returned the smile. “As well as could be expected. Hard to believe . . .” The sentence remained unfinished, the meaning clear. Hard to believe that they had traveled to another world and returned, transported by a dragon.
She swallowed hard and led him to the sofa. “Won’t you sit down?” A nervous laugh escaped her. “But of course, this is your apartment.”
“As a matter of fact, I can’t spare the time. I went to see the Minister of State this morning,” he said, relating his talk with the minister, including events in Fomoria. “So if it’s convenient with you, I can see to your return today. I’ve already hired a carriage for you and have gone to the palace at Mag Bregha. Elsa has worried about you, as you can well imagine. I will leave it to you to explain your absence.” He paused, as if sifting thoughts. “In any event, I instructed her to pack your things and be ready when I return with you. You will ride the carriage and I will accompany you to the palace at Mag Bregha. Then you and Elsa will ride on to your country. I’ve made all the arrangements, nothing for you to worry about.”
Her heart beat a bit faster. “You will accompany us to Fomoria?”
“Alas, my lady, I can’t, much as I would wish it. I must travel to Elegia, apprise them of events in your country.”
Her spirits sank, but she maintained a calm voice, never let him see that her heart was torn in two. What else had she expected? That he would go back with her, spend the rest of his days in her country? “The prince–what is his name?”
“Arnou . . . king now, my lady, apparently the distant cousin you spoke of once.”
“And he wants to marry me?” But I want only you.
“Yes, my lady. He fears he may not be accepted on his own.” Did a trace of sadness shadow his face, or did she only imagine it?
Now I can’t be queen in my own right, she mused, but only to give this distant cousin legitimacy. If that’s the way it was, she must accept it. At least she could now return to her own country.
“Arnou has been on the throne for only a short amount of time,” he continued. “If he can unite the House of Dorsay with his own, he hopes the union will bring permanent peace to Fomoria.”
“I see.” Her mind wandered to faraway places, to kisses and caresses, to a future that could never be. With a deeper regret than she’d ever known, she brought her mind back to the present. “Shall we leave?”
Chapter Sixteen
“Back in our own country again!” Allegra looked out the window as the carriage made its way up a rutted dirt road and around a forested hill as it approached the royal castle. She reached across and clasped Elsa’s hand. “Can you believe it?” Continually sliding from one side of the carriage to the
other, she looked all around, her eyes taking in all she’d missed for so long, for years! “Just look at those pine trees, how they’ve grown!”
“My lady, I’m so happy for you. Here you are, back where you belong.”
Allegra knew that Elsa spoke sincerely, yet she realized that the maid, like herself, had no family left in Fomoria, except in her case, this distant cousin who was now king. Might it be that other distant relatives remained? She hoped to find out.
Despite her pure joy at her return, a deep sadness colored her thoughts. Her mother and father would not be here to greet her. Oh, how she missed them. Happy memories came flooding back, all the good times spent with her parents and friends. Determined to throw off her despondency, she switched her thoughts to the newly-crowned king, the man who had requested her hand in marriage. What was he like? What if he didn’t like her? She gave a mental shrug. Time enough to make his acquaintance. And marriage? There was only one man she wanted to marry, and he was gone from her life forever. It was obvious that his love hadn’t lasted beyond their time in the Otherworld. Best she forget him and get on with her life here. Soon she would be Queen Allegra, joint ruler with King Arnou. And if that fact held no fascination for her, she dismissed her misgivings, vowing to take her royal duties seriously and help govern the country well.
Any minute now, they would arrive at the castle. She had sent a note ahead, notifying the prince of their expected arrival time. Her heart beat faster, faster.
The carriage creaked to the top of the hill. “There it is!” Allegra’s gaze took in the castle, her home from long ago. She looked up at the crenellated towers, the royal flag whipping in a stiff breeze. In spite of her sleeplessness from the previous night, she felt energized, as if just embarking on her trip. Her pulse quickened as the carriage stopped in the courtyard, and a uniformed servant came forward to open the carriage door and let down the steps.
She stepped down, drawing her cloak closely about her, her slippered feet touching the frozen ground. Shivering in the frosty air, she held herself erect as she followed the servant past the outer ward and into the great hall. She choked back tears as memories returned of her childhood, of times spent with her parents in this very place. Why, yes, she remembered the fire blazing in the hearth, as it was now, the long trestle table flanked by several chairs. Sunlight shone through a narrow window at the end of the hall, but much of the room remained in semi-darkness, rushlights giving but dim illumination.
Allegra's Dream (Avador Book 4, a Books We Love Fantasy Romance) Page 9