Maiden Flight (Dragon Knights)

by D' Arc, Bianca

“And another on her right foreleg.”

  “Yes! How did you know?”

  Kelvan bowed his head to the side. “She is my mother.” His voice was solemn. “And you are Adora. She speaks of you often.”

  Adora was pretty sure nobody had mentioned her given name to the dragon. He’d been calling her milady all evening, as had his knight. That he knew it shocked her. It also helped prove his claim.

  “Kelzy lives still?” A smile bloomed on her pretty face. That the dragon friend of her youth might still be alive brought joy to her heart.

  Kelvan chuckled softly in his dragonish way. “Our kind does not age as you do. When you knew her, she had suffered the loss of her knight and needed time to recover. We bond very closely to our partners. My mother is one of the elders in charge of building our new Lair and she teaches the younger ranks how to fight and work with their knights. She chose my knight for me, in fact, even before I could claim him.”

  “She chose well.” Adora’s eyes followed the progress of the young couple across the small clearing. They were strolling slowly, oblivious to all except each other.

  “He is a good man through and through. You have naught to fear for your daughter or yourself, Lady Adora.”

  “It is selfish of me, I know, but I fear being alone. I’ve already lost children and it nearly killed me. Still, I want my baby to be happy, and her happiness lies with the young knight. It’s obvious to see.”

  “Then come with us to the new Lair. I am certain my mother would welcome you.”

  “I refuse to be a burden. This is Bel’s time. I don’t want to interfere.”

  “You would not be a burden, Lady Adora. We always need help in the Lair, and there are so few humans able to deal well with my kind. We already know you and your daughter can. We would welcome you both. And you would be safe there.”

  Adora considered his words carefully, mulling over the possibilities in her mind. “I can cook and clean, I suppose. I also know of healing herbs. It’s how I’ve made a living out here in the forest.”

  “Healing skills are always needed among the fighters. You would be more than welcome, Lady. What can it hurt to come for a visit? I know my mother will want to see you. If you do not come back with us, at least for a visit, I can nearly guarantee she will make the trip out here herself to make certain you are all right. She is not a young dragon any longer. Won’t you spare her such an arduous journey? I can have you there and back again in the next day, if you will consent to come for a visit.”

  Adora was torn, but she did so want to see the dragon who had been her childhood friend once more. “Perhaps a short visit. Just to see Lady Kelzy. I have thought of her often and missed her greatly. But I must return to care for my patients. I am all the help the local village has, and I can’t just abandon them.”

  “Yet you do not live in the village.” His tone was quizzical.

  “By choice. Not because they would not have us. When I came here, I was hurt deeply by the loss of my children. Twin girls as bright as the sun.” She paused while she collected herself. Her baby girls were gone and it left a hole in her heart that was wide and deep. How she missed them still, years later. Nothing would ever make up for losing her beloved twin daughters. The only consolation she had was that Belora was still with her, still safe. She sighed deeply before continuing. “I couldn’t bear to be with other people, and my work often brings me into the forest to gather herbs. I enjoy the solitude and don’t have much. This place was empty and available. It needed a good cleaning and still needs some repair, but it’s home. It welcomed me, helped me heal, and sheltered Bel as she grew. This place has been good to me.”

  Kelvan bowed his head in respect. “I can feel the love in your words for this place. Our new Lair begins to feel that way to me as well, though I’ve only been there a short time. Perhaps because my mother was able to set it up to her specifications it has always felt like home. I have come to learn that home is wherever those you love are, so for me, home will always be with Gareth and his mate.”

  “You think Belora is his mate?”

  “I do. He moves slowly to claim her though, because she does not know our ways. I think that once she sees how we live and learns more about us, she’ll fit in well. The Mother of All would not be so cruel as to bring them together only to break their hearts.” They watched the two young people walking back from the stream, hand in hand. It was obvious how much in love the two were, though they had only met that day. “You must come visit, Lady. It will help if you can see how your daughter will live and know that she is not gone from you forever. I’ll fly her back to see you as often as possible if you choose to stay here after you’ve seen the Lair. I understand the importance of family.”

  “You are a kind and noble being, Sir Kelvan.” Adora reached up and placed her small palm on his knee joint. “I’ll go with you to visit your new home and see Lady Kelzy once more. But only for a short time. With war coming, my duty is to the people of the village who depend on me.”

  “If you were male, you would surely have been a knight, Lady. Your heart is compassionate and strong.”

  “I think that’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.” She smiled softly and turned back to watch the younger couple, kissing in the dappled moonlight, distantly in the forest. She thought they looked right together—her baby girl with a handsome and strong knight who so obviously cared for her. It was like a dream come true. For Belora.

  Adora sighed wistfully, resigned to knowing that this time was for her daughter, but still it saddened her that she would never know such a love again. Her time was over.

  Chapter Three

  The dragon tried not to gloat as his mind sought out that of his partner. “Lady Adora has agreed to come with us for a short visit to the Lair. She wants to see my mother, and I told her Kelzy was far too old and decrepit to fly all this way out to see her.”

  Gareth burst into laughter and sent his thoughts back to the dragon as all knights were trained to do. “Kelzy will singe your hide for even suggesting that she’s too old to fly this short a distance. Your mother is one of our finest fighters, Kel, and by dragon reckoning, she’s still quite young.”

  “You know that and I know that, but Lady Adora doesn’t. You should be thanking me for getting her to agree so easily to come along. These females belong at the Lair, Gareth. You know that as well as I do. We need them.”

  “You’re right, Kel.” Gareth sighed. “I’ve only just met her, but I know in my heart, Belora is mine. And her mother seems a treasure. We don’t have enough healers at our new Lair if it comes to war. There are so few women who can deal well with dragons and knights alike. We need every one.”

  “These two are special. My mother saw the light in Adora as a child, so clearly that she still talks of her to this day. Belora is the same. If she consents to be your mate, you will be truly blessed.”

  “Don’t you think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself? First we have to see if she can live at the Lair.”

  “But you want her.”

  “Of course I want her. But don’t forget, she must choose me, Kel. Without her trust and her love, it will never work.”

  “The Mother of All would not put her in our path only to take her away. She is not so cruel.”

  Later, after a quick flight from Adora’s house in the woods to the new Lair, Kelvan alighted on the ledge carved out from the stone face of the cliff for just that purpose. It was wide enough for several dragons to take off and land on at any one time and there was one already there, waiting for them.

  “Kelzy.” Adora whispered in a choked voice as she caught sight of the waiting blue-green dragon.

  Belora squeezed her mother’s hand and they shared a smile as Kelvan came to a complete stop. Gareth jumped down first, helping the women down. Adora strode directly to the waiting dragon and made a deep bow before her.

  “Lady Kelzy, it is so good to see you again.”

  “Adora? Is it really y
ou?” The huge dragon stepped closer, all formality forgotten as she lowered her head to the human’s height. “Adora, my child.” The dragon’s voice was so gentle in her mind. “Give us a hug, dear.”

  The woman threw herself at the dragon, her arms wrapping tightly around her thick neck, weeping openly. The dragon did something then that dragons seldom did. She wrapped her great wings around the woman, encasing her in their magical warmth as Adora clung to her long lost childhood friend.

  Kelzy knew she was overly emotional for a dragon and unusually fond of her human friends, but the little woman hugging her so tightly was the closest thing she had to a daughter. Kelzy had missed her terribly during those years they’d been separated. Finding her again so unexpectedly was a miracle.

  “Mama Kelzy, I’ve missed you so,” Adora whispered.

  Kelzy crooned in her mind, soothing the woman’s fears and basking in the joy of having the child of her heart near once more. She knew the others were watching them but didn’t care. Kelzy had always been her own dragon and she didn’t care for those that would comment on her uncharacteristic display. Adora was special. She always had been. Losing track of the small human girl had been one of the saddest things that had ever happened to Kelzy and finding her again was a gift from the Mother of All.

  When Adora finally gathered her emotions and stepped back, Kelzy let her go with joy in her heart. Her gaze turned to her grown son and his partner. She did a double take when she spotted a younger human woman with the same light around her as Adora. This was Adora’s child and, if she wasn’t much mistaken, her light was already affecting the broad-shouldered knight at her side. Kelzy felt an extreme satisfaction. Her boy would have Adora’s child as his partner’s mate. It all suddenly made sense.

  “You have a beautiful daughter,” Kelzy told her. “She will make a fine addition to our community.”

  Adora reached back and motioned her daughter closer. “My daughter, Belora.”

  Belora made her bow prettily and said all the right words, impressing the dragon and no doubt making her mother proud.

  “And where is your man?” Kelzy wanted to know. Surely the girl had a father lurking about somewhere. Kelzy wasn’t certain any human man was worthy of her Adora, but she’d put up with him for her sake.

  “I’m a widow. Have been for many years. We live simply, in the forest.”

  No mate was worse than a bad mate, and Kelzy didn’t like the idea of Adora being all alone. She deserved happiness and a loving family of her own. Kelzy would fix that, if it was within her power.

  “That will not do. You must stay here, with us. I have need of you, Adora. There is much work to be done and so few to do it.”

  “I—”

  “Don’t answer now. Come see how we live here and learn a bit of our ways and needs. Then, if you still feel like living all alone in your forest, I will take you back myself.”

  Adora smiled up at the dragon, love shining in her eyes, but started as she looked just past the dragon’s tall shoulder. Kelzy turned her head to see what had startled her long lost daughter and puffed a small cloud of smoke in wry amusement.

  “Don’t let his looks frighten you, dear. This is Jared, my partner. Be nice, Jared, this girl is as a daughter to me.” Kelzy was speaking to the minds of both humans, linking them just slightly.

  Adora was startled by the feeling of the knight’s curiosity. It reached her through the small, mental link formed by the dragon. She had never experienced such a thing before and it was surprising.

  “I’m honored to meet you, Madam.”

  The knight’s rich, baritone voice caught Adora off guard, warming her insides in a way they hadn’t been warmed in too many years. The man was striking. Older than she, he had a jagged scar running down one cheek, all too close to his eye, though the silvery blue depths of his irises remained unhurt and stunningly alert. His hair was dark with light streaks of silver near his temples that only made him appear more dangerous somehow. She got the impression that this man seldom smiled but was competent and deadly in his chosen profession as a warrior.

  A tall man, he was muscular in a lithe sort of way, but solid and all too handsome for his own good. The only relief was that he didn’t seem to be aware of his rugged appeal, or if he was, he disdained such things in favor of more sober pursuits. He seemed very serious and almost grim, but Adora saw a sadness in his eyes that called to the sorrow in her own soul. Instinctively, her heart went out to him, though he gave no indication of wanting or needing any sort of sympathy or even camaraderie.

  “The honor is mine, Sir Jared.” Adora realized belatedly that she was staring rather rudely and made her curtsey quickly, averting her gaze to the ground while she felt her cheeks flame.

  “Honestly, Jared, make an effort. You’re frightening the poor child.” Kelzy’s teasing voice was just a bit exasperated in both of their minds and Adora had to stifle a giggle.

  Jared was humbled by the woman’s beauty. Her green eyes were luminous as she raised them once more to his. Though Kelzy insisted on referring to her as a girl, there was no doubt in his mind that this was a woman. She had the rounded curves he enjoyed and a sparkle in her eyes when she looked at him that set his teeth on edge.

  He was a widower and the loss of his wife many years before had been hard on him. Since then, he had found pleasure where he could, but had no desire to marry again or become involved in anything remotely long-term.

  But here was a woman who was already close to his dragon partner—the only female he allowed in his life. Undoubtedly Kelzy would want this woman nearby. Their relationship pre-dated his own with the dragon and was obviously as close, or perhaps even closer, than the relationship between he and Kelzy, bonded as they were. This woman would most likely be underfoot and he couldn’t ignore her.

  His heart didn’t want to ignore her, and that’s what unsettled him most. It had been a very long time indeed since a woman had such an impact on him. The echo of emotion he felt through the link with Kelzy when the dragon spoke to them both was the oddest phenomenon he had ever experienced.

  He wondered idly if mated knights had this sort of non-verbal feedback through the link with their dragons. He hadn’t been partnered with Kelzy during his marriage, so he had never experienced it for himself. In fact, it had been his wife’s death that brought Kelzy to him. His pain had drawn the dragon from her own sorrow over the loss of her first knight partner and they had bonded as they helped each other through the emotional upheaval of losing someone they loved.

  “Kelzy has told me many stories about you as a child. I know she missed you greatly.” He remembered his manners with a little nudge from the flat of Kelzy’s sharp front talon against his calf.

  “No more than I missed her.”

  The woman glowed. There was no other word for it. Her goodness and light shone in her eyes and around her curved womanly body in a way that made him want to move closer.

  “Adora, you will stay in our suite. It is quite obvious my son’s knight and your girl wish to be alone together.” Kelzy’s satisfied tone had both Adora and Jared looking back at Gareth and Belora, who were currently locked at the lips. “We have plenty of room and I suspect we’ll talk long into the night. I want to know everything that’s happened to you since last we saw each other. And I want to know all about your daughter too, since I have little doubt she will soon be part of my son’s human family.”

  The woman’s soft gaze went from her little girl, to Kelzy, then to Jared. He knew she waited for him to second the invitation, since it was his suite too. Jared could do no less than step forward, even though his internal alarms warned him about getting too involved. This soft woman could well break what little was left of his heart.

  “You should stay with us. There’s plenty of room, as Kelzy says.”

  He thought he detected relief and a spark of interest in her expression, but dared not read too much into it. He was a confirmed bachelor now. He didn’t need love in his life. It m
ade him soft. It made him weak. It made him hurt.

  Kelzy was the only female he needed. At least she wasn’t likely to die and leave him alone and in pain.

  “Thank you,” Adora answered softly. “I’d be honored to stay with you.”

  Her answer made his heart skip a beat, no matter how hard he tried not to let it.

  “Let’s leave them for a bit,” Kelzy suggested. “We have so many years to catch up on.”

  They left the younger couple and headed for Kelzy’s suite. Jared escorted her, though it was obvious to Adora that he was careful to maintain a certain distance. The man alarmed her a bit, but she thought there was a deep sensitivity in him and her sixth sense about people was seldom wrong. This man had been hurt badly in his life and the gruff exterior was probably all for show. Besides, she reasoned, Mama Kelzy was an excellent judge of character and the dragon chose the knight, not the other way around.

  Adora was amazed to learn that the dragons had warm sand pits in their suites heated from below somehow. Their human partners had built rooms for themselves around the sand wallows. Each single dragon or mated dragon pair had their own wallow which was divided from the rest of the Lair by a ring of rooms that made up their suite. The knights and their mate would live in the suite with their dragons, some having guest rooms attached as well as utility and storage rooms.

  The arrangement appeared quite cozy and served both the knights and their dragon partners well, but Adora noticed quickly, as they walked through the halls, that there were far fewer women in the Lair than men. The dragons seemed to be about fifty percent female and fifty percent male and all partnered with male knights, but there were few mated dragons and only those mated pairs seemed to have mated knights.

  Adora intended to ask about it, but all the wondrous things she was learning and seeing for the first time quickly sidetracked her. As they passed a huge steaming chamber, Jared told her the pools within were heated, as the wallows were, from the earth beneath, and the water had a fragrant mineral quality she had never before encountered.