“Right.”
“If a powerful dragon wizard…”
“Sorcerer,” Drace corrected, placing his elbows on the table.
“Sorry, sorcerer. Anyway, if Nimbus couldn’t control it, there’s no way under the sun you or I could. I know that, but I think there is a way to get you back. To get us both over there.”
A waitress came to take their plates and to refill their coffee cups, giving Drace the chance to gather his thoughts about his stubborn, persistent aunt. He ran both hands through his shoulder length hair. “What do you mean, get us both over there?”
“Just listen, okay? It’s not as far fetched as you think, and I’ll tell you why. On the plane today, when I fell asleep, I had this dream. I felt this presence, like someone was standing behind me. I turned and no one was there, but I could still feel it. I wasn’t afraid; I knew it wouldn’t hurt me. I asked who was there and what they wanted. I got an answer.”
Drace leaned forward. “What was it?”
“It was a deep, masculine voice, and it said, ‘There is a way. The Knight and his kinswoman prepare. When they find it they will make the journey’. Then I saw a glimpse of a lion and it disappeared into a mist.
“Oh shit,” Drace whispered, his surprise reflected on his face.
“And if you go, I’m going. You’re not leaving me behind…again.”
Cerise and Drace walked leisurely back to the hotel along the river. Drace had an arm draped over her shoulders in big brother fashion.
“I hope you realize that it might just have just been a dream. We may be facing something impossible to do,” she warned.
Drace gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I know. I’m not getting my hopes up. It does warrant further study, but I know the score. However…I don’t want to go if it is do-able but I have to come back. I won’t go through that again. I can’t. It’s just too damn hard, C.”
I know, hon.”
“It’s a one way ticket or I don’t want it.” With a sigh of resolve, the two continued on to the hotel, both deep in thought.
Drace entered his room. He took off his coat, and boots, he opened the drapes and looked out over the City of Lights. He could not stop thinking about Cerise’s dream. He had done some Internet searches back home, trying to learn more about Werren culture. He Goggled Werren language, Werren legends, and Werren culture and only got one hit. A book scanned by the Google Books project, which was in French. He had it bookmarked on his smart phone.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
THE NEXT MORNING Drace went for a stroll. Cerise was still asleep. They had planned on visiting the Eiffel Tower together in the afternoon, but he just wanted to stand in its shadow by himself. On the way back to the hotel, he noticed a small shop tucked in on a side street between a second hand bookstore and a milliner. It was a jewelry shop. He reached in his pocket and felt the dragon’s tear.
Drace stepped inside and was greeted by an elderly man who was a master goldsmith. The man was waiting on another customer, so Drace browsed through glass cases. He studied a tray of wedding bands and felt a tug of longing. He was startled from his thoughts when the gentleman spoke from the other side of the counter. Realizing that Drace spoke no French, he addressed him in English. “These rings won’t do for you, monsieur. You need something more,” he searched for the right English word. “Powerful.”
Before Drace could correct him on why he was in there, the elderly man brought out a smaller tray. “These may interest you, monsieur,” he stated. “I made these a few years ago before my hands could no longer do the intricate work. They are tres bon but most people find them a bit, how do you say, medieval.”
Drace was going to tell the man what he had come for when one set of rings on the tray caught his eye. Three of the four pairs of rings were done in different patterns of Celtic rope work. Drace made an involuntary sound at the fourth set. Engraved in the wide gold bands was a pair of lions in the Scottish fashion, facing each other with scroll work in between.
“Try it on, monsieur. I believe it suits you.”
Drace slid the man’s ring onto the ring finger of his left hand, the metal warm against his skin. Even with the size of his hands, the ring fit perfectly. What are the odds?” he thought.
Once, after a winter’s afternoon of making love, Drace had toyed with a ring Ki had been wearing, removing it from her finger and slipping it on one of his pinkies. Drace picked up the lion ring’s mate and slid it on his little finger. Oh Christ, he thought, A perfect match. I’ll take them both,” he said, impulsively.
“I knew you would like them, monsieur. You have the look of a warrior about you,” the jeweler said.
Drace looked up at him, surprised.
“One cannot really hide what they truly are, no?” the gentleman said with a smile.
Drace returned it with his own broad smile. “I need a chain so I can wear this one,” he said, indicating the smaller of the two rings. “Until I can give it to my wife.” He winced inwardly at that. I just want to keep it close to my heart.
Drace reached into a front pocket of his Levis and pulled out the dragon’s tear, laying it carefully on the counter.
It was the jeweler’s turn to gasp. “I have never seen a stone such as this,” he breathed.
“Can you make a fitting for a necklace for it?” Drace asked.
“Of course, of course,” the jeweler said. “But you will want leather to hang it if it is for you, monsieur. It is too much, too powerful for a chain, I think.”
Drace agreed and told the man he would be back after lunch to pick up the red stone and the rings. Reluctantly, he moved to take the man’s ring from his finger.
“Non, monsieur. Wear it. I have your stone; I can tell you value very much. I will see you later today.”
Drace thanked him and was about to leave when he stopped and turned back to the jeweler. “May I ask you one more thing?” Drace asked as he pulled out his smart phone.
“Oui monsieur.”
“Do you know where I might find this book?”
The jeweler took the phone and pulled it close to read the small text. “Oui, Bibliotheque Nationale, the National Library.”
“Merci,” Drace said.
After a lunch of quiche Lorraine, Drace and Cerise went together to the Eiffel Tower.
Drace stood on the observation deck, looking out at the panorama of Paris. He remembered going up with Ki to the mock Eiffel tower in Vegas. After both his parents had died, memories would be triggered at odd times and the loss would hit him. Time softened the pain, but it was still there, even years later. The same sort of emotion jarring memories of Ki haunted him. There hadn’t been enough time to soften her loss. How long will it take before the memories don’t make my heart bleed?
Cerise hit him on the arm, bringing him back to awareness. “What?”
“I’ve been trying to take a picture of you for the last couple of minutes but you’ve had this scowl on your face.
“Sorry. I was just reminiscing,” he admitted, and then turned to look back at the view. “I think I could live here,” he said, putting his hands on the railing and leaning forward. The wind caught at his hair, making loose dark strands fly around his face. “If I didn’t have the farm and could pick a city this would be it,” Drace mused.
Cerise wanted to do some shopping and Drace said he would catch up with her at the hotel. He went back to the jeweler for the rings and dragon’s tear. The man handed the pieces back to him along with a piece of paper with the national library’s address and the name of a woman, a librarian there who could assist him.
The man came around the counter and put his hands up on Drace’s shoulders. Drace leaned over and the man kissed him on each cheek. Drace bowed his head in thanks.
He walked back to his hotel, the smaller lion ring and the dragon’s tear warm against his chest, the jeweler’s note in his pocket.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
THE BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE was immense. Dr
ace went to the information desk and pointed to the name on the note. He and Cerise were asked to take a seat. Thirty minutes later a short, gray haired woman in a navy blue skirt and white blouse came and greeted them. Drace showed her the title on his smart phone. She asked them to follow her and she led them to a windowless reading room with dark furniture and medieval tapestries on the wall.
She left them and returned about twenty minutes later and laid the book on the polished table.
The book in front of Drace was on ancient Egyptian mythology. He had learned about it because what he saw from his Internet search was that Werren writing was similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics. Although they were in the Egyptology wing of the library, the book itself was a fairly recent publication, and to Drace’s surprise was published in both English and French. He did not know this because only the French pages had been scanned in the Google search.
When he opened the cover he was certain he heard a ‘yes’ whispered into his consciousness. He flipped through pages of text on the Egyptian gods and almost missed it, but something caught his eye and he flipped back a page.
There was a picture of the goddess Hathor and Drace pointed to the text. Hathor was a goddess who played a motherly role to each reigning pharaoh. What really caught his attention was when he read that when she became vengeful; she took the form of a ferocious lioness. He sat back with a jolt. He leaned forward and reread the pages. He scribbled notes furiously and then read a few more pages, but saw nothing else about the goddess. He turned to the front of the book and took down information from the copyright page.
Drace thanked the woman, saying merci, merci repeatedly. He opened his wallet and offered to pay her for her assistance, but she refused. She took the book and left Drace and Cerise to find their way back to the main lobby,
Drace flipped a couple of pages of his tablet and found his notes. “Egyptian deities date back four to five thousand years ago. Ki’s society is heavily influenced by their gods. Their…supreme, or high god is Arahtok, creator of the Lion-kin and the different clans. Following this?”
“Yes, so far it’s fairly simple.”
“Hathor was one of the most revered goddesses in the Egyptian culture. She was the mother of Ra, the sun god. Apparently, she could become quite ruthless at times and when she did, she took the form of a lioness.”
“So what’s the connection to Kismera?”
“Hathor was thought to play a caring, motherly role in the pharaohs’ lives. One pharaoh discovered that Hathor had another child and was insanely jealous. Seeing rebellion in the pharaoh’s heart, she sent her son to another world, to be its guiding force and to be safe. The world itself was not mentioned, nor the name of the mate Hathor provided for him, so that he wouldn’t be lonely. The son was given the image of a lion and a man and his name was Arahtok.”
“Oh my god,” Cerise breathed. “You found the connection.” She sat back in amazement. “Now, how can we use it?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I wrote down the author’s name and a website from the copyright page. The next step is to email her.
Drace and Cerise flew to Vienna the next day. Drace had made arrangements to visit the Spanish Riding School there. Upon arrival, they settled into their hotel and Drace phoned the Friesian breeder to confirm their appointment. After lunch, they went to the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner stallions perform.
Drace sat through the performance silently, entranced, and taking mental notes. The white stations were trained to the highest level of dressage and the Airs above the Ground. Afterwards, Drace visited a shop and bought two books, one on the history of the riding school, and the other on dressage by a former headmaster of the school, translated into English.
After the demonstration, the two went to a café. “That was incredible!” Drace said, excited. He returned his attention to his books and ran his fingers through his hair as he read. The long locks stuck out in all directions.
“You should really get a hair cut,” Cerise observed, “You’re starting to look like a barbarian.”
He looked up at her then back at his book. “No,” he said flatly
“You know you’re not suppose to read at the table?” Cerise scolded, mimicking their father’s tone.
“Sorry. Guess I’m still pumped up from the show.”
Cerise smiled at him. “You’re like a boy with a new toy.” It had been a long time since she had seen him so happy.
The next morning, they visited Schonbrun, the summer palace of emperors and then went for a stroll through the famous Vienna woods.
Their last stop was Saint Stephen’s Cathedral. They climbed up the five hundred and thirty-three steps to the Cathedral’s tower. Once at the top, the scene made their exertion worth it, the eagle’s eye view was breathtaking.
When Cerise looked over at Drace, she could tell he was away in another world. She hesitated then asked, “What are you remembering?”
Drace sighed, “The view from the top of the towers at Oralia,” he said. “Of course, there aren’t nearly the number of people, and everything was built more for defense than art. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful fortress.”
Drace leaned back against the wall, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at Cerise. “Let me ask you a serious question.”
Okay,” Cerise said, worried by his tone. “Shoot.”
“If, and keep in mind it’s a big if, we can get to Oralia, would you truly be happy there?”
Cerise’s looked at him, puzzled.
Drace continued, “I know what you’d have to give up. I don’t want you to have any misconceptions of what to expect.” He uncrossed his arms, pushed away from the wall, and turned to look out over the city. “No electricity, no phone, no running water,” he stated. “No financial plundering for you to sink your teeth into.” He turned his head slightly and looked at her with one eye. “You might get bored. But all kidding aside, it can be a dangerous place. There are creatures you cannot imagine that would kill as soon as look at you. The medical care is limited. There are no super shopping centers. Travel takes days, with roughing it on the way. You have to work hard sometimes just to survive.” He turned to her. “Could you do it, Cerise? Could you give up everything?”
Cerise looked at him in amazement.
He continued, “If you decide you don’t like it, what then? You might be stuck.”
She pondered everything he said then responded, “Let me ask you a question. You had to adapt to the conditions you just listed, and besides, you were wounded…but weren’t you happy there?
Drace looked down at his boots. “Yeah. I was happy there, but I was lucky and found someone.”
“Maybe I will too. I’m thirty, Drace, and alone. Maybe my somebody is over there as well.”
“That might be. And yeah, I was stitched up from an encounter that happened in the Great Hall. I probably would have died at Hopa. That’s why I’m here now.” He turned away from her, digging his hands into his hair. “Jesus, Cerise.” He turned back to her and enfolded her in a hug. I just want you to be happy.”
“I’ll be happy. We’re a team; remember? Always have been.” She broke the embrace. “Come on. Let’s head back to the hotel. We have an early flight to Amsterdam. We have your prize horses to buy.”
Drace gave her a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “I am so glad I have you, C. You’ve gotten me through all this.” He took her hand and they headed down the long stairwell.
Chapter Forty
DRACE AND CERISE ARRIVED in Amsterdam mid-morning, rented a car, and stayed in a modest hotel in the city to rest. The next morning they made the short drive to the farm of Wilhelm Konin, breeder of some of the finest Friesians in Europe. Wilhelm was a short, friendly gentleman who spoke excellent English. He lived with his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren all under the age of twelve.
Wilhelm showed Drace a total of twelve mares; each one caught and led by one of the children. Each of the mares
patiently tolerated a child climbing on them and riding around the small paddock. Cerise began to see what made Drace love the Friesian breed. Wilhelm said all of his horses were broken to drive, and were proven carriage horses.
Drace had originally planned to purchase just two mares, but a smaller mare caught his eye as well and he fell in love with her. The mare had a sweet face and even sweeter disposition. Her name was Glory.
All three mares were in foal by different stallions, which would extend Drace’s breeding program if the foals were female.
Drace also decided on a young stallion. The horse would be an excellent stallion to cross back to Pride’s daughters. But before he could be used for that purpose, Drace would break him to saddle and start the horse’s show career. While watching the young stallion play in a paddock he thought of another who would have liked the horse.
Drace was strangely quiet on the drive back to Amsterdam.
“What’s on your mind?” Cerise asked, “I thought you would be excited. You’re well on your way to starting your breeding program.”
“Oh, I’m very happy with today. Wilhelm is too, I expect. That was a pretty good chunk of change for him.”
“So what has you so quiet?”
“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it really. It’s like someone is watching me. Does that make sense?”
“It could be jetlag. We haven’t been very sedentary.”
“Let’s get back to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep.
They had a modest dinner and went to their adjoining rooms. After a quick shower, Drace was in bed. For the first time in weeks he fell asleep in no time, but rest would evade him.
Drace was caught in a nightmare, replaying the battle of Hopa. Things he had seen out of the corner of his eye now registered with clarity.
Dark Lord of Kismera: Knights of Kismera Page 35