The dragon straightened, and gave a sheepish look over her shoulder, before resuming her chase of Skye’s Light ball.
The flight took them over a verdant forest, an open grass plain and then past black sharp-tipped mountains. As they rose higher to crest the range, the air became cooler. Tamara was glad of Thyel’s hold and his warmth that shielded her back from the bite of the cool wind.
“We’re almost there,” Skye shouted. “There’s a cave below.” She pointed to a dark peak, not as tall as those that towered around it, but still higher than any mountain Tamara had ever climbed.
The Light ball swooped downward and Halla followed.
Tamara searched for the entrance among the black rocks and jagged peaks, but could see no opening. They flew lower where bushes and grasses covered shelves and dips. Still, they descended to where the mountain face was bounded by scraggly pine trees clawing up the cliff side.
The ball then disappeared into the trees.
The dragon hovered midair and then with a bellow of triumph, swooped into the trees.
Tamara covered Jarrod with her body before a branch knocked them both off.
Her companions shouted in alarm.
Having apparently seen where the Light went, Halla was determined on the chase. She ignored all calls for caution and dove for the barrier of brush. She landed in a skid onto a well-concealed ledge. Before anyone could dismount, Halla took off at a sprint into the opening.
Tamara’s legs clamped down on the dragon until they finally came to a halt inside a larger inner cave.
Tamara instructed Halla to let them descend.
The green obligingly settled down on the ground.
Bringing Jarrod down safely was as painful and difficult as taking him up. Jarrod, unfortunately, came awake half way through their descent. Tamara was impressed by the colorful language streaming out of the normally composed and unflappable Chief Councilor of Erov.
Recording the history of Ryca must have taught him how to curse in several Rycan dialects. The more she discovered about Jarrod, little hints to his past and his character quirks, the more endearing he seemed. She had to smile at the irony of being attracted to a scholarly man who found her anything but studious.
“None of this is amusing, Tamara,” Jarrod muttered in a curt tone.
She did her best to wipe her smile off her face.
Jarrod might disagree, but travelling by air had been the best plan. It would have taken days to get here otherwise. Next to impossible coming this high up a mountain. Halla had flown them over here in less than the time it would have taken to plan their route out. Once Jarrod was rested and his arm began to heal, he would forgive his friends for putting him through this traumatic ride.
Thyel was checking on Jarrod’s arm. She had thought the two men disliked one another. Yet, Thyel had done a creditable job of binding Jarrod’s broken arm and now showed inordinate care for his patient.
One of the reasons she’d wanted Thyel to come with them on this adventure had been to discover if he would be a good match as a husband. As adversity mounted, she began to doubt his sincere love for her, but since Jarrod’s injury, Thyel proved to be a man she could rely on.
Was she wrong to constantly question his motives? Had she allowed her mother’s distrust of Thyel to color her views of the man?
Beside Thyel, Jarrod was studying her in his quiet enigmatic way through pain-glazed eyes. Had he read her thoughts again? She shuttered the mind gates she used on Halla. Would they be any more effective against the Erovian?
Seeing him frown, she suspected she’d been successful.
Excellent!
It was completely unfair that he could read her while she couldn’t pick up a single hint of what went through his convoluted brain. At least with the dragon, the exchange seemed mutual. That idea startled her and she glanced toward the green.
Halla had fallen asleep.
11
Tamara was able to easily pick up on the green’s utter exhaustion, especially while she slept. The short flight must have overspent Halla’s remaining energy.
Someone or something had prevented her from feeding. The dragon must not have been resting well either. Had she been too frightened to drop her guard? Did she do so now because she believed she was among friends?
A sense of satisfaction swept through her at the idea this dragon trusted her, and by extension, Skye and the others. Trusted them enough to be vulnerable in their presence.
She walked over to the green. Unable to help herself, she gently stroked the tender skin by the green’s nostrils.
One golden eye opened a slit. Warm smoke puffed out and warmed Tamara’s arm. ALL WELL WITH TAMARA?
She frowned and withdrew her arm. What use were mental gates that never worked? Go to sleep.
Next, she went in search of Fane and Skye. They were at the edge of the ledge, speaking excitedly.
Skye turned to her. “It worked.”
“What did?”
“Her magic Light,” Fane said, sounding impressed. “It’s discovered where the bronze from last night is. If we leave right now, we should be able to find him in no time at all.
The news thrilled Tamara. They would be able to leave Isa after all and get Jarrod real healing help.
“We should get the green to take us,” Fane said. “It would be faster than walking.”
“No,” Tamara said.
“Why not?” Skye asked.
“The green’s sleeping.”
“Fane, you go wake her,” Skye said.
“No!” Tamara drew the young lad back by hooking his elbow as he headed toward the entrance.
“Why not?” he asked.
Because Halla needs the rest. She couldn’t say that. “We’ve all had a long day, and the sun looks to set soon. Too dangerous to travel after dark.”
“But…” Fane began.
“I’m as anxious to find the other dragon, Fane. Let’s do it in the morning, after we’ve rested. If Skye’s Light found it now, it can find your dragon again then.”
Fane reluctantly nodded. “All right.”
“For tonight,” she said, “we need food. I’m tired of eating Jarrod’s flat bread.”
“No more elk!” Skye warned.
“Maybe a rabbit?” Fane suggested. “I used to be good at hunting them as a child.”
“I’ll look for vegetables,” Skye followed Fane down the mountainside.
Watching them head off, it occurred that those two were becoming fast friends. They were of a similar age, so their comradery shouldn’t be a surprise. She could easily see why he was enchanted by her niece.
She smiled remembering Fane’s awe the first time Skye used magic. In addition, the girl was brave, loyal and open to trying anything at least once. She had also entirely captured Jarrod’s affections, and truth to tell, hers, too. Unlike Skye, making friends was not Tamara’s strong suit.
Case in point, the ever-aloof Jarrod. She returned inside to check on him.
A quarter of the large cave was taken up by Halla, who was sitting up dazedly despite Tamara’s order that she go to sleep. The green’s tired eyes were half closed as she watched the human activity with little interest. On Tamara’s entrance, Halla’s gaze swung to her and never left. Eventually her weary head drooped to rest on her forelegs and her eyes closed as sleep overtook stubbornness.
Halla’s continued interest in her was unsettling. How could such a strong connection have formed between them so quickly?
She approached Jarrod who looked as exhausted as Halla, only he was fully asleep. She deliberately lowered her tone while speaking, so as not to disturb either the sleeping man or dragon. “How is he?”
“Not well,” Thyel said. “He lost a lot of blood. The flight reopened the wound. I’ve re-bandaged it.”
“You’ve been good to him, Thyel. Thank you.”
He gave her a thoughtful look. “You care for him a great deal, don’t you, Tamara?”
Did she? She
glanced at the restless sleeping form of the Chief Councilor of Erov. “He’s my sister Saira’s closest friend. Skye’s, too, now.”
She hadn’t answered Thyel’s question of how she felt about Jarrod. The answer wasn’t an easy yes or no. What was the point of loving someone who barely noticed you?
As twilight descended, Jarrod’s dark face was frighteningly pale. His soft curls glinted in the thin shafts of light that penetrated inside the cave and reflected off the polished stone walls. His perpetual frown was back, an indication of his deep pain.
She gestured for them to leave so their voices would not disturb the two sleepers. They walked outside and followed the sounds of trickling water to a nearby stream.
Tamara sank tiredly onto the ground. Thyel knelt beside her, closer to the stream so he could clean his hands, soiled from tending Jarrod.
The day’s stresses had settled well into her tense shoulders, which now ached in protest. She doubted a night’s sleep on this rocky ground would do them any good either. She rubbed at her neck. Thyel walked behind her, and after wiping his hands, kneaded the knots out of her tired neck muscles.
He had a firm touch that could be gentle when he chose. Yet, his close presence made her uncomfortable. She thanked him but twisted around so the contact would be broken.
He smiled and leaned on arms stretched backwards to support him. “Tell me how you met Jarrod.”
“He helped my sister rescue my mother, brother and me from a time spell cast to protect us from Tamarisk, my uncle’s sorcerer.” She continued the tale in a long straight string, purposefully leaving out the convoluted loops and ties.
Thyel’s gaze wandered away. Had she bored him? This was a five-year-old tale.
“Jarrod’s almost a part of my family, I suppose,” Tamara ended. “Perhaps you sense that connection.”
Thyel gave a harsh bark of laughter, his gaze now lively. “I doubt you see him as a brother, Tamara, any more than he sees you as a sister.”
A smile quirked her lips, too. “Jarrod sees me as an annoyance. He always has.”
“An appealing annoyance then.” Thyel leaned forward, bringing them closer. He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I don’t blame him. You could distract any man from his goals.”
“Do I distract you?” She tilted her head and raised an inquiring eyebrow.
His eyes were as dark as Jarrod’s but more intense. “My goal is the same as yours.”
“Which is?” she asked.
“To free you once and for all from your mother’s control.”
The answer surprised her. It shouldn’t have. They’d certainly talked enough about her mother’s smothering hold. Yet, hearing him voice her anger made her uncertain if she truly wanted to be free. At this moment, she would have loved to be enfolded within one of her mother’s rare hugs.
She abruptly stood and together they returned to the cave. Thyel strode by her side, a handsome and solid presence.
As they entered the cave, her gaze first slid to the green dragon. Halla snored, sending a warm breeze whirling dried leaves and pine needles through the cave.
Skye and Fane followed them in, the young girl holding up a fold of her skirt filled with something green. Fane carried three dead rabbits strung up by a vine.
Tamara nodded a greeting and went on to check on Jarrod. He slept fitfully, cradling his broken arm.
With a heavy heart, she sat beside him. His skin was flushed and his forehead beaded with perspiration. Freeing herself from her mother’s control seemed the least of her worries. Her past rages and defeats inconsequential.
What did she want now? The answer came easily.
Jarrod’s swift recovery.
Bevan’s safe return.
Returning home.
All Tamara’s previous energy and actions had been aimed at outwitting her mother’s perceived control. Now, her past behavior seemed a colossal waste of precious time.
In hindsight, she doubted her mother had ever wanted to control her. Perhaps all the queen wanted was what Tamara wanted now. For her family and friends to remain safe in an uncertain world. The queen’s desire had sprung from a deep concern for those she loved, as Tamara’s current worries bubbled up from the same place of caring. She loved Skye and Bevan. Her coming on this journey showed the depth of her feelings for her family.
As for Thyel, he was a mystery. He’d showed an unexpected kindness in taking care of Jarrod. Yet, at odd times, she sensed a hardness that was unsettling.
Her gaze returned to Jarrod. His gentle, often distracted, face was covered in lines of pain and her heart ached. She ran the back of her fingers down his smooth hot cheek. The touch of his skin sent a shiver through her that warmed and melted her resistance.
No, she answered Thyel silently; the Chief Councilor of Erov is certainly not my brother.
Soon the mouthwatering scent of roasting rabbit invaded every crevice of the cave and woke up the exhausted dragon. Though Halla couldn’t seem to find the energy to open more than one eyelid, she managed to use her one-eyed gaze to effectively glower at Tamara from across the cave.
Tamara ignored her until the green’s protesting howl deafened them. Jarrod came awake with a start.
While Thyel went to see to his patient, Skye and Fane laughed at the dragon’s complaint.
With a deep sigh, Tamara asked and received permission from the others to take over the third cooked rabbit to the protesting dragon. Halla was no longer truly hungry, but the scent of roasting meat must be difficult to resist.
Tamara returned licking juices off her fingers to find Skye and Fane observing her in silence. “What?”
“You seem to sense the dragon’s needs rather clearly,” Fane said.
“Almost,” Skye added, “as if you were in tune with her wants.” Her niece raised an eyebrow as she assessed Tamara.
“What’s to sense?” Tamara took a bite of her tasty dinner. “We all knew why she howled.”
“Only you went to feed her,” Skye said.
Tamara gave her niece a hard look and decided her best defense was to attack. “Yes, I did. Why didn’t you two?”
Thyel returned then, interrupting their sputtered responses. “Jarrod’s nodded off again.”
“Good,” Skye said. “The more he sleeps, the better.”
“Tomorrow,” Fane said, sounding excited, “we’re going in search of the bronze!”
“Do you think the green will be agreeable to taking us?” Skye asked Tamara.
She pressed her lips closed to prevent herself answering. Skye was suspicious enough, she wasn’t about to give away anything. In a way, she was grateful Jarrod remained unconscious. Else, with his ability to worm his way into her mind, the secret of her connection with Halla would be out.
As the silence drew on, Fane came to her rescue. “We’ll all find out tomorrow how willing the green is.”
“Will you come with us?” Skye asked Tamara.
She thought over the suggestion. It would mean she’d be riding Halla again, prolonging the contact between them. Separation might encourage the green to stop talking to her.
“I’ll watch Jarrod,” she said. “Thyel can come with you.”
“I need to see to his wound,” Thyel said.
“I can do that,” Tamara said.
He shook his head. “No, better if I stay too. Fane and Skye don’t need me for this errand.”
“Then why don’t you come with us?” Skye’s frowning glance swept from Tamara to Thyel and back.
Why was she so insistent? Oh, wait. Skye knew about her being found in Thyel’s bed. A blush heated her cheeks. “Thyel, I’d like you to go with them, please, to make sure they don’t get into trouble. I’ll change Jarrod’s dressing when needed.” Before anyone could argue, she stood. “Now that’s settled, I’m turning in.”
She chose a corner of the cave near where the dragon slept. It was the warmest part of the cave. Hoping the green wouldn’t stretch out and kick her into the walls, Tamara
bedded down. Halla’s lids slid up but the dragon didn’t move.
Skye joined her.
Thyel and Fane settled on the other side of the fire pit beside Jarrod.
Tamara stretched on the hard ground on her back.
“I’m glad you’re not going to be here alone with Thyel,” Skye whispered.
“Why?”
“There’s something about the way he looks at you. It isn’t love.”
She glanced at her niece with worry. Maybe sending him off in Skye’s company wasn’t such a good idea. “What do you suspect?”
“Grandmother doesn’t like him.”
“She doesn’t like anyone I like.”
“Not true!” Skye said swiftly. Then, “Okay, maybe true, but only because you delight in befriending people we distrust.”
We? “Mother discussed my behavior with you?”
Skye looked guilty and then breathed out, “With all of us, Aunt Tamara.”
Tamara sat up, leaning on one elbow, and staring in shock. “The whole family?”
“We were worried.”
“For how long?”
“Always.”
The answer stroked and soothed her ruffled feathers, as if all her sisters, brother, niece and nephew, and even her mother had given her a fervent, heartfelt hug. As Halla had somehow inveigled her way past Tamara’s defenses to lodge within Tamara’s heart, so now did her family.
She lay back, gazing at the dark ceiling and blinking back tears. All this time she’d thought herself so alone. How wrong she’d been.
Tentatively, she took Skye’s hand. With that small gesture, she allowed her family to invade the emptiness of her lonely life. “Skye.”
“Yes?”
“We’re now friends as much as family. Call me Tamara.”
Early the next morning, Tamara stood back and watched Fane, impatient to be off, try to wake the snoring green. No amount of poking and prodding could get her to stir. He finally gave up and went outside with Skye, planning to set off on foot once Thyel joined them.
The exhaustion Tamara sensed in Halla had obviously taken hold. At this rate, it might be days before she awoke again. When she did, she would be hungry. Tamara didn’t want to broach the touchy subject with Skye around.
Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances Page 158