by Bianca D’Arc
“What’s that?” she asked, breathless. Whether that was caused by their kiss or anticipation, he wasn’t sure.
“Will you marry me, Rivka? I want us to be a couple in the eyes of the world. I want you to be my family… My love… My wife.” He held his breath, waiting for her answer.
“Well, there is one slight complication,” she told him, though her eyes were full of mischief, which gave him hope.
“And what’s that?” he asked, hoping she was just teasing.
“You know I’m Jinn…” she said, trailing her words off tantalizingly.
He nodded. “I do.”
“I simply cannot marry a man who is not also part of the Brotherhood.”
Liam’s heart sank. What did she mean? Would she not marry him because he wasn’t Jinn?
“What can we do about that? I wasn’t born Jinn,” he reminded her, hoping she had an answer to the problem.
“It’s very simple, really,” she replied, his spirits rising a bit at her casual tone. “You need to be adopted into my Clan. It would be a good move all around, actually,” she told him as his spirits soared, once again. “We Jinn could probably make good use of your fleet, if you were willing to allow a few well-placed spies aboard your ships. You know our first allegiance is to Draconia, so you’d be in favor with the crown, as well. Win-win.”
“While I applaud your efforts at recruitment and I have no objections to your plan, the only thing I really want to win is your heart,” he told her. “Please stop torturing me and say you’ll be mine, princess.” He kissed her again, and when he drew back after some minutes, her eyes were dazed. He liked putting that look on her pretty face. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
“I was yours from the first time we made love, Liam. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He rolled them so that he could make love to her again, to celebrate their newly declared commitment. He couldn’t remember being this happy in a very long time. Rivka had done that. She’d brought the joy back into his life.
She was a fierce woman with whom he could share his adventures. Sure, there might still be a few details to work out, but the main thing was that they loved each other and wanted to be together. The rest would sort itself out as they went along. For now, his heart high in the heavens, lighter than air with happiness. The happiness Rivka had given him…along with her heart.
When Liam and Rivka went down to the great hall that morning, just after dawn, Gryffid and some of his people were already there. It wasn’t the crowd of the night before. Just a small gathering around three tables. All the other tables and chairs had disappeared from the room, as if by magic.
It probably was, Rivka mused. Gryffid probably snapped his fingers, and all the furniture had rearranged itself to suit his needs. She smiled at her own thought as they entered the hall. She and Liam had to walk some distance before they reached the massive hearth on the other side of the room, around which the long tables were clustered.
Gryffid sat at one of the tables, in a simple chair like all the others. He didn’t go in for thrones or setting himself apart among his people. His staggering magical presence did that well enough without needing any outward physical signs. Rivka could feel the impact of his notice from across the wide room.
Certainly, all the fair folk seemed to have some innate magic of their own, but Gryffid’s power was like a polished diamond glittering in the sun next to the lesser jewels—most of them neither cut nor polished—of his fair folk friends. Liam probably couldn’t see it, but to Rivka’s dragon side, the difference was clear. Gryffid was a power, in and of himself.
“Good morrow, my friends,” Gryffid said when they approached his table to make their greetings.
“Good morrow, milord,” Liam said politely. He had an aura of happiness about him this morning that was hard to miss. Rivka supposed she did, too.
“You two look happy,” Gryffid mused. “Please. Sit with me and tell us your news.” He gestured to two empty places across from him and slightly down one side of the table. The fair folk seemed intrigued by Gryffid’s words and looked at them with interest.
Rivka hadn’t really thought about announcing anything regarding their plans, but Gryffid was too keen-eyed. She should have realized he would spot the change in their manner. They hadn’t talked about it. She wondered if this would make Liam uncomfortable. She looked up at him, and to her great relief, he looked proud rather than annoyed.
He reached over and took her hand in his—a clear sign to any who were watching—and escorted her the few feet to the seats Gryffid had indicated. Liam pulled out her chair for her, acting every bit the attentive suitor, and made certain of her comfort before taking his own seat next to her.
“Lady Rivka has consented to be my wife,” he said, once they had settled in their places.
A round of congratulations came from all those at the table. Rivka and Liam thanked them all for their good wishes. The fair folk peppered the couple with questions about where and when they would have their marriage feast and where they would live once married. Things they hadn’t yet discussed. Liam looked at Rivka for answers, and they came up with a few on the fly.
“I think the marriage feast had better wait until more of my Clan can gather. Liam needs to be accepted among the Black Dragons first, of course, but there is no question he has what it takes to become part of the Brotherhood,” she said, beaming at Liam while the others listened.
“Ah, so the fleet you have built will be put to good use, then,” Gryffid said, speaking for the first time since they’d sat down. “I’d wondered what would become of it. Very clever. Putting it in service to Draconia under cover of the Jinn, who are themselves under cover, of course. Very sneaky. And, I suspect, this will turn out to be very profitable for you both. Your ships can continue trading—now with access to all the information of the mighty Jinn Brotherhood. Such knowledge of what cargo to take on and where best to take it will be invaluable, I suspect.”
“I…” Liam stuttered a bit, seeming only to just realize what aligning himself with the Jinn could mean for his shipping empire. “I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.”
Gryffid gave him a wide smile. “So much the better. That means your thoughts are where they should be—on Rivka—and not on trade.”
Liam ducked his head, and Rivka was charmed by the way he seemed slightly embarrassed not to have put two and two together before now.
“I confess,” Liam said, “I have thought of little else besides my personal happiness in this matter. But, now that you’ve pointed it out, I’m almost frightened of what Jinn involvement might do to the business.” He was chuckling as he said it, clearly amused rather than scared. Rivka had to laugh, too.
“Oh, if you give the Clan an inch, they’ll return a mile,” she assured him. “Let them use their network to help guide your ship captains and cargo masters, and your already profitable business will turn into something even bigger. We Jinn help each other.” She sobered a bit. “But we also serve a higher purpose. We serve Draconia. The dragons and people who live in this land are our primary concern. Make no mistake—when you join the Brotherhood, there will be expectations that you’ll end up with a certain number of spies on your ships. Good spies. Spies for our side,” she assured him.
“I can live with that,” Liam answered, taking her hand in his. “What I can’t live without is you by my side,” he added in a much quieter tone that was just between them.
Ella chose that moment to fly into the great hall and flutter over to perch on the back of Liam’s chair. She had been gone from the suite of rooms when Rivka and Liam had awakened, but they hadn’t worried. The virkin was nothing if not resourceful. She had probably wanted to look around at the island a bit on her own. Or, maybe, she’d gotten hungry and decided to hunt for mice or other prey. Whatever it had been, she was back now, and the subject of more than one interested glance.
“You know,” Gryffid said, looking at Ella consideringly, “I find i
t significant that the captain’s virkin companion chose to bond with him. That, more than anything, indicates he is quite special among humans.”
“Oh, I knew that already,” Rivka replied, giving Liam’s hand a loving squeeze.
Breakfast was almost over when Gryffid broached the subject of their journey home. He first brought up the curious presence of Fisk’s flagship, anchored just off the small cove where they were building a Lair for dragons.
“I have been over every inch of that ship, and whatever magic was being used aboard it has dissipated to safe levels. It is just a ship, now. Nothing magical about it,” Gryffid told them. “You would be doing me a favor by taking it away from the island, since I have no use for such an infamous vessel. Perhaps you could add it to your fleet,” the wizard suggested to Liam. “It might make any enemies think twice to see the flagship of your worst enemy now in your service.”
Liam had to shake his head at that thought. “I’m not sure I want such a bloodthirsty reputation. After all, Fisk was the pirate. I’m merely the man who hunted him.”
“You’re the man who caught him,” Gryffid corrected him. “It would be good if others had proof of your success there. The ship says it without having to utter a word.”
Liam considered. “You’re right, of course. And if, perhaps, a few of your folk would be willing to help me sail her back to the mainland, I would be happy to take her into my fleet.”
“You know, now that the island is no longer hidden by magical means, more than a few of my friends who live here have expressed an interest in traveling to the mainland and back again. Perhaps we could discuss adding an occasional stop here for one of your ships to help bring that about,” the wizard surprised Liam by saying. “You must have one or two trustworthy captains that could be given the mission.”
“Aye,” Liam replied, already thinking of the men he had in his fleet. “We could set something up, if it would be of help to you.”
“And we have trade goods we’d like to find a bigger market for,” Gryffid added, sweetening the deal. Liam had seen some of the beautiful things Livia had brought back with her from the marketplace here on the island. Not only could he help move the people of Gryphon Isle, but also their goods, which would be very profitable for all concerned.
“I’ll set something up as soon as we get back,” Liam replied, trying not to sound too eager, and probably failing miserably. This was too good a deal to pass up.
A gryphon consented to fly Liam over to the other side of the island later that day. It was both similar and different to ride on the back of a furred and feathered creature, but Liam enjoyed his short time in the air with the magnificent gryphon.
Rivka flew beside them, in her black dragon form. When they landed on the beach, Liam was surprised to see dragons in the cove. Not Skelaroth, but surely, these were some of his kin. Sea dragons. They had the right coloring and build, and there were no knights with them.
There was a longboat tied to what looked like a newly-built dock off to one side of the cove, near where the gryphon had landed. Liam unloaded the packs the gryphon had carried and thanked the creature for bringing him here before the gryphon took off again, heading back the way they’d come. Rivka shifted into her human form as she walked toward him.
No matter how many times he saw her do it, he was still enchanted by the thought of that fierce little black dragon turning into such a lovely, capable woman. A woman he loved.
That thought, too, was new and utterly amazing. His battered heart had been broken for so very long. It had taken a magical woman to weave it back together. Rivka. A woman he never expected but was so very thankful had come into his life.
She walked into his arms, and they shared a kiss, there on the beach. Now that their relationship was out in the open, they seemed to feel a mutual need to touch and kiss whenever possible. Being with her felt fresh and new. Different from how he’d been with Olivia, but just as pure and good.
“Sorry to leave?” she asked, her head resting on his shoulder as they looked out at the ship in the distance a few minutes later.
“I’m only sorry we won’t have a chance to say goodbye to Skelaroth,” Liam told her. “Certainly, I’d have liked more time to explore this magical island, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome, and I suspect, someday, we might be invited to return. Especially if we manage to set up regular—if secret—service to the island.”
“Skelaroth has been away from his fellow sea dragons a long time,” Rivka mused. “I’m sure he’s very busy seeing to their needs. He is, after all, their leader.”
“I know, but I’ve come to think of him as a friend. A really good friend,” Liam admitted. “I’ll miss talking with him.”
Rivka rubbed her hand along his back in a comforting way. “We may see him again, someday.”
“I truly hope so.”
He would have said more, but a flight of gryphons appeared over the cliffs and began an orderly descent. Each gryphon carried passenger. Fair folk, with packs slung over their backs. Perhaps this was the promised crew.
Sure enough, when they had all landed, they introduced themselves as able seamen who had volunteered to help get the ship back to the mainland. At that point, they assured Liam they each had plans about where they would go and what they wanted to do. A few spoke to Rivka about her Jinn contacts, and Liam noted a few musical instrument cases among the personal effects being carried to the longboat.
They made the crossing from the cove to the ship under the watchful eyes of several sea dragons, but none of them was the one Liam hoped to see. Skelaroth was long gone, and Liam would just have to get over it.
Then there was little time to think as he familiarized himself with the ship, and the small crew of fair folk set about the task of making her ready to sail. They had just enough people aboard to manage it, and within an hour, they were heading out into the deep blue sea.
It took considerably longer to sail back to Dragonscove than it had to fly, but Liam and Rivka didn’t mind. They spent the nights in their stateroom, enjoying each other and the motion of the ocean. Their days were spent pitching in with the small crew to make ship life enjoyable. Rivka helped with the food preparation, and Liam took a turn at the rigging, as he hadn’t for many, many years.
The fair folk were pleasant companions, and there was music every evening. Music that rivaled, and surpassed, the best Liam had ever heard. He got to know some of the men and women who had volunteered to leave their homeland for an adventure abroad. They were magical, certainly, but when it came down to it, they were people like most others, with stories to tell and family concerns.
Liam offered them every hospitality his company could provide once they reached the shore. A few of them took him up on the offer, taking rooms in the inn his fleet often used when spending time ashore. Most of the fair folk dispersed when they reached Dragonscove a few days later, taking their leave while still aboard ship and then fading into the harbor bustle the moment they were off the ship.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
After the formalities of docking and making contact with the manager who was looking after his ships in this port, Liam left the ship, escorting Rivka to his house. The house they had stayed in before leaving for Gryphon Isle. The house they had agreed to live in—at least for now—while all the other logistics of their new life together were settled.
Livia took the news better than he’d expected. He’d sent a messenger up to the Lair, telling her he was back at the house and saying he’d like to speak with her. She arrived that very afternoon with Sir Gowan and his dragon partner, Lady Genlitha. The dragon sunned herself in the courtyard while Gowan and Livia came into the house.
Liam got the impression that Gowan was there to protect Livia, though she hardly needed protection from her own father. Part of him was appalled at the very idea while another part of him applauded the man for having the balls to face Liam down in his own home and look after the woman he claimed to love.
; Rivka had arranged for lunch to be delivered, along with a supply of groceries to restock the larder, so there was plenty of food to share when the younger couple arrived just as their elders were about to sit down to eat. Rivka became the gracious hostess, inviting the others to join them and producing more food out of the kitchen with Livia’s help. Liam was amused to see his new lady in such a domestic role.
Rivka was more likely to use her sword than a bread knife in most instances, but she was adaptable. As he was. They would share the domestic duties, they had decided, but today, Rivka had insisted on seeing to their food supply while Liam dealt with the business end of his fleet.
In the end, when Liam finally got the words out to tell Livia that he was remarrying, the result was unexpected. He had thought his daughter might be upset by the idea of a new woman in his life. He’d hoped for eventual acceptance, not the immediate congratulations and true happiness he read on Livia’s open features. She jumped up from her chair and came right around the table to hug first Rivka and then Liam.
Gowan was more subdued in his congratulations, but Liam felt they were real, nonetheless. Livia began talking about how they would celebrate, and Rivka joined in, mentioning her connection to the Jinn and how her Clan would be the ones hosting the party. Gowan asked a few pointed questions about what it would mean, marrying into a Jinn Clan, but the reaction of both Livia and one of her mates was all Liam could have asked for, and more.
“I need to say one other thing,” Liam told them as the conversation naturally came to a lull. “I’ve been unreasonable. I see that now. I have had a very hard time accepting Livia’s decision to marry into the Lair and that way of life.” He cleared his throat, buying time to find the right words. Ultimately, it came down to one very simple fact. “I’m sorry.”
“Papa…” Livia started to say, but Liam held up one hand, asking without words for her to let him finish.