* * * *
Raya's town gates opened wide as they approached. They exited into Fertile Isle Valley and Regan's gaze wandered to where she and Peter had been so unceremoniously dropped by Zara. How were the dragon and her babies?
They rode on, winding through planted fields. Soon Regan saw the curling smoke of the camp's cooking fires. They rode into its center and Regan watched the bustle as men and women scurried and dismantled tents.
"What's going on?” she asked.
"If they hurry they can get this land tilled before first frost,” Peter said. “The planting will have to wait for spring."
Beyond the camp, her gaze skimmed the gold ripening grain and looked for sentries, but no one hailed them as they rode by.
"Haven't we become a little too trusting?” she asked.
"Maybe, but the people need to feel their lives are back to normal,” Peter said.
Regan's gaze strayed to the cave. “But Dirkk and Thomas?"
He shrugged. “People cannot live always in fear. Sometimes you just have to trust in someone more powerful than yourself."
* * * *
They rode in silence through Peaks’ Pass and by the small valley where they had withstood the Ru'tahas’ attack.
Among the tall trees that banked the Queen's River, they stopped. Regan looked up at their swaying tops and listened. Was that a sigh of peace she heard? Her eyes sought Peter's and they shared a smile, then his changed to a wicked grin and with a wild whoop he and Skylar leaped into the river. Cold water drenched Regan and Kelsey.
Regan gasped, then shouted. “You'll pay for that. Catch him, Gilda."
Gilda plunged into the river in pursuit. Behind her, Regan heard Kelsey's yelp as she joined in the chase. Skylar made it to the far bank and scrambled free of the water first. Peter reeled the stallion to face them and Regan heard Skylar's ringing challenge. Gilda answered with a lunge forward and scrambled up the bank. As Gilda's hooves found dry land, she stopped and Regan slipped from her back. The mare pranced to where Skylar and Peter waited and then shook like a large dog. Water flew, wetting what little remained dry of Peter. Kelsey rode up next to Regan and the two sisters burst into laughter.
Skylar rushed at Gilda and tried to force her back into the river, but the agile mare dodged him and trotted along the river's bank, her tail held jauntily.
"Enough,” Peter said, pulling back on Skylar's reins. “We deserved it."
Gilda sauntered back, and Regan swung back up onto the mare's back. “I'm glad the sun's shining or we'd freeze."
Peter glanced at her sodden dress. “You really should get out of that."
She gave her new husband a little wink. “Later, my love, later."
His face turned red and she heard Kelsey groan, “Give me a break. Let's ride before I get sick.” Kelsey rode by Regan and Peter, but not before Regan stuck her tongue out at her.
Vilsathor was quiet. Regan half expected Darrian to accost them, but the lecherous elven prince did not put in an appearance. Yeah, you stay hidden for today, Regan thought, but don't think I've forgotten what you did to me.
"Will we pass Zara's lair?” she said.
Peter nodded. “There is no other way."
* * * *
Regan reined gilda in at the ledge overlooking Unicorn Valley. She reached out tentatively with her mind and touched Zara's sleeping one, then started when she felt three more minds spark with interest. Three, she has three dragonets. Would Zara let her meet them?
"Perhaps, but only you, Thea,” came a sleepy response.
Regan laughed, then turned to meet Kelsey and Peter's quizzical looks. “Zara has three babies and she's going to let me meet them. But I'm sorry, only me."
Kelsey and Peter exchanged looks. “That is fine with me,” Peter said. “One meeting with Zara is enough to last me a lifetime."
"I've no urge to meet a dragon,” Kelsey added.
Grinning, Regan looked back across the valley, then frowned and leaned over Gilda's neck. “Did you see that?"
"What?” Peter asked.
"There in the clearing. The patch of white,” Regan said.
Peter looked to where Regan pointed. “I do not believe it,” he said. “It is the unicorns; they have returned."
"The unicorns,” Kelsey said softly.
"Do you think Da'kar is with them?” Regan asked.
"I do not know, but I hope so,” Peter said.
"Thea, if you wish to meet my babes, you must come now,” Zara interrupted. “I fly to hunt."
"Hunt,” Regan said. Kelsey and Peter looked at her. “Zara's hungry. I suggest you take the horses on down. I'll join you in just a minute."
"We will wait for you below where the fairy glade used to be,” Peter said. Regan looked a question at him. “I do not expect it to be there,” he added. “The need is over."
"I'll find you,” Regan said, then turned and walked toward Zara's lair.
* * * *
Regan stood just inside the huge cave and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness.
"Come forward, Thea. Follow my voice, or do you not trust me?"
"Now why wouldn't I trust you? After all, the last time we met you only dropped me on my head."
"I only did as I was commanded.” Zara's mind voice was ripe with innocence.
Regan's eyes adjusted and she walked deeper into the cave. Soon she heard the soft rumble of breathing. Ahead was an opening to the sky. Soft sunlight filtered down and lit a large circle. Inside the circle Zara curled nose to tail. Three miniature Zaras snuggled close to their mother's stomach. As she neared, their heads came up, each head the size of a fully grown horse. Gold eyes glowed as three minds touched hers. They showed no fear, only curiosity laced with hunger.
"They're beautiful.” Regan felt Zara's pleasure.
"I'm very pleased with them.” Zara fixed her large eyes on Regan. “You are staying here in my world?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then perhaps you'd care to visit again and watch them as they grow?"
"I'd be honored."
"But no more using me for a ride."
Regan grinned. “I promise nothing."
Regan felt Zara's amusement. “Now go. I must fly to hunt."
Regan turned away. “Thank you for letting me meet them. I'll return soon."
"Good-bye for now, Thea."
* * * *
Regan heard Peter and Kelsey before she saw them. At the sound of her sister's tear-choked voice, she paused.
"Please make him understand why I couldn't stick around to say good bye."
"I will tell him your words."
"I just wouldn't be able to smile prettily at his wife and son...” Kelsey's voice faltered.
"Will Rourk ever see you again? He will want to know."
After a long silence, Kelsey answered. “I don't know."
Regan felt tears clog her own throat. She wanted to make the pain go away, but she knew only time would help. She cleared her throat. “Hey, where are you guys?"
"Straight ahead,” Peter called back.
Regan rounded a tree and saw them. They had dismounted and were perched on a fallen log, facing each other. Peter held Kelsey's hands in both of his. Regan stared at their clasped hands, then cocked an eyebrow at her sister. Kelsey blushed and tried to pull her hands from Peter's.
"When I endowed you with all my earthly goods, it didn't include my sister,” Regan said.
"What? I am to settle for only one sister?” Peter bent and kissed the tip of Kelsey's nose.
Kelsey turned redder, then jerked her hands free and stood. “And the shrewish sister at that."
Regan laughed. “Me, a shrew? Well, sometimes, but we'll have to let my dear husband discover that on his own."
The sisters turned to look at Peter, who stared at them with his mouth open. “Close your mouth before a fly gets in,” Regan said. She crossed to Kelsey and linked her arm with her sister's. “Kelsey, would you accompany me to mother nature's powd
er room?"
"But of course.” The two of them walked to the farthest side of the path. “By the way,” Regan said. “Watch out for those bushes with the berries. They're a real pain.” Regan looked back and saw Peter still standing in the same spot. She smiled, waved, and turned back to Kelsey.
* * * *
The rift lay before them. Regan pulled back on Gilda's reins and slid from the mare's back. She walked a few feet from the mare, then knelt and brought a Tika flower close to her nose. Peter walked Skylar up beside her, then dismounted from the stallion's back to the ground.
"I just can't believe how they hold their perfume all day,” Regan said.
"Regan..."
"How do they grow? Do you think they'd grow in my backyard?"
Peter knelt beside her and removed the flower from her hand. “Putting it off will not make it less painful."
Regan stood and looked over his head to where Kelsey waited. “She doesn't have to go. We have another whole day."
"Kelsey is ready now. Look at her."
Kelsey stood with her back to them, her eyes looking straight ahead to where the rift waited.
"Daradawn offers her nothing but pain now,” Peter said.
Regan glanced up at the descending sun. “Look, it's almost sunset. Let's wait for the Tika flowers."
Peter shook his head. “Sunsets and Tika flowers are for lovers."
Regan's eyes filled with tears. “Then it's time?"
"It is time."
Regan wiped a hand across her eyes, then walked to Kelsey. “Hey, promise me you'll take care of my roses."
Kelsey turned. “I don't know a lot about flowers, but I'll do my best."
"And the roof ... Ben patched it this summer, but if it leaks, call Reverend Joab at the homeless shelter. He'll send someone to fix it. Who knows? It might be another Ben."
Kelsey shook her head. “There could never be another Ben."
Regan's lips trembled. “You're right. Ben's one of a kind. Well, you remember where I hid the keys, right?"
Kelsey nodded. “In the back beneath the driver's side mat."
"The biggest one's the house key. The smaller belongs to the car. It should still be there; it's only been six...” Regan's voice broke.
"Take care of yourself, Kelsey,” Peter said. “Remember, you always have a home here with us."
"Regan?” she heard Kelsey say, then felt someone grab her hands. She swallowed and looked at Kelsey.
"You know I have to do this, Regan, and seven years isn't that long."
Not trusting her voice, Regan squeezed her sister's hands. She saw Kelsey's eyes fill with tears.
"No tears. We promised,” Regan said.
Kelsey's eyes overflowed and tears ran down her cheeks. “I lied,” she said, not bothering to wipe them away. Regan pulled Kelsey into her arms and let the tears come. “When I found you, I never thought I'd be saying good-bye so soon."
"This is not good-bye ... it's just so long for awhile. It's not like before. You know where I am and I know where you are."
"Seven years ... so much can happen in seven years,” Regan said.
Kelsey pushed away from her sister. “Yes, a lot can happen. When I see you and Peter again I expect to see some nieces and nephews."
"Nieces and nephews?” Regan squeaked.
"Well, at least one or the other."
Regan heard Peter chuckle. “We will see what we can do."
She felt her cheeks grow hot. “A baby? We haven't even had a wedding night."
"You're right, you haven't, and the sooner I'm through the rift, the sooner you can have at it.” Kelsey held out her hand to Peter. “So come here and give your sister-in-law a kiss."
He walked to Kelsey and pressed his lips against hers.
Kelsey turned to Regan. “And you, if you can't put a smile on that face, then turn your back and count to ten. I don't want to remember you with red eyes and a runny nose."
"Kelsey, you always were a bossy bit..."
"Ah ... ah ... ah, you don't want Peter to see the true you so soon, do you? Now smile and say good-bye."
Regan smiled. “Good-bye."
Kelsey looked at Peter. “Okay, do what you have to do so I can go through."
Regan felt the Power warm the inside of her stomach, then Kelsey turned, walked into the rift, and was gone.
The wind picked up and brought with it the smell of sweet perfume. Regan blinked, licked a salty tear from the corner of her mouth, and looked up. The sky was ablaze with red, orange and violet streaks. “The Tika flowers.” With a swirl of her still damp skirt, she moved to where Peter stood in the gathering shadows. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. “You're right, sunsets and Tika flowers are made for lovers. Would you care to become mine?"
"Regan? Here? Now? But..."
She raised her finger and laid it against his lips. “This is where my last journey to you began and making love to you here, right now, is perfect. I feel it.” Regan bent and pressed a light kiss on his mouth. “When I think of all the lives we've wasted..."
"It just was not meant to be until now."
She met his eyes and grinned. “Well, we're just going to have to make up for all that wasted time. After all, we did promise Kelsey a niece or nephew."
His eyes darkened. “Yes, that we did,” he said, reaching for her.
Regan, smiling, went into his arms.
Epilogue
HOLDING A YELLOW-AND-PINK Peace rose, Kelsey sat on the brick wall that circled the flower garden. Peace, she thought, will I ever feel it again? The clouds parted and a shaft of moonlight fell across her bare feet. I wonder if the moon is full in Daradawn tonight and what Regan and Peter are doing?
She had been in San Francisco for a month now. Tomorrow she started her new job. Photography again, but this time for a small local paper. No more overseas assignments for her.
The weatherman was calling for rain. She guessed she would find out if Regan's—no, her Victorian, leaked.
She stood and walked back to the house and into the kitchen. On the wall nearest the dining room door, seven calendars hung on the wall. The printer had thought her nuts asking for calendars for the next seven years to be made.
Each day it got a little easier to think of Daradawn and Rourk. Who knew? Perhaps in seven years she'd be ready to go back. She turned off the kitchen light and walked toward the stairway just as the phone rang.
"Hello."
"Who's this?” a belligerent voice asked.
"Who are you trying to reach?” Kelsey said.
"Regan Cafferty."
"This is her sister..."
"You're nuts. Regan's sister's dead."
Kelsey drew the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a minute before replacing it. “This is Jack, isn't it?"
Silence from the other end, then, “Yeah, now who's this?"
She smiled. “It's Kelsey, Jack. You were right about me all along. I've been out having a hell of a good time. Ran out of money so I came to visit Regan."
"Always knew I was right about you,” Jack's voice sneered. “Now put Regan on the phone."
"Sorry, I can't do that. Regan's out of town."
"Out of town? For how long?"
"I really don't know. I'm watching the house for her indefinitely."
"Where'd she go?"
"Right now I'd say she is probably still on her honeymoon."
"Honeymoon?"
"That's right, Jack. Good-bye.” With a huge grin, she hung up the phone and turned toward the stairs and bed.
About the Author
Barbara M. Hodges lives in Nipomo, California, a small town on the central coast. She shares her life with her husband, a sassy cat, and two basset hounds who are her role models for Maggie.
Visit Barbara's home page at:
barbarahodges.gobot.com.
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Barbara M. Hodges, The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series]
The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series] Page 37