The General

by M. A. Abraham

  There was not so much as a twitch from Thrax to say either he or T’Harris had heard Gabriella.

  This did not set well with Gabriella, and in a more commanding voice, she tried a different message to bring her Life Mate back. “T’Harris, I am not going to let you get away with this. You told me you would stay by my side. You said you would guard my back. I am going to need you there more than ever over the next few months, then years. I cannot raise our children without you. It would be different if there were only one or two children to care for. Three children might be even somewhat manageable, but I am not sure about four. I am carrying our babies, T’Harris. Two girls and two boys, and they are all Warriors. I will need you to get through this.”

  It took no longer than the time Gabriella used to sit back on her heels for Thrax’s eyes to open, and when they did, they echoed T’Harris’ shock.

  “You must shift now, T’Harris,” Gabriella ordered. “The healers are waiting for you to resume your natural state. When they are finished, we will talk about our news before you rest up, but not before you have been healed. Now shift.”

  The message Gabriella received back from T’Harris was extremely weak, but was still there, “We are definitely going to talk.” Thrax shimmered, and a moment later, T’Harris lay on the ground and gave a great roar of pain before passing out again.

  The moment T’Harris regained his form, Anamara began ordering everyone around, “Gabriella, give me room to work. I want you rested for later. You will be needed more than you know when this is over.” She then turned to the Guardians present and continued. “I will need two men to remove the quarrel while we repair the damage. It is going to take time and a lot of power. We are also going to need some of you to provide extra energy to us, so we last through the healing process. Three healers will work in tandem to control the bleeding. Each will need a separate source of power. I want one man to support his head, as well as one on each side to keep his shoulders from connecting with the ground when we move him.”

  “I will take the responsibility of holding T’Harris’ head,” Lariel insisted.

  Anamara gave a nod of acknowledgment to Lariel as she instructed, “The moment the quarrel has been removed, we will lower his body onto your lap. You will hold his head as still as possible in front of you, while your legs support his shoulders from either side. Your task is to make sure he doesn’t move during his sleep while we work. It won’t matter if he does when we are finished, but until then, it will matter greatly.”

  “I understand,” Lariel assured Anamara.

  With a nod, Anamara continued, “I want someone to keep Gabriella occupied while we do this, not only to stop her from interfering, but to offer her support and comfort. She will need both. She is known for her strength, but there is not only her Life Mate involved this time, there are also her children.”

  Cambria stepped forward to offer her services. After all, this was her twin, and she suddenly realized they had a lot in common to share. They not only had a bond of blood, but they were both carrying multiple children in their wombs. Beyond this, she was able to pull power from the Earth itself should it be needed.

  A moment after Cambria spoke, Deneene stepped out from the shadows and, in a voice sounding meek, she replied, “Please, let me take care of Gabriella.”

  Deneene’s request came as a surprise to Cambria, something there seemed to be no shortage of on this day. First there had been news of Gabriella finally showing up, albeit in the enemy camp. Then there followed the revelation that her sister was bonded to T’Harris, followed by the emergence of her Dragon. The Dragon had been another shock to the Elven world, for she doubted if there had even been an iridescent White Dragon before. That was going to be something the Guardians of the Empire would want to research. What did it mean? Then, when she found out her sister was carrying four babies, it made her feel somewhat guilty. Had she condemned her own sister to such a fate with her careless words? Well, she would see what would come of this.

  The one thing Cambria knew by looking at Deneene, was her need to atone for something she seemed to think she had done wrong. In a case such as hers, Cambria could see where it was needed. “Watch closely,” she advised, “As well as with care.”

  “I can see Gabriella has gone through a difficult time. She is not only new to her bonding, but is also carrying their young,” Deneene told Cambria, to make sure the powerful Tratchar understood she was fully aware of the situation.

  “It might not seem like it to anyone standing on the outside looking in, but my sister has never had things easy,” Cambria pointed out. “She could use a friend, something most people take for granted in their lives, and difficult to accept about hers.”

  Deneene nodded her understanding, then went to tend to Gabriella while the others took care of T’Harris. To her, the High Lord General had never looked so lost or vulnerable and, she agreed with Cambria, Gabriella needed a friend very badly at the moment. She found it strange to be thinking this way after all this time, but she did. She had seldom seen Gabriella without a crowd following her or mobbing her in the past. The thought she might need someone as a friend had never occurred to her then. With so many people around, how could she feel alone? After her experience with Lariel, she could better understand the problem and what it meant to be in a position of power where people only saw your title and power without seeing the loneliness inside.

  Gabriella watched the Grey Elven Healers work on T’Harris with a horrified expression on her face, giving Deneene the impression she would rather look anywhere but where she was, but feared doing so because she might miss something important. She could well imagine all the scenes playing out in her mind. With so many Healers pushing their Talents to their limits as they worked in tandem on one Elf, the odds of his surviving couldn’t be good. But she wasn’t about to give up hope.

  “Gabriella,” Deneene began her introduction as she reached out to her. “I am Deneene.”

  “I know,” Gabriella answered, as she turned eyes filled with sheer terror onto Deneene and nodded.

  “Can we talk? I know this is probably the worst time possible, but if nothing else, it will get our minds off of what is going on over there,” Deneene stated.

  “It is much easier to be the one suffering than to see another doing it,” Gabriella declared.

  “I totally agree,” Deneene turned Gabriella away from the sight of the Humans working on T’Harris and led her away. “It will be easier if you don’t see what they are doing.”

  Deneene was surprised to note that Gabriella was shaking, although she was being careful not to let it show. If it hadn’t been for the fact Deneene had an arm resting across Gabriella’s shoulders, she would never have guessed. This gave her an insight into the High Lord General’s character she doubted if anyone but Cambria knew the full extent of. No one really knew who Gabriella Eagle Claw was under the surface. To most, she was no more than a mirror image of Gabriel Eagle Claw. They didn’t see the woman under the mask she wore to fool them into thinking this was all she was. There was, however, so much more to her than they suspected.

  As Gabriella hadn’t thought to do anything for herself, Deneene spun a cleansing spell around her to wipe away the signs of battle. The layers of dirt and blood had been hiding more than fair skin and material. She was quick to respond, “You have also been hurt.”

  “You will not disturb those helping T’Harris,” Gabriella ordered. She left no doubt what she was saying was meant.

  Deneene was quick to assure Gabriella this was the last thing she intended. T’Harris’ wounds were too serious for the attention of those tending to them to be diverted to another at this time. “I had other ideas.”

  As Gabriella settled onto the ground under a great oak, she watched as Deneene knelt beside her. She could tell Lariel’s Life Mate was plotting something. She suddenly wondered what, as even now, she had to question why this woman was pretending to care.

  “Let me heal you, Gabriella,�
� Deneene offered. “I do have a degree of healing talent, even if it isn’t as great as those standing around your Life Mate at the moment.”

  “If you don’t mind,” Gabriella allowed. She wasn’t bleeding freely any longer, but it didn’t mean she hadn’t lost blood earlier. Not only that, but the doing had taken a toll on her. She had been tossed around on the back of a horse, dragged behind others, crowded into a circle and almost crushed. This was only for starters. She had three broken ribs she hadn’t mentioned to anyone which had been caused when she broke free and was forced to fight for her freedom. It was something T’Harris had helped with, despite his getting hurt in the process. There had been too many trying to hurt her for anyone to think she could escape without receiving at least a few minor wounds. To top everything off, her Dragon had chosen this day to emerge. To say the least, she was exhausted.

  Deneene’s touch was cool and steady, as it moved from one injury to the nest. Her voice was soft as she explained what she was doing while she worked. “From what I can tell, your injuries are slight, compared to what they had been before your Dragon healed the worst of them. When I see the slight pink marks where the larger cuts were, I can only imagine the pain you had to have gone through when the shift began.”

  “I don’t remember feeling much pain,” Gabriella admitted. “I was angry.” She thought for a moment, then corrected her comment, “Come to think of it, make that furious. I think I transferred a good percentage of that to my Dragon.”

  Deneene smiled as she changed the subject. Out of curiosity, she asked, “It is said T’Harris calls his Dragon Thrax. Are you going to give yours a name too?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it,” Gabriella confessed.

  “You should,” Deneene advised. Her excitement showed in her movements, and it added a sparkle to her eyes as she explained, “She is so beautiful, and seeing her fly is like watching the best dancer in the land perform. I swore I could hear music forming in the background when you were coming in for a landing.” She then heaved a sigh of satisfaction and announced, “I am finished.”

  Gabriella looked at the pleased smile on Deneene’s face and replied, “Thank you. Also, know my Dragon thinks the name Allegra would be beautiful, and if there is anything she wants, it is to be attractive for Thrax.”

  CHAPTER XX

  Deneene’s laughter was musical and when she sobered, she explained what she found so amusing, “It seems even Dragons are capable of feeling love and attraction, as well as wanting the same for themselves. I never thought it possible before.”

  “I never gave their feelings much thought, but I guess you are right. What I have learned is their feelings go a lot deeper than I expected,” Gabriella admitted. She had always accepted what people said about Dragons as a given before. But, they were wrong. Dragons did have interesting personalities, and they differed on many levels. It was going to take her a while to figure them all out, but she would.

  “You aren’t what I expected,” Deneene admitted.

  “What had you expected?” Gabriella wondered. She had often wondered what the general population thought of her and expected from her. Up to this point it hadn’t mattered much, but suddenly it seemed to. Did it entail more than only seeing to the well-being of the Empire? She had always gotten the impression most of the population thought of her as the High Lord General, and this was where she ended as far as they were concerned.

  Deneene frowned then admitted, “I am not entirely sure. I know my Life Mate has been infatuated with you for centuries. It is something that left me somewhat intimidated when it came to actually approaching you. I hated you because of it in the beginning. You had what was mine and it was unfair. Lariel is my Life Mate, not yours. I wanted to hurt you somehow, but you are the High Lord General and beyond my reach.”

  “I assume you are over whatever was bothering you,” Gabriella replied. “But, in case I am wrong, perhaps I should set you straight about the way things actually are. Lariel and I will always be friends, even if he is the Emperor and I am the High Lord General. There has never been anything more between us other than what I just said. Never. We grew up together, which makes us look closer than what we really are. It is the total of what exists. Our places in the Empire determine our relationship. There can be nothing more.”

  Deneene gave Gabriella a look filled with acceptance and added, “You are either not very observant, or you are in denial of certain points in your relationship with Lariel. Considering your reputation, and who you are, I tend to lean towards the latter.”

  “Lariel, despite his title, tends to be like any average male Elf,” Gabriella explained. “They all seem to want what they can’t have, just like a child.”

  Deneene grinned. When she thought of her brothers, she acknowledged the truth of the matter. She had noticed the same thing about them in the past, although she hadn’t associated them with her problems with Lariel. “I never thought of him like that.” She went on to explain. “Lariel and father have been friends for as long as I can remember. My father has a good opinion of him. He says he is an interesting man to talk to, but you have to get past any personal notions you have about his title first. He isn’t as impulsive as his father was at the same age, and from what he understands, his Grandfather was even worse, so things are improving.”

  Gabriella chuckled as she commented, “I remember hearing stories, but then again, there are always lots of those to go around. My family has no room to cast stones. There were many times Marious Eagle Claw spread so many stories around about our family many thought he should have been muzzled.”

  “From what I read about him, do you really think it would have stopped that Elf from spreading things around? He was such a prankster.” Deneene pointed out, as she laughed.

  Gabriella shook her head and agreed, “According to the family archives, Marious Eagle Claw was incorrigible. Even Gabriel’s repeated lessons on the practice field didn’t deter him from his shenanigans.”

  “It is said he was the practical jokester of the Eagle Claw family and none ever managed to match his wit,” Deneene noted.

  “I am guessing there were mentions of him in your family register as well,” Gabriella pointed out, as she remembered the connection between the two branches of their families.

  “I doubt if there was much or father would have mentioned it,” Deneene admitted. She didn’t say she had never shown much interest in their family history before. In comparison to some of the legends of the Eagle Claws, her ancestors seemed dull and extremely unromantic. The story she loved the most was about King Daroth and his Queen C’Liandra. They had known about each other for Centuries before they actually got the chance to meet in person, their bonding had been one of the strongest of its time. Another story she had read time and again was the one of King Ingwër and Nátulcien. The legend of the High Lord General Gabriel Eagle Claw and the Tratchar Eden was classic, but not as exciting to Deneene’s way of thinking. Deneene’s was a point of view not many shared.

  Gabriella watched a soft glow cross Deneene’s features, as she thought of the ancient couples, and she grinned. From what she could discern, the Ice Land Princess was a romantic at heart. Lariel should have had no trouble luring her into his arms and bed. Women had often tried to capture his attention in the past, if for no other reason than to say they could and had, but they had always failed. She had gotten the blame for that, but it was untrue. There was little more than a brother and sister type of relationship between them. Lariel’s attempts to lure her into his bed had been no more than a challenge to him, something she had recognized centuries ago. If they had allowed a relationship to develop, they would have been both disappointed. It was better this way.

  Gabriella knew Lariel’s attraction to women wasn’t solely the fact he was the Emperor. He was a very attractive Elf and he was well-endowed. He also had wit and charm to spare, when he cared to use it. She knew under the mask he wore as Emperor, he was a good and caring man. No one really talked about
how he made sure everything was in place in the land or how he used his powers to see his people were properly cared for if they weren’t able to on their own. Not all Elves had great powers like those directly associated with him. He recognized this and made sure no one went wanting because of it.

  With the knowledge that the Elves who were strong in Talent could fend for themselves, Lariel made sure the others were taken care of, not that they were in danger of starving or suffering from illness or injury. Those with ready access to the higher Talents were expected to help care for them. Lariel made sure no one either abused their powers or pushed the less fortunate aside. To see to the well-being of others was the Elven way. His people realized this, but still he made sure everyone got to know the joys and benefits of their world. To the ordinary Elf, he was their hero. They looked up to the Elves of power with respect and admiration, but they adored their Emperor.

  “What do you know about Lariel, beyond the bits and pieces you have seen and what your father has told you?” Gabriella asked.

  “It wasn’t easy to spy on him,” Deneene admitted. “It seemed like the moment I appeared where he was, I became hunted. The only respite I got was when something happened to pull his attention away from me. As most of the time you were involved, it was easy to assume you were the main reason he bothered to stop. What made this logical was how everyone seemed to know about his obsession with you.”

  Gabriella gave a sigh as she admitted, “I hate to say it, but he was abnormally stubborn about holding onto his infatuation. I believe we both understand why.”

  “Why did you never take him to your bed?” Deneene wondered. “Most women would have been tempted to.”

  “I am not most women,” Gabriella answered with an open frown. “Could you begin to imagine the difficulty such a relationship could have caused after the affair was over?”