The Dragon's Lover (7 page)

This caused Idonea's gaze to swing back around to the
other woman. “Then she is not human.”

Weynild shrugged, starting back towards the cottage.
“Not exactly.”

Idonea's eyes narrowed. The woman did not appear to
be elven, which would explain her youthful appearance and long
life-span. She did not appear to be altered by magic, nor did she
have any influence that might suggest a half-breed demon or sprite.
The girl looked perfectly human as she stood there gazing at her
with dark humor in her blue eyes. But she knew from her mother's
indirect response she would receive no further enlightenment on the
matter. She started up the path after her mother.

“Raine?” Weynild said over her shoulder.

“Yes, my love?” Raine responded, hardly able to
contain her laughter.

“Would you bring some wood for the fire so we can
prepare a meal for our guest?”

“Of course.”

Idonea could barely contain her questions but did so
only because she did not wish the indignity of having them
unanswered. Her mother busied herself about the hearth and when
Raine came in, she set about doing some chores as well. Idonea
watched in equal parts disbelief and bafflement as the two smoothly
coordinated their domestic duties. She knew nothing about this
stranger but she had never seen her mother like this. A meal was
quickly prepared and the three sat down at the wooden table.

“So,” Idonea said, pausing for effect.
Unintentionally, the effect became pronounced as she spooned some
broth to her mouth and became lost to its flavor.

“So,” she said, recovering her focus, “how long have
you two been…?”

Idonea again stopped, this time at a loss for
description.

“Lovers?” Weynild helpfully provided.

“I was going to say 'together,'” Idonea said
irritably, “but since you're going to throw it right out there,
then yes, how long have you two been fucking?”

Raine muffled laughter but continued eating.

“It is hard to say,” Weynild said, “I confess I have
lost all track of time.”

Raine shrugged as well. “Months? Years? I can hardly
remember. It's all just one, long—”

“I don't need to hear any more,” Idonea interrupted.
She returned to her broth.

Raine simply smiled. “So your mother tells me you are
quite a talented mage.”

Idonea glanced sharply at Weynild. Her mother seemed
to be full of surprises. Weynild was not one to share personal
details, not even with her lovers.

“And do you practice dark magic?” Raine asked
politely.

Idonea bristled, preparing a barbed retort, but then
she realized there was nothing judgmental in the tone of the
question. Dark magic was generally a volatile subject as most
people had strong emotions regarding it. But Raine seemed simply to
be making conversation. Still, Idonea wished to test her.

“And if I said that I did?”

“Then I would tell you to be careful,” Raine said. “I
have no great moral qualms regarding its use.” She sent Weynild a
look that would have melted a glacier. “In fact, I have no great
moral qualms about anything.” She returned her attention to Idonea,
her tone slightly more serious but as even-handed as before. “But
dark magic is very powerful, and like all power, it can corrupt.”
Her brows lifted as she spoke almost to herself. “And I have never
seen anything corrupt quite like dark magic.”

Idonea did not appreciate being lectured to by
someone who looked little more than her own age. But Raine's voice
had a ring of experience to it, lending her words both weight and
authenticity.

“I will keep that in mind,” Idonea said, only
slightly sarcastic.

Idonea's tone had no effect on Raine at all. “Can I
get your dish for you?” Raine asked Weynild.

“Yes dear, thank you.”

Raine set about cleaning the table while Weynild
gazed across the wooden surface at her daughter. Raine finished,
wiped her hands on the fabric hooked to the wall for that purpose,
and made an excuse to leave.

“I'm going to go for a walk,” she said. She took
Weynild's hand, whose eyes did not leave her daughter's face until
Raine brushed a kiss across the back of her knuckles. “I'm sure you
two have much to talk about.”

“Thank you, my dear. Do not be gone too long.” Her
golden eyes shifted to a pair of smoldering brown ones. “I am sure
Idonea will be quite concise.”

Raine made it only a few steps out the cottage door
before she was joined by three wolves. They barked happily, jumping
about foolishly in their joy to see her. One rolled over and over
in the tall grass before he leaped to his feet, wagging his
tail.

“Well come along now,” she said, rolling her eyes at
their antics. “Let's go for a walk and get rid of some of your
energy.” She then mumbled under her breath. “And mine as well. 'Tis
a small cottage and I doubt Weynild will turn her daughter out at
this hour.”

Raine threw sticks to the young wolves, which they
dutifully fetched as if it were some great mission. She skipped
stones across the stream and watched the resulting ripples glisten
in the moonlight. She caught the flying bugs that hovered above the
cattails, their bulbous tails glowing like tiny flames in the
night, then released them back towards the stream. Finally, she
decided enough time had passed, bid farewell to her canine
companions, and returned to the hut.

When she entered, the air was thick with the
conversation that had just ended. Weynild's face was impassive, yet
words of import had clearly passed between mother and daughter.

“I can leave again?” Raine said, more question than
statement.

“No,” Weynild said, “we are finished talking.” She
turned to her lover, “and now I just wish to sit with you by the
fire. I am sure Idonea is tired after her journey.”

Weynild moved to the pile of furs in front of the
hearth, motioning for Raine to join her. From her corner, Idonea
watched as Raine settled down in front of Weynild, then leaned back
against her into her arms. Weynild pressed her cheek into Raine's
hair as she gathered her comfortably close. The two spoke quietly
of small things, with occasional low throaty chuckles coming from
one or the other. The fire flickered and cast soft shadows on their
faces, highlighting the ethereal beauty of both. Idonea had to
admit that her mother was still stunning and the two made a
gorgeous pair. Still, she struggled with the domestic contentment
that permeated her mother's demeanor. It was so at odds with
everything she knew her mother to be, and for the hundredth time
that day, she had the thought that she had never quite seen Weynild
in this way.

Late in the evening, the two retired to their bed and
only quiet breathing could be heard. Idonea fought the urge to go
look, knowing that the two would be intertwined, fast asleep. As
she herself drifted into the dreamworld, her last thought, for the
hundredth and first time, was that she had never quite seen
anything like this.

“So?”

Weynild looked to her lover, so fetchingly dressed as
a peasant, leaning against the wall of the cottage. The early sun
brought out gold highlights in her wheat colored hair. Raine had
been ever-so-patient to this moment.

“Let us walk in the forest.”

Idonea watched as the two headed down the path.
Weynild had not given her a response the evening before. She had
merely said she wished to discuss matters with Raine and Idonea
assumed she would tell her that she was leaving. She wondered if
Raine would ask to accompany her mother, but it was far too
dangerous a mission for someone like her.

The two walked quietly for a ways and Raine leaned
down to pick a blood red flower with yellow streaks in it.

“A dragon blossom for you, my love.”

Weynild took the flower from her, inhaled the scent
deeply, then let out a deep sigh.

“Idonea has asked for my help.”

Raine did not like the sound of this but tried to
remain light. “I don't suppose it's as simple as retiring a
gambling debt or something of that nature,” Raine said.

“That is what I usually expect from her,” Weynild
said darkly. “Idonea is vain, self-centered, hot-headed, and
impulsive. Coupled with that in a most dangerous manner is the
power her dragon blood gives her.”

A question occurred to Raine, surprisingly for the
first time. “Is Idonea a dragon?”

Weynild let loose a harsh laugh. “By the gods, no.
And that has been a source of contention between us. Idonea has
always been bitter that she favored her human father and not her
dragon mother. But dragons are only produced by mating with other
dragons.”

“So no dragon babies for us, eh?”

Weynild eyed the beautiful creature in front of her.
“Yes, that is one of the things preventing that from happening” Her
thoughts drifted for a moment, then she pulled herself back.

“Stop distracting me,” Weynild said. “So given what I
just told you about Idonea, I find it odd that she has joined a
band seeking to undertake a most noble quest.”

“So she has an ulterior motive,” Raine said
drily.

“Of course, I’m just not certain what that might
be.”

“And so what is this noble quest?”

Weynild considered Idonea's words from the night
before. “An imperial, a knight in fact, is convinced the
Hyr'rok'kin are increasing because one of the gateways to the
underworld has been left ajar. They are setting out on a most
ridiculous journey to attempt to close it.”

“And where is the imperial army in all of this? Why
does a small band seek to remedy the situation?”

“The inefficiencies of the empire are well known.
Although it is said they are massing, I have yet to see it. I have
seen small parties, such as the one the other day, but nothing
sizable. And even if the army does gather it is unlikely they will
venture into the Empty Land. So they will merely stop the forward
assault, or at least attempt to.”

“But they will not deal with the actual problem,”
Raine said, understanding. “And so what does Idonea want from
you?”

Weynild stared off in the direction of the cottage.
“She wants me to accompany them on this fool's journey, to protect
them in their passing through the approaching horde, and then to
assist them in closing the rift.”

Raine knew her lover too well. “You do not believe
this to be a fool's journey.”

“No,” Weynild said, “the knight is very close to the
truth. The Hyr'rok'kin have always appeared in spurts, but I have
never seen a sustained release such as this, a vomiting of their
kind into this realm. But I do not believe the gateway has been
left ajar.”

Weynild paused, and Raine did not really want to hear
her next words.

“I believe the gateway is being held open.”

Raine's heart was heavy but her words were lightly
spoken. “And what type of being is capable of holding open the
gateway to the underworld?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
Weynild's golden eyes gleamed in the dim light of the forest.

“A being like me.”

The silence in the forest was oppressive as Raine
considered the pronouncement. “So you believe it is one of the
twelve ancients?”

“Yes. It has been so long since I have seen any of
the others, I assumed they had all passed through some mishap or
another. But apparently not.”

Weynild was looking at her intensely and Raine knew
there was something significant she had not yet said.

“I cannot accompany Idonea.”

Raine cocked her head to the side. “But you just said
you believe the quest to be necessary. And if there is another
ancient dragon waiting on the other side, you are the only one who
can challenge the creature and close the gate.”

“I agree, which is why I will join the battle at the
end. But the ancients can sense one another across great distances,
and he or she will see me coming like a beacon of light. I would
endanger Idonea's companions as much as I would help them.”

Raine did not like where this was going. “But how are
they going to get through that ever-increasing horde? As you said,
the imperial army is scattered right now, but even full-force they
would be hard-pressed to defeat the demons that are coming this
way.”

Weynild did not speak but simply gazed at her lover
with golden eyes.

Raine understood. “You want me to go.”

“No,” Weynild said sharply, her bitterness evident.
“No, I do not want you to go. I do not want you to ever be apart
from me. But what I want is less important than the outcome of
these events. And I can move now or delay until my hand is forced,
but either way, we will end up fighting this battle.”

Raine reluctantly nodded her agreement. “Does Idonea
know what lies at the other end?”

“No,” Weynild said.

“Then she will not understand why you cannot go.”

“I don't care. She may complain but she will obey me.
And you will have to deal with her ulterior motive, whatever that
may be.”

Raine was quiet again, then at last spoke. “You know
I will do anything you ask.”

“Do not make me ask this!” Weynild said, her tone
harsh but with a catch in her throat. “I cannot bear the thought of
putting you in danger.”

Raine smiled a gentle smile. “You are not putting me
in danger. None of that bothers me in the slightest. I am not
afraid of the Hyr'rok'kin, or even an ancient dragon. You know that
Scinterians live for adventure and battle. The only thing I dread
is being apart from you. All else I do voluntarily, but the
separation I lay at your feet.”

“Then know that I will suffer as greatly as you.”

As she said this, she stepped forward, placed her
hands on Raine's hips and pulled her to her. She kissed her deeply,
the kiss as passionate as always but now tinged with anguish. The
kiss finally ended and Raine stepped back.