Authors: Judith Leger
Tags: #Wild Child Publishing Fantasy Romance Novel, #fantasy, #romance, #novel, #dragons
above the rain and wind. “It’s not even absorbing the water.
I’ve never seen anything like this, except maybe plastic.”
“Plastic?”
She grinned at him. “That’s a man-made material. We
don’t have dragons on earth.”
Surprised, he brought his focus to her shielded face. “No
dragons? I could not begin to imagine a place without
dragons. They are so much a part of Avaris, I do not see how
we could survive without them.”
“There are myths about them on Earth, but no one has
ever seen one. There are large lizards scientists...” She
stopped when he lifted a brow in question. “Learned men
called biologists who analyze animals among other things.
They call the reptile a dragon, but it doesn’t have magic. It
can’t fly.”
Paladin stared at her while he mulled over this strange
information. Dragons which never flew. Amazing.
The ship coasted closer to the water. The waves slapped
at the hull, forcing the vessel to tilt to the left. With the
sudden movement, Seren stumbled. He caught her around
the waist, steadying her against his side. Her body pressed
against his sent a streak of need coursing through his blood.
He gritted his teeth and muttered, “We will soon dock.
Perhaps you should go below. I will come for you when we
are more secure.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I came to ask you
something.”
Unable to relax, he waited for her to continue.
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Her usual confidence fled when she spoke. “Can you...I
mean...do people with dragon blood...can they appear in
visions. I mean appear in a physical manner?”
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Paladin’s mouth dropped open. Of all the questions she
had asked, this was not one he expected. “Appear in visions?”
She looked at him, her eyes pleading for the truth.
“Yes...can they have an out of body experience, but it would
be real. Can the ones with sight touch things in their visions,
not just see them?”
Her answer surprised him so much he released her. “No.
Nor have I heard of anyone who could. Why?”
“No one? Not even pregnant women?”
A fearful thrill speared through him. The idea that his
child communicated with her pleased him, but what she
spoke of was impossible. Even on Avaris. He had never heard
of such, even with females of dragon blood. He shook his
head.
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t think so, but I had
to ask.”
“Did our son appear to you?”
She turned away. “No.”
He didn’t press her. Although he possessed no ability to
read her mind, he sensed that she lied.
Through the dense downpour, several ship hands, each
cloaked for protection, scurried around them, throwing lines.
They shouted greetings to the men on the dock.
His thoughts raced through what she had revealed. The
babe had appeared to her. He spoke to her. Why had she
lied? Was she afraid he would not believe her? He decided to
bide his time. When she was ready to tell him, she would.
“We will go straight to Largin’s home. Leo, the other off-
worlder lives near him,” he said, hoping to put her at ease.
“Who is Largin?” She stepped to the rail, her movements
careful and slow on the rain-slicked deck. He had to strain to
hear her question.
Paladin moved to her side. “A wizard of renowned
powers. Perhaps he can explain why the door opened.
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Perhaps he can even help us open a way for you to return to
your home.”
Before she responded, Calis appeared behind them. “The
plank’s going down. If ye ready to disembark, I’ll send a
couple of men to find dragoons for ye.”
She glanced at Calis, a frown on her face.
“That would be fine. Let me know when they arrive.”
Paladin motioned for his second in command to leave them.
After Calis moved away, Paladin answered the question in
her eyes. “Dragoons are older than the dracs. They have
survived to the age where they lose the ability to fly until they
mature into adult dragons. Many clans use them to travel
across the land.”
“How?”
“By riding them. How do you travel on Earth?”
“We have mechanical vehicles. Automobiles, airplanes—
years ago people traveled by horses, a large four legged
animal.” She rubbed her temple. “This is so strange. I don’t
know what to think.”
“Come, we will wait on the dock. You will see there is
nothing to worry over in this place.” He hoped to alleviate
some of her stress. Each time she learned a piece of
information uncommon to her, she seemed to have a difficult
time understanding.
He tried to think of a way to help her adjust, but had not
by the time they reached the wide wooden dock. Two
Felerian males stood holding the reins of a couple of
iridescent blue-green dragoons. High-backed saddles sat on
the sloping backs of the beasts. The adolescent dragons
lowered their heads to the ground. They emitted low,
scratchy caws.
Stopping several feet from the dragoons, Paladin stared
in amazement. Never had he witnessed any dragon, young or
old, show signs of reverence for one of another dragon clan.
These were of the sea dragon clan. No humans carried their
blood in their veins. He shot a glance at Seren. Was she the
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one they did this for or—his gaze dropped to where his child
rested. Unease grew in his mind.
Seren covered her abdomen with one hand and stepped
nearer to the dragoons. The closest one squatted lower to the
ground, its scales reflected the small amount of light within
the dense rain.
She looked at Paladin and an unsure smile flickered over
her lips. Understanding, he took her hand, holding her
steady while he lifted her by the waist and swung her onto
the saddle.
A low gasp escaped her, followed by laughter. “It’s just
like sitting on a horse.”
Surprised but pleased to hear her laugh for the first time
since he had found her, he relaxed, chuckling in response. “I
would not know.”
The dragoon straightened, standing on its hind legs.
Seren squealed, leaning forward, trying to wrap her arms
around the thick, long neck, but she failed to gain a secure
hold on the wet scales. Paladin laughed out loud at her
scrambling.
He slid an arm about her waist once more. “Sit straight,
you will not fall off.”
She eyed him through the veil. Doubt lines furrowed
between her brows. “Are you sure?”
“Indeed.”
He sensed that she was still tense, but she straightened
her back. Once upright, Paladin placed her hands on the
pommel, and then stepped back. He chuckled at her
delighted amazement before he leapt into the saddle on the
other dragoon. He leaned over and told the nearest Felerian
how to reach him in case the crew needed him. Once settled
in his seat, he glanced at Seren.
The rain increased, obscuring the solid lines of her body.
He switched to his dragon vision. A red outline formed on
her arms and head. Satisfied, he nodded, taking her reins in
his free hand. “Hold on. I will go slowly, but with the rain,
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the trail will be rough.”
The wind carried her affirmative answer to him then tore
it away just as swiftly. He reined his dragoon’s head to the
right, nudging its sides. The beast stepped forward, its
footing steady and sure on the slick stone slab streets.
Seren screamed. She scrambled to wrap her arms around
her dragoon’s neck. “Wait. Can we walk instead?”
“No. Sit straight. Hang on and you’ll become adjusted to
the gait. Or if you like, I can carry you before me.” Hope
budded in his chest and migrated to the area between his
legs. He would like her to agree. He wanted to feel her body
pressed against his.
Her answer came quick, without hesitation. “No.”
Paladin chuckled. They proceeded up the winding street
through the city, passing the white-walled buildings with the
palm leaf roofs, and into the dense jungle beyond Dene.
The wind howled through the canopy. The rain thinned
out. The jungle’s dense foliage prevented the pounding
downpour from striking them as severely as when they were
in the open streets.
He leaned back in the saddle, shouting over his shoulder.
“It is not far ahead.”
Seren did not answer. He glanced in her direction. Her
grip on the sinewy neck had loosened and she sat a little
straighter.
Even with the protection of the trees, the rain struck
heavy blows on Paladin’s head and shoulders. After several
minutes, he looked back at her. She slumped in the saddle,
her head low and tilted to the right side. Worried, he leaned
over, shouting above the rain. “Are you all right?”
She nodded.
Concerned, he turned to the front. He should have stayed
on board his ship until the storm had passed, but he wanted
her to meet with the man from her Earth. With a hard thrust
of his foot, he urged the muscled beast forward. The
dragoon’s wide, webbed feet with three inch claws, clung to
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the slick clay silt on the path. Step after long step, they
moved faster.
A throbbing fire set up in Paladin’s shoulder. Holding
Seren’s reins, his arm was pulled back and bent at an odd
angle. He squeezed his fingers around the leather, tugging,
hoping the other mount would move closer to give him a
small amount of relief. He didn’t want his arm going numb,
causing him to lose his hold on her reins.
Seren’s dragoon obeyed. The greenish scaled beast placed
its tapered nose against Paladin’s knee and kept it there.
From this distance, he needed only to reach out to touch
Seren. A grim half-smile formed while he fought to suppress
sudden protective instinct rising within him. She was female
to his male. He quelled the urge to howl out his need for her.
The rain would prevent her from hearing, even at this close
range, anything lower than a booming shout.
The jungle path widened at the top of a high sloping
ridge. Three lunges and the two dragoons broke over the top.
Small, white twinkles appeared through the thick downpour.
He sighed in relief. Excitement raced in his veins at the light
up ahead. The dragoons sped up; Paladin frowned at the
change of pace. Both beasts moved without any guidance, as
if they knew this place. The only explanation was that Largin,
the wizard they were going to see, had sent them. No wonder
the Felerians had no trouble finding dragoons for them to
ride. But how had the wizard known of their arrival?
A sprawling house came into view. One story on the
nearest end, two on the other, the stone walls with the
thatched roof beckoned him, offering refuge from the
weather. Yellow flames flickered in covered sconces on either
side of the solid wood entrance. A small window cut high in
the door spilled light on the stone steps leading to the door.
Paladin’s dragoon halted in front of the entrance and
roared, its head thrown back, mouth open to reveal sharp,
pointed teeth. He patted the elongated neck in thanks for the
ride and slipped from the saddle. He hurried through the
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sticky mud to Seren’s side.
The ride, though short, had worn down the little bit of
strength she had left. With her eyes half closed, her face pale,
she tilted toward him. He grabbed her and carried her to the
door. He prepared to set her on her feet to bang on the wood,
but before he could, the portal swung in.
Largin stood in the opening. With his chin raised, nostrils
flaring, black eyes sparkling, and his white hair tangled
about his shoulders, he barked, “I have been waiting for your
arrival.”
Fear shot through Paladin. His father’s old teachings
echoed through his mind.
‘Dangerous business to keep a
wizard waiting. Never do so.’
He cocked a brow at Largin, hoping his unease remained
hidden from the wizard’s keen gaze. “Have you?”
Largin nodded, motioning for Paladin to enter. Once
inside, Paladin bent, helping Seren to stand. She still leaned
against his side, and he kept his arm around her waist,