Page 59 of Redeeming the Dragon

“You really kissed a dragon?”

At this, the children broke into giggles and laughter, hiding their faces or their mouths in embarrassment at the mention of a kiss. I chuckled too, as did Crina, the Miltasa. Jyn’s mouth was firm. She was not smiling.

“Not the dragon itself,” I countered. “The dragon in his human form. Believe me—the dragon himself is so fearsome that no one would ever think to kiss him.”

The girl who had asked giggled again, but before any further inquiries could be made, Jyn thrust herself upright. She clapped her palms noisily, announcing, “Tell the Blinded goodbye, younglings. Off to your chores and lessons.”

Not one of them argued with her. I was fairly certain no one argued with Jyn. Although her mother was the queen figure, Jyn was clearly the power behind the throne. The older girls obeyed her as well, someof them grasping children’s hands and leading them away. Soon, all that remained were the older women and myself. Many of them, at Jyn’s sharp nod, dispersed, retreating to different portions of the village.

Finally, Jyn, who stood over me, a slight breeze ruffling her orange, purple, and yellow skirts, said, “We can help find Moonswept, Blinded. We be the Jearim, and the Jearim be the Mothers—the oldest living folk in Aerisia. Older than fairies. Older than Simathe. We be the keepers of knowledge and the holders of secrets. The Simathe First was right to send you to us.”

The Mothers? I remembered the dragon mentioning that name once before, referencing those who had assisted him.

“Then you can help?”

Finally! Hope broke over my soul like the first rays of dawn chasing away the night. Elated, I jumped up from my stone seat, clasping my hands in front of me.

“If there is anything you can tell me, I’d be forever grateful.”

“We can give you knowledge,” Crina affirmed, rising to her feet with less energy and considerably less grace than her daughter. Her hand went to the small of her back, and she winced before straightening all the way. “But it comes at a price. If the Jearim help you, Lorna of the Jeweled Isles, you must help the Jearim.”

Chapter 34

The Jearim needed help from me? I glanced between the two leaders, framed by their kin. All of them regarded me with solemn faces and stoic demeanors. A light wind, rolling off the tops of the cliffs, stirred the fronds on the palm trees and toyed with the women’s colorful skirts.

“We know the Scraggen of Moonswept,” Crina said. Her warm, friendly demeanor vanished. “We be keepers of secrets. We know her magic. It is darkness, drawn from the Dark Powers. It seeps into the land. If not checked, it could threaten Aerisia’s heart.”

The heart of Aerisia. Was that not the cave in which Kidron and I had dwelt? The heart of Aerisia? The very center of its magic and life?

“What can I do?” I asked, spreading my hands. “I came to break the curse over a prince. And his dragon,” I amended, for the beast bore consideration too.

“You can defeat her,” Crina said, hobbling closer. Her green-brown eyes were fierce. “You have your magic. Persuasive magic. Use it againsther. Crush the Scraggen of Moonswept. Protect the land. Free your dragon prince.”

“I—I want to free Kidron,” I said. “That is my priority. How do I do it, though? I’ve no plan in mind, other than spiriting him away.”

Crina pursed her lips, shaking her head. “Won’t work, girl. Won’t work. The curse follows him. You’ve seen this.”

My heart dropped. That was true. Even if freed from Moonswept, the curse would follow him. I’d not considered that part.

“The Scraggen wants a dragon prince to unite her power with the Warkin,” Jyn hissed, also stepping closer to me. “She didn’t choose him by accident. Unite her with the Warkin, and she could threaten Aerisia itself.”

I was stunned. I’d not considered this either, but it explained why a Scraggen desired the son of a Warkin Highest so badly. A Scraggen of dark and dubious magic with the power of dragons at her beck and call? The greatest natural power in Aerisia?

“You are right,” I said. “I see much rides on my quest.”

“You can save him,” nodded old Crina wisely. “You be his mate. You be his love. Your kiss destroyed his redemption. Now, your kiss will redeem him.”

“How?” I asked, spreading my hands.

Jyn placed a palm solemnly on my shoulder. “We know much magic and many secrets. Only you can know this.”

When I started to protest, she squeezed my shoulder, cutting off my words. “We help. We will send you east of the sun and west of the moon, to Moonswept. The rest be up to you.”

I drew a breath and released it, hoping to ease the tension in my chest, but found it did little. The tension continued to build as the weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders.

“I will do my best,” I murmured, even as the doubts overwhelmed me.

“You do more than that,” Jyn encouraged, “you succeed. You hear, girl? You succeed.”

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