Page 22 of The White Dragon's Dilemma

“You are not only a Dragon of ice, but of moonlight also, I think,” she said.

Caden glanced up at the moon again and felt its pull on Iolaire and him.“I think you might be right.”

“So, King Caden--”

“Caden, please,” he said and it wasn’t because he felt unsure about the title this time.

She nodded and accepted the change.“And you may call me… Jahara.”

“I have a feeling that you don’t offer that very often.Even to other Dragons,” Caden guessed.

“Right you are.”She smiled back and her smile was beautiful.Seeing it made him realize how rare that expression was on her face.“But I do not think I will regret offering the right to you.”

Caden was struck by her phrasing and the use of the word “regret”.“Lots of people have let you down.”

He didn’t make it a question, but a statement.Even if he hadn’t known how she had been betrayed by her father, a man who should have loved and protected her, not sold her, he would have felt the waves of distrust around her.

“People do that,” she answered simply.

“It’s so strange to hear you say that,” he said.

Her delicate black eyebrows rose.“Oh, why?”

“Because what you’ve done with your territory shows such… hope and belief in people,” he admitted.“It’s like seeing the beginnings ofStar Trekor something realized.A federation of highly intelligent, moral people working towards common goals of improving not just the human condition, but the entire planet and beyond!”

A smile twitched her lips.“So my goals belie my cynicism?”

“Yep, or they indicate…” He stopped and bit his lower lip.“Forget it.What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Tell me what you were going to say.” She was openly interested.He wondered how long that would last after he said something.

“I just thought that maybe the goals you have set for your territory is the real you.Not the real you.”He grimaced.“The you that didn’t have so many disappointments and regrets.”

She did not look offended, but more considering.Finally, she nodded.“Yes, maybe it is what Iwouldhave been like through and through if I had not been made to regret.”Then she gave him an almost impish look.“But like you, Caden, if the bad things hadn’t happened to me I would not have joined with my Spirit and all the good that I have done would not have happened.”

“True!”Caden nodded.“Too true.” It was his turn to be impish.“So did you come here to court me?”

He expected her to snigger or let out belly laughs herself.He could not see her ever wanting him romantically.She did not do that however.

“If you mean romantically?No.But we court friends and allies and even enemies,” she told him.“Other than Illarion and likely Tez, every Dragon has come here to court you as somethingotherthan a lover.But that does not mean what we offer is any less.”

Caden blinked.“Uhm, no!I mean… no, it isn’t.”

She smiled more broadly.“Besides, you may find that you want some distance from your lover. Africa has called many to her shores.You should come and see her.”

“I would love that,” he answered truthfully.He had dreamed of seeing the futuristic cities of glass and steel that dotted Africa’s ancient terrain like jewels.

She nodded.“I think in the times ahead that she would be a safe haven for you and… others.Perhaps all others.”

Caden leaned against the railing.“What do you mean a safe haven? Do you know about the Faith and--”

“Those who seek to create more of our kind by violence?”She nodded.“I have watched them for some time.”

“Why didn’t you tell the other Dragons?”Caden asked, alarm filling him.

“Not because I am on their side, Caden,” she assured him, not seemingly offended by him suspecting her.“But because I was not certain and how can one warn about individuals one cannot identify as a threat? No, that would have led to paranoia and arrests and the creation of more unrest.”

Caden could see that. “Yeah, but do you have any ideas?Any solutions?”

---