Page 26 of Dragon Lord
“A hundred years ago or so,” he said, “I came upon Belisama’s priestesses at the river as they were tossing flower wreaths into the water for her.They were comely lasses.We had a bit o’ fun.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.“Meaning you swived them, then you ate them?”
He flinched.
She shook her head with a sad sigh but did not stop caring for him.
“I deserved the curse.”He hung his head.Then he looked up again.“But it’s been a hundred years.Could Belisama not forgive me?”An exasperated grunt escaped him.“I tried to swive you, then eat you.You’re just a wee maiden, andyouhave forgiven me.”
She raised an eyebrow.“I have?”
“Haven’t you?”
“Yes,” she said on a sigh.“Can I blame a beast for being a beast?”
“You make me want to be less beastly.”The words escaped against his will.And since he was making no sense, he went all the way.“Should I then be more like the knights?”
He glanced toward the lake where he could pick up the splashing sounds Jon of Fernwood made as he swam for the opposite shore.
“You’re not entirely insufferable as a dragon.”She wiped off a fresh rivulet of blood.“But you should not eat any villagers.”
Every time she touched him, the touch tingled across his skin, and an unfamiliar energy surged through Draknart.“Not even if they disturb me in my own cave?”
“Not even.”She put her hands on her hips.“You are fearsome enough to scare them away.”
Einin of Downwood brought his heart back to life.
If dragons could love, he might be able to love one such as her.Of course, she could probably never love a beast like him.As she returned to her ministrations, a dark mood settled over Draknart.
Aye, she was fine.She was certainly fit for a god.Trouble was, Draknart was no longer sure he wanted to give her to Belinus.
Yet belonging to Belinus would be best for her.She would live in the god’s palace.Nobody would ever whip her again; she’d be far from the clutches of the people of her village.In Fae Land, she would not grow old but remain forever beautiful Einin.
As a cursed dragon, Draknart could offer her precious little: a dank cave, and human company for only a few hours each night.No, she would never choose that over Fae Land.She didn’t think of him as an entirely vile beast, but a beast nevertheless.
“Are you going to ask Belisama to dissolve the curse?”she asked.“When we go through the faerie circle?”
“She swore that she would not,” he grumbled.“She’s that mad at me.”
Einin shot him a questioning look.
“I will ask the god Belinus.”Draknart stayed still as Einin gently wrapped his wound in moss, holding it in place with a plaster of wet leaves.
Then she was finished, and she inspected her handiwork with satisfaction.“Now you rest.”She left him and walked toward the water.Halfway there, she called over her shoulder, “Would Belinus go against his own wife the goddess?”
“They argued some decades ago.He is no longer welcome in her glens and her palaces.”Draknart paused.“He must be lonely.”
Einin halted, her gaze examining him with intent, very, very carefully.“Why would he help you?”
Draknart looked at the lake.The knight had swum too far to be seen or heard even by a dragon; he’d be reaching shore soon.“Let us go to the faerie circle.Twilight nears.”
Einin went with him, she even stood in the middle of the circle next to him, but as the sun dipped below the horizon and left the sky dark, nothing happened.
Draknart’s spiked tail beat the ground, setting an impatient rhythm.
“The sun stone must not be lined up exactly to the east.”He corrected the placement.Then he moved another boulder, the task easier now that he was in dragon form.
Einin turned slowly in the middle of the circle.“Is there anything I can do to help?”
