Page 7 of Dragon Falling (Dragon Intelligence Agency 1)

Chapter Four

Walking away from the back of the MacAllen family home, Ranger could feel every eye on him as he carefully walked through Barbara's flower and herb garden. Every other second, he thought about turning around, about hiding away in the cabin they'd built for him, about closing himself off, about never returning to the real world.

“But you cannot and will not,”Carradoc warned.“You are not weak. You are not broken. You are strong. You are a Guardsman. You are Dragon. It is not the battles lost that define a Warrior, it is how he learns from his defeat and returns to the battlefield, ready to face all manner of evil.”

"Sometimes, having you in my head really sucks, ya' know that?"

“Indeed,”was the only answer the ancient Dragon King gave before retreating to the farthest corner of Ranger’s mind.

He hated that the Old Man, as he referred to the being with whom he shared his soul, was right. Hated that he felt weak. Hated that he’d ever contemplated retreating.

Throwing back his shoulders and holding his head high, Ranger stopped right in front of the enormous double doors leading into the largest of the horse barns. Turning around, he waved to his family, speaking directly into all of their minds,“Thank you for everything. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Be safe, Son,”Owen answered with Barbara adding,“We’ll be here waiting. Love you, Ranger.”

“Love you, too, Momma Barbara.”

Feeling adoration and support from every member of his adopted family, Ranger gave a single nod before turning back around and entering the barn. Grinning when he saw the purple, silver, and swirling gray lights of Jianna's portal and the flashing letters that spelled out,About time.

"Only you, Ji. Only you," he snickered under his breath, while marching forward and stepping through the lip of the vortex without skipping a step.

Time stood still. Caught in his very own vacuum, it was as if the whole of the universe whirled and twirled around him, while Ranger felt and heard nothing.

A single flash of light, a whoosh of air, and he was stepping into the most beautiful meadow he'd ever seen. Rays of the setting sun shining through the tall, thick trunks of the giant redwood trees made the perfect perimeter for the flowing petals of white, yellow, and purple.

Never one to wax philosophical, Ranger couldn't help but inhale deeply and sigh as the sweet scent of blackberries, the spicey aroma of sage, and the fresh fragrance of morning glories massaged his senses. As his eyes slid closed of their own accord, Ellie's face was smiling back at him, a tiny buttercup blossom tucked safely in her gorgeous red hair.

“Ya’ gonna stand there all night, or ya’ gonna give an old Valkyrie a hug?”

Eyes flying open at the sound of Jianna’s lyrical voice, Ranger barked back, “Do I have a choice?”

“Hell, no, not ever.”

Striding across the meadow, he shook his head and teased, "Do you ever age? I swear to the Heavens, you look exactly the same, and it's been…what? Ten years?"

“Almost fifteen,” she corrected, holding her hands out, palms up, her index fingers pointing directly at him. “And you damned sure don’t look any worse for wear.”

"Okay, whatever," Ranger playfully scoffed, wrapping his arms around the tall, curvy woman. "Now, I know you're just being nice." Stepping back as she loosened her hold and patted his back, he once again marveled at Jianna's flawless mocha complexion without even a hint of a wrinkle and her black curly hair with no sign of gray. "Woman, you are timeless, and that's coming from a man who's seen you gut a Giant, skin a ram, and usher more than a few Spirits to Valhalla."

“Boy, don’t you know that Iamtimeless." Throwing back her head, she filled the meadow with her laughter. "It's part of the Valkyrie gig, don'tcha know? Odin likes us to hide our more sinister side." She hunched her shoulders, lifted her hands, and wriggled her fingers like they were the legs of a spider. "He's silly that way."

“I can only imagine.”

"I bet you can more than imagine," she shot right back, pointing at his temple. "How's old Carradoc doin'? Still as cranky as ever?"

Relaxing every fiber of his being and exhaling until he felt like a petal in the wind, Ranger relinquished control of his body, allowing the Dragon King's voice to come out of his mouth. "I am neither old nor cranky, Lady Jianna. I am, however, doing well and am happy to see you looking fine, as well. It is always an honor to be in your presence.”

Ranger chuckled to himself at the proper and formal way his Dragon addressed their old friend. It was just par for the course, and something Ranger couldn't fault. He could only imagine that if he had been born over a thousand years ago, he too would sound like he just walked out off the set of a movie about King Arthur.

“Damn, Carradoc, you make me feel special.” Curtseying, when Jianna rose and once again began to speak, Ranger could hear the old Norse of her heritage thick in her voice. “It is indeed an honor to be in the presence of one such as yourself, King Carradoc, Leader of the Dragons of the Blue Flame. You bring distinction to my humble resort, and for that, I will forever be in your debt.”

Bowing at the waist, well, Ranger's waist, which always felt weird for the Guardsman, Carradoc responded, "It is I who am grateful. Thank you for your hospitality and friendship."

As quickly as the Dragon had emerged, he receded. It took Ranger a second to get his bearings, but when he did, he immediately barked out, “Oh my God, I completely forgot what you really sound like.” Trying to hold back his laughter, but failing miserably, he laughed so hard, the gnarled tissue covering his ribs pulled and tugged. “That was a serious blast from the past, and when you curtsied…oomph! Rubbing his stomach where the Valkyrie had punched him, he tried for some sympathy by making a show of whining, "Ow…damn, Jianna. That was awful close to my…"

"Suck it up," she countered with a wink and a growl that expertly summed the utterly opposite and complex sides of the Valkyrie's personality. Punching the air like there was a speed bag hanging at eye level, she bobbed and weaved while continuing to tease, "You need to get back in fighting form. No laying around feeling sorry for yourself, Bucko. I want you to rest and relax, but…" Tapping her temple, she took an aggressive step forward while pointing the index of her free hand at the center of his chest, "…I hear the first negative, stupid, self-deprecating thought come out of that beautiful mind of yours, and I promise by Odin's Eye that I will kick your ass all over this resort."

Snapping his heels together and saluting just like he had for so very many years to his superiors, Ranger gave a clipped, “Sir. Yes, sir.”

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