Page 17 of Hidden Dragons

Tildeth seemed to enjoy Isabelle’s enthusiasm. She poured on the speed while Bear held Isabelle close, his arm around her middle. The dragon beneath them kept them warm in a way Isabelle hadn’t expected, though the air rushed past her face with almost bruising force. Still, it was the most invigorating experience Isabelle had ever had. She loved every minute of flying with Tildeth and Bear.

It took no time at all, it seemed, before they approached the strangest place Isabelle had ever seen. Built into the side of a cliff, there were massive openings where she could just make out dragons walking around. Light shone in the openings in the cliff, outlining the silhouettes of all within. Even as she watched, two dragons launched themselves off the side of the cliff from one of the topmost openings. Isabelle held her breath as a gorgeous violet dragon dipped low, then started beating her wings, heading straight for them. The darker dragon that was slightly higher on the wind currents followed close behind.

“And there is our greeting party,”Tildeth said, her voice a low rumble in Isabelle’s mind.“The pretty purple dragon is Vanna and her mate is Iridned, the big blue coming in from above. A nice combination, aren’t they? Their offspring are lovely, and good fliers. They and their knights are good friends to our small family.”

“It will be an honor to meet your friends, Lady Tildeth,”Isabelle replied politely, trying not to let on how close to overwhelmed she was by it all.

The new dragons circled around them a few times as they headed for one of the ledges. Isabelle felt a bit conspicuous, conscious of the speculative looks the knights who rode on back of the violet and blue dragons were giving her.

“Hold on now,”Tildeth warned as she grabbed for the ledge with her back legs, then landed with a bit of a jolt on her forelegs.

Tildeth knelt down and Bear jumped off, reaching up to help Isabelle down. He was moving fast, hustling now to make his report and mobilize the Lair. Already, there was a great deal of movement on the ledge as dragons and knights began to realize something was amiss. No doubt, Tildeth and Bear were both sending silent communications to those around them.

Vanna and Iridned landed right behind Tildeth, and moved up beside her while Bear removed Isabelle’s bags from Tilly’s back. Two strange knights looked at her, having climbed down from the two dragons and come over to greet Bear and Tildeth.

“Welcome back, Bear,” the knight with the longer hair said as Bear came up beside her, holding her bags. “How can we help?”

“Jovan, this is Lady Isabelle. She will be staying in my suite but I cannot bring her there myself at the moment. Can you make sure she’s comfortable? And deliver these bags to my suite as well. Be careful of them. The contents are precious to my lady.” Bear handed the two bags to the other knight, then turned to her. “Milady Isabelle, please forgive me. My report must be made with all haste, but I would like to make sure you are comfortable. Will you trust my friend here to see you safely to our suite? I promise you may trust him. He will take good care of you and make certain you are left with someone to talk to.” The last was said over her head as he looked at his friend, seeking his agreement.

The man called Jovan nodded and smiled. He was very handsome, but to her eyes, he wasn’t as good looking as Robert or Bear. Then again, she was probably prejudiced in their favor. In just a couple of days, she had become duly infatuated with both men. She wasn’t sure what that might mean for her future just yet, but she was willing to explore where it might lead. For now.

“I trust your judgment, Sir Bernard,” she assured him, finding her courage. These men were knights, chosen by dragons to defend all of Draconia. If they couldn’t be trusted, who could?

Bear looked relieved. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips that promised silently of more to come—later. Bear left her alone with Sir Jovan as he and Tildeth went off to make their reports. Sir Jovan led her down into the mountain, through a passageway that was wide and tall enough for two dragons to pass with ease.

“So where did Sir Bear find you, if I may ask,” Sir Jovan began conversationally as they walked along the brightly lit paths. There were many shafts high up in the walls that led to the outside allowing for ventilation—because dragons tended to smoke a lot—and probably light during the day.

“I live just outside of Halley’s Well. It is a small village between the Valla Pass and the River of Jelan,” she told him absently, taking in the lovely carvings in the rock that were half-finished in some spots. Apparently this new Lair was still very much under construction. Or somebody was on a beautification kick.

Sir Jovan’s gaze lit with interest when she glanced at him. “That is a very strategic area, though most of our attention has been on the larger villages on the northern side of the river. Apparently Bear spotted something on the less navigable side?”

She didn’t see the harm in telling what little she knew to the knight. “Sir Bernard said skiths were being herded toward the pass in front of a grouping of enemy soldiers, and I suspect the village’s headman is working with the enemy.”

Sir Jovan whistled between his teeth even as his body tensed. “No wonder he came back without Robert and Growly.”

“They are still on watch, and I believe they will be scouting tonight. Sir Robert said he would be back here in the morning.” She heard the shakiness of her own voice, but apparently her fear for Robert and Growloranth’s safety was lost on the other knight. He was probably too preoccupied talking silently with his dragon partner, she realized.

They walked the rest of the way to two very large doors in silence. The doors were plain, but heavy, and made of wood. She could already see the patterns she would love to carve on that blank surface if given a chance. Portraits of Growloranth and Tildeth, their necks entwined. And Robert and Bear, standing on either side. But it was a fanciful thought. She would probably never be given the chance to entertain her little hobby of wood carving on such a grand scale.

Sir Jovan threw open the massive doors that were large enough to let Growloranth and Tildeth pass through. There was a massive sand pit in the center of the open space, with small chambers arranged around it in a circle.

“This is the suite assigned to Growloranth, Tildeth, Robert and Bear,” he said, walking a short way into the huge cavern. Both dragons would fit in the large pit of sand, and Isabelle could feel the warmth coming from it.

“What makes it so warm?” she asked, walking inside and looking around in wonder.

“Carefully channeled geothermal energy and a touch of magic,” answered a new voice from the open doorway.

Isabelle looked up to find a woman at the door. She was dressed in fine clothing and spoke like an educated person. She seemed a bit older than Isabelle, by more than a few years. The lady smiled and entered, reaching out her hand to Isabelle in greeting.

“Sorry to just pop in. I am Silla, the Lair’s healer. I heard of your arrival and thought maybe you could use a new friend to talk to while the men go about their business.”

Isabelle took the other woman’s hand and was pulled into a loose, welcoming hug. This Silla seemed all that was kind in the world. Then again, she claimed to be a healer, so compassion was probably at the core of her being.

“I am Isabelle,” she replied quietly, a bit shy of the fine lady.

“Tilly asked me to come. She says you have some knowledge of healing and thought we might get along,” Silla advised.

Her manner was so open and joyful it was hard not to like her. And it was clear she could also talk to dragons if Lady Tildeth had spoken to her. It was also clear that Tilly had taken the time to ask this nice woman to seek out Isabelle so she would not be all alone in this strange new place. Isabelle’s heart opened for the female dragon who was so thoughtful. Isabelle would have to find some way to repay Tilly’s kindness.

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