Gersius didn't sleep at all as he leaned against the saddle with his wives in his arms. He was grateful he wasn't facing the black dragon that glared at them all through the night. The few times he did glance at the dragon, he saw it twitching as it struggled against the binding.
“Lilly was never like this,” he whispered to himself. He looked down at the sleeping beauty and stroked her soft hair. He could feel her presence in the bind growing slowly through the night as her power recovered. With any luck, she would be able to take her dragon form soon, and they could use her to get back.
He looked over to Thayle and felt a tension. The feeling of having lost her was crippling, and the only thing that kept him going was he could still feel her over the bind. But those hours of worrying that the feeling would suddenly vanish as Thayle died under some pile of rocks still haunted him. Now he felt a new sensation from her, a sort of revulsion that was actually the dragon. His hatred of her was so intense it affected Thayle, and he could feel that effect from her.
He glanced at the dragon again to see it glaring and shaking with hatred. Was it too risky to try and work with this dragon? Maybe they should order it to go back to its lair and stay there a week so they could be safely away. Thayle was insistent that they had to give it more time and try. She felt that the divines must have delivered him just as they delivered Lilly. Gersius wasn't sure that was true, but if it was, did the divines send them to get the sword or the dragon? Perhaps the dragon was the real goal, and the sword was just the lure?
“Too many questions,” he sighed. He would wait until Thayle was awake to discuss this with. He was grateful to have a wife with a deep understanding of the divine to talk to. Lilly was growing in her understanding and had surprisingly good ideas, but Thayle was very devout and had excellent insights. She was a tremendous boon to him in the struggle both now and ahead.
He felt a certain amount of resentment for the dragon that hated her. He didn't trust the beast and feared its rage would make any effort to work with it pointless. Still, out of respect for Thayle, he would let her try.
When the rays of the morning sun appeared, Lilly was still sound asleep. She felt much stronger than the night before but still wasn't fully recovered. Thayle stirred a little later and looked up into his eyes.
“Good morning, my blessing,” he said.
She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. “I'm a blessing, am I?”
“You are a blessing to me in so many ways,” he replied as he held her tight. “I cannot describe to you how worried I was.”
Thayle put a finger back to his lips. “I am fine. I have the sword, and I have...” she paused to look over her shoulder. “Him,” she finished.
“I am not so sure that is a blessing,” Gersius replied.
Thayle laid her head back on his chest as he began to stroke her head.
“I’m not either, but what are the chances of us finding two wounded and dying dragons? Surely this is the hand of the divine,” she said.
“We did not find this one. We are the ones who wounded it and left it dying. He hates us and you in particular for his current state.”
Thayle closed her eyes and snuggled in close. “I would never have found my way out without him. I know he hates us now but, just like I never gave up you and Lilly, I feel like I can't give up on him. We already know that Ulustrah gave me the impulse to pursue you two. Maybe she wants me to pursue him?”
“We can try. I like your idea of having Lilly talk to him in her dragon form. I hope he will see her as more of an equal and be willing to converse.”
“She feels much stronger,” Thayle said as she reached an arm over to stroke Lilly. She gently rubbed the sleeping woman and let her hand linger on her shoulder to peek at Lilly's dream.
“She is dreaming about her valley again,” Thayle said with a smile. “She dreams about that so much. I know she says that isn’t her home anymore, but I see her there again and again.’
“It will always be her home, and one day it will be our home,” Gersius said.
“That day can’t come soon enough,” Thayle sighed.
He nodded his agreement and kissed the top of her head. “We will wait another hour to see if she wakes up on her own. I pray she is strong enough to take her natural form.”
“Her aura looks good. Her light is lessened, but it looks like her light again,” Thayle sighed. “I was so worried she wasn't going to recover.”
“You were all she as worried about,” Gersius replied. “She begged me to go back for you, but the tunnel collapsed.”
“That whole inner tunnel sites over a massive maze of caves,” Thayle said. “When we toppled the wall, it must have all shifted.”
He sighed and rubbed her side. “It was a good plan. None of us could have known the floor was so thin. I am impressed with your ability to think quickly.”
“I learned from my husband,” Thayle said with a smile.
He smiled back and kissed her head again. “You like having a husband now?”
“I never thought I would have a husband,” Thayle admitted. “But now that I have one, I can't express how happy I am. I love him so much.”
He closed his eye and buried his face in her hair. She was alive and well, but he could still hear that terrible roar followed by Lilly's scream.
They gave Lilly her hour and then decided on an hour more. At last, she opened her eyes and looked around almost as if lost.
“How do you feel, sweetheart?” Thayle asked as Lilly sat up.
“I feel weak, but I think I am fine,” she said as she stretched her back.
She got up and walked a dozen steps across the grass and looked over to see the glaring dragon.
“What are you looking at?” Lilly yelled. “Did you sit there all night, plotting your revenge?”
“I will find a way to kill you all!” he roared.
Lilly shook her head and turned back to the others. “I think we should go. I will carry us all back. He can fly behind us.”
Gersius saw the way the dragon watched Lilly as if unsure of what he was looking at. Lilly searched around and finally settled on going behind a rock. Gersius realized she didn't want to undress before the angry dragon. A cloud of white smoke and a flash later, Lilly walked out, stretching her wings.
“So, you are a dragon,” he said. “Kill them and set me free!”
Lilly glared at him with blazing eyes. “If you threaten my loves again, I will kill you instead!”
His jaw curled into a snarl, and his eyes narrowed as they blazed brightly.
“You would serve them over your own kind?” he bellowed.
“You’re not my kind,” Lilly replied. “Now I understand what Numidel meant when he said just a dragon. You’re something altogether different, something that looks similar on the outside but is ugly and dark on the inside.”
“Why do you speak in riddles to me?” he bellowed. “Free me, and I will give you a tenth of my hoard!”
Lilly shook her head. “I don’t want your hoard.”
“A third!” he roared. “My hoard is sizeable. A third is a great amount!”
“I don't want your hoard!” Lilly shouted. “Now, be quiet while I talk to my husband and wife.”
Gersius saw him watching intently as Lilly walked over and lowered her head. He rubbed the side of her head as Thayle walked up and gave her a gentle kiss on the nose. He knew the dragon was watching every touch and exchange. He also knew the dragon likely had no idea what it was seeing. How was Thayle ever going to reach this beast if she wasn't free to love it? Even if she was free, how could she love something so angry?
Lilly quickly put on the saddle while Thayle retrieved her dress from behind the rock. Gersius helped Thayle up, and when they were situated on Lilly's back, they walked to stand before the dragon.
“You will follow us as we fly back. You will land when we land, and you will not roar, or snarl at anyone,” Thayle commanded.
They all saw him shake and twitch as the command took hold, and he fought it with every ounce of his being.
“Now keep up,” Lilly said as she fanned her wings and took to the skies. Behind them, the black took flight, staying a dozen paces back and burning with rage.
“He makes me angry to look at him,” Lilly said silently over the binding link.
“He is angry,” Thayle said. “I can feel it from here. He hates, all he does is hate.”
“I still don't see how we're going to get through to him,” Gersius said. “And I can't have him slowing down the march.”
“I hate having to command him to do every little thing,” Thayle said. “It only makes him madder.”
“It would make me madder,” Lilly added. “You only commanded me a couple of times, but every time you did, I was angry at you for it.”
“I don’t have any choice. He won’t do anything willingly,” Thayle said.
“What are your plans if he doesn’t improve?” Gersius asked with a concern for the future.
Thayle shook her head. “I will have to order him away. I will command him to go back to his lair.”
“I hate to say that is probably what you're going to have to do,” Lilly said.
“How can you be so certain?” Thayle asked.
Lilly turned her head to look back. “He is a dragon, and his hoard is everything to him. He was willing to give me a third of it to see you dead. The anger it takes to cause a dragon to make an offer like that is difficult to imagine.”
Gersius tightened his grip on Thayle's waist, unhappy to hear it put such a way. He turned to look at the dragon behind them and saw the glare of rage. He hoped he wasn't going to have to see this dragon dead in the future.
They flew on for the whole of the day, talking silently. They made plans to sit this new dragon outside the camp and ensure he was under watch. Thayle and Lilly would make an effort to reason with him and try to open his eyes. They hoped if he observed Lilly's interactions with others, it might make him curious.
Gersius had his doubts. This wasn't a lack of understanding. This was a curse handed down by a fallen goddess. It only broke on Lilly because his love for her over the bind undid it. Without that love, he didn't think this dragon had a chance.
Another topic that came up was his name. Thayle made him the same promise not to reveal his true name to another, so he and Lilly didn't ask for it. However, they all agreed he needed another name to call him by. They spent a good few hours trying to think of a name that fit him.
Lilly admitted it would be hard to give him a name that would mean anything to him. Her name was special because she found the flowers beautiful and Gersius had compared her to them. She laughed when she thought back to that day. She didn't even know the word beautiful. He explained it to her, and she has used it ever since. For him, there was no beautiful where he was ready to listen. Any name he was given would likely have to be forced on him.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
As the hours went by, the sun set and the sky filled with stars. They pressed on hoping to find the wagons by afternoon the following day. Gersius was grateful the sky was clear and bright. It brought them all back to that first flight through the stars with Lilly. She was overjoyed to share that with them, and they were lost in the dazzling display. Thayle leaned against his chest and shivered as he looked at the stars.
“Don’t tell me you’re cold?” he laughed.
Thayle shook her head. “No, I can still feel his hate. It makes me feel sick sometimes. I just want to be back so I can get away from him and get his rage out of my heart.”
Gersius nodded and squeezed her tight. He was alarmed that Thayle felt sickened from it. He hoped the rage that the dragon was filling her with wasn't going to affect her. His gentle Thayle was a flower of peace and stability for his heart, and he wanted her to stay that way.
As the morning sun crept high, they were still flying, and Thayle felt ill to both him and Lilly.
“I don't like the effect this is having,” Lilly said silently over the bind.
“All I need is a little space from him. When we land, we can have him follow the rear from well back, and I will ride at the front.”
“If that doesn't work, I want you to send him away,” Gersius said. “You are worth more than he is.”
“She is worth ten times what he is,” Lilly said. “And I don’t want him making my Thayle sick.”
“All I need is a break from feeling his anger,” Thayle replied. “Just for a little bit.”
Gersius pulled her tight and tried to feel the emotions he felt for Thayle at special moments. The first time she told him she loved him. The first time they kissed, the first time they made love. He tried to relive those moments and feel them strongly.
“I can feel that,” Lilly said.
“I can too,” Thayle sniffed. “Thank you. It is helping.”
“I think I can help a little more,” he said.
“How?”
He smiled and looked up. “Lilly, what did you feel that night Thayle finally wrapped her arms around you and took you.”
Lily suddenly felt like a burning fire over the bind, and that feeling washed through them both.
Thayle smiled as Lilly recounted the excitement of Thayle's first kiss and the touch of her hands on her body. She smiled even more as Gersius went back to visualizing how much he loved her and strongly feeling the emotion of it. Eventually, Thayle started to cry as they flooded her with how much they loved her.
By early afternoon they spotted the road, and Lilly turned west to follow it. Behind them, the raging beast turned with them and followed. Gersius watched as if expecting him to veer off and fly away, or worse attack suddenly.
By mid-afternoon, they finally saw the line of wagons and men moving down the road. Gersius was tense about the coming meeting and how they would handle having a hostile dragon with them. He was even more worried that people would assume he was as friendly as Lilly was. That was a mistake they would likely not forget when snarled at them.
Lilly flew alongside the column, and they saw the people pointing up. He could tell they weren't pointing at Lilly but the dark dragon behind them. Lilly flew nearly a mile ahead to touch down in the road. He touched down just beyond her and hunched down like a cat about to spring.
They dismounted, and Thayle had to confront him again.
“You are not to threaten or in any way harm the people in that wagon train,” Thayle commanded.
“Make sure you include the horses,” Lilly said. “He will test the limits of your command.”
“Why do you help them?” he roared at Lilly.
“Why do you insist on being so angry?”
“I am a prisoner of a rodent!” he bellowed back. “I cannot possibly be more insulted!”
Lilly shook her head. “You are not a prisoner. It is only necessary to command you because we know you won't cooperate otherwise.”
“Why should I cooperate at all?”
“We spoke on the flight back. I know Thayle told you she would let you go if you didn't like being here. So you have nothing to lose by traveling with us for a week or two.”
He growled and took a stalking step forward. “You didn’t answer my question. Why do you help them? Do they have you enslaved? Are you bound to his will as I am to hers? Has he broken you like a pet and made you his thrall?”
Lilly was one who growled now, and her eyes filled with nearly equal rage.
“You watch your tongue!” she shouted. “I am still a dragon, and I am still proud! But I am more than just a dragon. I am something new, something better. All we wanted to do was give you a chance to see it! If you learn nothing from it, then you can go. I honestly don't think you will learn anything. You're a stubborn fool, and you know nothing but hate!”
“Do you not hate your enslavement to them?”
Lilly laughed. “I’m not enslaved. I am here of my own free will.”
“You lie!” he bellowed. “They have you bound just as they have me!”
“I am bound,” Lilly said. “But I chose to be, and I have never been so happy.”
He sneered at her, but Gersius interrupted. “I need you to get him off the road, so he doesn't panic the horses. Wait for them to pass by and then lead him to follow behind.”
“Of course,” Lilly said. “What do I do with him when we stop?”
“I will choose a place for him to lay overnight. I will come to get you when it is time,” he replied.
Lilly nodded and turned back to him. “Follow me. We are getting off the road.”
“I do not have to obey your commands!” he shouted.
Lilly shook her head, violently. “Aggh! Does everything have to be a command? Can't you just follow me? If you would cooperate, she wouldn't have to command you at all.”
“I have no desire to see whatever it is you wish to show me!” he bellowed. “I want to kill them and go back to my lair!”
Lilly walked right up to him and glared into his eyes only a few feet apart.
Gersius and Thayle felt the tension in the air as the two dragons squared off.
“You should be dead,” Lilly said firmly. “You're alive because she took pity on you and decided that she might be able to show you a great secret. She is offering you something greater than your hoard, and your life, but you're to blind to see it. It will take time for you to understand, so we are asking you to give up a little time.”
“You ask me to suffer!”
“Do I look like I'm suffering?” Lilly barked. “Now stop being difficult and follow me. If you cooperate just a little, she won't give you any more commands.”
The black dragon glared at Thayle, and Gersius saw Thayle nod her head.
“I will follow you,” he said in a voice that dripped of resentment.
Lilly turned and led the way into the field, taking him well away from the road as the lead riders of the wagon train appeared. Minutes later, the horses arrived with Lengwin in the lead.
“By Astikar, did you find another dragon?” Lengwin gasped. “You truly are gifted with winning them over.”
Gersius glanced at Thayle as they fell in line, walking beside Lengwin’s horse.
“I sense this is not all well?” Lengwin suggested.
“No,” Gersius said with a shake of his head. “Thayle has him bound against his will. He rages to break free and kill her.”
Lengwin went pale and glanced to the side as they passed the two dragons.
“So, he isn't here to help us?”
“I am afraid not,” Gersius said.
“But he could be,” Thayle interrupted. “He is angry now, but with a little time, he could come to see how happy Lilly is. He might come to understand and change his mind.”
“He is cursed,” Gersius pointed out. “I don’t know if that will be enough.”
Thayle sighed and hung her head. “Please let me try.”
Gersius put a hand on her shoulder. “You don’t need my permission. I only wish to protect you from the guilt you might feel if this doesn’t work. I know how deeply you take things to heart.”
Thayle nodded and looked over to him. “I hoped he would be responding to Lilly better. She practically had to fight him to get him off the road.”
“How will you manage him if he is hostile?” Lengwin asked.
“I have him bound and ordered not to harm anyone,” Thayle said.
“Do we need to feed him?” he asked as his concerns rose.
“He will likely not eat any more than Lilly,” Gersius said.
Lengwin looked alarmed at that. “So we will need wagons of bread,” he replied.
Gersius and Thayle laughed as they considered that Lengwin had seen Lilly eat several large loaves of bread in one sitting.
“Lilly does not need to eat that much,” Gersius said. “She doesn’t need to eat for weeks or months at a time. She only eats like that because she enjoys it so much.”
“Oh, thank Astikar,” Lengwin sighed.
“Actually, we should try giving him human food,” Thayle said. “He might enjoy it as much as Lilly does. It may be a way to reach him or soften him up, at least.”
Gersius nodded. “Will he take his human form so we can give him a meal?”
“We need to find him something to wear,” Thayle said. “There are far too many women in the camp for a tall naked man to walk around.”
Gersius laughed again as he considered that image. “I am sure we can find him something.”
“It might improve moral in the Ulustrah camp,” Lengwin said.
Gersius burst out laughing at the uncharacteristic joke from Lengwin as Thayle turned on him with shock. Even some of the nearby riders started to chuckle at the comment.
“High Priest Lengwin!” Thayle said in mock surprise. “How very boyish of you!”
Lengwin only smiled and looked ahead as they walked.
“So, how has it been while we were gone,” Gersius asked to move the conversation on.
“We met a few small groups on the road yesterday. I had the priestesses of Ulustrah test them, and we folded them into the army. We had an issue with breaking down the camp this morning. Some of the acolytes are complaining about being tired, and Mingfe is after me to give her even more time to train.”
“So basically the same as when we left,” Gersius surmised.
“Basically,” Lengwin replied.
“We should reach the meeting point for one of the larger towns today, shouldn't we?” Thayle asked.
Lengwin nodded. “And with any luck, the people and material you arranged in advance will be waiting for us.”
“It will be there,” Gersius said. “They were given nearly a week's notice, and that woman of Thayle's was very organized.”
Lengwin nodded. “So, did you find what you were looking for?”
“We did,” Thayle said as she drew the strange sword.
Lengwin leaned over in the saddle to get a look at it and stared at it in wonder.
“What kind of metal is that?” he asked.
“We have no idea,” Gersius said. “I know a few of the priests in your ranks are smiths. Would you mind asking them to come look at it after we make camp.”
“Of course,” Lengwin said.
They spoke about the details of the journey, and Gersius described the cave and tunnel complex they ultimately found the sword in. When they explained the warding and the effect it had on Lilly, he looked aghast. Then they explained the subsequent escape and the collapse of the tunnel.
“You are lucky to be alive!” Lengwin exclaimed when Thayle described falling into the caves below.
She took over the story going over the dragon and how she rescued him. She covered the details of the escape and how they found Gersius and Lilly. She also went into great detail about how the dragon felt about her. She explained how she could feel his hate over the bind and that it was so strong it made her sick.
“Are you sure keeping him is a wise idea?” Lengwin asked.
“I feel better now,” Thayle admitted. “Being away from him helps.”
“I worry that being drowned in such feelings would affect you,” Legwin replied.
“I worry about that too,” Gersius admitted.
Thayle nodded and took a steadying breath. “If he becomes too much to handle, I will send him away. But I can't help but believe the divines wanted us to find him. If they did, we have to try and reach him.”
“We will give you all the support you need,” Gersius said. “But please don’t let him change you.”
“I am fine,” Thayle said. “Besides, no amount of hate from him can compare to one night of love in Lilly's arms.”
Lengwin cleared his throat and kept his eyes fixed forward as Gersius chuckled at him.
Thayle smiled up at the embarrassed man and decided to tease him.
“So when do you take a wife?” she asked.
“Me?” Lengwin cried. “I have my faith and my duty. I do not have time for such things. Maybe when I am ready to retire.”
Thayle shook her head. “Are all you priests of Astikar the same?” She glared at Gersius with those words. “You put your desire for love last?”
“We have a duty to perform first,” Lengwin said. “Some members do marry, but it is common for a man to want to put his whole heart into his faith.”
“But wouldn’t faith be better served by a man who knew love?”
Lengwin tried to counter her, but Gersius put up a hand. “You will not win this battle with her. I have tried many times.”
“Love is a blessing from the divines,” Thayle said. “To deny it is to deny the divine.”
“And a priest of Astikar would say he does love; he loves Astikar.”
“You know there is a difference,” Thayle argued. “Lilly would say she loves her gold, but the love of another made her grow. Everyone becomes greater when they have a love to share.”
“I suppose I could consider a wife after the work in Calathen is done and assuming I could find one half as great as one of Gersius’s,” Lengwin said.
“Oh,” Thayle laughed. “I will find you somebody. I think Lilly said she had a sister.”
Lengwin twitched visibly in his saddle, and Thayle laughed.
“I need to meet with Mingfe and see how my order is doing,” Thayle said. “You two can have a moment of peace.” She gave Gerisus a quick kiss and headed down the line to find her forces.
“I would consider marrying now if I could meet a woman with half her strength,” Lengwin said as they watched her go.
“You should pay attention to her order. There are some truly gifted women in it,” Gersius said.
Once she was far enough away, Lengwin turned to Gersius.
“Now, you tell me how you feel about this dragon.”
Gersius understood what Lengwin was getting at. Thayle was the one who had it bound, and her point of view was clouded by a desire to help it.
“I trust Thayle with my life, but I don't trust him at all,” Gersius said. “If the binding ended an hour from now, he would likely try to kill us all. His hatred is so strong it makes Thayle sick to be near him. He won't even listen to Lilly when she asks him basic things. She had to use the threat of being ordered off the road to get him to do it willingly if you can call anything he does willing.”
“Is it safe to keep it with us?” Lengwin asked.
“Thayle has it tightly commanded,” Gersius answered. “But in doing so, she has only made it more angry at her. It can't hurt anyone while she is alive.”
“What happens if she dies?” one of the riders asked.
Gersius felt his soul chill at the thought, but it was a valid question.
“Then he brakes loose, and we pay the price.”