Three days into the march and Lilly was grateful to be settling down into the landing ring. Gersius and Thayle jumped down from her back, looking weary and tired. Their armor was tarnished and stained from flying through stormy weather and standing in muddy fields.
The trips needed to be made to ensure the maximum amount of people and resources were flowing into the campaign. Gersius was determined to strip the land bare of anybody who would help them and the resources to see it done.
They flew through the nights to reach distant towns and villages just to recruit a single priestess. Sometimes they came with other volunteers, but more often than not, they came alone with little equipment.
Thayle waited by the side of the ring as Lilly changed and then helped her dress. The rain lashed the wagon train all afternoon, and they camped in a soggy farmyard under brooding skies. Lilly was careful not to soil her dress in the mud as they walked to the next challenge of the day.
From the moment they arrived in the meeting tent the problems started. Lengwin brought all the shortages and essential notes to Gersius's attention. Mingfe informed them of the progress of Ulustrah's army and the rising problem. As new men and women trickled in, she was being forced to train several groups at different levels of capability. She needed Thayle to be present to teach the more advanced women while she focused on the new ones.
Gersius wouldn't hear of it. Thayle was a dragon knight and needed to be present in that role. He pressed Mingfe to find somebody who could train them, but Mingfe insisted there was nobody else. Furthermore, she insisted there should be three levels of training, not two. If they wanted an army ready to fight when they got to Calathen, they needed to help her.
The offer was made to put priests of Astikar into the role, but Mingfe demanded a woman who would understand a woman's fighting style.
Lilly put a hand on his shoulder as he rubbed his tired temples, trying to think of a solution.
Then came the next problem, and that was Shadros. He had discovered his shouting could panic the horses and made liberal use of it during the day. When an injury occurred, Mingfe put a stop to it by throwing spears at him every time he opened his mouth. Now he was a seething ball of anger who insulted anyone who came near.
“Are you sure he should remain?” Lengwin questioned.
Gersius didn’t answer. He put his head down in his hands as his tired mind began to strain.
Thayle felt the strain over the bind as well as read the awkward silence in the room.
“He just needs a little more time,” she said. “If we could win over a second dragon, it would make taking the city that much easier.”
“If he slows our march down, he will make the city harder to take,” of the captains of Astikar said.
“He will not slow us,” Mingfe said. “I will keep a tighter reign of him.”
“You can’t watch him every minute of the day,” Lengwin said. “You just told us you were overstretched trying to train your soldiers.”
Mingfe nodded. “He only needs to be controlled during the march. I will watch over him then and ensure he behaves. When we camp, I will put him farther away.”
“Perhaps you should command him not to shout?” Lengwin asked.
“It is good for an angry man to shout,” Mingfe said. “It gets his rage out of his system. If I forbid him from shouting, he wouldn't speak at all.”
Lengwin looked confused by that answer but let the matter drop.
“So long as he causes no more problems or slows us down.”
Gersius finally spoke up though he didn't lift this head.
“If he continues to be a burden, he will be told to go. I have too many things to worry about to add a violent, angry dragon to them.”
Mingfe stiffened but nodded, and the meeting went on. After two hours of complaints laid at his feet, Gersius was finally free to enjoy what was left of the night.
Lilly and Thayle wasted no effort in making that time special and took him to bed. There in the stillness of their private space, he brooded with a wife in each arm.
“You feel tense still,” Thayle said. “Did we not give you enough love?”
Gersius smiled and kissed the top of her head. “I could never get enough love from you two. Nor will I ever tire of hearing you say you love me.”
Thayle smiled and nestled into his chest.
“I love you, my husband.”
“We are staying here all night?” Lilly asked as she rubbed a fingertip over a scar on his chest.
“We will set out after the wagons begin moving in the morning,” he replied. “That will give Thayle time to train the women.”
“I should spend that time with the acolytes,” Lilly said. “They haven’t had any training in the past two days.”
Gersius nodded and rubbed her back. “I am sure they would appreciate it. Didn’t you say Culver was making progress?”
Lilly nodded. “He told me how hard he was working. I think he has nearly perfected your focus technique.”
“I have trouble believing that,” Thayle said.
“Why?” Lilly asked.
Thayle shifted on Gersius's arms. “I see your meditations every morning. His aura dips in colors rapidly. This usually means he is confused or distracted. His mind is jumping from thought to thought, and to be honest, it's worse when he is around you.”
“He is still infatuated with me?” Lilly asked.
“He is a young man, he will grow out of it,” Gersius said.
“He needs to focus!” Lilly said harshly. “He is the only one we give personal attention to and should have made the connection already. He tells me he is working extra hard, but if his mind is still unfocused, he hasn't gained anything. I will talk to him and make sure he is aware of what I expect from him.”
“Let’s hope that helps,” Thayle said with as she ran her hand down Gersius’s chest.
Gersius looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
“Husband, if you don't relax, I am going to force it on you,” Thayle said.
He smiled again. “You can force me to relax, can you?”
“I happen to be skilled in Shiaritsu, a form of message that takes years to learn. I will relax you so completely you won't be able to walk!”
“I may take you up on that offer,” he mused.
Thayle leaned up and kissed his chin. “You are deeply loved. I know you have longed to stop fighting and raise your family. I promise you will have your family.”
He closed his eyes with a sigh and pulled her in tightly.
“I almost lost that when you fell into that cave,” he said.
“I told you,” Thayle interrupted him. “That was meant to happen. Mingfe thinks so as well. I survived a fall that should have at the very least injured. Then discovered the dragon trapped in the rubble dying. I was even able to heal him fully without drawing on Lilly.”
“Your healing is getting stronger,” he said.
“My healing doesn't just get stronger,” Thayle said. “It grows with our faith, yes, but I reached my potential long ago. I can't explain how I was able to restore him so completely.”
“So what does that mean?” he asked.
“The goddess herself is blessing my healing,” Thayle said. “And all of that means he was meant to be here for some reason. The only question is, will he see it in time.”
“He makes me sad,” Lilly said. “He reminds me of how pointless my life was.”
Thayle reached over and rubbed Lilly’s arm. “Sweetheart, I told you that your life was never pointless. You were living the life you were meant to have. He is living the life he was meant to have. But the divines chose you to break you free of that life and make you something more. Now, it’s his turn.”
Lilly smiled and took a deep breath. “I hope your right.”
“She is right,” Gersius said. “But just because the divines call to you, doesn’t mean you have no choice in it. He may have been called and delivered into our care, but he has to choose to learn.”
“I don't think he can,” Lilly said. “I told you before; it was your love that broke through to me. Who does he have who can love him and brake through?”
Gersius sighed and let that thought sit in his heart. Who indeed did Shadros have to love him?”
“He isn’t our biggest concern,” Gersius said. “We need to find a way to equip and train Thayle’s army. This is our primary concern.”
“I didn’t realize how unprepared our temples were for conflict,” Thayle said.
“Your order blesses the world with fertile harvest and families, not law and order at the tip of a sword. You have no reason to maintain armories or combat ready units,” he reminded her.
“And yet here we are, raising the largest fighting force Ulustrah has seen in the history I know of her,” Thayle replied.
Gersius was silent a moment as he thought about it. “There is a major city two days ahead. We will camp there for three days.”
“What?” Thayle asked. “We can’t linger in one place for three days?”
“We will fly ahead to it in the morning and put the smiths to working on spears and armor for your forces. I will have Lengwin write a letter to have the priests of Astikar. They will ready tents and wagons so that when we arrive, we can easily add them to our force.”
“But why three days?” Thayle pressed.
“A few reasons,” he replied. “One I want to give you more time to train with your women, and I want to search the city for a woman who can fight to help you train them. Second, I want Lilly to look for three more acolytes. I promised she could check the cities as we passed through them. This will also give Lengwin a chance to send riders out ahead of us and get more prepaired.”
“What do we do with Shadros while we are there?” Lilly asked.
Gersius smiled. “I was hoping you would bring him some food. Something sweet from a bakery might help calm him a bit.”
“I can’t believe Mingfe got him to change for her,” Thayle said.
“From what I hear of it, she didn't give him much choice,” Gersius said with a smile. “But at least he is eating the food we bring him. Let's hope we can soften him a little more with it.”
“Lengwin will be upset, though,” Lilly said. “He is worried about Astikars artifacts.”
Gersius nodded. “I suspect even he will need time to organize all the materials that will be waiting.”
Thayle ran a hand along Lilly’s arm. “Let’s talk about something else. Our days are full of turmoil enough. Tell me about the valley.”
Gersius sighed and thought back. “It's a quiet, lonely place. Nothing grows there, but hardy scrub grass, and there is a constant touch of frost on the air.”
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“I doubt you will notice that anymore,” Lilly said.
“Probably not,” he agreed.
“Is it very big?” Thayle asked.
“It's small for a mountain valley. Maybe just over a mile wide and three or four long. But its surrounded by walls of stone with white peaks.”
“I always felt safe there,” Lilly said. “I would fly over the mountains and look down on the snow. Sometimes I would land in the upper slopes and walk in the emptiness of it. I was never upset that I was alone, but looking back at it now, I feel a sense of loss.”
“So, there are no trees at all?” Thayle asked
“Not even the mountain pines or spruce you see in the north, though the valley is certainly warm enough to grow them,” he replied.
“A quiet place to raise a family,” Thayle said. “Far away from the turmoil of wars and conflicts of faith. I can’t wait to see it.”
“I have to admit that even though I went into that valley, believing I was going to die, I felt a strange sense of peace there. Like I had finally come home.”
Thayle smiled and ran a hand up his chest. “Because you had. The love of your life was there just waiting for you to meet her. That valley is your home.”
“Our home,” Lilly said, reaching out to Squeeze Thayle's arm. “I can't live there without you.”
Thayle smiled at her. “How did I get seduced by a dragon?”
Lilly looked lost for a moment, and Gersius started to laugh.
“She has no idea what that means, does she?” Thayle asked. “I forget how innocent and sweet you are sometimes.”
“I never forget how beautiful you are,” Lilly replied.
Thayle smiled broadly. “Sweetheart, unless you want more love, you had better watch your words.”
“I am like our husband,” Lilly said with a smile. She reached out and pressed a fingertip to Thayle nose. “I can never get enough of your love.”
The two women leaned over his chest to share a kiss as he rubbed their backs and basked in their love over the bind.
“What a strange life I lead,” he said. “I face the greatest and bloodiest challenge I have ever known while being drowned by a love I never dreamed possible.”
Two pairs of soft lips came to his cheeks. Thayle’s gentle lips went down his neck while Lilly’s went over his face to seek out his. He shared a deep passionate kiss with his beautiful dragon as Thayle lavished his neck and shoulders.
“This is your reward for being such a good man,” Lilly whispered.
“And what is your reward for being such a good dragon?” he asked.
She smiled and gave him a second gentle kiss. “My husband and wife are. I never have to be alone again.”
The hope that those words were true flashed through all their hearts, but none of them spoke of it. The rain began to fall, and the sound on the tent was soothing. It helped to drive away the world around them, and the unpleasant thought in their minds. As the night slipped by, they shared each other and the love they carried determined to make the time count.
As the morning's chores went on, Gersius sat with the acolytes and went over exercises for chanting tones. Once they could establish the link, they needed to be able to sing the chants of the blessings clearly. He demonstrated the dragon claw blessing to the amazed gasps of many and assured them that they too, would be able to use it.
When he was done, he went out to spar with some of the captains of Astikar. Lilly sat with the acolytes and began the morning prayers leading them in song to Balisha. Afterward, she worked with each of them and guided them through meditations. When those chores were done, she sat alone and meditated herself.
She focused on the thought of her desire to share a long life with her lovers. Again she saw a bright star low in the sky and didn’t understand. She held the image a moment and felt a distant loneliness as if this meant something important but sad.
Eventually, she got up and decided to do another task and set out to find Shadros. She found him beside the tents of Ulustrah in his dragon form scowling as Mingfe led dozens of men and women through combat drills. A few dozen more trained directly with each other under Thayle's careful watch.
She approached the dragon in her blue dress and waited for him to notice her.
“Why do you wear that ridiculous rag?” he asked with only one eye open to regard her.
Lilly scoffed. “This is a beautiful dress, and I happen to like wearing them.”
“You look foolish,” he replied as he lifted his head high.
“I see you’re in no better a mood.”
“I am a slave being forced to watch ant’s play at games,” he replied.
Lilly didn’t feel like engaging him in that conversation and rapidly moved to another question.
“Were going to be stopping in a major human city soon. Would you like to try some of the foods that come from cities?”
“I do not need food.”
“I know that!” she snapped. “Or did you forget I was a dragon?”
He remained silent and turned his head to watch her with one eye again.
“You can eat like I eat, purely to enjoy it. They have much better food in the cities than we do here in the camp. I will get you some to try.”
He didn’t reply and turned his head slightly as if looking away from her.
Lilly stepped closer. “Listen, I know you're cursed, and you can't accept what is going on. We have decided that if we can't find a way to break your curse soon, you will be set free.”
“Ha!” he laughed. “You lie, you will never set me free.”
Lilly sighed. “We don't want to harm you. We want to help you, but if in helping, we begin to cause more harm, we will give up. I just wanted to ask you to stop trying to disrupt the wagons.”
“Why should I do anything for these rodents?” he asked, finally turning his head to glare at her.
“Because I asked you to,” Lilly said. “I am asking you as a dragon not to cause us any more trouble.”
He seethed with heavy breathing, and she was sure he was angry, but instead of arguing, he turned away.
“I want to go home,” he said.
“And do what?” Lilly asked.
“Sleep,” he replied. “Sleep and forget any of these rodents exist.”
“I said that once too,” Lilly replied.
He glared at her, but she turned away and walked into the camp. She could see tents were already coming down and work to ready the wagons was in progress. With a sigh, she went back to the meeting tent. She passed through it into the large round tent wall that acted as her landing spot. For some reason, this space felt like the only space of privacy she had.
She folded her arms about herself and paced the yard of the tent. Seeing how trapped Shadros was in his mindset made her feel terrible. More so, he reminded her of just how trapped she had been. Thank the divines for Gerisus and Thayle. Thank them all for breaking her curse and setting her free.
Half an hour later, Gersius and Thayle arrived in their armor. Lilly was changed and waiting with the saddle, and they somberly climbed up. She took to the sky and flew off in search of the distant city to prepare them for their arrival.
By late afternoon the walls of the city came into view. They circled to locate a safe place to land and approach on foot.
Lilly touched down in a cleared woodlot and began to walk toward the city on foot with her loved ones on her back. She made her way out into the main road that went to the city gates.
“This part always makes me nervous,” Thayle said.
“This city already knows about us,” Gersius replied. “Lengwin sent messengers this way a week ago.”
“Then why did we need to visit it?” Lilly asked.
“I want to make extra efforts to recruit and to get supplies,” Gersius replied. “I also want them to see you. I am hoping it will encourage more people to help.”
Lilly lifted her head high to scan the distant walls as they got closer.
“There is a group of people coming. I see fifteen, most are priests of Astikar, some are Ulustrah, and there are two I do not recognize.”
“They are probably officials from the town,” Gersius said.
“Three of them look official, but two of them are in dark blue robes with bald heads.
“Priests of Vellis,” Thayle said.
“There must be a temple in the city. They are common in the larger ones,” Gersius replied.
As they got close enough to where Gersius and Thayle could make them out, Lilly stopped, and the two jumped down to meet the arriving party.
“Hail Dragon knights,” the priests of Astikar said with a formal salute.
Gersius and Thayle nodded as they approached speaking distance with Lilly behind but looming overhead.
As the men approached, they introduced themselves. Thayle and Gersius were happy to see Captain Hern and Elisha were among the group.
They were introduced to the leaders of the town and the master of trade. The third man in fine clothes turned out to be an envoy of the king. He was a good stout man with shoulder length red hair and a broad mustache. He was cordial and polite but shared with them a concern that was plaguing the king.
“The king is worried that allowing you to march unopposed through his land will be seen as cooperation. He doesn't wish to impede you, but he has received correspondence from the Father Abbot. He has been told that his passive attitude looks poorly on him. He is concerned that if you fail, his relations to the south will be sorely damaged.”
Gersius nodded his understanding. “We have put him in a bad position. If he aids us and we fail the Father Abbot could cut off your trade to the south.”
“That is his chief concern. The Father Abbot has made it clear that to allow you to march is aiding you. The letter was clear there would be repercussions for doing so,” the man said.
“Not to mention that nearly everyone believes the Father Abbot is right,” the master of trade said from the background.
“Right about what?” Thayle asked.
“No disrespect to you but, it doesn’t seem possible that you could take Calathen,” the man said. “The Father Abbot has written the king to point out how foolish it is to back you on such an obvious disaster.”
Gersius turned and pointed up to Lilly.
“Do you see her?” he asked. “A living, breathing dragon walks behind us. We have a second dragon back with our wagons. If your king needs reassurance, tell him that I am the one the divines stand behind, not the Father Abbot.”
The red haired man turned to the master of arms and held up a hand to silence him. “We understand your power, but you ask him to take a great risk.”
Gersius wasn't sure how to convince the man, but Thayle spoke up.
“Even if Gersius turns back now, Ulustrah has been ordered to war. If you value the blessings our faith brings on farm and family, you will stand with Gersius. If your king marches against him, he marches against Ulustrah as well.”
The man twitched nervously and looked around before finally bowing. “I will inform him of this development and return if he wishes to deliver a message.”
With that, the man excused himself, and they were finally able to meet the others. Gersius wasted no time in going to the men of Astikar, and Thayle went to the women of Ulustrah.
They were all pleased to find out that many additional silent women had turned up ready to help, and that in some cases their husbands and sons came with them. There was a strange lack of attendance with the women of Ulustrah, however. Thayle didn't press the matter in so public a space and decided to ask later.
After the formal greetings, they walked back to the city so that the people could see Lilly. She was allowed to step inside the gates and stood in an inner courtyard as the city crowded around at a safe distance.
She was introduced as the High Priestess of Balisha, and the greatest shock came to the people when she spoke. Lilly then announced that they were looking for three more people to join her fledgling faith. Gersius followed her with what was expected of them and the hard road of work and war ahead.
Of special note were the priests of Vellis, who took an interest in questioning them. They wanted to know why the faith of Astikar was divided and why Ulustrah was now at war with them.
Gersius told them his portion of the story and how he hoped to unite the empire to end the war. Lilly told them about the dragon attack in the valley and about how cruelly she was treated when she arrived at Whiteford. Thayle explained the support Prime Arlin had given the two and how it sparked open conflict with the Father Abbot. She made a point of stressing to the men that she was ordered to march on Calathen by a meeting of primes.
The two priests of Vellis seemed shocked by the story and wished them well on their efforts. They explained that they shared a temple with Ulustrah, and were concerned by the news of violence between the faiths. Gersius assured them that none of this was ever the intention, but the Father Abbot has left them no choice. They had to march against Calathen and take the city by force.
The men excused themselves and stepped away, leaving Gersius and Thayle a moment to speak.
“Why were they so interested in our plans?” he asked.
Thayle shrugged just as lost as he was.
“He said they share a temple with your order?” Lilly asked.
Thayle looked up and nodded to her. “Our faiths are seen as brother ans sister to each other. We often combine our small temples into bigger ones for the sake of cooperation.”
“But this is a large city,” Lilly stated. “Surely, you have a large temple here.”
Thayle nodded at the logic looking around at the gathered people who were talking among themselves and pointing at Lilly. Now seemed as good a time as any to ask about the poor attendance. She turned to Elisha and pulled her to the side.
“How large is the temple here in the city?”
Elisha looked nervous but answered. “It is a decent temple that houses twenty.”
Thayle nodded and looked around. “Then why are there only four of you here?”
Elisha hesitated, and Thayle saw the light of her aura twisting.
“Elisha, where are the rest of the priestesses?” she demanded.
“All of the women with me are outside the gates waiting for my return,” she replied. “The three you see here are all that remain of the temples, priestesses.”
“What do you mean, all that remain?”
Elisha took a breath. “It would appear that High Priestess Rachel arrived and challenged High Priestess Uvain for her complacency. She and Uvain eventually fought, and Rachel nearly killed her.”
Thayle's mouth locked in a scowl, and her face flushed as Elisha continued.
“She declared that members of Ulustrah’s order were working in secret to aid Astikar. She ordered the women of the temple to march out with her. She even took the temples scryer.”
Gersius put his hands to Thayle's shoulders to try to steady her, but she could not be settled.
“That snake will hang for this!” she yelled, drawing eyes from the people around the courtyard.
“Thayle, control your anger,” Gerisus insisted.
“She has stolen my women for her own purposes!” Thayle cried. “More so, she took a scryer! She will be sending messages to every temple she can reach to poison them against us!”
Captain Hern arrived to support Elisha when it became apparent what was being discussed.
“As you can understand,” he began. “We didn’t dare bring our support into the city. We would only have added fuel to Rachels claims that some women of Ulustrah were aiding Astikar.”
“You were wise to leave them hidden outside,” Gersius said. “But now we have a new problem.”
“How can she call herself a priestess when she is so full of venom!” Thayle cried. “Just because I wear a mark, she can't accept that Ulustrah favors me?”
“This has to be more than simple jealousy,” Gersius said. “She is actively working against you to prevent you from coming to power.”
“She has no say in it. I was chosen by Ulustrah herself, and appointed by a vote of the primes. Her personal feelings have no value to what I do! I am above her!”
Gerisus turned her to face him and looked into her eyes.
“Thayle!” he snapped at her. “Your anger is out of control. Right now, you sound more like Shadros than the woman I love.”
She looked up into his eyes, and her mouth fell open. “I… I'm sorry.”
Gersius pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. He stroked her head as she hid her face in his armor.
“If his rage is affecting us, he has to go,” Gersius said. “We cannot lose control when things turn against us. We must always stay focused on purpose and faith.”
“I just can't believe a woman of my order is working so hard to hinder me,” she said. “It doesn't make any sense.”
“No, it doesn't,” Gersius agreed. “We need to find her and find out why she is working so hard. I fear she may be the source of all our recent problems.”
“What are you getting at?” Lilly asked from above.
Gersius looked up at her with dire eyes.
“That Rachel may be doing exactly what she claims Thayle is,” he said. “I suspect she is working for the Father Abbot.”
The silence that followed was broken only when Lilly finally sighed.
“Then that explains how he knows we are here,” Lilly said. “She probably used the scryer to relay a message and told him long ago.”
Gersius nodded his agreement as he held Thayle tight. This could only mean the road ahead would be blocked at every turn. The closer he got to the lands of the old empire, the bloodier the days would become.