Sarah was still awake when Gersius returned to the room and undressed quietly. He climbed into bed as their eyes met, giving her a gentle smile that set her heart racing again. Lilly and Thayle stirred, pulling away and urging her into his arms. For the second time in her life, she mated with a human male. The moment was powerful, filled with sensations she was too overwhelmed to grasp the first time. This human body was made for sharing intimacy and responding to the touch of another in ways previously unimaginable. She understood now what Numidel had tried to explain all those years ago. About the fire that existed between those who loved. She dismissed it as fantasy. How could she or anybody else understand such a thing without experiencing it?
Now she lay awake with Thayle's dark hair over her chest. She lifted her head to see the tender woman sleeping gently in her embrace as if nothing in the world could harm her. “You are safe in my arms,” Sarah whispered. “I will never let anything hurt you.”
Beside her, Gersius also lay on his back with Lilly clutched to his chest. She looked gentle and innocent, sleeping with a smile on her face. Gersius looked her way and opened the hand that lay between them, beckoning her to join him. She dropped her arm, mingling her fingers with his as that powerful hand curled around them. Just his touch made her body react, the memory of their passion replying in her mind.
The first time they made love was overwhelming, but this time something new happened. She felt it growing deep inside, its power slowly increasing as they made love. It reached alarming proportions, and she found it impossible to contain her voice. Finally, it broke free like a flood, washing over her being in a cascade of sensation. She sang even louder, both alarmed and elated, clutching to his back, desperate for something to hold on to. She was shocked over what happened and felt vulnerable in the aftermath.
Thayle moved and readjusted her head on her breast. She claimed it was the most comfortable place to sleep and clutched to them tightly. Sarah stroked Thayle's hair and went back to her memories as the breeding was completed, and she was in shock. Lilly and Thayle descended on her, lavishing her in kisses and love, their hands exploring her hot skin as she tried to catch her breath. She was sure the moment was over, but they had other plans. With tender lips and roving fingers, they brought her back, causing her body to respond again, shaking her to the core.
There was magic in that moment as she responded to the touch of her lovers. Lilly held her still for a long moment, pressed tightly to her skin. She whispered about how beautiful Sarah was and how this moment would come every night. Sarah was terrified by that notion but surrendered to Lilly's embrace feeling safe and welcome. Thayle went on to make love to Gersius, and Lilly turned Sarah to watch them. She lay behind Sarah, tucked into her back as the two humans expressed their love. Thayle looked alive with hunger and need as she took what she wanted. Sarah struggled not to moan with her as the bind forced her to share it. Lilly took her hand and reached it out to grab Thayle's ankle. Sarah couldn't believe how intense it became when they made contact. Even though she lay still, she felt like she was moving, her body responding to every motion. Thayle's hungry thoughts were her own, and it became impossible to tell the thoughts apart. She was sure that she was Thayle, and Lilly, and Gersius. They were her, and she was them, the bind making everything a shared experience.
It was a learning experience, to say the least, as Sarah was introduced to a dozen different ways humans could join to make love. Thayle seemed to be a master of the dance of passion, her hunger knowing no bounds. Once Thayle was sated, they paused for a few moments as Gersius held her tight, whispering into her ear. She looked pleased and happy, feeling like a dragon who had eaten a full meal and was ready for a long sleep. It wasn't to come as Lilly and Thayle traded places, and Sarah was forced to endure another bought of passion. This time would be different as Thayle curled to her back and reached around with a skillful hand.
Sarah was almost lost in the moment when Lilly reached out and took her hand. Now she felt everything Lilly felt as if it was her own, coupled with Thayle's hand touching her in ways words could not define. Inside, the energy rose again, but it came forward like a great storm, overwhelming all her senses until her vision went dark.
She must have passed out. She didn't remember when it stopped but became vaguely aware she was on her back as Thayle rubbed one of her feet. Gesius was beside her with Lilly over his chest, kissing him softly and whispering I love yous.
She went to move, but Thayle insisted she lay still and rubbed her shoulders, causing the most soothing sense of relaxation she had ever known. Thayle told her she had gone too far and been unable to endure it. She was now soothing Sarah's body to help her relax. Sarah didn't have the strength nor desire to fight. She lay back and put an arm over her eyes as Thayle rubbed every inch of her skin.
As the night went on, they settled into their positions. Gersius took a few minutes to kiss her and assure her he loved her and was thrilled she was his wife. She smiled and ran a hand down his cheek and said she was equally thrilled he was her husband. Until that moment, she wasn't even sure why anyone wanted a husband; now she would kill to keep hers.
He lay down and pulled Lilly to his chest as Thayle curled to hers. The two girls drifted off to sleep as Gersius and she smiled at one another.
“They really love you,” he said, bringing her out of the memories.
Sarah looked down at Thayle and smiled. “They are both very beautiful. I am grateful they worked so hard to snare me.”
“Wait until they tell you how we caught Thayle,” he said. “It is quite a story.”
Sarah smiled and laid her head back. “So this is love?”
“This is a part of love,” he said. “Love isn't a single moment or a passing thing. Love is a constant, an unshakable knowing that another being's heart is precious to you. That being's heart means more to you than your own, and you can't help but want to see them happy. You will miss them when they are away, worry about them when there is danger, be angry when others threaten them. You will find emotions you never knew existed will rise in a torrent when somebody dares to threaten one you love.”
“Then what did we just do?” Sarah asked.
“We made love,” he replied. “This is a way to express how much we care for one another physically. It is a way to share our most intimate of gifts and the rewards that come with them. Our bodies and the act of mating are sacred and shared only with the persons we love most. Lilly and Thayle have expressed that they love you, and they want you to possess them.”
“And what about you? Didn’t I give you the gift of my body?” Sarah asked.
Gersius nodded. “You gave me the greatest gift a woman can give to any man. Even more, you wrapped it in love and made the moment beautiful.”
“I only wished to share myself to you,” Sarah said.
“Which is your love expressing itself but our wives see it a little differently. I argue with Thayle and Lilly sometimes about sharing our love. Thayle is fond of women and seeks to bring one to our bed now and then. To her this is simply for fun. Lilly sees no fault in this, but I do.”
“You do?” Sarah asked.
Gersius nodded. “I want the gift of myself to be special too. I do not want to share my gift with anyone I do not deeply love and want in my life. When I make love to you, I want you to know that it is because I treasure you and would die to protect you.”
Sarah felt her heart racing as her mouth came open in a speechless gasp. A human was saying he would die for her. How had her life turned around so quickly?
“Lilly and Thayle did that,” he said.
Sarah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I am going to find this ability to read my thoughts challenging.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “You will come to a point where you treasure that too. Sharing every idle thought, hope, and dream with your lovers will soon be a comfort.”
Thayle shifted and lifted her head with a gentle smile. “You feel happy.”
“I have never been so happy,” Sarah replied. “Now, go back to sleep; I want to hold you forever.”
Thayle stretched and yawned painfully. “There is something I need to do first,” she said. She sat up and smiled to see they were already holding hands. “Gersius,” Thayle began. “I am giving you Sarah to be your dragon.”
Sarah looked up at her with a confused expression. “But I am your dragon,” she said.
Thayle leaned down and looked Sarah in the eyes. “That’s right, and I am giving you to him. He will ride you from now, as he always should have.”
“But, I don't want to harm you,” Sarah said as she reached up with a hand. Thayle wrapped it up and held the hand to her chest, smiling down at Sarah.
“You can't harm me,” Thayle replied. “You choose to honor me in the end. Now let me honor you. I want you to carry him into battle. If it matters to you, then do it for me as an act of love.”
“I have much to learn about love,” Sarah replied.
Thayle nodded. “If you want to learn about love, all you have to do is open your heart to Lilly. She will teach you everything and more about how beautiful and innocent love can be.”
“I am sure you have a few things to teach me yet. I saw your thoughts earlier. You haven’t begun to show me all the way you know how to please with your touch,” Sarah said.
Thayle laughed softly and nodded. “Those things can wait until you have settled in and come to accept your new place.”
“I understand. Now, will you come back to my chest and settle in? I was rather fond of having you there.” Thayle nodded and came back to Sarah's embrace, tucking to her chest firmly.
Sarah stared at the ceiling as Gersius and Thayle started to laugh.
“It isn't funny,” Sarah scolded as she realized they were reading her thoughts. “When he finds out, I am going to get an earful. Numidel isn't going to pass up a chance to say I told you so.”
“Consider it one of the prices of love,” Thayle said.
Sarah sighed and squeezed Thayle to her chest. “I hope one of you will always be in my arms at night.”
“Except when you're in somebody else's arms,” Thayle said.
“Why would I...” she began as the realization hit her. Thayle giggled and lifted her head again.
“I think you need to surrender to that now.”
“I am perfectly happy where I am,” Sarah insisted, but Thayle climbed away and pointed to Gersius.
“There is room enough for one more at his chest. Now go, take your place in his arms.”
Sarah looked over as Gersius moved his arm to allow her in. She rolled over and climbed into place, laying her head on his chest as his arm came around her. Thayle curled to her back, pressing her between them and clinging to her tightly.
Sarah felt so at peace and something else she didn't have a word for. It was a sense of right as if this was where she had always belonged, and finally, she was home. She looked across to Lilly sleeping soundly and wondered if maybe she could sleep for just a little bit.
“Do it,” Thayle whispered. “You are safely wrapped in our love. Close your eyes, and let us protect you while you sleep.”
Since leaving the temple, Sarah avoided going to sleep. After all that time spent alone in the dream, she wanted to remain awake forever. She only slept to sleep to aid Lilly and frequently entered the dream in meditation. She was committed to not sleeping again for years to come, but here in this warm embrace, the thought of sleeping was a joy. She closed her eyes as Thayle's warm lips kissed at her shoulder and let the sleep carry her away.
“Where are we?” Lilly asked as she looked around a marbled hall with towering ceilings full of artwork and painted surfaces.
“You are in my hall,” Sarah said. “This is the palace in my once modest kingdom.”
“This is the dream?” Lilly asked.
Sarah nodded as she walked down the empty hall looking at the ornate palace that was once her home. She wore a long golden gown that trailed behind. Her hair woven into careful braids with golden pins topped by red jewels.
“Where are Gersius and Thayle?” Lilly asked.
“They are still awake,” Sarah said. “You were the only one who was sleeping when I reached out.”
“Can you take us into the dream whenever you want?”
Sarah nodded but pointed out there was a certain amount of concentration to keep others in the dream. However, that cost seemed far lighter now that they were bound. In fact, she paused to consider how easy it felt to hold Lilly here. Something about the bind made it easier as if they were part of her presence. If this was all the strain she would feel, she could bring them here for years.
She walked down the long red rug to the golden chair that sat at the end of the hall, raised a full meter above the floor, and adorned with plush red cushions. The back was carved to resemble two dragons facing one another, their wings making up the expanse of the back itself. Sarah sat on the long lost throne and looked over her hall empty of everyone but Lilly.
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“You are a pretty queen,” Lilly said as she walked closer.
“I was,” Sarah corrected with a sad tone. “Those days are long gone. I have spent more time trapped in that temple than I spent in this hall.”
Lilly climbed the steps as Sarah watched her approach. She pulled at the simple white dress she was wearing and let it fall to her feet before climbing into the throne to sit in Sarah’s lap. She wrapped her arms around Sarah’s neck and laid her head on her shoulder.
“Child, what are you doing?” Sarah asked.
“You looked so beautiful; I wanted to be in your arms,” Lilly said.
Sarah nodded and curled an arm around Lilly. “Whenever we come here, I expect you to sit in my lap like this.”
Lilly nodded, and Sarah smiled, looking out over the hall, the great red queen with a little blue clutched to her chest like a child.
“Do you come here a lot?” Lilly asked.
“I come here all the time,” Sarah replied. “I had such dreams for the future, but all of it burned away.”
“I’m sorry the war happened,” Lilly whispered.
“It certainly wasn't your fault,” Sarah replied. “It wasn't anyone's fault. Humans knew so much more about emotion, creativity, and passion than we did. Men designed this hall because no dragon would have envisioned this. We lack the ability to see such beauty in our minds, and even less so the talent to bring them forward. Humans are so gifted in their ability to imagine and create. That's what I miss most about the past, the great wonders that were built when human imagination was paired with dragon strength.”
“I bet it was wonderful,” Lilly said.
“It was breathtaking,” Sarah said. “Humans would design things that seemed impossible, but with dragons and our magic to aid them, the impossible was achieved. Mountains flew, towers reached for the clouds, and grand temples were constructed.”
“And we dragons never did any of this on our own?” Lilly asked.
“No,” Sarah replied. “You never spoke more true than when you said dragons live long, pointless lives. Even back then, most of us wanted a hole in the ground to hide in and a hoard to sleep on. Nothing else mattered.”
“Even before the curse?”
Sarah nodded. “You must understand we had a long and prosperous civilization well before men walked the world. Though they built amazing things, we dragons saw it all s frivolous and made fun of them for having such short life spans. We were too proud and could not see the beauty before us. Much like intimacy, you can't appreciate it until you experience it, and few were willing to try.”
“That's why I wanted you to join us,” Lilly said. “I wanted you to have more to your life. I hoped you would find the same joy I did.”
Sarah nodded. “I have found it. I found it in you. Watching you have this life is what made me wonder what I was missing. You are a blessing to the world of dragons, and your light needs to shine into every hidden lair. They all need to see what it means to be truly happy.”
Sarah watched her smile and felt the hug about her shoulders tighten. She raised a hand to stroke the long blue hair as her mind began to wander. For thousands of years, she tortured herself by coming here in the dream and reminding herself of what was lost. She believed that the only purpose her life could have was in war beside the dragon knight. Never did she imagine there was something more to be gained. Now she sat on her lonely throne, and everything she could ever want was curled in her lap. She felt a deep, stabbing emotion that hurt from her very core. She took a deep breath as her arm tightened and pulled Lilly in. With her face buried in that blue hair, she turned her pain into words.
“I love you, child of the scale,” Sarah said. “I promise to be a good wife and dragon to you all.”
“I like it when you call me child,” Lilly said.
“I know,” Sarah replied. “So long as you understand, I only mean it as a mark of my great age.”
“I know all about the order of dragons,” Lilly replied. “My mother made us memorize it and repeat it back to her. You are over five thousand, so you are a mother to the younger ones. If you were over ten thousand, you would be a grandmother, and if you were over fifteen thousand, you would be a great elder. The oldest dragon alive is known as the ancient, and the ancient leads the council of scale.”
“Your mother did teach you well,” Sarah said in admiration.
Lilly smiled and nestled in tighter, a slight giggle on her lips.
“What is that about?” Sarah asked.
“I have three mothers now,” Lilly said. “My actual mother, my wed mother, and now you.”
“I suppose you do,” Sarah said as she resumed stroking her head.
“I love you, mother,” Lilly said.
Sarah smiled and took a deep breath. “Never have I heard a dragon use it that way, but I am rather fond of it. So long as my title only represents my age, I am fine with you calling me mother.”
“Thayle calls you mother sometimes,” Lilly said. “She says you act like one.”
“That’s because she needs one,” Sarah replied. “That girl is the leader of Ulustrah’s armies and champion of her faith. She needs to assume her role at all times. Sometimes I see you two playing with one another like little girls.”
“We like to play.”
“You both need to be taken in hand and given some discipline. You are high priestesses, champions of the divines, and wives of the man who will one day be emperor. You will bear the title of empress, and millions will call your name.”
“You make that sound so scary,” Lilly said as she clutched tighter. “I just want a little home in my valley to be with my loved ones.”
“What kind of dragon want’s to share her lair?” Sarah asked.
“I love you all,” Lilly said. “And I want you to be in the place I feel is home.”
“You will have a great palace in Calathen with gardens and halls far grander than this one.”
“I don't care,” Lilly said with a sniff. “Gersius promised he would build us a house in the valley so we could be alone at last.”
Sarah nodded and realized that all Lilly wanted was time and peace to be alone with her lovers. This march must be hard on her, especially with all the demands in their time. Gersius told them that finding just a couple of hours to share their love was difficult. She looked into Lilly's thoughts and saw her dreaming of the valley and trying to imagine a house. Sarah closed her eyes and reached out, smiling to see Gersius and Thayle were finally asleep.
She opened her eyes and stood on a gentle hill of gravel covered in clumps of brown grass. The mountain walls rose high to either side, trapping Lilly's valley in a hidden embrace. Lilly stood beside her, looking around with wide eyes before smiling and throwing herself into Sarah's arms.
“Thank you!” she cried as the hug went on.
“You are most welcome, child,” Sarah replied and pried her off. “We can't dawdle. Our husband and wife will only sleep for a couple of hours. We need to make the most of our time.”
Lilly nodded and wiped her eyes as she turned around to see Thayle walking up the hill.
“Are we in the dream again?”
“Yes,” Lilly replied and reached out a hand. “Sarah brought us here.”
Thayle turned to Sarah with a smirk and a shake of her head.
“What is that for?” Sarah asked before Thayle gestured to Lilly and Sarah realized she was still naked. Sarah concentrated, and Lilly was suddenly clothed in a simple blue dress.
“Oh, I like this,” Lilly said.
“Lilly, you like every dress, even that tattered farmers dress,” Thayle remarked.
“It’s special. It was my first dress,” Lilly protested.
“It needs to be thrown away,” Thayle argued.
“No, I love it!” Lilly growled.
“Children,” Sarah intervened and stood between them. “I didn’t bring you here to fight.”
“Why are we here?” Thayle asked.
“And where is Gersius?” Lilly added.
“Let's go and find out,” Sarah urged and took a hand from each to lead them over the hills. Sarah was rather interested to see how the valley would look in the dream. She had no strong memory of attachment to this place and thus no effect on the dream. On the other hand, Lilly had very strong memories of this place, and the dream was showing her what she expected to find. Sarah marveled at the desolate beauty of the place, approving of such a home for a dragon.
The timber frame of a house appeared as they approached the stream, the sound of hammering echoing in the air. It was still early in its construction, but the outline was evident. Sarah nodded in approval to see this was a surprise to Lilly. This portion of the dream was being shaped by Gersius, and he was hard at work. Gersius stood at a wall shirtless while lifting a timber beam into place. His muscles rolled as he hoisted the freshly hewn beam over his head.
“Is that a house?” Thayle asked as Lilly dashed forward in excitement.
“Hello, husband,” Lilly called as she ran ahead.
He looked up and smiled, setting the beam in place before turning to sweep her into his arms.
“Did you three have fun on your walk?” he asked.
Lilly giggled and turned in his arms to lean her back to his chest. “We sure did.”
“Why is he acting like this is real?” Thayle whispered to Sarah as they approached.
“It is real to him,” Sarah whispered back. “He was already dreaming of building a house here when I pulled him in. He has no idea anything has changed.”
Lilly gave him a quick kiss and stepped back to look over the work in progress.
“It looks wonderful already,” she said. He nodded and pushed the beam into place before using a mallet to tap it into position. He turned his head and looked at Sarah as the beam inched along.
“Do you think you could get me a few more trees? I want to hew them for tomorrow so I can start the roof.”
Sarah nodded with a gentle smile and played along. “I will get you more trees from outside the valley.
He wiped his brow and turned, this time looking at Thayle as he smiled.
“I promise the house will be ready before you are due,” he said.
Thayle's eyes went wide as she staggered back a step.
“What do you mean before I’m due?”
“Our baby,” Gersius said with concern in his voice.
Thayle looked down at her stomach to see the large bulge as her face went white with shock.
In the dark of the bedroom, she bolted upright, gasping for air and feeling her stomach.
Sarah awoke a moment later as Lilly opened her eyes, giggling as she lifted a hand to Thayle.
“It was only a dream,” Lilly said.
Thayle looked at her with a start. “Did that just happen? Where we really in the dream?”
“Of course you were,” Sarah said and sat up in concern. “Are you well?”
“Why was I pregnant?” Thayle pleaded.
Sarah sighed and looked to their husband, still sleeping soundly.
“We were in the dream, and it was responding to strong emotion. Our husband believed you were pregnant so the dream altered to make it appear that you were.”
Thayle shook her head. “I wasn't ready to face that.”
Sarah thought that was a strange comment considering she agreed to join their relationship expressly to have children for them.
“Why are you afraid to have children?” she asked.
“I’m not afraid of having children,” Thayle argued. “I just wasn’t ready to have one right now. We are marching into a bloody war with an uncertain outcome. Children will have to wait until we know it is safe to have them.”
“It must be something more than that,” Lilly said. “You were afraid when I asked you to have them, and whenever it comes up, you feel terrified. I can feel you over the bind now; you're getting more upset as I talk about it.”
Thayle nodded. “Please, Lilly, I will have the children, but I need a little more time.”
“It would be foolish to have them now,” Sarah agreed. “But it was only the dream. You needn’t be so upset.”
Gersius suddenly yawned and opened his eyes. He looked up to see all three women sitting and talking.
“What are you three doing up?”
Lilly glanced at Thayle, who nervously rubbed her arm.
“I had a bad dream,” Thayle said.
He reached up and stroked her back. “I had a funny dream,” he said. “I was building our house in the valley, and you three were there. I promised you I would have the house ready in time for our baby, and you became upset and ran away.”
Thayle looked away from him and folded her arms over her chest.
“I'm sorry, I was shocked.”
“Your sorry for what you did in my dream?”
Lilly giggled as Thayle shot her an angry glare.
“Children, I will have no more arguing,” Sarah said as she read their thoughts.
Gersius looked between them. “Is something going on I do not know about?”
Thayle sighed and looked away as Sarah wrapped her up, pulling her to her chest.
“That was the dream,” she said. “I pulled you all into it, and your love caused Thayle to look and feel as if she was pregnant.”
Gersius nodded and then looked at Thayle, who still had her back to him.
“Then you were honestly upset about being pregnant?”
“I wasn't ready for it is all,” Thayle said. “Somehow, you made me pregnant in the dream, and the shock of it frightened me.”
“But, you're not frightened to have a real baby?”
Thayle shook her head. “Of course, I am. That isn't a small thing. But I promise when you want children, I will provide them. I just had it in my mind it would be a year or two from now, not five minutes from now.”
He sat up and leaned over her back, hugging her tightly as he looked into Sarah’s eyes.
“Next time you pull me into the dream, please let me know.”
“You were already dreaming of building the house,” Sarah replied. “I wanted Lilly to see it.”
He turned to look at Lilly, who had tears in her eyes as she watched from the side.
“You are really going to build us a house so we can be happy?” she asked in a strained voice.
Gersius kissed the back of Thayle’s head and sat back on the bed. “I will build the house, but you have to understand, we can’t always be there.”
“Why not?” Lilly asked with wide eyes.
Sarah knew why and decided to jump in and explain that they would be needed to rule the empire. Lilly looked sad as Gersius continued and suggested they could get away to the valley for short periods to be alone. She nodded her head, but over the bind, she was unhappy.
“Child, you must understand, you walk a path of great responsibility,” Sarah explained. “Once you rebuild the empire, you must be on hand to rule it.”
“I know,” Lilly sniffed. “Gersius told us before, but I never thought about it.”
Sarah felt her pain and looked down at the women in her arms. “And what about you? Do you understand the role you have to play?”
Thayle nodded. “I knew we would have to be empresses, but like Lilly, I haven’t really thought about what that means.”
Sarah looked to Gersius as they shared the silent understanding that he was right. The two women saw the end of the war as the end of their responsibilities. They were not prepared for what would come next.
“Why don’t we go back to sleep and I will take us to the valley again,” Sarah offered.
“Perhaps we should just stay up and work on preparing the camp for the march,” Gersius replied.
Sarah felt Lilly’s heart sink and became deeply concerned for the little dragon.
Husband, surely you can spare us another twenty minutes. Let’s go back to the valley and talk about this house. I want to know where I will be living.”
Thayle smiled as Gersius nodded gently, and Lilly swelled with joy over the bind. He pulled the happy dragon into his arms and lay down to return to the dream. Sarah carried Thayle with her and settled in beside him, closing her eyes as she focused on the destination.
She was in the dream first, quickly followed by Lilly. They stood on the same hill as before, waiting for their loved ones to fall asleep. Sarah pulled Gersius in next, and finally, Thayle, who arrived with a smile.
“Now explain this house you promised to build,” Sarah said with a commanding tone.
Gersius took them across the hills to a place along the stream where he planned to build. He explained that when he arrived in the valley, he knelt at this stream to get a drink. It was his last peaceful thought before he pressed on to meet his fate. He then gave a detailed description of the home and the layout of the ground floor.
“Will we have a big bedroom?” Lilly asked.
“Big enough for us,” Gersius said.
“What about the others?” Lilly pressed to confused looks from the rest.
“What others?” Sarah asked as Thayle started to laugh.
“Lilly, there must be a limit,” Gersius insisted.
“But you said if a woman who was special and deserving came along, we would take her.”
Gersius let out a sigh as Thayle reminded him he did say that.
“Wait a minute. Did you promise her she could keep taking wives?” Sarah asked.
“I did not promise anything,” he argued. “I simply acknowledged that I would consider a woman who was deserving.”
“I see,” Sarah replied with narrow eyes.
“Are you jealous?” Thayle asked with a laugh.
“I am nothing of the sort,” Sarah protested. “I simply wish to keep this family strong.”
“Oh please,” Thayle pressed. “I doubt we will take anyone who isn't deserving. Look how hard it was to get you into this family.”
Sarah let out a long sigh and nodded. “So long as she is deserving.”
They spent a little time talking about life in the valley, with Lilly insisting they should live there instead of Calathen. Gersius had to explain the need to be visible and accessible to the people. If they attempted to rule from so far away, others would see an opportunity, and problems would mount. He assured her they would be able to get away for weeks or even a month at a time, but they could not live exclusively in the valley. Sarah reminded her that she could fly them to the valley and reduce the trip by several days, giving her more time.
With that to bolster her heart, Gersius suggested it was time to go. Sarah took one last look at the lonely and desolate valley before drawing them out. One by one, they woke, their mood solemn as the weight of the road ahead became all too real. Less than three hours later, wagons were being packed, and masses of people formed into columns. Scouts were already a day out, and the advance forces led by Gams marched before dawn. As the sun began to rise, a column of soldiers over a mile long snaked its way into the hilly passes.
Gersius led the march on Sarah’s back, his armor shining in the morning light. Sarah walked with her head held high on a long slender neck. She looked a terrifying sight, towering over the wagons and shaking the ground as she walked. Lilly walked beside her with Thayle on her back, her head high enough to reach Sarah’s shoulder. Behind them came Numidel, and then Shadros walking with Mingfe at his side. The four dragons went out of the hills leading a wave of men and women destined to change the world.
~From the hills they will come,
four of the scale leading the way.
Behind them will come the angry, the bitter, and the scorned.
Their numbers will be greater than expected and yet to swell even more.
Ahead the lands of the dragon, whose great walled city will mock the four.
“No man has ever broken these walls. No army has ever set foot in our homes. Go away, oh man of anger, for we reject your rule. Continue, and you will die at these walls, as will the four who aid you.”
On he will come to face the walls, the secret to defeating them in his hands.
The hour before his victory, the viper in his midst will strike. The snake whose head was thought crushed will bare its fangs. A fatal bite from the shadows, and she will cry to the heavens as the blood falls from the bowl.