Gersius led the charge out of the tunnel into the wilds of the north, riding on Lilly's back with Thayle right behind him. The banners of the dragon knights flew boldly as they swept down a shallow ramp into a small cluster of Doan fortifications. Thanks to the scouts, they knew this side of the tunnel was protected, but not from the tunnel itself. These defenses were to protect the tunnel from the dangers in the north, and Gersius slammed into the small holding force with no remorse.
The warriors of Balisha were mixed into the ranks of the Heavy infantry of Astikar to lead the attack across rock walls and crudely made ramparts. All of it was strategically hidden under large sprawling trees so that the structures would be nearly invisible from the sky.
The hundred and fifty Doan left to protect the tunnel were taken by surprise and swept aside in a short but bloody battle. A last stand was made in what appeared to be an underground bunker, carved into the rock to act as a crude barracks and storehouse. The Doan inside could easily control the narrow entrance, slaughtering any he tried to enter.
Sarah offered to burn them out, but Gersius didn't want to risk her fire destroying valuable maps or other documents that might be useful in their efforts. Instead, Lilly was brought up and, with a deep blast of freezing cold, turned the bunker into an icy grave. The Doan inside were frozen in place, still holding spears at the ready to repel the invaders. The seekers searched the buildings as teams of the women of Ulustrah marveled at the trees growing above the structures. It was clear these were blessed and grown intentionally to conceal the base. More trees like it had been grown to either side of a broad road made by thousands of trampling feet. The effect was what appeared from the air to be a sprawling forest allowing the Doan forces to move unseen by flying dragons.
It was a carefully crafted route to deliver the Doan’s army undetected into the perfect place to cripple the empire. It was supported by the smaller teams sowing chaos further east to keep Gersius looking the wrong way. Attacks from the south by Ayawa's people and the various kingdoms were meant to divide his forces and attention while sowing panic in the empire. This culminated in the arrival of the dragon slayers from Whiteford, who nearly removed Sarah from the battlefield.
Spies and secret agents slowed supplies from the east as the various rulers of the common lands were constantly fed lies. All of it was a massive plan to keep Gersius running in all directions, and thanking the heavens, the Doan army hadn't tried to push across the borders. Then the third army would strike from behind and sweep the empire in a tide of blood, leaving him too crippled to stop their true plan.
That the Doan was nothing but paws to keep him busy was no surprise to him or his wives. This Gorromogoth had spent years planning this moment, laying in wait until the time of the eclipse approached. He knew the dragon knight would rise to oppose him, and prophecy would guide his steps. So plans were made in layers assuming they would fail but be quickly replaced by the next snare. They even tried to interpret the prophecy, using what was said to weave their nets and lay carefully crafted snares. All of it failed and helped fulfill the prophecy, delivering him to the next step of the plan.
In hindsight, he began to see how it all was happening as one trap after another unraveled. The enemy had focused all of their attention on him and Sarah, assuming the most powerful dragon was key. In reality, it was Lilly who was destroying their plan with her unbounded love and desire to have a family. By paying her so little attention, they had unwittingly sown their defeat. He began to wonder if that was the divine's plan all along. Astikar had promised Sarah she would be the dragon of the prophecy, and yet it was Lilly who filled that role. Sarah had been strategically held back until she could be used more wisely. Thayle had been used as a means to sow uncertainty in the enemy by naming her a dragon knight as well. In one masterful stroke, the divines shattered the prophecy by naming two dragon knights and sending their foes scurrying. Thayle, too, had a heart full of love and a desire to help people build families, which was exactly what was needed for Lilly. Her skill at teaching Lilly and even Sarah how the bonds of love and family were forged shaped them into a cohesive unit.
Now they had become a weapon wielded by the divines against this great enemy, and his efforts were coming to ruin. Not only did they know the true purpose of the war, but they knew how precious the time was. All they needed was one last piece of information, and years of planning by their foe would be completely undone. Waging war on the divines was a risky endeavor, and they had been planning for longer. In Gersius, they found a man wholly dedicated to his task and used him perfectly to unravel the plan. So careful had their plans been laid that even his moment of weakness had been accounted for and used to fulfill the prophecy of being twice blessed.
Now he was a husband, a father, an emperor, and a legend, woven into the tapestry of prophecy to stop one singular moment from happening. They were through the mountains and onto the hidden road, racing against time to learn the last bit of information they needed. Alayse was going to spread her army out, sending the cavalry well ahead to secure the road. As a precaution against hidden lookouts, they, too, would hide under the trees. It would only take one scout to report back and spoil their plans so no dragon would fly during the day. However, that night Gersius planned to put Sarah's size to use and have her deliver a group of thirty men well ahead to choke off the road. There was a good chance some of the Doan survivors had fled through the tunnel and were even now rushing back to report their defeat. These men would ensure they never arrived and would be reinforced every night with additional soldiers until the main army caught up.
“You really believe there are Doan running back to warn them?” Lilly asked as she listened to his thoughts.
“It is a logical assumption,” Gersius replied. “We can be certain that some of their soldiers escaped and ran for the tunnels. Shorri was captured because she was waiting to ensure as many of them were recovered as possible.”
“But why were the soldiers on this side not watching the tunnel if they knew we had won?” Lilly pressed.
Gersius explained that as being because of Shorri as well. They knew she was watching the other end of the tunnel, so they assumed it was safe. The Doan hadn't prepared defenses to seal off the tunnel as they never believed they could be defeated. When his army came marching out, they were unable to form a cohesive defense. Thanks to their clever use of ice instead of fire, he did have maps, especially of the hidden road network and the bridge Sarah would help secure.
“And you think all of this was part of the prophecy?” Lilly asked as she considered the idea. “And I am a larger part of it than the Doan realize.”
“They, like all fools, see Sarah's size and assume she is the greatest danger,” Gersius replied. “They see you and Shadros as the least of their worries and turn a blind eye to your doings. Yet, it is you who has pushed us forward through the steps of prophecy and delivered us to this moment.”
“You know I have been thinking about the prophecy,” Thayle said as Lilly stalked under trees so large they concealed even her.
“What about it?” Gersius asked while marveling at the careful work put in by the Doan.
“The prophecy says that one of your wives will leave her shame behind with the enemy,” Thayle said. “I believe that was Lilly and her marriage to the Doan man.”
Gersius paused to consider her words and began to nod as it made sense. If one emotion could be applied to Lilly and her feeling over what happened, that word would be a shame.
“Of course I am ashamed,” Lilly growled. “It sickens me to know a Doan man can claim to be my husband.”
“It is a worthless claim,” Gersius assured her. “Our hearts are bound by the ancient magic, and no man has the strength to break that bind. Your love proved too strong even when the enemy temporarily suspended it.”
“That fool assumed I was only in love with you because you had commanded me to be in love,” Lilly grumbled. “Did they not know you set me free, and I found my heart for you then?”
“Obviously not,” Thayle replied. “But then we were fairly well hidden during that part of our adventure. Only the assassins seemed to root us out, and then only when we entered a city.”
“Thankfully, their employers did not tell them dragons could take human form,” Gersius replied. “Lilly was able to hide right under their nose.”
“Whenever you talk about the enemy being blind to our efforts, I am reminded of how many women of Ulustrah worked for this Gorromogoth,” Thayle said. “Look at these trees. They must have taken groups of women united in one song to grow them so large. To conceal this entire road across the north must have taken hundreds of women a full year to complete.”
“We know they have been planning this for far longer than a year,” Gersius reminded. “I suspect the seals were stolen more than ten years ago in preparation for the coming events.”
“That's another perfect example,” Thayle said. “They stole the most precious artifact of any divine, and we didn't even know it.”
“I can't believe how complex their traps are,” Lilly said. “They planned traps to happen if the first dozen failed.”
“It was all a delaying tactic,” Gersius said. “Keep us too busy to learn the truth until it is too late.”
“But dear sweet Lilly was the unexpected hitch in their plans,” Thayle said with a smile. “Her love has brought us through every trap and disaster, even bringing you back to life.”
“I feel strange when you say I did such things,” Lilly replied. “All I was trying to do was protect my family and make things safe to raise our children.”
“No more noble or powerful a motivation can move the heart,” Gersius replied. “I sometimes wonder if the divines chose you because a dragon being the cause of so much change is a slap in the face of our enemies.”
“I only do what I learned from you and Thayle,” Lilly replied. “You two taught me how to feel this way.”
“Yes, the divines did pick wonderful teachers,” Thayle agreed.
“Modesty is not one of our qualities, it would seem,” Gersius mused.
“Oh, let me have my moment of fun,” Thayle pressed. “After hearing those people cry out in pain as they froze to death, I need a distraction.”
“I felt bad about that,” Lilly said. “But they wouldn’t come out. We should have let Sarah dig them out like she said.”
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“I did not want to risk it collapsing,” Gersius replied.
“Then why did you have me breathe into the structure so slowly?” Lilly asked. “It made it take forever for them to die.”
“I was hoping the cold would drive them out,” Gersius admitted. “I never wanted them to die. I assumed they would crawl out, seeking warmth once they were too cold to hold their spears. I never believed they would stubbornly hold out until they had frozen solid.”
“It was terrible to see them standing there like statues,” Thayle said. “This war is horrific at times.”
“I was trying to spare them,” Gersius said. “If I could have bypassed them, I would have, but they would have controlled the tunnel and cut off our supply wagons.”
“It had to be done,” Lilly said, turning her long delicate kneck to look back at her riders. “That's another thing I have learned from you. Sometimes you have to do things you hate because the enemy leaves you no choice. Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice for the common good of others.”
“It is a terrible truth,” Gersius agreed. “Just as I had to suffer to keep your name.”
“Let's not even bring that up,” Thayle interjected. “I have seen you have that dream one too many times, and I have no desire to relive it now.”
“I agree,” Gersius replied.
“I still don’t see why we had to send Sarah to fetch the leader of Youthan,” Lilly said to change the subject.
“It is to ensure we learn the location of this event,” Gersius replied. “We cannot guarantee the father abbot will be taken alive or at all. I have one head of faith in my grasp and intend to get the answers I need. However, I cannot afford to take a chance on the Father Abbot.”
“I would be more worried about you or Lilly killing him before he could give us answers,” Thayle said. “Whenever one of you speaks about him, I feel you flare with anger.”
“After what he did to us, I wouldn’t even eat him,” Lilly growled. “I want him to die far more slowly than that.”
“Please, Lilly,” Thayle urged. “You are a beautiful creature. Don’t let that man taint your heart.”
“He has inflicted some of our deepest wounds,” Gersius agreed. “But Sarah made me promise not to kill him. She wants the right to kill the man that caused people to speak Astikars name with disdain.”
“Lengwin wants him brought back for trial,” Lilly said.
“That is never going to happen,” Gersius replied as his hand tightened on the rope.
“Can we please talk about something else?” Thayle asked. “Why don’t we discuss what happens after we stop this event?”
“We pursue the Doan across the Serpentine and chase them across the steppes they call their home,” Gersius replied.
“So more war and bloodshed,” Thayle sighed. “Our child will be born on the march.”
I will have to fly back to the valley for our egg,” Lilly added. “We cannot leave a broodling unattended for long.”
“We will be back in time for it to hatch,” Gersius promised.
“How?” Thayle asked. “If you intend to pursue the Doan across half the world, you will be marching from battle to battle for months, if not years.”
“That is why I made Alayse commander of the armies,” Gersius replied with a smile. “And why our role has been reduced to an elite unit. Once their back is broken, we will no longer be needed with the army. We will return to Calathen to stabilize our empire, then take your egg to the valley and wait for both to hatch.”
“I wondered why you so quickly gave up command to Alayse,” Thayle replied. “You knew you couldn’t lead the army personally for much longer.”
“I am the emperor,” Gersius replied. “As the imperial family, we have other duties to attend to. Especially now that we know that half the empire's nobility is part of this secret society. We must expose it and ensure they know we will hold them accountable if they continue their activities.”
“Do you think we can leave the empire to Ayawa and Tavis?” Lilly asked.
“I am sure of it,” Gersius replied. “They will keep it safe while we are in the valley awaiting the arrival of our children. We will return to our duties when they are hatched and ready to travel.”
“I can't imagine raising a broodling in the palace,” Lilly mused. “But then Balisha always shows them as human. They are so beautiful.”
“Aww, our little dragon is maturing into a mother,” Thayle cooed.
“And only a thousand years early,” Gersius added.
“Oh, don’t remind me,” Thayle grumbled. “What would her mother say if she found out her daughter was having a brood so young?”
“She would probably wonder if you forced it on me,” Lilly said. “She might be angry.”
“Let us not dwell on that idea,” Gersius suggested. “The thought of trying to explain myself to angry mother dragon does not sit well.”
“It was my idea anyway,” Lilly said. “I am old enough to make my own decisions and have my own lair. I do not need my mother’s permission to mate.”
“She almost sounds like a teenage human girl,” Thayle laughed. “I can’t tell you how many times I heard a very similar statement.”
“And did you try to talk them out of it?” Gersius asked.
“Sometimes,” Thayle replied. “But remember, I could see their light, and if it was full of truth and love, I often encouraged them to go ahead.”
“Do you miss performing your roles?” Lilly asked as she looked down at Thayle. “You talk about helping people with love and harvests very fondly.”
“I do miss it,” Thayle replied, tightening her grip around Gersius's waist. “There are plenty of times that I think back to those moments and wish the hardest thing I had to contend with was a husband and wife fighting.”
“We will have a simpler life one day,” Gersius assured them.
“I am sure our life will be simpler, but it will never be like those days in my temple,” Thayle sighed.
“Why not?” Gersius asked. “I have no qualms about you working in Pinehollow as a priestess for short bits of time.”
“Oh, you don’t?” Thayle asked with a smile. “And you don’t mind my fulfilling my duties to my community then?”
“I am starting to believe I do not have all the facts to answer that question,” Gersius stated as he looked back at her with a curious stare.
“She slept with lonely men and joined some marriages as a temporary wife,” Lilly said. “She told me she did it to help them heal.”
“You what?” Gersius said in surprise.
“I was a single woman helping people with difficult problems,” Thayle argued. “Many of my order does the same thing. Honestly, I think it's why some women join the order. They like the idea of being the ones people come to with their needs.”
“I do not know that I want to hear more,” Gersius replied with a shake of his head.
“All of that is in the past,” Thayle said. “I married into the most wonderful family, and my heart is fully committed.”
“We aren’t truly married,” Lilly said. “We are something more than that.”
“We are,” Gersius agreed. “But maybe one day we can have a proper wedding.”
“We can?” Lilly asked as her head tilted to the side.
“Of course, we can,” Gersius replied. “And I think we should do it in the field beside the apple orchard in Pinehollow. We can have a simple country wedding and dance around a fire in the field until the stars fill the sky.”
“Oh, now you have her swooning,” Thayle laughed. “You know she loves that memory.”
“It is a beautiful memory,” Gersius agreed. “One you made possible.”
“I was only doing my duty,” Thayle replied.
“I think you took a special interest in us,” Gersius stated.
“You are right; I did,” Thayle stated. “It isn't every day the most famous battle priest in the known world shows up at your simple country temple with his dragon.”
“I suppose that does not happen very often,” Gersius agreed.
“This forest reminds me of our journey,” Lilly said as she passed a tree. “I remember going into the north to find that temple because you were hoping to heal my wings. Thayle had just been bound to us but was afraid to show her love.”
“You two were so tightly bound together I felt like I was in the way,” Thayle said. “I didn’t even have an equal binding back then.”
“I miss our traveling alone,” Lilly said as she looked at the branches overhead. “I miss walking down the river with you on my back as we followed that old map.”
“That was a special time,” Thayle agreed.
“Do you remember those women who were chirping at our husband?” Lilly asked.
“Forest sprites,” Thayle reminded her. “And yes, they would likely have carried him off to satisfy their desires if not for the dragon he was riding.”
“A fate I would not have regretted,” Gersius mused with a smile. “They were very lovely to look at.”
“Oh, do you still have a little bit of the boy inside?” Thayle asked. “Because I thought you were the man who refused to let me bring women to his bed.”
“I was only teasing you,” Gersius replied. “And I do not need other women. I have the three most beautiful women in all the land in my bed already. You will never find another woman worth my attention.”
“I like it when he says things like that,” Lilly said, ducking under a low branch.
“He has a way of making a lady feel special,” Thayle agreed. “But let's be honest. There are plenty of beautiful women out there, and one might catch your eye.”
“Carigarra was beautiful,” Lilly agreed. “I am still upset that she was deceiving us.”
“She was there to assassinate us,” Thayle said. “But you are right; she was lovely and well-mannered. Sarah was particularly smitten with her.”
“Sarah wants more wives,” Gersius agreed with a nod. “She has embraced a very motherly role and wants more women to take care of. She has reached the age where she feels a need to mother young dragons in general and lead them in their ancient order. Since that is gone, she is trying to fill the void with wives.”
“Well, you had better start looking for more,” Thayle said. “You wouldn’t want to make her unhappy.”
“I liked that one girl who tried to become an acolyte of Balisha,” Lilly said.
“Lilly, five hundred men, and women turned out for that. Which girl specifically?” Thayle asked.
“The one you said whose aura was trying to eat me,” Lilly replied.
“Oh, her,” Thayle said with a nod. “She was a pretty thing, but you're right; her aura was all over you, flaring with an almost hungry desire.”
“Her name was Angeline,” Lilly said. “I don’t know why, but I remember it.”
“Well, I am glad we sent her away,” Thayle said. “I have never seen an aura react the way hers did. It was a kind of obsession that frightened me.”
“I wonder if she was another trap sent by our enemies?” Gersius mused.
“I doubt it,” Thayle argued. “If she was a trap, she put up very little fight. It appeared like all she wanted to do was see Lilly up close. Then her aura tinted with sadness, and she immediately went away.”
“I suppose if she were a danger, she would not have gone so peacefully,” Gersius agreed.
“I am still mad at you for waiting until after we had seen hundreds of people to make your little speech,” Thayle remarked. “You could have saved us hours of work.”
“You didn’t ask for my help,” Gersius said with a shrug.
“See, I like this,” Lilly said. “I like walking with you on my back as we talk and play. That's why I liked traveling in the north despite the dangers. We had so much time to be together, and we talked all day. Now you spend most of your time in meetings or looking at maps. You rarely come to bed to hold us.”
“We will have time like that again,” Gersius promised. “But duty has to come first.”
“I know,” Lilly sighed. “But I intend to enjoy what time I have with you now.”
“So do I,” Thayle agreed and hugged him tighter. “It’s just us three wandering the north again. Maybe you can stand guard while Lilly and I play in the grass.”
“We have an entire army following us,” Gersius reminded. “I doubt you will find grass tall enough to give you the privacy.”
“I was teasing you,” Thayle laughed.
“I miss curling up while you two sleep against me,” Lilly said. “Can we maybe do that tonight? You can make a fire, and I will curl around you so you can sleep at my side.”
“If you want,” Gersius agreed. “But Sarah will be back by nightfall, and then we have to fly out with her to escort the men to the bridge.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Lilly sighed. “Maybe we will have another night.”
“Now I feel awful that she can’t have such a simple moment,” Thayle complained.
“So do I,” Gersius replied as he felt Lilly's sadness over the bind. All she wanted was a moment of peace to be with her loved ones, but so much was riding on them to push hard. “There will be time for a fire when we get back, but I promise you will have some nights to protect us before we leave the north.”
“I would like that,” Lilly replied. “And Rose should be with us to see how humans and Dragons interact.”
“Rose seems to be better,” Thayle said. “She spends all her time with us, and her questions are becoming more nuanced. For example, yesterday, she asked me why humans kiss.”
“She asked me why I like you touching me,” Lilly added. “She is becoming curious about affection.”
“All dragons are curious about affection,” Thayle laughed. “They just don’t know it yet.”
“I was always curious if human females tasted different than males,” Lilly said as she considered it. “They do. Males are more crunchy, and females more fatty.”
“Oh, Lilly, we don’t need to know that,” Thayle groaned.
“She may feel love and empathy, but she is still a dragon,” Gersius mused.
“And I always will be,” Lilly said as she ducked under another branch.
“Thank the divines,” Gersius replied and looked up as he considered the blessings that were his wives. “Thank them for everything.”