"The Lesser Kindred, of course," I replied, not moving. Even his back was lovely. Oh, Lanen, you're deep in, aren't you? I thought to myself, and sat up. "The little dragon, Salera. She's amazing, isn't she?"
"Alas, my love, I bespoke her but she did not respond," he said.
"And did you expect her to?" I asked indignantly. "She's so young. And I'd swear she understands Willem, at least a little." I grinned at my husband. "If they've known one another so long, we are not the first!"
He laughed as I had hoped he would. "It is hardly the same, though, dearling." He stared at nothing for a moment, thinking. "They are soulfriends, it cannot be doubted, but— it seems more like to a father and daughter than aught else."
"I'll believe you. How wonderful, when she just curled about him! Come on," I cried, bounding out of bed, "let's go see if she's still here."
Varien rose and caught me to him, holding me far too tight, as usual. "Lanen, my Lanen, it is good to have you back," he said.
"Believe me, I'm glad to be here," I said. I kissed him as hard as I could and then leaned back in his arms. "I love you with all my heart and soul, my Varien, but I'm absolutely starving. Food and dragons, in that order."
We were in the common room in five minutes. That's when we realised that it was nearly midday. And that we were not the last to emerge.
Jamie and I had kept the watch together, before and after the little dragon appeared. True, we were best suited to the task, but it was also one of the best ways to find a little peace and time to talk. Such things are far simpler when you are young; there are no complications and no lurking comparisons, and the wounds to be healed are generally not so deep. I will not bore you with all our talk. We were honest to the point of pain with each other and with ourselves. The eventual result was an unarmed truce, which for two old fighters is not a bad start.
When dawn came I was all for waking that lazy dragon Varien and letting him stand watch for a change, but Jamie tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at the shutters. I opened them and found that the sun had come up, quietly, behind a screen of light grey cloud.
"Hola, mistress, a good morrow to you!" said a loud voice from outside and away to my left. "You rise with the sun! A moment and I will have the fire—oh."
I turned and enjoyed the scene. It was the innkeeper, come to light the fire and to prepare breakfast, and he had found two of his guests already present and quite a decent fire in the grate already.
"We've kept it in, I thank you," said Jamie, very kindly I thought. "But breakfast sounds wonderful. I'd cheerfully maim for a pot of chelan." The innkeeper laughed and disappeared through a door. He emerged moments later to put two pots on the main fire to boil, one water, one a smaller vessel that he kept stirring. "I hate to intrude, but the kitchen fire is taking a while to get going. Soon have chelan and porridge for you. Did you sleep well?"
We looked at each other and laughed. "Not yet," I said. "But after I've eaten I'm going to go and give it a damn good try."
You grow used to such strangeness when your life is lived as it comes instead of according to a plan. Neither Jamie nor I had trouble falling instantly asleep after we'd broken our fast and knew that the innkeeper would raise an alarm if need be.
When we finally wakened again the early cloud had dispersed and the sun was bright and high. We both felt rested but wondered why none had sent to waken us. We washed quickly in cold water and entered the common room together—
—to applause. Lanen and Varien sat next to the two healers. Varien, I noticed, was wearing his circlet openly now. Will sat a little apart from the rest with the most amazing expression on his face.
"Well done, Jamie," called Lanen, laughing. "For once in your life you're later up than I am. I'm proud of you!"
"Be silent, wench, and pass me some of that chelan," he growled. She laughed again and brought mugs for Jamie and me. We sat with Will at the other table.
The innkeeper was serving a midday meal, and after we'd all eaten we drew two tables together and—well, wondered what to do next.
I turned to Lanen. "My girl, you're looking fine for a change. How do you feel?"
"Like spring after winter," she said. "Mage Vilkas, I—"
"Please, just Vilkas," that young man said. He seemed pleasant enough, if only he'd smile now and again.
"Vilkas, I owe you my life," said Lanen simply. "How can I possibly repay you? What fee can you charge for such a gift?"
"None," he said. "For you were not the only one whose life was changed last night." And my wish was granted, for he smiled then, a broad glorious smile that lit up his face and showed the joy that danced behind his eyes. "In fact it seems that few of us escaped unscathed by the whirlwind of the powers that were abroad last night. Will here is away with that dragon of his, no matter where his body might be."
"Where is she then, Master Willem?" asked Jamie over Will's protests.
"She's gone out to hunt, but she'll be back," he said. Turning to Varien, he added, "That reminds me. Why is she so fascinated by you, and how in the world do you know so much about dragons?" He turned to me next. "And you! What were those names you said, and what did you mean, they sent her greeting? I—"
Varien interrupted him. "Master Willem—"
"Just Will, if you please," he said.
"Will, the full truth is a very long story that must wait another time, but Rella, Lanen and I were on the Harvest ship that returned from the Dragon Isle last year. We have all spent time with the Greater Kindred—with the True Dragons that live there, and several we know by name. One in particular, Shikrar, has spent much of his life seeking to contact the Lesser Kindred."
"The Lesser Kindred are Salera's people?"
"Yes."
"Why do they want to contact them?"
Varien smiled. "I saw the love you share with her last night, like father to daughter. The Lesser Kindred were brought into being by one known only as the Demonlord. He sent an army of demons to rive their soulgems from them. The ones who were attacked were changed in other ways as well." Varien paused a moment. "Our history says that they became as beasts, but it is wrong. Salera is not a beast, not in that sense. She is of—of the same kindred as the True Dragons. So were all the Kantri who were changed by the Demonlord. They were made smaller in stature and bereft of their soulgems, but kindred none the less."
"What's a soulgem?" asked Aral. Interesting as all this was, she seemed particularly fascinated by my circlet. "And if you'll forgive me, what is that stone you wear?"
I looked long into her eyes before I answered her. There was something I trusted there, so I told her the truth.
"The answer to both of your questions is the same. A soulgem is the only physical remnant of the Kantri, the True Dragons, after they die." She gasped, her eyes wide, and put her hand to her chest. "This stone I wear is a soulgem, lady," I said slowly, not releasing her from my gaze, "though I think you knew that before."
"Not until this moment. Oh, Shia, it makes so much sense!" She drew forth a pouch from under her tunic, opened it, and gently took from it a soulgem red as ruby. It might have been Shikrar's.
I could not stop my body, though it was not acting on my command. The instant I saw it I sprang to my feet and grasped her by the throat. "Where did you steal this from? Where did you get it?"
"Varien, stop it! Stop it! Akor, let her go you idiot!" cried Lanen in my mind. I only gradually became aware that everyone was shouting. I released the Healer with great difficulty.
"Think, man! None have disappeared from the Place of Exile, have they?" demanded Lanen. "What, do you think this Healer has killed one of the Kantri from all this distance and brought the soulgem back to taunt you with?" "Put yourself through the Discipline of Calm, Akor, or something like it," she added in truespeech. "This woman helped heal me, she's not demon-touched. You're overreacting." I heard her mindvoice smile ever so slightly. "Bloody Dragons, they're all the same."