Elodia's Dragon (2 page)

"I ... I can't leave Davey!"

"Hell Elody, I'll take your whole family to have you."

"You will?" Elodia was in tears as she settled into Eli's arms. "I had always hoped and dreamed that you loved me."

"I have less than four months left here," Eli whispered as he kissed her forehead, then her nose and finally her lips.

"Why are you kissing Odie?" Davey asked.

"Can you keep a secret Davey?" Elodia asked.

"I'm really good at secrets aren’t I Odie?"

"Yes, you are. I'm going to marry Eli. What do you think of that?"

"I was going to marry you, Odie ... but I like Eli."

"I'll be your big brother Davey."

"OK, you can marry my sister," Davey pronounced solemnly with great authority. His pronouncement caused Elodia to laugh, then hug her little brother.

"Now I have two men in my life to love," Elodia said as she returned Eli's kiss. They stayed at the pond talking about their future as Elodia sat with Eli, her head resting on his shoulder. Eli pulled a crown of pink flowers from a cloth bag at his side and placed it gently on her head.

“You look breathtaking Elody.”

“Thank you, Eli,” Elodia smiled shyly, half closing her eyes with pleasure. Then looking into his eyes she whispered, “Did you make this for me?” he nodded.

"I'll come to your village tomorrow and ask your mother for permission to marry you."

"I’d like that. My Mom already likes you. She will keep our plans a secret from the guild."

"One thing, the Imperial Guard is on the move. I believe your village will be visited. I've been following the coded messages. If worse comes to worse I've made arrangements to hide you."

"Hide me ... from what?"

"I don't know, just be careful. If you see anything not right, run and I'll find you."

"I think we are safe Eli, who else will make the Imperial Purple the government officials love to wear."

"There has been a lot of talk of breaking the guilds. The emperor has always hated the autonomy of the guilds. Even my guild is feeling the pressure."

"What are you going to do?"

"That's simple Elody, I'm going to marry you and take you far away to someplace safe."

"I would like that Eli. I need to get home. It's getting late."

Elodia packed up her basket and taking Davey to ride piggyback, she started back home. As they approached the village they were startled by a series of loud bangs. They ducked into cover in the long grass. A thick blue sulfurous cloud engulfed the village. Elodia watched, frozen in terror as the guns were turned on her village and the villagers fell back, only to be struck from behind in a pincer maneuver. The village surrendered as the Imperial Guard turned its wrath on the women and children. Several women were dragged by their hair screaming into the village homes.

"Mommy!" Davey stood from his place of cover, pointed and shouted.

They were seen. A group of guards gave chase after firing two volleys at them as they fled.

"M
aster Abner, I must go, she ... she..."

"Take a breath Eli."

"It's Elodia, the gunfire is coming from her village. I must go to her."

"And do what Eli, get killed. You can leave at dawn. Find her and take her to the safe house you arranged."

"But..."

"She is a smart girl. Find her in the morning."

Eli's heart felt as if weighed a ton. His chest hurt and he had difficulty catching his breath. But he knew Master Abner was right. He was helpless to do anything for Elodia. She was an intelligent girl and he hoped with all his heart that she had escaped. Master Abner gave him two weeks to find her and get her to the safe house. Unable to sleep, Eli made preparations for his search. He would carry several days food, blankets, traps, cooking pots and tools for survival.

Eli walked quickly to Elodia's village. The carnage was appalling, those not killed by the initial gunfire were tortured to death, many impaled and lining the road. Eli quickly located Elodia's discarded basket and blankets and her crushed crown of flowers. He easily followed the trail left by her pursuers. Late in the day he came upon the blood trail left by Elodia's feet. His heart nearly stopped when he realized she had been injured. His imagination was wild with possible injuries. As the sky darkened he lit a small paraffin oil lamp he carried and continued his agonizingly slow pursuit. Frequently he had to backtrack as he lost her trail. The Imperial Guard were nowhere, either giving up their search or already ending her precious life.

The sun rose slowly and Eli continued his search as the sun made it easier to find the bloody trail. Later he found more blood, a lot more blood and evidence of gunfire. Eli continued, his heart nearly broken in grief, no longer hoping of finding Elodia alive. Then late in the afternoon, he spotted her. She was sitting on the ground by a small mound of dirt. She had her legs drawn up tight against chest, her forehead resting on her knees.

Elodia did not hear his approach and was startled when he touched her shoulder. Eli knelt next to her, holding her tight as she wept, her body shaking with grief and unable to speak. Her feet were bloody with the blood almost covering her delicate ankles. Her dress bodice was also covered with dry blood. Fearing shock Eli wrapped her in one of his blankets and started a small fire.

"Drink this Odie, we can talk later." Elodia nodded and sipped wine from the leather pouch.

"Davey is dead," Elodia sobbed. Eli held her closer, kissing her forehead and caressing her back. He said nothing just holding her until she finished crying.

"I'm going to boil some water. After it cools and you eat a little I will clean your feet." Elodia nodded. She watched him closely, wordlessly as he boiled a pot of water then served her a dried mixture of raisins, apples, apricots, and nuts. Elodia who had not felt hungry ate quite a bit of the food offered.

Eli cut a piece of one of his blankets and very gently washed the blood, dirt and dried pine needles from her feet. Elodia watched in fascination as he washed her feet. Her feet hurt so badly yet his gentle touch was comforting. He ended the washing by leaving a kiss on top of both feet. Then cutting his blanket intro strips, he wrapped her feet, covering them to just above her ankle.

"Such pretty little feet!" he teased.

"Such big stinky feet," she teased back, laughing.

"It's good to hear you laugh again Elody."

"I didn’t expect to be found."

"I found you, sweetheart," Eli whispered as he hugged her again. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked noting the dried blood. Elodia shook her head and clung to Eli. "It will be dark soon. Let's share the blanket. I'll keep you safe and warm." Elodia snuggled as Eli covered her and wrapped her in his arms. She did feel safe and warm as sleep claimed them both.

When Elodia woke she saw Eli sitting by a small fire roasting a squirrel he had caught.

"Good morning Elody."

"I think I'm hungry Eli."

"I've got dried fruit, cheese and a fat little squirrel."

"Why did you let me sleep so late?" she asked.

"You looked so cute sleeping, I just didn’t have the heart."

"I can't walk, what are we are going to do."

"I have a safe house arranged for you. It's almost a week journey with me carrying you." Elodia started to object but Eli silenced her with a kiss.

"I've been given two weeks to get you settled. Then I need to return to finish my apprenticeship. I'll be back for you in three and a half months."

They sat and quietly ate the food Eli provided. Elodia was deep in thought. Eli seemed so assured of his plan and he had found her.

"Ok, Eli I agree to the plan. But promise me if I become a burden you will leave me."

"I love you Elody, I will never find you a burden."

"Promise?"

"Absolutely."

"Then I will do the cooking," Elodia said firmly.

"Great, I tend to burn everything."

"I noticed that," Elodia teased. "What about sleeping arrangements."

"We can share the blanket, I will treat you with respect and refrain from anything inappropriate."

"Inappropriate thoughts too?" Elodia teased.

"Heavens no, every time I see you or even think of you, my mind fills with inappropriate thoughts."

"Really?" Elodia laughed with delight.

"Trust me. I will never do anything to hurt or compromise you."

"I do trust you."

They packed up and Elodia wore the backpack as Eli carried her piggyback style while they continued west. They made their way slowly as the route west was gradually sloping up as the approached the mountains. Early in the second day, they saw the mountains as the trees gave way to grassy savanna. Elodia also developed a fever late on the third day and was too weak to hold on to be carried. Using two poles and the blanket Eli improvised a litter and they continued west. Eli had no way to treat the fever and worried about her. Then refusing to stop for the night on the fifth day, he continued on, reaching a small log cabin in the foothills.

"We made it, sweetheart to the safe house," Elodia smiled as he hugged her, too weak for much more.

"A
unt Myrtle this is Elodia, the woman I intend to marry."

"Is this your first declaration Eli?"

"Yes, it is!" Eli smiled brightly as he caught the meaning of the question.

"First declaration?" Elodia whispered, her voice slurred. Her thoughts barely coherent.

"Yes Odie, once more and we are wed," Eli whispered as he kissed her hand.

"Declare away Eli!" Elodia smiled then lost consciousness as the fever claimed her.

"Carry her to that bed. Then you can undress her and..."

"I think it would be better if..."

"Nonsense Eli, you have been traveling together, you have declared your intentions. My hands are crippled with arthritis. I will direct."

Eli covered Elodia with a soft blanket, then working under the blanket removed her clothing. Elodia's clothing was loose and ill-fitting so it went easy. Then Eli removed the wrappings from her feet. Her feet were red and swollen and the smell was pungent and foul.

"There's a basin over there Eli. I will mix up an ointment. Go ahead and wash her feet then you can apply the ointment."

"Aunt Myrtle, can you save her feet?"

"Not worried about her feet Eli, it will be touch and go."

Eli very gently slathered the ointment onto Elodia's left foot. She winced and groaned and her eyes teared up as he started, but quickly she relaxed.

"The ointment will numb the pain and fight the infection. It contains silver and tincture of the white poppy," Aunt Myrtle assured Eli.

Eli then applied the ointment to her other foot. Then he gently wrapped her feet in clean linen strips. Myrtle emptied the basin, and then refilled it with tepid water and distilled spirits.

"We need to bring her fever down. You can sponge her with this," Myrtle handed the basin to Eli and directed him to sit on the bed. Myrtle supervised and directed as Eli exposed her right hip and leg and began gently washing her with the alcohol solution. "Go slow, not too fast, if you chill her the shivering will increase her core temperature." Eli continued with slow circular movements. He loved the sight of her leg and longed to simply touch them without the wet cloth that separated her soft skin from his hand. Everywhere he touched she was soft. Mustering all his resolve he continued to gently sponge, praying her temperature would break.

Elodia was restless and thrashing in her fevered sleep.

"Mom! Mom! Da just died," Elodia wept. "Mom! MOM! Don’t you dare die on me! Pleases Mom, MOM PLEASE!"

"They had a plague sweep through the village almost three years ago. I know she lost her Dad," Eli explained. "It must have been terrifying for her. Her mother did survive but was plagued with health problems. Elody became the bread winner and pretty much took care of everyone."

"Mom, you can't give up now. MOM ... Davey needs you, Mom." Elodia wept, "Please Mom, I'll take care of Davey, please don't die ... Mom."

"She was totally devoted to Davey," Eli whispered.

"Who is Davey?"

"Her little brother, he died days ago. She loved him. He was her constant companion. They even slept together. Look at her hands. She used them to dig his grave."

"I wondered how they had become so bruised and scraped," Myrtle said. "Wash them too Eli."

Eli continued to bathe Elodia, her left leg, her arms, her back. She was soft everywhere he touched. Eli struggled to control his thoughts and his hands as he worked. He stopped every few hours to apply the ointment to Elodia's feet and rewrap them only to return to the sponge bathing. Finally, late the second day the fever broke, and Eli rested. He watched as Myrtle used her healer's touch to administer a laying-on of hands. He could see Elodia and Myrtle glowing as the old woman worked. Then Myrtle went to her bed, exhausted and she slept.

Eli lay on the bed next to Elodia. She slept, her breathing slow and even. He caressed her face moving his hand across her cheek and jaw line. Her skin so smooth and soft felt warm; no longer burning with fever. Elodia's eyes fluttered open and she looked into Eli's eyes, smiling.

"I love you, Eli." Her eyes closed again in sleep. Eli stayed at her side clinging to her then slept himself.

The next morning Myrtle was busy working in the kitchen as Elodia awoke to find Eli lying next to her smiling.

"I've been waiting for you, Odie." Elodia smiled reaching up to touch his face, then stopped.

"I'm naked Eli ... my clothes!"

"You've been out with a fever for two days. Aunt Myrtle and I..."

"Who undressed me?" Elodia asked looking horrified at Eli.

"I did," he responded sheepishly. Elodia continued to stare at him open-mouthed and not knowing how to respond.

"It's OK Dearie," Myrtle said taking a seat at the bedside. "I'm a healer, I directed Eli. He was very professional and extremely caring. He sponged you for hours to break the fever."

"You sponged me, Eli?" Elodia responded still horrified.