The Dragon's Lover (13 page)

By this time, the others had caught up with them and
Lorifal leaped into the fray, his battle ax swinging. Idonea had
restricted her spells to those perpetrating blunt force since the
incineration spell had been less than successful. Gunnar and
Bristol swung their greatswords, smashing the beasts down. Dagna
used a shortsword and dagger with considerable skill. Elyara had
paused at the sight of the wolf king, but his presence had inspired
her and she sent a swarm of stinging insects down onto the
beasts.

Raine could see the front line of the Shard infantry
at the far side of the expanse of the cave. But they seemed
reluctant to move. Perhaps it was the fact that their archers had
been utterly destroyed, or perhaps it was the fact that Fenrir had
appeared and helped decimate the cavalry of hell hounds, but the
hesitation grew pronounced, then grew into retreat. The figures at
the far side of the cave began to disappear.

Lorifal did not chase them this time. Fenrir loped
over to the far side of the cave to ensure they were departing.
Raine glanced to Idonea and Elyara.

“I suggest that you two burn all that remains to
eliminate any potential necromancy. It was bad enough fighting
'flaming' hell hounds,” she said wryly, “I don't want to fight them
as the undead.”

Idonea reddened slightly. The wall of flame had
seemed like a good idea at the time.

Raine jogged across the open expanse, weaving in and
out of the blood hound corpses. She slowed as she approached
Fenrir. Elyara watched curiously as Raine went to one knee before
the wolf king, then was astonished to see the king return the bow.
She had never heard of deities bowing to anyone. And it was clear
there was great affection between the two as the woman took the
beast’s great head in her hands. There seemed to be some
communication passing between the two, but Elyara was too far away
to hear anything. She was greatly disappointed; she would have
loved to hear the forest god speak.

“Thank you, my friend,” Raine said.

“It was my pleasure,” Fenrir replied in his deep
rumble. He glanced disdainfully at the dead abominations strewn on
the field. “I despise the hell hounds more than any other type of
Shard.” He turned his wise gaze back to her. “But that which was
most powerful on the field today did not attack.”

“I know,” Raine said. “I smelled it. It was very
near.”

“First a Marrow Shard, and now…” The great wolf's
words drifted off. “Your journey will only get more difficult.”

“Yes. Which only convinces me of its importance.”

The wolf bowed his great head. “I am at your service
if you need me.”

“And I am at yours,” Raine replied, “as always.”

The wolf bounded off, disappearing as quickly as he
had appeared. The smoke was getting thick in the cave and they were
not quite through the pass. The others joined her, Elyara coughing
slightly from the smoke.

“We should get going,” Raine said.

They settled just outside the mountain pass on a
small plateau. It was still early but they were tired after the
fierce battle. Raine's ever-present wolf pack had scouted the
immediate area and determined that the Hyr'rok'kin had fully
retreated. So they decided to tend their minor wounds and rest for
the remainder of the day.

The camp was nearly set up and Lorifal had already
sprawled in front of the fire when an enormous shadow passed over
the group, blocking out the entire sun. It startled them all,
causing Elyara to stumble over her pack. All looked upward, but
whatever had created the shadow was already gone, having veered
around the mountain.

Actually, all had looked upward except Raine, who
merely smiled to herself as she went through her simple belongings.
Idonea looked over at her suspiciously. They were close to the
meridians.

“Was that a bird?” Bristol asked.

Gunnar examined the now empty sky. “That was far too
large for a bird.” He looked over at Raine, having learned to trust
her instincts. She appeared completely unconcerned, which reassured
him.

“Perhaps it was a harpy,” Dagna suggested. “They are
supposed to inhabit this part of the land.”

Elyara did not think it was a harpy. But she, too,
trusted Raine's instincts.

Idonea thought to make some additional comment
regarding the appropriateness of the “harpy hypothesis,” but held
her tongue.

Raine stood up. “I think we are safe here for the
moment. I am going to go find some water to cleanse myself.”

Lorifal watched the lithe figure leave. “She sure
bathes a lot,” he commented, taking some mead from his pack. She
didn't seem that dirty to him.

“You should try it sometime,” Feyden said drily. When
Raine returned, he would ask her where she had found water.

Idonea watched the woman's exit with narrowed eyes.
She sifted through her things with a degree of agitation. Finally,
she stood upright and left the camp in Raine's direction.

“Hmph,” Dagna said, watching the dark-haired beauty
leave. And Idonea had taunted her for her interest in Raine.
Obviously the mage had sought to discourage her for personal
reasons. Feyden watched Idonea's departure as well, taking a long
draw on his pipe. It wouldn't matter. Although several in their
band were intrigued by the temptress, Raine was not one of
them.

Raine picked her way through the sparse forest. The
side of the mountain was rocky and only the hardiest vegetation
could root deep enough to survive. She could hear a waterfall
nearby and the vegetation grew lusher the closer she got to the
water. The waterfall had worn a deep groove into the side of the
mountain, creating a beautiful circular pool at its base. The sun
was at an angle to light the surface of the pond, which was
otherwise surrounded on all sides. It was a beautiful, secluded
spot and it reminded Raine of the mountain keep where she had met
Weynild. She removed her clothing and moved waist deep into the
water, dipping beneath the surface to wet her hair. The water was
icy cold and a marvelous contrast to the sunbeam filtering down
into the cove.

A slight wind accompanied the beating of leathery
wings as an immense red dragon glided into the cove from above,
hovering for a moment before Raine, then disappearing into a flash
of golden light. And then Weynild was there, standing in front of
her, holding her, bending slightly to kiss her deeply. One hand was
about her waist, one hand cradling the back of her head, and Raine,
who fainted at nothing, felt she might swoon.

Weynild pulled back so that she could look at her
lover. As she did, the red scaled armor retracted so that she could
feel that strong, supple body against her own. The sensation of
those perfect breasts pressing against her caused Raine’s control
to slip further.

“We are not alone,” Weynild whispered to her.

“I know,” Raine said simply. “Do you wish me to
stop?”

Weynild smiled and her white teeth gleamed. “No,” she
said, “I don't care. But you must keep your Scinterian markings
hidden. That is a secret that must remain so.”

Raine caressed the face that she loved. “Must I keep
my eyes hidden?”

The response was adamant. “No, I will never ask you
to hide your eyes.”

“Good,” Raine said, her eyes transitioning to a deep
purple, “I'm not sure that I could.”

Idonea nearly fell out of the tree she was hiding in.
Out of all the secrets she thought this woman might possess, this
was the most extraordinary and least expected. She had never seen
the eyes of an Arlanian as the people were thought to no longer
exist, but the description was so unmistakable from legend she knew
instantly how this creature had captivated her mother. And leave it
to Weynild to find what was probably the only remaining Arlanian in
existence.

Weynild's golden eyes softened to a deeper shade. She
led Raine to the shallows and then was on top of her. Her lips were
everywhere, her hands tracing the mouth's fiery path. Raine cupped
a breast and took it fully in her mouth, torturing the sensitive
flesh with her tongue. She turned her attention to the other and
Weynild shifted to assist her pursuit, sighing with pleasure. But
she was not content to let her lover take control and pinned
Raine's hands above her head. Raine watched the look of fleeting
concentration pass over Weynild's face, then groaned as she thrust
deep inside of her with the appendage she had just created.

“One of these times you're going to have to make me
one of those,” Raine said, her hips rising in response as if they
had a mind of their own. “So I can return the favor.”

Weynild thrust deeply once more, enjoying the control
she was exerting over her indestructible little companion. “I think
I might like that,” Weynild said, driving into her, “but not
today.”

Weynild's insistent rhythm drove Raine to the brink.
Her body moved in perfect union with the powerful strokes of the
dragon on top of her. Weynild held her tightly, the restriction to
her movement merely increasing both their levels of excitement. The
girl writhed beneath her, completely out-of-control, and Weynild
had the passing thought she was glad Raine was on her back because
it was possible she could not keep her markings hidden.

Idonea watched in horrified fascination. She knew her
mother was a lusty creature, as were all dragons. Over the years
she had caught sight of Weynild in various trysts, shocked and
impressed at the woman's stamina and imagination. Nothing was
beyond her, especially with the gift of her shape-shifting and an
even more profound gift of utter insouciance. Weynild did exactly
as she pleased without regret or shame.

Idonea could not look away. Yes, it was her mother
and that fact filled her with a combination of unease and disgust,
most directed at herself. But the raw sexuality of the scene was
impossible to escape, impossible to turn away from. There were
kings who would sacrifice their kingdoms to experience such ecstasy
even once.

And then, with a very slow and deliberate movement,
without changing her rhythm in the slightest, Weynild raised her
head and looked directly into Idonea's eyes.

The look was knowing, malevolent, amused. It
communicated things far beyond voyeurism or exhibitionism and this
time Idonea did fall from the tree. She fled from the scene.
Weynild did not pause but rather thrust deeper into her companion,
this thrust finally driving Raine over the edge into climax.
Weynild held her tight, allowing only Raine's hips to move which
they did with utter abandon. She kissed her, her tongue probing as
deeply as the penetration of her lower body. Every ounce of energy
was wrung from Raine's body and with one last shudder, she
collapsed. She clutched her lover close to her and Weynild buried
her face in Raine's hair, all thought of Idonea gone.

The two lie there for a while without moving and at
last Weynild shifted her weight and pulled Raine to her side. She
did not speak but rather silently enjoyed the slowing of Raine's
breath and heartbeat as she recovered. Raine took a deep, satisfied
breath, then propped herself up on her elbow.

“Well that was interesting.”

Weynild smiled and traced her cheekbone. “You
continue to amaze me.”

Raine began to trace the outline of Weynild's ribs,
coming playfully close to her breasts as she did so. She then
traced the lean muscles of her abdomen, also coming tortuously
close to the softness between her legs. Weynild watched her
insatiable lover with amusement, but then sobered for a moment.

“Before we continue,” she said, grasping Raine's
exploring fingers in her own, “I wish to speak of your last
battle.”

Raine obediently paused her exploration. “You mean
the Reaper Shard.”

Weynild nodded. It did not surprise her that Raine
had sensed the creature's presence.

“It was strange it did not attack,” Raine said,
musing on the sudden end to the battle.

“Not to me,” Weynild said. “I believe it was there to
scout your party, or more specifically, to scout you. And whoever
summoned the creature has now seen you through its eyes.”

Raine thought back to the one time she had seen a
Reaper Shard up close. They were hideous creatures, living half in
this world and half in the underworld, smelling of death and
corrupted flesh. It took an immensely powerful being to summon them
and it led credence to Weynild's belief that someone or something
was holding open the gate to the underworld.

Raine's hand gently disentangled itself from
Weynild's and she returned to her exploring. “It may have seen me,”
she said, “but it has no idea who or what I am.”

This time Weynild did not stop the hand and it
fluttered downward to settle between her legs, causing a sharp
intake of breath. She would not delay Raine's gently insistent
probing any further; frankly, it just felt too marvelous. But she
would say one last thing.

“It may not know you now, but you will see the
creature again, and possibly worse as the enemy seeks to learn who
you are.”

“Well then,” Raine said, her mouth moving to follow
her hand, “I guess I will just have to deal with that when it
comes.” Dark eyelashes covered deep violet eyes as she went lower.
“That's a good approach in all things.”

Idonea tried to appear composed as she entered the
campsite, but it was difficult. The vivid, sexual scene was branded
on her mind, but even more so was the look in Weynild's eyes as she
revealed she knew full well that Idonea was there. Her mother was a
monster, an unfairly beautiful, seductive monster who had found a
priceless treasure. Idonea had to admit that, out of the chaotic
flux of her emotions, jealousy was preeminent.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Dagna said,
mockingly repeating Idonea's previous taunt directed at her.