A Dragon in Recline

Rowen woke up to the sound of women chatting.

He looked towards the kitchen and saw Jade and Kitarra warming up some rations. Kitarra still in her pajamas.

He got up and stretched himself and looked out the front window. The sun was already up and high in the sky. About mid-morning.

He silently thanked Dawn for this morning. Then he suddenly realized that he was naked.

He turned to see both Kitarra and Jade looking at him smiling.

He covered himself and said, “Good morning? Um…sorry I think that I will go get a shower and get dressed.” He grabbed his clothes and ducked into the bathroom.

After showering and getting dressed he walked out into the dining, living area and he saw both Princess Kitarra and Princess Dana sitting at the table waiting for him to eat.

He blushed and sat down and said, “Sorry for making you wait.”

Kitarra said, “Why, that’s quite alright…husband.” With a mischievous look in her eyes.

Princess Dana smiled a slight smile and said, “Little sis, you got ahead of me for once.”

Rowen was beet red at this point and said, “Isn’t that something that we can keep private between us?”

Kitarra moved her chair closer to his and nuzzled closer to him and said, “So, do you still doubt my sister’s prophecy?”

He looked from Kitarra to Dana then back again, still beet red and said, “No, I guess not. I just thought that I would get to know my wife a little better before marrying her.”

Dana reached over and took a piece of sausage off of Rowen’s plate and put it to his lips and he reflexively bit into it. She said, “Kit told me about what you two talked about yesterday when I was unconscious. She said that you were doubtful, but now that I’m fully awake and seeing your eyes and face, I know it to be true that you are the man that we are both destined to marry. As for getting to know one another.” She shrugged, “If by the time we return to Tier City you don’t feel the same way, then we shall go our separate ways.” Her voice was even, almost flat.

Rowen thought he saw disappointment or something else in Dana’s eyes, but he wasn’t sure what. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out, so he just nodded. This was when he first really looked into Dana’s eyes, her ice blue eyes. They seemed like they were looking into his very soul.

He also had to admit that he found her almost as attractive as Kitarra.

But he shook himself and said, “I’m glad that you seem to be feeling better. Do you think that you’ll be up to traveling tomorrow?”

She looked thoughtful and then said, “Yes, I believe so.”

He thought about it a moment and said, “You can ride Baldy if you still feel weak.”

“Baldy?”

“Yes, my horse.” And he pointed out the window at the shiny black horse with a magnificent coat, main and tail.

“Why call him Baldy?” Dana asked.

Kitarra said, “That’s because yesterday he was almost entirely bald.”

“Oh.”

Breakfast chatter was light and lively. Both ladies seemed to take extra delight in teasing Rowen who kept trying to change the subject but failed miserably.

Rowen kept seeing something that he couldn’t put his finger on in Dana’s eyes but because he, himself, was so overwhelmed about the situation he didn’t put much thought into it.

After breakfast he excused himself and said that he had to make them both some clothes to replace their torn-up travel clothes.

He had come to find when remaking objects he had done before, it flowed easier and took less energy and focus to complete. So, he thought if he made replicas of his leather armor for the ladies that it should be easier.

Even though it was easier it still took him the entire rest of the day to finish two sets of armor. They were a bit different than his because they were much smaller in size. Kitarra stood even with the top of his shoulders while Dana was about even with his nose.

Plus, he added some frills and such to make them more feminine looking, and also, he made Kit’s green like her travel clothes and Dana’s light brown.

At dinner he presented them both with their new armor. They both seemed delighted with them.

He, on the other hand, felt spent.

During dinner he was surprised to find out Dana was over 250 years old and Kitarra was only 22.

Elves were near immortal. Once they turn 21, they stop aging. However, they are still susceptible to disease and no harder to kill than humans. Beastkin lived on average of 70 to 80 years while humans lived around 50 to 80 years here depending on a lot of factors.

Even though his immortality was in the back of his head, his fatigue, and the fact that he was talking to two beautiful women he seemed to forget about the fact and said, “Does it bother you that you’ll be marrying a human that will grow old and die before you?”

She smiled and said, “I know that I will not outlive you. Neither of us will.”

Rowen saw a touch of sadness to her smile.

His muddled mind remembered that he hadn’t shared with them his biggest secret. He wasn’t sure why, but he knew that if they were correct and he was going to marry both of them, he would have to tell them about it.

Part of his mind, his libido wandered down the fanciful path of being married to such knockouts. Of course, when his libido strayed too far in that direction, he had to excuse himself.

“If you lovely ladies would excuse me, I think that I need a shower and to be getting to bed. We have a long day ahead of ourselves, so we should all turn in.”

Dana said, “Yes, I believe you’re right.” Then she yawned.

He then went into the bathroom and took a cold shower.

After his shower he went out into the living/kitchen area and started to turn down the extra bed. Dana said, “What are you doing? Won’t you be sleeping with us husband?” her smile was a touch mischievous, but her eyes didn’t match her smile.

“Um…no, we need our rest tonight. We need to travel tomorrow and also; we need to hurry.” He said dead serious.

“Why so?” Kitarra asked.

“I haven’t told you but I’m meeting someone on the south side of Dragon’s Jaw Ridge. I’m afraid that she might be hurt, so we must hurry.”

Both Dana and Kitarra got a serious look on their faces and asked simultaneously, “She?!”

“Her name is Xyarra and I believe that she’s a black dragon.”

Kitarra and Dana both looked at each other with what could only be described as a look of relief in their eyes and Dana said, “A black dragon? They usually don’t like to associate with humans. Xyarra, is a famous one at that. She’s over 1000 years old.”

They said their goodnights and went to their beds. Kitarra almost crawled into his bed but Dana dragged her away into the bedroom saying, “He really needs his rest, so leave him alone.”

The next morning, Jade woke Rowen up early before first light as he requested. Rowen rolled over to find that Kit was there next to him. He didn’t remember it so she must not have been able to wake him up.

She opened her eyes and said, “Hey…husband.” She then smiled and kissed him.

Rowen, who had been on a rollercoaster of emotions felt warmed by her presence. So, he kissed her back but on the tip of her nose. He reached up and gently took her left ear and felt the fluffy fur on it. He said, “I can get used to this.” Smiling broadly.

Dana cleared her throat and said, “If we’re to make any progress today, you two should really put your lovey doveys on hold.”

Rowen, remembering the urgency that he felt about finding Xyarra said, “Right! Let’s get moving!” and he got up.

They ate breakfast quietly, and expediently then began to pack up. Rowen made it a point to pack some rations and his water skin into the saddle bags while he packed everything else into his house.

Dana watched him intensely as he shrunk down his cabin and “packed” it away in his ring then said, “That’s quite useful looking.”

“Yes. I may be on a mission from God, or rather from the Guardians, but that doesn’t mean that I have to rough it. I don’t mind roughing it mind you but if I can avoid it…” and he shrugged.

Dana nodded and said, “Well, the last two nights are the first that I’ve spent in a real bed for the last two weeks or so. You will not hear me complain about it. Besides, the bath I took last night was heavenly.”

This was the first real smile Rowen saw on Dana’s face.

Part of Rowen’s mind, the Analytical part, was sending up red flags about her behavior. But he didn’t feel comfortable enough with the situation to ask her what was wrong.

The day before, while Rowen was making their armor, the Princesses, with Jade’s help saw to the remains of their party. Before they moved out, both Dana and Kit went over to the twelve cairns and said a silent goodbye.

From the battlefield/camp area there were only three ways out. To the north, which Rowen came from, to the east, where the princesses came from and to the west. Dana and Kitarra pointed west and said, “This is the way we need to go. The trail will gradually turn south again and take us to the plateau that Dragon’s Jaw Ridge is on. It’s about two days walk away or about a day’s ride. Your horse looks sturdy, so perhaps the three of us could ride?”

Rowen looked up at Baldy and said, “Sure, but it’ll be tight on the saddle. I also think that, since Baldy isn’t a normal horse, it’ll take us less than a day riding.”

Kit said, “Oh right, he’s a construct like Jade here.”

“Yeah. He won’t tire like a regular horse as long as there is mana for him to absorb. Jade won’t need to ride with us because she will be able to keep up as well.”

Rowen helped both Kitarra and Dana up onto Baldy. He remembered thinking, “They look like children on a pony.” As he saw their diminutive figures on the saddle. This was when he thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t have made Baldy an Andalusian.

He then climbed up between them with Kit in front and Dana behind. That took a little work to get on without knocking one or both of them off.

Once the three of them were “comfortably” mounted Rowen said, “Jade, scout ahead and we’ll follow.”

Jade said sharply, “Yes, Master!” and started jogging along the path. They proceeded to follow at a gentle trot.

The path was a little unnerving to Rowen. It was wide enough about twenty feet across but to the right was shear rockface going up whereas to the left there was a 2000 foot or more drop off.

Add to it that since Kit took the reins, she was riding close to the edge, occasionally looking over to the drop off with delight.

Rowen wanted to ask her to steer closer to the other side, but he was afraid to let on that he was afraid.

They made good progress for the time without any encounters or difficulties. Around noon, Rowen decided that they needed to take a lunch break and besides he felt Dana swaying behind him.

Jade doubled back and said that it was still clear ahead.

The ladies delighted with the energy bars that Rowen had made for lunch rations However, he warned them to drink plenty of water with them because of how concentrated they were.

After they ate, Dana laid back using Kit’s lap as a pillow and took a cat nap. She was looking pale when they dismounted so he was concerned about continuing, but she said that she’ll be fine after a quick nap.

Rowen took the sight in and said, “You two are close.”

Kit said quietly, “Yes, she’s always been there for me. A big sis and mom when I needed her to be. Since I was raised in the Duchy of Eilon, I wasn’t around many of my own kind. Most elves tended to not want to associate with other kinds.

“Some Beastkin also try to keep to their own. Felineans are usually among the worst for that. Which is funny because there are several different kinds of Felineans, like Tigris, Leos, Catieas, Panthera, and so on.”

“How are the Foxia about interactions with others?”

“We are usually good about tolerating other races but we tend to not intermarry that much.”

“I see. So, you’re still okay with marrying me?”

She batted her eyes and asked, “Is that a proposal?”

He turned beet red again thinking, “Boy I put my foot in my mouth there.”

What he said out loud was, “No, that’s not what I’m saying. It just looks like you’re on board with your sister’s prophecy whereas she seems more reserved about it.”

“I am not sure. She always seems to be reserved when it comes to her visions. She explains them as usually being abstract and sometimes disjointed but when it comes to other people in the visions, she is usually clear. As a matter of fact, ten years ago when she first told me about her vision, she pretty much described you exactly.”

“Oh…” he wasn’t sure how to go on after that, so he changed the subject by asking, “So, you’re good with a bow and two-handed short swords, what kind of training do you have? Are you an archer?”

“No, actually I am a ranger. Foxia are natural rangers. Our instincts cover most of the skills that rangers need to learn otherwise.”

“Oh, I see. And Dana?”

“She’s a magic user and a shaman.”

“Oh, so she was your party’s healer?”

“She was one. The other was the Little Fellow priestess to Midnight, the one you thought was a child.”

“Ah. Little Fellow?”

“They are also known as Wee Folk or Halflings.”

“Right. In Ireland they were called Leprechauns and in Hawaii Menehune.”

“So, you have them in your world too?!”

“No, just legends.”

“Oh.”

Dana stirred and her eyes opened up. She looked up at Kit and smiled then looked over to Rowen and said, “I feel much better after that. I should be alright to travel the rest of today.”

“Very good.” And he got to his feet and began to clean up their camp.

After they packed up and put the saddle bags back on Baldy he decided that he would mount first this time and even though she resisted, he insisted that Dana ride in front, so he could keep an eye on her.

The trail continued much like it had only gradually turning south like Dana said it would. The sun was sitting low on the mountains to the west, so Rowen figured that they only had another hour or so left of light. He was thinking of making camp when Jade came trotting back saying, “Just up ahead about a quarter mile there’s a large reptile just off the path that looks badly hurt.”

Rowen spurred Baldy into a gallop ignoring their proximity to the cliff. The trail led due south then turned sharply to the west just under a quarter mile. The trail sloped upwards onto a large looking plateau through a natural arch formed by the cliff face.

Just beyond the arch, to the left of the trail was a large black dragon splayed out on the granite plateau.

The dragon’s wings and part of her torso looked singed and blistered. The dragon was breathing slowly.

Kit was the first to dismount, but instead of rushing to the dragon’s side, she backed away towards the rockface on the other side of the path.

Dana just stayed on Baldy, but Rowen could feel her trembling.

He dismounted and walked over to the dragon who hadn’t moved since they got there. He felt like he should be clutching his bowels at the sight of this behemoth beast, but he felt calm for some reason. Maybe because he recognized her.

When he got close to its head the dragon finally moved and open its eyes. He recognized those very eyes from his dreams, and he said, “Xyarra, I’m sorry I took so long.” His apology was so heart felt that a tear came to his eye.

In his head he heard, That’s alright, you’re here now, Rowen.”