Page 123 of A Kingdom Restored

“Is that possible?” Heath demanded.

“Most things are possible,” Reka said calmly. He loped up to them, settling back on his haunches with a tinkling of scales. “To speak truthfully, I have already made the request of my colony.” He turned his orb-like eyes on Heath. “I sensed that you remained discouraged about the likelihood of a future with Merletta, and I wished to assist if I could.”

“Thank you, Reka,” Heath said, sounding moved. “That was…very kind of you.”

Reka nodded in regal acknowledgment of the praise, then continued. “I confess I was disappointed that they refused.”

Merletta deflated. “Why?”

Reka let out a sigh that smelled faintly of smoke. “Because the barrier which hides this place from the outside was put in place by dragons, who cannot now be consulted as to their full reasons. My kind is hesitant to undo the actions of our forebears, because without all the knowledge that led to those actions, it is impossible to see the full ramifications of reversing them.”

“I can understand that,” Heath said, although he sounded as disappointed as Merletta felt.

“I asked my father to try to persuade the others, but he said we must trust the decisions of our elders, unless we have compelling reasons to go against them, as in the case of the mermaid attack.” Reka gave a thin lipped smile. “I think he fears I am growing too rebellious by nature, always wishing to defy my elders for the sake of defiance.”

Again he sighed. “It is not so, however. It is simply that I am not satisfied to unquestioningly trust the elders because, as we’ve seen, the elders blindly follow decisions made long and long and long ago.” He shook his head slowly from side to side. “The strongest argument against blindly following the past decisions of elders who’ve gone before is the possibility that I could one day live to an age befitting an elder. Would others of my kind one day look back and blindly trust my past decisions as a result of my future position? I would not desire that.”

He raised his head, adding with an air of great concession, “I may be a dragon, but I am not infallible.” His eyes sought Merletta. “I have made too many mistakes, especially as regards you, Merletta.”

She just stared back at him, unsure how to respond to these disclosures.

“You might not ever have to worry about others blindly following your decisions, you know,” Heath pointed out. “You haven’t yet chosen between mortality and immortality, so it’s very possible you won’t live long enough to be an elder.”

Reka’s head swiveled slowly from Merletta to Heath, but he gave no answer.

Thinking through his words, Merletta said, “If you asked your colony to assist you, does that mean you can’t unseal Vazula by yourself?”

Reka’s yellow eyes returned to her. “To remove a barrier such as this one would take great power. As a young, mortal dragon, I do not possess the requisite power.”

Merletta nodded slowly, but Heath was watching Reka shrewdly, clearly sensing something more.

“What aren’t you saying, Reka?” he asked. “What do you meanas a young, mortal dragon? How does your status as to mortality or immortality affect the level of your power?”

Reka didn’t immediately answer. “Is that definitely your wish?” he asked instead. “If it was in your power, would you unseal Vazula and open it to the rest of the world?”

“If it was in my power, of course I would,” Heath said. “It would bring my worlds together and allow me to live here with Merletta without losing my family. But—”

“Very good,” Reka cut him off, crouching suddenly. With a crack like a whip, the dragon surged into the sky, his wings snapping out so that he hovered high above the island, directly over their heads.

Merletta turned to Heath. “What’s he—?”

Heath’s cry of shock rang over her words, as he put his hands over his head as if not sure whether to shield his ears or eyes.

“What is it?” Merletta demanded, grabbing his arm in concern. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Heath said, sounding dazed. “That was just…overwhelming. I don’t know where it came from, but that was an immeasurable amount of magic Reka just expended.” He swallowed, shaking his head. “I thought it was going to burn my senses.”

A shadow made Merletta look up, to see Reka descending once more. In another moment, he’d landed beside them. He looked exactly the same as before, his expression placid.

“What did you do, Reka?” Heath demanded.

The dragon looked bemused. “Was it not clear? I unsealed Vazula, as you desired.”

“But…” Heath and Merletta exchanged incredulous looks. “But how? Where did all the magic come from?”

“It was mine to spend,” Reka said cryptically.

“Rekavidur,” Heath said, his voice stern. “What did you just give up for me?”

---