Page 17 of Henry & the Dragon
Tears formed in Mother’s eyes. “But we will lose you again,” she whispered. “I cannot let this stand.”
“Yet you must,” Henry informed her. “You cannot tell anyone you’ve seen me. I should be as a ghost to you both.”
“But Euric will—“
“I will not risk your children, nor our mother,” Henry insisted. “As our parents would not do with our grandparents, you must do with me. Disavow me to any who would ask about me. Spat on my name. I have no doubt Neron will send the kings men after me. He is not one who will be made a fool of. Promise me you will both do this. Disavow me as your son and brother.”
“No,” Mother said, the tears now leaving silvery tracks down her cheeks. “Please, do not ask this of us.”
“I must, and you need do as I ask. For your safety, as well as that of Merry’s children, you need to forget about me. It is only for now, though. I promise I will get word to you when I am able.”
Mother grimaced, then nodded. “For Merry’s children.” Then she squeezed Henry’s wrist. “If I do not hear from you, I will kill Neron myself. Do you understand? My life will be forfeit, and I will gladly sacrifice it if I can take that demon to Hell with me.”
The look on his mother’s face frightened Henry. She seemed to be resigned to her own death. “No, Mother. Your job is most important of all. You must help Merry raise good, strong children. They need the love of a doting grande dame, and with three, Merry will need you more than ever. Is that not so, Merry?”
She seemed as though she would protest, but then nodded. “I’ve been trying to get her to leave the farm and come live with us,” she admitted. “The farm is too large, and alone she cannot manage it.”
“And your home is too small for so many of us,” Mother retorted.
“Then I have the solution,” Henry announced. “Merry and her family will move to the farm. There are several buildings that Euric could turn into a smithy. Though the trip to town will be longer, Euric will have far more room to create items he could not before. That alone should entice the townspeople to travel out here. Perhaps you could create jams and preserves and sell those to the people as well.”
Merry’s lip trembled. “Mother? Could we live here with you?”
Mother’s eyes widened. She grabbed Merry and held her close. “Of course! Why would you think you could not?”
“Because this is where father died. I was uncertain you wanted us to be here. I feared it would bring bad memories to you.”
She patted Merry’s back. “I loved your father so, and in this place, our home, is where I felt closest to him. I could not leave here, as my heart would not travel where I went, instead remaining where our love lived. I want nothing more than for for my family to be here, to fill this place with hope once again.”
Henry sighed. He was happy he could help his family once more before he had to leave them, possibly forever.
“I should go,” he said. “It would be unwise for others to know I’d been here.”
“Wait!” Mother shouted. She turned and hurried off to her bedroom, and when she returned, she held a scabbard with a gem studded hilt. “This was your father’s sword. He carried it with him in battle. He had always planned to gift it to you when you became of age. I think he would be most vexed if you did not take it with you now for protection of both you and your beloved.”
He wanted to remind her that Kai wasn’t his beloved, but he let the comment slide. He held out a hand, and when she gave the sword to him, heat suffused Henry.
“It feels… warm.”
“Your father said that the blade is imbued with his spirit,” she informed him. “Trust in him, and he will not let you down.”
Then she threw her arms around him, and then they were joined by Merry.
“I do not wish you to leave,” Merry said. “My children should know their family.”
“With the grace of the gods, one day they shall,” Henry informed her.
Then he slid the loops of the scabbard around his waist, allowing it to rest on his hip as his father had done.
“You look so much like him,” Mother said. “Grab the pommel of the sword.”
Henry did as she bade, and the heat he’d felt in his hand rushed through him. He held the blade aloft, the metal gleaming a deep azure in the dim light. For a moment, Henry was certain he felt his father’s spirit, pulling him in as if he was hugging Henry.
And he believed his mother was right. No matter where he went on his journey, someone would always be watching overhim. He kissed Mother and Merry, then stepped out of the house and into the dark night.
Chapter 6
Kai liked this time of night the best. The moon was mostly hidden behind thick, dark clouds, so there were shadows that danced among the trees every time a shaft of light was able to escape. He always felt as though there were fae among the branches, laughing in their lilting voices, at the foolish beings who couldn’t see them.
