Page 18 of Henry & the Dragon
Then there were creatures like the Kupati, that roamed the immense area, looking for food. It was they who bandits—or foolish people from the town—often had the misfortune of meeting. At least they’d served a purpose in death, rather than simply taking from those who had never done them harm.
He lay back on the branch he had perched upon and stared up at the sky, the drifting clouds lulling him into a relaxed state. He wished Henry was with him, holding his hand, as they peered into forever together. It would be several more hours until he could see Henry, and that knowledge plagued Kai. What was it about the man that affected him so deeply? Why had he given Henry his most prized possession? The cloak his mother had spun from ebonweave and true gold thread would be highly prized most anywhere, but he’d given it to Henry without a second thought.
He smiled to himself. He quite liked the idea of Henry having something of Kai’s protecting him. Plus, he had to admit, he enjoyed seeing Henry in something that was more than an itchy sack made wearable. What would Henry think if Kai showed him the wonders of the world? To know that Innernook wasn’t the ending. If truth be told, it wasn’t even a beginning. A tiny settlement in a larger kingdom, which was a blight on thecountry. Nothing more. There was only one singular exceptional thing that Kai had found while on his travels: Henry.
The very thought of him made Kai’s heart race. The scent of his body. The taste that he’d committed to memory. Everything about Henry made Kai weak, but also incredibly strong. It was a paradox that Kai couldn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. He’d finally admitted the truth to himself. He was in love with Henry.
The whinny of a horse, followed by the snap of a branch caught Kai’s attention. He dropped from the tree to the ground, then turned, peering into the darkness. “Henry?”
Four men dismounted, then stepped into view. Three of them were large, but one was short and rotund. He puffed up his chest as he neared Kai. “Are you the one called Kai?”
“I am,” Kai said, rising to his feet.
“Henry sent us,” the oldest man said.
It was a lie. Henry would never betray Kai like that.
“A falsehood, no matter how many times spoken, will never be truth,” he said.
“No, truly,” the man said, stepping closer to Kai. “You gave him a gift, and he said you had more.” When he got only a few steps from Kai, the man reached beneath his ratty cloak and withdrew a dagger. “Give it to us.”
Kai held out his arms. “As you can see, I have nothing of value. I am a wanderer, and possessing things would slow me. I travel light, unburdened by material goods.”
“The cloak you gave him?”
“A gift from my mother when I left on my journey. It was the only precious thing I owned.”
The man lifted a hand, and before Kai could move, an arrow whistled through the air, striking him in the chest. He stumbled back, clutching at the thing that had pierced through his body. The man reached out and grabbed the pendant, tearing it from Kai’s neck.
“Take his money,” the man ordered.
The others stepped forward, matching grins on their faces. Another man, the one with the bow, came from over the horizon, and made his way toward them. Kai braced himself, but he knew he was no match for these people. He’d already lost a significant amount of blood, with more oozing between his fingers. He turned and made for the woods, certain he could lose the men there. He’d just entered the tree line when another arrow found its way into his back, driving him to the loamy soil. Pain radiated through him, unlike any he’d felt before. He could feel the blood leaving his body as it spilled on the soil.
“Henry….” Kai whispered. “I love you.”
Then he collapsed to the ground.
Henry stopped as a pain jolted him. He grabbed his chest, but found no wound. Then a few moments later, more agony in his back. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, but fear surged through him. He had to get to Kai. He’d help.
Henry quickened his pace, doing his best to get to their meeting place. The pain grew more intense, but still drove Henry on. When he could make out the shadowed trees, another much larger mass loomed above them, flying on the largest wings Henry had ever seen. He was uncertain what kind of bird would be so large that it could blot out the forest, until it roared.
“Dragon,” Henry whispered.
Then came the blast of fire, followed by unholy screams. Henry rushed forward, his only thought that Kai needed him. When he arrived, carnage was everywhere. Three bodies lay on the ground, being consumed by flames. Another man ran, but the dragon caught him in an enormous talon, then flew up before dropping him. The scream was cut short when the man slammed into the ground, but the shattering of bones was louder than the cry had been. The body lay there, twisted and mangled.
Another figure, larger than the other men, rushed forward. When it came into view, Henry’s blood froze.
“Neron?”
“Henry? Henry, you must save me!” he cried, clutching at Henry.
“Why are you here?”
“The… the dragon. We heard it, and came to look. It…”
A glint in the moonlight caught Henry’s attention. It was Kai’s necklace and it was hanging around Neron’s neck! There could be no other that looked like it.
“What did you do with Kai?” Henry demanded.
